Mr Karl Schindler, Principal
Mr. Nicholas M. Novak, Assistant Principal
Mr. Cameron Rahnama, Assistant Principal
Ms. Karen Russo, Assistant Principal

The Glenelg High School Administrative Team welcomes you to our home page.  We hope you find the information useful and user friendly.  If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about this home page or the school please do not hesitate to contact us at the email addresses listed below.

Mr. Karl Schindler , Principal
Mr. Schindler's email address.

Dear GHS Parents & Students:

Welcome back to the 2008-2009 School Year. The beginning of this school year has been absolutely sensational. We have so much to celebrate at Glenelg High School . I received a letter from Governor Martin O'Malley, who wrote, “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you, your faculty, parents, and most importantly, the student of Glenelg High School for recognition by Newsweek as one of America 's top 1,300 high schools. Your school community and students have set standards that exemplify a high level of motivation to do their own personal best.” The success of Glenelg students does not happen by chance; it occurs because of the dedication and support of our teachers, parents, parental support groups, and our entire school community. I personally would like to congratulate our students for their many accomplishments, awards, and successes.

When our students arrived at school on August 25 th , they were welcomed into our fully-functional, 400 seat addition, the newly-renovated Science wing, and the new lower-level parking lot. After two years of construction, the new sections of the building, housing the English & Science departments, along with several math, computer science, and CRD rooms, are looking great. I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue our work to improve the school. In June of 2008 renovation on the interior of the auditorium began. Work in this area is progressing well, and I am hopeful that it will be complete during the month of September. The expansion of the Fine Arts building, which will house new dance, drama and stage craft rooms, is moving along with an estimated completion date of January-February 2009. As a school community, we will continue to seek funding to renovate the remainder of the school building. Due to the diligence and persistence of our phenomenal PTSA, we have come a long way in bringing the physical plant into the 21 st century; however, there is still much work left to be done.

We welcomed our new students to GHS at the New Student Orientation held on August 21 st . Students new to Glenelg had a chance to meet the staff, tour the building, and attend an Activities Fair and a luncheon. I would like to thank our incoming parents for donating the delicious side dishes and desserts. It is my sincere hope that our new families take full advantage what Glenelg has to offer by becoming active in our parent organizations and within our school's community. As a way to welcome our new students, we gave them a tee-shirt with Glenelg's logo on the front and our school's new Vision Statement on the back which reads: Glenelg High School . Learning for Life. : Developing tomorrow's leaders in a community that values scholarship, citizenship, and diversity.

Entering my fifth year as Principal of Glenelg High School, I am very excited to begin the new school year. As we embark on our school-improvement journey to maximize the potential of every student at Glenelg, it is important to reflect on our past performance data. Although the Maryland State Department of Education has not formally released the HSA (High School Assessment) data for Glenelg, the preliminary data results look very good. As soon as the data is formally released by MSDE, I will share the information with our school community. The Advanced Placement Test results show increases in the number of students taking the tests, as well as the percent of students scoring a “3” (considered passing) or better. Even as our school continues to show increases in testing scores, we know there's always room for growth; consequently, our School Improvement Team will continue to identify and implement the HCPSS's Goal 1 strategies that will allow us to maintain our level of academic successes while we work to decrease the performance gaps of our various student groups.

The School Improvement Team also will be focusing on HCPSS's & Glenelg's Goal 2 initiatives for the 08'-09''school year, "Each school will provide a safe and nurturing environment that values our diversity and commonality". Specifically we will focus on the areas of cultural proficiency, attendance, safe student behavior, and student/staff morale. Additionally, our team believes that “Promoting Positive Relationships” with a “Can Do” attitude among and between students, teachers, staff members, parents, business partners, and the community can be a powerful force in helping us achieve our goals and meet the Goal 2 objectives. Parents, you can help by getting involved, staying involved, and encouraging your children to do the same.

I would like to ask every Glenelg family to make it a priority to join the PTSA, Boosters, and other parental-support groups this year. What a powerful message you would send to our students if every child's family belonged to the PTSA and Boosters Association. It's a great way to say, yes, I believe in your school; and yes, I am connected. High school years are very special and powerful times in your children's lives. We know that being a successful student does not happen by coincidence; it happens because of YOU! You set the framework, the expectations, and the goals. We simply reinforce what you establish at home. Your high-school students need you now more than ever!

