Thursday, November 30, 2023

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

Share the Warmth with the Education Foundation

The Education Foundation of BCPS works diligently year-round to provide a variety of academic, therapeutic, social-emotional supplies and resources, and thousands of books to our students.

As winter rapidly approaches, we invite each of you personally or within your offices, departments, or schools to join the foundation by hosting a Share the Warmth & Joy! collection drive, providing coats, hoodies, winter accessories, social-emotional learning resources, board games and toys, small fleece blankets, toiletries for students, and health and wellness resources for our classrooms.

Pertinent information can be found on the Share the Warmth & Joy! flyer. Collection boxes are located on the Greenwood campus in Buildings A and E and at the Jefferson Building, on the lower level by the elevator, as well as both Exchangerees – 6929 Golden Ring Rd., Baltimore 21237 and 2034-F Lord Baltimore Dr., Windsor Mill 21244.

Become an Education Champion for our students and their families and educators within our schools by hosting a Share the Warmth & Joy! drive today.

FEATURED VIDEO:

Deer Park Elementary groundbreaking

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough) and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined members of the Board of Education of Baltimore County and the Baltimore County delegation on November 20 to officially break ground for a new replacement school building for Deer Park Elementary School.

The $70.6 million project will expand the school's capacity from 431 seats to 735 seats and increase the school’s footprint from 60,304 square feet to 102,218 square feet. Designed to be Maryland’s first net-zero elementary school – meaning it produces as much energy as it consumes each year – the new building is scheduled to open to students in 2025. Photos from the groundbreaking can be found on Flickr.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• Upcoming Parent University events

This year, BCPS Parent University is presenting a variety of virtual programs. More information is available on the "Parent University schedule" on the Parent U website.

Upcoming Lunch & Learn programming includes:

• Eating Healthy on a Budget, Wednesday, December 6, at 12:30 p.m.

• Can You Hear Me Now? When Your Questions to Your Children Go Unanswered and Your Worries Grow Bigger, Friday, December 8, at 12:30 p.m.

• How to Handle the Holidays Without Your Loved Ones, Friday, December 15, at 12:30 p.m.

• Vacation accrual cap for staff who accrue vacation leave

Vacation accrual caps are 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 toward retirement.

Supervisors will make every effort to approve vacation requests. Employees are encouraged to work with their supervisors to formulate a plan to use their excess leave over the next two months prior to December 31, 2023.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Joelle Bielski, manager, 443-809-2097.

• Northwest Area Elementary School Boundary Study survey open through Sunday, December 3

The Northwest Area Elementary School Boundary study affects students currently attending Bedford, Fort Garrison, Milbrook, Scotts Branch, Summit Park, and Wellwood International elementary schools as well as Campfield Early Learning Center.

Through Sunday, December 3, community members are invited to complete an online survey and share their opinions about four draft options for new school boundaries. The survey is available in several languages.

• Central Area Elementary School Boundary Study survey open through Sunday, December 17

The Central Area Elementary School Boundary Study affects students currently attending Carroll Manor, Cromwell Valley Regional Magnet, Halstead Academy, Hampton, Jacksonville, Lutherville Laboratory, Mays Chapel, Oakleigh, Padonia International, Pine Grove, Pinewood, Pleasant Plains, Pot Spring, Rodgers Forge, Riderwood, Stoneleigh, Timonium, Warren, and West Towson elementary schools.

The Central Area Elementary School Boundary Study survey is open now through Sunday, December 17, for the community to provide feedback on the options for revised attendance areas for elementary schools in the Central area. The survey is available in several languages.

• United Way Campaign Underway

The 2023 BCPS campaign for the United Way of Central Maryland began Wednesday, Nov. 1, and extends through the end of the calendar year. The United Way has actively supported BCPS schools and students for years with a variety of programs and assistance, and many Baltimore County families are in need of the support that BCPS giving to United Way can provide.

All employees are encouraged to consider an online donation to the United Way.

Highlights from the Superintendent's November 28 Press Conference

Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough) held a media availability on November 28, to share updates on the 2023-2024 school year.

