• HCPS Draft Blueprint Implementation Plan Public Release: On Monday, February 13, 2023, HCPS Director of Strategic Initiatives, Katie Ridgway, will present to the Harford County Board of Education regarding the public release of the HCPS DRAFT Blueprint Implementation plan. HCPS is required to submit an initial Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Implementation plan on March 15, 2023, to the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), which is the governing board overseeing the implementation of this legislation. HCPS is committed to stakeholder feedback through our implementation committees, advisory groups, community forums, Board of Education public meetings, and through our online information and survey. This public release is intended to allow all interested stakeholders an opportunity to review the plan and provide feedback prior to the AIB submission deadline.
  

  
  All local education agencies in Maryland are required to use a template for Blueprint plans created by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), which includes specific questions, data tables, and artifacts required for submission. Ms. Ridgway explains the exciting public release of the draft implementation plan in a video HERE. Please take a look at the draft plan, and review sections of interest, and provide feedback HERE.
  
  

  - Pillar 1: Early Childhood; Pages 5-38
  - Pillar 2: Elevating Educators; Pages 30-72
  

  - Pillar 3: North Star
  > Reading: Pages 75-100
  > Math: Pages 101-117
  > College & Career Readiness: Pages 111-151
  - Pillar 4: Student Supports; Pages 152-175
  - Pillar 5: Foundation & Accountability; Pages 176-187
  
  Links:
  - HCPS Draft Implementation Plan
  - Video Introducing Draft Plan
  - Feedback Survey open through March 6, 2023
  - HCPS Blueprint Website

• 2023 Grati-Tour: On Friday, February 3, Board of Education and Senior Staff members departed Central Office in a school bus to spend the day visiting six schools – one in each of our new Board members’ districts. This event was a way to personally thank school staff for the great work they do every day in their buildings. Grati-Tour participants spent 30 minutes at each stop to tour the building, shake hands, take pictures, and leave treats from the proud event sponsor, Chick-fil-A of Harford County, in the teacher lounges. These were designed to be quick pop-ins to show our gratitude with as little disruption to the normal school day as possible. Thank you to the following schools for so warmly welcoming the Grati-Tour:

  
  

  • Fallston Middle School
  • Patterson Mill High School
  • Jarrettsville Elementary School
  • Harford Technical High School
  • Magnolia Middle School
  • William S. James Elementary School

  
  

  Take a moment to watch the video below of the tour.

• Congratulations to all our Teacher of the Year nominees! This year, Harford County Public Schools is honoring one teacher from each of our 54 schools as part of our Teacher of the Year celebration. All 54 nominees have the opportunity to move forward in the selection process as we narrow these extraordinary educators down to five finalists, and eventually our district’s Teacher of the Year! We look forward to announcing the five finalists later this month - stay tuned!

• Live Staff Event: Mid-Year Momentum: During the HCPS Professional Learning Day on February 17, all staff will tune in for Mid-Year Momentum: An HCPS Live Teams Event from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. We are excited to host this event, and are encouraging our schools, offices, and other teams to watch together in a central location.

• Swan Creek School Applications: Applications will close next Wednesday, February 15, 2023, for the blended virtual learning programs at Swan Creek School for the 2023-2024 school year. Those interested in applying for grades 2-12 e-learning or grades 6-12 in-person, blended learning, should visit the Swan Creek School website for additional information about the school. Students will be informed of their enrollment status by March 31, 2023. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of seats per classroom, a lottery system will be implemented. Questions about the program or application process may be directed to Swan Creek School at 410-273-5594.

• Learning Together: An Inclusive Preschool Program: HCPS is looking for typically developing 3- and 4-year-old children to participate in a free, two or three-half-day preschool program for the 2023-2024 school year. The Learning Together Program aims to have typically developing children learning alongside preschool children with disabilities. The program promotes social, communication, literacy, and numeracy skill development for all children.
  

