HCPS 411 Update

On August 19 we held a Live Parent Academy Town Hall event for our community to discuss Special Education and the HCPS Continuity of Learning Plan. The event was recorded and is now available and linked below for those who were unable to watch live.

"These are challenging times." Recently this phrase has been repeated often, in a variety of ways, through news media and social media. It has become a common phrase, but the essence of the message is true. These are challenging times, which have undoubtedly caused stress, anxiety, and fear in our communities.

This year, the 2020 HCPS Teacher of the Year Finalists, dubbed the "QuaranTEAM 5," would like to shine a light on mental health issues and maintaining mental well-being. Our finalists will research ideas and consult with mental health professionals, in order to share helpful tips and strategies for building better mental health in our professional community. Each month, this information will be shared through a Mental Health Minute. The first Mental Health Minute installment will be published in September. We look forward to staying mentally fit together!

The purpose of this course is to provide educators with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure that the materials used in their classroom are accessible to all their students. The outcome for professional development is that participants will improve their struggling students' access to the same curriculum materials as their classmates, thereby improving the quality of curriculum for all learners.

Topic covered include:

• Introduction to accessible materials and technologies.
• How to use everyday technology to create accessible classroom materials.
• How to locate closed captioned videos and make your own.
• How to find specialized formats of print materials.
• How to select accessible digital materials.

Two sessions are offered on a first come first serve basis. The course is online and will run from September 29 - November 2, 2020. Please click here to register. Question about this course can be emailed to: hcpsprofessionallearning@hcps.org

The Association of American Educators Foundation: COVID-19 Relief Scholarship and Grant Program provides awards of up to $500 for educators who have been impacted by school closures or other impacts of the pandemic. Awards may be used for professional development costs related to obtaining new skills; costs related to the implementation of distance learning during school closures; materials, programs, or projects related to the reopening of schools after the pandemic; projects that integrate new ideas, knowledge, or resources into the classroom once schools reopen; or materials, programs, or professional development related to maximizing student learning and minimizing student learning loss.

Application Deadline:

August 31, 2020

Area of Interest:

Education

Build the Good - Cholesterol! Why should we care about our Cholesterol levels? Cholesterol levels are one of the numerous factors, such as blood pressure, age, smoking, and body composition, your doctor can use to assess or predict your cardiovascular risk. Bottom line, the more risk factors you have the more likely you are to have a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke.

Read more, here!

-Lucy Brandt, Administrative Support Technician - Office of Social Studies, Curriculum

To submit an HCPS Shout Out or recognize a colleague in the Spotlight on Customer Service, please email the information and photo (if available) to HCPS.411@hcps.org.

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5213