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Parent Academy

The Harford County Public Schools Parent Academy is an exciting new resource for all HCPS families! The Parent Academy will include a series of workshops designed to engage HCPS parents/guardians as partners in their children's education, and will work to provide useful information and resources needed to help their children succeed in school and in the community. The goal is to connect families, school system staff, and community stakeholders in meaningful partnerships that will help increase student achievement and support wellbeing.

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Three Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) principals, along with school-based Student Support Services staff and several Harford County partners, planned a successful event on March 3 at the Homes at Fountain Green to welcome and connect with families new to the community.

Mr. Brad Stinar, principal of Hickory Elementary School, Mr. Chas Hagan, principal of Southampton Middle School, and Ms. Erica Harris, principal of C. Milton Wright High School, recognize the importance of community engagement and work every day to seek partnerships and build relationships that will help support their students and their families.

Hickory Elementary Principal Brad Stinar would like to give a special thank you to Tina Bland, Hickory's school counselor, and Angela Gottesfeld, Hickory's school nurse, for their work behind the scenes to make this event a success: "Tonight's family event would not have been possible without Tina and Angela and their collective efforts, kudos and thank you to them both."

HCPS also thanks the following partners who joined our three schools in welcoming the new families during the event.

  • Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland EXCELS
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford and Cecil Counties
  • Harford Community Action Agency
  • Harford County Health Department
  • Harford County Public Library
  • Harford County Child Find; Partners for Success
  • Healthy Harford
  • Homes for America
  • Homes of Fountain Green
  • Dental Clinic of Harford County
  • Lead & Asthma Group of Harford County
  • WIC
  • HCPS Pupil Personnel, School Counseling, Community Outreach, Nursing, and Equity staff
Homes at Fountain Green Community Resource Fair

Workshops

  • Parenting Pivots During the Pandemic : Over the past two years, young children have experienced drastic changes to pre-pandemic routines, experiences, and opportunities. These changes can greatly influence a child's normal patterns of thinking, feeling, and behavior. During this workshop, worldwide, award-winning speaker and child advocate Frank Kros, MSW, JD discusses practical tools you can use to support your young child's healthy development in this challenging time, address behavior conflicts at home, and identify when to reach-out for help. Frank has more than three decades of experience in "Helping Adults Help Kids" and brings a wealth of knowledge to his workshops.
  • Into Adulthood : Topics covered by the HCPS Counseling Office in this parent workshop include applying for college and financial aid, apprenticeship/internship/summer employment opportunities, and resources to support students' readiness for college, work, and life.
  • Middle School Matters : Magnolia Middle School Principal Laurie Namey, Supervisor of Mathematics Joanne McCord, and Curriculum Specialist Katie Campbell talk about the importance of the middle school years.
  • Raising Young Women : Mijiza Green, Director of the Treasured Jewels program and HCPS parent and Community Engagement Liaison, shares her years of experience in working with girls and strategies that are effective in raising resilient young women.
  • Preparing Your Child for Launch : Hear from the HCPS Counseling Office on how to prepare your child for "launch!" Just as a space for launch relies on a team of people working together to plan and complete a mission, learn how families, schools, and communities can work together to prepare our children for launch - and, how to overcome, "Houston, we have a problem!"
  • Off to a great start : Take some time to listen to former HCPS Teachers of the Year Elizabeth White (Harford Technical High School) and Paige Milanoski (Havre de Grace High School) share insight on a successful start to the new school year and how parents/caregivers can best support their high school students.
  • Shaping Your Child's Behavior for Good: Practical Skills for Parents in Challenging Times, presented by Frank Kros

