NAHS Family Newsletter

8/21 Back to School Open House

8/22 6th Grade Orientation

8/26 First Day of School

Happy Summer NAHS Families!

Summer is upon us and NAHS administration and counseling staff are already hard at work preparing and planning for the 24-25 school year! We encourage students to rest up and recharge this summer in addition to keeping good habits such as participating in the BCPL Summer Reading Program!

We welcome all families to join us for our Summer Parent Advisory Meeting via MS Teams on July 17 at 5:30pm. Family feedback and ideas for 24-25 will be welcome during this meeting!

For those attending, summer school begins on July 8. Be on the lookout for information from Mr. Chapman regarding summer school.

Office hours for registration needs will be 8am-2:30pm, M-F each week. We encourage families to make appointments for registration.

Please review the information about NAHS's Back to School Open House flyer and the 24-25 School Supply List below at your convenience.

Have a wonderful summer!

The Focus SIS System Now Has a Mobile APP

BCPS’ Focus Student Information System now has an accompanying app that can be used from mobile devices. The application can be used by Staff, Parents/Guardian’s, and Students.

Google Play Store: Team BCPS - Focus - Apps on Google Play

Apple App Store: Team BCPS- Focus- Apple App Store

More information from BCPS about Focus App For Parents can be found here!
Directions on using the Focus App and logging in can be found here!
Directions on Creating a Parent Account can be found here!

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)

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

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.

Parent University offers resources, videos, workshops, and system updates to support the needs of your family. Our program goals align with the BCPS Compass: Our Pathway to Excellence - Focus Area 4 - Community Engagement and Partnerships.

Hello Math Families,

As the 2023-2024 School Year ends, the math department would like to extend a thank you for being a partner. A strong school-home partnership is fundamental to not only your student’s success, but positively affects our school as a whole. The National PTA says the research clearly shows “when families and teachers join together to support children’s learning and development, children are more likely to succeed in school, graduate and stay on their path to college or a career.” For more information, please click on the links below.

Reading and English Language Arts Department

NORTHWEST ACADEMY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

SUMMER READING

Over the summer, you will want to continue to read literature to maintain and strengthen literacy skills. Attached on the Northwest Academy website are some activities you can complete to help you capture the information from your summer reading. Submit at least eight of the completed activities to your English Language Arts and/or Reading teacher(s) in the fall. Make a cover sheet that includes your first and last name, the title(s), and author(s) of your book(s). Attach together your cover sheet and at least eight of the completed activities. You can choose to use one book or read several books for the summer reading. If you read more than one book, a cover sheet is needed for each book. This assignment will be due on Monday, October 21, - Tuesday, October 22, 2024, to your English Language Arts and/or Reading teacher(s). (You are welcome to do more than eight activities if you choose.)

Below are the standards that will be captured in the assignment(s).

RL Standards

ü RL1 Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

ü RL2 Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.

ü RL3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

ü RL4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative language such as metaphors and similes.

ü RL5 Explain how a series of chapters, scenes, or stanzas fits together to provide the overall structure of a particular story, drama, or poem.

ü RL6 Describe how a narrator’s or speaker’s point of view influences how events are described.

ü RL7 Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, and poem).

ü RL9 Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.

Sincerely,

Reading and English Language Arts Department

School Counseling Updates:

Greetings Northwest Academy families! We hope you have a wonderful summer!

Please note that after June 14th until the school year begins in August, Ms. Jones will be the only School Counselor in the office. To schedule an appointment with Ms. Jones over the summer regarding your student’s schedule or any other academic, or social/emotional concerns, please click below: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/NorthwestAcademyofHealthSciencesCounselingOffice@bcpscloud.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

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

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 Northwest Academy of Health Sciences can call 833-632-4462 (833-MeCigna) to access the support line.