Y.A.S. CONNECTION
December 2021
Y.A.S. (You Are Seen) Connection is a Project Connect newsletter for students and families who do not have stable housing
Happy Holidays from CCS and Project Connect!!!
Dec. 17 - 30-minute Early Release
Dec. 20-31 - All Schools Closed for Winter Break for Students and Staff
Authorized under Federal law through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, the Columbus City Schools’ Project Connect Program, Project Connect provides services to ensure that identified children and youth experiencing homelessness, including those living with others or in hotels/motels due to economic hardship or emergency, have access to a free and appropriate public education by removing barriers due to homelessness. As advocates for educational rights, there are various services the program provides to assist families in transition.
How can the Project Connect Program help?
Project Connect works with students, parents, Columbus City Schools (CCS) employees, partner agencies, and other local school districts to provide assistance with:
- school selection and enrollment
- school transportation
- wellness checks and on-going social and emotional support
- book bags and school supplies for students
- assistance with high school graduation fees and expenses
- addressing barriers that affect school attendance and full participation
- obtaining necessary documents such as birth certificates, school records, and medical records
- dispute resolution regarding school choice and enrollment
Who may qualify for the Project Connect Program?
The term “children and youth experiencing homelessness” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate night-time residence. It includes those who are:
- sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of home, economic hardship, or similar reason
- living in motels or hotels
- staying in trailer parks or campgrounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations
- living in emergency or transitional shelters
- abandoned in hospitals
- living on their own, such as youth who have run away or have been put out of their home
Project Connect Contact Information
- Parents and students may call the Project Connect Office at 614-365-5140
- Email: ProjectConnect@columbus.k12.oh.us
- Contact a Project Connect Region Representative/Youth Academic Advocate assigned to your child’s school. Click on the Contact Us tab for a list of Project Connect Staff.
Project Connect Announcements
SHOES...SHOES...SHOES
Do you know of a student in need of shoes? Project Connect has shoes for students being served by the program. Shoe sizes and styles are limited. Please reach out to a Regional Advocate or call the Project Connect Office at 614-365-5140 for questions and qualifications.
WE WANT TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOU!
Please make sure to speak with your student(s) school when your student will be absent. This is important for many reasons, including to prevent an unnecessary withdrawal from the District.
- School districts are required to keep an attendance record for each student.
- When a student does not attend school regularly AND the district loses all contact with the student and family for a period of time, the district begins a process to try to locate the student.
- There are specific steps the district takes to try to re-engage a student in school.
- However, if the district is not able to make contact with the student or family, the district will withdraw the student. We want to prevent that.
Please help us, help you stay successful in school.
*Important Updates | Enrollment for the 2022-2023 School Year*
CLICK ----->: https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/8047
- Middle School and High School enrollment appointments for the 2021-2022 school year will begin on January 3, 2022.
- Elementary School (K-5) enrollment appointments will begin on February 1, 2022.
- Pre-K enrollment appointments for the 2022-2023 school year can be scheduled beginning February 1, 2022 with an appointment date no sooner than April 4, 2022.
School Choice Dates for 2022-2023 School Year
- High School & Middle School Lottery Applications: Accepted via the Parent Portal Wednesday, January 5, 2022 through Monday, February 28, 2022. The last date for the acceptance of late lottery applications for students who completed the 2021-22 school year with CCS is July 29, 2022. New students enrolling into Columbus City Schools can submit a lottery application for two weeks after their enrollment date until December 9, 2022.
- Elementary School Lottery Applications: Accepted via the Parent Portal Tuesday, February 1, 2022 through Thursday, March 31, 2022. The last date for the acceptance of late lottery applications for students who completed the 2021-22 school year with CCS is July 29, 2022. New students enrolling into Columbus City Schools can submit a lottery application for two weeks after their enrollment date until December 9, 2022.
- Selective Admissions: Applications available to eligible students Monday, January 10, 2022 with a submission deadline of Monday, January 31, 2022. Applications must be submitted via the Parent Portal.
