Sandy Plains Roundup
April 17, 2015
Administrators' Address
How does Sean McComb transform student detention from a punitive action into a restorative practice?
Click on the link below to post a response on the Padlet site. Include your name on your post!
Essential Events
April 13-May 1: MSA Science, grade 5
April 17: PTA sponsored Ice Cream Social
April 20: Restorative Practices
April 21: STEM Fair Night, 4:15-5:00
April 21: Family Science Night, 5:00-7:00
April 22: Administrative Professionals Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 22: McDonald's Night
April 22: Transfer Fair: Priority and voluntary
April 23: Distribution of Report Cards
April 23: Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
April 23: Sweet Frog Night
April 27: K-1 planning
April 27: Faculty Meeting
April 28: 2-3 planning
April 30: 4-5 planning
A View from Above
BCPS Bytes
691. SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE TO STUDENTS
A video message from the superintendent to the students has been prepared specifically for each school level. Principals are requested to have teachers show the video to their students on Monday, April 20, 2015, or Tuesday, April 21, 2015. The instructions to access the video are as follows: Log on to Safari Montage. Enter the name of the video, Dr. Dance Message to Elementary Students April 2015 or Dr. Dance Message to Middle & High School Students April 2015, in the Safari search engine, and the video will appear.
Another way to access the video is to enter the following link in the Internet browser: http://player.vimeo.com/video/124969482 for Dr. Dance's Quarterly Message to Elementary Students or http://player.vimeo.com/video/124969481 for Dr. Dance's Quarterly Message to Secondary Students.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Mychael Dickerson, Chief Communications Officer 2010
699. SURVEY FOR ALL CLASSROOM, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND SPECIAL AREA TEACHERS
The S.T.A.T. Teacher Program provides a school-based professional development teacher in each school who facilitates job-embedded professional learning opportunities for all teachers. A survey has been designed to measure teacher perception of the S.T.A.T. Teacher Program and will be available from Friday, April 17 through Friday, May 1, 2015. All classroom, special education, and special area teachers are encouraged to take the brief survey.
Data gathered will be used to inform future professional development. All responses are anonymous and confidential, and honest responses are appreciated. To access the survey, go to https://bcps.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4MYKOzuCyaEMUcZ or copy and paste the link into your browser.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
April Lewis, Manager 6487
700. UPCOMING COHORT INFORMATION FAIR
BCPS, in collaboration with our college and university partners, will hold an upcoming Cohort Information Fair on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at the Loyola Graduate Center in Timonium from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The schedule listed below will provide participants an opportunity to attend two Cohort Information Sessions with college and university faculty and one Cohort Overview Session with BCPS staff. The Cohort Overview Session will provide an overview of the benefits of being a cohort member and the responsibilities of being a cohort member. This schedule is subject to change. Registration for the fair is not required. A list of upcoming cohorts is attached.
4:30 – 4:55 p.m. Cohort Overview Session
5:00 – 5:45 p.m. College Information Session I
5:05 – 5:30 p.m. Cohort Overview Session
5:50 – 6:30 p.m. College Information Session II
5:50 – 6:15 p.m. Cohort Overview Session
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Debbie Piper, Coordinator 6491
701. MSDE/MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION THINKPORT ONLINE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Maryland State Department of Education and Maryland Public Television Thinkport will offer online professional development courses. Courses are available in the following areas: counseling, English language arts, gifted and talented, instruction and pedagogy, instructional technology, mathematics, online learning and teaching, physical education, science, service learning, and social studies. Attached is an informational booklet that includes registration information.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
William Burke, Chief, Organizational Effectiveness 6400
702. SUMMER 2015 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Professional development workshops will be offered by the Division of Curriculum and Instruction and the Office of Organizational Development during the summer 2015. These workshops are designed to provide high-quality learning opportunities for teachers to learn about strategies and resources that will improve their effectiveness. The attached document lists the opportunities by content area.
Interested participants must register for the offerings using the Workshops – Summer Professional Development catalog on the Online Registration System at https://www.bcps.org/apps/registration. See the attached document for titles. Registration instructions are available from the login screen.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Lynette Woodley, Coordinator 6489
707. MATHEMATICS LESSON PLANNING SESSIONS FOR INTERMEDIATE TEACHERS - UNIT 1 PLANNING FOR GRADES 3, 4, AND 5
Staff in the Office of Mathematics will hold planning sessions for teachers of Grades 3, 4, and 5. These sessions are designed to deepen participants' content knowledge of Maryland College- and Career-Ready Standards (MCCRS) and prepare them to effectively implement the BCPS mathematics curriculum using the new instructional resource EnVision Math 2.0. These sessions will focus on Unit 1 and are planned collaboratively with the Office of Advanced Academics. Sessions are being repeated across multiple days, with morning or afternoon opportunities, in order to accommodate teachers’ summer schedules. Special educators, mathematics resource teachers, S.T.A.T. teachers, and administrators are welcome to attend. All sessions will be held at the Loyola Graduate Center in Timonium.
