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September 2020, Volume 12, Number 2
FCPS Named Champion District Earns Award for Educating the Whole Child
FCPS ranks in the top 5% of the 7,500 districts across North America that teach financial literacy, social-emotional learning, health and wellness, inclusion, and college and career readiness using EVERFI's digital programs.
The 2020 Champion District Seal recognizes commitment to educating the whole child to foster healthy, engaged and productive students and promote success beyond the K-12 years.
FCPS leads Maryland in sharing these virtual, evidence-informed programs at elementary, middle and high school levels at no cost. For more information: Norman.McGaughey@fcps.org
FCPS All-Star Achieving the Promise of Public Education
Administrative secretary Leslie Mwando works tirelessly to support Lincoln ES students, families and staff, ensuring they have the resources necessary to succeed. Her patient and calm demeanor while navigating registration and enrollment updates brings daily wins to our school, says Principal Eric Rhodes. Our appreciation for Leslie is immense, he adds, because she employs a whatever-it-takes mentality for the Lincoln commUNITY.
Congratulations to Leslie and other staff earning 2020 FCPS All-Star Awards: Vic Barker, Kevin Brown, Samantha Durham, Robin Eckenrode, Carole Elliott, Margie Feaga, Emily Giddings, Sarah Gunter, Erika Hufford, Julie Ivins, Amy Kennedy, John Mattingly, Crystal Naff, Laurie Ward and Margaret Zimmerman.
Nominate a colleague for FCPS All-Star recognition!
Accolades
NO KID HUNGRY Team No Kid Hungry MD praised the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services Department staff and Senior Manager Bob Kelly's direction for serving 380,000 meals since the pandemic closures began. It's "not an easy task to quickly develop a way to serve kids under a new program in a brand new situation in just a few days, but they did it and did it tremendously! In addition, the FNS team jumped to action with continuing summer meals in September ... inspiring."
SCHOOLS IN THE NEWS Thanks to Tonya Street in the Public Affairs Department, employees don't have to check all the news outlets for school coverage. Just sign up for FCPS in the News to get the weekly one-line summaries she prepares (with links to full coverage): www.fcps.org/employeenews. Start with the Forgot Password link, then enter your username in this format: firstname.lastname.fcps. Once logged in, click the top left "menu" icon (3 horizontal lines). Choose Subscriptions, then Employee News. While you're there, it's easy to complete the public options under FCPS, too.
ADDRESSING RACISM The new FCPS resource Race and Racism: Having Conversations and Ensuring the Social Emotional Wellbeing of Students was distributed to school administrators this month. Accelerating Achievement and Equity Department Executive Director Dr. Keith Harris commends the following staff for preparing this important guide: Equity Teacher Specialist Toby Heusser, Accelerating Achievement and Equity Supervisor Dr. Eric Louérs-Phillips and Mental Health and Psychological Services Supervisor Ann McGreevy.
EQUITY AND ACCESS The FCPS-Frederick Community College Dual Enrollment program is helping more than 1,500 high school students earn college credits this fall. Coordinator Diana Sung has worked to increase the diversity of students who participate and to build the program with FCC's support to the 99 college-credit level classes that FCPS and FCC instructors offer at our high schools and via the “open campus” option or online. Sung was also instrumental in developing an Early College option through which students can graduate high school with both a Maryland diploma and an FCC degree.
EXCELLENCE Once again FCPS has earned the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting--the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting--for our Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The CAFR for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards, demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate FCPS finances. Kudos to Chief Financial Officer Leslie Pellegrino and her team.
News to Use
CALENDAR UPDATE After the Calendar Handbook went to press, and the BOE determined we would open in virtual learning mode, the Board also adjusted the calendar. Friday, September 25 (formerly Fair Day) is an instructional day.
VIRTUAL LEARNING AND REOPENING Dr. Terry Alban launched her inaugural Superintendent's Update newsletter September 16 to keep our community apprised of important FCPS news while the virtual learning model is in effect due to the pandemic. Also on the topic of virtual learning, FCPS is conducting surveys to gather feedback from parents and staff about how it's going and about reopening. Staff for whom questions about the virtual learning model and reopening stages are applicable are asked to please take a few minutes and respond: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Fall20VirtualLearning-Staff by Monday, September 28. Responses will remain confidential and will be combined with the responses of others. Parents were provided a different link via FindOutFirst, with a deadline of Friday, September 25.
COVID-19 FCPS continues to post updates about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and school status at www.fcps.org/update. Visit resources for staff on topics such as returning to work and more on the insidefcps intranet from any system-networked computer.
PREVENTING FLU Reduce flu cases and lessen the burden on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you haven't received this year's vaccine, the Frederick County Health Department recommends contacting your healthcare provider today to make an appointment. Vaccines are also available in the community: https:/vaccinefinder.org, and you can still sign up for one of the remaining FCPS-sponsored flu clinics.
MAKE SURE YOU COUNT The 2020 Census deadline is Wednesday, September 30. You can still respond online, by phone, or by mail. Census results shape our future, determining funds for health clinics, school meals, disaster recovery and other critical services for the next 10 years. Results also determine how much vaccine we get for public health responses! Please go to my2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020 (English) or 844-468-2020 (Spanish) to help ensure our fair share of resources.
MOVING MATTERS Increase mood, energy and productivity, and decrease stress at a free virtual session, through Friday, January 29, at noon or 12:30 PM. Register here.
Registration opens Monday, October 19 for the Walktober challenge. See the video.
OFF THE CUFF Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban and guest writers blogged about the following topics since our last newsletter:
See them here.
VIDEOS Released since our August Issue: Highlights from the First Day of School: Welcome Back, FCPS FCPS In a Minute - September 18 Tweet of the Week - Virtual Family Fun Day at New Market MS with Julia Seiler and Gov. TJ HS students The Digital Playbook with Kim Martin from Ballenger Creek ES More - Google Meet Class Message with Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban and Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation Department Executive Director Dr. Kevin Cuppett Student Attendance and Engagement with System Accountability and School Improvement Director Jennifer Bingman and Walkersville ES Principal Christina McKeever Staying Smart and Safe in a Digital World with Middle Schools Administration and Instructional Leadership Director Tom Saunders and Monocacy MS Principal Reginald Gunter
BOE Meetings - Watch any meeting or select a portion by topic here
Virtual BOE Committee Meetings
NEWS RELEASED SINCE AUGUST FCPS Extends Free Meal Service through December
FindOutFirst Notices
FCPS Fast Fact
3,121
FCPS graduated 3,121 students in the class of 2020:
178 Brunswick 177 Catoctin 23 Frederick County Virtual School* 360 Frederick 414 Gov. Thomas Johnson 10 Heather Ridge 310 Linganore 255 Middletown 310 Oakdale 373 Tuscarora 443 Urbana 269 Walkersville
*Includes Flexible Evening HS
Another 13 SUCCESS Program students achieved Maryland High School Certificates.
The FCPS Insider is published monthly August-May by the FCPS Public Affairs Department, 191 S. East St., Frederick, MD 21701. It features employee news and accolades.
Brief information, subject to edits, and captioned photos for possible inclusion are due to Dian.Nelson@fcps.org by the 15th of the month. For more information: 301-696-6911. See past editions.