Thursday, March 23, 2023

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

2023 State of the Schools: Moving Forward, Together Again!

State of the School's 2023, presented in partnership with The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., at Dundalk/Sollers Point Technical High School was a tremendous success! We'd like to say THANK YOU to all of the staff and students whose hard work and dedication contributed to yesterday's incredible event.

The program featured remarks from Woodmoor Elementary teacher and National Honored Teaching Award recipient Alexander Blue, who highlighted the important work that is happening every day in our schools, and Deer Park Magnet Middle School Assistant Principal, and 2021-22 Maryland Teacher of the Year Brianna Ross, who introduced the superintendent. The event also included performances, artwork, and even donuts — all crafted by students from around the county.

Before the program's conclusion, Superintendent Dr. Darryl L. Williams delivered the State of the Schools Address. During his speech, Dr. Williams highlighted BCPS staff and student accomplishments, underscored the importance of partnerships, and explained how the school system is well-poised for continued success as we move forward, together again. Finally, Dr. Williams thanked his family and friends, as well as the entire Team BCPS community, for their support throughout his tenure as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools.

A recording of the full program is available for viewing online. Photos from the event are available in a BCPS Flickr album.

FEATURED VIDEO:

School Profile: Northwest Academy of Health Sciences

For its latest school profile segment, BCPS-TV spent time with Principal Phillip A. Robinson Jr. at Northwest Academy of Health Sciences!

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• All BCPS Employees are Eligible for Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Wellness Services!

Baltimore County Public Schools provides access to no-cost, confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services as a benefit to all regular, temporary, contractual, full or part-time, 12- or 10-month employees, irrespective of health insurance coverage.

Specifically, Employee Assistance Program services (1-10 sessions per personal or work-related concern) are offered free to all employees and their family members. Additional work/life services: eldercare, childcare, pet care, relocation, financial, legal and identity theft consultation are also available via our partner Cigna EAP.

Telephone: 888.431.4334 – toll-free 24/7/365 Website: www.myCigna.com ID: Baltimore

Supervisory/Management consultations and coordination of critical incident/staff trauma response services are offered via EAP Specialist Dr. Bernie McCann, 443-809-5414 or bmccann@bcps.org.

• Preferred Name - Employee Self Service



The Division of Information Technology (DoIT, in conjunction with the Department of Equity and Cultural Proficiency, has created a process for staff to identify a Preferred Name. BCPS recognizes that some members of the staff choose or prefer to use names (Preferred Names) to identify themselves other than their Legal Name. By the beginning of April, DoIT will begin rostering resources using preferred name. Legal documents will still use Legal Name. Learn more in a BCPS News Hub post.

• College and University Programs Fall 2023



The Department of Organizational Development and Leadership, in partnership with local colleges and universities, will offer programs for BCPS staff to enhance professional practice and meet MSDE certification requirements. These programs are not cohort programs. Learn more in a BCPS News Hub post.

• New Budget and Reporting communication site



The Office of Budget and Reporting has a new communication site. This site will house resources for budgeting tasks (Budget Line Transfers, Accounting String Maintenance) and budget information for Schools, Offices, and Grant Accounting (Training information, instructional reference material). Please follow and bookmark the page for easy access in the future, this site will help us to engage and inform staff of all the relevant budgeting practices as they relate to Baltimore County Public Schools.

• Education Foundation Exchangeree shopping dates for April,

The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc., will be hosting shopping days during the months of April, May, and July at the Exchangeree: Gizmos and Gadgets Galore centers at Rosedale/Golden Ring and Windsor Mill locations for all full-time BCPS educators and support staff (school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and pupil personnel workers). The calendar includes dates to access basic academic school/classroom supplies and educational resources to support the delivery of instruction by BCPS teachers and impacting BCPS students’ growth. BCPS educators can select one date per month to shop for school supplies/resources and books.

During the months of April, May, and July, the Exchangerees will continue to provide the opportunity to PTT (Pick the Time) and PTC (Pick the Center) that fits into the educator’s schedule to visit. There will be no registration and no appointments needed but shoppers must bring their BCPS photo ID and shopping bags/boxes for their shopping convenience.

The designated shopping dates for two combined campaigns for April — the Tools for School (academic school/classroom supplies and educational resources) and for the Books for Bins (unlimited amounts of new and gently used books) are:

•Tuesday, April 18, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m., Rosedale/Golden Ring

•Thursday, April 20, 2023, from 3 to 6 p.m., Windsor Mill

More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Service-Learning Recognition Deadline - March 24 deadline

Each year the Office of Family and Community Engagement issues recognition materials for students in Grades 8 and 12 who have achieved high levels of service-learning engagement. Recognition is based on total independent hours, and these hours must be entered into FOCUS by the end of the third marking period to qualify.

Middle schools will receive certificates for their top five Grade 8 students who have achieved 75+ independent service-learning hours.

High schools will receive certificates and cords for their top 10 seniors who have achieved 150+ independent service-learning hours.

Please have hours entered by COB Friday, March 24. Hours entered after this date will not be considered for recognition as the office needs time to process and mail recognition packets to schools.

Updates are shared within our Service-Learning Coordinator Schoology group (XD28-9MDJ-RVNGK).

• BCPS INFORM Moves to Power INFORM March 31

The migration of data from BCPS INFORM to Power INFORM is ahead of schedule, and many of the primary dashboards and reports have been moved to Power INFORM. On Friday, March 31, 2023, the Office of Data Analytics will close down BCPS INFORM.

Please visit Support– Training Videos and Guidance Documents to learn more about Power INFORM.

• Baltimore Ravens Touchdown for Teachers

The Baltimore Ravens and M&T Bank are inviting nominations for their 10th annual Touchdown for Teachers program, which recognizes local teachers who provide outstanding service for their schools and communities. The online application form will be open through Friday, April 7. All finalists will be notified of their selection by April 21.

• Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship

The Teaching Fellows for​ Maryland Scholarship is awarded to students who pledge to work as public school or public prekindergarten teachers in Maryland upon completion of their studies that lead to a Maryland professional teacher certificate.

Recipients must fulfill a service obligation with a public school that has at least 50% of the students in the school eligible for free or reduced-price meals (FRPM). Scholarship information and conditions of award are posted on the Maryland Higher Education Commission webpage.

Applicants for the Teaching Fellows for Maryland scholarship must submit the online application through their​ MDCAPS account. BCPS contractual staff who desire to transition into a paraeducator or teacher position are encouraged to explore this opportunity. The online application and all required documents must be submitted by April 1, 2023 for consideration of the award.

• Towson University Opportunities in Equity-Centered Educational Leadership

Beginning in Fall 2023, Towson University, in collaboration with Baltimore County Public Schools, will offer programs for educators interested in developing equity-centered, culturally responsive leadership skills. An information session will be held by Towson University on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. Information about the programs can be found on the attached flyer.

Please note that this is not a cohort program. Participants will pay tuition up front and may seek any reimbursement they are eligible for through the process managed by the BCPS Office of Certification.

Learn more in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Johns Hopkins Art and Science Internship

Johns Hopkins is offering a paid summer internship opportunity for BCPS high school art students. Interns will create artwork inspired by the images from the Webb and Hubble space telescopes. Students are asked to submit samples of their artwork along with the application. The deadline to apply is March 31.

Superintendent Search Community Forums Continue with Live Stream

Thursday, March 23, from 7 -8 p.m.

• Chesapeake High School - Auditorium

• Hereford Middle School - Cafeteria

Tonight's forum at Chesapeake High School will be live streamed in both English and Spanish. The full streams will be available for viewing at the conclusion of the event.

In addition, the Board invites BCPS stakeholders to share their thoughts on what characteristics are essential for the next superintendent in an online survey. More information is available on the BCPS Superintendent Search webpage.

Stakeholder Climate Survey Response

Thank you, Team BCPS, for making this year’s Stakeholder Climate Survey a success. Participation increased compared to last year’s count with 64,750 total responses this year. The response level for students also increased at each level.

School-level summaries for schools with a 35 percent or greater response rate will be loaded into Power INFORM on the Stakeholder Climate Survey Dashboard by Friday, June 2, 2023.

A list of each school’s survey response rate can be viewed via the following links.

• Elementary Responses

• Middle School Responses

• High School Responses

Upcoming Parent University Events - Please Spread the Word!

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

Upcoming programming includes:

What Children Need When Stress is Rising (Virtual) - Presented by Mariposa Education

Tuesday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m.

Being the Best Advocate for Your Child at School and in the Community (Virtual) - Presented by the Special Education Resource Center

Wednesday, March 29, at 4:30 p.m.

School Resource Officer of the Year Award

In collaboration with the Baltimore County Police Department, Baltimore County Public Schools will recognize outstanding school resource officers at each level (elementary, middle and high) for the 2022-2023 school year. Nominations for this award will be accepted through Friday, April 28, 2023.

Please use the following link to access the SRO of the Year Nomination 2022-2023 form. Once you have completed the form, please email the form to Sergeant Eric Knox, assistant safe schools' facilitator, or mail to 9600 Pulaski Park Drive, Suite 118, Baltimore, Maryland 21220.

Celebrating Graduating Seniors: For High School Principals

Each year, each BCPS high school principal is asked to identify one graduating senior to be featured in a series of blog posts from April through May. The student can be a high-achiever or star athlete, but the Department of Communications and Community Outreach is also interested in unsung heroes and students with unique interests and stories.

For high schools that are not separate public day schools, the school is asked to complete an online form, and to share a link with the selected student so they can complete additional questions. Separate public day schools that would like to celebrate a graduating senior should complete a form answering questions about the student. The deadline for all information is 4:45 p.m. on Friday, March 31, 2023.

Let's Play Ball! 2023 with the Education Foundation

Mark your calendar! Let's Play Ball! 2023 is set for Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Carver Center. Once again, Team BCPS administrators will square off against Team BCPS educators in a star-studded softball game. Learn more in a BCPS blog post.

Registration for BCPS players is now open! Calling all administrators and educators to participate in this year's fun and friendly softball game. Registration is first come, first served and is limited to the first 25 administrators and the first 25 educators who sign up. Please register on or before Friday, March 31.

BCPS student leaders to host 5K Walk and Community Fair in honor of former staff advisor Nora Murray

Baltimore County Student Councils and Baltimore County Junior Councils are co-hosting the Nora Murray Memorial Walk, a 5K walk and community fair to support FINISH Sarcoma (a rare cancer).

Online registration is $30 for adults (ages 18+), $15 for students (ages 6–17), and free for children under age 6. Free T-shirts will be provided to all paid participants who register by March 30.

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.

Mental Health Matters Month - Kick Off Event

Students and families are invited to the Mind Over Matters Mental Health Matters Kick Off Event on Saturday, April 29, from 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Carver Center. Please join us for workshops and visit vendors to learn more about children's mental health and substance use prevention.

Welcome Reception: 4 - 4:45 p.m.

Awards Program: 4:45 - 6 p.m.

Celebration Reception: 6 - 6:45 p.m.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Honoring:

Teacher of the Year

Rising Star Teacher of the Year

Principal of the Year

Assistant Principal of the Year

Supervisory Leader of the Year

Supporting Services Employee of the Year

Bus Driver/Attendant of the Year

AFSCME Employee of the Year

Volunteer Champion

Business Partner Champion

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.

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