Family Link January 2024 | Smore Newsletters

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The International Parent and Community Leadership Academy (IPCLA) is coordinated by the Office of School and Family Partnerships to develop leaders among international parents and community members in Anne Arundel County.

The goals of the IPCLA are to improve communication with international families and diversify the pool of leaders in schools and the community in order to support the academic achievement of international students.

Participants will

learn about each other and the diverse cultures represented around the county.
identify leadership skills and learn to become culturally proficient leaders.
become familiar with AACPS school curriculum and resources.
become familiar with working parent/family groups.
select one leadership opportunity to pursue, and more!

International parents, caregivers, and community members, find out more and apply today! Applications are due January 19, 2024.

Information and Applications are available in multiple languages on our IPCLA website.

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January 1

Schools & Offices Closed

New Year's Day

Image of Martin Luther King, Jr.

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January 15

Schools & Offices Closed

Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Commemoration

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January 17 & 18

2-Hour Early Dismissal

End of Marking Period

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January 19

Schools Closed for All Students

Semester Break

Mo Gaba Positivity & Perseverance Award Winners

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January 26

Mo Gaba Day

On this day each year, Lindale Middle awards one student who personifies Mo's spirit with the "Mo Gaba Positivity & Perseverance Award."

calendar image with 24-25 written over it

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2024-2025 School Year Calendar

The Board of Education approved the 2024-2025 School Year calendar. Add important dates to your personal calendar for planning.

Healthy Screen Time

Experts tell us too much screen time may lead to sleep deprivation, lower grades in school, mood problems, and more. Phones also affect their time in school, including pulling focus from instructional time, and creating difficult social situations. But how do we manage healthy screen times in this technological world?

How can I help my child manage screen time in a digital age?

Be familiar with what they are seeing - Get to know what they are watching and seeing on programs and in social media so that you can have discussions with them when negative content arises. Keeping lines of communication open is essential to having conversations about cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and how that affects them.
Encourage other activities - You can limit screen time merely by having your children involved in other activities. They aren’t using their phones in sports, music classes, and when playing outside.
Set limits on the device - Along with rules you may have as a family, you can also set limits directly on the device. Set downtimes at night or during school, and use apps with parental controls.
Teach them about privacy and security - Children and teens often don’t think about the far-reaching consequences of posting publicly. Help them understand the need for privacy and how to set limits in their profiles.
Set a good example - Adults are easily distracted by devices too! Be sure your children see you engaged in activities that are not on a device, put down your phone to have conversations and at the dinner table, and talk about what you see online with your kids.
Talk with your child's teachers - If you are unsure about how phones are being used in school, talk to your child's teachers to understand the rules about phones in the classroom and how they may be using them for instructional purposes.

Virtual Support for Elementary Math

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Virtual Support for Elementary Math

AACPS offers virtual support for elementary math! This Family Academy video demonstrates how to access this support online. Visit https://www.aacps.org/tutoring for details on how to access virtual tutoring and homework help, including the links to join the virtual sessions.

Virtual Support for Elementary Math Video (en español)

Find more videos on Family Academy: Academics & Programs,
Wellbeing & Growth, and Navigating AACPS

En Español

yellow and blue boxes with school-related images

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Middle & High Schoolers

Virtual Homework Help & Tutoring in:

Core Subjects: Math, English, Science, Social Studies
World Languages
AVID
ESOL

Find the schedule and how to log in at aacps.org/tutoring.

illustration of using blocks for multiplication

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Elementary Math

Virtual Family Support:

Drop-in for assistance with understanding K-5th grade Math concepts.
Provides assistance to students and the adults helping them.

Find the schedule and Google Meet link at aacps.org/tutoring.

Black Life in America

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Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday

Learn more about Martin Luther King, Jr, and his impact, as recorded by the news media, in Black Life in America.

international holocaust remembrance day, January 27

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Holocaust Remembrance Day

Help your children learn about and understand the Holocaust and its impact today through books, audiobooks, and DVDs that you can check out at the library.

AACPL staff favorites of 2023 with book cover images

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AACPL Staff Favorites of 2023

Start off 2024 by enjoying Staff Favorites from the previous year, including lists for adults, teens, and kids!

First Day Hikes

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First Day Hikes

First Day Hikes are free, guided hikes offered each year on New Year's Day. Start your year off on the right foot by joining park rangers, naturalists, and volunteers.

Water play structure

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School Break Fun Days

Swimming, arts & crafts, and games. Bring a lunch, snack, swimsuit & towel.

Ages 6 to 12, North Arundel Aquatic Center

7:30AM - 5:30PM: Jan. 15 & 19

Registration Required - $60

summer camp fair flyer

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Summer Camp Fair

Coming in early February:

2024 Summer Camp Fair!

Saturday, February 3

Severna Park HS, 10am-12pm

Get yourself and your family vaccinated

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Free Walk-in Flu Vaccination Clinics

Find a free Flu Vaccination Clinic near you to help protect against sickness this season.

Sad face drawn in snow

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Holiday Stress

The Holiday Blues often continue into the New Year. Find strategies to help make this year more enjoyable and less stressful.

birth and death certificates

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Birth & Death Certificates

Certified copies of birth certificates and death certificates are provided at the Department of Health in Annapolis. Make an appointment or request birth certificates by mail.

White background with blue circle, gold award ribbon, and yellow sun streaks coming out of it, white letters say Volunteer of the Month

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Volunteer of the Month

December 2023 Volunteer of the Month

Liz Marcus-Wenger, Belvedere Elementary School

"Liz Marcus-Wenger is our garden angel. Her commitment and passion for Belvedere's gardens and outdoor spaces have transformed the campus into a beautiful and welcoming environment. "

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Become a Volunteer

Volunteers are an important part of the AACPS school community. By offering your time and talent, you enrich the education of our students, support our staff, and serve families in our community.

https://www.aacps.org/volunteer

image of raptor volunteer portal sign-in page

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Virtual Volunteer Portal

Record the hours you volunteer outside of school!

Your accurate data not only helps us thank you, it also serves as an in-kind contribution when the school system applies for grants.

Ask at your school's office if you don't have a login.

McKinney-Vento, serving students in transition

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The federal McKinney-Vento Act ensures all children who live in any of the following situations have a right to enroll in school and receive transportation by request.

in a shelter
in a motel or campground due to lack of adequate accommodation
in a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

If you believe your children may be eligible, contact your local school and ask to speak to the Pupil Personnel Worker. All school phone numbers and additional information can be found on the Homeless Students section of the AACPS website.

To make a referral as a community member, service provider, or as a self-referral, please complete the referral form.

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