HCPS 411 Update

Were you unable to join the Monthly Minute earlier today? No worries - we have you covered! Click below to watch Dr. Bulson's message. To view a complete archive of all past Monthly Minute videos, visit the Monthly Minute page on our website by clicking here.

The 2023-2024 HCPS Instructional Calendar was presented to the Board of Education at the December 19, 2022, Board Business meeting for final approval. Thank you to the Calendar Committee for their time and consideration, and to those who provided feedback to the proposed calendar online and in person. You can view the calendar presentation and discussion from the Board of Education meeting on December 19, 2022, in its entirety here.

Visit the calendar page on hcps.org to review the Board approved HCPS 2023-24 Color-Coded Calendar as well as the HCPS 2023-24 Calendar At-A-Glance.

2023 graduation dates, times, and locations have been finalized. Watch the latest Parent Academy Real Talk discussing graduation ceremonies this year. The schedule is also being sent directly to those with an email in our mass notification system. High schools will provide additional details about their school’s specific graduation ceremony.

The Board of Education and both the Harford County Education Association – Education Support Professionals (HCEA-ESP) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Local 2471/Council 67 have both agreed that Harford County Public Schools will provide a one-time $179 lump sum stipend payment that will be funded by the State of Maryland through Senate Bill 831/House Bill 1349 to all HCEA-ESP and AFSCME employees who were employed by HCPS on October 18, 2022 and still currently employed. The lump sum payment will be paid to all eligible employees on December 23, 2022, along with the employee’s normal payroll payment. Additional details are provided in the MOU’s now available on the Human Resources Staff Relations SharePoint site, or by clicking here.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Mae Alfree, Ed.D., Director of Staff and Labor Relations at Mae.Alfree@hcps.org or 410-588-5226.

For a printer-friendly version of this flyer, please click here.

HCPS Parent Academy, in partnership with Chick-fil-A of Harford County, is excited to announce that Joppatowne Elementary School is the December winner for the school system’s Family Friendly School Award program!! Way to go!

This month, a total of 21 schools were nominated and 4,058 unique votes were cast by the community among the nominated schools, naming Joppatowne Elementary the winner with 891 votes!! Not only does the school earn the coveted title of Family Friendly School for the month of December, but the entire school staff will be treated to a luncheon by the program’s partner, Chick-fil-A of Harford County.

We want to give a special shout out to this month's runner up schools:

• Swan Creek School
• Emmorton Elementary School
• William S. James Elementary School

Keep up the great work!

The school system will continue to celebrate its schools that best engage all families by consistently demonstrating the National PTA Standards for Family-School Partnerships. One school will be named a family friendly school each month through May.

Want to see your school highlighted for this award on the website and social media, plus treated to a Chick-fil-A lunch? Continue to encourage parents/guardians, students, staff and community members to nominate your school for the Family Friendly School Award! The nomination window will be open again January 3-10, 2023, on the Parent Academy page of hcps.org. If your school is nominated, our community can show how welcoming your school is by casting their vote January 12-19, 2023.

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

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.

Congratulations to all of the December honorees highlighted below! And a special thank you to this month's sponsor, Har-co Credit Union. In addition to their certificate, nomination letter, and car magnet, the following five lucky winners chosen by random draw received $50 gift cards:

• Debra Gutridge, Abingdon Elementary School
• Kristen Smith, Ring Factory Elementary School
• Shamira Thompson, Aberdeen Middle School
• Earliene Klapka, North Harford High School
• Jennifer Cashour, Harford Academy

The HCPS Bowtie Breakfast program celebrates Central Office employees who consistently demonstrate outstanding customer service and go above and beyond in their roles. Honorees are nominated by colleagues to attend Superintendent Bulson’s virtual event held each month. Congratulations to the December 2022 honorees! Join us in celebrating our awesome HCPS staff!

We'd also like to give a BIG thank you to our program sponsor, Freedom Federal Credit Union! We are able to provide our honorees with a special treat courtesy of their generosity.

Fallston High School Assistant Principal Emily Snow shares how the school provided information to parents/guardians about Canvas, the school system’s new learning management system, and the tools and resources available for caregivers to use to support their child(ren)’s learning at home.

Follow our 2022 Teacher of the Year Ashley Gereli through her journey this year by subscribing to her blog: https://www.hcps.org/aboutus/teacheroftheyear/teacheroftheyearblog.aspx?year=2022.

