Towson High School Newsletter

Dear Towson High School Community,

The spring season is filled with many opportunities for our Generals to demonstrate their knowledge of content-specific knowledge and skills. Here is an overview of our standardized testing and final exam schedules:

• Grade 11 SAT Day – March 25 - All students in the c/o 2027 cohort will take this assessment. The results of this assessment are used for CCR status (530+ in Math, 480+ EBRW), ESSA Report Card credit for well-rounded curriculum, college admissions, scholarships, and more.
• MCAP ELA 10 - April 20 - April 29 - All 10th grade students will take this assessment in ELA 10 classes. The results of this assessment are used for CCR status (score of 3+) and ESSA Report Card achievement data. Seniors who need this test for graduation will take it on April 15 in a centralized location.
• MCAP Government – April 28 - All students that are currently taking American Government will take this assessment in a centralized location. The results of this assessment will be used as the final exam grade and will account for 20% of students' final American Government course grades. Seniors who need this test for graduation will take it on April 28 in a centralized location.
• MCAP Science (MISA) - April 30 - May 11 - All students that are currently taking Living Systems will take this assessment in their Living Systems classes. The results of this assessment will be used as the final exam grade and will account for 20% of students' final Living Systems course grades. Seniors who need this test for graduation will take it on April 27 in a centralized location.
• MCAP Math - May 13 - May 22 - All 9th grade students that are currently taking Algebra 1, Geometry*, or Algebra 2* (*updated 3/24/26) will take this assessment in their math classes. The results of this assessment are used for CCR status (score of 3+) and ESSA Report Card achievement data. Seniors who need this test for graduation will take it on April 14 in a centralized location.
• AP Testing - May 4 - 15 - All students who are registered for AP exams.
• Senior Final Exams - May 12 - May 19 - All 12th grade students. Final exam grades are factored into students’ Semester 2/End of Course grades.
• Underclass Final Exams - June 9-16 (Tentative) - All 9th-11th grade students. Final exam grades are factored into students’ Semester 2/End of Course grades.

As we move into testing season, please discuss with your student the value of each assessment that they will be taking this spring. Access the “TEST Like a 5-Star General” image for testing tips before and during the assessment, as well as THS testing norms.

In partnership,

Dr. Kim Culbertson

Students are recognized for being 5-STAR Towson Generals. Staff and Parents are recognized for demonstrating heart-work that helps our THS learning community to thrive.

• Sam Wheeler for being recongized as a Finalist in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.

• Hemerson Rodriguez for his willingness to actively learn and always helping others.

• London Adams for significant growth in her academic progress and staying engaged.
• Travez Cox for his attention to detail.
• Alan Mahan for continued resilience, motivation, and ability to manage time. He is steadfast in meeting his goals.
• Marley Mente for continued consistent effort, resilience, and commitment to meet her academic goals.
• Joseph Shaney for being an all around great person.

• Nelson Hernandez & Josue Vargas Cordova for coming to coach class in social studies and raising their grades!

• Eli Holt for volunteering during great AP psychology conversations.

• Elaina Fernandez for excelling in class and coach class to get her grade up in AP psychology!

• Sophie Vijan, Ayla Venkatesan, and the leading the Towson Takes on a Cure team for raising $4,000 at their Bingo Night for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) .

• Ethan Grace, Braylon Lawson, Keaton Beeson, Nicolas Toung, Korben Suskin, Ryan Toung, Ethan Jones, Mustapha Sesay, & Nathan Law for qualifying and competing in the MPSSAA Wrestling State Championships.

• Tornike Gabunia & Tolu Adegborioye for their help setting up the March Faculty Meeting.

• Alivia Mintiens for sharing her research and expertise on the FDA and artificial sweeteners with younger research students.

• Class of 2029 officers for their successful fundraising efforts!

• Nelson Monroy Hernandez por ser orgullo de sus notas and making improvements!

• Mercedes Cooper for reaching out for support and taking advantage of positive opportunities.

• David Filani for continuing to show interest in learning, discovering new ways to improve his fitness. And, he is a kind and friendly student who works well with others.

• The Red Cross Club for organizing the annual blood drive!

• Olivia Roasa for being named a "Dream Big" award winner!

• Lucia Bray & Grace Cheung for being selected as 2026 Carson Scholars!

• Marcus Amo for being selected as a 2026 Recognized Carson Scholar!

