When: February 21, 2024, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Where: Online (Zoom)

Register: http://cookcenter.info/Feb21Harford

Watch this session to learn about the many factors that contribute to depression and the essential tools for treating depression.

You can access the recording here: https://cookcenter.info/Jan17HarfordReplay.

Parent Academy is excited to announce a new recognition program that launched February 1, 2024: The Most Valuable Parent (MVP) Award. This award program will celebrate one HCPS parent/guardian a month during the school year for their efforts to go above and beyond in modeling one or more of the National PTA Standards.

Each school's PACE Liaison will be invited to submit a nomination at the beginning of each month during the nomination window. They will be considering the following National PTA Standards when making their nomination:

• Works to welcome all families.
• Helps with communication with other parents/caregivers.
• Supports all students’ success.
• Speaks up for every child, helping to remove barriers so that all families can engage.
• Works to support planning for the school events/activities.
• Collaborates with the community partners to support the school.

PACE Liaisons will consider all parents/guardians, including those who may not be able to attend and participate in all PTA and school functions but who is able to advocate for families and children in a powerful way.

When the nomination window for that month closes, the HCPS External Customer Service Subcommittee will review all submitted nominations and select that month’s winner. MVP award recipients will receive public recognition on the HCPS website and social media pages; a certificate presented by Dr. Bulson and the school administrator; and a small token gift from Parent Academy.

Parent Academy looks forward to recognizing and honoring our parents/guardians across the system who go above and beyond to engage and support their child’s school!

Spread the news – parents/caregivers now have access to Canvas! This gives you access to your student’s Canvas account in a read-only observer role. A Parent Access Orientation was created to help you navigate Canvas and show you how to connect with your student’s account. Additionally, a Parent Academy Real Talk video was taped to demonstrate the process (linked below).

Mary Beth Stapleton founded the HCPS Parent Academy and has over 30 years experience working on behalf of children and families. Mary Beth and her family live in northern Harford County.

Parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, and friends: many of us have young children in our families, communities, places of worship, and friend groups. We can share words of wisdom about how to best prepare our little ones to succeed in Kindergarten. Now is the time to start getting them ready!

Reach out to family members and friends and let them know that HCPS kindergarten registration will be available Friday, March 1, 2024! When you share this great news, also share ideas on how we can all help our little ones get ready for school:

• Help them learn to drink from a cup independently – let them open the juice box and eat with utensils.
• Make sure they can use the restroom and wash their hands by themselves.
• Practice the child’s parents’ names and home address.
• Have the child practice getting their jacket on and off without any help.
• Read, read, read!
• Sing the alphabet.
• Practice identifying numbers, shapes, and colors in books and in real life (the park, on walks, at the grocery store).
• Take a simple word (ball, bat) and produce words that rhyme.
• Practice cutting with scissors in a line.
• Help them to practice sharing and taking turns.
• Place a time limit on screens for the child – and for yourself! (TV, computers, iPad/Kindles).
• Provide opportunities for your child to play with other children.
  
  

More milestones can be found on this awesome CDC app: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones-app.html.

Make sure to have a consistent night time routine and bedtime, and check out the HCPS Littles University, hosted by Jillian Lader, Manager of Communications, to help with that bedtime story: https://www.hcps.org/parents/littlesuniversity/.

When our kids were young, my husband and I leaned on our day care providers, faith-based community, children’s grandparents, and the parents of our children’s friends to help our children get ready for success in school. As you help prepare your preschooler for kindergarten, try to find a “team” that can help you along the way, so that your child will develop the skills needed to have a successful start to Kindergarten.

Harford County Education Foundation holds several scholarship awards for graduating seniors attending Harford County Public Schools, and many of them are due soon. Check this link out and help your senior apply: https://harfordeducation.org/college-career-readiness/scholarship-central/.

In addition, there is a page on hcps.org where students can see available scholarships and access links to apply. And, new on this page - subscribe to scholarship postings! Check it out!

https://www.hcps.org/departments/studentservices/SchoolCounseling.aspx

On January 22, 2024, HCPS learned that the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved our 2023-2024 School Year Virtual Day Instruction Plan, which requested the use of three (3) asynchronous virtual instruction days in the event of inclement weather.

