Finance Program Reaches Severna Park Middle

Students in Anne Arundel County are learning personal finance skills with the help of a computer program.

Severna Park students are being introduced to computer technology earlier in life than ever before, and schools in Maryland are trying to teach kids how to afford the smartphones, laptops and flatscreen televisions they want, with lessons on personal finances. In 2010, the Maryland State Department of Education started requiring schools to start providing financial education, beginning in September 2011. Each jurisdiction in the state was tasked with implementing the un-funded requirements. Junior Achievement of Central Maryland (JACMD) has helped area schools meet this new requirement, and now students in Anne Arundel County are learning how to save and spend with the computer program JA Finance Park. "It's very important for children to …

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Folger McKinsey Well Represented at Excellence in Education Awards

Four Folger McKinsey educators were Teacher of the Year nominees and were recognized on Monday night.

Folger McKinsey Elementary School was represented loudly, proudly and frequently at the 27th Annual Excellence in Education Awards banquet held at the BWI Marriott Hotel. Of the 52 Teacher of the Year nominees recognized on Monday, four came from Folger. “It was very exciting,” said Folger McKinsey Principal Susan Bachmann. “We have a wonderful staff here at this school. The PTO works with me on deciding how we are going to celebrate the fact that we have so many wonderful staff and couldn’t come up with just one name.” When deciding who to nominate, Bachmann said the same four names kept coming up and she and the PTO decided they shouldn’t pick just one. “Parents kept saying what a wonderful teacher they have been and what an impact they …

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Superintendent Reminds Students of Alcohol, Drug Policy Heading Into Graduation Season

Students in Anne Arundel County can be prohibited from prom and graduation activities if found in violation of the system's drug and alcohol policy.

Superintendent Kevin Maxwell cautioned students and parents Wednesday about the alcohol and drug policy for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, heading into graduation season. In a letter to parents of soon-to-be graduates, Maxwell reminded families that students can be prohibited from school events if found possessing, consuming or distributing alcohol and drugs, even off of school property. "I do not want to see what should be a great time in the life of graduating seniors marred by immature and unwise decisions," Maxwell said in the letter. "More importantly, I don’t want to see any of our students engage in behavior that could have consequences for themselves and others." The warning comes on the heels of a house party in Severna Park …

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What Will Replace Maryland School Assessments (MSAs)?

Students will be tested for up to 10 hours under a new type of exams, which will replace the traditional MSAs.

UPDATE: Anne Arundel Schools To Open Thursday

The school system says it continues to monitor power and weather-related conditions across the county but intend to open all schools on time on March 7.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) announced Wednesday afternoon that they are monitoring the weather situation but expect that schools will be open on Thursday. AACPS will monitor power and weather-related conditions across the county but plans to open all schools on time Thursday. If that changes, AACPS will send messages via phone and email to parents. Schools and all school-sponsored after-school activities were canceled on Wednesday in anticipation of snow and ice. The school system has now used three of the four built-in closing days this school year and is reportedly still waiting to hear back on the waiver request for two days off during Hurricane Sandy. MSA Reading assessments scheduled for Wednesday will occur Thursday …

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5 Educators Named Teacher of the Year Finalists

Five area educators were named finalists for the 2013 Anne Arundel County Public Schools Teacher of the Year award.

AACPS Educator of the Month

Severna Park Teacher Named Educator of the Month

Barbara Segnatelli of Severna Park High School was recently named the Educator of the Month for February by Anne Arundel County Public Schools.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) recognizes educators, employees and volunteers each month from September to June during the school year. Awards are presented at Board of Education meetings and Patch is pleased to announce the honorees. The February "Educator of the Month" is Barbara Segnatelli of Severna Park High School. According to the AACPS website, The Educator of the Month is chosen by a committee made up of members of the Anne Arundel County Retired School Personnel Association (AARSPA). Here is the text of the speech presented at the Feb. 6 meeting in honor of Segnatelli: Today the Board of Education recognizes an educator in our school system who has been described as a “Social Studies Teacher Extraordinaire” who has it…

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Three Area Students To Compete in County Spelling Bee

The winner of the 25th annual Anne Arundel County Spelling Bee will compete in the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.

Thirty-two county students, including three from schools in Severna Park, will show off their spelling skills at the 25th annual Anne Arundel County Spelling Bee on Feb. 23. Eighteen public school students, 13 private school students, and one home-schooled student will vie to become the county champion, according to a press release. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC., to compete in the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee from May 28-30. Students representing Severna Park ara schools include Saylor Willauer, a seventh-grader at Severn School; Campbell Jones, a seventh-grader at Severna Park Middle School and Thomas Gleason, an eighth-grader at St. John the Evangelist. There will be prizes for other top …

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VIDEO: Organizers Explain Why Students Didn't Plunge Friday

Anne Arundel students didn't participate in the regularly scheduled Cool School plunge because of exams and then weather conditions caused Friday's festivities to be canceled.

Anne Arundel Schools Pre-K Registration Begins Feb. 5

Parents interested in registering must do so in person at the school the child will be attending.