• Vishvak Gernapudi for qualifying for the National Semifinal USA BioOlympiad exam.

• Harrison Kahn, Patrick Mossman, Lucas Blanton, Anjji Abiona, Ivanka Nwachuku, Will Budlow, Joseph Tietz, Lucy Bray, Gavin Washington, & Kiki Enufo for competing in the Baltimore Council of Foreign Affairs Academic World Quest Competition.

• Ashton Gibson for his positive participation in art class

• Abby Colwell, Addie McGuire, Sophia Seese, Abby Simon, Simon Too'too, Sireen El-Awady and Izzy Cofiell for their NAHS Leadership leading into the Art Showcase!

• Liliana Morris, Sam Worth, Ruben Martinez for their dedication to their artwork.

• Lauren Kaustel & Farrah Steinik for presenting to the PTSA about Leaderize.

• Ms. Krochta & Mr. Skeels for sharing nuggets of wisdom with the staff during the March Faculty Meeting!
• Ms. Falatko for going above and beyond to help support a student in a unique situation to graduate on time.
• Ms. B McCusker for organizing the class of 2029 Chipotle fundraiser!
• Ms. Bissmeyer for going above and beyond, supporting a senior's ability to graduate on time!
• Ms. Moody for her support of a senior, enabling them to earn the SSL hours they need to graduate on time!
• Brian Tregaskis for how he is always willing to help and support ALL staff in the building!
• Ms. Yelton for the time she takes to share information and resources to our health classes!
• Ms. Petras for her positive support in all parent conferences; she consistently provides detailed packets for all team members on grades, attendance, and graduation requirements. She not only provides data but also valuable insights on targeted focus areas.
• Mr. Aglietti and his 4B AP World History class. Their level of engagement in the “Treaty of Versailles Simulation Game” was amazing. The simulation led to a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the failings of the treaty and, consequently, its impact on future hostilities.
• Ms. Redd for sharing MCAP review practice with the Algebra 1 team.
• Ms. Stevenson for welcoming colleagues into her classroom to learn from her.
• Coach Hyman for leading the Wrestling Team to States!
• Mr. Reid for his support of English 10 students Ms. Sydney Marks classes!
• Ms. Marks & Ms. McCusker for their fundraising efforts for the Class of 2029!
• Mr. Marks for planning and leading a field trip for AVID students to the Navigating Your Professional Future Summit at Loyola University.
• Madame Seck for all she does to help students love and be successful in French class.
• Ms. Raley for all she does to support students and teachers throughout the building!
• Ms. Lyford-Pike for her reflection and growth in teaching a pilot course!
• Nurse Russo for organizing and supporting the annual Blood Drive.
• Ms. Krochta for helping to secure the modulars during C lunch.
• Ms. Anias, Mr. Filosa, & Ms. Schnitzer for supporting teacher co-planning.
• Ms. Bissmeyer & Mr. Dashiell for finishing WIDA testing.
• Ms. Vincent for coaching the THS USA BioOlympiad team.
• Ms. Bissmeyer for administering Seal of Biliteracy testing.

• The Red Cross for supporting the annual THS blood drive.

• Jen McMenamin for stepping up at the last minute to support our blood drive, and even cleared her day to stay and chaperone for the entire event!! She was a real lifesaver!!

• March 13 - Ring Dance (c/o 2028)
• March 20 - Schools Closed for Students
• March 25 - Junior SAT Day (normal schedule for all other students)
• April 1 - MP3 Ends
• April 1 - 3-Hour Early Dismissal for Students
• April 2-12 - Spring Break
• April 23 - MP3 Report Cards on FOCUS at 4:00 pm
• April 24 - Junior Prom (c/o 2027)
• May 9 - Senior Prom (c/o 2026)

BCPS is proud to announce that ALL graduating seniors now have a smoother, faster and more accessible path to early acceptance at the Community College of Baltimore County through a new partnership called Direct Admit. This opportunity streamlines the admission process, provides a simplified path to early admission, information, resources, and financial aid at CCBC. For most students, CCBC tuition will be low cost or free. All you need to do is check your BCPS email from Direct Admit on Monday, March 16th and complete a brief confirmation form for acceptance. Additional information can be found at https://www.ccbcmd.edu/direct. Have questions or need help accessing your BCPS email? Please see your School Counselor.

