Y.A.S. CONNECTION
April 2022
Y.A.S. (You Are Seen) Connection is a Project Connect newsletter for students and families who do not have stable housing
Authorized under Federal law through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, the Columbus City Schools’ Project Connect Program, 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.
Happy April Fool's and Easter from CCS and Project Connect!!!
CLICK ------>: Information / Calendars
April 15 - 22 Spring Break | All Schools Closed
Month of April Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April 1 April Fool's Day
April 13 Thomas Jefferson Day
April 14 30-minute Early Release
April 15 Good Friday
April 15 Jackie Robinson Day
April 17 Easter
April 27 Administrative Professional's Day
NOTE: Visitor Restrictions Lifted
Effective April 1, all Columbus City Schools' classrooms and school activities may return to pre-pandemic routines and structures, including a return to our pre-COVID-19 visitor policy. This is in response to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently changing Franklin County's COVID-19 Community Level to green (or Low). Although risk levels are reduced, COVID-19 is still present in our community, and we continue to recommend that staff and students stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if they have symptoms. It is encouraged that all students, parents, and staff wash their hands frequently, check for symptoms daily, and stay home if they are ill.
Please remember - while masks are now optional in school and at school-sponsored activities, CCS encourages a mask-friendly culture, where students and staff may choose to mask at any time.
Project Connect at the Summer Opportunities & Engagement Fair on April 2, 2022
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 Staff Spotlight
Foster E Ugbana, Youth Academic Advocate - Region 1, Project Connect
Hello Y.A.S. Readers!
Mr. Foster is the Youth Academic Advocate for Region 1 (primarily westside schools) for Project Connect. He has been a part of the district for years and is a wealth of knowledge.
Foster Ugbana
Youth Academic Advocate – Region #1
Email: fugbana@columbus.k12.oh.us
Office: 380-997-7398
Mobile: 614-383-9878
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
PROJECT CONNECT ANNOUNCEMENTS
End of Year - Out of District Project Connect Letter
For the 2021-22 school year, you were able to enroll your child(ren) in Columbus City Schools District (CCSD) under the McKinney-Vento Act.
If our records indicate that the address for your child(ren) falls outside the boundaries of Columbus City Schools. Both Ohio Law and Columbus City Schools Board policies require that students enroll in a school in their district of legal residence.
If the address on file for your student is correct, but your housing is not permanent, complete and return the Student Housing Questionnaire to projectconnect@columbus.k12.oh.us.
You must return the form for your student(s)'eligibility to be determined, for ongoing enrollment in Columbus City Schools under the McKinney-Vento Act. If the Housing Questionnaire is not completed and returned, your child(ren) will be withdrawn from CCSD.
If you have moved and the address on file for your student is not accurate, parent/guardians can now update their home address through the Parent Portal by completing the Annual Update.
Families permanently residing out of the CCSD can request enrollment into Columbus City Schools by completing an Inter-District Open Enrollment application under the school choice link on the parent portal. The last date to submit a lottery application for students who completed the 2021-22 school year with CCS is July 29, 2022.
If you have any questions or need additional assistance, it is vital that you immediately contact the Project Connect office.
Sincerely,
Project Connect
projectconnect@columbus.k12.oh.us
614-365-5140
THANK YOU!
Project Connect would like to thank the agencies, organizations and individuals who help us serve students and families throughout the school year!
Summer Experience 2022
- Registration: opens Tuesday, March 15 and closes on Monday, May 2
- Summer Experience dates: June 21 - July 28 (6 weeks in length)
- Website: Summer Experience / Overview
This year’s Summer Experience has expanded to include new and familiar project-based learning students and families were able to enjoy through our Pathway Express focuses: Entrepreneurship, Family & Consumer Sciences, Fine Arts, STEM, and World Languages & Cultures.
Summer Experience will also present students with an opportunity to accelerate their learning or engage in course recovery. Register in the Parent Portal today!
CCS PARTNERS WITH SCHOLASTIC TO IMPROVE STUDENT LITERACY AND CREATE AT-HOME LIBRARIES
Launching this month and continuing through the end of the school year, students in all grades will receive a curated collection of books, novels, and literacy-themed activities. The District first introduced its #TogetherWeReadCCS initiative and Scholastic partnership with Pathway Express, and it has allowed families to receive free books at each of the monthly community destinations.
To learn more about the District’s literacy initiatives and partnerships, visit our #TogetherWeReadCCS resource page.
FREE ACADEMIC SUCCESS COACHES FOR CCS FAMILIES
Families across Columbus City Schools may soon be getting a phone call, text, or email from Engage Ohio as part of a new partnership to boost school engagement, attendance, and academic success.
Families who sign up for the no-cost program will be assigned an Academic Success Coach who can help connect them with resources, local contacts, and helpful strategies to keep their students on track and engaged with schooling.
The Engage Ohio Academic Success Coach is completely free and totally optional. Not all students or families will need this additional assistance. So far, nearly 1,000 CCS families have signed up.
CCS Partners With Engage Ohio to Link Families with Free Resources and Academic Health at Home
CCS Pathway Express - April
Pathway Express / Destination #4 - Columbus Metropolitan Library
*** OPT-IN for Transportation Services for High School Students***
Families of transportation eligible students entering or continuing high school next year — rising 9, 10, 11, and 12 grade students — MUST OPT-IN for transportation services. Parents and guardians can opt-in and confirm their eligible student’s yellow bus transportation by logging into Parent Portal and making a selection by Friday, April 29, at midnight.
This is an opportunity for CCS to improve bus routes and ensure students arrive safely to and from school.
