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 As thousands of FCPS staff prepare for the school year's end and a change from usual schedules, many are considering how to find rest and renewal before schools reopen to students August 27th. Some tips for the summer months:
- Enjoy time with family and friends.
- Meet your physical needs for nutrition, exercise, sleep and sun protection.
- Balance professional and fun reading for pleasure in both.
- Reflect on your accomplishments this past school year.
Have a great summer 2007!
The FCPS Summer Institute will return in 2008.
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Thanks to Ideal Buick-GMC-Hyundai, FCPS Teacher of the Year Matt Johnston (left) gets to drive a Hyundai Sonata free for 10,000 miles. General manager Todd Otis (right) presented keys to Mr. Johnston at the May 23 Board of Education meeting.
"This outstanding partnership lets those who dedicate their careers to educating our community's children know they are valued," says Deputy Superintendent Dan Cunningham.
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 Walkersville HS English teacher Peggy Cosley earned this year's Educator Excellence Award from the Achievement Initiative for Maryland's Minority Students. She advises the multicultural club, established a mentoring program with the Omega Psi fraternity and FCC basketball team, secured a college tours grant, established after-school tutoring and SAT prep classes and more.
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 World's Top 10 The New Market ES team placed 7th in Global Destination ImagiNation competition with 49 teams. Photo.
Nation's Best At the Grand National Forensics and Debate Tournament Gov. TJ HS team members placed in America's top 4, with 144 teams competing. Coaches are Bob Dacey, Rich McDonough and Michelle Schilke.
Awards Earth & Space Science Lab co-director Jeff Grills won the Tawes Environmental Award for work on the South Frederick Arboretum. Brunswick High math teacher Jack Mehl won the Charles Tressler Award for distinguished teaching.
Over 6,000 Pounds Raising the most food countywide in the Kids Helping Kids Harvest for the Hungry campaign: New Market ES with 6,240 pounds. Counselor Chris Tressler coordinated the project.
Special Ed Honored with FCPS special education awards: Outstanding School Psychologist Sara McGarvey, Outstanding Speech-Language Pathologist Lea Woolsey, Friend of Special Education Michelle McGaughey. Named Outstanding Special Educators: Meghan MacKay-Little (elementary), Felacita King (middle), Jane Hudok (high) and Outstanding Instructional Assistants: Cathy Rossomondo (elementary), Arlinda Peyton (middle) and Alicia Feliciano (high). Photo.
 Challenge Won After achieving certification on the very first try, Walkersville HS will offer Project the Lead the Way courses this fall to enhance its Pre-Engineering Academy.
Success President of Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley Dan Kurtenbach, SUCCESS program special ed instructional assistant and job coach Ashley McLeod, lead teacher Penny Jurchak and Goodwill Industries Chairman of the Board Tom McCanner celebrated the FCPS SUCCESS program being named Goodwill's "Partner of the Year." The program teaches academic and life skills to students with disabilities. The Rotary Club of Carroll Creek also inducted the SUCCESS program as a Rotaract Club. Photo.
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$500 Incentive to Reduce Sick Leave Usage Employees who have at least one full year of employment in a .5 or greater assignment, beginning on or before September 1, 2007 and who use three sick leave days or less by September 1, 2008 will be eligible to receive a $500 pay adjustment in their October 31, 2008 paychecks. Sick Leave Bank and/or Family Crisis Leave donations will not count against days used.
 2007-08 Calendar On May 23, the BOE approved the final 2007-08 school calendar: http://www.fcps.org/content/calendar.cfm to reflect Maryland's new Primary Election Day February 12 and PSATs on October 17. Employee work-year calendars are at http://www.fcps.org/content/staff.cfm.
Pension News The State Retirement and Pension System announces that beginning July 1 and reflected in July 15 paychecks, contributions for eligible members of the Employees' and Teachers' Pension System will increase from 3% to 4% of eligible salary. This is phase 2 of a 3-year phase-in to improve retirement benefits. The increase goes to 5% in July 2008.
 Teaching Certificates & Reimbursement Please send all materials required for July 1 certificate renewal--grade reports, transcripts, PDPs--to Cindy Stull in HR by June 15. If you are taking a summer class, please send everything except the grade report by June 15, and send the grade report or transcript as soon as possible after course completion. For individual certification info and to print a certificate: Link
Closed Fridays 12-month staff work 4-day weeks this summer Monday, June18 through Thursday, August 9 [except when FCPS is closed July 4; employees work usual non-compressed schedules July 2-3 and 5-6].
Other than the week of Independence Day, Mondays through Thursdays, those who normally work a 40-hour week will work 10 hours per day, and those on a 35-hour week will work 8 hours and 45 minutes per day. In addition to providing 7 weeks of 3-day weekends, the summer schedule stretches the FCPS budget by saving facilities costs. Normal schedules resume August 13. Questions? http://insidefcps/Summer.htm from FCPS computers.
Look for an online survey in July to share your views about the 4-day workweek.
Please Update! If your child will attend FCPS next year:
* Inform the school of any change in address, child care or transportation method as soon as possible. http://www.fcps.org/content/publications/bus.pdf
* Update your Find Out First profile by selecting the "update" link at the bottom of any message
* Urge newcomers to your neighborhood to enroll their children in school as early as possible
K and Pre-K In 2007-08, FCPS will offer full-day kindergarten at all elementary schools. In addition pre-kindergarten classes are available, by paired elementary school arrangements, to all students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
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 Ideal Car for Teacher of the Year
First-Class Staff: Thanks to you, public education works in Frederick County
** ACCOLADES **
News to Use
New Faces in Key Places
June 15: Last Day for Students
June 18: Last Day for Teachers
June 18: 4-Day Workweeks Begin
June 20-21: FCPS Leadership Symposium
June 25-July 12: Curriculum Workshops
June 25-August 8: Summer School--Middle/High
July 2-3 & 5-6: Normal Work Hours
July 2-August 2: Summer Success
August 13: 5-Day Workweeks Resume
August 13-17: New-Teacher Workshops
August 16: AL Meeting
August 21: All Teachers Report to Work
August 27: School Opens
FCPS staff earning awards for
the 1st-class work they do:
Joe Allen, Megan Blair, Christine
Borman-Bozick, Marc Clausen,
Elissa Grimm, Brian Hood, Mary Sue Rice, Barbara Thompson,
Karen VanKirk and Peggy Young.
Recognized at the recent FCPS Distinguished Educators Banquet: Ruth Allwardt, Lisa Bruck, Wendy Campbell, Kerri Cole, Kathleen Dollar, Natalie Evans, Keith Harris, Matt Johnston, Steve Lockard, Marc Musser, Rebecca Reickel, Jean Remmert, Courtney Savage and Raeda Zietoon.
Watch for more names in our next issue!
Nominate someone.
FCPS welcomes new school security coordinator Clifton Cornwell Photo, and new school psychologist Rollo Jones.
Steve Raff is promoted from assistant principal to principal at Centerville ES, upon Eileen Tipperman's July 1 retirement.
Neha Kapoor from Frederick HS is the 2007-08 student member of the BOE. Photo.
Q: How many students were in the Class of 2007?
A: 2,839
Brunswick: 198
Catoctin: 241
Flexible Evening High: 29
Frederick: 258
Gov TJ: 395
Linganore: 380
Middletown: 282
Tuscarora: 342
Urbana: 392
Walkersville: 322
View Program Guide:
www.fcps.org/cable18.htm
Submit Bulletin Board items: Dian.Nelson@fcps.org.
The FCPS Communication Services Division welcomes your news and ideas for Inside FCPS: Dian.Nelson@fcps.org. |
