central middle school newsletter
Transcripción
central middle school newsletter
CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Mrs. Mildred Beall, Principal Mrs. Eleanor Rascoe, Assistant Principal Mr. Brian Ravanbakhsh, Assistant Principal Cobras Striking Success Our Mission All Students will achieve high levels of performance on quality standards through active engagement in instruction tailored to their needs and interests. Volume 36, Issue 9 From the Principal Dear Parents: Congratulations Golden Cobras! This year we have several students being honored for their Science, EngineeringTechnology, Mathematics (STEM) projects at the county STEM Fair on Saturday, March 2. Our eight grade students who competed in the National History Day competition presented their projects at the county competition and some will be chosen to move on to the state competition. We are all very proud of the hard work our students are doing and the quality of their products is truly impressive. The support of their families is greatly appreciated. We will begin developing the master schedule for next year and requesting the appropriate number of teachers and support staff for the 20132014 school year. As we begin this process, your help is needed. Please have your child return the registration forms immediately. The sixth and seventh grade students were given course registration forms and these should have been returned. Their grade level counselors are meeting with students in an effort to get forms returned by every student. The parent signature is required for the completion of the forms. If you have not seen these forms, contact your grade level counselor. All students, even those who are not returning next fall, need to return their March 2013 form . The roster for teaching staff is determined by these forms. Please ask your children about their forms. Congratulations to our current sixth graders they have 100% returned. This is the first time ever an entire grade has returned them on time! Next year, we hope to add Project Runway and an additional Digital Palette class. We are currently working with the program coordinators to get the laptops needed to offer these courses. Central Middle continues to increase the 21st Century skills throughout it’s curriculum. In the 2014-2015 school year, we hope to open as a STEM magnetic school pending funding. Our PTA/CAC meets in the media center on the second Thursday of each month at 9:00 AM. Please support our school by attending. We meet in the office area conference room. This year the MSA will be administered March 5 and 6 in reading and March 12and 13 in mathematics. Please avoid scheduling appointments on these days. Our School Improvement Team developed a fact sheet for families which you will find in this newsletter. Please take time to review it with your child. MSDE test security regulation states that NO cell phones are allowed in the classroom during testing. All cell phones must be off and out of site. If students put their cell phones in their lockers, it should be locked properly to avoid loss. The school is not responsible for valuables brought to school. If a phone rings or is found in the classroom MSDE and BOE sanctions will be imposed on that school. Please encourage your children to leave them home on testing days. Please visit our school sometime to see us in action. Let your child know that you support the good things happening here at Central Middle School. Sincerely, Millie Beall Principal [email protected] Motivation Success Achievement Maryland State Assessment Tests: March 5 & 6 and March 12 & 13 (subject to change in date due to snow days) What Every Family Should Know Why are the MSA tests important to our students? Future class placement is determined by MSA scores! Initial high school placement is determined by seventh grade MSA scores and adjusted by eighth grade scores. CMS students have performed very well on the MSA tests in the past and we want our current students to achieve even higher levels of success. In order to make this goal a reality, we need to work together to support our students. ATTENDANCE IS CRITICAL! Initial test-taking conditions are ideal for optimal student success. Please avoid or reschedule any appointments (dentist, doctor, orthodontist) RESTED BODY, ALERT MIND! Students perform well when they are well-rested, wellhydrated, and well-fed. To that end, please ensure that your student has a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast. Breakfast is available in the cafeteria before school Students may bring PLAIN bottled water (20 oz. or smaller) to drink during breaks in the test sessions. No “enhanced” waters, juices, or Gatorades are allowed. Snacks will be provided by food services. NO CELL PHONES OR OTHER ELECTRONIC DISTRACTIONS! New MSDE regulations prohibit ANY CELL PHONE in the school building during MSA testing. This prohibition applies to everyone – including administrators, teachers, students, parent volunteers, and visitors to the school building. For the testing days, please ensure that your student does not bring a cell phone or any other electronic distraction (iPod, PSP, CD player, Game Boy) to school. POSITIVE ATTITUDE, POSITIVE PERFORMANCE! CMS students are well- prepared for the MSA! Encourage your student to relax and do his/her best! Encouraging Educational Excellence Central Middle School Hearing & Vision Screening Reminder Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21 we will be administering Hearing and Vision screening to all 8th grade students and students new to Anne Arundel County Public Schools. If your student wears glasses or contacts, please have them bring them to the screening. The Division of Special Education recognizes the importance of the home/ school connection. To facilitate the partnership with parents/guardians in educational journeys of excellence for students with disabilities, AACPS is proud to announce the development of a Special Education Parent eHandbook. This resource reinforces our value of the role of parents in the teaching and learning process in our county. You may access the eHandbook from the AACPS website (www.aacps.org) by clicking on the link (PARENT eHandbook For Special Education Guidelines & Procedures) from the Parent Tab (under Special Education) and the Curriculum/Instruction Tab (Special Education link) or by typing the following address into your web browser: http://www.aacps.org/specialed/ SPEDParenteHandbook.pdf Introduction to French 7th grade students survived the frenzy of Winter Carnival and Mardi Gras! Many demonstrated excellent prior knowledge about the holiday while many others showed exemplary learning by the amount of “throws” (beads) they earned. Students are wrapping up café vocabulary with Michelin star menus. Next we will tell time and will be moving on to the calendar and holidays in addition to favorite actions as we continue the third marking period. Students will be relying on many already established English skills as they master these new French concepts and vocabulary. Students who may feel they need an extra boost should be attending Help Days on Tuesdays