HCPS 411 Update

At the Monday, September 23, 2024, Board Business Meeting, the 2025-2026 HCPS Draft Calendar options were presented to the Board of Education. You are encouraged to complete the survey below to give your feedback. If you have additional comments, there is an opportunity to share them at the end of the survey. The survey will be available through Friday, November 22, 2024.

HCPS staff are asked to complete the survey here via an HCPS device or after logging into your HCPS account.

The Early Dismissal tomorrow, Friday, September 27, is designated for Systemwide Content Professional Development.

The charts for Elementary (click here) and Secondary (click here) include professional development opportunities for ALL our Instructional Educational Support Professionals (ESPs) to participate in learning modules. These can also be found on our Professional Development SharePoint site.

If you serve in one of the following roles, please participate in your content/role-specific session indicated on the charts:

• STRIVE Paraeducators
• Media Technicians
• All Paraeducators & Inclusion Helpers who support PreK or Kindergarten in any academic capacity (general or special education)

Questions? Email HCPSProfessionallearning@hcps.org or the Content Supervisor. We look forward to learning together this Friday and providing synchronous learning opportunities for you in future months. Stay tuned to the HCPS 411 Update each Early Dismissal!

The Board of Education of Harford County will hold Engage for Education listening sessions throughout the 2024-2025 school year. Like last year, these listening sessions are an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the future of education in Harford County with members of the Board of Education.

The first session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at C. Milton Wright High School. No pre-registration is required to attend or speak.

For more information, or to provide feedback directly to the Board if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, please visit the Engage for Education page on hcps.org.

On Behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education, the Office of Student Support Services is excited to announce the continuation of the MSDE’s popular Integrated Behavioral Intervention Training Series. This training series consists of six (6), 90-minute, synchronous virtual sessions held on select dates. Full participation and completion of assignments may result in earning up to 1.0 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits.

Topics include:

• Exploring the role of adults in managing student behaviors.
• Understanding the developmental stages of students.
• Building skills for behavioral planning, intervention, and prevention.
• Engaging in action planning to strengthen their practice.

For additional information please click here. Questions regarding this training can be directed to Jeffrey Hoffman at Jeffrey.Hoffman@hcps.org or 410-838-7300.

21st Century Community Learning Centers after-school grant programs are being held for the 2024-2025 school year at the following schools: Edgewood Elementary, Edgewood Middle, Magnolia Middle, and Old Post Road Elementary. The program will run from October 2024 through May 2025. We are currently looking to fill the following positions:

Site Coordinators (Edgewood Elementary)

• 14 hours per week/3.5 hours per day, Monday through Thursday

Teachers (Edgewood Elementary and Magnolia Middle)

• 5 hours per week/1 hour per day of instruction and one hour per week of lesson planning, Monday through Thursday

Paraeducators (all site locations)

• Hours vary depending on location

To access an employment application and learn more about the positions, please visit the “Employment Opportunities” section of the HCPS website at www.hcps.org, or click here. Positions are listed by school. Questions can be directed Becky Pensero, Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction at Rebecca.Pensero@hcps.org.

Towson University will be offering a new Autism in the Classroom graduate certificate program starting spring 2025. Please see the flier linked below for more information.

sped_autism_sp25.pdf

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The theme for 2024 is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”

The National Museum of the American Latino offers a wide range of bilingual resources for educators, parents, and caregivers.

Want to learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month? Visit the Smithsonian Learning Lab to view materials specially curated to share the countless contributions and advancements of Hispanic Americans.

Click HERE to share how you’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage in your school, classroom, office, or department.

Nominations for the Support Services Superstar Award are being accepted from September 11, 2024, until October 11, 2024. APG Federal Credit Union (APGFCU) is the proud sponsor of HCPS Support Services Superstar Awards. All Harford County Public Schools regular support staff employees are eligible for the award. Program information and nomination forms may be downloaded at 2024 Support Services Superstar Award.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Ben Richardson, in Human Resources, at Benjamin.Richardson2@hcps.org or 410-588-5226.

Win grant money for your classroom! For more information, please visit www.mrspa.org. The grant application is on the homepage.

The HCPS Bowtie recognition program celebrates Central Office employees who consistently serve others in a BIG (Bold, Invested, Genuine) way and go above and beyond in their roles. Honorees are nominated by colleagues to attend Superintendent Bulson’s virtual event held each month. Join us in celebrating our awesome HCPS staff!

And a big shout out and thank you to Freedom Federal Credit Union for sponsoring this program for us each year.

The voting window to name the First Quarter Family Friendly School Award winner for the 2024-25 school year is open! Vote once before 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, September 27, to let us know which nominated school should win the award for first quarter.

Cast your vote here: https://www.hcps.org/.../paren.../familyfriendlyschools.aspx

If your school isn’t in the running this quarter and you feel it should be, nominate it next quarter! One winning school will be named each quarter during the school year, and schools may win multiple times.

We look forward to announcing the first quarter winner soon!

Harford County Public Schools, in partnership with Coppin State University, has been awarded a federal grant to cover the costs of current HCPS employees to complete a bachelor's degree in special education through Coppin. Project SEQUEL(Special Educators Qualified to Uplift Exceptional Learners) is open to current HCPS employees with an associate's degree or at least sixty(60) college credits and a 3.0 GPA. Admitted scholars will receive paid tuition & fees, a laptop, transportation assistance, and a stipend.

