Thursday, March 14, 2024

Previous editions of the BCPS Staff Bulletin are archived and available for viewing on the BCPS website.

Finalists chosen for 2024-2025 BCPS Teacher, Principal, and Assistant Principal of the Year

Nine outstanding educators from across Baltimore County have been selected as this year’s finalists for the Team BCPS Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year, and Assistant Principal of the Year!

This year's finalists are:

• Kim Brackeen – Social-emotional learning teacher, Padonia International Elementary School
• Stephanie Gerhold – ESOL teacher, Woodlawn Middle School
• Kate Clemmens – English language arts teacher, Woodlawn High School

• Melissa Lingenfelder – Principal, Sandalwood Elementary School
• Adam Carney – Principal, Cockeysville Middle School
• Dr. Scott Rodriguez-Hobbs – Principal, Patapsco High School & Center for the Arts

• Erica Lundy – Assistant principal, Lyons Mill Elementary School
• Dorian Barnes – Assistant principal, Deer Park Middle Magnet School
• Kevin Whatley – Assistant principal, George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

The honorees will be feted at a special Champions for Children Celebration Gala at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at Carver Center. At that event, Baltimore County’s Teacher, Principal, and Assistant Principal of the Year will be chosen from among the respective groups.

In addition to these schoolhouse champions for BCPS students, the April 18 gala will also celebrate a variety of other all-star school supporters, including a “Rising Star” Teacher of the Year, Supervisory Leader of the Year, Supporting Services Employee of the Year, Community School Facilitator of the Year, Transportation Champion, AFSCME Employee of the Year, Volunteer Champion, and Business Partner Champion. More information is available in a BCPS news release.

Join Dr. Rogers tonight at Owings Mills High School for a Community Conversation

Team BCPS students, families, and stakeholders are invited to participate in upcoming community conversations beginning tonight at Owings Mills High School. At these events, Dr. Rogers will share information about key BCPS priorities, hear from Team BCPS community members, and answer questions.

• Thursday, March 14, from 6-7 p.m. at Owings Mills High School

• Wednesday, April 3, from 6-7 p.m. at Eastern Technical High School (Livestream)

• Wednesday, April 10, from 6-7 p.m. at Loch Raven Technical Academy

Spanish interpretation will be available at all sessions. Interpreting services for other languages upon request (443-809-1250).

FEATURED VIDEO:

The March episode of "The CTE Show"

"The CTE Show" is back with a new episode highlighting the carpentry and construction program at Owings Mills High School, as well as the BCPS P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• Ramadan 2024

To support systemwide awareness of those of the Muslim faith who will be observing Ramadan, the Department of Equity and Cultural Proficiency would like to share some helpful resources. The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began on the evening of March 10 and lasts 29-30 days based on the lunar (Hijri) calendar. On the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. During Ramadan, the "iftar" (breaking of the fast) occurs after sunset, so meals are often late, followed by Ramadan prayers. Many families use the night to pray and celebrate with loved ones. For many students, this may cause sleep disruption. We ask that teachers and administrators be conscious, aware, and sensitive to the customs, traditions, and faith of their students who observe Ramadan.

For more information on Ramadan, please refer to the following resources: Understanding Ramadan and Ramadan: 8 Considerations for Your Classroom.

• Upcoming solar eclipse and eye protection

On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse will begin over the South Pacific Ocean and will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

While Maryland will not fall under the direct path of the eclipse, the state will experience a partial solar eclipse beginning at approximately 2:05 p.m. and peaking around 3:20 p.m.

If you are interested in having students observe the partial solar eclipse, a limited number of eye protection glasses, called Eclipse Shades, can be found in the Grade 1 “X Marks the Spot” kits. Prior to using the Eclipse Shades, it is critical that instructions and warnings are read and followed. After use, the Eclipse Shades must be returned to the “X Marks the Spot” kit as they are a crucial piece of equipment for the unit. Eclipse Shades are SAFE FOR DIRECT SOLAR VIEWING.

