HCPS 411 Update

The Professional Learning Office, in partnership with the Office of Organizational Development, is excited to introduce the Future U Teacher Leadership Academy. This initiative is for HCPS educators seeking advancement in their teacher leadership journey within the near future. The academy focuses on uncovering individual strengths and exploring essential strategies for adult learning and teacher leadership skills.

The program also offers an opportunity to learn about the various teacher leader and specialist roles available in HCPS. The Future U Teacher Leadership Academy is designed to empower educators, providing a transformative experience that aligns with their professional aspirations. Interested individuals must submit a formal application, including cover letter, resume, and references. All applicants will receive notification of approval status via email.

CLICK HERE to apply for the Future U Teacher Leadership Academy

Deadline to submit an application is Monday, December 18 at 5:00 p.m.

Questions? Contact HCPSProfessionalLearning@hcps.org

Employees who cover a spouse and/or child(ren) on their medical and/or dental plans through HCPS have begun to receive the second notification from Alight Solutions, whom HCPS has partnered with to conduct a mandatory Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit. This notification advises members from whom they need to verify continued eligibility, what documentation is required, and how to submit the documentation to Alight for verification.

Please pay attention to this notification, as your response to the documentation request is required by the January 15, 2024, deadline to avoid any disruption in your dependent’s eligibility for benefit coverage. If you do not have dependents on your healthcare plan, you will not be required to do anything for this audit.

Any questions regarding documentation or issues with documentation submission may be directed to Alight Solutions’ Dependent Verification Center at 1-800-725-5810. A resource page has been created on the Benefits SharePoint site.

Click here to read the full announcement about the upcoming dependent eligibility verification audit.

The FY24 Payroll Calendar has been revised for the recently announced HCPS closures December 27-29, 2023. The revision is available on SharePoint and can be accessed by clicking on 2023-2024 Payroll Calendar Revised 12/05/23.

If you have any questions, please contact your Payroll Coordinator. Click Here to find the Payroll Coordinator for your location.

Not sure who to contact? Send your question to the general email at Payroll@hcps.org or call Payroll at 410-588-5241.

Maryland’s EITC is a credit for certain taxpayers who have earned income. Most taxpayers who are eligible and file for a Federal EITC can receive the Maryland state and local EITC. The allowable Maryland credit is up to one-half of the Federal credit.

To be eligible for the Federal and Maryland EITC, Earned Income (EI) and Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must be less than:

• $56,838 ($63,398 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
• $52,918 ($59,478 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
• $46,560 ($53,120 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
• $17,640 ($24,210 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children

If your income is less than the amounts shown above, visit the Internal Revenue Service website at www.irs.gov, visit Maryland’s website at www.marylandtaxes.gov or contact your tax advisor to learn if you meet the other requirements.

Regional Training Center (RTC) will be offing off-campus and virtual classrooms for the spring. Please see the link below for additional information and schedules. For more information, please visit www.thertc.net.

RTC Harford County Spring 24

The Board of Education of Harford County is seeking applications from interested county citizens to fill an opening on the school system’s Ethics Panel. The Ethics Panel reviews inquiries concerning potential violations of ethics on the part of school employees or Board members, provides advisory opinions regarding ethics issues, and reviews financial disclosure forms required to be filed by Board members and certain Board employees.

Ethics Panel members serve for a term of five years appointed at staggered intervals. Members are appointed by the Board of Education and may serve two full terms. Ethics Panel members serve without compensation but are reimbursed for travel and other expenses related to their service.

Applicants should send a letter of interest accompanied by a biographical sketch either by USPS mail to: Kimberly H. Neal, Esquire, General Counsel, Board of Education of Harford County, 102 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, Maryland, 21014, or by email to Diana.Rasinski@hcps.org, before close of business on January 12, 2024.

For more information, please email Diana Rasinski, Administrative Support Coordinator for Legal Counsel, at Diana.Rasinski@hcps.org.