Directions for seniors to check their BCPS email:

• Open Google.
• Click the Apps Dashboard tab (myapps.microsoft.com).
• Select the Outlook tile to open your BCPS email.
• Then look for an email from Directadmit@ccbcmd.edu, open it, and follow the instructions.

THS will be administering the SAT on Wednesday, March 25th to all 11th grade students in the 2027 cohort. ALL 11th grade students in the 2027 cohort will take the SAT during 1st and 2nd periods on March 25th. Students are automatically registered through THS. Email Ms. Monacelli, SAT Coordinator, at rmonacelli@bcps.org with questions or concerns.

If you would like to get practical advice from students who have already taken the SAT, then please join us in Room M104 after school on Thursdays. Strategies for navigating through the tests as well as practice using the Blue Book tools are just a few of the areas on which our testing experts will cover. This is SAT help for students created by students. Please join us Thursdays in M104.

Set on a sun-soaked Greek island, Mamma Mia! follows Sophie, a young woman on the eve of her wedding who dreams of a perfect day (complete with her father walking her down the aisle.) There’s just one problem… she doesn’t know who her father is. After discovering her mother Donna’s old diary, Sophie secretly invites three men from Donna’s past, each of whom could be her dad, hoping fate will reveal the truth. As wedding celebrations erupt into late-night parties, confessions, and comic misunderstandings, Sophie grows increasingly uncertain about her father, love, marriage, and what she really wants. Set to the iconic music of ABBA, Mamma Mia! is a joyous, romantic story about family, identity, and choosing your own path.

Mamma Mia! will be performed in the THS Auditorium on the Aigburth Rd. side of the building. Performances will be held at 7pm on Thursday, March 26; Friday, March 27; and Saturday, March 28 with a performance at 2pm on Sunday, March 29.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://towson.booktix.com (be sure to type the address without any "www."). Please email Mr. Worthington at aworthington@bcps.org with ticket questions or concerns.

The Towson High School Chapter of the National Honor Society will open applications for the 2026-2027 school year on Monday, March 2nd. Please review the information below and reach out to NHS Advisor Ms. Hne (fhne@bcps.org) with questions.

Who is eligible to apply for National Honor Society for the 2026-2027 school year?

Current 10th and 11th graders with a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.7 or higher

Do current NHS members have to re-apply?

No, current NHS members do not need to re-apply and will still be members of NHS next school year.

Where can I get an application?

The application will be available on the THS website under Clubs & Organizations by March 2nd.

When is the deadline for submitting the application?

Applications are due by Friday, April 17th.

When will I find out if I have been selected?

All students that applied will be notified of acceptance by Friday, May 29th.

The Towson High School 2025-2026 yearbook is available to order at www.jostens.com. The last day to personalize a yearbook is February 27, 2026. The last day to guarantee a copy of the yearbook is April 24, 2026. For the class of 2026, yearbooks will be delivered to their primary address listed in Focus. Underclass students will be able to pick up their yearbooks at the beginning of the 2026 school year. Thank you for supporting the THS yearbook!

Each senior will be given 6 tickets for graduation. All guests must have a ticket, including infants. Graduating seniors do not need a ticket. If a senior needs more than 6 graduation tickets, please fill out the form using the QR code below.

This is a friendly reminder to pay your $40 class dues. This will help fund our class activities and is required in order to attend Senior Prom. You can pay them on OSP.

Please reach out to the Senior Class Advisors, Mr. Sun ksun@bcps.org and Ms. Flynn jflynn3@bcps.org, with questions.

Junior Prom General Information - Class of 2027

• Junior Prom "A Night in NYC" is coming up on Friday, April 24th from 6:30 to 9:30 pm in the THS Cafeteria. Tickets will be on sale from April 14th – April 17th. To purchase a ticket for Junior Prom, your child must have paid their class dues, no later than Monday, March 30th (THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS DEADLINE). Class dues are $25 and can be paid via BCPS Online School Payment.
• As a reminder, your student will need to have submitted a dance contract prior to April 13th and meet the grade eligibility requirements to purchase a Junior Prom ticket. Grades will be pulled to determine eligibility on April 13th at 2:20 pm. If a student submitted the dance contract for Homecoming, they do NOT need to submit it again.

Junior Prom Guest Request Form

• Juniors are allowed to bring 1 THS guest to prom. The guest must be a THS student and must be eligible per the THS dance contract. A guest request form must be completed by April 4th at 2:20. The link to the guest request form is here. Only one submission per 11th grade student is allowed.

