NAHS Family Newsletter

5/14 Election Day- Schools Closed

5/17 Asynchronous Learning Day for All Students

5/27 Memorial Day- Schools Closed for Students

Happy Spring to our NAHS Families,

The weather has warmed and we are in the mix of several exciting end-of-year preparations. We would like to remind all families to keep a close eye on updates, emails and communications for your student's grade level.

All students are working towards earning the end of year fun through a strike system. Three strikes disqualify a student from end of year activities and events. Please remind your student of behavioral expectations so they can participate in the exciting events being planned for each grade level!

Students selected their electives for the 24-25 school year during quarter 2. If your student has not yet done so, please direct them to their grade level counselor or Mrs. Beto to complete this task. We want to ensure students select elective courses based on preference and interest!

If your student will not be returning to NAHS, please contact their grade level counselor for next steps.

Sincerely,

Principal Robinson

If you are planning to pick up your child early from school, just a reminder that early dismissal ends at 2:30pm.

On 3 hour early dismissal days- Early dismissal will end at 11:30am.

Please click the link below to access the recording of the parent information session with important information and resources about MCAP testing.

https://youtu.be/R_Xq15xT3XM?si=lC32BO5n5z37Uzhr

Math:

MCAP | Mathematics Practice Tests (mdassessments.com)

Creating a Parent Account in Focus

Directions for parents to create a Focus account are located here: HOW TO: Creating a Parent Account in FOCUS. Parents must use the same email address to create this account that they provided to the school or else they will be denied access. Parent access to Schoology is via the Focus Parent Portal. Please use these Parent Portal Instructions.

School attendance remains a priority for Northwest Academy of Health Sciences.

Our goal is for every student to attend instruction every day and on time. Regular school attendance ensures your child’s access to a high-quality education and has a major impact on their success from kindergarten through high school.

We understand that some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances.

However, when students miss too much school — for any reason— they fall behind academically and will be considered chronically absent.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as any absence that exceeds more than 10 percent of the 180-day school year.

To help your child achieve the most from their learning experience, make school attendance a priority!

YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL PERTAINING TO RESIDENCY.

THIS LETTER WILL CONTAIN INFORMATION FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, 2024-2025.

ALL 8TH GRADERS TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL MUST PROVIDE NEW RESIDENCY DOCUMENTATION FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IF RESIDENCY IS NOT COMPLETED BEFORE THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, YOUR CHILD WILL BE WITHDRAWN.

THOSE STUDENTS, WHO ARE SHARED DOMICILED, WILL ALSO HAVE TO COMPLETE A RENEWAL FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

THE START DATE TO PRODUCE DOCUMENTS TO NORTHWEST ACADEMY IS MAY 1, 2024. LET’S MAKE THIS A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR YOUR UPRISING 9TH GRADER.

Hello!

My name is Jessica Miranda and I am Northwest Academy's CARE Liaison! Please take a look at the resources and links provided below.

My email address is Jmiranda@bcps.org

Please let me know if I can help in any way. I have access to many resources available in our community so please don't hesitate to reach out if you or your child needs anything.

My Northwest Academy's family involvement goals are:

• To educate parents on the important role they play in assisting in their child’s education.

• To encourage parents to be actively involved in their child’s education at school.

• To communicate with parents as full partners in their child’s education.

• To provide parents with opportunities, skills and tools to help them engage in meaningful parent-child learning activities.

Local Resources:
Baltimore County Crisis Response: 410-931-2214
Crisis text line: Text the word "HOME" to 741741 for free 24 hour support
Maryland Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 1-800-422-0009
National Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

Baltimore County DSS: 410-887-TIME

Maryland Food Bank: 410-737-8282

211 Maryland: 211, https://211md.org/ or text 898-211

Additional resources: Baltimore County Resource Guide * BCPS Meal Sites * BCPS Social Emotional Support Page * MD Crisis Hotline * MD Food Bank * Baltimore County Crisis Response: 410-931-2214 * Crisis Text Line (Text the word "HOME" to 741741 for free 24 hour support)

If you are interested in being a chaperone on a field trip or volunteering this year at NAHS please follow the directions in the link below. You will need to complete the application, watch the training video and get the certificate.

