HCPS 411 Update

Dear Superintendent Bulson and the Harford County Public Schools Community,

Words cannot express the pain that we feel as we mourn the loss of Joppatowne High School student Warren Curtis Grant. On behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education, I offer my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to your students, families, faculty and staff. Our hearts are breaking with yours.

In the days and weeks ahead, please know that our thoughts are with you. We offer our collective support as you confront this profound loss and extend our compassion as you heal.

The strength of this community lies in its resilience and solidarity. Now, more than ever, we must come together to support one another through this incredibly challenging time.

We are here for you.

Sincerely,

Dr. Carey M. Wright
State Superintendent of Schools

See official letter here.

Starting tomorrow, Friday, September 13, 2024, NO bags will be permitted into ANY athletic events. As our community faces the tragedy that occurred last Friday, many suggestions and comments are being shared about changes our community would like to see to safety and security measures. As we process all of this feedback, one immediate item we can act on is to not allow any bags into our athletic events this weekend. We anticipate slight adjustments and additional details after this weekend. In a communication going out to our community today at 5:00 p.m., we are asking for their understanding and cooperation this weekend in providing this additional layer of security at our athletic events.

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.

Family Friendly School Awards will be given once a quarter, naming four winning schools a school year.

Nominations still will be submitted by you and others in the community, and your votes will narrow down the nominated schools to three finalists for the award. Then, with help from the Parent and Community Engagement (PACE) Liaisons at those three schools, we will take a look at the schools' evidence of family-friendly standards to select the winner each quarter. A special announcement and celebration will occur at the winning school.

Take a moment to watch the video below.

The first nomination window of this school year is next week: Monday, September 16, through Friday, September 20. Visit the Parent Academy page on hcps.org to nominate your school. And, be sure to follow the HCPS Parent Academy page on Facebook, where nomination and voting windows are announced each quarter.

We would like to highlight our newest HCPS principals in a series of Principal Spotlight videos. Supervisor of Leadership Development Audrey Vohs talks with Christine Kelly, Principal of Aberdeen Middle School, in the video linked below. Welcome, Ms. Kelly, to your new leadership position!

SHINE University is designed for all our first-year teachers--new to teaching or new to HCPS.

Set Sail for Success at the first session (note first session date has changed):

SHINE University

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Patterson Mill High School

Secondary: 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Elementary: 5:00-7:00 p.m.

CLICK HERE to register today!

Questions? Email HCPSInductionProgram@hcps.org.

The Office of Organizational Development, in partnership with the Enterprise Professional Development Committee, is excited to announce Future U Enterprise Academy. This is for HCPS operational and enterprise staff seeking advancement opportunities in a leadership role in the near future. The academy focuses on uncovering individual strengths and exploring essential strategies for enhancing leadership sills.

The program also offers an opportunity to learn more about HCPS leadership competencies for roles that may be available in the future. The Future U Enterprise Academy is designed to empower leaders and future leaders and provide transformative experiences that align with their professional aspirations.

Academy participants will meet Tuesdays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the A.A. Roberty Building from October 8, 2024, through January 17, 2025.

Apply on TalentED by September 16, 2024, by clicking here.

Stay tuned for more information. Email Audrey.Vohs@hcps.org with questions.

Shopping by registration only; space is limited!

Register now: bit.ly/HCEFShoppingDay

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.

With the HCPS Growing Exceptional Teachers (G.E.T.) More Program, you can earn your teaching certificate and have your tuition reimbursed at a rate of $300/credit hour. The student teaching internship is paid, and there are other work-related benefits to this program. Check out the G.E.T. More Program roadmap.

For eligibility inquiries, to apply, or for more information, please email Maranda.Scott@hcps.org.

For more information about Moreland University, please sign up to attend an information session on September 17, 2024.

Reminder for all staff: Mileage and expense reimbursements are only processed in Oracle, as of July 1, 2024. Staff should continue to update banking information for payroll in Lawson Employee Self Service. It is now required for staff to update banking information in Oracle for mileage and expense reimbursement payments. This separate maintenance for reimbursements will not be required once Oracle goes live for Payroll.

To update or view banking information in Oracle, utilize the learning assistant.

• Log into Oracle and select the orange learning assistant button at the bottom of the screen. This will open the menu for the Knowledge Center.
• Within the Knowledge Center, navigate to “Expenses” and “Expenses Maintain Bank Account.”
• Follow the on-screen prompts to view or update banking information in Oracle.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) recognizes and celebrates pupil transportation professionals at every level with annual awards. We are very excited and proud to share that our very own Danielle Bedsaul, transportation supervisor, was named the 2024 School Bus Driver Training & Safety Award recipient. Congratulations!! Danielle will be honored at the organizations 47th Annual Conference and Trade Show in October.

Join Board President Poynton and Vice President Hahn for the first Engage for Education Listening Session of the 2024-25 school year. This event will be hosted at C. Milton Wright High School on Wednesday, October 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mark your calendar to attend for a casual conversation about your student's education.

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.

Prioritize self-care, manage stress, and conquer burnout through empowering routines and techniques.

Join Burnalong for a month dedicated to nurturing yourself, featuring personalized self-care routines, strategies for conquering stress, and achieving harmony between work and life. Take the first step towards a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle with their expert-guided sessions. To help get started, BurnAlong is hosting live events throughout September:

• September 18 at 12:00 p.m.: Practical Strategies for Managing Workplace Stress
• September 26 at 12:00 p.m.: Health Screenings to Feel Great at Every Age

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, participants will learn how to effectively acknowledge and appreciate positive actions in various contexts, from the workplace to parenting. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available 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.

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 beginning September 17, 2024

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 like to give a huge shout out to Sarah Lumbard, PPW at Magnolia Elementary School! She is an amazing advocate for our students and families. Mrs. Lumbard works tirelessly to help our families, students, and staff. She is not only an amazing PPW, but she's also an exceptional human being."

--Keesha C. Mack, Community School Specialist, Magnolia Elementary School

"OPR would like to shout out Meredith Heldt and Sherron Foster Moore for joining us on opening day to welcome our little penguins back to school. They were ready to Build a Legacy with all of us at OPR. We appreciate their support to our entire school community."

--Ron Wooden and the OPR School Community.

"Shout out to Jenna Pompilii!! As Jenna’s former teachers, we are so excited to see her featured as a new teacher at Deerfield. To see a former student join the field of education, especially to come back to HCPS is exciting. We wish you a year filled with joy, learning and lots of grace!"

--Sarah Scholl and Jessica Jeffries, HDMHS Librarians

"Shane Duncan is an incredible Endpoint Technician. Not only was he essential in rolling out new devices to our staff, but he helped put out all the tech fires, which inevitably come up during the first week of school. My blood pressure would be a lot higher and my hair a lot whiter without Shane's help."

--Chris Bancells, School Librarian, Church Creek Elementary School

"HWES would like to send a huge shout out to Danielle Bedsaul from the Office of Transportation for going above and beyond the call of duty to help locate a very important and special item for one of our students."

--Dawn Lagan, Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School

"Shout outs to Mike Griffith, Martha Barwick, Christopher Long, Tiffany Baublitz, and Bob Grieser! They helped to set up 90 virtual reality devices for use in mathematics classes in pilot middle schools."

--Laura Potter, Andy Bleichfeld, and Deb Mateer

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org