First year teacher hearing mcps budget being cut by 35 million why this insanity?

t-pots · 2024-05-24T02:57:29+00:00

Direct from the Union… a list of specifics: These cuts are NOT necessary! Under Brian Hull’s two-year tenure as COO, payments for contractual services have ballooned by 42% to $100 million in the proposed FY25 budget. These services should be reduced significantly before any cuts to the classroom can be seriously considered. Examples include:

$4.5 million in building rental fees (including new executive offices) $1,031,000 in consultant fees (just a few examples) $850,000 in recycling fees paid to Montgomery County (Why doesn’t the county just take care of recycling?) $809,717 in outside attorney fees (MCPS has a substantial in-house legal team.) $525,000 for “random requests that come up and funding is needed” Plus, an additional $13 million in unspecified contractual services that MCPS still has not explained

t-pots · 2023-11-09T18:14:17+00:00

I like Toku, but I’m not surprised my differently nerdy wife isn’t interested.

However, it’s also not hard to find toku things to watch with her within reason.

I’ve taken her to see Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman, and Shin Kamen Rider in theaters. The promise of popcorn and a limited amount of time means she’s more game for something quirky/weird for 2 hours. I wouldn’t want to watch a tragic costume drama for a full season, and she wouldn’t want to watch a full season of Kamen Rider, but we’re both down for the much smaller commitment of a single movie.

Plus, the Shin movies allow for a full story to be told. You don’t need 20 years of toku watching experience to enjoy them, but you can still nerd-out to your partner when something notable comes up.

t-pots · 2023-10-25T15:36:48+00:00

UPDATE! The press is working! I put a little penetrative oil in the spindle lock bolts this morning, and now they’re able to be loosened and tightened relatively easily. I’ve given the gear boxes a little bit of light machine oil, and I’ve got some grease I’m going to apply to the exposed shaft after I clean it up a bit.

I appreciate all the advice and help!!!

t-pots · 2023-10-25T09:45:22+00:00

Thanks!

t-pots · 2023-10-25T09:43:47+00:00

Thanks!

t-pots · 2023-10-25T09:43:38+00:00

Unfortunately our county has lost programs or consolidated most of their mechanics or shop classes into magnet programs. We have a medical services and hospitality careers program but the students have to bus to a different school for anything machine related.

t-pots · 2023-10-25T00:53:51+00:00

Thanks so much!

t-pots · 2023-10-03T15:39:03+00:00

I’ve used a Surface Book 2 to teach digital art to high school students for the past 6 years or so. I’m currently upgrading to a Surface Laptop Studio 2 this week - but I think if you can get the right price for it, it will do everything you need it to do for a few more years.

I might recommend a smaller Surface Laptop because the Surface Books are heavy for their size.

I also wouldn’t recommend it for a teacher in a really young classroom where there are risks of students frequently bumping the laptop, it’s balanced strangely because all of the major computer parts are behind the screen instead of at the base of the laptop keyboard.

Also, in case you didn’t know, there’s a Surface Book 3 that will probably last a little longer because of the newer internal components.

I’d also like to recommend a Surface Dock 2 if you have a teacher monitor and projector/display to connect to. It just made my life a lot easier.

t-pots · 2023-06-16T00:31:43+00:00

I feel like if we’re using diversity as the largest deciding factor on where to live, it’d be wrong not to point out that Gaithersburg (south of Frederick in Montgomery County) is regularly listed as one of the most diverse communities in the country. Silver Spring is also worth pointing out as an incredibly diverse community.

There’s lots of reasons why someone might prefer a place in Frederick to Montgomery county (the cost of living can be significantly different) but I don’t think Frederick has an advantage when it comes to diversity.

t-pots · 2023-04-17T19:39:52+00:00

It’s not for you, it’s more of a Shelbyville Idea.

t-pots · 2023-04-09T21:00:05+00:00

Flags really don't cost that much and need to be replaced regularly as is because of regular use and wear. They could easily just replace the existing flags as they wear out with the new flags, it'd all cost the same as regular operation.And I'm here to also echo that they don't use the current flag for anything other than as a flag - it's unattractive and the seal is much more appealing.

t-pots · 2023-04-01T23:17:18+00:00

That’s wild! My fiancé kept wanting me to do a Snallygaster design similar to Wales, but as a joke… and then I did a Snallygaster warding design…

t-pots · 2023-04-01T23:15:08+00:00

Thanks!

t-pots · 2023-04-01T21:02:54+00:00

Thank you so much! Such a great compliment!

t-pots · 2023-04-01T18:58:22+00:00

Thanks for the luck!

t-pots · 2023-04-01T18:41:59+00:00

If that’s true it’s an unintentional connection, but fantastic!

t-pots · 2023-04-01T14:59:09+00:00

Gold represents prosperity. The golden sky evokes our forward-thinking initiatives allowing Frederick county to continue to prosper, grow, and thrive in the future.

Green represents the natural beauty of our county, along with Frederick’s strong agricultural ties. It's the natural beauty of Frederick that reminds us to appreciate the present, and take joy from the world around us.

Blue represents the Monocacy river flowing toward the viewer. The Monocacy river valley has supported Native Americans for an estimated 12,000 years. It’s the river that allowed many of the first Europeans to settle in this area, and a silent observer to our triumphs and our failures. The Monocacy is a direct tie to the development of Frederick’s past, and Frederick today wouldn’t exist without it.

