Early Dismissal Friday, Gateway School Green Project, Budget Hearing and Other School Notes

Important Dates

• Tues. Feb. 5, 7 p.m.: FY14 Operating Budget Hearing and Education Forum at South Carroll High School
• Friday, Feb. 8: 2 Hour and 45 Minute Early Dismissal for Elementary Students, Professional Time for Elementary Teachers, School Closed for Pre-Kindergarten Students
• Monday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.: Education Forum at Winters Mill High School
• Monday, Feb. 18: Schools/Offices Closed – Presidents’ Day
• Tuesday, Feb. 19: Schools Closed for Students, Professional Development Day for Teachers, Non-Work Day for Instructional Assistants

STEM/Green School Project – Gateway School

Julien “J” Williams, a Student Government leader at Gateway School, successfully wrote and received a grant from the Carroll County Public Schools Education Foundation in the amount of $1,800.  This money will be used to fund a service learning project that addresses STEM and Green School curricular goals.  Gateway students will be planning, designing, installing, and restoring an area at Carroll Springs School that will become a native garden and greenhouse.  This project will involve students from Gateway School/Crossroads Middle, and Carroll Springs.  Over the course of the next few months, the students involved will meet, plan, measure, and work to install the garden and then rehabilitate the older greenhouse area together.  This area will then be used as a science, sensory, environmental, and research area for the students of Carroll Springs.

Westminster Region Side By Side Band and Orchestra Concert

The Instrumental Music Departments from the Westminster area schools will combine to perform in the annual Westminster Region Side By Side Band and Orchestra Concert on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Westminster High School. The event will feature 5th grade musicians from Friendship Valley, Mechanicsville, and Westminster Elementary Schools, 8th grade musicians from Shiloh and West Middle Schools, and members of the Westminster High School Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.

The band members will gather that morning at Westminster High School to rehearse and meet the band directors of the schools they will be attending next year. The 5th grade musicians will also take part in an “Instrument Petting Zoo,” where they will be able to try out instruments that are needed in middle school and high school ensembles, but aren’t always offered at the elementary level. The day culminates in the concert, which will take place at 7:15 p.m. at Westminster High School.

 This is the fifth year for the Westminster Region Side By Side Concert. It is the largest collaborative school music event in Carroll County and will include close to 300 student musicians. Partial funding for this event was provided by a grant from the Carroll County Public Schools Education Foundation.

Liberty High School Night of Jazz at St. John School

The Liberty High School Instrumental Music Boosters will host a Night of Jazz with a New Orleans Mardi Gras style meal with jazz entertainment and dancing to follow on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. at the Portico at St. John’s Catholic Church in Westminster.  Jazz entertainment will be provided by Mr. Bradley Collins and his group “Firm Roots.”  Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased in the LHS front office or band office.