HCPS 411 Update

The FY24 Payroll Calendar has been revised for the recently announced change in the Primary Election date for the Spring of 2024. The revision is available on SharePoint and can be accessed by clicking on 2023-2024 Payroll Calendar Revised 05/26/23.

If you have any questions, please contact your Payroll Coordinator. Click Here to find the Payroll Coordinator for your location.

Not sure who to contact? Send your question to the general email at Payroll@hcps.org.

REMINDER BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023! HCPS will be transitioning dental insurance carriers from Delta Dental to CareFirst. Unless you elected to change your plan, those enrolled in the Delta Dental PPO Comprehensive plan will transition to the CareFirst Dental PPO Comprehensive plan on July 1, 2023. Likewise, members currently enrolled in the Delta Dental Premier Standard plan will transition to the CareFirst PPO Standard plan as of the same date if an active change election was not submitted during the open enrollment period. Please contact your dentist’s office to verify if your provider participates with the new dental plan.

NEW ID CARDS: Every employee enrolled in a dental plan will receive new ID cards. All ID cards will be mailed in a blank, unidentified envelope for member security and privacy. Employees who elected the CareFirst BlueVision Plus plan during open enrollment will receive a second envelope containing separate ID cards. Employees who elected to change their medical plan option during open enrollment will receive a third envelope containing separate ID cards. This means you may have up to three (3) separate ID cards based on your medical, dental, and vision elections. All ID cards will arrive by mail at your home by the end of June.

• Dental cards will contain the group number 2SM7
• Vision cards will contain the group number 2SM8

If you have any questions, contact the Benefits Office at benefits@hcps.org.

Teachers are invited to register for the Transformative Technology Conference held on June 21st from 8 am – 3 pm at Southampton Middle School. Teachers will be paid at the negotiated rate ($25/hour) for their participation. Learn new skills, network with colleagues, and apply pedagogical approaches as we design instruction in Canvas.

The Upper Chesapeake Sports Medicine team will be offering FREE sports physicals for middle and high school athletes on select dates and times throughout the summer.

Aberdeen Office: 650 McHenry Road, Suite 1200

• June 27, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
• July 6, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
• August 3, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Bel Air Office: 510 Upper Chesapeake Drive, Suite 417

• June 27, 8:00-11:30 a.m.
• July 20, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
• July 21, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• July 27, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

For a printer-friendly version of the flier, click here.

Save the date for our annual End of Summer Fest at the IronBirds stadium: Thursday, August 17, 7:05 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for a discounted price of just $10! Purchase here: www.ironbirdsbaseball.com/endofsummer2023.

The Teacher Tour, presented by the 2021 Teacher of the Year finalists, known as 5xStronger, recognizes and celebrates some of the extraordinary teachers in our schools.

This month, 5xStronger recognized our dedicated special education teachers! Our special education teachers work tirelessly to decipher what each student needs to be able to learn effectively. They work with general education teachers to create healthy, happy, and inspiring learning environments to help all students reach their full learning potential.

For the fifth and final stop of the year, 5xStronger recognized Jill Fisher, of Hickory Elementary School! Click here for more information and to see all of this month’s nominees!

"Thank you to everyone who nominated one of our outstanding teachers for our Teacher Tour, whether this year or last year. It has been so uplifting and encouraging to visit our coworkers in their classrooms and see the impact they have on their students, staff, and larger community each and every day. This has been a rewarding experience for all of us, and as we close this chapter, we look forward to what the future will bring. All HCPS educators are worthy of recognition and we hope the Teacher Tour program has inspired you to recognize, congratulate, and celebrate one another.

We hope all of our fellow teachers have a wonderful summer and we look forward to joining you in welcoming our students back into our buildings in August."

-5x Stronger

Dustin Rhodes Named 2023 Outstanding Geography Educator-of-the-Year by the Maryland Geographic Alliance

Mr. Dustin Rhodes, sixth-grade contemporary world geography teacher at Magnolia Middle School, was named winner of the Maryland Geographic Alliance’s James B. Binko Outstanding Geography Educator-of-the-Year Award.

Mr. Rhodes' innovative teaching has been highlighted on Baltimore’s WBAL news as well as in a National Education Association publication, serving as a public record of his commitment to geographic literacy and global understanding. Prior to his career in teaching, Mr. Rhodes served in the U.S. Air Force.

In a letter of support for the award, HCPS Supervisor of Social Studies Erin Lange stated that, “Time and again, Dustin has shown himself to be a risk-taker instructionally in order to meet the needs of the students in his care and to grow their capacity for geographic thinking. From his work tackling the geopolitical crisis in Ukraine to a Model United Nations project-based learning unit, Mr. Rhodes is constantly pushing his own pedagogy in order to inspire and challenge his students.”

