Read on for updates about what the Fund for Educational Excellence has been working on, including:
- Heart of the School Award Nominations: One Week Left!
- New Grade Level Reading Tip Sheets For Parents to Support Children’s Literacy
- Heart of the School Holiday Party Photos
- Of Note, News You Should Know
Nominate a Principal for the 2020 Heart of the School Awards
Community nominations are open for just one more week for the 2020 Heart of the School Awards – the annual event each May that celebrates Baltimore City Public School principals for their work. Nominate a principal before Friday, January 31st by clicking here!
The nomination form is only one question long – it takes less than three minutes to complete! Whether you’re a parent, partner, City Schools supporter or community member – help us identify all worthy school leaders by nominating a principal to be honored! After the process, all nominated principals see their nominations, so each knows their work is transformational and appreciated.
ICYMI: we spoke with WMAR-TV on Midday Maryland last Friday about the Heart of the School Awards, nominations, and the work of one of last year’s winners, Principal Zulema Sockwell Moore of William S. Baer School. Check out the conversation here.
Grade Level Reading Tip Sheets For Parents Support Early Childhood Literacy
Grade Level Reading, the early childhood literacy program managed by the Fund For Educational Excellence, is working in partnership with City Schools to revise and expand the Wit & Wisdom tip sheets for grades K-3. The newest edition of the tip sheets, made to align with the English Language Arts curriculum, will debut during this quarter and will be available on the district’s website. Please stay tuned!
The tip sheets support the district’s new Wit & Wisdom curriculum and were created with input from families and teachers by Grade Level Reading and Baltimore City Public Schools. The tip sheets will provide families with
detailed information on each module along with fun activities to do at home that correlate with each curriculum module.
Tips include: module overviews, end of module learning goals, questions for students about what they are learning, at-home activities to help practice writing, language, and phonics, and locations to explore throughout Baltimore that lend context to what is being studied.
Heart of the School Holiday Party Photos
On Thursday, December 19th, more than 200 Baltimore City Public School principals convened at M&T Bank Stadium with fellow district and community leaders for the Heart of the School Holiday Party. It was a fantastic evening giving Baltimore’s school leaders the opportunity to relax while celebrating their work and the holiday season. Take a look at some photos from the evening below, and click here for the full gallery!
The Daily Record just ran photos from the evening in the Business Album. Find it here. The Heart of the School Holiday Party is made possible by Heart of the School Award attendees and supporters like you. Thank you!
Save the date: this year’s Heart of the School Awards take place Thursday, May 21st at the Hippodrome Theatre. Tickets go on sale soon at HeartoftheSchools.org!
Of Note:
Updates, resources, and articles of interest to the educational community
- Dr. Sonja Santelises had a compelling, live-streamed conversation with City Schools Student Imani Humphpreys-Torres about student wholeness, safety and the Kirwan Commission – Baltimore City Public Schools.
- Mark your calendars: on Thursday, February 6, join City Schools’ 21st Century School Buildings Program for a reflection on the program’s history and a look ahead at future school projects. Find details here.
- ICYMI: WYPR’s Midday with Tom Hall recently focused on the Kirwan Commission – where it stands and how to fund it – featuring input from former Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler, and former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker III – WYPR.
- Summer opportunity for teachers: the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program is seeking educators to coach rising senior interns in writing this summer. Applications to the paid, part-time positions are due 2/20 and can be found here.