Thursday, May 4, 2023

Previous editions of the BCPS Staff Bulletin are archived and available for viewing on the BCPS website.

Teacher Appreciation Week!

May 8 - 12 is Teacher Appreciation Week! THANK YOU, Team BCPS teachers, for the incredible work you do in our schools every single day. While faced with innumerable challenges over the past few years, our teachers have continued providing students with world-class instruction, working to raise the bar and close gaps.

Every day, BCPS teachers make a tremendous impact on their community. So, whether it is your first or 30th year of teaching, please know you are valued and appreciated.

FEATURED VIDEO:

Safe Racer 2023

Check out BCPS-TV's recap of Safe Racer 2023 and find out which school came out on top! Team BCPS students from around the county competed with cars they built to see who could go the farthest and keep their passengers safe.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• We are Hiring! - Upcoming hiring events



Spread the word! BCPS is hiring in a variety of positions. Applications are available now online.

Diversity Teacher Job Fair

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Loch Raven High School

Summer Job Fairs

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Catonsville High School

Thursday, June 29, 2023

12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Dundalk High School

• Golden Apple Educator Awards

Freedom Federal Credit Union is now accepting entries for the 2023 Golden Apple Annual Educator Awards. Teachers can receive up to $2,000 for their schools. The deadline is May 31. More information is available on a digital flyer.

• Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect

Per Superintendent’s Rule 4103 – Child Abuse and Neglect, all Baltimore County Public Schools employees are mandatory reporters of suspected/known child abuse or neglect.

Upon receipt of information regarding abuse or neglect, the employee must immediately contact the Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services at 410- 887-TIME (8463), Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., or 410-583-9398 after hours/weekends, OR Baltimore County Police – 911.

After reporting the suspected abuse or neglect, the school administrator should be notified. The Report of Suspected Child Abuse Neglect form is located in BoardDocs.

• Ethics Panel Vacancy

The Board of Education of Baltimore County is seeking an interested volunteer citizen to fill a vacancy on its Ethics Review Panel. Applicants interested in being considered for appointment to the Ethics Review Panel should send a completed application no later than May 11, 2023. Learn more in a BCPS news release.

• Mindful Mondays

Kaiser Permanente presents Mindful Mondays – monthly classes designed to help you combat stress and build resilience. This series is open to both Kaiser Permanente members and non-members at no cost. If employees cannot attend the live presentation, all recordings are available on demand for up to three months from the presentation date.

All sessions are 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more and register in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Celebrating the Class of 2023: Graduating Senior Profiles

In honor of the Class of 2023, BCPS is profiling one senior from each high school. A new profile will be posted each school day until Friday, May 19, the last day for seniors. These profiles highlight the intellectual and personal strengths of our seniors and their diversity.

This week, the series continued with:

• Victoria Wilfong, Hereford High School

• Andrew Ratajczak, Sparrows Point High School

• Stella Oikonomou, Dundalk High School

• Brandon Hampton, Battle Monument School

• Natalie Trefill, Parkville High School Extended Day Learning Program

• Technology Training Workshops



Staff members in the Office of Technology Training and Compliance Management focus on improving the technical skills of new and experienced employees from all employee groups to enhance their performance in achieving systemwide goals. Spring 2023 technology course workshop offerings are listed in the course catalog. Learn more in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Upcoming Parent University Programs

In May, BCPS Parent University will present a variety of virtual programs. More information is available on the Parent University schedule.

Upcoming programming includes:

"Focusing on Strengths – Help Your Child Persevere in the Face of a Challenge"

Presented by Mariposa Education

Tuesday, May 9, at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

"Lunch & Learn: Nutrition/Taking Charge of Your Health"

Presented by Priority Partners

Tuesday, May 17, at 12:30 p.m.

• Algebra I Summer Symposium — Save the Date

As part of the BCPS goal of supporting student achievement in mathematics, the Division of Curriculum and Instruction, in collaboration with the Department of Schools, and the Department of Organizational Learning are pleased to announce the Algebra I Summer Symposium for all BCPS Algebra I teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators.

The Algebra I Summer Symposium is intended for all Algebra I teachers in middle and high schools, math department chairs, and the special educators and ESOL teachers who support students in Algebra I. Teachers will be paid a stipend for attendance. Administrators are welcome to attend all five days but will have specific leadership sessions on the first and last day of the symposium. More information will be forthcoming.

The symposium will be held over five days of in-person professional learning on the dates and locations listed below. Participants should attend all five days.

New Town High School

• Tuesday, June 27, 2023

• Wednesday, June 28, 2023

• Thursday, June 29, 2023

George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

• Wednesday, August 9, 2023

• Thursday, August 10, 2023

Registration is open now in the Registration System.

• Education Foundation Exchangeree shopping dates for May

The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., will host shopping days during May at the Exchangeree: Gizmos and Gadgets Galore centers at Rosedale/Golden Ring and Windsor Mill for all full-time BCPS educators and support staff.

