HCPS 411 Update

There will be no weekly systemwide publications – including the HCPS 411 Update – next week due to the school system closure Wednesday, March 27, through Friday, March 29, for Spring Break. The HCPS 411 Update will resume on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

As part of the Professional Learning Day, all HCPS staff are encouraged to tune in to March Momentum: An HCPS Live Teams Event next Tuesday, March 26, from 8:00-8:45 a.m. If your schedule allows, schools, offices, and other teams may want to watch together in a central location.

To join the event, click here.

Monday: Staff will engage in systemwide content professional learning for the day.

• Visit the link in the flyer above for Monday locations.
• Elementary classroom teachers will find their content information with links.
• Middle school special educators should note updated yellow highlights.

Tuesday: During the morning, staff will engage in self-directed and/or live, synchronous sessions.

• We will kick off Day 2 of our Spring Learning Conference with March Momentum: An HCPS Live Teams Event at 8:00 a.m. Dr. Eric Davis and Ms. Katie Ridgway will be sharing a systemwide message to inspire and inform our work!
• The HCPS Spring Conference Catalogue has all the information to create your learning experience and the Canvas Course is also now live—check it out here!
• We still have a few one-on-one coaching sessions available – these were a huge hit last year so you will want to reserve your slot. Click here to preregister by Friday.

We look forward to celebrating learning together! Questions? Reach out to HCPSProfessionallearning@hcps.org.

Instructional ESPs (paraeducators, inclusion helpers, techs, etc) are invited to participate in upcoming professional learning opportunities:

Friday, March 22: Early Dismissal Sessions

• Click Here for a list of the session offerings and to preregister for those you plan to attend.

Monday, March 25: HCPS ESP Spring Learning Conference

• Join us at C. Milton Wright High School from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Click Here for the Conference Guide. Make sure you bring your HCPS device.
• Two of the session offerings (CPI Initial Certification & The Brain Game) require preregistration by Friday—use the registration links within the Conference Guide to sign up. All other sessions do not require prior registration.
• ESPs are welcome to remain at C. Milton Wright or return to their home school for the afternoon block. Elementary paraeducators will join the Science of Reading webinar at this time.

Tuesday, March 26: HCPS Spring Learning Conference

• See the HCPS Spring Learning Conference resources also in this edition of the HCPS 411 Update.

Just a reminder that March 25-26 are non-work days for Inclusion Helpers. This information will also be shared through an email from your building office team. Please feel free to share with your ESP colleagues.

Questions? Reach out to HCPSProfessionallearning@hcps.org.

Click below to watch Dr. Bulson's latest message. To view a complete archive of all past Monthly Minute videos, visit the Monthly Minute page on our website by clicking here.

The Summer 2024 four-day work week schedule has been finalized. The nine (9) week period will commence the week of June 17th and terminate at the end of the week of August 12th. The linked document PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES Summer Hours 2024 details the work schedule options and provides guidance regarding plans and exceptions to the schedule.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Human Resources at 410-588-5226.

Administrative support personnel will be briefed next week on the Oracle system going live this summer. The briefing is part of Professional Development on March 25th and will include a summary of changes to purchasing and expense reporting as well as a training overview to include a demo and a review of the training schedule. Please ensure administrative support in your area attend this informative event.

Basic FAQs related to the transition from Lawson to Oracle are available here, and issues of The ORACLE Outlook newsletter may be accessed on the Business Services SharePoint site here.

The Office of Science would like to celebrate Jason Mills and Doug Heeter who developed a video for safely viewing the eclipse on April 8, 2024. Harford County will experience nearly 90% blockage of the sun at approximately 3:20 p.m. Grab your eclipse glasses and check out this video for more information.

Did you know that individuals who set specific financial goals were nearly twice as likely to reach or exceed their goals compared to those who didn’t? . Click here for a link to a flyer with some tips on how to turn your dreams into reality. Take a moment to check it out today!

The Summer/Fall 2024 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course Catalog is now available. Registration for these MSDE credit courses will available in HECTOR on March 28, 2024. Register early for the best course selection.

HECTOR Directions

Need assistance HECTOR?

• Registering for courses
• Checking Registration and History
• Changing or Canceling Registration

Please see the Instructions for HECTOR.

Towson University will be offering an Arts Integration Graduate Certificate that will be 100% online with discounted tuition and a free Towson Learning Network (TLN) application. Please see flyer for details.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Program is currently accepting applications for the summer and fall terms. They offer fully online coursework leading to an MA TESOL, MA TESOL with initial P-12 ESOL certification, or a graduate certificate in TESOL. Maryland public school employees receive a 20% discount on tuition. They also offer need-based scholarships. (The scholarship application deadline is April 15.)

