Parent Connection

Understanding Video Game Addiction

Parents will gain a deep understanding of video game addiction and learn how to empower their child(ren) toward healthy digital habits. They will learn the signs and risks associated with excessive gaming, understand the psychological and behavioral aspects of addiction, and explore effective strategies for prevention and intervention.

When: October 16, 2024, 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Where: Online (Zoom)

Register: https://cookcenter.info/Oct16Harford

Families are invited to attend a virtual session designed to provide support and resources for families coping with anxiety and few related to recent school violence.

Wednesday, October 16

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Virtual - ZOOM: HTTPS://ZOOM.US/J/93518225819

For more information, please contact Jermaine Brayboy, LMSW, at jbrayboy@thrivebh.com

Parents want their children to do well in school, but many don’t fully understand the connection between chronic absence and a student’s academic achievement. Mary Nasuta, Supervisor of Health Services (RN, MS, NCSN), and Melissa Stout, Pupil Personnel Worker, Aberdeen Pupil Services, share for parents the importance of school attendance and how to make sure our children attend school every day. Watch below.

Harford County implements a comprehensive reading and language arts program designed to meet the instructional needs of our students. We are excited to share with you that the new Elementary Reading/English/Language Arts parent site is up and running on HCPS.ORG. This is a great resource for parents that houses a lot of information in one place. Check it out here: https://www.hcps.org/departments/curriculum/englishlanguagearts/ElementaryProgram.aspx

Harford County Public Schools invites you to attend Magnet and Technical Programs Open Houses. These programs are designed for you and your student to learn more about programs they may be interested in. Each open house is specific to that program and allows you and your student to tour the program and hear from staff and current students.

Dates and locations:

• October 16, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) – Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), Joppatowne High School
• October 16, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), Joppatowne High School
• October 23, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM), at the TUNE Center at Harford Community College
• October 24, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), Aberdeen High School
• October 28, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Information Technology – Oracle Academy, Havre de Grace High School
• October 30, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Edgewood High School
• November 2, 2024 (8:00 – 10:00 a.m.) - Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences (NRAS), North Harford High School
• November 7, 2024 (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.) - Trade and Industrial Programs, Harford Technical High School

The window to apply for a Magnet or Technical Program is October 14, 2024, until December 5, 2024.

For more information on the Harford County Public Schools Magnet and Technical Programs, click here.

You are invited to attend a Financial Aid Information Nights for 11th and 12th-grade students and their families. Sessions will provide comprehensive guidance on the financial aid process for the 2025-2026 academic year. You’ll learn how to complete the FAFSA, explore various types of financial aid, and get details on important deadlines. You'll also hear about updates from last year and receive tips on how to maintain your financial aid.

These sessions are open to all families, whether you plan to attend Harford Community College or any other college or university.

The upcoming FAFSA nights will take place on the following dates and locations:

• October 15, 2024, at Patterson Mill High School
• October 16, 2024, at Havre de Grace High School
• November 6, 2024, at C. Milton Wright High School
• November 12, 2024, at Joppatowne High School
• November 13, 2024, at The John Carroll School
• November 18, 2024, at North Harford High School

Each session will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

We encourage you to take advantage of these events. For more details or to RSVP, please contact your school counselor or visit Harford Community College’s website.

Harford County parents and caregivers are encourage to join in on the 9th Annual Night of Conversation on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Talk to your kids over dinner about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and the importance of good mental health.

Tips for parents:

• Make the time to sit down as a family and eat dinner.
• Turn off all electronics; eliminate distractions.
• Prepare to listen more than you speak.
• Be calm, receptive, open-minded, and validate feelings.

Need some help getting the conversation started? Some suggestions for each school level are below.

Learn more at www.HarfordTalks.com.

The HCPS Parent Advisory, Advocacy, and Action Council (PAAAC) provides input on ways to improve communication and parent engagement at the district and local school levels and provides parent advocacy trainings to support student learning. PAAAC members are parents who have at least one child in the school system and who reflect the diversity of the HCPS community. PAAAC meetings are facilitated by staff in the HCPS Family and Community Partnerships Office.

The mission of the PAAAC is to provide feedback and advice to the school system on parent engagement efforts related to the research-based PTA standards for family-school partnerships described in Board of Education Policy Number 10-0004-000, Parent/Community Involvement. PAAAC is proactive and innovative in identifying and sharing ways to enhance the school system's communication and parent engagement efforts and parent advocacy training.

Apply today!

Mary Beth Stapleton founded the HCPS Parent Academy and has over 30 years experience working on behalf of children and families.

The HCPS Office of Innovation in Learning partnered with Parent Academy to create videos to help encourage you to log onto Canvas and download the Canvas app so you are able to monitor your students’ courses and classwork.

We are pleased to share the first video with you linked below.

Directions for creating an account, downloading the app, etc. may be found here: https://harford.instructure.com/courses/90232.

We are excited to announce the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils

(HCRASC) CommUNITY in Motion 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run on Sunday, October 27, at Harford Technical High School. HCRASC is the governing and advocacy body representing all HCPS students.

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, October 27, 2024

Location: Harford Technical High School

Gates Open: 9:00 a.m.

Race Start: 10:00 a.m.

Event Ends: 12:00 p.m.

Tickets:

https://harford.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/14885/351/False/True

Pricing:

• $25 for adults 5K run

• $15 for child 5K/Family Fun Run

• Free for children under 5

There will also be Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Kona Ice, games, and other activities for participants and their families. Additionally, 25% of the profits from the event will be donated to the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center to support their ongoing efforts in the community.

Help support this event by spreading the word in your community!

Harford County Public Schools students, staff, and families looking for help with mental health or substance use are reminded they can call Care Solace at 888-515-0595 for 24/7/365 personalized and confidential help finding a therapist. Or, they can search on their own at www.caresolace.com/harford.

At the Monday, September 23, 2024, Board Business Meeting, the 2025-2026 HCPS Draft Calendar options were presented to the Board of Education. Parents/guardians, students, and HCPS staff are encouraged to complete the survey below to provide feedback. There is an opportunity to share additional comments at the end of the survey. The survey will be available through Friday, November 22, 2024.

Parents and guardians will be asked to utilize their student's ID to complete the survey here.

Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board Business Meetings? Provide your feedback on the policy by the deadline listed on the webpage! https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.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 this month!

• 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