Dr. Rogers provided updates on prekindergarten expansion, two new capital projects that will be completed in January, the Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget process, and a new mental health support line that will be piloted for students in select middle schools. Dr. Rogers also answered questions from the media. More information is available a BCPS community message.

Shall BCPS' new middle school be named Northeast or Nottingham?

The Team BCPS community is invited to complete our new naming survey now through Tuesday, December 12.

Your vote may decide! More information is available in a BCPS news release.

Special Education Resource Fair

Families are invited to join the BCPS Department of Special Education for a free Special Education Resource Fair on Tuesday, December 5, from 6 - 8 p.m. at White Oak School.

The event will include exhibitor's tables, opportunities to network with families, resources, activities, and more.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP to serc@bcps.org.

Inclusive Schools Week

December 4 - 8 is Inclusive Schools Week, designed to recognize progress being made in equity and inclusion and to commit to doing even more to educate all children.

Superintendent's Gallery Central Zone Art Exhibition now open

The Superintendent’s Gallery Central Zone Art Exhibition is open for viewing! The virtual exhibition consists of more than 170 student artworks from Central Zone schools, K-12, and can be viewed online using the link or by QR code in the invitation.

Twenty-four selected artworks are on display in the Superintendent’s Gallery at Greenwood Administration Building A, through Saturday, February 3, 2024. The student artworks in this exhibition were completed during the 2023 school year and reflect their creativity, artistic voice, and enthusiasm for making artwork with their peers.

Celebrating fall athletics state champions and runners-up

Please join us in congratulating our high school athletic teams and student-athletes recognized at the state level during the 2023 fall season. More information is available in a BCPS news release.

Call for nominations - School Psychologist of the Year

The Baltimore County School Psychologist Association would like to recognize practicing school psychologists who have made impactful contributions to the profession with its annual School Psychologist of the Year award.

The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, December 20. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

Spread the word! We are seeking qualified professionals to join Team BCPS in a variety of positions. Online applications are available now. More information is available in a BCPS news release.

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 PRINCIPALS

Seeking nominations for BCPS Teacher of the Year 2024-2025

All BCPS principals are asked to nominate one outstanding teacher on their staff as their school's Teacher of the Year for 2024-25, who will then participate in next spring's BCPS Teacher of the Year competition and celebration. The annual program is a great opportunity to recognize an excellent educator as well as to honor all teachers throughout your school.

To nominate a teacher, please return the nomination form by the end of the business day on Friday, Dec. 8.

FOR EDUCATORS

Teacher Leader University - Spring 2024

Are you a teacher or teacher leader interested in developing leadership skills that will help you grow professionally and personally? Then Teacher Leader University is for you!

The Office of Teacher Leadership is offering asynchronous Teacher Leader University continuing professional development courses in the spring of 2024.

Interested participants should register using the BCPS Registration System. Registration for the courses will be available in the BCPS Registration System beginning Friday, December 8. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

FOR EDUCATORS

Important update on ClassFlow

ClassFlow will no longer be supported by Promethean as a product nor accessible by BCPS students and staff after December 2023. Materials within Classflow MUST be downloaded by December 1, 2023, if teachers wish to retain the content. Directions to download content from Classflow can be found online. and content ,hould be saved to a teacher’s One Drive.

As a reminder, many tools and solutions that provide similar functionality to Classflow are available to teachers and students. Information about those tools can be accessed below:

• Alternative Tools for ClassFlow (UPDATED)

• Options for Using ClassFlow Lesson PDFs (UPDATED)

If teachers need assistance downloading content from Classflow or using the alternate technology tools, school-based staff development teachers, professional learning liaisons or technology liaisons may be able to assist. If staff need additional technical assistance, please contact the Department of Information Technology Help Desk at 443-809-4672 or through BCPS Serve also located in the My Apps portal on www.office.com.

Questions? Contact Amanda Lanza, coordinator, or Megan Shay, executive director.

FOR EDUCATORS

Loyola University scholarships available for spring 2024

Loyola University will host a virtual information session on Wednesday, December 13, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. During the session, participants will learn about the university's curriculum and instruction, educational technology, literacy education, ESOL, and administration and supervision programs, the application process, scholarships, and more.

