CRT Intent to Pursue Form Due Oct. 22

CRT sign on notebook paper with drawing of globe

If you intend to pursue an ACPS Certification or Micro-Credential in Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) in the 2021-22 academic year, please complete the Intent to Pursue form by Friday, October 22. This form will confirm your official intent to pursue a CRT credential with the Office of Community Engagement and allow for preparation to fully support you throughout your journey. Continue reading

Payroll Clarity Project: What Is Changing?

Payroll Clarity Project clock icon

As we announced in a September 2 Compass post, Albemarle County and Albemarle County Public Schools will be moving to a bi-weekly pay schedule in January 2022. The goal of the Payroll Clarity Project team is to assist all of our employees through this transition as best we can. We recognize that this is a big change that will impact all of our employees differently. This is why, from now until at least the end of January, we will be sharing information with you through the Compass about the changes that are coming and the resources that are available to help you plan for this shift. It is incredibly important that you pay attention to these messages to be ready for the payroll change.

This week, we are covering the basics of the Payroll Clarity Project: What exactly is changing? We aim to help our employees understand the basics of the project so that it’s easier to plan for the future. Continue reading

Mass Communication System Update: You Can Now Subscribe to Text Messages

As a follow-up to our August 10 Compass post introducing BrightArrow as the division’s new mass communication system, the BrightArrow project team would like to provide you with an update and let you know how this transition will affect you.

As a reminder, Albemarle County Public Schools uses an Electronic School Notification System (ESNS) to share important information with our school community through voice, email and text messaging. For the last several years, we have partnered with a company called Blackboard to provide this service. Following a review of our communication needs and a thorough evaluation of available communication tools, we decided to move forward with a new company called BrightArrow. As of today, Friday, October 15, all schools and departments will be sending messages using our new BrightArrow mass communication system. Continue reading

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Fight the Phish!

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Week Two’s message is: Fight the Phish!

Play hard to get with strangers. Cyber criminals use phishing tactics, hoping to fool their victims. If you’re unsure who an email is from—even if the details appear accurate—or if the email looks “phishy,” do not respond and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. Continue reading

Virtual Book Study: Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain – Register by Oct. 14

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, by ZarettaHammond

You’re invited to participate in a virtual book study on Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain, by Zaretta Hammond, this October and November. There are two options, and each group will meet once per week from 4:30 to 6 p.m. for five consecutive weeks:

On Tuesdays & one Wednesday: October 19, 26; November 3, 9, 16 (Nov. 3 is a Wednesday.)

Or, on Thursdays: October 21, 28; November 4, 11, 18

If you’re interested in participating, please register by October 14: Book Study Registration. Continue reading

It’s Time to Change Your Password!

change your password sticky note

As a follow-up to our announcements in June and August, the Department of Technology would like to remind everyone that we must reinstitute a required password change for all staff and all students in grades 3-12. For any staff member or student who has not changed their password by Thursday, October 14, 2021, a forced password prompt will occur on the morning of October 15, 2021. The password prompt will appear only for those who have not already changed their password. Continue reading

Free Virtual CRT & Anti-Racism Classes

Community Education is proud to offer FREE classes in partnership with our ACPS Equity Specialists to inform parents and the community about culturally responsive teaching and anti-racism. Please feel free to share this information with your families and school communities!

Continue reading

Payroll Clarity Project Update

Payroll Clarity Project clock icon

Dear Colleagues:

Earlier today, you may have seen an email from the Albemarle County Chief Financial Officer regarding training for our Payroll Clarity Project. Please do not register for these training sessions. ACPS will be providing training for school division employees in the coming weeks. Until then, please review this informational poster, which includes information on why this change is taking place, how it will take place, and how to access free financial planning resources: Payroll Clarity Project Poster.

For more information, including answers to frequently asked questions, visit the Payroll Clarity Project web page. Please direct questions to PayrollClarityQuestions@albemarle.org.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month; This Week’s Message: Be Cyber Smart

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Held every October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month is a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. For the 18th annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Department of Technology will be sending out weekly messages. This week’s message is: Be Cyber Smart.

Shake up your password protocol! Continue reading

Transportation Updates

young children boarding school bus

Many of you may have heard that Albemarle County Public Schools is facing a very serious bus driver shortage. Our Transportation team has been working diligently this year to keep our transportation services consistent and timely. We have taken several steps that we would like all staff to be aware of, including consolidating our bus routes, enforcing walk zones, and actively monitoring bus ridership.

Thanks to the following changes, we are able to continue to provide transportation service without severely altering bell schedules or limiting our service even further. We remain grateful to you for your support and understanding. Continue reading