MCPS
IT Wire
October 2024
Technology Team
Office of Strategic Initiatives
Embedded Files
Welcome to the MCPS IT Wire, a monthly newsletter that provides staff with important technology information and resources from the departments of Business Information Services, Digital Innovation, Infrastructure and Operations, and Student And Data Systems. The IT Wire has three sections: Professional Development, Tools & Resources, and Dates, Tips, & Reminders.
In this Issue...
MCPS Hub+ News
MCPS Hub+ News
Getting excited about going paperless?
Getting excited about going paperless?
MCPS Hub+, our new Human Capital Management system, is coming in December 2024.
Online PDO Courses for Hub+
Online training courses for timekeepers and line managers will be released on Professional Development Online (PDO) on Wednesday, November. 6.
Districtwide training for all employees will be released on PDO on Wednesday, November. 13.
Training is not mandatory, but highly recommended. PDO course numbers will be sent out on the training release dates.
Oracle Guided Learning (Sneak Peek)
We’ve got your back! Support will be available in the Hub+ application through the Oracle Guided Learning (OGL) help widget.
OGL walks you through a process, guiding you step-by-step. Here’s a sneak peek at the new system, and how the OGL widget is there to help!
Have you logged in lately?
Log in to your Outlook email now. All employees will need to know their MCPS login username and password before Hub+ launches. Now is a good time to make sure you can log in to your email. If you need help, contact the Help Desk at 240-740-9000.
MCPS Hub+ Website
Visit and bookmark the MCPS Hub+ Project website for an overview video, FAQs, and all the latest information.
Professional Development
Professional Development
Fall Instructional Technology Professional Development
Fall Instructional Technology Professional Development
There are still many sessions available through November on topics like:
Remind
Canva
Lightspeed
Artificial Intelligence
Canvas
Tools and Resources
Tools and Resources
Marking Period 1 Report Cards
Marking Period 1 Report Cards
The report card report posting window for MP1 is Friday, October 25, 2024 through Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
The report card report posting window for MP1 is Friday, October 25, 2024 through Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
Elementary
Secondary
High School Student Grades and Graduation Report (SGGCR) and Transcript Timeline
High School Student Grades and Graduation Report (SGGCR) and Transcript Timeline
Grades 10 to 12 SGGCR paper copies will be sent to schools on Friday, November 1, 2024 to send home with report cards. It will reflect data as of Monday, October 28, 2024.
Grades 10 to 12 SGGCR paper copies will be sent to schools on Friday, November 1, 2024 to send home with report cards. It will reflect data as of Monday, October 28, 2024.
Grades 10 to 12 SGGCR will be uploaded under Synergy documents on Monday, November 11, 2024. It will reflect data as of Monday, October 28, 2024.
Grades 10 to 12 SGGCR will be uploaded under Synergy documents on Monday, November 11, 2024. It will reflect data as of Monday, October 28, 2024.
Expanded Elementary Report Card Languages
Expanded Elementary Report Card Languages
Elementary Report Card printing options have been expanded to include all MCPS supported languages.
Elementary Report Card printing options have been expanded to include all MCPS supported languages.
Beginning with Marking Period 1, report cards will be printed in the preferred Communication Language set in Synergy. Supported language options include: Amharic, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and Vietnamese.
Beginning with Marking Period 1, report cards will be printed in the preferred Communication Language set in Synergy. Supported language options include: Amharic, Chinese, English, French, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese and Vietnamese.
2024-2025 School Leadership Resources
2024-2025 School Leadership Resources
Several MCPS tools and resources were compiled by topic to assist school leadership teams as they continue to monitor 2024-2025 school year plans.
Several MCPS tools and resources were compiled by topic to assist school leadership teams as they continue to monitor 2024-2025 school year plans.
Synergy Single Sign On
Synergy Single Sign On
As part of our process to secure access to student data, MCPS will transition completely to Single Sign On in mid-November.
As part of our process to secure access to student data, MCPS will transition completely to Single Sign On in mid-November.
At that time, single sign on will replace the existing user name and password for staff and students.
At that time, single sign on will replace the existing user name and password for staff and students.
Visit the Synergy Single Sign On link for a sneak peek and more information will arrive soon.
Visit the Synergy Single Sign On link for a sneak peek and more information will arrive soon.
High School Graduation Validation Dashboard (HSGVD)
High School Graduation Validation Dashboard (HSGVD)
This dashboard is designed to help high school administrators and counselors to monitor individual student progress toward the fulfillment of graduation requirements. Visit soon to see the brand new enhancements made for this new school year. Dashboard data is refreshed nightly.
Example of a
“Pig Butchering” text
Cybersecurity Awareness Tips
Cybersecurity Awareness Tips
Test your cybersecurity awareness by taking this Phishing Quiz developed by Jigsaw in partnership with Google.
As public school employees, it's vital to stay alert to phishing scams. Recent reports from the Anti-Phishing Working Group show over 1.5 million phishing incidents this year, including a growing trend known as "pig butchering." In these scams, fraudsters build trust on social media and through texting or messaging before convincing victims to invest in fake schemes, often resulting in significant financial loss.
To protect yourself, verify sender email addresses, phone numbers, watch out for urgent requests, and avoid sharing personal information through unfamiliar links. For more tips, check out StaySafeOnline and the FTC’s guide.
If you suspect you have received a phishing email on your work email account, do not open any links and forward it to abuse@mcpsmd.org.
Dates Tips and Reminders
Dates Tips and Reminders
MCPS Internal Data Dashboard Reminder
If you are not able to see data as expected on new internal dashboards, please follow these steps to clear the browsing data in the browser used to access the new dashboard.
Clear Browsing Data in Google Chrome:
Click the 3 dots in the top right corner of the screen; then select menu item: Clear Browsing Data
Synergy Interim Document Removal
All 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school year interim documents are scheduled for removal from Synergy on or about Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Interims for this school year will not be impacted. Prior to the document removal students and families will receive directions about how to download copies and an announcement about the event will be posted in ParentVUE and StudentVUE.
Marking Period 1 Reminder
Marking Period 1 Reminder
Teacher grades are due by the end of the duty day on Monday, November 4, 2024. School grades are due by 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
Enhanced Synergy Reports
U-ELL502: Home Language Survey Student List
This report is enhanced to include the student’s U.S. School Entry Date and First MCPS School Year of Enrollment.
U-ENR500: Student Enrollment
This report was updated to include the student’s current Alt Assessment flag from MOIEP.
U-GRD703: CCR Summary
This report was enhanced to provide newly adopted MSDE CCR standards and interim blueprint CCR standards at the summary and student level and continues to provide Montgomery College CCR standards.
U-MTSS700: MTSS Request for Support School Summary
This report offers a summary analysis of “requests for support” by request status. It also provides the selected school’s student list with the form type, all form content, status, notes, and student demographic information.
U-SCD507: Student EOC Schedule and Exam Marks
This report provides a list of students scheduled with or without sections into BX courses for the second semester and highlights those with incorrect course IDs. It will also include results from the MCAP Assessment once they are available.
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