More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND SELECTED SCHOOL STAFF

SchoolMessenger Communicate webmaster training and resources

SchoolMessenger Communicate offers live training sessions for new users who will send broadcasts (phone calls, text messages and emails). Pre-registration is required.

• SchoolMessenger Communicate New User Mondays - available 1 – 2:30 p.m. on November 27 or December 11.

 • SchoolMessenger Communicate New User Tuesdays - available 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on November 21, December 5, or December 19.

 • SchoolMessenger Communicate New User Wednesdays - available 3 – 4:30 p.m. on November 22 or December 6.

SchoolMessenger Communicate also offers live trainer sessions for experienced users looking for more tips and tricks for getting the most out of the system. Pre-registration is required.

 • SchoolMessenger Communicate Q&A Wednesdays - available 11 a.m. – noon on November 22 or 29, or December 6, 13, or 20.

Video training is also available for:

 • SchoolMessenger SecureFile – a secure document delivery solution to send important documents home to parents

 • SchoolMessenger Communicate Advanced User – for those comfortable with SchoolMessenger Communicate who want to learn how to create advanced lists and customized messages

The Office of Communications has requested additional training times and will share those dates and times when available. For more information, email communications@bcps.org.

FOR WEBMASTERS

SchoolMessenger Presence webmaster training and resources

SchoolMessenger Presence live training sessions for new webmasters responsible for maintaining basic page content and homepage features, including calendar and news. Pre-registration is required. 

Sign-up to attend the Dec. 12 – Part 1 & Dec. 13 – Part 2, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. EST sessions

Additionally, please download the Presence Help Cards as we plan to review many of these concepts during our session. 

If you can’t make the training session, please visit the on-demand section of our training website to learn more about SchoolMessenger Presence. Or, watch our full-length Presence website introduction on-demand video. Please note all Website Administrator must view an essential 30 minute, on-demand video. This presentation is for anyone responsible for maintaining the back end of the system. These topics are not covered in the Editing session.

If you have questions regarding the Admin video, please register for the weekly Q&A session, which are held every Wednesday at 3PM EST. 

Upcoming community advisory group & boundary study meetings

All are welcome to attend

Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee meeting

Monday, December 4, from 7-8:30 p.m.

Meeting link

Topic: "Special Education 101"

Northwest Area Elementary School Boundary Study committee meeting

Wednesday, December 6, from 6-8 p.m.

Pikesville Middle School cafeteria, 7701 Seven Mile Ln., Pikesville 21208

The snow date for this meeting is Thursday, December 7. If the committee determines that another meeting is needed, that meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 13, with a snow date of Wednesday, January 3.

Gifted and Talented Citizens Advisory Committee meeting

Wednesday, December 6, at 7 p.m.

Meeting details

Meeting with BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough)

Southwest Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, December 11, at 7 p.m.

Meeting details

Topic: "Department of Planning"

TEAM BCPS SHOUTOUT



Steven Ey, Physical Education Teacher, Honeygo Elementary School

Submitted by Delke Crouthamel, Supervisor of Physical Education, Office of Health and Physical Education

"On October 20, Steven was recognized at the Society of Health & Physical Educators of Maryland awards banquet as the Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year! This is a well-deserved honor for Steven as he implements a high-quality physical education program for his students that enriches his entire school community. Congratulations to Steven for being recognized for his leadership in the physical education community!"

Katelynne de Hann, Math Resource Teacher, Scotts Branch Elementary School

Submitted by Hannah Guenther, Staff Development Teacher, Scotts Branch Elementary School

"Katelynne goes above and beyond for 'The Branch' every day. She always has a huge smile on her face and is willing to help. Katelynne is an amazing coach to all of the teachers that she works with and truly wants what is best for the students and community. Katelynne always makes sure that teachers know that they have someone always in their corner to support and listen to them. The Branch is very lucky to have her and appreciates her each day."

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

Inclusive Schools Week - Monday, December 4 - Friday, December 8

National Mentoring Month - January

Team BCPS Day - Thursday, January 11

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 15

Holocaust Remembrance Day - Saturday, January 27

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Engage. Empower. Excel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dept. of Communications/Community Outreach

443.809.5908 | communications@bcps.org