This is a friendly reminder that schools and offices will be closed on Tuesday, May 14 in observance of Election Day.

Also, schools will be closed for students this Friday, May 17 for a Professional Development Day.

Next week, on May 20-23, students in grades 6-12 will vote for Baltimore City’s next Student Commissioner and the Officers for the Associated Student Congress of Baltimore City (ASCBC). Help your student prepare to vote! Check out a full voter guide on ASCBC’s website, and watch the candidate’s campaign videos on City Schools’ Youtube.

Graduation season is quickly approaching and it's time to celebrate the class of 2024! The graduation ceremony schedule is up with dates, locations, and times for all high school graduations.

Click HERE for the full list of graduation ceremonies.

Please check with your school for more details on cap and gown pickup, tickets, and more.

Join City Schools as we congratulate the graduating class of 2024 by sharing a congratulatory message on the Graduation Celebration Wall! Whether it's a special mention for a specific graduate or a message for the entire class, let's unite in honoring this significant milestone.

Click HERE to post a special congratulations! 

Please join Baltimore City Public Schools for Peace and Remembrance Day as we honor our students who were tragically lost to violence. Join us at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 23 at the City Schools District Office - 200 E. North Avenue.

Join the Partnership for Reading Success, where we empower caregivers to play an active role in their children's reading journeys. Attend three virtual and three in-person sessions over spring and summer, sharing ideas, trying reading activities with your child, giving feedback on new resources, and spreading the word to other parents. Email our Family Engagement Manager, Shar Hollingsworth at sghollingsworth@bcps.k12.md.us if you're interested.

May is Mental Health Month, and City Schools is committed to fostering an environment where the mental well-being of every student is prioritized every day. With staff including school psychologists, wholeness specialists, and wellness specialists who focus on providing support for our students and families, our schools are here to help.

We will have virtual parent engagement and coaching opportunity events all month, along with resources and more. Below are some virtual events we will host this month.

Substance Use & Vaping - May 15, 2024 - 6:00 p.m.
Registration link: https://cookcenter.info/May15Baltimore Registration link Spanish: https://cookcenter.info/May15BaltimoreSp

Emotional Regulation - May 22, 2024 - 6:00 p.m.
Registration link: https://cookcenter.info/May22Baltimore Registration link Spanish: https://cookcenter.info/May22BaltimoreSp

Social Media - May 29, 2024 - 6:00 p.m. Registration link: https://cookcenter.info/May29Baltimore Registration link Spanish: https://cookcenter.info/May29BaltimoreSp

To view a list of virtual events, visit City Schools News.

May is Celebrating Fine Arts in City Schools Month! Join us at City Schools District Office for rotating weekly showcases at The Guilford Gallery, featuring visual art exhibitions and performing arts presentations.

For a full list of performances and more, visit the City Schools Calendar and filter "Fine Arts".

Do you or someone you know have a passion for the education of students in Baltimore City? The Baltimore City Public School Board of Commissioners is looking for leaders who have a vision and will be committed to serving our students, our schools and our city. Applications are now open: https://www.bmorechildren.com/boardofschoolcommissioners

Elementary and middle schoolers, it's time to get creative! Enter WJZ's Thurgood Marshall Art Competition by crafting art inspired by the life of Thurgood Marshall. The winner will receive a new Macbook Pro! Entries are due by May 15.

For more information and to enter the competition, visit WJZ News.

Join us in celebrating OrchKids' sixteenth year of serving Baltimore City Schools' children with a concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall on Wednesday, May 15 at 6 p.m. Featuring over 200 City Schools students from 50 different schools, this event promises to be a memorable showcase of talent.

For more information and to reserve your "Pay-What-You-Wish" tickets, visit OrchKids.

Get ready to spread some smiles on Sunday, May 19, 2024! Benevis is excited to offer free dental care to uninsured children and their families on Sharing Smiles Day. For more information and to register, visit Sharing Smiles Day.

Volo Kids is on a mission to build communities of active, resilient, and confident kids through free quality sports programs, and registration is still open for their spring programs! Volo Kids has programming at a number of Recreation Centers and Parks throughout Baltimore City. The programs are completely free and run for 6 weeks seasonally for kids ages 5-13.

For more information, visit https://volokids.org/city/baltimore/

After a long winter, spring blooms with hope. Parent coaching can be that breath of fresh air that guides you to sunnier days. Parent Coaching is a FREE and CONFIDENTIAL resource provided by your school district that connects you with a coach and content created by therapists. All coaching correspondence is HIPAA protected. Click here to register for on-going support from a coach: https://cookcenter.info/coaching

The Baltimore City Office of Parks and Recreation has many summer camps available for students this summer, and registration is now open. To learn more and to view the camps they offer, visit https://bit.ly/bcrpsummercamps2024.