UMBC TESOL for Maryland Educators

Are you a Paraeducator or Inclusion Helper interested in a teaching career? If you currently hold an associate’s degree and have an interest in teaching, please see this flier for information about our new partnership with Towson University. This is a part-time pathway for individuals interested in earning their bachelor's degree in elementary education/special education.

If you are interested in learning more about this program, please attend our information session with Towson University on April 4, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Please use this link to join the session.

On November 2, 2023, and December 5, 2023, the Professional Standards Teacher Education Board (PSTEB) and State Board of Education (SBOE), respectively, granted permission to adopt new regulations governing educator certification. These regulations will be effective on April 1, 2024. All educators holding a certificate that expires prior 1/1/2029, can renew their certificate under current regulations. However, educators with certificates issued after 6/30/2024, will be held to the new regulations. Additional information about the new certification requirements can be found on the certification section of SharePoint. There will also be a professional development session detailing the new regulations on the March 26, 2024, Professional Development Day.

To align with the increased rigor of the new teacher certification regulations, effective April 1, 2024, HCPS will require all out-of-state coursework meets the requirements outlined in Article 13B.02.01.12 (A) (detailed below). If you have a current approved M30/M60 plan, you can continue with that plan. However, new plans listing courses not meeting these requirements will not be approved. Upon review, it has been determined that Idaho State University self-paced courses do not meet this requirement.

Education Article 13B.02.01.12 (A) - An out-of-state institution shall award 1 semester credit hour for
(1) A minimum of 15 hours of fifty minutes of actual class time, exclusive of registration, study days and holidays, when supervision is assured and learning is documented.

(4) Instruction delivered by electronic media based on the equivalent outcomes in student learning of A (1) of this regulation and may include a combination with instructors, and readings when supervision is assured and learning is documented.

If you have questions regarding teacher certification, master’s plus 30/60, or Public Service Loan Forgiveness, please contact the Certification Department at certification@hcps.org.

The next "Engage for Education Listening Session" will be held at Havre de Grace High School on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for staff and community members to meet face-to-face with Board Vice President Hahn and Board President Poynton and have their voices heard.

Join us at Southampton Middle School on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. This is an opportunity to participate in a HCPS Staff only session with Board Vice President Hahn and Board President Poynton.

The HCPS Limelight program celebrates school-based employees who consistently demonstrate outstanding service to others. Honorees are nominated by their administrator. HCPS Limelight events are held virtually once a month during the school year and are sponsored by a different community business partner each month. Congratulations to all of the March honorees highlighted below for serving BIG this month!

A special thank you to this month's Limelight sponsor, Aberdeen IronBirds. Each of this month’s honorees will receive four (4) tickets to an Aberdeen IronBirds baseball game of their choice this season, and one lucky grand prize winner, Carolynne Goins of Bakerfield Elementary School, gets a skybox with catering for 25 friends and family!

We would also like to give a shout-out and heartfelt thank you to Paula Stanton, Supervisor of Equity and Cultural Proficiency, who took the time to be with us that morning to help celebrate our staff!

HCPS Parent Academy, in partnership with Chick-fil-A of Harford County, is proud to announce that Havre de Grace Middle School is the March winner of the Family Friendly School Award!

Principal Brad Spence and his amazing staff have earned back-to-back awards, first for the high school in February and now for the middle school in March! Way to go, Warriors!! Thank you for creating such a welcoming environment for your students and their families at Havre de Grace Middle/High School!

This month, 12 schools were nominated and 759 unique votes were cast by the community among the nominated schools, naming Havre de Grace Middle the winner with 270! Not only does the school earn the coveted title of Family Friendly School for the month of March, but the entire school staff will be treated to a luncheon by the program partner, Chick-fil-A of Harford County.

We want to also recognize this month's runner-up schools:

• North Harford Elementary School
• Forest Lakes Elementary School
• Harford Technical High School

Keep up the great work!

Stay tuned for the video of the surprise announcement at the school.

HCPS is deeply grateful for its generous Chick-fil-A partners at the Aberdeen, Bel Air, Constant Friendship, and Forest Hill locations for their tremendous support of this program.

