BCS STAFF NTouch MSG
July 1: Staff Opportunities to Continue Summer Learning
HERE'S WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS ISSUE:
- Advance Notification of Possible Change of Work Schedule
- Visiting Administrative Offices Protocol
- WVDE Mentor Training Information, Aug. 4-5th
- FREE CodeWV Virtual Summer Workshops
- Programmatic Team Chat-July 28th
- Office 365 Training
- Employee Assistance Program-Effective today!
- Math 4 Life Virtual Summit, July 21-23
- Apple Training
Dear BCS Staff,
Very quickly, I want to draw your attention to many new opportunities offered for summer skills learning. The Mentor Training offered in August will be key to those who are interested in supporting new professionals in your building as a mentor. You will also find expanded opportunities offered in Office 365, Apple, Team Chat, Math4Life and CodeWV.
Starting today, the benefits of the new Employee Assistance Program are open to full and half time employees. If you have not already, you will be receiving information in the mail from our vendor, ComPsych. Please review this new benefit and services provided to you by our Board of Education.
As always, continue exercising your mind and body. Talk with you again soon.
Be well. Stay safe.
Patrick K. Murphy, Superintendent of Schools
AWARENESS: Advance Notification of Possible Change of Work Schedule
Staff-
Please know as Berkeley County Schools continues the process of planning the reentry into school this August, there are many factors that are being taken into consideration. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our students, staff members, and families. Berkeley County will continue to follow the guidance set forth from the Governor’s Office, WVDE, and our state and county health officials.
The purpose of this memo is to give advance notification that it may be necessary to change the work schedules for some of our service and professional personnel at the beginning, or at any time as needed throughout the year, as the status of the COVID 19 pandemic changes. The Central Office will do all it can to minimize any inconvenience that this may cause our employees.
Flexibility, patience, and cooperation will be appreciated by all our employees. We must be prepared to make necessary changes as restrictions still may be in place or develop due to the pandemic. Again, our goal is to create safe work environments for everyone.
Thank you for your continued dedication to Berkeley County Schools and our students!
Justin Schooley, Ed.D.
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
PLANNING A VISIT TO CENTRAL OFFICE-1453 WINCHESTER AVE.?
- Visitors with appointments (employees, applicants, etc...) are required to sign in, be temperature checked, and assessed for symptoms at the designated location.
- Wearing a mask is highly recommended for your safety as well as others (cloth covering).
- Social Distance (maintain 6 feet and practice social distancing).
WVDE MENTOR TRAINING SCHEDULED-AUG. 4&5, 2020
Are you interested in serving as a mentor teacher for the 2020-2021? Have you been trained to be a mentor teacher previously? If not, here is an opportunity.
For the 2020-2021 school year, BCS will be deploying a new mentor model for new teachers and permanent substitutes that will include an extra duty stipend building level mentor teacher(s) position in additional to county level mentors/coaches. The West Virginia Department of Education has mentor teacher training sessions are scheduled for August 4 and 5, 2020 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. To be certified as a mentor, teachers must attend both days. Sessions will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams. Once you have registered, you will receive additional information about how to use the Teams app in case you are not familiar with the program. A practice session will be available for prior to the meeting to work out any technical issues.
To register for the training, please click the link: Mentor Training Registration
The presentation materials will be sent out in digital format. The book Charlotte Danielson’s Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching is used during the training. You will need to purchase the book prior to attend the session. Here is a link to Amazon that provides you with the ISBN number and specifics about the book: Charlotte Danielson’s Enhancing Professional Practice
If you have questions about the training, please contact Amanda Stevens, BCS AIM, amsteven@k12.wv.us or Bridget Phillips, Ed.D., NBCT, Coordinator, WVDE Office of Educator Development & Support, bridget.phillips@k12.wv.us .
FREE CodeWV Virtual Summer Workshops
West Virginia educators are invited to bring computer science to their classroom by Fall 2020. All workshops will be conducted virtually. No prior computer science experience is necessary.
CodeWV, in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Education, will host free, virtual summer coding workshops for educators of all grade levels, including AP® Computer Science Principles. Educators will discover how to use either Code.org or Apple’s Everyone Can Code curriculum to teach students the power of coding. Upon completion of the program, educators will receive a complete set of lesson plans, interactive activities, videos, assessment support and more educational tools.
For additional information and registration, please visit CodeWV, contact CodeWV’s Amber Stoffel, or call 304-293-6314. You may also contact Erika Klose, or call the Office of Middle & Secondary Learning at 304-558-5325.
OFFICE 365 TRAININGS
For additional information, contact Mark Moore, or call the Office of Infrastructure & Network Operations at 304-558-3705.
Math4Life Virtual Summit-July 21-23, 2020
The West Virginia Department of Education is proud to announce the math4life Virtual Summit scheduled for July 21 to 23, 2020, focusing on best practices and resources for remote mathematics teaching, learning, and leadership.
The keynote address features Dr. Mary Pittman of TNTP on accelerating student learning. Participants have choices among concurrently offered sessions through the Microsoft Teams platform. This summit is designed for classroom teachers, academic coaches, intervention specialists, and administrators. Interested participants can register here.
Please visit the math4life Virtual Summit website for news and information.
Contact Joseph Mastracci jmastracci@k12.wv.us in the Office of Middle and Secondary Learning for additional information or questions.
All sessions are available for registration at: https://apple.co/apls-virtual-conferences
PROGRAMMATIC TEAM CHAT - JULY 28TH @2PM
Early & Elementary Learning Programmatic Teams Chats for West Virginia’s Pre-K through Grade Five Educator Community Summer Schedule:
During the spring, in response to the COVID-19 Emergency, the Office of Early and Elementary Learning met weekly with teachers throughout the state to share resources and answer questions applicable to West Virginia’s pre-k through grade five community. Educator Chats, using the Teams platform, were well attended, and teachers made the request that the chats continue monthly through the summer months. During the limited summer series, the contents of each chat will focus on the West Virginia Department of Education’s resources and response to the COVID-19 emergency and remote learning as applicable for early and elementary educators.
Each week will feature lesson exemplars, remote learning tools, and updates from the West Virginia Department of Education. The flexibility of the Teams platform permits teachers the ability to ask questions and participate during the chat. This summer, the chats will be held at 2:00 PM on July 28, 2020. Please share with all those who serve in the pre-k through grade 5 community in your county.
Educator Chat Pre-K through Grade Five
July 28, 2020
2:00 p.m. EST
For more information you may contact Monica DellaMea, or call the Office of Early & Elementary Learning at 304-558-9994.
Berkeley County Schools
Berkeley County Schools, now 19,600 students strong, and growing, boasts a diverse population recognized statewide for great success in academics, the arts and athletics.
Email: info@berkeleycountyschools.org
Website: berkeleycountyschools.org
Location: 1453 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg, WV, USA
Phone: 304-267-3500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berkeleycountyschools/
Twitter: @berkcoschoolswv