Avalon Family Resources Newsletter

The dentist is coming to our school Thursday, February 8! The School Smiles on-site dental program provides on-site dental care at our school for ALL students that signup to participate. The dental team will set up inside our school and they accept Medicaid, private insurance, offer self-pay rates and grants through their foundation.

Registration is now open online at: www.schoolsmiles.com/student-signup

There are over 100 languages to choose from when completing the online form. See the attached flyer for additional ways to register, don’t miss out!

Healthier children make better students!!

Saturday, February 10, 2024

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Downtown Columbus Metropolitan Library

96 South Grant Street

Free parking

Translation services available

THIS EVENT IS FREE!

Over 50 community organizations, partners, and Columbus City Schools departments have gathered to share information on camps, academic enrichment, STEM, arts, and overall summer fun.

This year's festivities also feature workshops to guide families through the graduation requirements, college financial aid updates, special needs opportunities, and more.

Get the resources you need to plan your summer!!

Brought to you by the Columbus City Schools' Office of Engagement.

To families that have younger children who will be going to Pre-K (Pre-Kindergarten) next school year, there are many resources offered by the District to help you prepare.

Visit here for more information: https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/12052

Here are some things you can expect in Pre-K next year:

Above and below, you will find an example of one of our Pre-K classrooms. Our teachers strategically set up their rooms to help promote learning, reinforce the curriculum, and create a fun, caring, and safe environment.

For those of you with children under five:

Saturday, February 3

10 a.m.-12 p.m.

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS WITH STEM

COSI

333 W Broad Street

Columbus, OH 43215

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

The Columbus City Schools FACT Line, part of the Office of Customer Relations, has compiled a listing of local agencies, organizations, and individuals (independent contractors not under the auspices of CCS) who provide tutoring or family-related services, as listed in the Lutheran Social Services Directory for Franklin County.

The Columbus Board of Education met Tuesday, January 9, 2024 for the first meeting of the new year.

Before the regular meeting began, two new Board of members were sworn in. Joining the Board of Education are Attorney Sarah Ingles and Columbus City Schools Alum Brandon Simmons. The new Board members replace outgoing members Carole Beckerle and Judge Eric Brown.

Along with new members, the Board will see a shift in leadership for 2024. Board member Christina Vera unanimously secured the position of Board President through peer voting.

Families wishing to contact Board members may do so via email, or they may meet the members at one of the community help Board meetings.

Elementary School Lottery Applications:

Elementary School Choice Lottery Applications are now available on the Parent Portal through Friday, March 29, 2024.

Lottery information:

• Families must first enroll a new student using the online enrollment information and proper documents.
• Families may (but are not required to) select up to 3 schools to apply for in the lottery. All 3 schools are entered into a school's lottery draw separately. No one school has a higher priority than another.
• Applying for a lottery school does not guarantee a spot is available, or that your child will be selected.
• Students placed on a waitlist for a school will remain there until another option is selected, or December 31st.
• Families wishing to accept an offer to a school should do so quickly, before the offer expires.
• Late applications are added to the bottom of the waitlist in the date/time order of receipt. The last date for the acceptance of late lottery applications for students who completed the 2023-24 school year with CCS is August 16, 2024.
• New students enrolling into Columbus City Schools can submit a lottery application two weeks after their enrollment date until December 6, 2024.

SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) was developed in 2001 in order to create a seamless transition for vulnerable children into kindergarten and to help them be successful learners. SPARK is a home visiting family-focused kindergarten readiness program that works collaboratively with families, schools, and the community. Each month, children receive a new book, a lesson activity, educational supplies, and participate in home and group learning opportunities, in order to increase the child's success in school and life. SPARK focuses on assisting families to help children get ready for school by building reading, language, and social skills. SPARK Ohio has helped more than 5,000 families prepare their preschool-aged children for kindergarten while working collaboratively with schools to enhance transition practices. SPARK serves children turning three or four years of age by September 30th of each year throughout Franklin County.

There is no cost associated with this program.

Find out more information here!:

https://www.nld.org/ymca-of-central-ohio-spark?student=1

Join Urban Strings Columbus as they celebrate 17 years of serving minority youth interested in playing string instruments.

