FCPS Community Bulletin Board
FCPS High School Students Taking Advantage of Opportunities
A full hour before the first day of school started, nearly two dozen Oakdale High seniors were meeting with their friends and posing for photos atop the Oakdale High digital sign just in front of the building. Many of those students are heavily involved in extracurriculars. While this was their first day of instruction, it wasn’t their first day on campus. They know this is their senior year and they have a sense of urgency about enjoying it and experiencing what will be a year full of lifelong memories.
I am so proud of our high school students taking advantage of the moment – signing up for extracurricular activities in record numbers and taking part in our apprenticeship, internship, and career and technology course offerings.
Last year, more than 3,200 students took at least one dual enrollment course through our partnership with Frederick Community College – giving students the chance to experience college-level courses before they graduate from high school. For last year’s graduating seniors, 60 percent of students took at least one Advanced Placement class – up six percentage points from the year prior.
Once again this year, approximately 700 students in Grades 10-12 will be taking part in classes at the FCPS Career & Technology Center – spending half their day immersed in programs focused on their desired career fields. This summer, nine FCPS CTC students recently placed in the top ten at the 60th annual SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta. Twenty-six CTC students took part.
Approximately 4,400 high school students have registered for fall high school sports – that’s a record number, besting last year’s total of 3,409.
I’m thrilled to see students making the most of these opportunities. Our principals, teachers, and coaches invest a tremendous amount of time and effort to provide a wide range of experiences for all FCPS students. I’m excited to see what amazing things our students will accomplish this year.
Dr. Dyson
Nominations Now Open for FCPS Veteran in Education Service Award
FCPS seeks nominations for the annual Veteran in Education Service Award to honor an FCPS employee who has served our nation in the armed forces and has provided exemplary service to FCPS and the community. Any community member, FCPS student, former student, student’s parent, or FCPS employee may nominate an individual.
For additional information about the award and to access nomination materials, please visit https://www.fcps.org/public-affairs/veteran-in-education-service-award. All application materials must be submitted in one electronic file to Service.Award@fcps.org, by Friday, September 27 at 3:00 p.m. All nominees and the award recipient will be recognized at the annual Veterans Day Celebration on November 7, 2024.
FCPS wishes to thank Woodsboro Bank for their support of this Award and congratulates last year’s recipient, Earl Gibson, HVAC Technician at UHS.
FCPS employees benefit from market-competitive salaries and outstanding benefits. We provide a supportive working environment, professional development training and mentoring. Most importantly, we offer the opportunity to make a difference in our students’ lives!
We recognize that educating our county's students requires a team effort. This involves contributions made by team members, both inside and outside of the classroom.
District Remains Among Top Performers in State
FCPS students outperformed the state average by 11 to 16 points in English/Language Arts, 4 to 15 points in Math, and 7 to 8 points in Science at different grade levels, according to the 2024 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) results for English/Language Arts, Math, and Science.
The results, released by the Maryland State Department of Education August 27, showed that FCPS consistently ranked in the top quartile among Maryland districts.
“We are pleased that we continue to see our students improve in most grades in math and ELA while nationally the general trend has been a slow or nonexistent recovery since the pandemic,” said Dr. Frank Vetter, Director of Assessment, Data Reporting, & Strategic Improvement.
New State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright formed a workgroup to examine the state accountability model, including assessments and curriculum standards. “We are eager to see the results of that work and whether or not we are assessing what students learn in their classes in the best possible way,” according to Dr. Vetter.
Current MCAP tests had new baselines established in the 2022-2023 school year, so only two years of comparable assessment data exist.
FCPS Turning to Cashless Admission for All Varsity Football Games
This school year, FCPS is elevating our fan experience and transitioning to cashless admission for all varsity football games. Tickets for these games must be purchased through GoFAN. For added convenience, GoFan credit card readers will be available at the gate for those who do not pre-purchase their online tickets.
GoFAN is the same online ticket company the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) uses for postseason play and all of their cashless state semifinal and state championship contests. Additionally, Anne Arundel, Baltimore County, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Harford, Howard, St. Mary’s, and Wicomico counties are currently 100% cashless for all of their sports.
Purchasing tickets via GoFAN is recommended for all other FCPS Sports held in stadiums and gymnasiums.
FCPS staff considered the numerous benefits of moving to cashless ticketing including avoiding bottlenecks and long lines, the ease of accounting, school staff being able to better prepare for athletics events due to seeing live updates of tickets sales, reducing safety concerns associated with large sums of cash being collected at the gate, fraud prevention, contactless payment and entry, and providing our spectators with a better overall experience.
The cost to attend most athletic events is $6 for adults and $2 for high school or younger students. Children ages 7 and under, FCPS employees, FCPS retirees, and all guests ages 60 or older are admitted free of charge. There is a $1 transaction fee charged by GoFan so attendees will be paying $7 and $3 when purchasing electronic tickets.