• School-based summer employment application information

The BCPS school-based and central-based summer program employee interest form will be available on the All-Apps portal of Microsoft 365 through Friday, April 19.

Employees should review both the Summer Program School Pairings document and the Summer Staff & Program Information prior to submitting their interest form. Both documents can also be accessed directly from the FY 24 summer program interest form. Questions regarding this information should be directed to summerschool@bcps.org.

• School Resource Officer of the Year nominations open through Friday, April 19

In collaboration with the Baltimore County Police Department, BCPS will recognize outstanding school resource officers at each level (elementary, middle, and high) for the 2023-2024 school year. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, April 19. Please email the SRO of the Year Nomination 2023-2024 form to Sergeant Eric Knox, or mail to 9600 Pulaski Park Dr., Suite 118, Baltimore 21220.

Questions? Contact Monica Jones.

Celebrating our 171 amazing Teacher of the Year nominees

Through the Teacher of the Year program, BCPS hopes to elevate the teaching profession, recognize excellence in teaching, and thank all teachers for their skill, knowledge, creativity, and dedication.

The process begins with an invitation for each principal to nominate one teacher. This year, 171 educators were nominated. Learn more in a BCPS blog post.

Curriculum Night returns on Tuesday, April 30!

On Tuesday, March 12, BCPS presented Curriculum Night at Woodlawn High School. After a brief presentation from Superintendent Rogers and Chief Academic Officer Melissa DiDonato, BCPS students and families gained valuable insight while connecting with elementary and secondary content area experts.

Please help us spread the word about our upcoming Curriculum Night on Tuesday, April 30, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Dulaney High School.

Save the date – Equity and Cultural Proficiency Spring Symposium

The Department of Equity & Cultural Proficiency will host its 2024 Spring Symposium on Wednesday, April 17, at the Loyola Graduate Center (2034 Greenspring Dr., Timonium 21093).

Morning Sessions: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Afternoon Sessions: 12:30-3:30 p.m.

This conference-style event is for designated school and central office equity liaisons to engage in professional learning to understand their roles and responsibilities as collaborative partners and leaders in their workspaces. Registration information will be forthcoming in Schoology.

Let's Play Ball! set for Saturday, June 1

The event, which is free and open to the public, will include a skills clinic for BCPS Allied Sports students, a local celebrity Home Run Derby; a softball game pitting Team BCPS administrators against Team BCPS educators; and a Vendor Village.

Let's Play Ball! is hosted by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc., in partnership with The Baseball Warehouse, LLC, League of Dreams, Inc., and supported by BCPS Allied Sports, Jon Lamb Awards and Engraving, Leveling the Playing Field, Media Star Promotions, and the Ed Reed Foundation.

Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. Learn more in a Mission Moment blog post.

BCPS, Loyola University launch new Baltimore Teacher Apprenticeship Program

The Baltimore Teacher Apprenticeship Program (BTAP) is a one-year teacher preparation program that provides a cohort of apprentices with training and guidance from experienced teacher mentors. Apprentices will complete graduate coursework to earn a master’s degree in education or special education. While working toward certification, apprentices will be assigned as BCPS Teacher Fellows and maintain active employment, compensation, and benefits. Participants will receive structured training and support throughout the program as well as beyond graduation.

Want to learn more? Attend an information session!

• Monday, March 18, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. (EST) - Virtual Information Session*

• Thursday, April 11, 2024 at5:30 p.m. (EST) - Virtual Information Session*

Free assistance with income tax

Tax questions? Your BCPS Employee Assistance Program can help you get the information you need to make smart financial choices. More information is available on a digital flyer.

Spread the word! Registration has begun for PreKindergarten and Kindergarten. More information is available on the BCPS Parents webpage.

Resources are available on the FACE SharePoint site to share with families. Additional resources are also available on Parent University. Questions? Contact Sue Hahn.

