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Your October 2020 FCPS Insider

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properly display this format, please view the newsletter online.

FCPS Insider

October 2020, Volume 12, Number 3

FCPS Earns Meritorious Budget Award
Achieves Significant BOE Goal

Meritorious Budget Award


"FCPS has been expanding our budget book for several years to meet the strenuous criteria of the Association of School Business Officials' Meritorious Budget Award," says Chief Financial Officer Leslie Pellegrino. "I am so proud of Budget Officer Heather Clabaugh and her team--Doreen Bass, Jessica Clabaugh, Sue Weeks and Kathy Whitcomb--for their efforts to reach this pinnacle, and I am equally proud of the comprehensive budget book we publish for our community. Achieving this recognition was one of the goals established in our BOE's strategic plan." Appreciation also goes to FCPS Multimedia Graphics Coordinator Kyle Raines in the Public Affairs Department for his work on the award-winning publication, FY2021 FCPS Adopted Operating Budget. See more.

FCPS All-Star
Achieving the Promise of Public Education

Julitza Martinez

Julitza Martinez does such excellent work with the Butterfly Ridge ES community that Principal Dr. Patty Hosfelt recently promoted her from special education instructional assistant to community liaison. Julitza "has built such tremendous relationships with students and families that she was the clear choice for this new position," Dr. Hosfelt says. 

During the pandemic, Julitza has taken the time to learn new technology in order to translate English directions into Spanish, helping to make distance-learning instructions accessible for all. She meets with teachers to learn their expectations and then calls parents to ensure they understand. When anything is asked of her, Julitza steps up to the challenge with a smile and follows up the task by asking, “What else?” Colleagues commend Julitza for the many ways she does everything in her power to ensure that students succeed. 

Congratulations to Julitza Martinez and other staff earning 2020 FCPS All-Star Awards since our September edition: Sally Clever, Christine Cline, Nicki Conlon, Cheryl Grese, Deborah McCadney and Lizbeth Mummert.

Nominate a colleague for FCPS All-Star recognition!

Accolades

Gov Hogan and Phil Arnold at the CTC

WELCOMING MARYLAND LEADERS
The FCPS Career and Technology Center and Waverley ES hosted Gov. Larry Hogan and Maryland State Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon on September 24. Shown with the Governor in the above photo is CTC CAD instructor Phil Arnold. See more photos and coverage of the visit. Also see CTC students resuming house-building activities for the first time since March. 

History Speaks screen shot

CONNECTED FOR STUDENTS
Brunswick HS Principal Mike Dillman and students participated in the online National Archives Foundation event during which he captured the above screen shot. He asked the panelists to share perspective on how youth today can understand the growth and setbacks from our past while still finding hope for the future. Students were excited to share their new perspectives after viewing scans of the original Slave Trade Act, 1794, the Dred Scott Supreme Court ruling, Juneteenth Orders and more. 

TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Kudos to FCPS Teacher of the Year Jill McWilliams from Walkersville ES, featured with teachers recognized from every Maryland district in this Baltimore Sun photo spread.

CIVIL DISCOURSE
Promoting a Culture of Civility is a great resource during this election season. Kudos to the guide's contributors for this resource to help with conversations on sensitive and critical topics: Colleen Bernard, Dr. Eric Louers-Phillips, Ann McGreevy, Lynn Davis, Toby Heusser and James Himes. 

News to Use

CALENDAR UPDATE
After announcing on August 5 that schools would be open on Election Day while FCPS instruction was in virtual mode, the BOE voted on October 7 to cancel instruction on Tuesday, November 3, in accordance with a Maryland State Department of Education decision. Only employees on the 244-day and 260-day work-year calendars will work on November 3. See calendar updates online: www.fcps.org/calendar, as many dates have changed since the Calendar Handbook was printed.

FACE COVERINGS AND RETURN-TO-WORK STATUS
Visit staff resources on topics such as returning to work, mask essentials and more on the insidefcps intranet from any system-networked computer. FCPS continues to post updates on school status and the COVID-19 pandemic at www.fcps.org/update.

National Bullying Prevention Month

ADDRESS BULLYING AND RACIST AGGRESSION
The FCPS Regulation on bullying, harassment and intimidation includes slurs and race-related aggression as unacceptable and reportable behaviors. Failure to address them may result in employee discipline up to termination. A single instance of discrimination/harassment based on race or national origin is reportable: https://pubforms.fcps.org/view.php?id=19726 
Resources: Discrimination and Harassment    Stop Bullying    Race and Racism

NEW FACES IN KEY PLACES
Congratulations to Jessica Sowerbrower, promoted from Walkersville MS assistant principal to assistant principal of the Frederick County Virtual School, and welcome to Kristen Sutherin, assistant principal at Walkersville MS.