The HCPS Principal Parent Engagement Toolkit is a library of resources to support the work HCPS principals are doing around family engagement within their school communities. Videos in this toolkit align with the National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

Check out this video featuring an innovative parent-teacher communication best practice that is successful at Abingdon Elementary School and highlights Standard 2: Communicate Effectively and the goal: Facilitating Parent-Teacher Communication.

A more in-depth resource on the national PTA standards is accessible by clicking here.

North Harford Middle School's 6th and 6th/7th grade split service-learning project has reached incredible heights! Students sent a heartwarming care package to Air Force Unit 61823, serving in the Middle East. Inside were 234 cards brimming with gratitude, 14 brown thank-you bags loaded with candy, and 3 lbs. of assorted chocolates and hard candies.

The package was received this week by AF Unit 61823, and they're eager to share these tokens of appreciation with their fellow Airmen during the holidays.

A huge shoutout to these students for their unwavering support of our troops!

The nomination window for the December Family Friendly School Award is open until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023. Visit the Parent Academy page of hcps.org to submit your nomination.

If your school is nominated, our community can show how welcoming your school is and help you earn this honor by casting their vote December 11-15, 2023!

More information may be found on https://www.hcps.org/parents/parentacademy/familyfriendlyschools.aspx.

The Communi-team Adventure is back for the 2023-2024 school year with a few new features! The 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year finalists, collectively known as the “Communi-Team,” has planned two carefully curated adventures for this school year! There will be one adventure in February and another adventure in May! This year, any HCPS staff member in any role can nominate another HCPS staff member in any role that demonstrates one or more of the following values:

For each adventure, a selected group of nominees will go on the Communi-Team Adventure! Additionally, ALL nominees will be recognized in an upcoming HCPS 411 Update and will receive their nominator’s words of affirmation, which some may consider the best gift of all! Please understand that nominators who are able may be requested to stand in for their nominee on the day of the adventure as coverage.

We understand that not all nominators will be in a position that allows them to stand in for their nominee - please still nominate and if needed we will work to find coverage for your nominee should they be selected!

NOMINATE NOW!

It’s time to shine a light on the incredible staff members who go above and beyond! The nomination window is open for the 2024 Celebration of Excellence in Education!

This year, in addition to the Teacher of the Year, we’re celebrating many aspects of education. We’ll honor one of our dedicated custodians, a technology wizard, a support staff star, a facilities employee who keeps the lights on, a cafeteria Superhero, and an outstanding principal and assistant principal! This is our opportunity to honor those who make a difference in students’ lives each and every day!

Go to hcps.org, click “learn more” on the banner on the front page, and nominate that special staff member you want to recognize this year!

Nominations close on January 4, 2024, so don’t wait! Submit your nomination today!

The Career & Technical Education (CTE) Office is pleased to announce and invite all to its 2024 Capstone and Senior Recognition Events for Magnet and Signature Programs. The schedule is linked here: 23-24 Capstone Dates. All events run 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Board President Aaron Poynton and Board Vice President Melissa Hahn are hosting a Listening Session on Monday, December 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Patterson Mill High School in the auditorium. This particular Listening Session is for HCPS Staff ONLY. You are invited to come out for a casual conversation addressing your questions or feedback related to your role as an HCPS employee. Don't miss this opportunity to get to know the Board officers a little better and to engage for the future of Harford County Public Schools.

CareFirst Virtual Care Offering Update

Starting January 1, 2024, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) members will be able to access a full suite of services through CloseKnit. CareFirst Video Visit will no longer be available to members after December 31, 2023. This change does not impact your ability to use telemedicine offerings from other providers in the CareFirst network.

CloseKnit is a full-service virtual health offering designed around you. Services include:

• Primary care (ages 18+)
• Urgent adult/pediatric care (ages 2+)
• Behavioral and mental health therapy
• Psychiatry*
• Lactation consulting*
• Nutritional counseling*
• and more!

*Available January 2024

Download the CloseKnit app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or visit closeknithealth.com. Ensure your member ID card is handy when setting up your account.

Video Visit Users: Download your health history report by December 31, 2023, so you have a record for your files. Click here for your guide.

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.

Remaining Webinar:

• December 19 (CRN 73288)
  

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.

