FCPS Employee Bulletin Board
July 24, 2024
Celebrations
Left to Right: Danny Michaels, Oliver Chase, Logan Bohn, and Nawal Bhatt of Middletown High School
Urbana and Middletown High School Students Earn National Recognition at Future Business Leaders of America Conference
Several students from Urbana and Middletown High School earned top honors in various competitive events at the conference.
FCPS achievements:
- Rayn Taskeen, Urbana High School: First place in Sales Presentation
- Logan Bohn, Middletown High School: First place in Public Policy & Advocacy
- Jackson Fanning, Urbana High School: Fifth place in Computer Problem Solving
- Fateen Jawahardeen, Urbana High School: Seventh place in Computer Game and Simulation Programming
- Oliver Chase, Middletown High School: Ninth place in Securities and Investments
FCPS is proud of all of our students and their advisors involved in FBLA teams for their dedication and hard work that led them to achieve national recognition.
FBLA is an organization dedicated to readying student leaders for careers in business, entrepreneurship, and leadership through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences.
Urbana High School’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) team arriving for the competition.
FCPS Learning Opportunities
Leveling Up Learning Series
Fall 2024 Learning Series
Join us for a transforming professional experience that will inspire confidence and uncover your full potential! We will have slide decks with activities, materials and resources to explore and a lively and fun Podcast discussion led by Chief of Staff, Dr. Sarah Sirgo with special FCPS guests. Choose one or both formats! Go to our Career Development webpage during each month to find the learning series materials.
September 2024
Establishing Work Life Balance
Learn ways to establish boundaries and explore strategies to manage time and priorities.
October 2024
Self-Awareness & Regulating Emotions
Learn how to identify emotions and triggers and explore self-regulation strategies.
November 2024
Managing Stressful Workplace Solutions
Learn about stress, including ways to recognize and respond to stress.
2024 Fiscal Services Summer In-Service
Fiscal Services Summer In-Service
Tuesday, July 30th – 8:00AM-4:00PM
Register here
8:00-10:15AM - Whole group presentation
10:20-11:55AM - Morning Breakout Sessions
12:00-1:00PM - Lunch (Provided by Office Depot)
1:00-4:00PM - Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Learning & Leadership Center (LLC)
44 West Frederick Street, Walkersville, MD 21793
Highlights:
- Latest updates from Fiscal Services including: Purchasing, Student Activity Funds, Workers Comp, and more!
- Morning and afternoon breakout sessions with presenters from multiple departments.
- Networking with peers from around the county.
- Onsite lunch provided by Office Depot.
*Attendees should bring their own device. Laptops and/or Chromebooks WILL NOT be provided.
*Note: Attendance is not mandatory, but highly encouraged for at least the AM sessions to receive vital information on upcoming changes.
Summer Fun at the Planetarium
Above is a trailer for the Great White Shark show happening at ESSL on August 1 at 1PM.
Summer Matinees at the Earth and Space Science Lab
Planetarium Shows will take place at 11AM and 1PM each day. All shows will take place in the Ausherman Planetarium and typically include a "Star Hike." Viewing animals and exhibits are included with your ticket purchase. Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time through the website here (Tickets are only needed for planetarium programming.)
Learn more information about the shows here.
Planetarium Show Schedule
Perfect Little Planet
July 25 at 11AM & August 6 at 11AM
Dinosaurs Alive!
July 30 at 11AM, & August 6 at 1PM
Bugs: A Rainforest Adventure
July 31 at 11AM, & August 8 at 11AM
Black Holes
July 31 at 1PM
Great White Shark
August 1 at 1PM
Dynamic Earth
July 30 at 1PM
Mysteries of the Unseen World
August 7 at 1PM
Accidental Astronaut
July 24 at 11AM
Journey to Space
July 24 at 1PM & August 7 at 11AM
National Parks Adventure
July 25 at 1PM & August 8 at 1PM
FCPS News
Job Classifications Update
Employee Update Regarding Job Classifications
In 2022, FCPS launched a four year plan to review all job classifications. The initial vision of this work was to review groups of employees, in all roles, and use an industry standard tool to either confirm or adjust job classification.
Schedule
Based on the ongoing work and developments, the effective date of cycle year two will be deferred until July 1, 2025, allowing for a comprehensive review alongside the new classification processes. The initial schedule of 4 years was broken into smaller parts, creating a longer schedule to provide time for an in depth review of all job descriptions and classification. The updated schedule with positions can be viewed here.
Find the complete update regarding job classifications here.
For more information go to Position Classification | Human Resources or email Job.Classifications@fcps.org.