One example of Mr. Rhodes’ outstanding work with geography has been his students’ use of interactive maps to explore the physical and human geography of Ukraine in relation to the ongoing conflict with Russia. Ms. Lange sums up Mr. Rhodes’s influence by noting that “his classroom is a place where students feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to think critically about geographic themes.”

The Maryland Geographic Alliance (MGA) is a non-profit organization of geographers, K-12 educators, and teacher educators working together to promote geographic education across Maryland.

HCPS Summer and Fall 2023 Continuing Professional Development Course Offerings

The Summer and Fall 2023 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course Catalog is now available. Registration for these MSDE credit courses is available on HECTOR. Register early for the best course selection.

Summer offerings

• Authentic Learning in Science
• SIOP Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol for English Language Learners

Fall offerings

• Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
• Classical Astronomy
• Laboratory Safety Workshop for Career and Technology Education Teachers
• Process and Acquisition of Literacy
• SEED Special Educators Excelling Daily
• Spanish for Communication I

HECTOR Directions

Need assistance HECTOR?

• Registering for courses
• Checking Registration and History
• Changing or Canceling Registration

Please see the Instructions for HECTOR.

Questions? Email HCPSProfessionalLearning@hcps.org

Join us as we continue to shine the light on how HCPS celebrates diversity all year long. Each month, we highlight a cultural/organizational holiday. Take a picture or two and share the wonderful things your school or office is doing to celebrate the contributions we all make to HCPS.

This month, we are celebrating:

Juneteenth

Pride Month

Caribbean American Heritage

Please email your celebration pictures and a brief write-up regarding the event to Sherron Foster-Moore, Diversity Retention & Recruitment Specialist, at Sherron.FosterMoore@hcps.org by Wednesday, June 14. This month’s celebrations will be shared in the June 15th issue of the HCPS 411 Update.

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage History Month (May)

Fountain Green Elementary School

Mary Ann Clinton, Principal

At Fountain Green, their amazing artists were inspired by the art and culture of Polynesia. They printed Tikis and painted koalas, as well as landscapes from Rapa Nui and Ha Long Bay. Second grade musicians learned about the instruments and instrumental influence in Hawai’i. They learned rhythms and movement associated with their pu’ili sticks while singing the Hawai’ian folk song “Kapulu Kane.” First graders learned about and explored literature from a diaspora of Asia, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Island cultures.

Mrs. Jillian Lader, HCPS Manager of Communications, shares what she loves about Chadwick the Crab in the latest Littles University video.

The Investment Committee is seeking two new members, an AFSCME representative and one Member at Large. The committee meets virtually from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. two times per year, with additional meetings as needed. Any HCPS employee is eligible to serve on the committee as long as they are active participants in either one or both of the 403b or 457b plans.

The Committee has the authority, duty and responsibility to:

1.) Select the funding vehicles available under the Plans.

2.) Monitor and evaluate the performance of the funding vehicles and the Plans’ investment line-up.

3.) Remove and replace funding vehicles available under the Plan.

4.) Retain an advisor to assist the Committee in the exercise of its authority, duty and responsibilities.

Please contact Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, if you are interested in serving on this committee or have questions regarding this information: Deborah.Judd@hcps.org or 410-588-5321.

IIRP Restorative Practices for Educators - (Tier 1 & 2 Supports ) - International Institute for Restorative Practices

Course Description: Building and strengthening relationships and community is a critical component of school culture. Restorative practices is an essential process for creating a positive learning environment, building social capital, and resolving relational issues.

During your training session, you will learn the fundamental theory and practices for engaging with students, staff, and parents in your school setting. Topics include the importance of being explicit about practice, how to set high expectations while being supportive, and ways to build community in your setting. We will discuss giving direct feedback and asking questions that foster accountability, as well as utilizing effective methods to resolve common conflicts. You will learn to apply the restorative practices continuum, understanding which restorative processes are best for achieving certain goals or responding to particular situations. We will focus specifically on facilitating circles, an essential process for creating a positive learning environment and school culture. Circles can be used both proactively and responsively to build social capital, sustain relationships, address social problems, and respond when harm occurs. Participants will spend time planning circles to use in their schools.

Hector Registration Links:

In-Person: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1813

Virtual: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1814

Questions?
Please email: faith.buxton@hcps.org

Many of our positions are filled by word of mouth by our employees. Help us share our employment needs!

• School Nurse – Magnolia Elementary School

• Teacher Specialist Pre-K (11-month) – Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• Speech Language Pathologist - Infants and Toddlers (11-month) – Harford Academy

Follow us on social media @hcpsrecruiter and share our employment posts. To find a full list of our available positions, visit hcps.org and click on the sun!