- Request to Return to Homeschool Application: Accepted via the Parent Portal Wednesday, January 5, 2022 through Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
- Reservations: Accepted via the Parent Portal for eligible students from Wednesday, January 5, 2022 through Monday, January 31, 2022.
- ROTC: Accepted via the Parent Portal Wednesday, January 5 through Monday, February 21, 2022.
Learn about each of the schools at the Virtual School Choice Fairs
There will be video presentations that give an overview of each school uploaded to the website in early-January to view prior to the Fairs. There will also be video conferencing links available. During the scheduled times for the Fair, families can click on the link and chat live with the principal and/or school staff.
High School Fair - January 13, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Fair - January 13, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Elementary School Fair - February 3, 2022 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Project Connect Staff Spotlight
Jasmine Sardari, Project Connect Youth Academic Advocate - Region #5
We shared a little about Jasmine last week, check out more about her below.
Hello Y.A.S. Readers!
I am so very blessed and ecstatic to join Project Connect. I have over 15 years of experience in education. I received my undergraduate degree (B.A.) from The Ohio State University and my teaching certification from Ashland University in the Bachelor Plus program. I began teaching here in the CCS district 10 years ago as a substitute teacher. I went on, for a few years, to work for American Institute for Research in various roles such as a State Standardized Test Scorer, Nationwide School Districts' Customer Service Pepresentative, and Standardized Test Items Creator. After that, I spent the next 7 years in the Gahanna-Jefferson school district starting out as a building substitute to an 8th grade mathematics long term substitute to 4 years as an 8th grade Special Education Alternative Instructor with teaching summer school Algebra 1 to ending my journey there as a Hamilton House Science Teacher at Gahanna Lincoln High School. Also, at Gahanna, I was a district middle school Cheerleading Coach and an assistant High School Softball Coach.
When I am not working, I am mostly spending time with my four beautiful abundantly active children, Nalah-22, Le Aune'-18, Manny-14, and Jase-13. Also, I am actively involved in the community as a volunteer with many organizations. You would think I do not have any more time to give, but I do spend some time running my own multi-faceted family business, Live On Virtuous Enterprise LLC (L.O.V.E.) and I'm trying to finish writing my book series. I truly believe that everything I have gone through in my personal and professional past has fully equipped me for this position, which I absolutely love. I am very excited to be back at CCS with Project Connect and I'm looking forward to making a positive impact with our families!
Jasmine Sardari, B.A.
(she,her,hers)
Project Connect Youth Academic Advocate - Region #5
Columbus City Schools
Department of Student Services
430 Cleveland Avenue | Columbus, OH 43215
o: 614.342.0292| m: 614.830.9356 | e: jsardari@columbus.k12.oh.us
Students and Families Experiencing Homelessness
Email: ProjectConnect@columbus.k12.oh.us
Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/
Location: 430 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 614-365-5140
Facebook: facebook.com/ColumbusCitySchools
Twitter: @ColsCitySchools
THANK YOU TO A GENEROUS DONOR!
Thank you to Kari Boo and her team for the donation! You are appreciated! The masks will be added to the resource kits distributed to Project Connect students and families.
If you are aware of an organization or agency in need of masks for children, teens and adults reach out to Kari via email (see contact information for Kari and mask sizes available below).
See Kari Boo's contact information here:
Kari Boo
Sales Ops Support Manager
t: (740) 549-6645
7611 Green Meadows Drive
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
Email: Kari.Boo@Digitalstorage.com
Banitore Kids Size Masks
Quantity: 10 in each pack
Grade: Elementary
Banitore Adult Size Masks
Quantity: 10 in each pack
Grade: Middle/High School
Banitore Adult Size Masks
Quantity: 10 in each pack
Young Adult/Adult
CCS Podcast
The Inside Columbus City Schools Podcast is your exclusive look behind the scenes of Ohio's largest school district. We celebrate the stories of our staff, students, and community partners. Their efforts inspire - and make #OurCCS stand out every day.
Inside CCS | Podcast on Spotify
NEW Library Partnership Provides 24/7 Digital Access for CCS Students Using their School Crendentials
New partnership links library & CCS to expand access to
e-books
The new program aims to increase students’ access to digital books and audiobooks by combining digital reading resourcesfrom the library and the schools into a single computer application.
