I’m Determined Youth Summit – Apply by March 15

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I'm Determined LogoThe Virginia Department of Education’s I’m Determined project, in conjunction with the Partnership for People with Disabilities, invites applications for the 10th annual I’m Determined Youth Summit at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, June 15-17, 2016.

Youth with disabilities from across the Commonwealth will meet to identify ways to become better advocates and lead more self-determined lives. Only 120 applicants will be accepted. Applications (including an essay and a reference) must be submitted by 5 p.m. on March 15, 2016.

benefitsFOCUS – February 29, 2016

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benefitsFOCUSWhat’s the BIG news?

The Albemarle County medical plan dependent eligibility review process has begun. This review is being conducted by HMS Employer Solutions. Packets went into the mail last week, and if you have not yet received yours, you should in the next few days. If you do not receive a packet by the end of the week or if you have any questions about the review process, please contact HMS at 866-252-0734. Continue reading →

Apply for a Shannon Grant by April 22!

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Shannon-Foundation-BannerThe Edgar and Eleanor Shannon Foundation for Excellence in Public Education wants to help teachers and schools implement their best ideas. Two levels of proposals are invited for the 2016-17 school year:

  • Level 1 grants, not to exceed $750, will be awarded to classroom teachers for projects that support original and innovative student activities.
  • Level 2 grants, not to exceed $5,000, may be awarded to schools for creative projects that enhance student learning across age and grade levels.

Completed applications must be submitted to Tim Shea (tshea@k12albemarle.org), Legislative and Public Affairs Officer, by April 22, 2016. Continue reading →

March 1 is “My Choice ACPS” Day for Students

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Matthew Haas, Ed.D.Dear Colleagues:

What do Post-It Notes and Gmail have in common? Both products were invented during a time that 3M and Google set aside for employees to follow their passions during the workday. On their ‘time off,’ employees of 3M developed many of their 22,000 patents, and Googlers came up with other lucrative products such as AdSense and Hangouts.

On March 1, the day when schools will be closed for the presidential primaries, we’ve declared a My Choice ACPS day for all students. We’re encouraging students, while they are at home, to choose a challenge or problem to solve, an idea to explore, or a dream to turn into reality as part of an independent learning experience for that day.

Continue reading →

Feedback Wanted on the TPA Process – Participate by Feb. 26

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Tell Us What You ThinkAs part of our continuous improvement plan, the school division is asking teachers and administrators to provide feedback on the teacher performance appraisal (TPA) process through a brief survey. The survey is open now and will stay open until the end of the day on Friday, February 26. We anticipate the survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Participate in the survey »

If you have questions about the survey or the process, please contact Patrick McLaughlin, Strategic Planning Officer (pmclaughlin@k12albemarle.org), or Clare Keiser, Assistant Director of Educator Quality (ckeiser2@albemarle.org).

Share the Warmth: County Coat Drive Accepting Donations Through March 31

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Share the WarmthAll employees are invited to participate in Albemarle County’s 3rd Annual Coat Drive! In addition to coats, the County is collecting hats, gloves, sweaters, scarves—anything that says WARMTH. Donations will be provided to our local neighbors in need.

Please participate by collecting donations through March 31. New this year, the three schools collecting the most coats will receive special recognition from the County! View the event flyer »

10 Must-See Documentaries on Creativity & the Future of Education

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DIY GeniusWe now have the technology to make education accessible to everyone—anywhere they are in the world—and the digital tools to enhance the way each of us learn, work and create. But this new era requires we teach a new set of skills.

Check out 10 education documentaries featured on DIY Genius that provide a glimpse into the future of education, the skills that are needed for 21st century living, and how we can use technology to enhance individuality, increase creativity, and teach the process of innovation.

Updated 1095-C Forms Now Available

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Form 1095-CAttention all employees who were insured under the County’s medical plan for any portion of 2015: Your updated 1095-C form (Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage) is now available via the Greenshades website (the same site you use to obtain your W-2 form). If you previously downloaded your 1095-C when it first was made available, please download the updated version.

What is a 1095-C?

It’s a new tax form that we are required to issue to certain employees due to Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirements. Think of the 1095-C as a kind of W-2, but for benefits. Continue reading →

Budget Update – Feb. 10, 2016

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Superintendent Pam MoranDear Colleagues:

I’d like to begin by thanking so many of you who joined Matt Haas, Lorna Gerome and me last week during our all-day online discussion of the 2016-17 funding request. Every one of our schools was logged on at one point or another, and we were grateful for the opportunity to share information on the funding request in depth and to take and answer your questions. Your engagement with this process is helpful as we work with the School Board to adopt a balanced budget for next year.
Continue reading →