Students who completed the Patriot Program at Bel Air Elementary recently walked to Central Office to visit the Board of Education room and spend time in front of the cameras in the studio! Check out their visit below.

Keep track of your financial and digital life with MetLife.

Placing your financial and digital life together for a resource for your loved ones in the event of your passing or unexpected illness or injury seems like such a big job, and it is difficult to know where to start. The best way to start is to break it into smaller parts and take it one step at a time.

MetLife has provided access to an excellent resource for all employees, regardless of whether you carry life insurance benefits through Harford County Public Schools. This resource can help you gather all your information to provide to your beneficiary(ies), so they know how and where to start managing your financials if you can no longer. To access this tool, follow this link: Personal-Financial-Profile-2021-Digital-Home-print-exp0823.docx (live.com)

Presented by KEPRO Employee Assistance Program

An open mindset is the tendency to be receptive to new ideas and information. This session will explore how to keep an open mind about ourselves and others and learn the benefits of keeping an open mind. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning June 20, 2023

Broadcast Length: 50 minutes
How to Access: Go to your EAP website: www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code: HCPS and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage, or you can search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families anytime, any day, and is a free, confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call KEPRO 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

Zone in on your physical health this month and beyond.

Click the image below to view the June Playlist: Physical Health.

Coming to You Live in June!

Even when travel breaks up your routine, it doesn’t have to interfere with your overall health, wellness, and movement goals. Instead, look for ways to incorporate fitness into your travel plans. Join BurnAlong on June 14 for travel tips to stay active while on the road.

• June 14 at 12:00 noon – Ways to Incorporate Fitness into Your Travel Plans
• June 29 at 12:00 noon – Optimize Your Workouts with Proper Nutrition

Need Help Kick-Starting Your Physical Health Journey?

Participate in BurnAlong’s Take b With You Challenge, kicking off on June 1. Everyone can participate simply by completing a travel-related program before June 30. Get your movement in – even when you’re on the road. To join, schedule a program on BurnAlong through June 30. Log in and take the travel-related BurnAlong Program from June 1-30. Then, celebrate all the hard work you put into your physical health in June!

Step Up Your Smoothie Game this Summer.

Learn all about smoothies! Learn what they are, how to make them, budget tips, tricks, and recipes! Be sure to join the playlists, as new recipes will be added periodically! Recommended classes on the playlist include:

• Smoothie Series: Smoothie Basics
• Smoothie Series: Budget Tips
• Smoothie Series: Smoothie Bags

Looking for More Class Recommendations?

Click on the calendar below to access suggested classes throughout June:

Did you know BurnAlong is free for you and your friends?

You have access to four (4) free family subaccounts, so you can start sharing today! It takes just a minute to send one, and they'll get free, unlimited access to BurnAlong all year long. Help someone start their 2023 off on the right foot. Click here to invite a subaccount.

Take BurnAlong with You!

Join thousands of others on their health and wellness journey by downloading the Mobile App. Available in iOS and Android, take BurnAlong with you by downloading the app today!

What is BurnAlong?

As a reminder, BurnAlong is our health and wellness partner who provides you and your family with more than 23,000 live and on-demand online classes from 5,000+ credentialed instructors at no cost to you.

To activate your complimentary account, get started by visiting https://fit.burnalong.com/hcps. If you have any trouble accessing your account, contact customercare@burnalong.com. Find out more about BurnAlong in this brief video.

Have you heard about Noom? Noom is an app that takes a psychology-based approach to help individuals lose weight and keep it off. And now, we're pleased to have this available to all employees at no cost through the CareFirst Wellbeing Wellness program - even those employees who do not carry the CareFirst medical insurance through HCPS. Spouses and dependent children over 18 on the HCPS CareFirst medical plan can also access this new benefit at no cost. To learn more about Noom and how to create your free account, click here.

Already have a Noom account? Follow the direction in the link above to create your CareFirst-sponsored Noom account using the same email address as your individual/consumer account. Noom's registration flow will be able to identify you, prompting additional screens to confirm you wish to transfer from your consumer account to a CareFirst-sponsored account. If you agree, your account will transition to the free CareFirst-sponsored benefit.

