Howard County Public School System Partnership

The Howard County Public School System has partnered with Changing Destinations: Journey to Excellence to provide students with opportunities to learn about cultures from around the world. The partnership was formalized with an

official partnership signing on Wednesday, August 8 at the Sheraton Columbia Waterside Restaurant in Columbia, Maryland.

Under the terms of the agreement, Changing Destinations will collaborate with the HCPSS Black Student Achievement Program to pilot a Bridging the Gap Pen Pal program with the Kawotto Saviours Primary school in Kampala, Uganda. Students will exchange handwritten letters with their pen pals on a monthly basis. HCPSS and KSPS will also share photos of their respective school communities in order to enhance learning and understanding of each society. This opportunity will provide students with an increased awareness of their connections to a global community, while enhancing their literacy skills.

HCPSS Director of Community Outreach and Engagement Diane Martin and Black Student Achievement Program Specialist Sheree Whitby joined Changing Destinations Founder Rose Varner-Gaskins, Board Members Annika Adams and Edward Prater, President Sasha Butler and Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda Ambassador Santa Laker Kinyera to sign the formal partnership agreement at the August 8 event.