I would like to thank our following Business Partners, who graciously contributed the Opening Day Staff Breakfast, held on August 18, 2008. Please support our community Business Partners whenever possible: Eyre Bus Service of Glenelg; Identity Promotions LLC Sports & Spirit Wear; Subway of Glenelg; Edible Arrangements; and Cattail Florist of Western Howard County. E-mail or call Mrs. Michele Nethken, Principal's Secretary, for additional contact information or if you are interested in becoming a Business Partner.

I look forward to seeing you at the Annual Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 11, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. The format for this year's back to School Night will be slightly different than previous years. Parents will be asked to report to their child's first-period classroom/teacher . We will present our back to school information via close circuit TV since the auditorium is under renovation. You still will be provided with the same important information! If you child attends ARL classes in the morning or afternoon, parents are to report to the media center during those periods. In order to meet your membership and spirit wear needs, the PTSA and Boosters will be set up in the main lobby and available both before and after you meet with your child's teachers. Please consider bringing canned food goods to support senior Daniel Atlas' food drive for C.A.N.--“Children and Nutrition” in Howard County .

Finally, as a father of two sons, ages 20 and 16, I am confident that I can draw upon my parenting skills as well as my 27 years as an educator in Howard County to help me be an effective principal and leader in the Glenelg Community. I am excited to move our school and community towards achieving the goals established by our community and new vision statement. As your principal, please know that my door is always open, and I am here to help you with your needs.

Sincerely,

Karl J. Schindler, Principal

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Mr. Nicholas M. Novak, Assistant Principal
Mr. Nick_Novak's email address.

I am looking forward to beginning a new chapter in my life here at Glenelg after spending nine years at River Hill HS (two as an assistant principal, six as an English teacher , and one as a student teacher). My administrative duties include attendance, the Student Support Team, testing, the 9th grade team, and student/faculty parking. In addition, I will be supervising the Art, English, and Math departments. I have a B.A. in English and History from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an M.Ed. in Secondary English from the University of Maryland. I received my Administration and Supervision certificate from McDaniel College and just this summer endured the six hour essay exam for my Administrator 2 certification.

My interests include reading (favorite authors are Kurt Vonnegut, John Steinbeck, and Alexander Dumas); watching movies (Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the best movie of all time); and spending time with my wife (she's a teacher at River Hill, so our family is divided. Go Gladiators!) I love everything about high school, so you'll be sure to see me at sporting events, school plays, musical performances, etc. I'm excited to be a part of the Glenelg community, and I hope I can help support the school's mission " . . . to achieve excellence in all that we do."

Mr. Cameron Rahnama , Assistant Principal
Mr. Rahnama's email address

For the past 14 years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the Glenelg community as a coach, teacher, actor, athletic director, and administrator. I am thrilled to begin my 5th year as assistant principal, and I look forward to a wonderful school year.

I hold degrees from Montgomery College, University of Maryland, Towson State University, and Loyola College, as well as an administrator II Principal’s Certification. I also serve on the HCAA Board of Directors. Though I’ve been a Knight, Terp, Tiger, and Greyhound, I will always be the proudest to be a Gladiator! GO BIG RED!!!

In my free time, I enjoy hunting, fishing, riding my motorcycle, and traveling to Montana. I am a major advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness and participate in several fundraising events throughout the year including the Ride Across Maryland. Last spring, the staff recognized me for having tons of school spirit; I always attend as many school events as possible and you will seldom find me wearing something that does not say “Glenelg.”

Come and say hello to me anytime. I eat lunch in the cafeteria everyday and look forward to meeting you or catching up.

Mrs. Karen L. Russo, Assistant Principal
Ms. Karen Russo email address.

I began my teaching career at the Vocational Center where I taught Information Processing for fourteen years. I have worked as an Assistant Principal at several high schools and the alternative school. I am delighted to now have the privilege of working at Glenelg High school where staff members are dedicated educators, students are focused on academics, and parents are extremely supportive. Several of my responsibilities include: School Safety, Bus Transportation, Commencement, Student Activities, and Building Maintenance. I oversee the Black Student Achievement Program, Career Research and Development, Science, Special Education, Technology Education, and Business & Computer Management Systems. My student caseload is

O – Z. I look forward to developing many positive relationships with both students and parents; and to having a super experience as a Glenelg Gladiator.