If you’re unfamiliar with it, the Communi-Team Adventure is an exciting trip for any staff member outside of their buildings. Staff members in any role may be nominated by their coworkers within HCPS for their dedication and commitment to the students of Harford County through one or more of the Communi-Team values of inclusivity, equity, perseverance, leadership, and/or celebration. For the adventure, randomly selected nominees will spend the day with their peers and members of the Communi-Team! 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 not all nominators will be in a position that allows them to stand in for their nominee, but please still nominate and if needed we will work to find coverage for your nominee should they be selected!

Our seventh and final adventure is coming this May! Together with members of the Communi-Team, honorees will walk throughout historic Havre de Grace to learn about the history of the area, with a focus on historically underrepresented populations. Honorees will enjoy breakfast at a coffee shop, walk to different parks and museums throughout Havre de Grace guided by a local historian and educator, and end with fellowship over lunch.

Who should be recognized?: Any staff member in any role who exemplifies one or more of the Communi-Team’s values of inclusivity, equity, perseverance, leadership, or celebration.
Who should nominate?: Any staff member in any role!
If I am able to substitute, what is the date?: Thursday, May 16, 2024
Can I still nominate, even if I am unavailable?: Yes! We encourage it, as your words of affirmation are meaningful and important.
How do I nominate?: Click here to submit your nomination.
When should I submit my nomination?: Please submit all nominations by Friday, April 12, 2024.

Your time and consideration to nominate are greatly appreciated!

One more HUGE shout out to our *very first* Most Valuable Parent (MVP), Carrie Hunter of Edgewood Elementary School!

We were so excited to bestow the MVP Award for February to Ms. Hunter and celebrate the work she is doing to support Edgewood Elementary. Ms. Hunter consistently demonstrates nearly all of the National PTA Standards for parent involvement!

Parent Academy looks forward to announcing the March MVP Award winner soon. Stay tuned!

The focus of this year’s National Women’s History Month is “Celebrating Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who work to eliminate bias and discrimination. For more information on this year’s theme and celebrating the contributions of women, visit the National Women’s History Alliance.

The first recorded celebration of Irish Americans in the United States dates back to 1762 with the first St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush issued the first proclamation designating March as Irish American Heritage Month. In 1992, Congress followed suit and passed Public Law 102-253, which designated March of that year as Irish American Heritage Month. For more information, visit the Library of Congress and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Click HERE to share how you’re celebrating Women’s History and Irish American Heritage in your school, classroom, office, or department.

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 May 1, 2024. 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, School Counseling Supervisor, at Lawanda.Brown@hcps.org or 410-588-5251.

Course Title: IIRP Restorative Practices for Educators

Course Description: Building and strengthening relationships and community is a critical component of school culture. Restorative practices are an essential process for creating a positive learning environment, building social capital, and resolving relational issues.

During your training session, you will learn the fundamental theory and practices for engaging with students, staff, and parents in your school setting.

Topics include the importance of being explicit about practice, how to set high expectations while being supportive, and ways to build community in your setting. We will discuss giving direct feedback, asking questions that foster accountability, and using effective methods to resolve common conflicts.

You will learn to apply the restorative practices continuum, understanding which restorative processes are best for achieving certain goals or responding to particular situations. We will focus specifically on facilitating circles, an essential process for creating a positive learning environment and school culture. Circles can be used both proactively and responsively to build social capital, sustain relationships, address social problems, and respond when harm occurs. Participants will spend time planning circles to use in their schools.

CANVAS Pre-Work Modules: All participants must complete the RA for Educators Canvas Modules before attending their scheduled training.

Location: These training sessions will be offered in person at the indicated locations or virtually via a TEAMS link sent by the course instructor.

Session Format: There is a Max 24 participants per session and 14 participants need to be registered for the course to run. Session formats are subject to change based on registration. You will be notified by email of any format changes.

Permissions: If you are registering for an in-person weekday training session, you will need to obtain permission from your principal to attend. Sub-coverage pay will be provided.

Payment: For HCPS staff completing the Canvas modules and training outside of their duty day, the compensation rate is the $25/hr. negotiated rate.

Hector Registration Links:

VIRTUAL: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1814

IN-PERSON: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1813

Questions:

Please email Faith Buxton at faith.buxton@hcps.org.

Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board business meetings? Provide your feedback to the Board on a specific policy by the deadline listed on the webpage: https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.aspx.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

This month, join CareFirst in recognizing National Colorectal Cancer Month to raise awareness for the fourth most common type of cancer in the United States. Overall, the most effective way to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer is to get routine screenings beginning at age 45. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screenings can also find colorectal cancer early when treatment works best. Click here for more information.