Keeping PACE

  • PACE: Forest Lakes Elementary School
    Watch this PACE video to see how our January 2022 Family Friendly School Award winner, Forest Lakes Elementary School, recognizes families as essential members of their students' learning team and uses proactive strategies to ensure parents/caregivers can support learning at home.
  • Edgewood Middle School's Virtual Family Engagement Events.
    Please take a moment to watch Edgewood Middle School Principal Melissa Williams and Social Worker and PACE Liaison Alexis Frazier share about their school's successful family engagement events, like Cook With Me Family Night, which are excellent examples of PTA Standard 1: Welcoming All Families Into the School Community and PTA Standard 6: Collaborating With Community.
  • Ring Factory Elementary School's Monthly Family Events.
    Please take a moment to watch Ring Factory Elementary School Principal Meredith Dunlap, Instrumental Music Teacher and PACE Liaison Dawn Zipay, and PTA President Debbie Welch share about their school's monthly virtual family events, specifically their recent Mystery Reader event. This school-community event, as well as their other themed family events such as Art Night, STEAM Night, and the annual Talent Show, is an excellent example of PTA Standard 3: Supporting Student Success. Take a moment to watch and hear more about how Ring Factory is working to "Create a School They Love."
  • Riverside Elementary School's Virtual Community Fair Event.
    Riverside Elementary School Principal Christopher Yancone and Title I Teacher Specialist and PACE Liaison Lauren Donnelly share about their school�s upcoming virtual Community Fair. This event will provide an opportunity for Riverside Elementary families to connect with organizations/resources for mental and physical health, early learning and childcare, faith, finances, and more. This school-community event is an excellent example of PTA Standard 2: Communicating Effectively and PTA Standard 6: Collaborating With Community.
  • Joppatowne Elementary School's Virtual Escape Room Event.
    Please take a moment to watch Joppatowne Elementary School (JOES) Principal Earl Gaskins and Special Educator and PACE Liaison Susan Dilworth-Janes, along with other JOES staff, share about their school's successful virtual family night event - such a fun and creative idea and an excellent example of PTA Standard 2: Communicating Effectively and PTA Standard 3: Supporting Student Success.
  • Bel Air High School's Parent Engagement Activities.
    Please take a moment to watch Bel Air High School Principal Greg Komondor and mathematics educators and PACE Liaisons Andrew Kassouf and Allison Benfield share about their school's successful family engagement activities that demonstrate PTA Standard 3: Supporting Student Success.
  • "Chat and Chew" Events Hosted by Havre de Grace Elementary School
    Highlights PTA Standard 3: Supporting Students' Success
  • Parent Resource Center at Hall's Cross Roads Elementary School
    Highlights PTA Standard 1: Welcoming All Families & PTA Standard 6: Collaborating With Community
  • Care Closet at Magnolia Middle School
    Highlights PTA Standard 6: Collaborating With Community

Parent Academy Events

Title: HCPS Southern Region Safety & Security Virtual Town Hall

Date/Time: 05/10/2023 05:00 PM

Description: Learn more about the role Regional Security Coordinator Misty Goines and the school safety liaisons play in helping to keep your child(ren) safe in school. Ms. Goines will share information about protocols and emergency drills that are designed to ensure HCPS buildings remain secure and students are protected. In addition, she will share information about ways in which you can partner with us in our efforts. Following Ms. Goines presentation will be an opportunity to submit questions to be answered during the event.

Intended Audience: Families in the school system's southern region

Link: Click Here to Join!


Title: Lunch & Learn: Pointing Your Child to Their North Star

Date/Time: 04/20/2023 12:00 PM

Description: Learn more about ways you can help guide your HCPS student to high school course options designed to: improve the likelihood of degree attainment for students choosing a college path; reduce cost to families for students seeking degrees; reduce the cost of earning career credentials; ensure students are prepared to enter the workforce with a "good" job following graduation; and increase the variety of paths a student can take to personalize his or her journey to career success.

Intended Audience: Parents/caregivers of secondary students

Link: Click Here to Join!


Title: Central Region Safety & Security Virtual Town Hall

Date/Time: 2/15/2023 5:00:00 PM

Description: Does your child attend a school in the central region of our county? Please join us online to hear from your school’s Regional Safety Coordinator, Donald (DJ) Ravadge, about the roles and responsibilities he has in helping to keep your child safe in school; practices and emergency drills that are planned to keep our buildings secure and safe; and ways parents and guardians can partner with Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) in this effort. This event will be recorded and made available on our website for those who are not able to tune in live. A third regional townhall will be held for the southern region in the spring.

Intended Audience: Families with students who attend one of our Central Region schools

Click Here to Join!


Title: Webinar: USAJobs & How to Read a Job Announcement

Date/Time: 10/06/2022 04:30 PM

Description: Explore career pathways to federal government employment opportunities and create your USAJobs profile.

Intended Audience:

Link: Click Here to Join!


Title: Harford County SECAC Meeting

Date/Time: 10/06/2022 06:30 PM

Description: Learn more about social opportunities in the community for special education students.

Intended Audience: Parents and Caregivers

Link: Click Here to Join!


Title: Bedtime in a Box Event

Date/Time: 10/11/2022 05:30 PM

Description: A consistent, early bedtime practice, along with encouraging reinforcement, has a positive impact on your child's development. Join us as we have a conversation about some strategies that may help with your child's bedtime routine.

Intended Audience: Parents/guardians with a child 4 years old or younger

Link: Click Here to Join!


Title: Effective Parenting

Date/Time: 10/13/2022 07:00 PM

Description: A positive, strength-based approach to raising your child

Intended Audience: Parents and Caregivers

Link: Click Here to Join!


Title: Internet Safety Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Date/Time: 09/29/2022 12:00 PM

Description: Parent Academy invites you to the first Lunch & Learn of the 2022-23 school year! During this hour, we will discuss internet safety tools, conversation starters, and social supports for your HCPS students. We hope you can join us for this important topic!

Intended Audience: Parents and Caregivers

Link: Click Here to Join!