February 11, 2024 @ 3pm

Lincoln Theater (769 E. Long St)

Columbus, Ohio 43203

Urban Strings purpose is to share and perform all genres of music, from Classical, Sacred, R&B, Hip Hop and contemporary music, including music by African American composers and arrangers.

This event is FREE and open to everyone.

Ohio Hands and Voices is partnering with Columbus Metropolitan Libraries to offer American Sign Language Storytime at several library locations this spring.

All are welcome to attend these inclusive and fun storytime events!

Child Tax Credit (CTC): The CTC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $2,000 for each child who qualifies you for the credit. For more information please see: Child Tax Credit | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

Other Dependent Credit (ODC): The ODC is a credit that may reduce your tax by as much as $500for each eligible dependent. Please use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool to determine eligibility: Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): One refundable tax credit for moderate- and low-income families is the Earned Income Tax Credit. Use the EITC Assistant to learn if you're eligible for the tax credit. For more detailed information see: Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.

Child and Dependent Care Credit: Taxpayers who paid someone to care for their child, spouse or dependent so they can work, be a full-time student or look for work may be able to reduce their tax by claiming the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Use the IRS interactive tax assistant tool:Am I Eligible to Claim the Child and Dependent Care Credit? For more information please see:Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses or Topic no. 602, Child and dependent care credit | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov).

Karl Road Library Branch - Adult Learning Programs:

There are many programs offered at the Karl Road Branch for adult education.
Here are a few upcoming events, listed below.

English Conversation Tables

• Karl Road - Meeting Room 3
• Wednesdays, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
• Come join Library staff for an hour of English Practice as we explore a variety of topics, vocabulary, and grammar through conversation. No registration required. All levels are welcome.

ESOL Class

By Godman Guild

• Karl Road – School Help Center
  
• Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 12:00pm
  
• 9:00am – 12:00pm
  
• ESOL classes are free English as a second language classes. Please call the Godman Guild at 614-294-5476 to register.

ESOL Class

By Columbus Literacy Council

• Karl Road – Meeting Room 1, 2, and 3
  
• Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:00am – 12:00pm

• ESOL classes are free English as a second language class. Students need to register online using this form: http://bit.ly/CLCAdultEducation or call the Columbus Literacy Council at 614-362-1625.

Columbus Financial Empowerment Center:

By Jewish Family Services & City of Columbus

• Karl Road – Study Room 7
  
• Tuesdays, 12:30pm – 5:00pm

• The Columbus Financial Empowerment Center offers free one-on-one financial counseling as a public service for all Central Ohio residents. Trained and Certified financial counselors will help you.
  

Free Legal Help:

By Legal Aid Society

• Karl Road – Conference Room 1
  
• Tuesdays, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

• Get free legal help from the Legal Aid Society including consumer debt, expungement and landlord/tenant issues. No registration is required.
  

View the Columbus Metropolitan Library event calendar here for more events and information: https://events.columbuslibrary.org/events

*You can also filter the search to show events at the local Northern Lights branch, as well.

The Aspire program offers free ESL, High School Equivalency (GED, HiSET), postsecondary preparation and career training for adult learners at different locations throughout Columbus. Day, evening and weekend, virtual and in-person class options are available. Spring classes will begin April 15, 2024.

To register: https://ausohio.com/adult-education/

Since 1954, we have been committed to providing programs for lifelong learning. Adult Workforce Education courses can be taken in health occupations, skilled trades, and computer applications. You can prepare to earn your high school equivalency by attending free classes, and foreign-born adults can learn to read, write, and speak English in our (ESL) English for Speakers of Other Languages program.

ACE Mission Statement: Adult & Community Education improves the lives of adult students through personalized, quality learning.

CCS Mission Statement: Each student is highly educated, prepared for leadership and service, and empowered for success as a citizen in a global community.

Vision Statement: A world-class model of public education that prepares all students to be Portrait-ready graduates and reach their full potential.

To learn more: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddPqfUy-wClUEvEe2oYUndwMgNUr49QDYVydNllq7h0uVxGg/viewform

CLC is a dynamic and innovative agency providing services to individuals, families and neighborhoods across Central Ohio. Our mission is to increase employability, enable future education, encourage civic involvement and promote family stability and support.

Columbus Literacy Council offers programs for a variety of topics, such as:

• Workplace Learning
  
• Business Grammar
  
• American Sign Language
  
• Spanish
  
• Citizenship
  

To learn more: https://www.clcworks.org/connect-with-us

Find your next opportunity!

Post your resume, find a job, learn career skills, meet the requirements of your government benefits, and more on OhioMeansJobs.com. Get best practices for your job search.

The Franklin County Job Center is located at:

Columbus-Franklin County
1111 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43205

Phone: (614) 559-5052

• JobNow Coaches are available every day from 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM EDT
  
• Get resume help from live experts
• Live interview coaching
• Expert job matching
• Career assessments to help you begin your search
• Unemployment assistance

LSS 211 Central Ohio, formerly HandsOn Central Ohio, provides community access to thousands of programs and services available from nonprofit, government, and healthcare organizations in Central Ohio. Click the image to find resources available to you.

Visit the website here: https://lssnetworkofhope.org/211centralohio/

The local Northside office of Department of Jobs & Family Resources offer benefits for low-income families that are in need.

Available benefits include: Medicaid (Health Insurance),SNAP (Food Assistance), Ohio Works First (Cash Assistance), and childcare.

To print and fill out the application click below:

https://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/num/JFS%2007200/pdf/

To apply online click below:

https://ssp.benefits.ohio.gov/apspssp/ssp.portal

*Monthly Mobile Produce Market occurs every third Saturday of each month from 12:00pm - 3:00pm. Food is loaded into the trunk of each car by pantry staff. Please bring photo ID.

Home goods are also available on first-come, first-served basis.

Address: 5757 Karl Road, Columbus, OH 43229.

2024 Dates:

-January 20

-February 17

-March 16

-April 20

-May 18

-June 15

-July 20

-August 17

-September 21

-October 19

-November 16

-December 21

NNEMAP food pantry is open daily.

Daily Hours:

Monday - Wednesday: 9:00am - 12:00pm

Thursday: 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Friday: 9:00am - 12:00pm

Saturday: 10:00am - 1:00pm

Address: 677 E. 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43221

Phone: (614) 297 - 0533

*See flyer above.

Open to All Franklin County

Hours of Operation:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm

Tuesday, Thursday: 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Consumers are welcome once a week!

St. Stephen's Community House FNC is curb-side only.

Address: 1500 E. 17th Ave, Columbus, Ohio 43219

The Bread of Life Food Pantry is working to meet the critical need for food. If you need help, schedule an appointment at:

-Phone : (614) 341-2282

-Text: (614) 702 - 7772

The pantry is currently open on:

-Wednesdays: 5:00pm - 7:00pm

-Fridays: 10:00am - 12:00pm

Address: 1880 Agler Road

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged, although walk -Ins are accepted on a limited basis.

*See the flyer above.

We’re here to help!

You can use www.FreshTrak.com to find food resources in your area.

Input your zip code to find food access resources in your community.

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program provides housing assistance for very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled, allowing them to live in safe, quality affordable housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses or apartments in neighborhoods of their choice. Participants are free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and are not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.

A family that is issued a voucher is responsible for finding a suitable unit where the owner agrees to rent under the HCV program. The suitable unit may even include the family's present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the PHA.

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by CMHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.

Visit website: https://www.cmhanet.com/HCV/About

CMA provides free general admission for museum visitors, each and every Sunday. See art throughout the Museum galleries through hands-on activities, puzzles, and Join the Conversation stations. For more information click the link below.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Otterbein University (America Reads & Sports Pals)

Junior Achievement

Vineyard Community Center

Avalon Eagles Newsletters

Acronyms

Faculty & Staff Directory

Family Resource Directory

Feeder Pathways

PBIS Parent Handbook

Uniforms

Check out our Youtube Channel! Make sure to Like and Subscribe!

https://www.youtube.com/@avalonelementary5511

To follow, click this link:

https://www.instagram.com/avalonk3/

To request to join, click this link:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/134270649947642/