The Communi-Team Adventure is comprised of five carefully curated adventures for teachers outside of their classrooms. Teachers will be nominated by coworkers within HCPS for their dedication and commitment to the students of Harford County. For each adventure, six nominees will be selected at random to spend the day with their peers and one member of the Communi-Team. The first adventure is coming in January of 2023!

Beginning Monday, January 23, 2023, the Office of Organizational Development is excited to announce, Future U Academy for Aspiring Principals and Assistant Principals. This academy is an opportunity for current HCPS staff and leaders to take their next steps in leadership. Join us as we uncover your leadership strengths, discover the core leadership competencies, and explore strategies you can use in your current placement! Registration is limited! Click here to register! The academy will meet each Monday 4:30-6:30 p.m. from January 23, 2023, through March 13, 2023.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Audrey Vohs, Acting Supervisor of Leadership Development, at Audrey.Vohs@hcps.org or 410-588-5354.

For a printer-friendly version of the flier on the right, please click here.

Many of our positions are filled by word of mouth by our employees. Help us share our employment needs!

• English Teacher – Edgewood Middle School

• Administrative Support Assistant Floater – School-Based Floater-10 Month – Various Secondary Locations
• Satellite Kitchen Assistant – Hickory Elementary

Follow us on social media @hcpsrecruiter and share our employment posts. To find a full list of our available positions, visit hcps.org and click on the sun!

Mark your Calendar!

Resume Development Workshop:

• When: Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
• Where: Join Via Teams (Meeting Link will be Provided closer to Workshop Date)

If you are interested in resume or cover letter support prior to this workshop, please contact Maranda Scott at Maranda.Scott@hcps.org.

Please verify the address shown on your 12/09/2022 pay stub is your current address. If the address is incorrect, log into Employee Self Service (ESS) and update your address (click on Life Events and then Move). Note - to access ESS, you must be logged onto an HCPS computer/HCPS network. The format for username is your network username followed by “@hcps.org”, for example, johsmith@hcps.org. See the DSS and ESS Instructions for all you can do in DSS/ESS.

If you plan on separating/retiring and will be moving prior to Friday, January 20, 2023, please complete the Change of Address Form and email it to HRIS@hcps.org so your 2022 W2 will reflect your current address and reach you timely.

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.

Thank you for your cooperation and Happy Holidays!

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:

• $53,057 ($59,187 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
• $49,399 ($55,529 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
• $43,492 ($49,622 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
• $16,480 ($22,610 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.

The FY23 Payroll Calendar has been revised for the recently announced closures on 12/29 and 12/30/2022. The revision is available on SharePoint and can be accessed by clicking PR Calendar FY23 rev 121422.

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.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released the 2023 employee benefit limits for retirement plans. The flier provides information about 2023 cost of living adjustments, which impact contribution limits for pension and other retirement-related plans. The chart summarizes key limits and shows how they compare to 2022 limits.

The Maryland Retired School Personnel Association, through its MRSPA Fund, is offering three $2,000 scholarships to public school employees in Maryland who are enrolled in a program leading to teacher certification or certification as a school counselor, speech and language pathologist, physical or occupational therapist, school social worker, administrator or supervisor, media specialist or school psychologist. Applicants must hold a high school diploma or GED certificate.

The scholarship is also available to certificated teachers who are pursuing certification in another area or level of teaching or to become qualified as one of the above-listed education specialists. Applicants must be current employees of the Board of Education and must intend on working in a Maryland public school while working toward certification and upon completion of their requirements for certification.

Applicants apply online between January 3, 2023, and January 31, 2023, at www.mrspa.org. Winners will be notified by March 1, 2023. Additional information can be found at MRSPA Scholarship FAQ’s located on the www.mrspa.org homepage.

The window is now open to nominate your favorite teacher from this year, or years past, for the 2023 Teacher of the Year!

Visit hcps.org and click “learn more” in the Teacher of the Year banner at the top of the page to share 3-4 sentences on why you want your school to consider nominating your favorite teacher this year! The program will look slightly different this year as HCPS will celebrate a night of excellence in education when the Teacher of the Year is announced. In addition to announcing the 2023 Teacher of the Year, we will honor retired or former teachers who will be inducted into the HCPS Hall of Fame.

