Welcome to Connect With U, the Union County Public Schools monthly employee newsletter!
What's inside this issue:
- Technology Update: PowerTeacher Gradebook Upgrade
- HR Corner: How to Make Your Sick and Annual Leave Days More Valuable
- Program Spotlight: G.I.R.L. Club Mentoring Initiative at Forest Hills High
- Professional Development Opportunity: Queens University Collegiate Partnership Program
There's also additional information about discounted tickets to Charlotte Hornets games, blogs that may help you achieve your productivity or leadership goals and more.
Please note that if you opened this email on a desktop computer, you may need to right-click any photo below to download all of the images included in the newsletter. You can also click on the link above to view this email in your browser.
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Technology Update: PowerTeacher Pro
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On July 1, the current PowerTeacher gradebook will be replaced by PowerTeacher Pro 10.
To help teachers make their transition to the new system as seamless as possible, UCPS Technology Services will roll out district-wide and on-site training sessions to school staff during the next several months.
From Feb. 21-23, one representative from each school will participate in "Train the Trainer" model sessions provided by PowerSchool. The representatives will be responsible for training school staff and serving as the primary contact for PowerTeacher Pro questions at their respective schools.
Additionally, UCPS PowerSchool Trainer Leah Croom will provide on-site, open lab visits in each school cluster from March until the end of the school year.
Open labs at the Technology Services Center will also be available for additional support in June, and an Aug. 24 webinar has been scheduled to provide teachers with an additional review of the PowerTeacher Pro gradebook before the school year begins.
We are excited about upgrading to this next generation of the PowerTeacher gradebook, and look forward to working with teachers as they transition to the improved and more robust system.
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HR Corner:
How to Make Your Sick Days and
Annual Leave More Valuable
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Did you know that sick leave and annual leave balances can affect your retirement?
By working to maximize your sick and annual leave balances, you can increase the retirement benefits that you will receive for the rest of your life.
As you plan for retirement, please consider the following:
- For most employees, your salary increases throughout your career, and you are generally earning the most money right before you retire. When you spend your annual leave balances, they are paid out at whatever salary you currently are earning. If you save the maximum amount of annual leave, these days will be paid out at a higher rate.
- Sick leave adds into your years of employment. If you save a year of sick days by the time you retire, it increases your overall retirement benefit.
- Let’s look at a brief example: If an employee whose highest four years of salary is $50,000 leaves at 30 years of employment, their monthly retirement estimate would be approximately $2,275 per month. If you add a year of sick time into this calculation, the monthly benefit increases to $2,350. This is worth $900 per year.
- Annual leave pays out as salary when you retire. If you save the maximum amount of annual leave (30 days), it will be like receiving an extra check in your last year of employment.
You can get an estimate of your monthly retirement pension by using the Retirement Systems’
Custom Benefit Estimator
in
ORBIT
. Click
here
for ORBIT How To Videos & Step-by-Step Guides.
Please keep in mind that sick days and annual leave are intended for UCPS employees to take the necessary time for their health and well-being.
If you need support or additional information, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call 704-296-1008. We are here to help!
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Check out these electrical engineers at Stallings Elementary!
Students in Amy Erb's class have been working on building circuits. What a great hands-on way to introduce young students to electricity.
Way to promote all of the great things going on in your class, Amy!
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Program Spotlight:
G.I.R.L. Club Mentoring Initiative
at Forest Hills High
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Several years ago, Forest Hills High teachers Christina Rose and Tempest Leake started the I’m a G.I.R.L. (Gifted, Intelligent, Respectful Lady) Club for young women at their high school. With a goal of helping students build self-esteem, unity and awareness of women’s issues, more than 30 young women have joined the club and regularly participate in a variety of activities that include community service and workshops about careers, finance, time management, education and equality.
“But this year, we wanted to expand from it being just within Forest Hills High. We wanted to give back to the young girls who feed into the middle and high school each year,” Christina said. “And since this initiative started, it has really just soared. I’m so pleased with it.”
Since the beginning of the school year, 32 G.I.R.L.s have met each month with 27 mentees, whom they call mini-G.I.R.L.s, to discuss everything ranging from academics to bullying and peer pressure. With the addition of a pen pal component, which was added to help align their work with the district-wide focus on literacy, the mentors are also able to check in with their mentees in between their monthly meetings.
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As part of the Queens University of Charlotte's Collegiate Partnership Program, you can now save 10 percent on your tuition when you enroll in a participating online degree program at Queens University of Charlotte.
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As part of the Charlotte Hornets' Teacher Appreciation Nights, UCPS employees have the unique opportunity to purchase tickets for select 2018 Hornets home games at exclusive discounted prices.
To purchase tickets, please click the "Learn More" link below and select "Find Tickets" next to the game(s) you want to attend. The promo code is "TEACH".
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When setting yourself up for success, starting small can make a big difference.
If you're looking for ways to be more productive both professionally and personally, here are two blogs that may help you achieve your productivity goals:
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Kindergarten Registration Begins
Thursday, Feb. 1
Early Release: Traditional and Year-round schools
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Twitter Chat: Literacy
7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13
Follow us at #UCPSChat
Optional Teacher Workday: UCEC
Friday, Feb. 16
Early Release: Traditional and Year-round schools
Wednesday, March 7
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