During May, no registration or appointments are needed, but shoppers must bring their BCPS photo ID and shopping bags/boxes.

On the following shopping dates, educators can pick up both academic school/classroom supplies and educational resources and new and gently used books:

• Tuesday, May 23, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m., Rosedale/Golden Ring



• Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m., Windsor Mill

More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• End-of-Year Evaluations Procedures for the Evaluation System (Perform)

As a reminder, all end-of-year evaluations for all full-time equivalent school-based and central employees will be completed in the Evaluation System (Perform). Perform is the single and only source for all; paper evaluations are no longer accepted.

Principals and supervisors must complete all end-of-year evaluations for 10-month employees by Friday, June 9, 2023, and 12-month employees by Friday, June 30, 2023. AFSCME and ESPBC-represented employees are evaluated a minimum of once every two years.

More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Repticon Baltimore May 13 & 14 - Teachers Get in FREE

Repticon Baltimore will take place at the Timonium Fairgrounds on May 13 & 14. Teachers get in FREE with a valid school ID or paystub at the door. No reservation needed.

Saturday, May 13, Showtime - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 14, Showtime - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Celebrating Pupil Personnel Workers

Pupil Personnel Worker Week is May 8 - 12! Thank you for the vital support you provide to our students and families.

School Lunch Hero Day - May 5

Friday, May 5, is School Lunch Hero Day! Don't forget to give your cafeteria workers and food and nutrition staff an extra special thank you.

Thank you, BCPS School Nurses!

Saturday, May 6, is National Nurses Day and Wednesday, May 10, is National School Nurse Day! We are truly grateful for our school nurses.

ICYMI: Vacation Time Accrual Caps – Deadline Extended

This message pertains to employees in BCPS who accrue vacation leave. Vacation accrual caps will be suspended until December 31, 2023. Effective January 1, 2024, vacation accrual caps will be increased by five days for each bargaining unit. Any vacation days earned after the cap has been reached will be moved to rolled leave. Upon separation from BCPS, vacation will be paid in accordance with the negotiated master agreement towards retirement.

Team BCPS Shoutout

You may submit a shoutout for a variety of reasons. For example, you may want to offer a pat on the back to a colleague for helping out, recognize a staff member or student achievement, or welcome a new employee. When your shoutout appears in The Staff Bulletin, your name and school/location will be included.

ESP and Paraeducator of the Year

This week featured two BIG surprises in BCPS schools. On Tuesday, May 2, Marjorie Wright, Administrative Secretary at Lansdowne High School, was surprised with the honor of Education Support Professional of the Year.

On Thursday, May 4, Orlando Felton, a paraeducator at Hebbville Elementary School, was named Paraeducator of the Year!

Let's Play Ball! 2023 with The Education Foundation

Come one! Come all! Take yourself down to George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology (938 York Rd., Baltimore 21204) on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Let’s Play Ball! 2023! This event is free to the public. Learn more in a BCPS blog post.

Office of Facilities Operations Staff Awards

The Office of Facilities Operations recently presented staff awards. Please join us in congratulating this year's awardees, including Most Valuable Player of the Year, Manuel "Manny" Aristy, Building Operations Supervisor V.

Children's Mental Health Awareness - Chalk the Walk

May 7-13 is Children's Mental Health Awareness Week. To bring awareness to children’s mental health and with the BCPS Mind Over Matters campaign, we are partnering with the Baltimore County Bureau of Behavioral Health, Thrive Behavioral Health, and the Education Foundation encouraging schools to participate in a Chalk the Walk Challenge.

Teachers are encouraged to submit entries for the competition here. Please submit entries no later than May 31, 223. Learn more in a BCPS News Hub post.

Mind Over Matters is an ongoing movement to raise awareness about mental health and promote wellness for students and staff in Baltimore County Public Schools.

1) Deputy Superintendent Yarbrough highlighted recent BCPS achievements and celebrations and provided system updates.

2) Board Chair Lichter provided an update on the national superintendent search. The Board has selected four finalists for the final round of interviews. The four finalists will be interviewed by the Board and members of key stakeholder groups during the second week of May 2023.

3) The Board received a report on the proposed Central and Northeast area middle school boundary study.

4) The Board approved five administrative appointments.

The full meeting is available for viewing online.

Special Education Parent Involvement Survey

Special Education Teachers: Help spread the word! Each year the Maryland State Department of Education surveys parents of children receiving special education services. The purpose of The Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey is to hear from parents about how well they think their children’s school is partnering with them and promoting parent involvement in their children’s education. Surveys were mailed by February 10 and must be returned (by mail or online) by May 19. Parents can also complete the survey online.

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Raising the bar, Closing Gaps, Preparing for our future

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dept. of Communications/Community Outreach

443.809.5908 | communications@bcps.org