HCPS 411 Update
August 6, 2020
Required Professional Learning – Teachers and Instructional Administrators and Supervisors
Parts 1 and 2 of the required Digital Teaching and Learning Professional Development shared via email to all HCPS instructional staff have opened. Access the modules via itslearning at Digital Teaching and Learning Professional Development Course. Part 3 will open after 2:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10.
As a reminder, all HCPS instructional staff, including building administrators, instructionally-related central office administrators, teachers, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and related service providers, must participate in and complete the professional learning modules by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2020, to meet HCPS expectations for both distance and digital teaching and learning for the 2020-21 School Year.
Each section of the modules includes a formative assessment or task which will be submitted via itslearning within the course itself. Successful completion of each assessment and/or task is required by 11:59 p.m. on September 4, 2020. Eligible instructional staff will be paid $120 for completion of all the modules and awarded 1 MSDE credit. In addition, all instructional staff and administrators/supervisors will earn a Digital Teaching and Learning Level 1 Badge upon successful completion of these modules.
While the modules are asynchronous, self-paced, and self-directed, live office hours will be offered for any individual needing assistance on the following days and times:
- August 10 – 20, Monday through Thursday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- August 24 – 28, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Office hours can be accessed using the following Microsoft Teams link during the scheduled times:
If you have further questions related to the content and curriculum aspects of digital teaching and learning, you may email HCPSCurriculumInstruction@hcps.org. Questions regarding professional learning around digital teaching and learning can be sent to HCPSprofessionallearning@hcps.org.
2020-2021 Parent-Student Handbook Calendar
It’s here! You can access the 2020-2021 Parent-Student Handbook Calendar on hcps.org or by clicking the following link: https://www.hcps.org/aboutus/docs/calendars/Handbook_Calendar_WEB.pdf.
The handbook/calendars will not be printed for distribution this year, but you can print a personal copy from the link!
Inclusion Helpers Scheduled Work Days - 2020-21 School Year
The four (4) additional scheduled work days beyond the student calendar for Inclusion Helpers during the 2020-21 school year will be:
- August 31, 2020
- September 3, 2020
- September 4, 2020
- November 2, 2020
Questions regarding this information should be directed to BangTam Miller, in Human Resources, at BangTam.Miller@hcps.org or 410-588-5226.
HCPS Fall/Winter Athletics Postponed
The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), in consultation with the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Public School Superintendent Association of Maryland, recently announced that the 2020 high school fall and winter competition season will be postponed.
MPSSAA is working with all groups to create a plan focused on alternative ways to provide engaging opportunities for students in the first semester and modified competition seasons for all sports during the second semester. We anticipate details of this plan will be available in the coming weeks prior to the start of the 2020-2021 academic year.
In alignment with this announcement, HCPS will postpone all face to face athletic conditioning, practices, and competitions for the fall and winter seasons. We will continue to work to provide opportunities for our student-athletes to engage in a virtual environment.
North Star: Dual Enrollment Orientation
Professional Development Announcement: Harford Community College
Do you need courses to maintain your teacher certification?
Harford Community College remains open and has a number of fully online courses this fall designed for teachers renewing their teaching certificates and for those who are provisionally certified, including:
- EDUC104: Materials & Curriculum for Early Childhood
- EDUC206: Literacy in the Content Areas Part 1
- EDUC207: Processes & Acquisition of Reading
- EDUC217: Introduction to Special Education
- EDUC220: Teaching Methods for Differentiated Instruction: Elementary
- EDUC221: Teaching Methods for Differentiated Instruction: Secondary
For more information, please contact Laura Hutton at lhutton@harford.edu or 443-504-9639.
SafeSchools Online Training
The Office of Risk Management has worked with the Office of Organizational Development to streamline SafeSchools training courses to be issued to all employees with an effective date of August 3 and a due date of September 28, 2020.
- Mandated Course (All Employees): Bloodborne Pathogens
- Mandated Course (School-Based Employees): Child Abuse: Mandatory Reporting, Students Experiencing Homelessness, Youth Suicide Awareness, Sexual Misconduct: Staff to Student
- Optional Course (All Employees): Coronavirus: Managing Stress and Anxiety
Employees may receive additional courses, such as Responsible Use Procedures, during this time or targeted courses specific to certain jobs. The Office of Risk Management will also continue to utilize SafeSchools to send out custom COVID-19 training for supervisors. In December, additional courses will be assigned, such a Health Emergencies and Service Animals. For SafeSchools questions, please contact Katie Ridgway at katie.ridgway@hcps.org.
Log on to SafeSchools using your HCPS network credentials:
https://hcps-md.safeschools.com/training/home.
Office of Communications and Family Outreach
To submit an HCPS Shout Out or recognize a colleague in the Spotlight on Customer Service, please email the information and photo (if available) to HCPS.411@hcps.org.
Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5213