Schools continue to offer discounted seasonal pass options that may be purchased through the school's athletic department.
For additional information, please visit the Attending Athletic Events page on FCPS Athletics.
We hope to see you at an athletic contest. Go Team FCPS!
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Fall Edition of the Blueprint Quarterly
Dr. Sarah Sirgo, Chief of Staff and Blueprint Implementation Coordinator for FCPS, would like to welcome you to the 4th issue of The Blueprint Quarterly--a communication tool dedicated to providing our students, staff, families, and community members up to date information about the Frederick County Public Schools Blueprint implementation. We have been busy at work over the last quarter, and this issue takes a closer look at what we have been pursuing. Included is information on:
- Recent MSDE Blueprint Meeting
- Our Revised Steering Committee Structure
- Pillar 3 Committee Lead Spotlight
- Blueprint Spotlight
- Announcements and Resources
Thank you for taking time to read on and hear more about the tremendous efforts of our team!
In an effort to provide the most positive and purposeful educational environment for our students, during the 2023-24 school year, Dr. Dyson charged FCPS staff with bringing together a group of stakeholders to garner widespread feedback on the use of personal mobile devices (PMDs) in schools. That group included FCPS teachers, administrators, Parent Teachers Association and community members. In addition, they heard feedback from the Frederick County Student Government Association (SGA) and Education Reform Council (ERC). Through these collaborative efforts, FCPS reviewed, combined, and refined FCPS expectations for technology use by students (Regulation 434-01).
Recognizing the developmental and educational differences that exist in students k-12, the expectations for personal mobile devices has been delineated by instructional level.
What is considered a personal mobile device (PMD)?
Any technology not provided by FCPS and brought to school by a student that includes: cell phones, headphones, smartwatches, speakers, cameras, and/or eReaders or the like. However, since FCPS provides students with laptops for instructional use, non-FCPS issued laptops are not permitted. Exceptions will be made under special circumstances, including, but not limited to documented accommodations.
Why are the expectations being updated?
Some studies have indicated cell phones and other electronic devices can be detrimental to the intellectual, social, and emotional development of children. It is also recognized that we live in a world where personal mobile devices are tools used in the world of work. The intent of the updates is to be evidence-informed in our approach to cell phone use in our educational environment.
What if I need to communicate with my child during the school day?
In case of emergency, please contact the main office of your child’s school. Staff members will be able to put you in touch with your child.
What are the consequences of violating these expectations?
FCPS will use the first term of the 2024-25 school year to acquaint students, staff, and families with the new expectations. School administrators will review these updated expectations with students during the first few weeks of school. In the first term, we will have a stance of teaching the new expectations. As we move into the second term, these expectations will be normalized and consequences for violation will be in accordance with the FCPS Student Code of Conduct. In some cases, the consequences may include the confiscation of the PMDs by school administrators including the requirement for a parent or guardian to retrieve the device. This is not new. Multiple infractions may lead to more progressive consequences as detailed in the FCPS Student Code of Conduct. FCPS is not responsible for any damaged, lost, or stolen PMDs.
As part of our ongoing commitment to support the mental health and well-being of our students, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is excited to announce the launch of Basecamp. Developed in partnership with Greenspace Health and funded by the Maryland Consortium on Coordinated Community Supports, Basecamp is a comprehensive mental wellness hub designed to provide students with immediate access to a wide range of mental health resources and services.
What is Basecamp?
Basecamp is an online wellness platform that makes it easy for students to find the help and support they need, ensuring they have immediate access to resources and services to support their mental health. By utilizing Basecamp, students can better understand their emotions, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and access supportive mental health services and resources. With Basecamp, students will have access to:
Educational Content: Access to articles and videos on various mental health topics relevant to students.
Self-Guided Resources: Tools and activities that students can use independently to maintain or improve their mental health.
Bi-Weekly Surveys: Short surveys to help students check in on their mental health, understand their feelings over time, and identify factors impacting their well-being.
Resource Recommendations: Personalized suggestions based on each student’s current challenges.
Direct Access to Services: Information and connections to mental health resources available within Frederick County.
How Can My Child Access Basecamp?
Basecamp is easily accessible to all middle and high school students at basecampfcps.com. Additionally, we have placed posters around the school with the URL and a QR code for quick access via mobile devices. For elementary school students, the platform is intended to be accessed by parents/caregivers to help them support their child’s mental health.
Your Role as Parents and Caregivers
We encourage you to discuss Basecamp with your child and explore the platform together. Your support and involvement will help your child feel supported and access the most appropriate resource or service for their needs. This document has more information about Basecamp and how you can share it with your child.
For more information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at lynn.davis@fcps.org.
Thank you for your partnership in supporting the mental health and well-being of FCPS students.
