V O L U M E 3, I S S U E 2 4 A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 5 T O W S O N H I G H S C H O O L The Towson Pride I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : STARS - Weekly 1 Accolades for Staff, Parents, and Students Featured Articles 2-6 Have You Heard?? 7-12 Active Parenting 13 Of Teens Engineering 14 Innovations Upcoming Events 15 STARS to our Staff, Parents and Students Each week, individuals will be recognized for their contributions to the school. Staff members are encouraged to submit accolades that are worthy of the General s Star. Our staff and students strive for excellence on a daily basis. The comments listed below represent some of the recognition for our staff and students. STARS to Mr. Rhen and Mr. Kimball for all of their efforts and time with Hairspray. STARS to Ms. Travis, Ms. White, and Mr. Blair for arranging tour groups for our incoming freshmen from Dumbarton Middle School. STARS to Mr. Nash, Mr. Rhen, and Mr. Briggs for speaking to the 8th graders from Dumbarton Middle School. STARS to Ms. Campbell and Ms. Harris from Dumbarton Middle School for working collaboratively with THS to provide 8th grade students the opportunity to visit THS. STARS to Daniela Fori, Autumn Grant, Zach Caplan, and Shelby Fragetta for sharing their experiences with the students from Dumbarton Middle School. STARS to Ms. Fast for her outstanding dedication to the choreography of Hairspray. STARS to the cast of Hairspray for their talents and efforts. STARS to Mr. Briggs, Ms. Mathena, and Ms. Harris for their efforts and time with the Junior SAT test administration. STARS to the students of Latin I for diligently working in room 235 during SAT testing! Gratias multas vobis ago! STARS to Mr. Olson for being recognized as a Teacher Champion. The Junior Prom Friday, April 24, 2015 7:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. THS Cafeteria Tickets will be sold before and after school in front of the cafeteria for 11th grade students only during the week of April 20th 23rd. SAVE THE DATE! TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2015 2:30 PM TOWSON UNIVERSITY Don t Miss Out!!
P A G E 2 SOCIAL STUDIES You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. What s New In Social Studies? L aw Day is coming! May 1 st is Law Day. In 1958, President Eisenhower proclaimed Law Day to honor the role of law in the creation of the United States. In 1961, Congress passed a joint resolution establishing May 1 st as Law Day. The language of the statute calls it a special day of celebration by the American people in appreciation of their liberties and rededication to the ideals of equality and justice under law. This year s theme is the Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom Under Law. The Magna Carta has come to embody a simple and enduring truth: No one, no matter how powerful, is above the law. ~Unknown~ Peeps in the Law For the past seven years, the American Bar Association sponsors a diorama contest where readers of the ABA Journal create a law-related themed diorama. Visit the website for this year s entries. http://www.abajournal.com/gallery/peeps2015/1087 Blurred Peeps Caption: This co-peep-right infringement case is making all the headlines! Marvin Gaye s estate sued Robin Thicke, Pharrell, and the artist known as T.I., alleging that their hit song, Blurred Lines infringed on Gaye s co-peep-right in his song Got to Give it Up and others. After being instructed on the peeptection of the Co-peep-right Act, a jury found, by a peeponderance of the evidence, that Thicke and Pharrell had infringed on Gaye s musical masterpeeps. Here, we have recreated the Blurred Lines music video, complete with Thicke, Pharrell, dancing girls (chicks), hashtags, and a sheep, while Marvin Gaye in his beard and beanie looks down from heaven with his $7.3M award and the scales of justice. Got to give it up, indeed. Attribution: Submitted by Robyn Littman, Lucy Mac Gabhann and Erin Podolny
SOCIAL STUDIES P A G E 3 Continued from page 2 Our Magnet students participate in our own version of this awesome contest. Each class creates their diorama for the run-off of one entry per freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Winners will be announced at our Law Day festivities! Project Citizen Our GT American Government classes are working hard on their topics for this year s Project Citizen forum. Project Citizen originates from the Center for Civic Education and is endorsed by MSDE and the Office of Social Studies (BCPS). The program promotes competent and responsible participation in local government. The program helps students learn how to monitor and influence public policy. By participating in the program, students develop tolerance and increased feelings of political efficacy. Project Citizen is aligned with the Common Core Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies. Students investigate and research various community issues. They present their findings to the class. The class votes on which topic/issue they would like to continue to research. Students create surveys which they distribute, collect, and analyze. The results are incorporated into their presentation to the esteemed panel of experts. Each year we are fortunate to have Del. Lafferty, Sen. Brochin, Dr. Tony Campbell, representatives from MSDE and the Office of Social Studies, judges, lawyers, and professors of public policy serve on our panels to hear our students pitch for change. Twice our students projects have been incorporated into policy by the Chamber of Commerce. We are proud of the hard work, quality of research, and professional grade presentations of our students. We are also grateful to the community for their support of our efforts as they graciously give of their time to make this opportunity a reality for our students. LPP Senior Field Trip On Tuesday, March 24, the Senior Class of Towson High s Law and Public Policy Magnet Program travelled to Washington, D.C. to visit the National Museum of Crime and Punishment. The trip provided our seniors with an opportunity to learn about the history of law enforcement, crime, and punishment in the United States, as well as a chance to bond and reflect on their almost completed odyssey through the LPP Program and Towson High. Loch Raven Model Congress On Monday, April 27, Brittany Askin, Luca Cellucci, Alex Chrvala, Ciara Donegan, Kristen Donegan, Iyana Fulp, Grace Griffin, Oscar Harris, Ryan Slade, Daniel Schuck will participate in the 16 th Loch Raven Model Congress at Cockeysville Middle School. The Model Congress will provide a fantastic opportunity for students to apply democratic principles, analyze and advocate for relevant public issues, and simulate the legislative process. BCPS sponsors this activity for all Baltimore County High Schools.