Following the approval of the virtual instruction plan, the next inclement weather day(s) will be utilized as asynchronous virtual learning day(s). When asynchronous virtual instruction is utilized, that information will be released with the inclement weather communications.

You may visit the inclement weather page on hcps.org for more information about virtual learning days, including FAQs, resources for Canvas, and more. This page will be updated regularly with additional information; please check it often during this season.

For easy reference for our entire community, when the school system is utilizing a virtual instruction day, the following graphic will be shared on social media.

Mark your calendar for this important drug awareness seminar presented by a former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent. Join us on Thursday, February 8, at 6:00 p.m. in the C. Milton Wright High School auditorium.

Learn more about drug dangers specific to our community and how to start the dialog with your child(ren) about the risks associated with certain choices.

You don't want to miss this.

The next "Engage for Education Listening Session" will be held at North Harford High School on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for staff and out community to meet face-to-face with Board Vice President Hahn and Board President Poynton and have their voices heard.

The Career & Technology Education (CTE) Family Night event is for families with children in grades 4-6. This event is different from Magnet sessions, which target 8th graders. Additionally, this fair-style event is an opportunity to learn about ALL high school CTE programs, not just Magnets. Representation from every Magnet, Signature, and Comprehensive program, as well as each high school, will be onsite. Each "booth" will feature a teacher and students from the program with an interactive activity to engage visitors.

But wait, there's more...there will be door prizes! See you there!

HCPS is hosting a Military Information Session at C. Milton Wright High School in the cafeteria.

HCPS high school students and their parents can meet representatives from several branches of the US Military and hear how serving our country can benefit them.

This is an opportunity to ask questions of representatives from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Air National Guard and Maryland National Guard!

Joppatowne High School is excited to host its first annual Historically Black College and University College Fair on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Several historically black colleges and universities will be represented along with members of the Pan Hellenic Council. All are invited to attend; those planning to participate are encouraged to RSVP through the QR code on the flier.

Click below to visit the Partners for Success page on hcps.org to learn more about this resource for parents and families.

The latest issue of STEM@Home, a monthly STEM newsletter for students in grades K-12 from the C5ISR Center Community Outreach Office, is linked here.

The STEM@Home Newsletter is intended to provide engaging information and educational activities that can be done with minimal materials and a whole lot of imagination.

STEM@Home is available on the C5ISR Center Homepage https://c5isr.ccdc.army.mil/, and readers are encouraged to follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/DEVCOM.C5ISR/ to share photos of their young engineers completing the STEM@Home activities using hashtag #C5ISRCenterSTEM.

Applications are now being accepted for the C5ISR Center Math and Science Summer Camp 2024 season. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at 11:55 p.m.

A full description and detailed instructions for the application process are available on their website: https://c5isrcenter.devcom.army.mil/camp/.

Applications will be processed on a strict first come–first served basis, with placement preference given to children of current military members who apply prior to the application deadline of February 27, 2024.

Click here for the camp flier.

North Bend Elementary School!!

The nomination window for the February Family Friendly School Award is open until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Visit the Parent Academy page of hcps.org to submit your nomination.

If your school is nominated, our community can show how welcoming your school is and help you earn this honor by casting their vote February 12-16, 2024!

More information may be found on https://www.hcps.org/parents/parentacademy/familyfriendlyschools.aspx.

The Harford County Public Library offers so many educational, fun, and FREE events at each of its branches year-round. Be sure to visit the events page of their website to see what's happening in November!

• Harford County Public Library
• Harford County Parks and Recreation
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford & Cecil Counties

Additional resources may be found in the Harford County Community Services Resource Guide.

Be sure you are following the Parent Academy page on Facebook for announcements, updates, resources, and more shared regularly throughout the school year.

Also, bookmark the Parent Academy webpage on hcps.org where all workshops and Real Talks are archived, and where you can find information on other Parent Academy sponsored programs, like Family Friendly Schools.

Looking for an earlier issue of Parent Connection? Visit the newsletter archive on hcps.org by clicking here.

HCPS parents are students’ first and best teachers.

Editors: Mary Beth Stapleton, Manager of Family and Community Partnerships & Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

Email: ParentAcademy@hcps.org
Website: https://www.hcps.org/parents/ParentAcademy/Default.aspx
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5263
Facebook: facebook.com/HCPSParentAcademy