Families needing assistance logging into Parent Portal can contact Jessica Householder at parentportalaccess@columbus.k12.oh.us.
Click HERE for a video overview of the transportation opt-in process.
CCS Transportation Information
- For questions regarding the status of your students' bus route call Transportation at 614-365-5074.
- Ensure to be at the assigned bus stop waiting for the bus (5) minutes before the scheduled pick up time.
- Ensure to check your Columbus City Schools Parent Portal. Through the Parent Portal, you’ll be able to securely access valuable information on your student(s):
- Update Contact Information
- Transportation Information
For more information on the Parent Portal or to set up your account, please visit this page.
Bus Bulletin
Bus Bulletin is a website that allows personnel in the school district transportation department to notify you with information regarding your child’s bus. You have the choice to receive text messages, e-mails, or voice notifications on your cell or home phone. Typically, text messages are received within 30 seconds from the time they are sent. This means you know when it still matters, not after the fact. All students who are enrolled via IC are automatically enrolled in Bus Bulletin.
Bus FAQs
Q. If my student is late to school due to the bus being delayed, is this an excused absence?
A. If a student is late for school due to a bus delay, it's an excused absence.
Q. If my student misses the school day because the bus didn’t pick him/her up, is this an excused absence?
A. If a student misses the school day because a bus didn't pick them up, it's an excused absence--whether or not the bus ever came has to be verified with transportation. Parents should call their child’s school to provide information.
Pre-K Enrollment - Now Open
2022-2023 Pre-K Enrollment
The Online Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. on February 1, 2022 with the first appointments taking place on April 1, 2022. Columbus City Schools is offering our Pre-K program tuition free for the 2022-2023 school year.
If you have any questions, please contact Alicia Maynard at 614-365-5134 or email eceenrollment@columbus.k12.oh.us.
Please check the Enrollment page of the district website for documents needed to enroll at https://www.ccsoh.us/prek
2022 PRE-K DATES
February 1, 2022 - Online Registration for Enrollment Appointments; opens at 8:00 a.m.
April 1, 2022 - First enrollment appointments begin
June 2, 2022 - Last day of Pre-K classes
July 7, 2022 - New Pre-K wait-listed families will be notified if space is available
*CCS LOTTERY APPLICATION*
Link for lottery applications –> Enrollment / School Choice Lottery Process
Lottery Applications:
- 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.
Seniors! Seniors! Seniors!
FAFSA Time!
Now is the time to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The form is free and it could help pay for college.The FAFSA form is the application for federal financial aid for college and post-secondary training. The form can help qualify for financial aid from the state of Ohio and the institution of your choice. Columbus City Schools is working with our long-standing partner, I Know I Can (IKIC) which has a college advisor assigned to every District high school. The IKIC college advisor can help fill out the FAFSA form. These college advising managers are available daily to help.
Students and families can click here to contact their college advisor at I Know I Can.
The FAFSA is also the key to unlocking state financial aid.
Did you know that you can apply for financial aid if you are going to school for a trade?
If you have not been accepted to a college or university, still complete the form. Completing the form can help decide which college makes the most sense based on the resources available.
To be considered for federal student aid for the 2021–22 award year, you must complete the FAFSA form by June 30, 2022. Don’t wait until the last minute. The form is free, and it could save you thousands of dollars.
2022 NSPDK, Inc. Scholarship Application
Dear High School Counselor:
National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Gamma Alpha Chapter will award the non-renewable Barbara A. Yarborough Scholarship ($1,000.00) to a graduating senior majoring in any field of study and to encourage seniors interested in the field of education. Please forward the enclosed scholarship information to prospective qualified students.
Application Link: 2022 NSPDK,Inc. Scholarship Application.pdf
OHIO Regional Promise Program
“Ohio University is committed to making the college experience more accessible in every regional campus community we serve through the new OHIO Regional Promise program,” Sherman said. “This new program provides greater access to help our region’s students and families meet their educational goals without incurring unnecessary debt.”
The OHIO Regional Promise for Fall 2022 is an automatic four-year renewable scholarship program that will cover up to the full cost of regional campus tuition and mandatory fees for full-time, Pell-eligible students with a minimum high school GPA of 3.0.
In addition, students at the regional campuses will be eligible for the One OHIO Scholarship if they choose to relocate to the Athens campus.
Ohio University launches OHIO Regional Promise for Fall 2022
COMMUNITY NEWS & RESOURCES
Central Ohio Restored Citizens Collaborative (CORCC) Reentry Pop-up Resource Fair
Website: https://www.centralohiorcc.com/
TEEN CORPS
Teen Corps is a high-impact, community-supported summer program for eligible teens designed to teach life and work skills through hands-on experiences in urban farming.
While working in a community garden to grow produce and then sell it through their own stand at the Conservatory’s Farmers Market, teens learn about horticulture, the environment, health and nutrition, entrepreneurship, communication and self-reliance. Participating teens also receive a stipend.
The application for the 2022 Teen Corps program is now available! The deadline to apply is April 30 and no late applications will be accepted. Please contact us with any questions.
Contact: Michele Bailey, (614) 715-8034, mbailey@fbconservatory.org
Website: : https://www.fpconservatory.org/education-programs/outreach-programs/teen-corps/
Food and Housing Resources
Rental Assistance Resources
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?
7:00 - 8:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings & 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Mornings | Health and Wellness Center - every other Sunday Morning 7:00 - 8:00 a.m.
CLICK here for a list of free clothing closets, furniture banks and school supplies locations in Franklin County and Columbus Ohio.
Call the homeless hotline, open 24 hours a day,
1-614-274-7000