Dear CSP Family,

On behalf of the administration and staff, I welcome you to the 2016-2017 school year at Chesapeake Science Point Charter School.

Chesapeake Science Point Charter School has educated and nurtured generations of hardworking, ethical and successful.

The staff and I at Chesapeake Science Point are committed to providing a safety environment in which you will flourish. Our goal is excellence, and our striving to reach this goal must be a cooperative effort.

Your success in school depends upon the enthusiasm of your principal, teachers, counselors and parents; however, you(Tigers) are the most important part of the equation. I urge you to be actively involved in your own education, ask questions, set high goals, and study meticulously. Take pride in your school and appreciate the people who support you. Be responsible for your success.

We are fortunate to have hired several incredible new staff members this year who are eager to share in CSP’s mission and vision.  
Please take a minute to welcome our new additions when you see them around the building. 

Parents are always welcome at Chesapeake Science Point and are encouraged to become involved. Be sensitive to allowing your child to set goals that are either too ambitious or not ambitious enough. 
Good goals ensure significant, incremental change throughout the year.  The setting and achievement of meaningful goals is a life habit that can only benefit your child in their future lives!

I look forward to leading Chesapeake Science Point through this school year and am delighted that you and your parents have chosen Chesapeake Science Point Charter School as your school.

Sincerely, 

Erkan Derin
Principal

I am excited to start my third year at CSP in a new position. There are lots if new people this year and I'm sure there will be lots of changes. I am looking forward to serving the students and families of the CSP community!

Darryl Gonzalez
High School Assistant Principal

Greetings CSP Community!

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to another great school year at CSP! I am excited to be the Middle School Assistant Principal for the upcoming school year. I will be working with our staff to provide the best learning experience possible for our students. I look forward to seeing our returning students as well as meeting all of our new 6th grade students. I will see everyone on the first days of school!

Ashley L. Moore
Middle School Assistant Principal

Dear Parents/Guardians:
All students will receive a manila envelope on the 1st day of school with important information and forms that need to be completed, signed and returned in the same envelope to their 1st period teacher by Friday, August 26th.

Thank you,
June Calvert
Registrar

My name is Tayfun Yagar. I will work as a program/testing coordinator in CSP. I have been an educator since 1994 in different countries and states. My job is to coordinate and supervise student testing programs and all other education related programs.

Mr. Yagar

Hello parents and students! I am pleased to introduce myself as the new middle school counselor at Chesapeake Science Point Charter School. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and I received my master’s degree from Loyola University Maryland. I am also a Nationally Certified Counselor. In my free time, I enjoy playing with my two dogs and taking yoga classes.

You may reach me directly at abrown@mycsp.org. Please call (443) 757-5277 or e-mail me to schedule an appointment. I am not able to accommodate drop-in appointments unless it is an immediate concern. My office hours are from 7:30am –3:30pm Monday through Friday.

It will be a pleasure to get to know the Chesapeake Science Point community. Please come down to the school counseling office to introduce yourself!

Ashlee Brown

My name is Mona Gomaa. This is my 4th year with CSP as an IEP facilitator. In addition to being the IEP facilitator, I have a new role this year as the Media Specialist. I look forward to working with all the students, families and staff to make our Media Center a place of learning and fun for everyone.

Mona Gomaa

Hi Chesapeake Science Point Community,

My name is Sydney Tramontano and I will be the new Front Desk Secretary at CSP for 2016-2017. I graduated in CSP's 2016 senior class and have been aiding at the desk since my junior year. Many of you may know me from NHS, mascot support (Go Tigers!), and the morning announcements but there's alot more to me than just that! I plan on attending a Legal Studies program in the upcoming semesters and hope to work toward my law degree, but am enjoying my time right now at CSP!! I look forward to getting to know you all and your students and am excited for the upcoming school year with my CSP Family.

