Thursday, February 22, 2024

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

BCPS Job Fair set for March 12: Spread the word!

All 176 BCPS schools, centers, and programs will be represented at the BCPS Spring Job Fair at the Timonium Fairgrounds on Tuesday, March 12. Please help us spread the word about this unique annual event which provides candidates the opportunity to learn about a variety of rewarding career paths with Team BCPS!

A digital flyer is available for download.

BCPS is hiring for the following positions: teachers, paraprofessionals, additional adult support positions, building service workers, grounds workers, maintenance employees, nurses, related services (speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists), school psychologists and social workers, bus drivers and attendants, food service workers, and school counselors.

Candidates are encouraged to start their applications prior to the event. Interviews will be available on site.

FEATURED VIDEO:

In the Know: Junior Achievement

This school year, Team BCPS students are developing financial literacy and career readiness skills with our partners at Junior Achievement of Central Maryland!

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• Interim - Marking Period Three

Friday, February 23, marks the midpoint, or interim, of the third marking period. A systemwide message will be shared with students and families reminding them to check their children’s grades in Schoology. Schools are encouraged to follow up, as needed, with their own messages. As a reminder, the system's grading and reporting calendar, originally shared in the News Hub weekly, can be found online. Questions? Contact Megan Shay.

• PreK and Kindergarten registration resources

As registration for PreK and Kindergarten approaches, resources are available on the FACE SharePoint site to share with families. Additional resources are also available on Parent University. Questions? Contact Sue Hahn.

• School counseling award nominations open through March 11

The Baltimore County Association for Counseling and Development invites BCPS employees, parents, and students to nominate school counselors and school counseling advocates for recognition through the association’s annual awards program. All nominations are due by Monday, March 11.

Nominations can be made in the following categories:

• Rookie School Counselor of the Year (less than five years experience)

• School Counselor of the Year (at least five years experience)

• School Counseling Advocate of the Year

• Multilingual Family Engagement - Mobile ESOL Welcome Center

The Office of ESOL is excited to announce that the Mobile ESOL Welcome Center will be available by request for family engagement events. The Mobile ESOL Welcome Center can be used to host small parent events inside the bus (up to 10 people) or larger parent events outside the bus under the awning.

Please complete the online form if you would like to request the Mobile ESOL Welcome Center. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Applications open for Little Free Library Read in Color grants

Schools can apply until Friday, March 15, to be one of 10 new Little Free Library Read in Color grant recipients from The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc. Selected recipients will be responsible for planting their Little Free Libraries and celebrating Read in Color by holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on or before June 14, and promoting receipt of the grant on their social media platforms. The Read in Color initiative aims to make more accessible books that celebrate diversity in all forms. Each grant recipient will receive one Little Free Library, a box of 25 diverse books, and an official Little Free Library charter number plaque. The charter number officially registers the library on the Little Free Library world map and enables others to find and visit the library. The Education Foundation will provide unlimited books to keep their Little Free Libraries stocked.

• Education Support Professional of the Year nominations

Education support professionals provide invaluable skills and contributions that support BCPS students and staff. The Education Support Professionals of Baltimore County Paraeducator and/or Office Professional of the Year Awards recognize the contributions made by education support professionals to their schools, communities, and their profession.

The job titles eligible for this recognition include, but are not limited to, health assistant, interpreter, office professional, paraeducator, or computer technician.

The nomination deadline is Friday, March 8. Please visit the ESPBC website for specific information.

BCPS to host Curriculum Nights and Community Conversations in March and April

Team BCPS students, families, and stakeholders are invited to participate in upcoming community meetings.

Curriculum Nights will provide opportunities to learn more about BCPS curriculum and system efforts to improve instruction in a variety of key content areas.

• Tuesday, March 12, 6-7:30 p.m. at Woodlawn High School (Livestream)

• Tuesday, April 30, 6-7:30 p.m. at Dulaney High School

At Community Conversations, Superintendent Dr. Rogers will share information about BCPS priorities, hear from community members, and answer questions.

• Thursday, March 14, 6-7 p.m. at Owings Mills High School

• Wednesday, April 3, 6-7 p.m. at Eastern Technical High School (Livestream)

• Wednesday, April 10, 6-7 p.m. at Loch Raven Technical Academy

Spanish interpretation will be available at all sessions. Interpreting services for other languages upon request (443-809-1250).

Your voice matters! Climate Survey open through March 8

The new 2024 BCPS Climate Survey has fewer questions and questions are focused on school climate and engagement. The survey is open to students in Grades 3–12, parents/caregivers, community members, and all staff.

Questions? Contact Dr. Christine Koth.

School counseling feedback discussion - February 27

Parents/families and school staff are invited to participate in our final online Microsoft Teams discussion on Tuesday, February 27, from 6-7 p.m., to offer feedback about their experiences with the current school counseling program and ideas for the future.

Those not available to participate can submit comments via an online survey.

Student Member of the Board candidate speeches available online

Speeches from this year's Student Member of the Board candidates are available now for online viewing. Secondary students are encouraged to view the speeches to learn more about Ugonma Chike-Kalu of Western School of Technology and Kimberely Hernandez of Dulaney High School.