We want to thank HarfordTV who is planning to broadcast the culminating event on April 12, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (mark your calendar now!) via their Facebook Live as well as recording for later viewing. Local businesses and community members continue to play an integral part in showing our appreciation for our educators and we look forward to celebrating with everyone again this year!

Nominations are due by January 4, 2023. Don't delay- submit your nomination here as soon as possible.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to celebrationofexcellence@hcps.org.

Love your bus driver and bus attendant?! Now's your chance to let them know! Submit a nomination on the website as soon as possible to see your favorite bus driver and attendant be named Bus Driver and Attendant of the Year!

Click here to submit your nomination.

All certificated staff will now have to request initial certificates and changes to their existing certificate through the TEACH system - https://certificationhub.msde.maryland.gov.

Directions for requesting an initial certificate, a certification renewal, and/or an endorsement to your current certificate can be found on the Certification site in SharePoint. Please see links below:

• Applying for an initial Certificate
• Requesting a Certificate Renewal
• Requesting an Endorsement

For those who have a Maryland teaching certificate that is expiring DECEMBER 31, 2022; if you have not done so already, please log onto TEACH and request a renewal of your certificate. More information regarding this process can be found in the MSDE TEACH INFORMATION 9-2022 document on SharePoint, Human Resources, Certification, under Certification Forms & Information.

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

*Administrators interested in an in-person or virtual presentation on the TEACH system for their staff should contact the Office of Certification.

Presented by KEPRO Employee Assistance Program

If you’re feeling worn down by stress, try applying one or more of the following four A’s: Avoid, Alter, Accept, and Adapt. In this session, participations will learn how to help manage stress healthier and strategies to take control of their life. 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 KEPRO 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

Practicing mindfulness and self-compassion can allow you to directly address the circumstances and goals you would like to achieve. At the start of the New Year, we may find ourselves inspired to set a new goal and overcome challenges. We may also find that it is time for new beginnings, but we know that our reality does not change with the turn of the year.

Join CareFirst and the Wellness Committee on Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. to learn more about how you can focus on goal setting and tools for self-reflection in the New Year for empowerment and inspiration. The topics covered will be:

• Setting Goals in the New Year
• Mindfulness and How to Practice
• The Power of Self-Compassion
• Strategies for Goal Accomplishment

To join the session on January 19, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. click here to access the live session; using the Meeting ID: 848 6016 3991 and Passcode: 302571.

This January, prioritize achieving and maintaining your health goals in 2023.

A new year is a perfect opportunity for employees to refresh their daily routines and improve or implement new healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Think about it: the health decisions we make each day positively or negatively influence our current and future health status. These decisions also affect the way we show up for ourselves and others. By creating healthy and sustainable habits, we can reduce our risk for the most common, costly, and preventable health problems. To learn more, click here to view CareFirst’s January Wellness Newsletter.

January WellBeing Challenge – Step Into a New Year, New You Challenge

Make 2023 the Year of You! CareFirst WellBeing provides innovative tools and resources to help you meet your unique wellness goals. Remember, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing when making healthy lifestyle changes. Here are a few quick tips to start this year off on the right track:

• Define attainable health goals that will fit in with your lifestyle.
• Take it one step at a time.
• Exercise with friends and family to stay motivated.
• Track your food and water intake.
• Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a workout or overeat.

Click here to learn more about the CareFirst WellBeing challenge and how to join.

Join Blue365 and Start Saving Today!

With the Blue365 wellness discount, great deals are yours for every aspect of your life – like 20% off at Reebok.com, discounted nutrition products, or a gym membership for only $29 a month. To take advantage of Blue365, register now at carefirst.com/wellnessdiscounts and have your CareFirst member ID card handy. You will be registered and ready to shop in a couple of minutes. CareFirst will send a special deal to your inbox every week.

CareFirst WellBeing – A Personalized Digital Connection to Your Healthiest Life

Health and wellness is intensely personal. It's a product of everything, large and small, that goes into making and living life. It's constantly evolving. And it's different for everyone. To help you find and maintain your own sense of well-being in an increasingly complicated world, CareFirst is building a better wellness resource.