Sydney Tramontano

Welcome back to another exciting year here at CSP! For those lucky 9th and 10th graders, I will be your host for the next 186 days! I am Mrs. Wendy Jensen, and I live in room 203. I assist in navigating students down the path known as English Literature. I have been sailing this ship here at CSP for 4 years now. I coasted down to these waters from my home in New Jersey in 2011, after completing my Masters in the Arts of Teaching degree at Monmouth University. I am a huge fan of Frost, Shakespeare, and the Doctor. I am married to my best friend and have a crazy cat that hangs upside down under the stairs like a bat. I am an avid photographer and traveler and strongly believe in John Muri's quote, "The mountains are calling and I must go".

Wendy Jensen

Hello! Mr. Yilmaz here, new teacher at CSP. I will be teaching Turkish and Psychology. I am running the Chess and Portfolio Management clubs after school. Hope you guys join! My room number is 101, right next to Mrs. Moore's office, come by and have a chat. I look forward to a brand new year with everyone.

Yusuf YILMAZ

Hello everyone!

My name is Cassandra Bogden and I will be the Financial Secretary for this school year. I manage transportation payments, class dues, field trip funds, CSP's PayPal, along with Front Desk management.

With every passing year, I hope to grow more attuned to the needs of the school, students, and parents. My goal is to increase communication. My email is cbogden@mycsp.org should you ever need to contact me.

I am a student of healthcare administration, and also mother to a 10 year old miniature schnauzer named Sparky. My husband is Mr. Meighen, who is the World History teacher for high school.

I look forward to working with everyone this year!

Cassandra Bogden

Welcome to the 2016-17 school year. I am very excited to work with you in the technology classroom. I am originally from Cincinnati, OH and attended the University of Cincinnati where I earned my BA in Political Science. I then attended Ole Miss where I earned a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. I have spent the past three years living in Mississippi, about 45 minutes south of Memphis, TN. I moved to Baltimore on August 12th with my puppy and cat. Teaching is a great passion of mine and I look forward to witnessing the progress all of you make throughout the year. We will work together as a team, because not only are you learning, I am continuing to learn as well. Everyday is a new opportunity.

Andrew Meyer

Hi, my name is Kathleen Scarlett, and I am the new 6th and 8th grade science teacher at Chesapeake Science Point Charter School. I have an M.S. in Geophysics, and I worked all over the world for ExxonMobil for 12 years before having my son in 2010. I had the joy of staying home with him until he started kindergarten last year, when I started my teaching career. I look forward to teaching your children and giving them a life-long love of science. This year's curriculum is brand new, inquiry based and very hands on - I'm looking forward to a fun year! Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Kathleen Scarlett

Hello Everyone..I am Mrs. AL-OS and I will be teaching Mathematics to the following sections: Cornell, Baylor and Duke..I am looking forward for a very successful year with you all ...

Lyniper Al-Os

Hi, I am Mrs. Bogador. I will be teaching Algebra 1 and Algebra 2 this school year 2016-2017.

Let's have fun learning Math!

Merlina Bogador

Dear students and families,
This is Yasemin Gunes. A math teacher who has worked at CSP for the past 6 years. I'm back at full time this year and very excited to work with all of you. Before the school begins, make sure to take care of the summer assignment, have a graphing calculator, rest as much as you can and be ready for our journey!

Hope to see you all next week,

Yasemin Gunes

I am sure that most of the parents and students remember me from last year but if you don't---HI! I'm Ms. Bulisco. I've been at CSP for going on 8 years now! Most of the time I teach middle school ELA but occasionally I teach a high school class like this year! This year I will be teaching some of the 7th grade students and some of the seniors! While I am very excited to have all of you in class, I am absolutely elated to have the seniors back because I had them their very first year at CSP! It seems fitting that I welcome you into the school and see you out, doesn't it? I love taking about interesting or controversial issues related to different books. At one point, I even hosted Banned and Challenged Books Club! Banned Books Week is September 25th- October 1st this year! Visit bannedbooksweek.org for more information!

Most of you know that I am usually a busy bee at school hosting clubs, organizing activities, and participating in events. Don't be disappointed to see a bit less of me this year because I will be having a baby in December! Don't worry, I still plan on making plenty of soccer and basketball games, homecoming, and prom!

