HCPS 411 Update

Harford County Public Schools has begun work to develop the Superintendent’s Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Throughout budget development, it is important for our community’s voice to be heard.

HCPS is seeking your feedback to rank school system priorities in the FY25 budget. This brief survey should take 3-5 minutes to complete.

HCPS will use this feedback to help guide the development of a budget that best meets the needs of our students, staff, and the greater community. The survey will close Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 11:45 p.m.

To complete the survey, valid email addresses will need to be provided by staff, students, and community members. Parents and guardians will need to provide their child(ren)’s student ID to complete the survey. Providing a form of identification allows us to ensure the authenticity of the survey and prevent individuals from providing duplicate responses. This is a result of community feedback following previous surveys that were set to provide anonymity but could be skewed by duplicate responses. In this survey, responses will be verified with the email address or student ID, and results will be provided without identifying information to keep your responses confidential.

Click here to fill out the survey.

Board President Aaron Poynton and Board Vice President Melissa Hahn are hosting a Listening Session on Wednesday, November 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Fallston High School in the auditorium. District B Board Member Wade Sewell will also join them. The community is invited to come out for a casual conversation about education topics. Don't miss this opportunity to get to know the Board officers a little better, to ask questions about your child(ren)'s education, and to engage for the future of Harford County Public Schools.

Take a moment to watch the personal invitation from President Poynton below.

Tomorrow, Friday, October 20, 2023, HCPS staff have the option to attend the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) Convention or other state conferences. Teachers attending must provide a certificate of attendance to your direct supervisor upon your return.

HCPS staff not attending should report to their work site for school-based professional development. If your schedule allows, HCPS is sponsoring several Health & Wellness sessions you can choose to join virtually. These are open to ALL HCPS staff members.

For more information and links to join, visit: Oct 20 Health Wellness Sessions.docx.

The October Monthly Minute will be held on Thursday, October 26. If your schedule allows, you are encouraged to join Dr. Bulson and your colleagues around the school system at 12:15 p.m. for a 10–15-minute update.

The link to join the Microsoft Teams Live event next Thursday is here. A systemwide email will be sent that day as a reminder.

The Education Code of the Annotated Code of Maryland requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to survey science and social sciences educators annually. The data from the survey is used to determine the amount of instructional time in those disciplines; available resources, including professional learning; and the numbers of classes taught by teachers certified in these content areas. All surveys will be confidential, identified only by school system and grade level (elementary, middle, high school). MSDE is required to compile the survey results, post the results on its website, and send a report to the Governor and General Assembly in January.

Note that the survey closes on November 17, 2023. Completion should require fewer than 10 minutes.

https://msde.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZ4ziiNYPqw8sLQ

Questions should be directed to Diane Engelman, Supervisor of Science, at Diane.Engelman@hcps.org or 410-588-5296; or Erin Lange, Supervisor of Social Sciences, at Erin.Lange@hcps.org or 410-588-5222.

Harford County Public Schools announces a pre-retirement webinar for HCPS employees and their spouses through the Maryland State Retirement Agency and the Community College of Baltimore County. This webinar provides vital retirement information to all members and is recommended for those within eight (8) years of retirement, whether normal service or early retirement. Discussion topics include:

• HCPS Retiree Benefits
• State Retirement Pension Benefits
• Legal Consideration
• Social Security Benefits
• Financial Planning

This year's pre-retirement session will be held virtually on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required and will close at the end of business on Thursday, November 2, 2023. To register:

1. Click on the following link to go to the registration website for the November 4, 2023 Pre-Retirement Webinar: Pre-Retirement Planning Webinar Registration.

2. Click the “Select” button next to the class Pre-Retirement Planning Webinar and you will advance to the next screen.

3. Click "Register for Selected Courses."

4. You will be redirected to the login page. If you have previously attended a Pre-Retirement Seminar or other class at CCBC, log in using your current username and password. Not sure what your username and password are? No problem, give us a call at 443.840.5059 and let our call center register you for course number/CRN 73300 If this is your first Pre-Retirement Seminar, click the "New Account" button on the right-hand side of the screen.

5. Fill out your information (anything in red is required information) and choose Submit.

6. After you have registered for the seminar, choose "Finalize Selection" and print your confirmation.

7. You will receive an email confirmation of your registration within three business days.

8. You will receive instructions on how to join the webinar two days prior to the event.

If you are unable to register online or by phone, please contact the Benefits Office at benefits@hcps.org to request a paper enrollment form.

Blaine Hawley was recognized and named one of the recipients of the Excellence in Education Award this year. Harford County Education Foundation established the Excellence in Education Award to honor and to celebrate individuals for their positive impact in support of the students of Harford County Public Schools. She was honored with the Principal Achievement Award. This award is presented to a person who dedicated their career to public education and serves as an exemplary Harford County Public Schools Principal. She was nominated for this award by Dyann Mack. Congratulations, Blaine!