When completed please email the application and certificate to me at Jmiranda@bcps.org or turn it into the main office.

BCPS Volunteers - Baltimore County Public Schools

Families needing assistance with paying for or obtaining internet access for their children while at home should be directed to the Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit (MEBB) service. The State of Maryland has partnered with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) which provides eligible families access to free or reduced internet access for their homes. This internet access can be used for virtual learning, and access to online resources such as job postings, health resources, and other benefits for adult family members and children.

Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit can be accessed through the MEBB website by going to a Baltimore County Public Library and using the available internet access.

Baltimore County Public Libraries also has a ‘Long Term Device Lending Program’ where patrons of the library can sign out either a ChromeBook and/or a cellular hotspot for up to six months. More information is available on the Baltimore County Public Library website (https://www.bcpl.info/services/longterm-lending.html ).

An alternative method is to contact the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program directly by calling (877) 384-2575. Services are available in multiple languages. Families must qualify for the service. A family can also contact one of the internet access/broadband providers on the attached listing directly to find out more about the application process.

Links to these resources are available on the BCPS Office of Network Support Services webpage. BCPS will not be providing cellular hotspots to students for virtual learning days. Only students who are verified as being in need, as defined by the Title I office, will be eligible to receive BCPS-provided hotspots. The MEBB, ACP, and BCPL lending programs are administered outside of Baltimore County Public Schools. All questions should be directed to either the Federal Communications Commission, the State of Maryland, or the Baltimore County Public Libraries as it relates to the appropriate program.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to the following individual(s): Greg Vukov, Director 443-809-9888

As the weather gets warmer, please send your child to school with a water bottle. There are water coolers available for students to refill the water bottles during the day.

Tis the season for sniffles, sneezes, coughs and more! To protect yourself and your family:

• Keep up to date on vaccines. Find vaccines near you here.
• Stay home when sick. Students who have a fever of 100°F or higher should stay home until the fever is gone (without fever reducing medicine) for 24 hours. Consult with your healthcare provider about whether you should be tested for flu, COVID or other illnesses.
• Practice good habits – cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands regularly, consider wearing a high filtration mask if you or your family members are at high risk of complications from flu or COVID.
• Follow CDC guidelines on COVID testing. Free COVID test kits can be ordered online. If you are sick consult with your healthcare provider, regardless of the results of your COVID test. Persons with COVID may need medicine to protect them from complications; persons with negative COVID tests may need testing or evaluation for other illnesses, like flu, that can cause significant illness.

Spring means flower buds and blooming trees — and if you're one of the millions of people who have seasonal allergies, it also means sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, and other bothersome symptoms.

Reduce your exposure to allergy triggers.

To reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy signs and symptoms (allergens):

· Stay indoors on dry, windy days. The best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.

· Avoid lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens.

· Remove clothes you've worn outside and rinse pollen from your skin

· Wear a face mask if you do outside chores.

How can the school help a child with environmental allergies?

School can create a healthy environment for children with environmental allergies.

· Promote an odor-free environment, including no perfumes, no strong odors from cleaning supplies.

· Ensure adequate ventilation.

· Allow students to remain indoors on days when pollen counts are impacting their day.

· Close windows during times of high pollen counts to reduce allergens in the environment.

Antihistamines for allergies

· An allergy is an immune response, or reaction, to substances (allergens) that are usually not harmful. In someone with allergies, the immune response is oversensitive. When it recognizes an allergen, the immune system launches a response. Chemicals such as histamines are released. These chemicals cause allergy symptoms.

· One type of medicine that helps relieve allergy symptoms is antihistamine.

How to Take Antihistamines

Depending on your symptoms, you can take antihistamines:

· Every day, to help keep daily symptoms under control.

· Only when you have symptoms

· Before being exposed to things that often cause your allergy symptoms, such as a pet or certain plants

For many people with allergies, symptoms are the worst around 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. Taking an antihistamine at bedtime may help you or your child feel better in the morning during allergy season.