Grade 3
• Monday, June 22, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Grade 4
• Monday, June 22, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Grade 5
• Monday, June 22, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Advanced 5
• Tuesday, June 23, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 24, 2015, 9 to 11:30 a.m. or 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Interested participants should register for one of the offerings by using the Workshop-Registration Catalog in the Online Registration System at https://www.bcps.org/apps/registration. The sessions are titled Elementary Mathematics Common Core Professional Development for Grade ___ Teachers: Unit 1 Planning. Registration instructions are available from the login screen.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Natalie Crist, Specialist 3486
708. CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) SUMMER COURSE AT LADEW TOPIARY GARDENS
A two-day workshop titled Teaching and Learning With Monarch Butterflies will be held on Thursday and Friday, August 13 and 14, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland. This workshop will be included in the CPD summer course catalog. The course combines classroom and field experiences that model the Next Generation Science Standards, supports the Blueprint 2.0, eLit Standards, and 21st century learning skills, and complements the BCPS second grade science unit, Bee an Engineer. Not only will participants receive one Maryland State Department of Education CPD credit, they will also gain the knowledge, skills, materials, and confidence to raise monarchs and create a meaningful, hands-on learning experience. For more information, see the attached flyer and CPD Electronic Credit Form.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Eric Cromwell, Coordinator 2063
709. BALTIMORE COUNTY EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM (ERS) PRE-RETIREMENT PLANNING MEETING
The Office of Benefits, Leaves, and Retirement is holding a pre-retirement planning meeting for members of the ERS who are within two years of retirement. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 114 of Building E on the Greenwood campus. This meeting is for ERS members only, not members of the Maryland State Teachers' Pension System. Registration is required. See the attached flyer for additional information .
Participants must register using the Meetings Catalog on the Online Registration System at https://www.bcps.org/apps/registration. The meeting is titled Baltimore County Employees' Retirement System (ERS) Pre-Retirement Meeting under the Benefits, Leaves, and Retirement heading. Registration instructions are available from the login screen.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Tracey Carroll, Retirement Representative 8949
710. RENEWAL OF MARYLAND CERTIFICATES
COMAR 13A.12.01.11 (2) states:
Renewal requirements shall be received at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) within 90 days of the expiration date listed under "Period of Validity" on the certificate in order for the certificate to be considered continuous.
Past practice has allowed an individual to submit credits for course work earned after the expiration date of the certificate but within the 90-day grace period. For example, if a certificate expired on June 30, the courses could be completed over the summer and submitted within the 90-day period from the expiration date. MSDE indicates that this practice conflicts with the regulation and must be discontinued. Effective January 1, 2015, courses used to renew a certificate must be completed prior to the expiration date of the certificate. Courses completed prior to the expiration date can be submitted to the Office of Certification within the 90-day period after the expiration date so that the certificate can be considered continuous.
Failure to complete and submit documentation to renew a certificate prior to the expiration date may result in the following:
1. Issuance of a substandard conditional certificate
2. Loss of tenure
3. Salary step frozen
4. Placement on a conditional year-to-year contract
5. Transfer to another school
6. Termination
Employees are not to submit course work directly to MSDE. All course work must be sent to the Office of Certification. Employees are to e-mail the Office of Certification or call to schedule an appointment if unsure of their renewal needs.
COMAR states that it is the individual’s responsibility to know and meet the renewal requirements prior to the certificate’s expiration date. Information regarding renewal requirements is on the Office of Certification’s Web site at www.bcps.org/offices/personnel/certification. In addition, general reminder letters are sent out one year prior to the expiration date of a certificate.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Kenneth M. Kuyawa, Personnel Officer 4147
Cohort Information Fair
Office of Organizational Development
Upcoming Cohort Information Fair
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Loyola Graduate Center in Timonium
Cohort Information Fair Schedule
4:30 – 4:55 p.m. Cohort Overview Session
5:00 – 5:45 p.m. College Information Session I
5:05 – 5:30 p.m. Cohort Overview Session
5:50 – 6:30 p.m. College Information Session II
5:50 – 6:15 p.m. Cohort Overview Session College/University
Cohort Title
Anticipated Start Date
Session Presentation
Goucher College
Administrator I Master of Education in School Improvement Leadership
Fall 2015
Session I and II
Goucher College
Special Education for Certified Teachers, Master of Education
Fall 2015
Session I and II
Loyola University Maryland
Digital Learning: Teacher Leaders and Technology
Fall 2015
Session I and II
Notre Dame of Maryland University
ESOL Certification
Fall 2015
Session I
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Master of Arts in Leadership in Teaching: Certification in ESOL K-12
Fall 2015
Session I
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Master of Arts in Leadership in Teaching: Cultural Proficiency and Equity Leadership
Fall 2015
Session II
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Master of Arts in Leadership in Teaching: STEM
Spring 2016
Session I
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Master of Arts in Leadership in Special Education: Exceptionalities
Spring 2016
Session II
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations
Fall 2015
Session II
Stevenson University
Certificate or Master of Science in Nursing with a Concentration on Population-Based Care Coordination
Fall 2015
Session I and II
Stevenson University
Master of Science Business and Technology Management, Innovative Leadership Track
Spring 2016
Session I and II
Towson University
Master of Science, Human Resource Development: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
Fall 2015
Session I
Towson University
Special Education M.Ed. Certification Track
Spring 2016
Session I
Towson University
Master of Science in Instructional Technology: Library Media Specialist
Spring 2016
Session II
Towson University
Master of Science in Human Resource Development: Educational Leadership Track
Spring 2016
Session II