- Calendar reminder
- Reading through the holidays!
- Family & Community Town Hall: School Year Calendar!
- Join us for Math Night
- Come to the School Choice Fair
- Come to the CEO's Winter Arts Showcase
- Spreading Good News
- Upcoming Events
- Local News
November 25, 2024
What's Inside
Calendar reminder
Happy Thanksgiving from City Schools!
We wish you and your family a safe and joyful holiday!
Just a reminder: Schools and offices will be closed from Wednesday, November 27, through Friday, November 29. We will reopen on Monday, December 2.
Don't miss these upcoming events in December:
Virtual 2025–26 School Year Calendar Town Hall — Thursday, December 5, at 5 p.m.
CEO Winter Arts Showcase - Monday, December 9 through Friday, December 13
Math Night for Grades Pre-K–5 at Port Discovery — Wednesday, December 11, from 5 to 8 p.m.
School Choice Fair — Saturday, December 14, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Reading through the holidays
As we head into the Thanksgiving holiday, we encourage families to keep the joy of reading alive! City Schools students can access the free online library, SORA, which offers thousands of free books, magazines, and more for all ages. It's a great way to relax, explore new stories, and keep reading during the break!
Check the flyer for login instructions, and if you need assistance with gaining access, please get in touch with your school.
Family & Community Town Hall: 2025-26 School Year Calendar
City Schools invites families and community members to a special Town Hall event to discuss our district calendar for next year! This is an opportunity to share your thoughts on the proposed calendar models and let us know what works best for you and your family.
Date: Thursday, December 5, 2024
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Virtual Link:bit.ly/FamilyCommunityInput
Join us for Math Night
City Schools is hosting a Districtwide Math Night at Port Discovery on Wednesday, December 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. Pre-K through fifth-grade students and families can engage in math activities, and parents and guardians can learn how to support their students at home. Sensory materials and sensory-friendly alternative activities will be available. Discount parking, dinner, and interpretation will also be available.
Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Port Discovery
35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Register: https://bit.ly/MathNightPD25
Come to the School Choice Fair!
At City Schools, students choose their middle and high schools. To help in the Choice process, City Schools hosts a Choice Fair for families to learn about all their school options.
Join us from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 14 for the annual Choice Fair at the Baltimore Convention Center!
Come to the CEO's Winter Arts Showcase
Join us the week of Monday, December 9, for the Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) Winter Arts Showcase at our North Avenue District Office. Schools from across the district will present holiday-themed productions, featuring a variety of visual art exhibitions and live performances in the Guilford Gallery.
We invite you to enjoy the creativity and talent of our students as they celebrate the season. The performance schedule is available HERE!
Congratulations to Vanguard Collegiate Middle School for winning Mayor Scott's Attendance Award for Quarter 1!
Great Kids Farm facilitates Turkey Pardon at Dallas F. Nicholas, Sr., Elementary School
Since 2018, Great Kids Farm has operated as an educational farm under Baltimore City Public Schools’ Food and Nutrition Department, hosting field trips for schools across the district. During these trips, students plant and harvest produce, interact with farm animals, and explore local trails and streams. In this video, students from Yorkwood Elementary School learn about erosion and stream restoration.
This year, as part of American Education Week and following national tradition, City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises and Mayor Brandon M. Scott pardoned a turkey affectionately named "Ted" by kindergartners at Dallas F. Nicholas Sr. Elementary School. During the ceremony, the kindergartners staged a peaceful protest, presenting Dr. Santelises and Mayor Scott with a signed petition and a persuasive essay read aloud by a fifth grader to plead Ted’s case. After thoughtful deliberation, Dr. Santelises graciously pardoned Ted, who was lovingly returned to Great Kids Farm.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Wednesday, November 27 - Wellness Day, schools and offices closed
Thursday, November 28 - Friday, November 29 - schools and offices closed
Tuesday, December 3 - Teaching and Learning Committee meeting - 3:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 5 - Family and Community Town Hall: 2025-26 Calendar - 5:30 p.m.
Monday, December 9 - SECAC meeting - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, December 10 - Public Board meeting - 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 12 - Community School Steering Committee meeting - 4 p.m.
Free Tutoring Services
The Youth Library Tutorial Group offers free in-person and online tutoring services to all students in kindergarten through grade 12.
Students can get one-on-one tutoring with a Johns Hopkins student on Saturdays at the Waverly and Southeast Anchor branches of the Enoch Pratt Library,and Sundays online. For more information, visit the Youth Library Tutorial Group.
Enter Mayor Scott's Black History Month Art Contest
City Schools students and families, it's time to get creative! In preparation for Black History Month, Mayor Scott is hosting an art contest, and the winning pieces will be showcased in City Hall this February. Whether it’s a painting, drawing, digital art, or mixed media, this is a great chance to honor Black leaders, artists, and trailblazers creatively.
Parents, encourage your young artists to participate! Artwork drop-offs are from December 9 to December 13 at City Hall, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Be sure to check the guidelines to make sure your submission is ready! For questions, please email childrenandfamilysuccess@baltimorecity.gov.
City Schools Helpful Numbers
Main: 443-984-2000
Enrollment: 410-396-8600
Transportation: 410-396-7440
Complaints/ Concerns: 410-545-1870
Special Education Parent Response Unit: 443-984-1561
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Baltimore City Public Schools does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy/parenting status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally or constitutionally protected attributes or affiliations, as outlined in Board Policies JBA, JBB, JICK, ACA, ACB, and ACD. Full nondiscrimination notice: www.baltimorecityschools.org/notice-nondiscrimination