P A G E 4 SOCIAL STUDIES Psychology AP - Students creatively explored their own personalities by designing a mask that represents their own personality as they see it. Students were asked to explore 4 personality theories, Trait, Behaviorism, Humanism, and Freud s Psychodynamic theories. Come see some samples on the third floor. First think. Second believe. Third dream. And finally dare. ~Walt Disney~ Psychology: Most students underestimate the abilities of our senses. To demonstrate our keen sense of touch, all students in Mr. Sonneborn s General Psychology classes were assigned a (numbered) lemon and given 20 minutes to get to know their lemon. After 20 minutes, the lemons were collected and the students were blindfolded. Lemons were then redistributed at random. Students worked together passing the lemons around a circle in order to find their lemon. All students were able to find their lemon. Not only did this demonstrate their keen sense of touch, but it utilized group communication and cooperation and was very enjoyable.
SOCIAL STUDIES P A G E 5 Continued from page 2 Page Program Autumn Grant, LPP, Class of 2015, was selected to the 2015 Maryland General Assembly Page Program and recently completed her second week of internship in Annapolis. During her time in the State House, Autumn provided vital services to the legislature, met with legislators and other state officials, and gained valuable experience in the legislative process. Autumn is pictured here with the other members of her rotation (fourth from the right) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller in the background.
P A G E 6 SPECIAL EDUCATION Happy Spring! Students in our functional academic class have a lot to be excited about this spring! Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. Awesome activity day, held at Perry Hall High, is a fun filled day full of sporting activities and mind games. Perry Hall Best Buddy program assisted with each event. The Towson students excelled at basketball and floor hockey. May brings the Very Special Arts Festival, held at Oregon Ridge. Last year the students performed a song and dance on the stage and this year they hope to do the same. The Awesome Activity Day event attracts over 2000 students from every school in Baltimore County. The allied softball team is in mid season and have already won several games. Let's Go Generals! ~ Albert Einstein~
P A G E 7 Have You Heard the News???? Senior News GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS It s not too late to place an order. Visit www.balfour.com. CAP AND GOWNS There are still several seniors who have not ordered a cap and gown. Students who have not yet ordered have received notices in homeroom. A student cannot participate at graduation without a cap and gown. Orders can be made at www.nrpatlantic.com. SENIOR PROM Our next big event is the Senior Prom. The Prom will be held at the Scottish Rite Center from 7:00 11:00 p.m. on May 16 th. The address is 3800 N. Charles Street, Baltimore MD. Tickets were sold the week of April 13-17th. The theme of the evening will be Masquerade. SENIOR PHOTO The senior group photo by Lifetouch is being offered until April 24 th. Students may purchase the photo for $15 or a laminated photo for $20. To purchase, see Mrs. Kromsky at the ticket sales table before or after school. For any questions contact Julie Kromsky at JKromsky@bcps.org or Claudia Krochta at CKrochta@bcps.org
P A G E 8 Have You Heard the News???? Continued SENIORS: THE NEXT CHAPTER Congratulations to our seniors who have already been accepted into college!! Following are the colleges our seniors have selected: University of Alabama Arcadia University Community College of Baltimore County University of Baltimore Binghamton University Bowdoin College Bucknell Calvin College Castleton State College College of Charleston University of Chicago Coastal Carolina University Cornell University (College of Engineering) Dartmouth College University of Delaware DePaul University Drexel University Florida International University Fordham University Frostburg State University Full Sail University George Mason University The University of Georgia Hanover College High Point University Hofstra University Howard University Ithaca College Johns Hopkins Liberty