This partnership and its Sora app are made possible by OverDrive, the digital reading company that serves both the library and schools. The app is used extensively in schools, allowing kids to browse and download materials for school projects or just pleasure reading.
A new partnership expands schools access to library's digital books
Columbus City Schools to Provide Free At-Home COVID-19 Rapid Tests for Students & Staff
CCS has partnered with Columbus Public Health (CPH) to offer a limited number of voluntary, at-home BinaxNow COVID-19 rapid test kits for any student or staff member in a school or transportation center who is symptomatic or a close contact of a positive case.
About BinaxNOW At-Home Rapid Test Kits
The BinaxNOW Test is a 15-minute rapid antigen test used to detect an active COVID-19 infection. The test was developed by Abbott Laboratories and approved for use by the U.S Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The self-tests are provided for easy at-home use with a computer, tablet, or smartphone with video capabilities. Proctored (English & Spanish) eMED telehealth sessions are available to oversee test administration and provide electronic copies of results.
BinaxNOW Self-Test Walkthrough Video
This BinaxNOW Test is recommended for individuals who are identified as a close contact:
- Individuals directly exposed to COVID-19 at school; or
- Individuals identified as a close contact due to a household member being exposed to COVID-19; or
- Symptomatic individuals showing signs of illness consistent with COVID-19.
Students and staff who test negative and are showing no symptoms will be able to return to school/work or stay in school/work, avoiding quarantine.
Attend Without Leaving Home - Virtual Event |
Keynote Speaker - Kristina M. Johnson, PhD |
16th president of The Ohio State University |
MLKjrBreakfast.com | MLKBreakfast@yahoo.com |
(614) 863-6442
BOBS Project Help Clothing Ministry (PHCM)
https://www.bethlehemonbroadstreet.org/Project-Help.html
The following items are always needed and are accepted year-round in order to assist families in crisis:
- Clean Usable Apparel
- Adult Clothing
- Clothing for Children
- Items for Teens and Pre-Teens
- Mittens-Hats-Scarves
- Books for Children
- Non-Perishable Food Items
- Personal Toiletries
- School Supplies
- Gently Used Toys
Monetary donations are always welcome and can be made at:
Huntington National Bank ● 3350 Indianola Ave ● Columbus, OH 43214
To arrange delivery of your donation or to volunteer your time contact:
Sandra Holley
syholley@att.net or dlocklear0710@aol.com
(614) 425-5830 or (614) 475-9615
M-F - 3:30-7:00 PM
The Open Shelter will be moving to a NEW location!
Please consider supporting The Open Shelter during This Season of Giving to make sure they can care for the most vulnerable at the new location NOW and in the future. While the need increases, so will the costs.
You can donate online or through the mail at this link Donate – The Open Shelter, Inc. or directly through PayPal HERE-- https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=KZA3KXAR8W8ZJ
You can also donate through the facebook page FEE FREE by going HERE https://www.facebook.com/TheOpenShelter & clicking the DONATE button.
Sheli Mathias
Director
The Open Shelter
61 E. Mound St.
Columbus, OH 43215
(614)222-2885
CCS - Project Connect
Columbus City School's Project Connect Program is housed under the Department of Student Services to serve students and families experiencing barriers to housing while ensuring academic success is maintained.
Columbus City Schools Parent Portal
Need to update your address, request a school change or check the status of a bus route....all of this and more can be done via the Parent Portal. Your one-stop shop to ensure your student's educational needs are met.
Infinite Campus (Student and Parent Portal) / CCS Parent Portal
Columbus City Schools Annual Update
Need to update your address? You can do so by accessing your Parent Portal via Infinite Campus.
Parent Letter Parent Portal and Annual Information Update
Infinite Campus (Student and Parent Portal) / CCS Parent Portal
Parent Portal Instructional Video
Click HERE to view the video
How can the Project Connect Program help?
Who may qualify for the Project Connect Program?
How do families access Project Connect services through CCS?
Click here for a list of free clothing closets, furniture banks and school supplies locations in Franklin County and Columbus Ohio.