(The school can only supply allergy medication/ eye drops when supplied by the parent with a Doctors order )

The first and most important step to protect yourself against flu viruses is to get a flu vaccine. You can get a flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine. Find your flu vaccine. The injectable quadravalent vaccine will be available, which is not the high-dose vaccine recommended for people 65 and over. See your healthcare provider to obtain the high-dose vaccine. In addition, many local pharmacies offer free flu shots in your community. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most up-to-date information on seasonal flu. If you are unable to attend a clinic, find a location offering vaccinations near you. https://www.vaccinefinder.org/

REMEMBER THE FLU FACTS Residents are encouraged to remember the flu FACTS in order to prevent the spread of contagious viruses, including seasonal flu: • Frequently wash your hands with soap and water. • Always get an annual flu shot. • Cover coughs and sneezes.

May 9 – 6:30 PM Dine & Learn – Reducing Stress & Anxiety Through the Summer: Strategies to help your children and young teens Virtual Presented by Tana Hope, Kennedy Krieger Summer is often thought of as a time to relax. However, for many it's a time of increased stress and worry. The loss of what is familiar to us (i.e. teachers, school, friends), starting new activities, having too much free time, and worrying about the start of the next school year can increase stress and anxiety. Dr. Hope will present strategies you can immediately use to help your children and young teens to manage and even reduce their level of stress and anxiety throughout the summer. For registration click here!

https://forms.office.com/r/K11jcGKp60

May 16 – 12:30 PM Lunch & Learn - Introduction to Bullying Prevention Virtual Presented by Brad Engel, Maryland State Department of Education What is bullying? What are Maryland’s laws around bullying? How can you help prevent bullying? Brad Engel, School Climate Initiatives Specialist with the Maryland State Department of Education, will provide an hour of crucial information on how to effectively respond to bullying situations and get a better understanding of the barriers that prevent children from reporting to adults. For educators and parents/caregivers alike. For registration click here! https://forms.office.com/r/JUAinXhVcM

Thank you to all the Students and Families who participated in STEAM Night!

Hello Math Families,

Although the school year is not quite over, the math department wanted to provide families with resources in order to plan for your student’s success in the next grade level as well as summer learning. The National PTA along with their partners, Learning Heroes and the National Summer Learning Association, have multiple interactive resources on the National PTA website. In addition to the website resources, the National PTA has created a Smarter Summers Brighter Futures Playbook with easy-to-follow planning tools and strategies that can assist teachers and parents for summer learning.

Together we can! National PTA Summer Learning https://www.pta.org/home/family-resources/summer-learning

Learning Heroes https://bealearninghero.org/summer-stride/stride-forward/

National Summer Learning Association https://www.summerlearning.org/

Students have wrapped up their ELA MCAP testing, except for those students who may still need make-up testing.

Students will soon be taking their end-of-the-year assessments in ELA and Reading.

There will be an assigned summer reading activity for students. The activity will not be due until School Year 2024-2025.

Summer reading is designed to challenge students to become life-long readers and learners by exploring personal connections to various texts that promote intellectual growth, social awareness, and independent thinking.

Summer reading helps students open their eyes to the larger world and promotes a love for the written word, in all its varied forms.

Sincerely,

Reading and English Language Arts Department

School Counseling Updates:

Greetings Northwest Academy families! 4th Quarter Interim date is Thursday, May 9th. Please continue to check Schoology for your student’s up to date grades.

Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) is excited to announce our school was one of five BCPS middle schools to participate in a pilot program for the Cigna School Support Line. This is a no-cost, confidential service for students, families, and staff. The Cigna Support Line provides support when individuals need help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Students, families, and staff of Franklin Middle School, General John Stricker Middle School, Northwest Academy of Health Sciences, Perry Hall Middle School, and Stemmers Run Middle School can call 833-632-4462 (833-MeCigna) to access the support line. Student Support- English Student Support- Spanish

To schedule an appointment with your grade level counselor please click here: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/NorthwestAcademyofHealthSciencesCounselingOffice@bcpscloud.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

Deborah Carroll, Registrar dcarroll2@bcps.org

Steffanie Cadogan, 6th Grade School Counselor scadogan@bcps.org

Monica Jones, 7th Grade School Counselor and Department Chair mjones25@bcps.org

Tonya Linton, 8th Grade School Counselor tlinton@bcps.org