Let's see, what else can I say? I like to laugh and think that school should be tough and fun at the same time. I love music and attending rock concerts. I'm very creative, love to read, and nap way more than I should. I am almost done with my masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College. Just one class left! I also have 3 super cute and naughty chihuahua babies who I talk about all the time. They are very entertaining! I can't wait to meet everyone new and see all the old faces that I've become so fond of! Have a great school year everyone!

Luann Bulisco

The goals for the language teachers this year are:

To expose students to authentic resources increasing their ability to read,listen, speak and write; enabling them to communicate effectively in a language other than English.

To develop respect for other cultures and a clearer understanding of their own linguistic and cultural heritage.

My name is Ms. Albayrak. I'll be teaching Spanish 1, 3 and 4. I'm looking forward to the opportunity of getting students excited about languages. Felicidades!

Ms. Albayrak

Welcome Back! I am excited to meet the incoming 6th graders who will be in my classes this year! I am also looking forward to seeing the returning students. I am excited to tell you that this year we have 2 computers in our classroom!
Looking forward to an awesome year!

Mrs. Diana Stinson

For those who are new to the school, I am Mrs. Pratt. I teach visual art to students in grades six through twelve as well as a dance class. My goal is to provide your children with an art experience that will build knowledge and skill while developing a love for the arts. Music, Dance, Theatre, and Art experiences are essential in developing communication and 21st century skills in our youth. I will be offering a guitar club after school and welcome parents who are musicians to come in and share your knowledge. Parents who are thespians or dancers I would like to hear from you too! I will need all of your help to make this happen. Please keep an eye out as I will be asking for donations throughout the year, recycled of course. I look forward to working with you this school year.

Rachel Pratt

Hi, my name is Ms. Beazer. I will be teaching seventh grade science and Biology. We will begin with science project preparation. I am looking forward to teaching your children this coming school year.

Yasmin Beazer

Hello! I'm Mrs. Ferrante. I am the 8th and 9th grade Social Studies teacher. I'm from Philadelphia and moved to Maryland 2 years ago. I recently got married and have 2 step sons, one of which will also be attending CSP this year! I'm looking forward to a fabulous 2016-2017 school year!

Mandi Ferrante

Hello CSP Families and Students!
My name is Ms.Bicer and I am so excited to be a part of the World Languages team. This will be my second year teaching at Csp but my fourth year teaching Turkish Language. I had the privilege of teaching many of the students last year and I look forward to teaching Turkish 3 and Turkish 4 this year.
I was born in Eskisehir, Turkey, and attended Cukurova University and received my Bachelor’s degree in TESOL. After getting married with my husband, Cihan, we moved to Virginia. We have a 3-year old boy whose name is Omer! I enjoy travelling, cooking, gardening and planting, and of course having fun with little ones. I am so happy to be a part of the CSP staff.

Serap Bicer

Welcome (back) to CSP! I'm Mr. Meighen, and I am the 11th grade World History teacher and Advisor to the Class of 2017. In addition to my World History classes, I will also be teaching Astronomy and Comparative Religions electives this year. I will look forward to seeing you all!

Sean Meighen

Hello!...My name is Coach Erik W. Johnson and I serve as CSP's Athletic Director, Physical Education Teacher, and Health Teacher. I received my undergraduate degree from Towson University. I have been teaching and coaching for several years but this is my third year at CSP. I am married and my wife and I have a 4 year old son. We also have three dogs; two bichons and a Labrador/Newfoundland mix!

Erik Johnson

Hello All,
I'm Betty Griffin, Special Educator. I've been teaching for 13 years with the AACPS school system, 9 of those years has been with CSP. I coach Bocce in the spring for High School students. I'm also an Adjunct Professor with Coppin State University in the Department of Applied Psychology and Rehabilitation Counseling. I'm married, I have two daughters who have Master Degrees and are currently working in colleges. I love to read and travel when time permits. I consider myself a lifelong learner. I'm please to welcome your student back to school and wish them a most successful year.

