Sun Op-Ed on School Evalutions by Muriel Berkeley

Read today's Baltimore Sun op-ed by BCP President Muriel Berkeley, School evaluations are valuable, at:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-city-schools-letter-20120626,0,1836170.story

Laura Doherty Named President of Baltimore Curriculum Project

New BCP President
Laura Doherty

Baltimore, MD - 6/22/12 - The Board of Directors of the Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) announced today that Laura Doherty will become the organization's next President.

Doherty succeeds the organization's President and Founder Dr. Muriel Berkeley, who is stepping down after 17 years. Berkeley will remain actively involved with BCP during the 2012/2013 school year.

"We are delighted to have found a successor to Muriel who knows the Baltimore Curriculum Project inside and out and who shares our goals and vision," said BCP Board Chair George Hess.

"Laura is one of the nation's leading experts on effective instruction and has demonstrated her commitment to BCP's mission through years of dedicated service."

Doherty became interested in teaching at an early age. Her mother was a special education teacher and Doherty grew up hearing and adopting the philosophy that anyone can be taught to read. In 1994 she began teaching, and eventually consulting, in the Chicago Public Schools.

From 1996-1997, Doherty served as Headmaster and teacher at the Baraka School, an innovative boarding school in Kenya, Africa, for at-risk boys from Baltimore City. Coincidentally, one of her students and mentees from that school now serves as a paraeducator at City Springs Elementary/Middle School, where Doherty serves as a consultant.

Since 1998 Doherty has worked as a trainer for the Association for Direct Instruction (ADI) and has been invited to speak at the ADI national conference every year. She has trained both new and experienced Direct Instruction teachers around the country in reading, math, comprehension, and writing.

As a National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) consultant working with the Baltimore Curriculum Project since 1997, Doherty has led and managed all aspects of the Direct Instruction implementation for reading, math, writing, spelling, and US History in three BCP neighborhood charter schools. She has supported BCP's successful efforts to improve education for Baltimore City students through curriculum implementation, teacher training, in-class coaching, and data analysis.

"Having worked closely with Muriel for 15 years, I am honored and excited to be able to carry on her great work with Baltimore City schools," said Doherty.

Dr. Muriel Berkeley founded BCP in 1996 to provide Baltimore City schools with effective curriculum, teacher training, and management support. Under her leadership the organization has grown from a technical assistance provider into one of the largest charter management organizations in Maryland.

The Baltimore Curriculum Project Board of Directors' Presidential Search Committee, chaired by Anne S. Perkins, selected Doherty after a comprehensive, 3-month national search. Doherty was approved by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.

"I am confident that Laura has the passion, drive, and expertise to carry out our vital work to provide all children with the tools they need for success," said Berkeley.

Hampstead Hill Students Demonstrate Impressive Research/Presentation Skills

On Friday May 18th, Hampstead Hill Academy students in Elizabeth Bernstein's 7th grade history class presented their European Geography/Conflict projects in a unique small group format that provided quality time for students to present, discuss, and interact with each other under the supervision of an adult facilitator.

Hampstead Hill Academy Director of Enrichment Laura Moyers recruited guest facilitators for each group. These facilitators, including Baltimore Curriculum Project Director of Students Support Services Jeff Krick,  worked with groups of  4-5 students and used a rubric to score the presentations; help guide the discussion; and provide important feedback to each presenter.

This format was used to create a meaningful experience for the students; giving them an authentic forum for showing and describing all aspects of their work.

"I enjoyed my group’s presentations and was impressed with their ability to elaborate on details of their country and conflict when asked, said Mr. Krick.

"I was impressed with their answers to my questions about researching online and how they not only knew that Wikipedia was not the most reliable source, but that they needed to find enough sources to establish a level of understanding for evaluating any contradictory sources."

Are You Smarter Than a BCP 5th Grader? Slide Show

Hampstead Hill Academy Career Fair 2012

Eighth Graders James Wells and Julia Hohman speak with
Dental Hygienist Marie Wingfield

Thank you to everyone who made the 5th Annual Career Fair at Hampstead Hill Academy a success. Representatives from a variety of businesses volunteered to speak with fifth through eighth graders about their future careers. Guests included:

• Coretta Bennett, Turner Construction
• Jennifer Bresett, Forensic Serologist, Baltimore Police Department
• Alexander Brice, Turner Construction
• Clifton W. Carter, HEM - Industrial Hygienist, Office of Environmental Safety, Department of Health, Safety and Environment, Johns Hopkins Medicine
• Edie Cimino, Assistant Public Defender, Maryland Office of the Public Defender, and Yoga Instructor
• Alex Chojinaki, Manager, Chick-fil-A
• Kelly Connelly, Photographer; Marketing and Communications Manager, Healthy Teen Network; and Publisher, ohbaltimore.com 
• John Enny, Community Liaison, Baltimore Red Line
• Lars Johanson, Engineer, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Robert Julius, M&T Bank
• Erika Kinney, Director of Human Resources and Operations at Brookes Publishing Company
• Matthew Lesko, Senior Software Engineer, PayPal
• Kate Lewis, Assistant General Manager, Residence Inn by Marriott Arundel Mills BWI Airport
• Jamie Lutz, Restaurant Marketing Director, Chick-fil-A
• Jillian Marcum, Marketing Director, FutureCare
• Sarah Marquardt, Associate, Whiteford Taylor & Preston LLP
• James Moore, Director of Operations, Chick-fil-A
• Rachel Myrowitz, Community Liaison, Baltimore Red Line
•  Officer Rosa Ramirez, Senior Liaison Officer, Southeastern District, Baltimore Police Department
• Amber Rohleder, Hair Stylist, Studio 921 Salon & Day Spa
• David Ross, Computer Technician
• Nicole Soistman, Veterinary Technician, Eastern Animal Hospital
• Officer Lynea Wiley, Neighborhood Services Office, Southeastern District, Baltimore Police Department
• Marie Wingfield, Dental Hygienist

 The event would not have been possible without all of these volunteers.

Hampstead Hill Academy May 2012 Newsletter

Read Hampstead Hill Academy's May 2012 newsletter at:
http://www.baltimorecityschools.org/cms/lib/MD01001351/Centricity/Domain/5760/May%202012%20newsletter.pdf

This edition features:

• Mission and Vision Statement for HHA
• Performance Plan Meeting
• Information on Early Release Day/Parent Teacher Conferences
• Principal's List and Honor Roll for 3rd Quarter
• Renaissance Award
• News from the Teams and Much More in the May Newsletter!

WOLFEST on Saturday May 12th

Looking for something fun to do with the family today? Check out WOLFEST, Wolfe Street Academy's annual street festival from 12:00 PM until 4:00 PM on Gough Street between S. Wolfe and Washington Streets, immediately adjacent to the school.

Schedule:

• 12:00pm -1:00pm - Greetings and formal student performances
• 1:30pm - Talent Show
• 2:30pm - Performance by Native American dancers (including a WSA parent)
• 3:15pm - Cream the Principal (our students' favorite activity)

Latin American and festival food will be for sale, and there will be many crafts tables, inflatables and other activities for kids. All proceeds go to support the WSA Parent/Teacher Organization. Please join us!