This week, HCPS has been sharing pictures and messages for National School Bus Safety Week on social media. Today, we celebrate the future of transportation! It will take about 12 years, but each time HCPS Transportation purchases a new bus, it will have three lap and shoulder belts per seat! Watch as three amazing Ring Factory Elementary Foxes help us introduce this safety feature!

The Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, through its MRSPA Foundation, is offering six grants, up to $300, to classroom teachers across Maryland. The grants may be used on special projects or activities that are not funded through the school system or Parent Teacher Organization. Additional information and the grant application can be found at https://www.mrspa.org/community-service.

All applications must be received by MRSPA no later than 4:00 pm, Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

All certification requests must be processed through The Educator Application and Certification Hub (TEACH), by visiting https://certificationhub.msde.maryland.gov. For those who have a Maryland teaching certificate that is expiring DECEMBER 31, 2023, if you have not done so already, please log onto TEACH and request a renewal of your certificate. In order to renew certificates in a timely manner, please have your request completed by November 1, 2023.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to CJ Harbach, Certification Administrative Support Technician, or Aretha Young, Certification Coordinator, at Certification@hcps.org or 410-588-5258.

Goucher College

Goucher College enrollment for classes that begin in January is now open! If you are interested in making 2024 the year you begin accomplishing your goal of earning an advanced degree, click here to inquire or apply today!

You are also invited to learn more by attending one of their upcoming virtual information sessions for teachers in your county, where they will discuss details regarding their master’s and certification programs, cost and payment options, and how to apply.

To RSVP, visit their information meeting page.

Online Information Sessions for Harford County Educators:

• Thursday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, October 25, 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 26, 5:30 p.m.

Programs offered – Classes begin the week of January 29, 2024.

Programs eligible for reduced tuition through Harford County Public Schools

Master of Education (M.Ed.) or Professional Development (PD) Certificate (for educators who already hold their masters):

• At-Risk and Diverse Learners
• Literacy Strategies for Content Learning
• Reading Instruction (MSDE-approved program for Reading Teacher Endorsement and Reading Specialist Certification)
• School Improvement Leadership (MSDE-approved program for Administrator I Certification)
• Special Education, Certified Teachers
• Teaching English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL)

Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.):

• Dual Elementary (Grades 1-6) and Special Education (Grades 1-8)
• Dual Secondary with Special Education
• Elementary Education (Grades 1-6)
• Elementary Special Education (Grades 1-6)
• Secondary Education (Grades 6-12)
• Secondary Special Education (Grades 6-12)

Please see the flyer for graduate programs for teachers.

Applications are now being accepted for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs, to be held at Aberdeen Middle, Edgewood Elementary, Edgewood Middle, Magnolia Elementary, Magnolia Middle, and Old Post Road Elementary schools. The program will run from November 2023 through May 2024.

We are currently looking to fill the following positions at each site:

Site Coordinators

• 14 hours per week/3.5 hours per day, Monday through Thursday

Teachers

• 6 hours per week/1 hour per day of instruction and two hours per week of lesson planning, Monday through Thursday

To access an employment application and learn more about the positions, please visit the “Employment Opportunities” section of the HCPS website at www.hcps.org, or click here. Search under “Certificated Positions” to view the postings listed by school.

Questions can be directed Becky Pensero, Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction, at Rebecca.Pensero@hcps.org.

Jarrettsville Elementary School (JVES) held their first Good Neighbor Program of the school year organized by Mrs. Traci Frey, JVES 5th grade teacher and Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) Liaison. The program brings outside businesses and organizations together to build relationships between the community and the school, all for the benefit of JVES students and families.

Thank you to the following organizations that participated!

• Flowers by Bauers (Jennifer Richardson)
• Jarrettsville Pharmacy (Dr. Mark Lapouraille)
• Long and Foster (Mrs. Danielle Waldera)
• Jarrettsville Federal Savings and Loan (Mary Ann Bogarty)
• HCPS Family & Community Partnerships (Mary Beth Stapleton)
• JVES PTA (Nicole Lipari)
• Jarvis Appliances (Kevin Dufour)
• Sheriff's Office (Craig Thompson)
• Greenspring Nursery (Jessica Tompkins)
• Greenspring Nursery (Brad Georg)
• Drumgoole Financial Services (Brian Drumgoole)
• Jarrettsville Volunteer Fire Company (Mike Amole)
• Fairview AME Church (Evelyn Robinson)

A group of volunteers from the United Way of Central Maryland worked to assemble six picnic tables for the students and staff at Joppatowne High School.