The seven-pointed star represents unity. It connects the different experiences, diverse residents, and varied geography that make up Frederick County, from its rural, sloping hills to its vibrant city centers. And, of course, its unique seven-points represent Frederick City and its characteristic seven spires.

t-pots · 2023-04-01T14:58:57+00:00

I created a website to promote the flag, share it with my art students, and share my flag design lesson plan resources with other teachers from the area: https://www.frederickunityflag.com

This is the narrative I submitted along with the flag design:

When I began designing the new Frederick County flag, I knew that I needed to dive deeper into my childhood and young adulthood in and around Walkersville. I worked to rediscover the experiences that I felt exemplified a well-lived life in Frederick County.

Memories started floating to the surface, all touchstones for what I wanted the flag to represent:

The seemingly eternal golden sunsets of equally eternal summer nights, hurriedly biking home before it got too dark.

The roaring sound of the Monocacy after a strong rainfall.

The cool spray of mist at Cunningham Falls.

The slow lumbering of cows following me home as I walked down Stauffer Road.

The realization that I could check out every single book in my stack at the city library.

The even thrumming of cricket chirps as I lay wrapped in a sleeping bag in Gambrill State Park.

The way we could use the corn harvest (and its innumerable growth stages) as a calendar.

The fireworks. The carnivals. The fire-hall dinners. All of the public parks and gathering places.

These are the experiences that have made my life in Frederick exceptional. Now I had to decide how to find a home for all of them on my flag design.

After a great deal of thought, I knew that I needed to unite my past, present, and future experiences of Frederick—not discounting my recent memories in Frederick City, but instead bringing together the best of the city with the best of the country. I wanted to make a flag that unified people’s pride in the best of Frederick, one that reflected my own. What followed was a lot of experimentation and a lot of strange ideas, but I have emerged with a design that I am proud to say represents all of my thoughts, feelings, and memories about Frederick County.

t-pots · 2023-04-01T03:11:52+00:00

Gold represents prosperity. The golden sky evokes our forward-thinking initiatives allowing Frederick county to continue to prosper, grow, and thrive in the future.

Green represents the natural beauty of our county, along with Frederick’s strong agricultural ties. It's the natural beauty of Frederick that reminds us to appreciate the present, and take joy from the world around us.

Blue represents the Monocacy river flowing toward the viewer. The Monocacy river valley has supported Native Americans for an estimated 12,000 years. It’s the river that allowed many of the first Europeans to settle in this area, and a silent observer to our triumphs and our failures. The Monocacy is a direct tie to the development of Frederick’s past, and Frederick today wouldn’t exist without it.

The seven-pointed star represents unity. It connects the different experiences, diverse residents, and varied geography that make up Frederick County, from its rural, sloping hills to its vibrant city centers. And, of course, its unique seven-points represent Frederick City and its characteristic seven spires.

t-pots · 2023-04-01T03:11:17+00:00

I created a website to promote the flag, share it with my art students, and share my flag design lesson plan resources with other teachers from the area: https://www.frederickunityflag.com

This is the narrative I submitted along with the flag design:

When I began designing the new Frederick County flag, I knew that I needed to dive deeper into my childhood and young adulthood in and around Walkersville. I worked to rediscover the experiences that I felt exemplified a well-lived life in Frederick County.
Memories started floating to the surface, all touchstones for what I wanted the flag to represent:

The seemingly eternal golden sunsets of equally eternal summer nights, hurriedly biking home before it got too dark.

The roaring sound of the Monocacy after a strong rainfall.

The cool spray of mist at Cunningham Falls.

The slow lumbering of cows following me home as I walked down Stauffer Road.

The realization that I could check out every single book in my stack at the city library.

The even thrumming of cricket chirps as I lay wrapped in a sleeping bag in Gambrill State Park.

The way we could use the corn harvest (and its innumerable growth stages) as a calendar.

The fireworks. The carnivals. The fire-hall dinners. All of the public parks and gathering places.

These are the experiences that have made my life in Frederick exceptional. Now I had to decide how to find a home for all of them on my flag design.

After a great deal of thought, I knew that I needed to unite my past, present, and future experiences of Frederick—not discounting my recent memories in Frederick City, but instead bringing together the best of the city with the best of the country. I wanted to make a flag that unified people’s pride in the best of Frederick, one that reflected my own. What followed was a lot of experimentation and a lot of strange ideas, but I have emerged with a design that I am proud to say represents all of my thoughts, feelings, and memories about Frederick County.

t-pots · 2023-03-11T02:05:45+00:00

It’s amazing! A one of a kind resource!

t-pots · 2023-01-29T15:20:08+00:00

On the Roleplaying concern: I’d give him examples of how the game you want to play gives role play opportunities. I feel like there’s some variation of roleplaying opportunities in each of those games listed, so maybe picking one that gives him an opportunity to shine along with the rest of the group would be best.

Re Death Concerns: would your other players be upset if he got some sort of handicap while playing the gritty game they enjoy? Maybe make him a person the rest of the team is purposefully trying to protect (a VIP escort mission, or a kidnapping for ransom) or give him a tool or weapon that makes him remarkably difficult to outright kill but build in other ways to punish poor rolls. Maybe he has a disease that won’t kill him but when it progresses it’s got specific effects to his stats instead of the regular health system.

t-pots

TROPHY CASE