Team BCPS Day 2016 – bigger and bluer than ever

January 21, 2016

TOWSON – Just when we think it can’t get any bigger – or bluer, it does! Team BCPS Day 2016, Baltimore County Public Schools’ annual celebration of pride, unity, impact, and all-around awesomeness yielded more than 3,000 tweets, reaching 2.3 million unique viewers, and #BCPSBlue trending in the middle of the day.

Team BCPS stakeholders were asked to photograph themselves wearing blue and to send or post on social media those photos as well as photos showcasing BCPS history. But they did so much more. Pinewood Elementary School incorporated a “blue” theme into its curriculum for the day with students listening to bluegrass, writing blues songs, learning about blue mountains, and more. Many spirited music videos were created. Schools expressed their positive feelings about BCPS using sign language, artwork, and writing. Hair was sprayed blue. Families posed in blue before leaving for work and school. Business partners including Ashley’s Bakery, Boscov’s, Camp Puh’Tok, Cisco, Daly Computers, Discovery Education, Engrade, First Financial Federal Credit Union, Knovation, Lakeshore Learning, Maryland Collision Center, Microsoft, Rouge Catering, and Zest Social Media Solutions – boosted BCPS. Even family pets proudly wore Team BCPS swag.

“Since we held our first Team BCPS Day in January 2014, every year it has grown to be more successful and meaningful,” said Superintendent Dr. S. Dallas Dance. “It really has become a great event to launch the second half of the school year and to celebrate our connections to the community. We deeply appreciate our stakeholders for their participation and for the pride they demonstrate in being part of Team BCPS.”

Even as snapshots and tweets continued well into Friday, judging commenced for the best blue-themed images of the day. Here are this year’s honorees:

Best Office Spirit

  1. The Department of Information Technology Office of Enterprise Applications Team
  2. Office of Purchasing
  3. Greenwood Administration Building

Largest Assembly (tie)

Best School Video – Ridgely Middle School

Overwhelmingly Adorable – All the children of Baltimore County Public Schools (We can’t pick!)

Best BCPS formation — Baltimore Highlands Elementary School students in the shape of BCPS

Most “True to the Blue” (tie)

  • Adriana Dowell, Grade 3, Kingsville Elementary School
  • Brigid Gucwa, Grade 3, Catonsville Elementary School

Most Far-Flung Team BCPS Member – Kathy Johansen, administrative secretary, Harford Hills Elementary School in St. Thomas

Best Superpower – Superhero guy, also known as Eric Cromwell, coordinator, Elementary Science, BCPS

Most Inspirational – Team Glyndon Elementary School
Best Non-Human Team BCPS Member (tie)

Best Inadvertent Participation in Team BCPS Day (tie)

  • Sky
  • Hotel lit in blue, both submitted by Lloyd Brown, executive director, Department of Technology

Most Representative of Team BCPS Ideals

  1. Logan Elementary School Kindergarten students signing
  2. Charlesmont Elementary School
  3. Gunpowder Elementary (Ms. Schuchardt’s class)
  4. Deer Park Elementary School building 21st century bridges

Sharing the Spirit Award – Corporate 

  1. Discovery Education
  2. First Financial Federal Credit Union
  3. Zest Social Media Solutions
  4. Engrade
  5. Daly Computers

Sharing the Spirit Award – Government 

  1. Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum
  2. Baltimore County Executive’s Office
  3. District 44B delegates
  4. Baltimore County Councilman Crandell
  5. Baltimore County Public Library

Sharing the Spirit Award – Higher Education – Community College of Baltimore County

Continuing the Legacy Award – Nicole Fields, Kindergarten teacher, Norwood Elementary School

Best Team BCPS Day Artwork – AM PreKindergarten at Mays Chapel Elementary School

Most Spirited (tie)

Best BCPS Throwback (tie)

Best BCPS Blue Posture – Catonsville Elementary School, Grade 1

Best Wordplay – Kingsville Elementary School (for adding the word “blue-tiful” to our vocabulary)
Best Use of Frame (tie)

Best Team BCPS Scout – Debbie Phelps, Director, The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools (Everywhere she went on Team BCPS Day – including Subway sandwiches, Italian Gardens, and Autozone, she made new friends and found BCPS alumni and retired employees.)

BCPS Blue Strong Award – 1LT Stephanie Germoroth at Fort Carson, Co., a Dulaney High School graduate and daughter of Dr. Fran Allen, executive director, Human Resources Operations, BCPS

Best Incorporation of BCPS Blue into Its Curriculum – Pinewood Elementary School

 

More than 500 photos from the day can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/bcps/albums  and additional resources, contributions, and information may be found at the Team BCPS Web page at www.bcps.org/teambcps/.