STARS to our Staff, Parents and Students

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

STARS- Weekly

Accolades for

Staff, Parents,

and Students

1

Featured Article 2-4

School

Happenings

5-13

Upcoming Events 14

T O W S O N H I G H

S C H O O L The Towson Pride V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3

Inclement Weather Date: January 7, 2017

Magnet Assessment December 10, 2016

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

STARS to Mr. Olson for

greeting his students each

and every day with enthusi-asm and a smile.

STARS to Ms. West and

her classes, the AP Envi-ronmental Club and Key

Club for participating in the

THS cleanup.

STARS to Adam Coplai and members of the Boys

Soccer team for organizing

a fundraiser to benefit pros-trate cancer in honor of

Coach Dase.

STARS to Brennan Hula for earning National Merit

Semifinalist status!

Each week, individuals will be recog-

nized for their contributions to the

school. Staff members are encour-

aged 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 Monica Col-

bert and her staff for do-ing such a wonderful job

cleaning up the building

over the summer as well as taking care of things on a

day by day basis.

STARS to 10th grad-

er, Wilson Turner for par-ticipating in and earning a

certificate of Excellence in the StarTalk program at the

University of Virginia.

STARS to the THS

Golfers! The boys and girls both finished in 3rd

place!! Four golfers: Con-ner Brown, Burke Harman,

Sean Lawrence, and Ryan

Walsh qualified for the dis-trict competition.

STARS to Mr. Olson’s 1A AP Psych class!! As a

group, they earned a super high average of 89% on

their first unit test!!

STARS to Senior Cross

Country Athlete, Jona-than Ellis for his 2nd place

finish at the 65th Spiked Shoe Invita-

tional at Ste-

venson Uni-versity last

Saturday, September

24th. His time of

15:56 over

the rolling 5K course is

the 11th fastest time in the state so

far this season.

STARS to Mr. Joch-

mans and Ms. Karsos for their organization with

the SGA.

Jonathan Ellis

Brennan Hula

P A G E 2

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

The Towson High School Music Department welcomes the newest member of our instructional team,

Ms. Kaitlin “Callie” Ferrell! Ms. Ferrell is a percussionist, Towson University graduate, and first year

teacher who teaches a split, full time position on B days at THS and also at General John Stricker Mid-

dle School on A days. She is teaching 2 of the 3 percussion ensemble classes and 1 of the 5 guitar clas-

ses at THS this year.

The 2016 Marching Generals recently returned from our 11th annual summer band camp at Camp Ram-

blewood to present “United We Band!” The show is one of hope and focuses on universal love and a

call to unity in the tumultuous world we live in. The featured songs are: Viva La Vida by the group

Coldplay, We’re All in This Together from “High School Musical” (our THS theater production last

year), We are the World by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie, and The Harmony Medley arranged

by Mr. Rhen with the songs Why Can’t We Be Friends by War, Love Train by the O’Jays, Put a Little

Love in Your Heart by Jackie DeShannon, and Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon. The marching

band is under the leadership of senior drum major Micah Herman. The Marching Generals performed

at the Reisterstown Festival parade on Saturday, September 2nd and we took the 1st place trophy!

Look for the Marching Generals at the Columbus Day parade on Sunday, October 2nd and at all of the

Home Boys Varsity football games this year!

On Monday September 26, the THS Chamber Choir combined with the chamber choirs from Perry

Hall and Patapsco High Schools for a workshop with Grammy Award winning conductor, Dr. Jerry

Music News

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

Music News

Blackstone. Each choir sang a selection and watched as Dr. Blackstone offered feedback from a

collegiate perspective. The choirs concluded the workshop by performing a selection together,

“Blow Ye the Trumpet” arranged by Kirke Mechem and eating lunch together in the THS cafete-

ria.

The Towson High School Music Boosters’ Spaghetti Dinner-Fall Social will be held at the Greene

Turtle in Towson on Wednesday, October 16th from 6:30-9:00 pm. This is an ADULT ONLY

fundraiser event where Towson parents, club officers, and music teachers have a chance to social-

ize AND raise money for the music students. Advance tickets are still available for $15 each. So

support the program and buy yours today. We’ll see you at the Turtle!

