Keeping PACE
December 7, 2021
Upcoming Parent Academy Workshop: Middle School Matters
To join the event tomorrow night, click here.
Please share this workshop information with your school communities as appropriate.
Recent Parent Academy Real Talks for Promotion
Towson University in Northeastern Maryland
Please take a moment to hear from John Desmone, Executive Director of Towson University in Northeastern Maryland (TUNE), about this local, high-quality higher education experience right here in Harford County.
Social Media 101
In this Real Talk, hear from experts about the challenging topic of social media for parents/caregivers of our secondary students with smartphones. They share important information about internet safety as it relates to popular social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, to name just a few. Learn what’s trending on these social media apps lately and how to equip yourself with ways to address things like social media challenges. This Real Talk features Havre de Grace Middle/High School Assistant Principal Brad Spence, Supervisor of Equity and Cultural Proficiency Dr. Paula Stanton, HCPS Coordinator of Safety and Security Donoven Brooks, and Maryland State Police Internet Safety Specialist Joe Dugan.
Keeping PACE Videos
Magnolia Middle School’s WHY Sessions
Take a moment to watch Principal of Magnolia Middle School Laurie Namey and PACE Liaison Mijiza Green highlight one of their school’s best practices for family engagement with their virtual WHY sessions. WHY (We Hear You) sessions are an innovative way to establish and maintain relationships with parents/caregivers by giving them a space to ask questions, get answers, and feel heard by school staff.
Patterson Mill Middle/High School’s Family Dinnertime Talk Tabs
Please take a moment to hear from Dr. Sean Abel, principal, and Lee Edmonds and Leslie Sunderland, PACE liaisons, who share their school’s new vision statement: Your children. My students. Our kids. and the important work they are doing this year to support that vision. They talk briefly about some of the innovative ways they are engaging their school’s families and empowering parents to communicate with their children about their school experience by providing them with an awesome, tangible tool: color-coded Family Dinnertime Talk Tabs. Take a look to learn more!
Parent Academy Stock Market Game Resources
The Stock Market Game (SMG) is intended to be a completely flexible experience. Users are encouraged to follow a pace that best suits the schedule, needs, and abilities of the student investor. Instruction can be facilitated by the parent through the use of Teacher Support Center lessons and activities, or families may opt for a more self-paced experience through the use of the SMG Student Activity Packet.
Click here to find resources to help families get you started, including videos for both parent advisors and student investors and some favorite research sources.
Community Events
C5SIR Center High School Life Hackst: Talking About My Generation
Aberdeen Proving Ground's C5ISR Community Outreach Program is offering a series of FREE interactive virtual opportunities for students through their STEM@Home programming.
World-class scientists and engineers who work at Aberdeen Proving Ground will be guest speakers at many of their STEM@Home events, each of which has been designed to engage and inspire the next generation of STEM experts - your student among them.
For high school students, they are offering "Life Hacks: Topics in STEM and Leadership" online from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.
This month’s topic is "Talking About My Generation”… Communication across the Generational Divide. This session will focus on the realities of communicating across multiple generations.
Students grades 9 through 12 are invited to join for this one-hour interactive session to ask questions, get advice, and speak directly to experts. Please see the attached flier for further information.
This FREE opportunity is offered exclusively to high school students in Baltimore City/County, Cecil County, and Harford County.
Register now through January 2 at: https://usarmyc5isrcenter.submit.com/.
For information on additional programming for students in Kindergarten - 12th grade, please visit their website at https://c5isr.ccdc.army.mil/student_programs/.
Family Friendly School Award Program - Voting This Month Begins December 13!
The December nominations for the Family Friendly School Award will post on the Parent Academy page of hcps.org December 9, 2021.
If nominated this month, rally your community to vote for your school here: https://www.hcps.org/parents/parentacademy/familyfriendlyschools.aspx. The voting window will be open December 9 through 11:59 p.m. on December 15.
We can’t wait to announce the winning school for December later this month!
PACE Regional/Level Alike Meetings
Middle and high school level alike meetings for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters are being planned by Mijiza Green (middle school) and Andrew Kassouf (high school).
Elementary Level Alike Meetings:
Please remember to schedule one meeting during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the regional/level alike groups you were provided and send those meeting dates to Mary Beth. During those meetings, using the 5 simple principles as a guide, you will:
- Share successes and best practices
- Share problems/challenges of practice and ask others for input/support
- Identify resources/support from the district
Reminder: Information About Compensation for PACE Liaison Duties
Linked below are two (2) payroll forms that you should use to submit your PACE hours for payment. There is one form for Teachers to use and another form for Support Staff to use. Instructions on submitting your PACE hours for payment are also included.
These documents are saved in the PACE section of the Family & Community Partnerships SharePoint site for you to access in the future.
Office of Communications and Family Outreach
Keeping PACE editors:
Manager of Family and Community Partnerships
Communications Specialist
Email: ParentAcademy@hcps.org
Website: https://www.hcps.org/parents/ParentAcademy/Default.aspx
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5263
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HCPSParentAcademy