The application window for Project SEQUEL is currently open and closes on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Interested in learning more? Click here to schedule an on-site information session or visit the Project SEQUEL homepage https://www.coppin.edu/sequel.

To learn more about this and other district retention efforts, please contact Sherron Foster-Moore, Diversity Retention & Recruitment Specialist, at Sherron.FosterMoore@hcps.org.

On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., Harford Community College is hosting a College and Career Fair at APGFCU Arena.

This is an opportunity for you and your student to explore options after high school graduation. Representatives from dozens of colleges, industries, and military organizations will be there to tell you about their organizations and answer any questions.

For more information, click here.

Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board business meetings? Provide your feedback to the Board on a specific policy by the deadline listed on the webpage: https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.aspx.

Harford County Public Schools announces a pre-retirement webinar for HCPS employees and their spouses through the Maryland State Retirement Agency and the Community College of Baltimore College. This webinar provides vital retirement information to all members and is recommended for those within eight (8) years of retirement, whether normal service or early retirement. Discussion topics include:

• HCPS Retiree Benefits
• State Retirement Pension Benefits
• Legal Consideration
• Social Security Benefits
• Financial Planning

This year's pre-retirement session will be held virtually on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Watch future HCPS 411 Updates for more information on registering and obtaining a day of event link.

September is National Healthy Aging Month

Each September raises awareness of older adults' physical and mental health and reminds us that our minds and bodies change as we age. A healthy lifestyle can help us deal with these changes and may even prevent some age-related health problems. Take charge of your wellbeing by aging healthy with your body and mind. Click here to learn more.

September CareFirst Wellbeing Challenge – Relationships Wellness Challenge

Healthy relationships with your family and friends can boost your health and longevity by lowering stress and motivating you to prioritize wellness. But, unhealthy relationships can increase stress, weaken immunity, and worsen anxiety and depression. This month, make it a priority to strengthen your relationships. Ready to try it? Click here to learn more about the CareFirst Wellbeing challenge and how to join.

One-on-One Personal Health Coaching: Easy as 1, 2, 3

You can participate in personal health coaching as part of your CareFirst Wellbeing program. Your health coach will work with you and provide the support, guidance, and encouragement you need to see real results. Your coaching program is personalized, approachable, and delivered through one-on-one calls and an easy-to-use portal where you can find additional resources, schedule calls with your coach, and more. Click here to learn more about the Personal Health Coach Program available through your CareFirst coverage.

Visit the Staff Wellness page on the HCPS website by clicking the calendar below to learn about other exciting events and opportunities available to all employees.

Have You Taken a Mental Health Break Today?

All you need is a few minutes. Burnalong has created a playlist of 15 classes, all focused on mental health. Take time for your mind, and scan the QR code to view the classes on the playlist, or click here to view the playlist online. Recommended classes on the playlist include:

• 3 min: Getting Grounded Under 30 Seconds – Powerful tips to ground yourself during the workday.
• 8 min: Self Acceptance Meditation – Strengthen your feelings of acceptance within yourself.
• 12 min: Body Scan Medication – Close your eyes and listen to this guided body scan medication.

Looking for More Class Recommendations? Click on the calendar below to access suggested classes for September:

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. 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 that 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.

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 Acentra Health Employee Assistance Program

In this session, discover the art of trying new things, from exploring uncharted territories to diving into fresh hobbies that ignite your passion. In this session, find inspiration to break free from routine. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand now

Broadcast Length: 60 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 Acentra Health 24 hours per day, seven days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

"I would love to shout out Jason Walker, our custodial services coordinator, who is an awesome, dedicated, and positive leader. I'm grateful for his ability to bring back some "retired greats" when needed. I will gladly give them a shout out as well: Bobby Walker and Charles Jones. Thanks for your willingness to return from retired life and understanding our need for you, be it substitute or part-time employee. We appreciate you and are glad to have you back!"

--Karen D. Brockington Hamilton, Administrative Assistant Support, Old Post Road Elementary School

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

• Kristen Ewell-Price, Paraeducator, Edgewood Elementary School
• Jennifer Herbert, Satellite Kitchen Assistant, Norrisville Elementary School
• Jennifer Meadows, Inclusion Helper, Fountain Green Elementary School
• Anthony Rodriguez, Custodian I - Shift 2, Bel Air High School
• Lyndsey Kuespert, Inclusion Helper, Harford Academy
• Emily Bertholdt, Inclusion Helper, Church Creek Elementary School
• Matthew Brown, Inclusion Helper, Fallston High School
• Heather Lutz, Inclusion Helper, Abingdon Elementary School
• Angela Winter, School Bus Driver, Transportation Department
• Amanda Bolick, Inclusion Helper, Bel Air Elementary School
• Ashley Greiner, Media Technician, Red Pump Elementary School
• Christina Schultz, Paraeducator, Meadowvale Elementary School
• Tierria Foster, Inclusion Helper, Harford Academy
• Ellen Lilly, Custodian I - Shift 2, Roye-Williams Elementary School
• John Michael, Custodian I - Shift 1, Deerfield Elementary School
• Jordan Little, Inclusion Helper, Deerfield Elementary School

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org