Tuition reimbursement requests, including the Partial Reimbursement Request form corresponding to your union and an itemized receipt showing payment method(s) and amount(s), and an official transcript, sent separately and electronically from your university, must be submitted to transcripts@hcps.org within 90 days of the course completion date. Please visit the Tuition Reimbursement SharePoint Page for additional tuition reimbursement information, including reimbursement request forms, sample receipts, eligibility, and more details about the reimbursement submission process.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SPRING 2023 SEMESTER REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS: Spring 2023 semester reimbursement requests received on and after May 1, 2023, will be reimbursed after July 15, 2023, leading up to and including the 2023-24 school year's first and second pay dates. Employees will receive an email confirming the reimbursement date of their request once it is processed over the summer. This processing timeline will apply to all staff, including those not scheduled to work during the summer break. Employees taking coursework through a direct bill partner will have their coursework billed directly to HCPS. Therefore, no paperwork is needed from the employee for the reimbursement as the partner University/College will provide the required official transcript/grade report.

Courses completed before July 1, 2023, will count towards the July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 fiscal year, while courses completed on or after July 1, 2023, will count towards the July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 fiscal year. Questions concerning reimbursement should be directed to the benefits office at benefits@hcps.org. Questions concerning certification should be directed to certification@hcps.org.

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System and the Community College of Baltimore County will provide State Pension members the opportunity to participate in pre-retirement webinars and seminars. These sessions provide vital retirement information to pension system members, including the Maryland State Pension, Legal Issues, Social Security Benefits, and Financial Planning. The webinars will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Remaining Webinar:

• June 28 (CRN 37262)

To register, please visit https://www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed-preretirement-county. For those participating in the online events, you will receive a separate link to join the date-specific event. For those participating in-person, you will receive an email with site-specific information.

Please Note: These sessions are not affiliated with HCPS and will not include HCPS-specific information, such as retiree healthcare. HCPS will be hosting a condensed pre-retirement seminar in February. More information about this seminar will be announced in future HCPS 411 Update newsletters.

Employees who wish to provide feedback on their experience(s) obtaining medications through CVS retail pharmacies are advised to complete the CVS/Caremark Service Reporting Tool, available on SharePoint. This report is monitored bi-weekly by a member of the Benefits Office for further assistance and tracking of member service feedback. To access this form, visit the Harford County Public Schools – SharePoint Home Page.

As always, if there is an immediate need or concern when obtaining medication, please email benefits@hcps.org so that a member of the Benefits Office can assist you more quickly.

Presented by KEPRO Employee Assistance Program

Conversation is a two-way activity, and listening is essential to ensuring effective communication. This session will offer practical tips and discuss the benefits of being a good listener. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning May 16, 2023

Broadcast Length: 50 minutes
How to Access: Go to your EAP website: www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code: HCPS and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage, or you can search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families anytime, any day, and is a free, confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call KEPRO 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

"We are so grateful to all the National Board-Certified Teachers who have supported current HCPS teachers seeking National Board Certification! Thank you to Sarah Ashley, Kristen Bard, Jeffrey Cole, Susan Hoy, Lindsay Lett, Stacey Sewell, Amber Seyler-Vyskocil, Laura Shorter, Clarissa Ward, Elizabeth White, Amy Wolff, and Andrea Yeager for reading entries and providing feedback. Thank you Catherine Bernard, Leigh Bondrole, Katherine Dorsey, Jodi Fetterolf, Alisa Janiski, Cindy Lippencott, and Wendy Morelli who, in addition to serving as readers, supported National Board candidates running monthly support sessions. Your time and dedication allowed us to provide a strong support network to over 150 candidates pursuing certification. We couldn't have done it without you!"

-Rebecca Spencer, Supervisor of Teacher Preparation and Professional Development

-Dr. Jennifer Palmer, Crystal Rufenacht and Kathleen Thompson, NBCT Support Leaders

"I would like to submit a shout out for Red Pump Elementary School Assistant Principal Brittany Godfrey. This is Brittany’s first year at Red Pump Elementary. She has been an amazing addition to our school. I work in CSP, and she has been so supportive. She is always coming to the classroom to check and make sure we don’t need anything. She is the first one to come if we have a crisis. She steps in to help whenever she can. Sometimes this program can be a little overwhelming, but with her support she has made it a little easier. I look forward to working with her again next year."

-Theresa Cox, CSP Paraeducator, Red Pump Elementary School

"Shout out to Susan Birchfield at Norrisville Elementary. She is so passionate and dedicated to her students. She is always willing to share her wealth of knowledge with colleagues. She inspires others just by being herself and doing what she does best. We are lucky to have such a committed special educator working in our district and supporting our families and our students."

-Stefanie Dougherty, Special Educator, Jarrettsville Elementary School

Please join us in welcoming the following new hires to our HCPS family:

• Tobias Hensley, Grounds/Building Maintenance I, Facilities Department
• Brandon Brilhart, Custodian I-Shift 2, Fallston High School

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

To submit an HCPS Shout Out, please email the information and photo (if available) to HCPS.411@hcps.org.

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