Beginning on January 1, 2023, the current ShareCare wellness app available to all HCPS staff members will transition to CareFirst WellBeing. The new site will feature all the tools, resources, and support you rely on but in a more clear and cohesive platform. To download the app, visit CareFirst.com/WellBeing. To access CareFirst WellBeing, you can register with the new program using your current ShareCare credentials on or after January 1, 2023. After that, you can start using all the excellent resources available – there's no waiting period. All of your data will carry over, too. You can view the Introduction Flier here to learn more about the new CareFirst WellBeing app.

Focus on growing and thriving with BurnAlong this season!

Stay centered and balance with four (4) BurnAlong video playlists:

• b-NOURISHED: Enjoy healthy takes on seasonal favorites and learn intuitive eating tips.
• b-GENEROUS: Master gift-giving and save money with financial wellness tips.
• b-MOVIN': Find movement practices that bring you joy.
• b-GRATEFUL: Build your foundation for 2023 with gratitude and goal-setting.

The Transformative Power of 10 Minutes of Stretching a Day

Did you know that after a month of 10 minutes of stretching three days a week, studies1 show a 10-30% increase in range of motion? (1) Here are three quick classes you can schedule this week to help you relax and unwind.

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.

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!

Employees who have received the primary vaccine series and at least one (1) booster can submit verification of their vaccination status through an online employee survey to be eligible for COVID Breakthrough Leave for the 2022-2023 school year. Individuals who already submitted both their primary vaccine series and booster information during the 2021-2022 school year will not need to complete this survey again. Information collected from the COVID Breakthrough Leave survey will be utilized for the 2022-2023 school year to determine COVID Breakthrough Leave eligibility. The survey can be accessed by clicking here.

The complete MOU specific to your bargaining unit can be found on the Staff Relations SharePoint page. Questions about COVID Breakthrough Leave can be directed to Staff and Labor Relations Office at (410) 588-5311.

"I wish to shout-out and recognize Mrs. Margaret Henninger, Administrative Assistant at Harford Technical High School, for dedicated and professional service to the school, the teaching staff, and the support personnel that have relied on her to ID personnel that required replacements for both working days and supporting activities in both the school and at practices, at events, and other activities. Her acumen in designating an assignment replacements and the execution of completing the assignment within a limited time frame is extraordinary. She comes to the school earlier than any other staff, not including custodial workers."

-Stephen Fin, ESSER Substitute, Harford Technical High School

"Recognizing food service ambassador Tashia Carter at Edgewood Middle School. Ms. Carter goes out of her way for students, always greeting them positively, helping them get the nutrition they need, making sure none go hungry. She realizes her smile and positive attitude make that difference in a struggling student’s day and might be just what they need to persevere and find success. Thank you, Ms. Carter!"

-George Kasnic, Social Studies Teacher, Edgewood Middle School

"I would like to give a shout out to Patty Balzano, Lead Secretary at Magnolia Elementary School. Ms. Balzano is AMAZING! Ms. Balzano is 100% committed to helping and supporting all members of the MAES community—students, parents, and staff alike. She is professional, reliable, and resourceful; she always follows through with what she says she is going to do and does so in a timely manner. Ms. Balzano is incredibly knowledgeable of the families in our community, and she cares about each and every one. She knows most families by face and name, and she is knowledgeable of the unique help or support that a given family might need. Ms. Balzano is exceptional at multi-tasking; at any one time she is handling three or four time-sensitive tasks. Her work on tasks is quick, efficient, and thorough, and she is always attentive to every detail. Ms. Balzano is an essential member of the MAES staff, and her work is vital in moving our school forward in a positive direction. Patty, thank you for all that you do!"

-Sarah Q. Lumbard, Pupil Personnel Worker, Magnolia Elementary School

"Shout out to Patrick Brewer for his work with our teachers and vendor in resolving technical issues with our FITstep product (Frequency, Intensity, Time—all important factors in measuring a student's activity levels—and the FITstep pedometers accurately track all three). His professionalism and technical skills have been instrumental in providing the guidance and understanding needed for teachers to implement the product into instruction."

-The Office of PE Health and APE

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the following new members of the HCPS family!

• Jessica Baumer, Grade 4 Teacher, William S. James Elementary School
• Tammy Davidson, Paraeducator, Harford Academy
• Sarah Dwyer, Inclusion Helper, Riverside Elementary School
• Vivian Mendoza, Special Education Teacher, Swan Creek
• Krista Peters, Grade 2 Teacher, Youth's Benefit Elementary School
• Mary Seroka, Procurement Specialist, Business Services

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

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