“After our first date was cancelled due to rain, it was great to see this project through to the finish,” said Jennifer Crosson, volunteer.

The students and staff at Joppatowne High are excited to open up new learning opportunities by using the outside space for class time. The students are also looking forward to having the chance to eat lunch outside on nice days.

One of the student volunteers, Andy, said that he was amazed by all the wonderful things United Way does for the community and talking with the volunteers has opened his eyes to so much!

Thank you, United Way of Central Maryland, for creating new opportunities for the students of Joppatowne High School!

The Office of Student Services is accepting nominations for the STUDENT SERVICES STANDOUT AWARD (S.T.A.R. AWARD). This award is presented once per semester (biannually) to a nominated member of the Student Services staff. The nominee must currently be an employee budgeted under Student Services who is based in a school or Central Office. This would include staff under the offices of School Counseling Services, School Health Services, Psychological Services, Social Workers, or Pupil Personnel Services. Any person, regardless of position or relationship to the nominee, including students, may make the nomination. The nomination form and supporting narrative must be submitted by December 1, 2023. Please see the links below to access the nomination form and the rubric used by the judges and consider nominating someone today!

Link to Student Services S.T.A.R. Award

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Lawanda Brown, in School Counseling, at Lawanda.Brown@hcps.org or 410-588-5251.

Join us as we continue to shine a light on how HCPS celebrates diversity all year long. Each month, we will highlight a cultural/organizational holiday. We invite you to take a picture or two and share how your school or office celebrates the contributions we all make to HCPS.

This month, we are celebrating:

• ADD/ADHD Awareness
• Filipino American Heritage
• German American Heritage
• Italian American Heritage
• Polish American Heritage

To share your celebrations with the HCPS community, please email your pictures, videos, and a brief write up to Sherron Foster-Moore, Diversity Retention & Recruitment Specialist at Sherron.FosterMoore@hcps.org by Tuesday, October 31, 2023 . This month’s submissions will be shared in the November 2 edition of the 411.

Harford County Public Schools students, staff, and families looking for help with mental health or substance use can call Care Solace at 888-515-0595 for 24/7/365 free, personalized, and confidential help finding a therapist, or you can search on your own at www.caresolace.com/harford.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month at CareFirst

It's that time of year again, time to think pink! Every October, we come together to show support and spread awareness for the second most common cancer among women in the United States – breast cancer. While anyone can be diagnosed with breast cancer, most cases are found in women above 50, with one in eight who will be diagnosed at some point during their lifetime. Creating awareness, knowing risk factors and symptoms, and available resources are critical to proper detection and treatment. To learn more, click here.

October CareFirst WellBeing Challenge – Relationship Rejuvenation Challenge

People are social creatures, and relationships allow us to interact with the people we care about. They also influence our health and longevity in various ways, ranging from sleep and stress to diet and exercise. Healthy relationships can improve well-being, while poor relationships can weaken our body's immune systems and impair mental health with increased anxiety and depression. Click here to learn more about the CareFirst WellBeing challenge and how to join.

1 in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Click here to learn the signs, get regular exams, and how to minimize your risk.

Embracing the Essence of Community

This month, join BurnAlong as they celebrate the power of community and its profound impact on our well-being. Discover how coming together can create a supportive environment for positive change, fostering connections that uplift us all.

Coming to Your Live in October!

This month, learn how to make a lasting impact on your loved ones' personal health journey by offering support, encouragement, and practical strategies. During the sessions below, BurnAlong will provide tips to inspire those around you to thrive and embrace a healthier lifestyle.

• October 18 at 12:00 p.m.: Positively Impacting Others
• October 26 at 12:00 p.m.: Ask Health Coaches Heather and Jon

Have You Taken Your BurnAlong Break Today?

Take time to stretch, breathe, and move your body. All you need is a few minutes. BurnAlong has created a playlist of 15 classes, all under five minutes. Scan the QR code to view the classes on the playlist. Recommended classes on the playlist include:

• 4-minute Desk Stretch: Wrists & Shoulders
• 5-minute Meditation: Loving-Kindness
• 5-minute Movements: Spine Mobility

Looking for More Class Recommendations?

Click on the calendar below to access suggested classes for October:

Did you know BurnAlong is free for you and your friends?

You have access to four (4) free family subaccounts, so you can start sharing today! It takes just a minute to send one, and they'll get free, unlimited access to BurnAlong all year. Click here to invite a subaccount.

Take BurnAlong with You! Join thousands of others on their health and wellness journey by downloading the Mobile App. Available in iOS and Android, take BurnAlong with you by downloading the app today!

What is BurnAlong? As a reminder, BurnAlong is our health and wellness partner who provides you and your family with more than 23,000 live and on-demand online classes from 5,000+ credentialed instructors at no cost to you.