Junior Prom Ticket Price

• Ticket prices for Juniors will be $25. Ticket prices for an eligible THS guest that is not a junior is $30.

Junior Prom Attendance Appeal Process

• All students are expected to maintain the 94% state standard in order to be eligible to attend Junior Prom. 94% attendance means that the student cannot be absent for more than 8 days from the start of this school year. This attendance rate is regardless of whether or not the absences are excused. A student can appeal dance eligibility if the student does not meet the 94% standard and at least 5 of the absences the student has are “excused” in FOCUS. All absence notes must be submitted within 5 days of the absence. If a student wishes to submit an appeal, please complete this google form. The form is due by 2:20 pm on Monday, April 13th. A final decision will be sent to the email provided in the form by 5:00 pm on Monday, April 13th.

Junior Prom Donations

• Help support the Class of 2027 Junior Prom by donating! Visit our Amazon Wish List to donate and help create a memorable evening for your Junior. Thank you for your support!!

Questions?

• Please reach out to Ms. Cerenzo, Junior Class advisor, with questions (kcerenzo@bcps.org).

• The School Counseling Department would like to invite you and your student to meet with school staff to review your student’s College & Career Readiness (CCR) status and post-secondary plans. During the meeting we will explore options for the future and discuss what you can be doing now to prepare for Senior year. The conferences will be held beginning March 20, 2026, through June 5, 2026, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am-1.30pm. Please call Ms. Williams or Ms. Weinstock at 443-809-3613 to schedule your conference.

The Sophomore class Ring Dance is Friday March 13th, from 6:30 - 9:30 in the THS Cafeteria. The following information pertains to students that have purchased a ticket to attend tonight’s dance:

• The THS Dance Contract outlines expectations for the dance, specifically section IV. General Rules During the Dance. Additionally, please make note of the following:
• Students must have a Photo ID to be admitted into the dance. If they do not have a photo ID, students may show the home page on their Schoology screen as proof of ID.
• No bags or other items may be brought into the dance. All students must leave their belongings at our coat check upon arriving at the dance.
• Students must arrive at the dance by 7:30 PM. Students cannot leave the dance until 8:30 PM or later. All students must be picked up from the dance at 9:30 PM.

Questions? Please contact Ms. Weir, Class Advisor, at nweir@bcps.org

Questions? Please contact Ms. Marks, at smarks@bcps.org or Ms. B. McCusker at bmccusker@bcps.org, your class advisors.

Students can receive extra support afterschool via Coach Class and Peer Tutoring. Coach Class is offered by each teacher, each week. Free Peer Tutoring is offered throughout the week by students and advisors of our national honor societies. All supports begin next week unless otherwise noted. BCPS also offers all high school students with free teen therapy through Talkspace.

Research has shown that attendance is a leading predictor of academic achievement and adult success. Students who find attending school important are more likely to attain goals like attending trade school, college, or getting a job. By showing up to school every day, students develop a positive work ethic and prepare for future success by developing healthy and productive habits.

Our attendance goals this year are for students to maintain at least a 94% attendance rate and to reduce chronic absenteeism. A student that misses 10% or more of school days in chronically absent. By missing just 2 days a month, a student will be chronically absent. Use the "Attendance Tracker" and "Parent Tips" below to support your student in maintaining satisfactory attendance. Additionally, we will send parents/guardians a "Weekly Attendance Report" each Friday afternoon so you can track your student's daily and period attendance.

Absent notes must be turned in within 5 days from the student returning to school. Please review the Towson High School 2025-2026 Operating Procedures document ("Attendance" section) for information on Absent notes, including how to submit them on FOCUS. Teachers are not required to provide makeup work for unexcused absences.

For the latest updates on the Towson High School Renovation/Addition Project, please click here. We are currently in Phase 1.

If you are not receiving text messages from the school and would like to, please text “Y” or "Yes" to 67587.

March 20 - Schools Closed for Students

March 25 - Towson HS SAT Day (Juniors only)

April 1 - School Close 3-Hours Early for Students

April 2-12 - Schools Closed - Spring Break

April 13 - Schools Reopen

April 23 - MP3 Report Cards on FOCUS at 4:00 pm

May 22 - Last Day for Seniors

May 25 - Schools & Offices Closed

May 26 - Class of 2026 Graduation, 6:00 pm, TU Arena

June 16 - Current Last Day of School (may change due to inclement weather)