afterschool! Remember, help is also just a click away at the textbook website at www.classzone.com. Click on French > Discovering French, Nouveau Bleu (1) > choose a unité. Need extra credit? Keep your eyes and ears open for French opportunities! French 1 8th grade students took to heart the Mardi Gras motto “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” (Let the good times roll!). Thanks to Lizzie Nyman and Sammi Thompson (period 1) and Christian Stolz and Cori Whisman (period 4), we had enough King’s cake to crown the royals Queen Alyssa Foust and King Roberto Cuellar (pd. 1) and Queen Stephanie King and King Max Meinhold (pd. 4)! The Royals ruled the Mardi Gras mania game, and the royal subjects were pushed to the limit to share their Carnival knowledge! Their treasure of beads marks their playful revelry! Students are puzzling about their personalities and possessions and will be beginning to “go” places with our next unit of vocabulary! They will explore their own houses and communities and then venture out into the towns and discover some of the high speed transports of France! Students can continue to practice on their textbook website at www.classzone.com. Click on French > Discovering French, Nouveau Bleu (1) > choose a unité. Keep an eye out for French Spring fashions! What do Zydeco music plus le Hoogie Boogie dance make? Cajun Mardi Gras fun for everyone! With Jake Genovere’s King Cakes, Queen Katerina Gabarczyk and Princess Clendy Quintanilla were crowned and were the overseers of the Royal dance-a-thon! All members earned throws, doubloons, or boas from the “Royal Drawing” along with top hat party favors! We are continuing our College Chateaucoin exchange as we draw ever closer to our French Week spring extravaganza! Our creativity is starting to heat up as Spring approaches! Watch out CMS! The community is looking for host families for a group of French teenage students traveling to the area this summer as well as a group of Spanish students traveling here the first three weeks of September. Generally, the students are 14 – 17 years old. They are well-motivated, fully insured, have their own spending money, and can communicate in English. While the students are here, they will be taking several excursions, all in which American host families may participate if they wish, and the visiting students are allowed to vacation with American host families. If families can only keep the student part of the time, then arrangements can be made as well. If you are even a tiny bit interested in sharing your culture in this unique way and having your own child participate in this French or Spanish learning experience, please contact Mrs. Yuan at [email protected] or directly contact the IFF coordinator Mrs. Joann Smith at [email protected]. Open your home! Open your heart! Join Us! February 25 at 6:30 p.m. Central Middle School 221 Central Avenue East Edgewater, MD 21037 February 25 at 6:30 p.m. Meade Middle School 1103 26th St Fort Meade, MD 21076 February 26 at 6:30 p.m. Bates Middle School 701 Chase St Annapolis, MD 21401 February 26 at 6:30 p.m. Severna Park Middle School 450 Jumpers Hole Rd Severna Park, MD 21146 February 27 at 6:30 p.m. Brooklyn Park Middle School 200 Hammonds Ln Brooklyn, MD 21225 February 27 at 6:30 p.m. Old Mill Middle North 610 Patriot Ln Millersville, MD 21108 February 28 at 6:30 p.m. Chesapeake Middle School 4804 Mountain Road Pasadena, MD 21122 For more information and reserve your seat contact: Beth Francazi [email protected] or 410 570 7683 Parent Link Connecting You and Your Child to Information on Our Journey to Greatness “To be the truly great school system we want to be, we need to continue to develop partnerships with our parents. Children need to see that parents value education and are willing and able to be involved in helping them realize their potential.” - Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell Family Fun and Learning Spring Break Day-Trip Suggestions Schools are closed March 25th through April 1st March 2013 SAVE these DATES Watch for further information. - An Early Learning Summit - Saturday, May 4th, 2013 8:30 am – 12:00 pm What EVERY Child Needs: Collaborating for School Readiness for parents, child care providers, and early childhood educators. - Volunteer Recognition Tea – Thursday, May 25th, 2013 8:30 am – 10:30 pm Experience some of Maryland and Washington, D.C.’s many famous and historic sites. Visit museums to experience art, science, culture, or natural history. Take hikes or ride bikes in a park. Enjoy the zoo or aquarium. County Parks and Trails: aacounty.org/RecParks/parks/trails/index.cfm State Parks and Trails: dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands National Parks: Ft McHenry: nps.gov/fomc/index.htm C&O Canal: nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc6.htm Washington, DC: nps.gov/nacc/index.htm, visitthecapitol.gov. Zoos: Baltimore: http://www.marylandzoo.org Washington: http://nationalzoo.si.edu National Aquarium in Baltimore: http://www.aqua.org Annapolis: annapolis.gov/Visitors.aspx Baltimore: baltimore.org/; baltimore.org/legendsandlegacies Washington, DC: Washington.org; Going Places With Children in Washington, DC (17th edition, 50th Anniversary edition), a comprehensive guidebook to Washington, DC Remember to Tally your Hours Volunteer of the Month March 2013 Becky Andrew Ruth Parker Eason School … for regularly and lovingly giving of her time and talents to support to her daughter’s school, both in and out of the classroom. To nominate outstanding volunteers for the AACPS Volunteer of the Month Award, email [email protected] Office of School & Family Partnerships AACPS TV Programs: Comcast and Broadstripe Channel 96, & Verizon Channel 36. Parent Connection, Parents’ Corner, World View Nuestra Comunidad (Our Community),and ¡Charlemos Juntos! (Let’s Chat) Published by: The Office of School & Family Partnerships 410-222-5414; [email protected] Parent Link Conectándolo a usted y a su hijo a la información en su camino a la grandeza “Para que verdaderamente seamos el gran sistema escolar que deseamos ser, necesitamos seguir desarrollando relaciones con nuestros padres. Los niños necesitan ver que los padres valoran la educación y que están dispuestos y son capaces de involucrarse en ella, ayudando a sus hijos a desarrollar todo su potencial. - Dr. Kevin M. Maxwell Diversión Familiar y Aprendizaje Sugerencias para un día de Viaje en las Vacaciones de Primavera Las escuelas estarán cerradas del 25 de Marzo al 1° de Abril. Marzo 2013 RESERVE las FECHAS - Conferencia sobre Aprendizaje TempranoWatch for further information. Sábado 4 de Mayo de 2013 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Lo que TODO Niño Necesita: Colaborando con la Preparación para la Escuela Para padres, proveedores de cuidado infantil y educadores de la niñez. - Té de Reconocimiento a los Voluntarios – Conozcan algunos de los sitios famosos e históricos de Maryland y Washington, D.C. Visiten museos para vivir el arte, la ciencia, la cultura o la historia natural. Vayan de excursión o monten en bicicleta en los parques. Disfruten del zoológico o el acuario. Parques y Senderos del Condado: aacounty.org/RecParks/parks/trails/index.cfm Parques y Senderos del Estado: dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands Parques Nacionales: Ft McHenry: nps.gov/fomc/index.htm C&O Canal: nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc6.htm Washington, DC: nps.gov/nacc/index.htm, visitthecapitol.gov. Zoológicos: Baltimore: http://www.marylandzoo.org Washington: http://nationalzoo.si.edu Acuario Nacional en Baltimore: http://www.aqua.org Annapolis: annapolis.gov/Visitors.aspx Baltimore: baltimore.org/; baltimore.org/legendsandlegacies Washington, DC: Washington.org; “Going Places With Children in Washington”, DC (17th edición, edición del 50 Aniversario), una guía complete sobre Washington, DC. Jueves 25 de Mayo de 2013 8:30 am – 10:30 pm Remember to Tally your Hours Voluntario del Mes Marzo 2013 Becky Andrew Escuela Ruth Parker Eason … por donar su tiempo y talentos de manera regular y amorosa en la escuela de su hija, tanto dentro como fuera del aula. Para nominar a voluntarios sobresalientes al Premio Voluntario del Mes de AACPS envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] Programas de TV de la Oficina de Relaciones entre la Escuela y la Familia de AACPS: Comcast y Broadstripe Canal 96, Verizon Canal 36. Parent Connection, Parents’ Corner, World View Nuestra Comunidad y ¡Charlemos Juntos! Publicado por: La Oficina de Relaciones entre la Escuela y la Familia 410-222-5414; [email protected] 6th Annual Career Exploration The 21st Century Education Foundation, in partnership with Anne Arundel Community College, is sponsoring its 6th Annual Career Exploration on March 9, 2013. The event will take place at the Community College (Arnold Campus) in the Jenkins Gymnasium from 10am – 2pm. The Annual Career Exploration is targeted to middle and high school students in Anne Arundel County, but the whole family is encouraged to attend. This is an opportunity for students to meet and talk with representatives from a variety of businesses. The students can learn from the representatives about the many career opportunities available to them, as well as learn about related courses that they can take while in high school. The free event is being sponsored for the second year by Jacobs. Other businesses participating are BG&E, DISA, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Anne Arundel County Fire and Police and many more. The Foundation website will have updated lists of participates (http://21steducation.org/what-we-do/career-expo) . Anne Arundel Community College advisors from a variety of departments who will be available to discuss with students how they can start preparing now for their future, as well as how to access the many opportunities available through the college. Students will have the opportunity workshops on applying for college, tips for success in college, getting a security clearance and working in the public sector. Information about the workshops will be on the Foundation website participates (http://21st-education.org/what-we-do/careerexpo). If you have questions, contact your High School Signature Program Facilitator or the AACPS Development Office at 410-222-5370 or by email to [email protected]. March 2013 No single way to advance student achievement By Kevin M. Maxwell, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools Recently released data that tracks student academic success at every school across the state has generated a considerable amount of discussion about the value of standardized testing and the methodology by which schools are held accountable. The new School Progress Index, or SPI, is the monitoring tool developed by the Maryland State Department of Education as part of the state’s waiver from federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requirements. It examines student achievement, the gap between high- and low-performing student groups, and depending on school level, student growth or college and career readiness. To be clear, the SPI is not a perfect tool. Neither was NCLB. For all of its imperfections, however, NCLB forced schools and school systems to focus on every single student group and, in reality, every single student instead of hiding behind higher-performing student groups and neglecting others. The goal of the SPI is the same. However, unlike NCLB, which required each school to meet a common standard no matter their starting point, the SPI examines every Career Exploration Fair The 21st Century Education Foundation, in partnership with Anne Arundel Community College, is sponsoring its sixth annual Career Exploration Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 9 at Anne Arundel Community College’s Jenkins Gymnasium. The fair is designed to allow middle and high school students in Anne Arundel County to meet and talk with representatives from a variety of businesses and learn about careers and the required coursework. Students will have the opportunity school’s academic history on its own merits and sets independent future academic goals. SPI targets are then calculated to measure a school on its progress to cut the number of nonproficient students in half by 2017. The testing mechanisms we use have also been the subject of significant debate. We invest a lot in public education. Is it too much to ask that we expect proficiency, and measure our schools regularly to assess the progress they are making in helping every student to be proficient? If we do not do this by standardized testing, as some have suggested, how do we assess the movement of students in our traditionally lower-performing groups, generally minority and poor students? There are clear gaps, and at this juncture MSAs and HSAs provide the means by which we can frame conversations about moving children – all children – forward. Maryland has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in education for five consecutive years. We did not get there by overlooking groups of children, or by being content with having some of our children succeed while others languish. No educational system should ever be seen as not wanting to improve student outcomes. Progress, however, to attend workshops on applying for college, tips for success in college, getting a security clearance, and working in the public sector. The fair is free and open to students and their families. For more information, call 410-222-5370. Countywide CAC meetings The Countywide Citzen Advisory Committee will meet at 7 p.m. on the following dates: March 4; April 2; May 6; and June 3. All meetings will be held in the Board Room at the Parham Building, located at 2644 Riva Road in Annapolis, and are open to the public. is made by taking deliberate, prudent, and reasonable approaches to an issue and continuing to refine those approaches as time moves on. Put simply, we have to continue to advance the cause. Were there a onesize-fits-all, guaranteed way for every school system to close achievement gaps and make every student proficient or advanced, we would all be implementing it. Every child is different, and so is every school. Putting systemic approaches in place, analyzing progress in that environment, and continually working to improve both practices and processes is the way of reform. Placing greater emphasis on progress provides a meaningful, indepth way for us to support each and every school. Similar to addressing the diverse needs and abilities of each student, we must provide keen guidance for each school to move along their own paths of achievement. The SPI tool takes the analysis of student performance to another individualized level. This sort of layered data allows us to quickly and succinctly pinpoint areas that a school needs to address and to recognize those schools that are meeting and exceeding targets. On The Calendar March 4-19: Maryland School Assessment (MSA) administration, grades 3-8 March 9: 21st Century Education Foundation Career Expo, AACC gymnasium, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 20: Hispanic Education Forum, Woodside Elementary, 5:458:15 p.m. March 25-29: Easter/Spring break; all schools closed. March 28-29: Easter/Spring break; all AACPS schools and offices closed Marzo 2013 No hay una sola manera de promover el rendimiento del estudiante Por Kevin M. Maxwell, Ph.D. Superintendente de Escuelas Los datos recientemente publicados que analizan el éxito académico de los estudiantes en todas las escuelas a lo largo del estado, ha generado una enorme discusión sobre el valor de las pruebas estandarizadas y el método por el que las escuelas rinden cuentas. El Nuevo Índice de Progreso Escolar Index o SPI (por sus siglas en inglés), es la herramienta de monitoreo desarrollada por el Departamento de Educación del Estado de Maryland como parte de la exención del estado de los requisitos federales Que Ningún Niño se Quede Atrás (NCLB por sus siglas en inglés). Esta herramienta examina el logro del estudiante, la brecha entre grupos de estudiantes de alto y bajo desempeño y dependiendo del nivel de la escuela, crecimiento estudiantil o preparación universitaria y profesional. Para ser claros, la SPI no es una herramienta perfecta. Tampoco lo fue la NCLB. No obstante a pesar de sus imperfecciones, la NCLB forzó a las escuelas y a los sistemas escolares a concentrarse en cada uno de los grupos de alumnos y en realidad, en cada alumno, sin esconder datos detrás de los grupos de estudiantes de alto rendimiento, descuidando a otros. La meta de la SPI es la misma. Sin embargo, a diferencia de la ley NCLB, la cual requiere que cada escuela cumpla una norma común sin importar el punto Feria de Exploración de Carreras La Fundación Siglo 21 para la Educación en asocio con el Anne Arundel Community College está patrocinando su sexta Feria de Exploración de Carreras de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. el 9 de Marzo en el Gimnasio Jenkins del Anne Arundel Community College. La feria está diseñada para permitir a los estudiantes de escuela intermedia y secundaria en el Condado de Anne Arundel de partida, la SPI examina la historia académica de cada escuela según su propio mérito y establece metas académicas independientes para el futuro. Los objetivos de la SPI se calculan entonces para medir una escuela en su progreso, con el fin de reducir a la mitad el número de alumnos de bajo rendimiento para el 2017. Los mecanismos de evaluación que utilizamos han sido también objeto de debate significativo. Invertimos mucho en la educación pública. ¿Es demasiado pedir que esperemos competencia y medir nuestras escuelas regularmente para evaluar el progreso que están haciendo en ayudar a cada estudiante a estar preparado? Si no hacemos esto con evaluaciones estandarizadas, como algunos han sugerido, ¿cómo podemos evaluar el movimiento de los estudiantes que se encuentran en los grupos tradicionales de menor rendimiento, generalmente minoritarios y pobres? Hay brechas claras y en esta coyuntura, las evaluaciones MSA y HAS proporcionan los medios por los cuales podemos enmarcar conversaciones sobre el movimiento de los niños – todos los niños – hacia adelante. Maryland ha sido clasificado No. 1 en el país por cinco años consecutivos. No hemos llegado hasta allí ignorando grupos de niños o contentándonos con el éxito de algunos niños mientras otros languidecen. Ningún sistema educativo debe ser visto nunca como un sistema que no que conozcan y hablen con representantes de una variedad de negocios y aprendan sobre carreras y los cursos requeridos. Los estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de asistir a talleres sobre cómo aplicar a la universidad, consejos para tener éxito en la universidad, obtener un permiso de seguridad y trabajar en el sector público. La feria es gratis y está abierta para los estudiantes y sus familias. Para mayor información llame al 410-222-5370. desea mejorar los resultados de sus estudiantes. El progreso, sin embargo, se hace tomando enfoques deliberados, prudentes y razonables a un problema y perfeccionando esos enfoques con el paso del tiempo. En pocas palabras, tenemos que seguir avanzando en la causa. Si hubiera una talla única para todos, una forma garantizada para cada sistema escolar de cerrar las brechas de logros y hacer de cada estudiante un alumno competente o avanzado, todos la estaríamos implementado. Cada niño es diferente al igual que cada escuela. Poniendo enfoques sistémicos en su lugar, analizando el progreso en ese ambiente y trabajando continuamente para mejorar tanto las prácticas como los procesos, es el camino a la reforma. Poner mayor énfasis en el progreso nos proporciona una manera significativa y profunda para apoyar a todas y cada una de las escuelas. Semejante a la forma en que abordamos las diversas necesidades y habilidades de cada estudiante, debemos proporcionar orientación aguda para cada escuela que recorre su propio camino de realización. La herramienta SPI lleva el análisis del desempeño del estudiante a otro nivel individualizado. Este tipo de información en capas nos permite localizar de manera rápida y sucinta áreas que la escuela debe abordar y nos permite reconocer a las escuelas que están cumpliendo y superando los objetivos. Marzo 4-19: Evaluaciones del Estado de Maryland (MSA), grados 3-8 Marzo 9: Feria de Exploración de Carreras de la Fundación Siglo 21 para la Educación, Gimnasio de AACC, 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. Marzo 20: Foro de Educación Hispano, Escuela Primaria Woodside, 5:45-8:15 p.m. Marzo 25-29: Vacaciones de Pascua/Primavera, todas las escuelas estarán cerradas. Community Events for Families and Educators Of Children with Disabilities Partners for Success Resource Center Oakwood Elementary School, 330 Oak Manor Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 Phone: 410-222-3805 [email protected] March 2013 For Questions and Concerns…. Debbie Wetzel, Katy Schieman, Partners for Success Resource Center 410-222-3805 Online: http://www.aacps.org/specialed/involvement.asp Click on “Monthly Calendar of Events” Facilitated IEP Team Meetings As stated in Facilitated IEP Team Meetings in Maryland, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services, Maryland State Department of Education, “Having IEP team meetings facilitated by an external, independent, trained “Facilitator” is rapidly becoming a popular means for parents and school personnel to reach agreement in the educational decision making process for students needing or suspected of needing special education services. When the relationship between parents and school personnel becomes strained or better yet, before the relationship has the opportunity to fray, parents and school personnel are finding that using external facilitators can assist the IEP team process. A facilitator may help parents and school personnel avoid misunderstandings or disagreements when it is believed that discussions at the meeting are becoming challenging. Using a trained facilitator has been found to be an effective means to keep IEP teams focused on the development of the educational program for the student while addressing some of the conflicts and disagreements that may arise from inadequate communication. The facilitator will utilize skills that create an environment in which the IEP team members; school personnel and parents can listen to each other and work together in developing high quality education programs for students suspected of, or identified as disabled.” If you would like more information about Facilitated IEP Team Meetings, please contact the Office of Special Education Compliance and Legal Issues, Anne Arundel County Public Schools at 410-222-5422 or Linda Deming, Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center at 410-266 -9033. To request a Facilitated IEP Team Meeting, please contact the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center at 410-266-9033. Anne Arundel County Systems of Care Connecting People to Resources in Anne Arundel County, Maryland 1-800-485-0041 Search InfoAnneArundel: www.infoannearundel.org Can’t find local resources for your family? Talk to someone who can help! Anne Arundel County Systems of Care provides one-on-one support/system navigation and access to agency referral information and community resources by phone. InfoAnneArundel is an up-to-date, user-friendly website containing an inventory of local services. Anne Arundel County Public Schools PARENT eHandbook for Special Education: Guidelines and Procedures In partnership with parents/guardians for educational journeys of excellence for students with disabilities, AACPS is proud to present a Special Education eHandbook. The Division of Special Education values the role of parents in the teaching and learning process. You may access the Handbook by clicking on the link (PARENT eHandbook For Special Education Guidelines & Procedures) from the Parent Tab (under Special Education) or the Curriculum/Instruction Tab (Special Education link) or by typing the following address into your web browser: http://www.aacps.org/specialed/SPEDParenteHandbook.pdf Anne Arundel County Public Schools Parent Chat Sessions (For parents of children with special needs, ages birth through 5 years) Topic: Positive Behavior Solutions Monday, March 25, 2013 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Location: Infants and Toddlers Program Waiting Room, Point Pleasant Elementary School, 1450 Furnace Branch Rd., Glen Burnie, MD 1 This is an informal opportunity for parents to chat with each other, share strategies and network with other families with children with special needs. Sessions are co-led by Nina Echevarria, ITP Behavioral Specialist, and Sue Young, ITP Family Outreach Specialist. For more information, please contact Sue Young at [email protected] or 443-510-4591. The Life Transition Series: “Employment Opportunities” Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: Woods Memorial Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Room 155, Severna Park, MD. This workshop is a discussion on employment and employment initiatives. Several Anne Arundel County community resource providers will talk about services designed to support adults with developmental disabilities to work as independently as possible in their communities. Community resource providers support individuals in finding a job that fits their individual needs and skills. Representatives from the following agencies/programs will be present: The Arc of the Central Chesapeake Region, Opportunities Builders, Inc. (OBI), Providence Center, Inc. (PCI), Abilities Network, Bay Community Support Services (UCP), Work Opportunities, and Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS). Registration is required for this workshop. The Life Transition Series of workshops is designed to provide families of students with disabilities, transitioning from school to adult services, with valuable information and resources to facilitate a successful transition. Each session will focus on a specific topic providing information that is crucial in preparing for adult life. The Life Transition Series is open to all families interested in increasing their knowledge on specific topics. For more information, or to register for the free workshops, please email or call one of the following persons: Michele Dilegge, Division of Special Education, AACPS: [email protected] , at 410-222-5481, Katy Schieman at Partners for Success AACPS: [email protected], at 410-2223805, or Jessica Dicus, The Arc of the Central Chesapeake Region: [email protected] at 410-268-8085. Positive Solutions for Families – Addressing Challenging Behaviors, Sue Young, N.C.C. Family Outreach Specialist, AACPS Infants and Toddlers Program, facilitator th Mondays, February 25, March 4, 11, and 18 , 2013 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon Location: Point Pleasant Elementary School, Infants and Toddlers Office, 1450 Furnace Ave., Glen Burnie, MD 21060 (Limited space available) Have you ever wondered if there was a more positive way to handle tantrums, fighting with siblings, throwing food, meltdowns, or the ever common “No! I don’t want to!”? These are all challenging behaviors and we ALL work through these types of behaviors at some time in our lives. Come and network with other families to learn strategies at this workshop. Topics will include helping young children manage anger, handle disappointment and develop problem solving skills. The overall goal is for parents/caregivers to learn strategies to approach challenging behaviors in positive ways while setting families up for success in their daily routines. Please register for workshop at [email protected] or 443-510-4591. Anne Arundel County Asperger Support Group Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Location: St. Martin in the Field Church, 375 Benfield Blvd., Severna Park, MD Support Group meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (during the school year). For more information, please contact Sue Hayward at 410-903-6661 or [email protected]. You can also check the website for additional information on guest speakers, resources and links at www.aacaps.org. Anne Arundel County Down Syndrome Connection Support Group Topic “Potty Training” Thursday, March 21, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Support group generally meets every other month on the 3rd Thursday of the month during the school year. Please visit website: www.downsyndromeconnection.com or call 888-279-2279 for meeting information. 2 Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks Adaptive Recreation- A Place for All Abilities These programs are designed for all abilities, however not all programs are appropriate for all individuals. Programs are offered that are intended to provide integration opportunities in a fun and non-competitive manner. Peer coaches are always welcome to volunteer and participate in the programs. If you are a new participant, or wish to volunteer, please contact Wendy Scarborough at 410-222-7313, ext. 3554, for additional program information. Current programs include: The Social Club for Youth with Developmental Delays and adaptive sports at the Freedom Field Lake Waterford Adaptive Sports Complex and Ruth P. Eason School. Adaptive sports include fall baseball, tennis, soccer, kickball, basketball, and floor hockey. It also includes swimming programs for youth and adults. To view descriptions of the current schedule of programs and/or obtain registration materials, please go to: http://www.aacounty.org/recparks/recreation/adaptive.cfm. Anne Arundel County Special Education Citizens' Advisory Committee (AA-SECAC) Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Location: The Carol S. Parham Board of Education Building, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD AA-SECAC, “A voice for positive changes in Special Education”, meets the second Thursday evening of the month. The goal of SECAC is to develop partnerships and facilitate a discussion among parents, families, community leaders, organizations, educators and administrators as a means to enhance services and opportunities by the Division of Special Education. AASECAC also promotes the implementation of proactive supports to students with disabilities and/or special needs, while advocating for positive changes in special education within Anne Arundel County Public Schools. For additional information, please go to: http://www.aasecac.org/ Kim Offutt, Chair, [email protected]; Carolyn Fiume, Vice-Chair, [email protected]; or Partners for Success Resource Center, [email protected] /410-222-3805. CHADD of Anne Arundel County Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Location: Severna Park United Methodist Church, 731 Benfield Road, Rm. 203, Severna Park, MD CHADD meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from September to June. Please see the website (www.aacochadd.org) for additional information including adult and parent support groups. For further assistance and information, please leave a message for volunteer staff on 410-721-2468 and they will return your call. (Army) Exceptional Family Member Program Monthly Support Group: “Families Helping Families” Wednesday, March 13, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Location: Fort Meade Army Community Service (EFMP), 830 Chisholm Ave., Fort Meade, MD Come talk to other EFMP families. This will be a time to share and network with other parents/talk about what works and what isn’t working. Also, learn about the Family Leadership Institute (FLI) which is a service provided to EFMP parents at not cost. Open to all who would like to attend. Registration required. Open to military and non-military. To register and /or to obtain more information, please contact Kelly Burger, [email protected] or 301-677-4473. Bully Proofing Support Group for Parents Tuesdays, March 12 and 26, 2013 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Location: Fort Meade – Potomac Place, 4998 2nd Corps Blvd., Fort Meade, MD nd th Is your child struggling with bullying or is he/she being bullied? This group will meet the 2 and 4 Tuesdays of the month. This group is only open to military families and Department of Defense civilian families. If you are interested, please contact: Kimberly McKay, Parent Support Coordinator at ACS, 301-677-5590, or [email protected]. Friends of Early Childhood Intervention Friends of Early Childhood Intervention is for parents and educators of children who receive special education services in A.A. Co. Infants and Toddlers Program, Child Find, Early Childhood Identification Program (ECI) and Community Based Services 3 Program (CBS). There are no membership dues. Friends also sponsors two play dates a week at Rolly Pollies locations in Anne Arundel County locations. On Mondays, from 6:15 to 7:00 pm, Friends has a play date at the Severna Park location, 476 D Ritchie Hwy. On Wednesdays, from 5:15 to 6:00 pm, Friends has a play date at the Crofton location, 1612 C Professional Blvd. The cost is $5 per child which is half of the regular open play cost. It is a great time where the kids can play and parents can make friends. We greatly appreciate the support that Rolly Pollies gives us for this effort!!! For more information please go to www.rollypolliesmaryland.com Kennedy Krieger: Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) Early Findings from Jill’s House: How Respite Benefits Your Child and You, Mary Leidy MSW, presenter Wednesday, March 6, 2013 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Location: Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Ave., Creamer Building, 3rd Floor Large Conference Room, Baltimore, MD This is a free training for parents, family members, and professionals. For more information or to register, please go to http://kennedykriegercard.eventbrite.com/. Getting an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: Where do I go from here?, Kelly Meissner, presenter Monday, March 18, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Location: Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute, 3901 Greenspring Ave., Creamer Building, 3rd Floor Large Conference Room, Baltimore, MD This is a free training that will provide in-depth information about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and resources available in Maryland. There will be a question and answer period and handouts will be provided that offer guidance related to obtaining a diagnosis, finding services, the education system and more. For more information or to register, please go to http://kennedykriegercard.eventbrite.com/. NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Family Support Groups Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. West County Library, 1325 Annapolis Rd., Odenton MD Thursdays, March 14 and 28, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Location: Arundel Lodge, 2600 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD NAMI Family support groups are for relatives, caregivers, and others involved with individuals with mental illness. They generally meet the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at the Arundel Lodge, and the first Thursday at the West County Library. Support groups provide a caring atmosphere for individuals to share their common experiences. It also assists individuals in developing skills for understanding and coping. For more information please call 443- 569-3498 or visit the website: www.namiaac.org The Parenting Center at Anne Arundel Community College AACC’s Parenting Center offers courses for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers. For a complete listing of workshop descriptions and online registration, visit www.aacc.edu/parenting or contact AACC at: [email protected] or 410777-2159. Parents Place of Maryland Teleconference Workshop: “Help! My Child is Being Bullied” Thursday, March 7, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Registration is open statewide. Materials and call-in number will be provided prior to the workshop. 4 Learn how to recognize bullying, effectively responding to bullying and collaboratively identifying positive solutions. Advance Registration is Required. To register, email Rochelle Howell at [email protected] and provide your email and phone number. For additional questions email Rochelle or call her at 410-768-9100. Parents of Children with Type 1 Diabetes Meeting Support Group Meeting Tuesday, March 12, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Location: Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2000 Medical Pkwy., Health Sciences Pavilion, 7th Floor Classroom, Jennifer Road and Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD For further information, please contact Ruthellen Sheldon at 410-729-5595 or [email protected]. Special Olympics Maryland, Anne Arundel County Developmentally disabled people age 8 and older are invited to train in the following skills: Basketball: Session 1/Unified Mentors Mondays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Old Mill Middle South School Basketball: Session 2 Mondays from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Old Mill Middle South School Basketball Jr. Skills Mondays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Ruth Parker Eason School Basketball Skills Mondays from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at Ruth Parker Eason School Bocce Mondays from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.at Ruth Parker Eason School Duckpin Bowling Saturdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Severna Park Bowling Lanes Softball Teams Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Lake Waterford Park Swimming: One on One Fridays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Annapolis Swim Center Swimming: Intermediates Fridays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Annapolis Swim Center Swimming: Lappers Fridays from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Annapolis Swim Center Track and Field: South County Sundays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Annapolis High School (tentative) Track and Field: North County Sundays from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Glen Burnie High School If schools are closed, there will be no practice. For more information, please call Gregg Meade at 410-923-0383, [email protected]. For additional information go to www.soaamd.org Special Olympics Young Athletes Program Tentative Practice Dates and Information (Schedule is subject to change) Wednesdays, March 6, 20, April 10, 24, May 8, 29, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Location: Ruth Parker Eason School, 648 Old Mill Road, Millersville, MD This program is currently offered for children with special needs, ages 3 yrs. to 6 yrs. Parent participation is mandatory. Siblings may participate in activities. This program provides motor skills activities that encourage young children to participate in group athletic exercises. A variety of materials and equipment, music, and movement are used to introduce young special needs children to group motor games. It is also a great socialization time for the children and parents! The young athletes should wear comfortable clothing and sneakers. There are no fees for the program. Additional information and applications are available at all practices. Please contact Janis Jank at [email protected] to obtain information concerning the current program. 5 TACA – Talk About Curing Autism Now Topic: The IEP Meeting Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Location: Severna Park Baptist Church, 506 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD Parents are an important part of the IEP team, but many find it difficult to evaluate how their child’s IEP measures up. Linda Carter-Ferrier, educational advocate and parent of two sons on the autism spectrum, will use real-life examples to show us how good IEPs are built, using quarterly reports and present levels to develop measurable and attainable goals and objectives. Time will be allotted for Q&A and discussion. We’re tackling this popular and important topic in time for ‘IEP season’, aiming to arm our families with knowledge in time for their annual meetings. This group generally meets the second Tuesday of the month. For current information about events, please access the following website: www.tacanow.org/maryland. For more information, please contact Alison Hamilton (410-451-8015), [email protected] or Jill Zaukus (410-439-1828), [email protected]. Villa Maria Sponsored Family Support Group Tuesday March 19, 2013 from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Location: Brooklyn Park Middle School, 200 Hammonds Lane, Baltimore, MD This group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month and is open to the community. Presentations are designed to help families gain a new perspective about the challenges they face raising a child who has mental health, behavioral issues and /or has suffered trauma in his or her life. If Anne Arundel County Schools are closed or close early on the day of the meeting due to inclement weather, then the Support Group will be cancelled. Pizza and child care (ages 3 to 14) is provided free of charge with RSVP. Please RSVP to Dane Juliano or Sarah Wasserman at 410-451-0682. Children’s Social Group: 8- Week Program facilitated by Chesapeake Bay Aquatic & Physical Therapy Location:551-F Baltimore Annapolis Blvd., Severna Park, MD Each 8 week session is designed to help children gain skills in: improving self-esteem, building strong and healthy peer relationships, coping with bullying and other social challenges, learning to identify and express feelings in a constructive manner, creating organizational strategies for school and life, improving communication skills, responding more effectively to both verbal and nonverbal social clues, listening actively, managing frustration and anger, recognizing boundaries, improving attention, focusing, maintaing self control, and being a friend/sharing. To enroll, a free 15 minute screening is required to determine eligiblity. The cost is $400.00 for eight, 45-minute sessions. For more information, please contact Amada Foran, PhD(c), OTR/L at 410-315-9080 or [email protected] The Parents’ Place of Maryland: Special Education LEADers Training Program Applications Due: Friday March 1, 2013 Five Saturday Sessions: April 6, April 20, May 11, June 1, and June 15, 2013. Participants must attend all 5 sessions. Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD The LEADers Program provides parents with the information they need to be informed and active in special education advocacy at the state and local levels. This program offers parents the tools they need to be an active voice for not only their own child, but also for other children with disabilities in their communities. Applications are due Friday March 1, 2013 online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/leaders2. For more information, please contact Kelly Meissner at 410-768-9100 x107 or by email at [email protected] 2nd Annual Parent Empowerment Conference sponsored by Pathfinders for Autism and The One World Center for Autism, Prince George’s County Public Schools. Saturday, March 2, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Location: John Carroll Elementary School, 1400 Nalley Terrace, Hyattsville, MD The Keynote Speaker will be Vincent Culotta, Ph.D: “Current Topics in Autism: The Impact of DSMV on ASD Diagnoses and Setting Healthy Limits on the Virtual World”. This conference is free, but registration is required. Online registration will be available soon at http://www.pathfindersforautism.org/ Child care will be available for a fee, but space is limited. Call 301618-8395 directly to book child care. 6 Stay Informed About your child’s ► grades, assignments, progress, and attendance ► About changes to school and school system schedules, important upcoming events, and other information Want to receive all AACPS news releases? Send your email address to [email protected] to be added to the distribution list. Receiving AACPS’ weekly AXIS e-newsletter is as simple as providing your child’s school with your email information to enter into the student database. ParentCONNECTxp (PCXP) is an easy-to-use online tool for communicating student progress that allows parents to take an even more active role in the education of their children. Parents and guardians of middle and high school students now have online, timely, and secure access to their children’s grades and attendance through the ParentConnectxp portal site. Email alerts can also be set up to notify parents daily of absences, etc. Registration is free and must be done at the school a child attends. Access to the site can be obtained through all school websites. Parents who had an account last year do not need to re-register. School and school system messages, including emergency closings and delayed openings due to inclement weather, are communicated through a variety of avenues, including automated telephone messages. The phone numbers used for the Blackboard Connect (formerly ConnectED) system are obtained from the student’s school record and are provided by parents and/ or guardians. It is critically important that these numbers are kept updated with your child’s school. Parents and guardians can choose numbers to which they wish to have calls directed, and should contact their child’s school if they wish to change the primary phone number. The system also sends email messages containing information to parents and guardians. Please contact your child’s school to ensure the correct email address is on file. Updates to the school system calendar, notices of emergency closings and delayed openings due to inclement weather, and other important messages to parents are communicated through AACPS’ Facebook page, which can be accessed at www.facebook.com/aacps. Like our Facebook page and keep updated on all the latest information! Information posted on Facebook is also communicated through Twitter. Follow us at AACountySchools for all the latest updates! Manténgase Informado ► Acerca de las notas, tareas, progreso y asistencia de su niño Acerca ► de cambios en los horarios de la escuela y el sistema escolar, importante eventos futuros y otra información ¿Quiere recibir todos los comunicados de prensa de AACPS? Envíe su dirección electrónica a rmosier@aacps. org para que la agreguen a la lista de distribución. Recibir el boletín electrónico AXIS de AACPS es tan fácil como informarle a la escuela de su hijo su dirección electrónica para incluirla en la base de datos de los estudiantes. ParentCONNECTxp (PCXP) es una herramienta en línea fácil de usar para comunicar el progreso del estudiante, que permite que los padres tomen un papel más activo en la educación de su niño. Padres y tutores de estudiantes de escuela intermedia y superior ahora tienen acceso en línea actualizado y seguro, a las notas y asistencia de su niño a través del sitio web ParentConnectxp. También se pueden establecer alertas por correo electrónico para notificar a los padres de ausencias diarias, etc. El enrolamiento es grátis y debe ser hecho en la escuela a la que asiste el niño. Acceso al sitio se puede obtener a través de todos los sitios web de las escuelas. Los padres que tenían una cuenta el año pasado no necesitan enrolarse nuevamente. Mensajes de la escuela y el sistema escolar, incluyendo cierres de emergencia y aperturas demoradas debido a clima inclemente, son comunicadas mediante una diversidad de medios, incluyendo mensajes telefónicos automáticos. Los números de teléfono usados para el sistema Blackboard Connect son obtenidos de los expedientes de los estudiantes y son dados por los padres y/o tutores. Es críticamente importante que mantenga actualizados estos números con la escuela de su niño. Padres y tutores pueden elegir a qué números quieren recibir llamadas, y deben contactar la escuela de su niño si desean cambiar el número de teléfono primario. El sistema también envía mensajes de correo electrónico con información para padres y tutores. Por favor contacte la escuela de su niño para asegurarse que tienen su dirección correcta de correo electrónico. Las actualizaciones del calendario escolar, avisos de cierres de emergencia y aperturas demoradas por tiempo inclemente, y otros mensajes importantes para los padres son comunicados mediante la página de Facebook de AACPS, a la que se puede acceder en www.facebook.com/aacps. ¡“Guste” nuestra página de Facebook y manténgase actualizado con toda la última información Información publicada en Facebook también será comunicada a través de Twitter. ¡Síganos en AACountySchools para las últimas actualizaciones! CALLING ALL ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS 1ST ANNUAL CHILDREN’S BUSINESS FAIR HOSTED BY FINANCIAL FUTURES NOW LOCATION: Severna Park Community Center 623 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd, Severna Park DATE: Saturday, April 27, 2013 TIME: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm AGE CATEGORIES: 7-9, 10-12, 14-16 PRIZES AWARDED FOR EACH AGE CATEGORY ENTRY FEE: $10.00 ADMISSION: $5.00 ADULTS CHILDREN $2.00 APPLICATION AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE (www.financialfuturesnow.com) APPLICATIONS DUE BY: March 29, 2013 PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CASA (www.aacasa.org) Cobras Striking Success! 221 Central Avenue East Edgewater, MD 21037 410-956-5800 Fax 410-956-1266. 31 24 Spring Break Begins 25 18 Red B 26 27 8 Red B Interims Home 9 1 Yellow A 2 Fri 28 29 30 22Yellow B 23 14 Yellow B 15 Blue A 16 19 Yellow A 20 Blue B 21 Red A MSA Math MSA Math 17 13 Red A 11 Yellow A 12 Blue B 10 MSA Reading MSA Reading Thu 6 Yellow B 7 Blue A Wed 5 Red A Tue 4 Blue B Mon 3 Sun March 2013 CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Sat