Sandy Plains Roundup
February 27, 2015
Administrators' Address
TEAM Sandy Plains Shines
Essential Events
March 2 - 27: PARCC Assessment Window
March 2 - 6: National Bullying Prevention Week
March 2 - 6: School Social Work Week
April 1: Third marking period ends
April 2 - 12: Spring Vacation
April 13: School Reopens
Show your support for Bullying Prevention Week by wearing specific colors to represent the building blocks of anti-bullying.
Monday: orange = unity
Tuesday: blue = kindness
Wednesday: green = empathy
Thursday: red = respect
Friday: purple = positivity
BCPS Bytes
614. BULLYING PREVENTION TOWN HALL MEETING
The Baltimore County Student Councils, Office of School Safety, Parent University, and the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council will sponsor a Bullying Prevention Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 2, 2015, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Cockeysville Middle School. Students and a panel of local experts will share information related to bullying and bullying prevention efforts in our schools, community, and cyber networks. Principals are asked to share the attached flyer with their community.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Sue Hahn, Specialist 0365
Nora Murray, Specialist 4329
April Lewis, Manager 6487
615. WINDOWS 8.1 AND OFFICE 2013 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Office of Organizational Development offers the following workshops: New Features of Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These workshops will provide training on the new features in Office 2013 and saving and navigating in Windows 8.1.
The workshop dates, times, and locations are listed in the Workshops-Registration catalog in the Online Registration System https://www.bcps.org/apps/registration.
Introduction to Word 2013, Introduction to Excel 2013, and Introduction to PowerPoint 2013 inservice courses are also available. These inservice courses are held once a week for five weeks. The dates, times, and locations are listed in the PDC Inservice Catalog – Classified Employees Catalog in the Online Registration System.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Linda C. Meyer, Specialist 6492
616. SAFE SCHOOLS CONFERENCE LOGO CONTEST"FOR STUDENTS
As a reminder, Team BCPS’ Safe Schools Conference Committee is looking for talented art students to develop a logo for this year’s 20th Annual Safe Schools Conference. The theme this year is Celebrating Peace and Advancing Safety in Our Changing Schools.
Winning logos will be selected by the Safe Schools Conference Committee members and used at this year’s conference. Please refer to the attached flyer for contest rules and the submission deadline.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Denise Mabry, Coordinator 3660
617. KURZWEIL SOFTWARE LICENSE
The Department of Innovative Learning is pleased to announce a districtwide license for Kurzweil software. Kurzweil provides educational supports with built-in tools to support reading, writing, and study skills, while offering a multisensory approach to learning. Students will be able to read along with text as it is highlighted and read aloud to support reading comprehension, as well as utilize writing tools such as note taking, graphic organizers, and voice notes. The licensing agreement provides access to Kurzweil for all BCPS students at school and home. Questions regarding access to the program and training support can be directed to Kama Dwyer, Assistive Technology Team Leader, at kdwyer@bcps.org or Candy Richardson at crichardson3@bcps.org.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Kama Dwyer, Team Leader 2299
618. PASSPORT SCHOOLS - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Office of World Languages is offering a professional development opportunity for current fourth grade teachers and S.T.A.T. teachers in 2014-2015 Passport schools. The meeting will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015, in the library at Reisterstown Elementary School. Attendance is optional.
Interested teachers should register for the meeting using the Meetings Catalog on the Online Registration System at https://www.bcps.org/apps/registration. The meeting is titled Elementary Spanish Teacher Professional Development, under the heading World Languages. Registration instructions are available from the login screen.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Judy Opfer, Coordinator 6756
620. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, GRADE 4, UNIT 5 CURRICULUM UPDATE
The Webinar for unpacking Grade 4, Unit 5 is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2015, from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. To access the live Webinar, go to https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?sid=1013&password=M.1EF92D2DE2F6DD3A76BFE7E2B27A29. The recording will be posted within 48 hours after the Webinar.
At this time, the Unit Overview, Unit-at-a-Glance, and all of the Assessment Events for Unit 5 are complete and posted in BCPS One. The lesson seeds will be updated and posted in BCPS One by Friday, March 13, 2015.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
Nancy Reed, Supervisor 4039
622. LIFE INSURANCE ENROLLMENT OPPORTUNITY – OPTIONAL LIFE AND PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE (PAI)
A special life insurance enrollment period will run from Monday, February 23 through Monday, March 16, 2015. Employees will be able to increase their optional life insurance as well as their PAI during this special enrollment period with Prudential Life Insurance. Enrollment can be completed online or by telephone. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Under this plan, employees may enroll in important life insurance coverage for themselves, as well as for their eligible spouse or domestic partner and children. Any coverage elected during this enrollment period will have an effective date of Friday, May 1, 2015. Note that, for coverage to become effective, employees must be in an active pay status on Friday, May 1, 2015. If employees apply for an amount that requires medical evidence, they must be in an active pay status on the date of approval.
Employees may purchase optional life coverage in levels of one to ten times their annual earnings up to a maximum coverage amount of $1,000,000. Without answering health questions, employees may elect to increase their current coverage by one times their annual earnings, up to four times their earnings or $500,000. If employees choose to elect more than one times their annual earnings, or if they were previously declined or waived optional life coverage, they will be required to answer health questions. If employees elect to purchase or increase optional dependent life coverage for their spouse or domestic partner, they will be required to answer health questions. If employees elect to purchase or increase optional personal accident insurance for themselves and their family, no health questions are required. Go to www.prudential.com/bcps to enroll or change life insurance. To enroll, employees should first review and confirm their personal information. Once enrolled, employee will have the opportunity to obtain a summary of their elections.
Not sure how much coverage to enroll for? Once employees enter the enrollment Web site at http://www.prudential.com/EZLifeNeeds, they can utilize an easy-to-use Needs Calculator to help determine how much coverage is right for them. For assistance, call 855-201-8256 to speak with a Prudential Service Representative who can review coverage amounts and costs, help evaluate coverage needs, and provide enrollment over the phone. Enrollment ends Monday, March 16, 2015, at midnight.
Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s):
James Aldon, Supervisor 8948