In honor of Women's History Month, BCPS presents a series of profiles of BCPS alumna succeeding in their professions and making a difference in their communities. This week, meet Gabrielle Wyatt, Carver Center grad, former Student Member of the Board, and founder of The Highland Project.

Share your partnership highlights with us!

Schools and offices are invited to send brief highlights and photos of their partnerships with businesses and community organizations to communications@bcps.org. This information might be featured in the monthly BCPS Partnership Spotlight Newsletter.

FOR GRADE 3 EDUCATORS

20th Annual Safe Racer event - March 15 registration deadline

Get ready for the 20th annual Safe Racer event, an exhilarating STEM experience that will ignite the imaginations of your Grade 3 students! This year's event will take place on Saturday, April 13, at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology.

Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of your students as they showcase their skills, teamwork, and dedication learned through the Driving Forces science unit. Safe Racer is not just a competition; it's a testament to your students’ power of perseverance, hard work, and collaboration!

We invite each elementary school to register and send one representative Grade 3 team to this thrilling countywide event. With 108 elementary schools, the competition promises to be fierce and fun!

The deadline to register your school's Grade 3 team is Friday, March 15. Will your school be the one that gets to take home our legendary trophy? Excitement is building, and we can't wait to see who will emerge victorious!

For more information, reach out to your school's STEM Coordinator or liaison. Let's celebrate this 20th annual Safe Racer event, and make it one to remember!

FOR ALL SCHOOL-BASED ADMINISTRATORS

Use of Facilities training

To ensure all school-based administrators are equipped with the tools and information necessary to accurately complete Use of Facilities requests and maintain compliance with Policies 1300 and 3160, the Office of Facilities Operations is providing training throughout the 2024-2025 school year.

The purpose of this training is to assist all new and current administrators with the process of:

• securing facilities in a manner that does not breach policies 1300 and 3160.
• accessing your assigned Use of Facilities portal.
• providing tools to easily navigate the Use of Facilities system.
• assisting with the responsibility and coordination of events.
• managing responsibilities that follow when acting on pending requests.
• identifying items that an assigned administrator should look for.
• coordinating with their onsite staff prior to denying or approving requests to move into the workflow.

Interested participants must register for the session by visiting the Registration System. In the Course Search box, search for course number 12729. Once you have located the course, click on "Register," and then click on "Next" to finalize your registration. Participants only need to sign up for one of the available times in the Registration System.

FOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS

High school principals asked to nominate graduating seniors for profile series

Each year, each BCPS high school principal is asked to identify one graduating senior to be featured in a series of blog posts from April through May. The student can be a high-achiever or star athlete, but the Department of Communications and Community Outreach is also interested in unsung heroes and students with unique interests and stories.

For high schools that are not separate public day schools, the school is asked to complete an online form, and to share a link with the selected student so they can complete additional questions. Separate public day schools that would like to celebrate a graduating senior should complete a form answering questions about the student.

The deadline for all information is 4:45 p.m. on Friday, March 15. Please direct any questions or concerns to Diana Spencer.

FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND FRONT OFFICE STAFF

Preschool, PreKindergarten, and Kindergarten roundup dates

To encourage families to enroll students, BCPS requires that all elementary schools host a PreKindergarten and Kindergarten roundup. Roundups are an opportunity for families to enroll children for the 2024-2025 school year.

Schools should schedule their roundup events in mid-April and May. Schools are required to place their roundup event dates in FOCUS. School administrators should collaborate with front office staff and use the link to access instructions on how to input the roundup dates in FOCUS. Please complete the form no later than Monday, March 18.

More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

FOR ASPIRING SCHOOL-BASED LEADERS

Leadership information sessions

The Department of Organizational Development and Leadership is hosting a networking event for BCPS staff interested in learning about leadership opportunities in our system. Those who aspire to school-based leadership positions are invited to learn about leadership development programs, prerequisites, and pathways to achieving their goals.