Here’s something new! The Tri-M Honor Society is planning a new concert experience called a

“Hauncert” on Wednesday, October 26th at 7 pm. Student performers will dress up in Halloween

garb and display their musical talents. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and a reception is

also planned.

P A G E 4

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

This year, 139 students from THS music ensembles will audition for the Baltimore County Public

Schools All Honors Orchestra, Band, or Chorus at Carver Center for the Arts on Saturday, October

8th. That’s a huge number of students attempting the rigorous audition music and judging process.

The BCPS Honors concert will be held at 7:30 pm on the evening of Monday, November 14th at Mor-

gan State University after weeks of practice and rehearsals with exceptional guest conductors. Con-

gratulations in advance to the THS musicians who likely qualify!

About 44% of the THS student body is enrolled in a music class this year! That is a true indicator of

the 5 star tradition of excellence at Towson High School. Whether it’s guitar class, orchestra, band,

jazz band, chorus, marching band, AP Music Theory, music technology, percussion class, or an extra

-curricular music group, there is something for every student interested in music at THS.

We invite you to come to at least one of the winter concerts this year. The students need to arrive at 6

pm and parents may attend a pre-concert reception social hour with food and beverages in the cafete-

ria prior to the shows! Concerts begin at 7 pm and are scheduled as follows:

Winter Concert 1- Strings- Tuesday, December 13th

Winter Concert 2- Bands -Thursday, December 15th

Winter Concert 3-Choral- Tuesday, December 20th

Each concert is a relaxing and entertaining evening during a busy time of year! On Monday, Decem-

ber 19th the THS Jazz Ensemble will perform at Kenilworth Mall from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. Come see the

train garden and hear the festive sounds of the Jazz Ensemble.

Here at Towson High School we are grateful for the opportunities our music program provides and

the abundant success we continue to experience. All of this comes from the support of our communi-

ty; booster club; feeder schools; staff; administration; parents; teachers; and of course, the students

we are lucky enough to teach.

The School Status Information Line

Has a Number:

443-809-5555

Music News

P A G E 5 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings Want to be “in the know?” Never want to

miss an important school activity

again???

Sign up to receive convenient up-to-date information about activi-

ties throughout the year by text. It’s fast and easy!! Simply text

@b976f to 81010. If you’re having trouble, you can also text

@b976f to (202) 524-8600.

This year’s Homecoming Dance

will be held Saturday, October 8th at

7:00 pm in the cafeteria. The theme for this year is Mardi

Gras!

Ticket sales will begin Thursday, September 29th. The

cost is $20 per ticket. Because there are a limited number

of tickets, they will be sold on a first come/first served ba-

sis. You can purchase your tickets before and after school

by the cafeteria.

Please remember - if you’re bringing a non-Towson stu-

dent guest, that guest form must be turned in by Friday,

September 30th no later than 2:30 pm.

P A G E 6

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings

You can purchase your tickets online at:

http://towsonhightheatre.weebly.com/

Make your plans and get your tickets for the fall produc-

tion of The Election presented by Towson High School Theater students.

Advanced tickets are only $12.00! Tickets at the door

will be $15.00. Follow the link below to grab your seats

today!!!

P A G E 7 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings

NATIONAL MERIT

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

LETTER OF COMMENDATION

RECIPIENTS

Congratulations to the following Towson High School students for receiving a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship program. We’re so proud of you!! Keep up the good work! Helen Amberger Alena Bowman Aislinn Bratt Deborah Chang Crystal Cheng Naomi Element Samuel Gold Amanda Grogin Morgan Hylton Vicente Iglesias Thomas King Katherine Lord Jacob Mader Jack Morgan Zara Schwartz Samuel Shrestha Colin Skeen Siwon Sung Ellen Tait Christina Tancredi Anne Zappas