March CareFirst Wellbeing Challenge – Rest & Restore Sleep Challenge

It can be challenging to prioritize good sleep when work, stress, family demands, illnesses, and more can get in the way. Over time, chronic poor sleep can increase your risk for more severe health issues. It's important to make healthy adjustments and focus on what you can control to get a good night's rest. Click here to learn more about the CareFirst Wellbeing challenge and how to join.

Wellness Wednesday Webinars

Join the CareFirst Wellness & Disease Management team once a month on Wednesdays to learn more about the monthly health observance topic. Register or watch previous webinars by clicking on the links below:

• April 3, Financial Health = Wealth: Whether you're just starting your financial journey or looking to fine-tune your existing financial plan, this webinar will equip and empower you with the knowledge and confidence to achieve better financial well-being.
• May 1, Mental Health Starts with You: If you are dealing with stress or anxiety or are simply seeking a way to enhance your mental well-being, this webinar will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to cultivate a healthier mind.
• June 5, Tools for Men's Health: A comprehensive webinar that delves into men's unique health challenges and provides valuable insights, strategies, and resources for achieving and maintaining optimal health.

Register for an upcoming webinar

Watch a past wellness webinar

Have 20 minutes to spare?

This month, join CareFirst Wellness from 4:30-4:50 p.m. each Wednesday to learn how to improve your nutritional health to make lifelong sustainable changes. Click here to register: March Nutrition Mini-Masterclass. The remaining session is:

• Wednesday, March 27, Sheet Pan Dinners: Ready for dinner? We've got you covered. With this seminar, you'll learn easy, quick sheet-pan dinners that you'll be excited to cook!
  

An HCPS and CareFirst Wellness Webinar Event

Have you ever found grocery stores daunting and challenging to navigate? Have you ever wanted to go grocery shopping without buying snacks and other food you don't need? Learn how to grocery shop strategically without wandering aimlessly through aisles or having difficulty making health-conscious choices. Participants of this event will also learn tips for reading nutrition labels and making wallet-friendly selections while grocery shopping.

Add the event link below to your calendar so you don't forget to take advantage of this great educational event. You can utilize this link to attend the April 16 event from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Grocery Store 101 Webinar Event Link.

An HCPS and CareFirst Wellness Webinar Event

Using leftovers is a great way to minimize food waste and save time. They can be a great snack, lunch the next day, or even be used to make a quick meal. Check out this webinar for food handling tips and ideas for making over leftovers so you can enjoy delicious and safe meals on those busy days.

Add the event link below to your calendar so you don't forget to take advantage of this great educational event. You can utilize this link to attend the April 25 event from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Makeover Your Leftovers Webinar Event Link.

Visit the Staff Wellness page on the HCPS website by clicking the calendar below to learn about other exciting events and opportunities available to all employees.

What are the changes you can make to improve your nutrition this month?

Revitalize your wellness routine by spring cleaning your healthy eating habits for a healthier, vibrant you. Join BurnAlong this month to embark on a holistic journey towards healthier living through nutrition. Their engaging sessions will empower you to unlock a path to a balanced and fulfilling relationship with nutrition.

• March 28 at 12:00 p.m.: Savor Every Bite – The Joy of Intuitive Eating

Looking for More Class Recommendations?

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

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.

CareFirst Virtual Care Offering Update

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) members can now access a full suite of services through CloseKnit. CareFirst Video Visit is no longer available. 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!

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.

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.

Webinars:

• April 6 (CRN 77192)
  

• April 17 (CRN 77194)
• May 2 (CRN 77198)
• May 29 & 30 (CRN 77265)
  
• June 7 (CRN 77205)
• June 26 (CRN 77209)

Seminars:

• April 5 – Harford Community College (CRN 77189)
• June 25 - Harford Community College (CRN 77203)

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.

"I wanted to give a shout out to Ms. McKinny and her team at NBES for their amazing dedication to creating a structured classroom and providing all students with positive behavior support. During my visits to NBES, I have seen firsthand staff using positive reinforcement, implementing evidence based behavioral supports, and implementing student Behavior Intervention Plans with fidelity. A big thank you to Ms. McKinney, Ms. McCabe, Ms. Lundy, Ms. White, Ms. Funk, and Ms. Arnold for your commitment to go above and beyond to support our students and families each day!"

-Greg Willison, M. Ed., Behavior Intervention Coach

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

• Lewis Krec, Custodian II-Shift 2, North Bend Elementary School
• Jonathan Wallace, Custodian I-Shift 2, Havre de Grace Middle School
• Maricelis Torres, Inclusion Helper, Emmorton Elementary School
• Rebecca Milway, School Bus Driver, Transportation Department

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org