• Option 1: Wednesday, April 3, from 4:30 – 6 p.m., Rossville Elementary School
• Option 2: Thursday, April 11, from 4:30 – 6 p.m., Lyons Mill Elementary School
• Option 3: Monday, April 22, from 4:30 – 6 p.m., George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology

During this event, participants will explore Team BCPS growth opportunities in alignment with the Superintendent’s theme of "Engage, Empower, Excel" and the system's four priorities. The primary focus will be on Priority 4: "Highly Effective Teachers, Leaders, and Staff - Refining efforts to recruit and retain a highly-effective and diverse teacher, support staff, and leadership workforce."

Interested participants must register for the workshop by Monday, March 18, by completing this form. The session agenda is also available for review. Space is limited, so register today to secure your spot. Questions? Contact Heather Lageman.

FOR AFSCME-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES

Reminder! UKG Time and Attendance System

The UKG Ready rollout is set for April 6. This is a reminder that we are using the time until then to continue to test the system. To have a smooth rollout, you must continue to use UKG Ready to swipe in and out, request time off, submit changes for missed swipes, and submit your timesheet by the end of the pay period so that we can address any systems issues in a test environment before we go live.

The Office of Payroll will be reviewing and monitoring time within UKG Ready for accuracy. If needed, use the change request feature for any missing time that needs to be approved by your supervisor and/or manager. If you have any questions about how to enter your time correctly make sure you ask your supervisor and/or manager immediately.

Upcoming Board and advisory group meetings

All are welcome to attend

Southeast Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, March 18, at 7 p.m.

Sandy Plains Elementary School library, 8330 Kavanagh Rd., Dundalk 21222

Topic: “Food & Nutrition”

Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m.

BCPS headquarters/Greenwood – Building E, 6901 N. Charles St., Towson 21204

Information about attending and making public comments at meetings can be found on the Board’s website. 

PTA Council of Baltimore County general meeting

Thursday, March 21

Event details

TEAM BCPS SHOUTOUT

John Billingslea, Director, Social Studies

Submitted by Carol Rook, Administrative Secretary III, Social Studies

"John Billingslea is a remarkable leader in the Office of Social Studies. His dedication and direction have produced positive results for students and staff. He embodies work-life balance. John is a servant leader who rolls his sleeves up to work alongside his team. I speak on behalf of the social studies team, 'We are better humans because of John Billingslea!"

"As he concludes his career in BCPS, retiring on July 1, we reflect on the many priceless gifts he graciously bestowed on us: servitude, loyalty, camaraderie, kindness, compassion, and humanity. We wish him safety and good health as he embarks on his next adventure in Vancouver, Canada!"

Maria Beam, Occupational Therapist, Prettyboy and Sparks elementary schools

Submitted by Kate Waganer, Speech Language Pathologist, Prettyboy Elementary School

"Maria is such an asset to our school. As an occupational therapist (OT), she has a wealth of knowledge and is a resource to so many. I appreciate the consistent collaboration with her. She really sees the whole child. She works on concepts addressed in speech/language and has given me tips on how to use the strategies/skills she addresses in OT in the speech room. She is always willing to go the extra mile for students. Even for children without OT services, she will make arrangements to sit in a speech session and give me tips to help strengthen the child’s fine motor skills. Even though it might make more work for her, she never hesitates to put the children first and advocate for all students. We are lucky to have such a talented OT."

You may submit a shoutout for a variety of reasons. For example, you may want to offer a pat on the back to a colleague for helping out, recognize a staff member or student achievement, or welcome a new employee. When your shoutout appears in The Staff Bulletin, your name and school/location will be included.

UPCOMING RECOGNITIONS

Women's History Month - March

National Athletic Training Month - March

Music in Our Schools Month - March

Youth Art Month - March

Middle Level Education Month - March

Maryland Day - March 25

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Engage. Empower. Excel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dept. of Communications/Community Outreach

443.809.5908 | communications@bcps.org