Not Pictured: Naomi Element, Amanda Grogin, Thomas King, and Jacob Mader

P A G E 8

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings

On Saturday morning, students in Ms. West’s AP Environmental Science classes, the Environmental Club, and the Key Club came together to make our THS campus a cleaner and better place. This great group of 60 environmentally-conscious citizens collected over 2000 pieces of trash including three tires, two metal sign posts, two pieces of metal tubing, a large plastic container, an 8 foot piece of plastic tubing, a soccer ball, a wooden frame, and lots of recyclables and trash. Our campus cleanup was part of the much larger International Coastal Cleanup. The data hasn’t been compiled for 2016 yet, however, the annual worldwide event was held for the 30th year in 2015 and involved over 800,000 volunteers who collected more than 16 million tons of trash from the world’s coastlines and the tributaries that lead to the bays and oceans. This was the fourth year for the campus cleanup at Towson High and it was, by far, the largest student turn out for the event.

BEFORE THE CLEAN-UP

AFTER THE CLEAN-UP

P A G E 9 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

Janice M. Footman (Towson High School; Class of 2006; Law and

Public Policy Magnet; Deer Park Magnet Middle; Chadwick Elemen-

tary) has accepted a position as an Assistant Public Defender in the

Public Defender's Office of Baltimore County. Miss Footman is a

2014 graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and was

admitted to the Maryland Bar in June of 2015.

Now is the perfect time to buy your

2016-2017 Towson High School

yearbook. The price will increase af-

ter September 30, so visit

www.jostens.com to purchase yours

today! The Sidelights staff thanks all

those who have already placed their

orders for their support!

P A G E 1 0

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings

BCPS is holding its annual Magnet Ex-po for students and parents to learn about all the magnet programs offered in the county. The EXPO will be held at the Radisson Hotel North Baltimore in Timonium this Saturday, October 1st from 10am – 2pm. Mark your calendars with this important date! Towson HS will host its annual SHOW-CASE night on October 18th from 6-8pm with doors opening at 5:30pm. Prospective LPP students (7th and 8th graders) and their parents are invited to attend and learn about the LPP program and all it has to offer.

LPP Program News

Some of our Generals return to say hello. Mr. Bianco, department chair at Sparrows Point, stopped by for a visit this week.

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings

Students in Mr. Olson's class apply knowledge of

the brain to create interesting scenarios.

Roles for group participation appear

in Mr. Cooke's class.

Check out the Wall of

Student Work that ap-pears in Ms. Alexander's

class!

P A G E 1 2

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings

Get Ready for Spirit Week!

P A G E 1 3 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

School Happenings

Ms. Moyer’s class making the target!

Mr. Buick's classroom walls always

showcase the efforts of our stu-dents.

P A G E 1 4

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

UPCOMING EVENTS

October

3 Rosh Hashanah—Schools and Offices CLOSED

4-7 Spirit Week

5-19 HSA Exam Testing Window

6 Parent-Teacher Conferences (2:15 pm - 4:00 pm)

7 Homecoming Pep Rally

8 Homecoming Day

8 Homecoming Dance (7:00 pm, Cafeteria)

11 AVID Induction Ceremony

12 Yom Kippur—Schools and Offices CLOSED

14 Freshman Magnet Breakfast (8:15 am, Senior Cafeteria)

18 Magnet Showcase (6:00 pm)

19 PSAT Test, grades 9-11 only (At School)

19 Senior Assembly / Senior Panoramic Photo

19 Music Boosters Fall Fundraiser (6:00 pm, Greene Turtle)

21 Professional Development Day—Schools CLOSED for students

24, 25 Senior Portrait Make-ups (Auditorium)

25 Financial Aid Planning Night (6:30 pm, Auditorium)

28 Freshmen Elections (in Social Studies Classes)

28 1st Marking Period Ends

T H E T O W S O N P R I D E

Towson High School

69 Cedar Ave

Towson, MD 21286

PHONE: 410-887-3608

FAX: 410-583-1375

P A G E 1 5 V O L U M E 4 , I S S U E 3