Betty Griffin

For those of you that are new to CSP, I am Angie O’Brien. I am the principal’s secretary and have worked at CSP for 8 years. I have two daughters and a husband that I adore. My oldest daughter, Taylor is 19 and attended CSP from 6th -12th grade. She is entering her 2nd year of college and it isn’t any easier moving her out this year, than it was last year. My youngest daughter, Aurora just turned 2 and keeps me on my toes with her never ending supply of energy.

The secretary that handles enrollment and registration is my mom, Ms. June with whom I have had the pleasure of working with the past 8 years.

I am very excited for a new year and can’t wait to see all of the children return this week. Should you have any questions or concerns, please free to contact me.

443-757-5277 ext. 307
aobrien@mycsp.org

Angie Obrien Principal's Secretary

Welcome back to the start of a great year. I am Mr. Hood, and I teach 8th grade Language Arts. This year is going to be a great year with some new things. I plan on using Google Classroom so almost all documents will be accessible at home. For those that do not know much about me, I was born and raised in Anne Arundel County and am a graduate of Arundel High School (2003). I went to York College of Pennsylvania, where I received a degree in Theatre and Secondary Education-English. I met my wife in college; we have been happily married for 4 years and have a 9 month old son named Logan. We also have a puggle named Penny. We have made our home in York, Pennsylvania. Outside of the typical English activities, I enjoy playing video games, cheering on the Baltimore Ravens, and am on a conquest to catch 'em all in Pokemon Go. I look forward to this year and believe that it will be a fun year.

Kristopher Hood

Greetings CSP Parents and Students,

I am so excited for the first week of school, when veteran students return and new students arrive rested and ready to learn. I know you are excited, too! It's going to be a fantastic year.

For those of you who don't know me, I am the Liberal Arts/Social Studies Department Chair and this will be my 8th year as a teacher at CSP and my 2nd year as a CSP parent. I am excited to be teaching new subjects this year: AP US History, Academic Writing, and Character Education. As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at tingulia@mycsp.org.

The CSP Liberal Arts Department is pleased to welcome three excellent new members this year. Ms. Morandin will be teaching 6th and 7th grade social studies. 8th and 9th grade US History will be taught by Ms. Ferrante and Mr. Yilmaz will be teaching Turkish Language and Psychology. If you get a chance, please introduce yourself to our new educators. I know that they are eager to get to know the entire CSP family.

As the Social Studies department chair, I would like to take a minute to address the upcoming election. Because of the contentious nature of this election season, I am urging you to please remind your children to be respectful of other people's world and political views. Likewise, please remind your children that all people-- regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity-- deserve respect, especially in the classroom. We want to maintain a positive learning environment for everyone.

Sincerely,
Tuesdai Ingulia

This will be my fifth year at CSP. This year I will be teaching AP Environmental Science, Foundations of College Algebra, and Chemistry.

David Hamrum

Hello! My name is Jessica Cunning and this is my 7th year here at CSP. I grew up in Virginia Beach and moved up here shortly after graduating from Old Dominion University. I am married to my best friend from High School and have a 16 month old little girl who is our world.

Jessica Cunning

My name is Lutfi Nimer and I'm excited to join the everyone here at CSP where I'll be teaching physics and math. After completing my master's degree in applied physics, I decided to go into education rather than continue with my graduate studies due to my new found love of teaching. While I love physics, the most enjoyable part of my day is interacting with students. On a more personal level I love playing and watching soccer and I have supported Arsenal for as long as I can remember. Though at the time of this writing, things are looking quite dire for us. In any case I hope everyone has a great year!