December is All About Self-Care for a Healthy Holiday Season at CareFirst

The holiday season is officially here! While it is a joyous time of year, it can also be difficult with added demands such as hosting holiday parties and financial obligations causing more stress than usual. It may be time to reassess if you are stressed about supposedly fun things. Check out the self-care tips and resources in this month’s CareFirst Wellness Newsletter to consider implementing a few this holiday season to feel your best mentally and physically. To learn more, click here.

December CareFirst Wellbeing Challenge – Practice an Act of Gratitude Challenge

As another year ends, it’s the perfect time to reflect on everything you are grateful for. It can be something big, like your family, job, home, or something that pleases you. A daily gratitude practice can help you become a happier, healthier person. Click here to learn more about the CareFirst Wellbeing challenge and how to join.

Presented by Acentra Health Employee Assistance Program

People who experience caregiver stress can be vulnerable to change in their own health. In this month’s webinar we explore how to cope with caregiver stress while supporting our loved ones. This session will provide tips for participants on how to notice signs of stress and how to help reduce caregiver stress. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand now

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 anytime, 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.

Presented by Acentra Health Employee Assistance Program

Change is a natural part of life, but for some, it can cause significant discomfort, anxiety, and depression, while others seem to handle it in stride. This month’s session will help participants learn how to make positive changes and discover tips to embrace the discomfort of change. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning December 19, 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 anytime, 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.

Presented by Acentra Health Employee Assistance Program

The holiday hustle and bustle can be exhausting. In the latest episode, speakers Dr. Erica Gergely, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, EAP Trainer and Clinician, and Michelle Kirby, MSW, Social Worker, and EAP Specialization Account Executive, dive into the topic of holiday stress and effective coping mechanisms. As you navigate the festive season, they aim to provide listeners with practical insights and strategies to enhance their well-being during this potentially overwhelming time.

Tune in as the hosts explore various aspects of holiday stress, from managing expectations to incorporating self-care practices. Whether you’re juggling family gatherings, year-end work commitments, or simply feeling the weight of the season, this episode aims to offer guidance and support. Click here to listen now.

"To all of the 8th grade teachers at Fallston Middle School: Chrissy Berry, Donna Motsay, Terry Davis, Julie Smith, Danielle Solomon, Chuck Nolan, Jen Brown, Jimmie Brown, TJ Haselhoff, Kathy Bruck, Patie Meyer, Diane Sacchetti, DeAnna Burke, Chris Kraft, and Holly Hunt, who are doing a phenomenal job with filling out high school recommendations, creating a safe and thriving learning environment for our students, attending IEP meetings, creating and maintaining positive student relationships, and working together as a team to make an impact on each student that steps foot into their classroom. Nothing says “exceptional teacher” like all of these incredible human beings. The recognition is well deserved."

-Kim Ramer, Special Education Teacher, Fallston Middle School

"In appreciation of Todd Floros at the printshop. Print shop saves me an immense amount of time annually, giving me more to focus on student-centric tasks. I noted I was missing several batches of documents, which had shipped. Mr. Floros got back to me the same day, offering to expedite the orders should they not be quickly located. Fortunately, they were found already delivered to my building. Our print shop heroes work incredibly hard year-round to allow us success in the building. Mr. Floros, you are appreciated!"

-George Kasnic, 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher, Edgewood Middle School

"I would like to give a shout out to Amy Grant, in Accounts Payable, for her help and guiding me through updates to a mileage reimbursement report for the month of November after school on a Tuesday. She is a wonderful asset to HCPS and is extremely patient and responsive to any question that is asked. Thank you!"

-Deanna Burch, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management Chef/Educator, Havre de Grace High School

*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:

• Alinaijia Williams, Inclusion Helper, Bel Air High School
• Cory Ann Anderson, Inclusion Helper, Roye-Williams Elementary School
• Kenneth Beach, Custodian II - Shift 2, Forest Lakes Elementary School
• Jennifer Wegner, Inclusion Helper, George D. Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale
• Mark Foster, Jr, Custodian I - Shift 2, Deerfield Elementary School

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org