CASH FOR LEAVE  
12-month, benefited employees meeting certain criteria are eligible to cash out a limited number of annual leave days. Requests are due before Sunday, November 1 for disbursement November 30 and by April 1 for disbursement April 30. Only one request per fiscal year is permitted. See details for 
FASSE staff and FCASA/AMT staff. For more info and help: payroll@fcps.org

National Principals Month logo

NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH

#ThankAPrincipal...It's easy to send an e-card to celebrate an amazing principal!

HAVE YOU SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES?
FCPS is preparing a video tribute for Veterans Day and needs photos of FCPS staff who have served in the military. If you have served, please enter your information here and submit a photo taken while you were in the service to FCPSmd@fcps.org by Friday, October 30. IF we included your photo in last year's video, you don't need to re-submit it. 

VANGUARD OPPORTUNITY
Friday, November 13 is the deadline to apply for the 3-year, competency-based teacher-leadership Vanguard Program. Find out more.

WANT TO BECOME A TEACHER?
FCPS will host a virtual event to help individuals who are interested in becoming a Maryland certified teacher. Register here to attend Become an Educator Night, Thursday, November 12, from 5-7 PM. 

VIRTUAL LEARNING AND RETURN-TO-PLAY NEWS
If you missed them, here are links to the newest Superintendent's Update editions and more:
October 1   October 15
Video: FCPS Extracurricular, Co-curricular and Athletics Return-to-Play Updates with Athletics and Extracurricular Activities Supervisor Kevin Kendro and Gov. Thomas Johnson HS Athletics, Extracurricular, Facilities and Campus Improvement Coordinator Mike Chavez. More: Updated Step-by-Step Plan for Reopening

OMBUDS: UNUSUAL NAME, IMPORTANT SERVICE
For help navigating school system concerns in a confidential, impartial and independent manner, contact the FCPS Office of the Ombuds: ombuds@fcps.org or 301-696-6852. More: www.fcps.org/ombuds

WHO DOES WHAT IN HR?
See a great description of whom to contact when you need Human Resources assistance.

OFF THE CUFF  
Superintendent Dr. Terry Alban and guest writers blogged about the following topics since our last newsletter:

  • Nothing Is the Same or Is It?
  • Innovation During a Crisis
  • Quality Teaching in Any Model
  • The Importance of Self-Care

See them here.

FCPS TV Logo
VIDEOS 
Released since our September issue:

FCPS In a Minute -  September 25   October 2   October 9   October 16
Tweet of the Week -  Centerville ES student Ianna Barkataki  
Urbana HS student Brina Ratangee

Butterfly Ridge ES teacher Casey Keyser 
Frederick HS student Mia Venezia

More - Teacher Evaluation in a Virtual Model featuring School Administration Director Kristen Canning and Advanced Academics Teacher Karl Kidd at Sugarloaf ES
Superintendent's Update October 15, 2020 
FCPS Extracurricular, Co-curricular and Athletics Return-to-Play Updates with Athletics and Extracurricular Activities Supervisor Kevin Kendro and Gov. Thomas Johnson HS Athletics, Extracurricular, Facilities and Campus Improvement Coordinator Mike Chavez

BOE Meetings - Watch any meeting or select a portion by topic here

Virtual BOE Committee Meetings 

NEWS RELEASED SINCE SEPTEMBER
FCPS Adds Meals to Go Service in Walkersville
Interscholastic Athletics at FCPS
Nominations Open for FCPS Veteran in Education Service Award
FCPS Recognized for Financial Transparency
FCPS Adds Meals to Go Service at 4 Sites
Election Day November 3 Is a Non-School Day
Board Approves Return-to-Play Recommendations
FCPS to Continue Virtual Learning Model
BOE Student Member Nominations Open
FCPS Earns Meritorious Budget Award 
FCPS Helps Individuals Become Educators 
General Assembly Seeks Student Involvement 
FCPS Seeks Calendar Committee Members

FindOutFirst Notices

FCPS Fast Fact

50,000

That's the number of face coverings FCPS has ordered in preparation for a return to face-to-face instruction. We've also ordered the equivalent of over 3,600 gallons of hand sanitizer, 72 atomizer misters and 72 electrostatic sprayers. 

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.

Randy Gray, FCPS, Address: 191 S East St Frederick MD 21701, Phone: 301-696-6911, Email: randall.gray@fcps.org