University University of Louisville Lynchburg College University of Maryland, Baltimore County McDaniel College Mercer University Michigan State University Mississippi State University Mount Saint Mary s University University of New Haven University of North Carolina at Charlotte Ohio University Pennsylvania State University University of Pittsburgh Purdue University Radford University Roanoke College Salisbury University School of the Art Institute of Chicago University of South Carolina Temple University University of Tennessee, Knoxville Towson University Tulane University University of Vermont Virginia Commonwealth University Washington College Washington University in St. Louis (Arts & Sciences) West Virginia University Western Carolina University Xavier University
P A G E 9 Have You Heard the News???? Continued To The First Annual Theater Booster Celebration Wednesday, April 22nd at 6:00 p.m. at The Greene Turtle. Join us for a buffet dinner, awards ceremony, and student performances as we celebrate a year of wonderful theater at Towson HS. Tickets are $15 for students, $20 for adults. Make checks payable to THS Theater Boosters. MUSIC DEPARTMENT Congratulations to the band and orchestra students who will be attending a field trip to the BCPS Side -by-side with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra concert on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. The following students will actually PERFORM with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at this concert!! What an honor!! Congratulations! Naomi Element ~ Violin Rose Alon ~ Viola Leo Sarbanes ~ Oboe Sylvie Hullinger ~ Clarinet Rey Sasaki ~ Violin Yuzhu Shi ~ Flute Anne Saba ~ Oboe Luke Powers ~ Trumpet
P A G E 10 Have You Heard the News???? Continued 8TH GRADE STUDENTS FROM DUMBARTON VISIT TOWSON HS On Tuesday, April 14, 2015, we welcomed 345 8th grade students and their teachers from Dumbarton Middle School. The students arrived in the auditorium and heard from school representatives. Then they broke into tour groups, led by members of SGA. The tour included showing the students the layout of Towson High School as well as important areas and offices. At 1:50 p.m., they reported back to the auditorium and enjoyed a preview of Hairspray (THS musical scheduled from 4-16-15 through 4-18-15) before boarding their buses and returning to Dumbarton. Thanks to all the Towson staff and students, especially the SGA, for making our rising 9th graders feel welcomed.
P A G E 11 Have You Heard the News???? Continued TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL CLEAN UP DAY-- APRIL 25TH FROM 9 AM TO NOON. Attention all clubs, teams, students, faculty, and families! Please join us for the BIG EVENT--the annual Spring Clean Up of the THS campus. Many hands make light work, plus you can earn service hours for your participation. Wear work gloves and bring some tools, especially rakes and cutting tools. Towson University students and neighbors will be joining us at the Aigburth parking lot at 9 am to spruce up our campus. For more information, email Jennifer Bolster at jenniferbolster1@gmail.com.
P A G E 12 Have You Heard the News???? Continued THANK YOU TRADER JOE'S for the Donation of flowers for our AP Biology students!
P A G E 13 Have You Heard the News???? Continued
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P A G E 16 UPCOMING EVENTS April 16-18 Spring Musical, Hairspray - 7:00 p.m. - Auditorium 21 Honor Society Inductions -~ NHS, SHs, FHS, CHS, LHS, NAHS and content area societies, 7:00 p.m., Auditorium 22 Earth Day / SGA Clean-Up 23 Distribution of 3rd Quarter Report Cards 23 Spring Concert ~ Strings, 7:00 p.m., Auditorium 24 Junior Prom, 7:00 p.m., Auditorium 25 Towson Hs Clean Up Day ~ 9:00 a.m. - Noon 28 Spring Concert ~ Bands, 7:00 p.m., Auditorium 29 AVID Senior Celebration, 8:00 a.m., Auditorium 30 Spring Concert ~ Choral, 7:00 p.m., Auditorium May 4-15 AP Testing 8 Senior Interims Distributed 8 Theatre Awards Night, 7:00 p.m., Auditorium 11-22 Senior Final Exams 15 Underclassmen Interims Distributed 15 Colophon Reading, 7:00 p.m. Library 16 Senior Prom, 7:00 p.m., Scottish Rite, Charles Street
V O L U M E 3, I S S U E 2 4 P A G E 17 Towson High School 69 Cedar Ave Towson, MD 21286 PHONE: 410-887-3608 FAX: 410-583-1375