SchoolMessenger
New Communication Platform Launching
The Public Affairs team has been working diligently to begin the soft rollout of our new SchoolMessenger platform. This platform will be used to contact parents and guardians at schools through email, phone, and text. Several entry level trainings have already taken place for school administrators in June. More trainings will be taking place in July and August.
Register for trainings here.
- August 14 – 1:00-2:30PM
- August 15 – 9:00-10:30 AM
- August 28 – 9:00-10:30 AM
- September 9 – 1:00-2:30 PM
- September 11 – 9:00-10:30 AM
Stuff the Bus 2024
Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive 2024
Stuff the Bus will be collecting school supplies from June 17 - July 30!
United Way of Frederick County and Frederick County Public Schools have partnered up again to host the annual Stuff the Bus community collection drive to provide necessary school supplies to thousands of local students. The drive effort began on Monday, June 17 and will conclude on Tuesday, July 30.
Currently, the public can visit any participating business and drop off new, unused school supplies in collection bins.
New: Stuff the Bus Distribution
School Supplies will be Distributed Directly to City of Frederick Schools
This year, United Way's Stuff the Bus and Beyond Shelter's Backpacks for Bright Futures programs will distribute school supplies to City of Frederick feeder schools in a new way. Volunteers will now pack backpacks with supplies, which will be given directly to these schools. School staff will distribute these backpacks to students from ALICE households.
This change aims to ensure fairer distribution of supplies and strengthen relationships between students, parents, and school staff. Schools outside the City of Frederick will continue to receive supplies as they have in previous years.
FCPS Free Summer Food Service Program
FCPS Free Summer Food Service Program Details
This summer, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services will be serving free breakfast and lunch to anyone in the community 18 years old or younger. Those over 18 who are enrolled in an educational program for people with disabilities will also be served meals.
Meals will be served Mondays through Thursdays at the following 3 schools:
- Lincoln Elementary: Entrance point will be the side doors located at the cafeteria.
- Gov. Thomas Johnson High: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.
- Waverley Elementary: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.
FCPS will serve breakfast at Lincoln Elementary and Waverley Elementary from 8:30-9 a.m. and lunch from noon-12:30 p.m.
FCPS will serve breakfast at Gov. Thomas Johnson High from 7:30- 8 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-noon.
Meals will not be served on June 19 and July 4. Children must be present to get a meal and the meal must be consumed at the site where the meals are served. The last day of summer meals service to the community will be Thursday, August 8.
To read the Spanish translation, click here.
If you have questions, please contact FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at 301-644-5061.
Guiding Star Award for Employees
Nominate for the Guiding Star Award
Recognition of Employees by Other Employees
Individuals may be nominated for one of the following five (5) categories.
- GOAL 1: ACHIEVEMENT - Innovation and Impact - Recognizes employees who have introduced innovative ideas or have had a positive impact on the organization in support of student achievement.
- GOAL 2: OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE - Continuous Improvement - Recognizes employees who actively seek opportunities to enhance processes, optimize efficiency, and drive positive change.
- GOAL 3: SAFETY & WELL BEING - Leadership and Support - Recognizes employees who demonstrate leadership qualities by taking initiative, assuming responsibility, and inspiring their colleagues.
- GOAL 4: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT - Team and Community Collaboration - Recognizes those who contribute positively to teamwork, foster collaboration, and help achieve collective goals OR who have demonstrated unique and creative approaches to solving challenges alongside others.
- GOAL 5: STUDENT AND STAFF EXPERIENCE - Positive Impact on Culture - Recognizes individuals who contribute to a positive workplace culture through their attitude, collaboration, and overall demeanor.
To nominate a staff member, please fill out the Guiding Star Award nomination form.
Teacher Lane Changes
Reminder - Teacher Lane Changes
The deadline to request a lane change for coursework completed between
February 1, 2024 and August 31, 2024:
LAST WORKDAY in September: Monday 09/30/2024
Requests for lane changes should be submitted by completing form linked here:
- The certification team continues to process a high volume of coursework and is updating the Professional Education screen in PeopleSoft.
- If you have already submitted documentation of coursework but do not yet see it reflected in your Professional Education, please continue to review your Professional Education profile regularly.
- As long as you’ve met the requirements and have submitted all necessary documentation by the deadline, your pay change will be processed and applied retroactively to July 1.
Additional Lane Change Information
https://www.fcps.org/careers/teacher-lane-change
Lane Change Questions?
Email: CertSalary@fcps.org
Professional Education Questions?
Email: certification@fcps.org