  
  

  The program is located at the following schools: Meadowvale Elementary, Havre de Grace Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, Homestead/Wakefield Elementary, Youth's Benefit Elementary, and North Bend Elementary schools. Children must be at least 3 years old as of September 1, 2023, and be toilet trained. Interested parents/guardians may register on the HCPS website by clicking here. Questions may be directed to Robyn.Graham@hcps.org.

• Teacher Tour, presented by 5xStronger: The Teacher Tour, presented by the 2021 Teacher of the Year finalists, known as 5xStronger, recognizes and celebrates some of the fantastic and extraordinary teachers in our schools. Each month, nominations are accepted for teachers who are doing an outstanding job in a specific area or level. One winning teacher is selected each month, but every nominee is recognized in our internal newsletter, HCPS 411 Update. The winning teacher receives a surprise visit from the 5xStronger team and a special gift from one of our community partners.

  
  

  This month, 5xStronger recognized the amazing educators in our elementary schools! Each and every day our elementary teachers are preparing and inspiring our littlest learners through innovative practices, engaging classrooms, and exciting activities to spark creativity.

  
  

  For the first stop of the year, 5xStronger recognized Laura Sprague, of Joppatowne Elementary School!

  
  

  Click here for more information and to see all of this month’s nominees!

• Teacher Tour Stop 2: Middle School: For their second stop, 5xStronger is looking to highlight and recognize one middle school teacher! Do you know a middle school teacher who is exceptional in professional growth, classroom management, technology, positive relationships, and/or student engagement? We would love to hear about them and share some of the wonderful things they are doing in their classrooms to promote student learning at the middle school level!

  
  

  Please use this link to nominate a middle school teacher on or before February 14, 2023. They may be the next stop on our Teacher Tour!

• Polar Bear Plunge Communi-Team Adventure: On February 2, seven Harford County educators braved the cold at Sandy Point Park to volunteer and support the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics.

  
  

  The group headed south as part of a Communi-Team adventure. Led by our Teacher of the Year, Ashley Gereli, the Communi-Team will be taking adventures throughout the year focusing on specific aspects of education. Along with members of the Communi-Team, other school-based staff members nominated by Central Office staff will be invited to join, while the nominating Central Office staff member substitutes for their nominee.

Congratulations to all of our January nominees! You are all an integral part of our schools’ success. We sincerely appreciate all of the work you do each day to support our students and each other.

• Ashley Algard, Special Education Teacher, Havre de Grace High School
• Stephanie Bartholomew, First Grade Teacher, William S. James Elementary School
• Susan Birchfield, Special Education Teacher, Norrisville Elementary School
• Ronald Costa, Food and Nutrition Manager, C. Milton Wright High School
• Lorien Covelly, Assistant Principal, Swan Creek School
• Eileen Dixon, Special Education Teacher, Roye-Williams Elementary School
• Taylor Dudley, Special Education Teacher, Forest Lakes Elementary School
• Rachel Foster, Administrative Support Specialist-Lead, Meadowvale Elementary School
• Karen Gonzalez, Special Education Teacher, Magnolia Middle School
• Paula Honda, Sign Language Interpreter, Meadowvale Elementary School
• Elizabeth Kaniuka, Special Education Teacher, Southampton Middle School
• Lindsay Lett, Special Education Teacher, Aberdeen Middle School
• Amy Melnick, School Nurse, Harford Academy
• Andre Neal, Paraeducator, Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School

• Amanda Scearce, Special Education Teacher, Havre de Grace Elementary School
• Melissa Sullivan, Special Education Evaluator, Havre de Grace Middle School

• Congratulations to This Month's Bowtie Breakfast Honorees! The HCPS Bowtie Breakfast program celebrates Central Office employees who consistently demonstrate outstanding customer service and go above and beyond in their roles. Honorees are nominated by colleagues to attend Superintendent Bulson’s virtual event held each month. Congratulations to the February 2023 honorees! Join us in celebrating our awesome HCPS staff!
  
  

  We'd also like to give a BIG thank you to our program sponsor, Freedom Federal Credit Union! We are able to provide our honorees with a special treat courtesy of their generosity.

• 2023 ATHENA Award Finalists Announced: The 2023 ATHENA Award Finalists have been announced, and Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to share that Mary Beth Stapleton, Manager of Family and Community Partnerships and Parent Academy, is on the prestigious list. Congratulations, Mary Beth!

  
  ATHENA recipients personify the highest level of professional excellence, promote leadership opportunities for individuals, and provide valuable service to the community. The ATHENA Award is a program of the ATHENA Foundation, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to creating leadership opportunities for women.
  
  2023 ATHENA Leadership Award Finalists:
  April Cheatham, Extreme Family Outreach
  Alicia Hamilton, Found in Faith Ministries, Social Progress Solutions
  Donna Kreis, Northrop Grumman Corporation
  Dr. Andree M. Mountain-Campbell, MOHAR Mental Wellness, LLC.
  *Mary Beth Stapleton, Harford County Public Schools
  Caitlin White, Harford Community College
  
  2023 ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award Finalists:
  Allison Cuneo, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  Lauren Beward, Bravura Information Technology Systems, Inc.
  Heather Murphy, Defiant Enterprises, LLC
  
  HCPS wishes Mary Beth the best of luck and will join in on celebrating the dedication and achievements of all the candidates at the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award Breakfast on March 3 from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. at the Richlin Ballroom, where the winner will be announced. The event is hosted by the Harford Community College Foundation and presented by Harford Mutual Insurance Group.

• HCPS Countywide Art Exhibit, January-March 2023: Check out the beautiful work of our very talented Pre-K through Grade 12 students featured in the Countywide III art exhibit!

• Reminder: Career and Technology Education (CTE) Informational Event: The Career and Technology Education (CTE) Office will host an informational event for students and families interested in learning about the programs of study within comprehensive high schools, as well as HCPS signature and magnet programs, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Patterson Mill Middle/High School. This event is geared toward families of students currently in second to seventh grade.

  
  

  The following Maryland State Department of Education recognized programs of study will be represented: Arts, Media and Communications; Business Management, Finance and Entrepreneurship; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and Agricultural Science: and Science, Engineering and Technology.

  
  

  Information on CTE magnet and specialty programs, such as the Academy of Finance, Information Technology Oracle Academy, the International Baccalaureate Program, PTECH, Project Lead the Way Pre-Engineering, and the Teacher Academy of Maryland, will also be available.

• Central Region Safety and Security Virtual Townhall: The Harford County Public Schools Parent Academy, together with the HCPS Office of Safety and Security, is pleased to announce the second in a series of three Regional Safety and Security Virtual Town Halls. Join us online Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. for the Central Region Safety and Security Virtual Town Hall presented by Regional Security Coordinator DJ Ravadge. Mr. Ravadge will share information about protocols and emergency drills that are designed to ensure HCPS buildings remain secure and students are protected. In addition, he will share information about ways in which parents/guardians can partner with us in our efforts. Following Mr. Ravadge’s presentation will be an opportunity to submit questions to be answered during the event. The event will be recorded and made available on the school system's website at a later time for those who are not able to tune in to the live event.
  

• Voting Window for the February Family Friendly School is Open! The voting window to name this month's Family Friendly School Award is now open. Don't miss your chance to weigh in! Click here to vote once before 11:59 p.m. on Friday, February 17, to let us know which nominated school should win the coveted title of “Family Friendly School” and a staff Chick-fil-A luncheon!

  
  

  As a reminder, if “your” school isn’t in the running this month and you feel it should be, nominate it next month! One winning school will be named each month through May, and schools may win multiple times. Reminders about nominating and voting windows are shared on the Parent Academy Facebook page throughout the school year.

  
  

  We look forward to announcing the February winner later this month!

• Littles University: We are excited to join others in our community as we celebrate Black History Month and offer "We All Belong: A Children's Book About Diversity, Race and Empathy," by Nathalie Goss, as our February Littles University book! Orders close February 15, followed by a video message from Mrs. Lader on February 28, 2023! Visit the Harford County Education Foundation website to get a copy for your little one!

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5213