After viewing, students can submit questions for the candidates. On Thursday, April 4, secondary students can view the candidate Q&A and cast their vote for the 2024-25 Student Member of the Board!

Haiku poetry,

from BCPS students,

always fantastic

The 2024 Team BCPS Haiku Contest will accept entries through 4:45 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2024. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post and in a BCPS news release.

BCPS students, from Kindergarten through Grade 12, are encouraged to enter. Students will be asked to write works inspired by a piece of student artwork selected from among 10 pieces.

How will your school/office recognize Women's History Month?

March is Women's History Month! If your school/office has special events, activities, or programs planned, please contact us at communications@bcps.org.

During Black History Month, BCPS is continuing to celebrate the contributions African Americans have made, and are making, to American history and culture. On social media, we are celebrating BCPS graduates. Follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

In the past week, we have spotlighted:

• Sherise Atkins, Hereford High School grad and broadcast journalism and pre-law student at Hampton University

• Marius Ifedi Chukwurah M.D., Eastern Tech grad and cardiology fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

• Lisa Borden, Catonsville grad and president/CEO of Borden Transportation

• Josh Muhumuza, Dundalk grad and history and political science student at Yale University. Muhumuza served as the 2020-2021 Student Member of the Board.

Share your partnership highlights with us!

Schools and offices are invited to send brief highlights and photos of their partnerships with businesses and community organizations to communications@bcps.org. This information might be featured in the monthly BCPS Partnership Spotlight Newsletter.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL STAFF

Registration is officially open for College Fair 2024!

Co-hosted by BCPS and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), this free event connects BCPS students with a wide range of colleges and universities from across the country.

Details:

Tuesday, March 12, from 6-8 p.m.

CCBC Catonsville

Wellness Center – Parking lot 5

800 S Rolling Rd., Catonsville 21228

Wednesday, March 13, from 6-8 p.m.

CCBC Essex

Wellness Center – Parking lot 3

7201 Rossville Blvd., Baltimore 21237

Online registration is open now.

FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CTE TEACHERS

Consulting Teacher employment opportunity for special education and career and technical education teachers

Special education and career and technical education teachers who aspire to become consulting teachers in the Peer Assistance and Review Program are encouraged to apply for the Consulting Teacher Candidate Pool. Both job postings are open through Sunday, March 17, to be considered for the April interview process. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

FOR EDUCATORS

Upcoming Restorative Practices training and workshops

The following Restorative Practices trainings and workshops are available for registration and will take place throughout February and March: ​​​​​

Making "Affective Statements" More Effective in Restorative Practices (Virtual)

February 21, from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Restorative Circles 101 (Virtual)

February 22, from 9 – 10 a.m.

Restorative Practices Days 1 and 2: Introduction to Restorative Practices and Using Circles Effectively (2 full days- In person)

February 29 and March 1, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Greenwood, Building E, Room 114

Restorative Practices Refresher for Educators (Asynchronous)

March 6, from 5 - 7 p.m.

Restorative Circles 101 (Virtual)

March 13, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Stipends are available for eligible employees who attend outside of their regular work hours. Additional opportunities are available in April and May. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

Transportation will be provided from every high school. More information is available on the BCPS website.

Upcoming Board and advisory group meetings

All are welcome to attend

Southeast Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, February 26, at 7 p.m.

Chesapeake High School library, 1801 Turkey Point Rd., Baltimore 21221

Topic: “Artificial Intelligence”

Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, February 27, at 6:30 p.m.

BCPS headquarters/Greenwood – Building E, 6901 N. Charles St., Towson 21204

Information about attending and making public comments at meetings can be found on the Board’s website.

Joint meeting of the Central and Northwest area education advisory councils

Monday, March 11, at 6 p.m.

Meeting details

Topic: “New Superintendent, New Organizational Structure – Where are we now?”

TEAM BCPS SHOUTOUT

Courtney Stevenson, Staff Development Teacher, Riverview Elementary School

Submitted by Ashley Battersby, Math Resource Teacher, Riverview Elementary School

"Courtney is an essential member of the Riverview community. She is always cheerful and is the first one to say, 'I'll do it!' when someone needs help. She is supportive of all staff members, admiringly organized, and always there to lend a listening ear. She goes above and beyond for our new staff members to make them feel comfortable and welcome.

"In addition to working with teachers in both academics and social emotional learning practices, Courtney is also our tech liaison, alternate testing coordinator, PTA officer, and so much more. She is creative and loves coming up with incentives to keep students and staff motivated. It's not uncommon to find Courtney organizing sub plans, running an Amira competition or Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) contest, planning with teams, and pushing around a cart filled with teacher gifts to give staff members an extra boost – all in the same day.

"Courtney was a fourth-grade teacher here for six years before becoming the staff development teacher, and students and staff alike love and respect her. She is a champion for Riverview and truly believes that all our teachers and students can succeed. We are so lucky to have her!"

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.

UPCOMING RECOGNITIONS

Black History Month - February

Career and Technical Education Month - February

Women's History Month - March

National Athletic Training Month - March

Music in Our Schools Month - March

Youth Art Month - March

Middle Level Education Month - March

National School Social Work Week - March 3-9

International Women's Day - March 8

Maryland Day - March 25

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Engage. Empower. Excel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dept. of Communications/Community Outreach

443.809.5908 | communications@bcps.org