To activate your complimentary account, get started by visiting https://fit.burnalong.com/hcps. If you have any trouble accessing your account, contact customercare@burnalong.com. Find out more about BurnAlong in this brief video.

BurnAlong, HCPS' virtual health and wellness partner, is currently hosting a fall wellness challenge. You and your family can participate in this five-week expedition. As you participate, members will earn badges for each milestone completed and find new secret milestones along the way to earn exclusive badges!

Journey Milestones: Earn a badge for each milestone you complete!

Start Your Journey: 1) Join the Fall into Wellness Challenge through your online member account at https://well.burnalong.com/login. 2) Participate in each milestone during the identified period above to earn badges. For every milestone completed, unlock a new adventure to earn exclusive badges. 3) Anyone who participates and completes the challenge has a chance to win their choice of an all-terrain backpack or a mystery Travel Box. Those who complete all 100 minutes will be entered into a drawing to win their choice of an annual pass to US National Parks or a Mystery Adventure Box.

For assistance with registering for the challenge, email BurnAlong at customercare@burnalong.com.

Employees who wish to provide feedback on their experience(s) obtaining medications through CVS retail pharmacies are advised to complete the CVS/Caremark Service Reporting Tool, available on SharePoint. This report is monitored bi-weekly by a member of the Benefits Office for further assistance and tracking of member service feedback. To access this form, visit the Harford County Public Schools – SharePoint Home Page.

As always, if there is an immediate need or concern when obtaining medication, please email benefits@hcps.org so that a member of the Benefits Office can assist you more quickly.

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System and the Community College of Baltimore County are providing State Pension members the opportunity to participate in pre-retirement webinars. These sessions provide vital retirement information to pension system members, including the Maryland State Pension, Legal Issues, Social Security Benefits, and Financial Planning. The seminar/webinars will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Webinars:

• November 2 (CRN 73299)
  
• November 29 (CRN 73303)
• December 19 (CRN 73288)

Seminar:

• December 7 – Harford Community College (CRN 73279)

To register, please visit https://www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed-preretirement-county. You will receive an email with site-specific information for those participating in person. Those participating in the online events will receive a separate link to join the date-specific event.

Please Note: These sessions are not affiliated with HCPS and will not include HCPS-specific information, such as retiree healthcare.

Presented by Acentra Health (Formally KEPRO) Employee Assistance Program

Although it feels like the primitive brain is trying to take over, by practicing a more intentional response to situations, you can take control of how you act under pressure. This session will provide tips for participants on how to notice your thoughts and how you choose to react to them. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning October 17, 2023

Broadcast Length: 50 minutes
How to Access: Go to your EAP website: www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code: HCPS and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage, or you can search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families any time, any day, and is a free, confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call Acentra Health 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

Local veterans, all military, and their families are welcome to attend Harford County’s one-stop event for information about veterans’ healthcare and benefits, printed guides to resources and local businesses that offer veteran discounts, and more. Harford County veterans can also enter a drawing for two Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers tickets or one of eight $50 gift cards, courtesy of APGFCU! A free lunch will be provided, catered by Mission BBQ.

Free transportation can be reserved from Edgewood and Joppatowne by calling 443-966-4518.

This year’s fair will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the Bel Air Armory, 37 N. Main Street, Bel Air, MD, 21014.

"Shout out to Samantha Romero, Director of Bands at Bel Air High School, for organizing and hosting the MMBA Marching Band Competition. You went above and beyond to provide this incredible experience for the bands that participated since they got to see, hear, perform and cheer for other bands from around the state of Maryland. Even though the weather didn't cooperate, you adapted and seamlessly executed the plan of bringing the bands indoors. As a colleague of one of your feeder schools, I am impressed with your dedication and time to building a band program that fosters responsibility, commitment, and of course musicality, and as a parent of one of your students, I am grateful that you have created a band family and community that support and encourage each other to strive for the highest. Thank you for being amazing!"

-Kateri Morrison, Instrumental Music Teacher Homestead Wakefield Elementary

*To submit a Shout Out for inclusion in an upcoming issue of HCPS 411 Update, please email it to HCPS.411@hcps.org.

Please join us in welcoming the following new employees to the HCPS family:

• Amaris Bayton, Inclusion Helper, Joppatowne Elementary School
• Jack Brink, Grade 4 Teacher, Deerfield Elementary School
• Matthew Byrd, Paraeducator, William S. James Elementary School
• Megan Fitzgerald, Parent Coordinator for Partners for Success, Special Education Department
• Ashley Nicholson, School Bus Attendant, Transportation Department
• Cameron Wilgis, Custodian I-Shift 2, Edgewood Middle School

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA