BARD BALTIMORE COMMUNITY CORNER
Learning Together, Thriving Together
What's Happening This Month:
Your community school coordinator, Ms. Stacy Ruhling, and school social worker, Mrs. Remonia Ellis, are starting a newsletter to keep parents, caregivers, and students in the loop with community resources, school-based activities, and what's happening around town.
Community Corner Resource Staff Members
Stacy Ruhling-Community School Coordinator
Bard is a new community school this year, and I am new to the role of community school coordinator, but I am familiar with the Bard Community. I was previously the Health & Safety Coordinator during our COVID testing times, and when I was asked to come back as the Community School Coordinator, I was so excited! Of course, I said YES! As a school, we are very excited to be a community school this year and look forward to diving in and identifying the school needs and improving in areas that may need improvement. We hope for more family engagement opportunities by building stronger relationships between families, students, and communities. Building community-based relationships means healthier students, reduced absenteeism, and improved academic achievement. Ultimately, I am a liaison for students, staff, families, and the community. I will strive to help provide a safe and thriving environment for students and their families.
Remonia Ellis, LCSW-C-School Social Worker
Hello,
My name is Remonia Ellis, and I have been a social worker at Bard for the past six years. However, I have been in social work and Baltimore City Public Schools for over twenty years. As the school social worker, I provide counseling (individual and group) services to students and their families; I mobilize community and school-based resources to help students who may be affected by issues in their living environment that may have an impact on their ability to focus and learn as effectively as possible in their educational program. I am here to support students, their families, school staff, and partners in the community to help our students on their life journey.
Finally, I love what I do and the students I am pleased to greet and serve. Social work is not only what I do as a professional; it is my passion, and I enjoy it. As I say each morning as I welcome our amazing students... "Hello Sunshine" or "You have one minute to get to your first period...Chop, chop, let's go."
From School to Around Town
Family Fun
Annual Black Owned Small Business Expo: Saturday, November 25th - 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. at The Baltimore Convention Center, 1 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201.
Family Fall Festival: Saturday, November 4th - 10:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. at the Star Bright Farm, 2950 Garrett Road White Hall, MD, 21161.
Family Friendly Skate Event | Free Skate Lessons for Kids | Inner Harbor | Baltimore: Saturday, Nov 11th - 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. at the Rash Field, 201 Key Hwy, Baltimore, MD.
Singers Intensive Training – Baltimore Saturday, Nov 11th, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. - 6314 Windsor Mill Rd, Baltimore, MD.
Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday 2" Listening Party: Friday, November 17th · 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at The Pink Art Gallery, 1125 Light Street Baltimore, MD 21230.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth: Sunday, Nov 26th, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the CFG Bank Arena, 201 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD.
Cirque Du Soleil – Twas The Night Before Saturday, Nov 25-26th, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at France - Merrick Performing Arts Center, 12 N Eutaw St, Baltimore, MD 21201.
Family Game Night at Sweet Frog Timonium: Monday, Nov 6, 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Sweet Frog, 2159 York Rd, Timonium, MD.
*Please contact the establishment to verify the days and times, as they may change without notice.
School & Community Resources
Bard Closet
We now have a Comfort Closet, which allows students needing clothing for an emergency or a general need to come and check out our gently used clothes closet. The donations given have already come in handy to a few students needing a change of clothes (from something spilled on them to broken zippers). It has turned out to be an excellent resource for our students. Please keep us in mind when you purge your closets at home. We accept clean and school-appropriate shirts, pants, jackets, hoodies, socks, and sneakers. We plan to feature what your donations are used for in our monthly newsletter.
Bard Snack Closet
We are introducing the Snack Closet. Our Bard students eat lunch at 10:30 a.m. every day (which sometimes leaves them hungry in the afternoon). Also, some students have after-school activities (which makes for a very long day). We would appreciate donations of individually wrapped snacks such as granola/protein bars, goldfish/ Cheez-its, mini muffins, chips, water, and Gatorade are all great snacks for our students. If you don't have time to shop and want to help, we accept monetary donations towards purchasing food items.
Donations: To Donate, you can reach out to Ms. Stacy Ruhling (Community School Coordinator) at sruhling@bhsec.bard.edu, Mrs. Remonia Ellis (Social Worker) at rellis@bcps.k12.md.us, Dr. Helene Coccagna (Principal) at hcoccagna.bhsec.bard.edu. Or you can contact the main office at 443-642-2062 and ask for a Community Corner staff member.
The month following your donations, we will give an account of what food items were purchased in the newsletter.
Holiday Resources
Weekly Food Pantry: Thursdays, 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., 715 Ingleside Ave, Catonsville, MD.
Food Rescue Baltimore Giveaway: Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Old Major, 900 S Carey St, Baltimore, MD
For community resources in your area:
1. Dial – 211
2. Baltimore City Resources: CharmCare.org
3. Food Resources: https://www.sowhatelse.org/food-support/baltimore-food-giveaways/
4. Baltimore City Office of Children & Family Success: https://www.bmorechildren.com/
Farm Family Activity
Are you looking for an activity filled with fun and fresh produce for the family? Check out the FREE Family Farm sponsored by Baltimore City Public Schools.
Guide to Managing Your Mental Health During the Holidays: An Excerpt from Putting People First in Mental Health by McClean Hospital
NOT FEELING THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT?
Being surrounded by cheeriness can be stigmatizing when you don’t feel the same level of enthusiasm as others. The pressure to be social, happy, and present can make it difficult to speak up if you think otherwise. You may also feel left out if your spiritual traditions aren’t the dominant ones on display this time of year.
WHAT DO YOU DO?
1. Recognize that you don’t need to force yourself to be happy and that it’s good to acknowledge feelings that aren’t joyful; remember that you are not alone in feeling this way.
2. Avoid numbing or avoiding feelings by using alcohol or other substances, which worsen anxiety and depression.
3. If possible, surround yourself with people who feel similar; celebrate your traditions or create new ones.
4. If you need immediate help, dial 988 (Suicide Prevention Hotline) or 911 for immediate help.
Call the Here2Help Hotline at 410-433-5175 for access to confidential advice and emotional support. The Here2Help Hotline is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Call now to connect to mental health services, talk to a supportive listener, or have a mental health specialist visit you.
https://www.bhsbaltimore.org/find-help/call988helpline/
Remember: It's Okay to Not Be Okay.
Happy Thanksgiving!
IMPORTANT DATES 📆
General School Events and More...
10/30 -11/3 - Spirit Week (See Bard Instagram for details)
11/3 - Pep Rally and Early Release Day (dismissal at noon)
11/4 - Homecoming Dance
11/7 - Quarter 1 Report Cards
11/9 - FTU Monthly Meeting (See Dr. Coccagna's email for time and details)
11/13 - School Pictures
11/17- Schools Closed (Staff Professional Development)
11/22 - 11/24 Happy Thanksgiving
11/28 - School Picture Make-Up Day
HOT NEWS
*The field trip to Chinatown has been postponed to December 1st. (See Dr. Nakabayashi for details.)
PARENT RESOURCES 🤗
BARD SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TEAM
Principal: Dr. Helene Coccagna - 443-642-2062Assistant Principal: Morgan Showalter- 443-642-2062
Dean of Students- Melvin T. Bond II. - 443-248-2931
Dean of Academic Studies- Benjamin Craig- 443-642-2062
School Secretary - Gwen Mountcastle - 443-642-2062
SCHOOL COUNSELING TEAM
Lindsey Melchior- Grades 9-10 - 443- 624-5046
Whitney Webre - Grades 11-12 - 443-885-0724
IEP/504 CHAIRPERSON
Jake Schmitt - 443-642-5043
COMMUNITY SCHOOL LIAISON
Stacy Ruhling - 443-642-5233
COLLEGE TRANSFER OFFICE
Chantel Kimball - 443-642-2062
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM
School Psychologist: Cindy Alam - 443-642-2062
School Social Worker: Remonia Ellis, LCSW-C - 443-642-5044
School-based Community Therapist- Egypt Buie- 443-642-2062
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM- 443-642-2062
Devon Levine
Kia Ferguson
Asia Nelson
Brianna Noble
Richard Moore