Lutfi Nimer

Dear parents and students,

I hope you had a great summer like I did. However, we are excited to start the new school year and I am pleased to announce your math teachers :

Mrs. Diana Stinson - Math 6/7 and Math 7/8
Mrs. Lyniper Al-Os - Math 8 and Algebra 1
Mr. Vincent Njong - Geometry and Integrated Math
Mrs. Merlina Bogador - Algebra 1 and Algebra 2
Mrs. Yasemin Gunes - AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC
Mr. Lutfi Nimer - Foundation of College Algebra ( FOCA1)
Mr. David Hamrum - Foundation of College Algebra ( FOCA 2)
Mrs. Imelda Valencia - Algebra 1 and Pre- Calculus

As a reminder, you still have until September 2 to complete your summer assignment. Please contact your respective teachers if you have any concern on your first day of school. We will not be providing calculators so please make sure to have one . TI 83/84 is only required for Algebra 1 and higher math classes.

With your continued support and cooperation , I am confident that we will have a productive and fabulous 2016-2017 school year.

MRS. IMELDA T. VALENCIA, MPA, MAed
Math Department Chair
Chesapeake Science Point Public Charter School

Dear Parents, Students, and Fellow CSP Staff Members,

I am glad to announce that I will be joining the CSP team this year and look forward to the new school year we are going to embark on. I have been teaching in the county, for the past 5 years, at Meade High School as their IB DP Chemistry instructor. This year I will be serving as CSP's Science Department Chair and will teach AP Chemistry along side Matter and Energy, and Science Research. Having learned about CSP's mission and vision has allowed me to full grasp the expectations of the school and I look forward to the opportunity in excelling at my new role.

As I am sure many of you will see me around in the following weeks to come, I thought it would be best to put a face to the name, and thus have attached an image of my wife and I on our most recent vacation.

Ashish Vadalia M.Ed.
Science Department Chair
Chesapeake Science Point

Hi, I'm Mr. Mullen. This is my second year teaching at CSP, and I'm very excited to start another school year here! I've been teaching English for eight years now, and I've covered everything in high school and all of 6th grade.

This year will be very eventful for me, as my wife and I are expecting our first child on November 29th. We don't have a name picked out yet, but we do know that she won't let me name the baby after a dinosaur, so there's that.

If you need to reach me, my e-mail address is gmullen@mycsp.org.

Gregory Mullen

We are proud to announce that we are working with a new yearbook company for the 2016-17 school year! We will be working with TreeRing, which has partnered with Trees for the Future, and for every yearbook sold, they will plant a tree! TreeRing also allows the students to create two custom pages in their yearbook, filled with their own pictures and memories, at no additional cost! The total cost per yearbook is $45, but they will be offering a discount to those who purchase during the month of September.

One other new thing we are doing this year with the yearbook is selling advertisements. Advertisements will be open for parents to purchase an ad to celebrate their child's success or congratulate them on their graduation. They will also be open to businesses, so if you are interested in advertising your business, please look for additional information once school begins!

Jessica Cunning

Chesapeake Lighthouse Foundation (CLF) Advanced Math Program (AMP) prepares students in grades 4-12 for different levels of competition math. AMP runs almost every Saturday and will begin on September 10th this year. Every Saturday, students work in small groups with an instructor from 9AM to 1PM. We split the classes based on mathematical ability so that students can work with others around their same level. Our middle school classes focus on MathCounts preparation.The High school students primarily work for college organized math contests. The AMP program is only open to students from CLF schools.

We are holding tryout dates all throughout August: every Saturday from 9:30-11:30 AM and every Monday from 5-7 PM. Students only need to attend one tryout date, but we have made many dates available to accommodate busy summer schedules.

If you and your family are interested in joining the AMP, you can sign up for a tryout date at this link:
www.clfadvancedstudies.org/#!register/con8

You can also find more information at www.clfadvancedstudies.org/#!about2/coo8

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to email us at advancedmath@clfmd.org

Attachment(s)

CSP Academic Team

I am proud to announce that the Advanced Placement Government scores are in and am excited to say that the class average was a 3.381! These are the highest scores that we have had over the three years that this course has been offered at CSP. Congratulations to all my AP Gov students on your success and thank you for all the hard work that you did to prepare for this exam!

Jessica Cunning