Parent Connection

Understanding Eating Disorders

40-60% of elementary school girls (ages6-12) are concerned about their weight, and eating disorders can also develop in boys. Join this session to learn about the types of eating disorders, signs to look for in your child, and how you can help.

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Where: Online (ZOOM)

Register here: https://cookcenter.info/May21Harford

As part of our continued efforts to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, Harford County Public Schools is introducing a new resource called Trusted Path. This tool is designed to help families prepare for unexpected situations when a parent or guardian is unavailable. Designed to be filled out and kept at home, Trusted Path is a form that provides contact information for a trusted individual if a situation arises and your student arrives home from school and is unable to locate or contact you.

Within the next week, a paper copy of the Trusted Path form will be sent home with students in grades PreK–6. We strongly encourage you to complete the form with your child and review it together. Once completed, please place a copy in your child’s bookbag and place copy in a safe and easily accessible spot in your home so your child knows exactly where to find it.

Having a designated adult helps ensure your child’s safety and provides peace of mind for both families and staff. Thank you for taking the time to complete this important resource and for your continued partnership.

In this May Mental Health Newsletter, ParentGuidance explores strategies to enhance a child’s emotional growth, including building emotional vocabulary, responding to emotional moments with empathy, and establishing a consistent home environment. Consider reviewing and sharing this resource with parents/caregivers as appropriate.

These parent groups have both virtual and in-person options. This is great for caregivers of children of all ages exhibiting minor to major problem behavior. The child(ren) does not have to have any type of disability or diagnosis.

Parenting is one of life’s most rewarding journeys, but it can also be challenging when we aren’t sure how to help our child. Take a moment to watch Parent Academy’s latest Real Talk on Mental Health Awareness to hear from HCPS Supervisor of School Social Workers Christina Alton and Harford County Youth Services Director Angela Gray about how to recognize and understand the signs your child is struggling with mental health and what you can do as a family to reach out for help.

Click here to access the latest issue of the HCPS Mental & Behavioral Health Updates/Resources newsletter.

On May 16, 2025, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m., you’re invited to Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium for the fourth annual Your Mind Matters: A Family Wellness Night. The event, hosted by Harford County Public Schools, the Office on Mental Health/Core Service Agency of Harford County, Inc., University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, and the Harford County Health Department, is a FREE family event with fun activities for everyone!

Some of the activities include a petting zoo, crafts, axe throwing, a bounce house, rock climbing wall, a photo booth, family resource vendors, and so much more.

Free transportation is being offered to and from Ripken Stadium from select depots throughout Harford County.

The event will be held rain or shine. Registration is required and can be completed by visiting www.harfordmentalhealth.org. In past years, the event has reached capacity, so we encourage you to register early to reserve your spot.

The Magic of Science Fair and Family Festival will be held at the Towson University Northeastern (TUNE) Maryland, across from Harford Community College, located on 510 Thomas Run Road in Bel Air, Md., on Saturday, May 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Magic of Science Fair and Family Festival— engineered by the Discovery Center at Water’s Edge in conjunction with many community partners— brings people together through the wonder of science. The hands-on exhibits enable participants to celebrate the science of everyday things through exploration of the scientific principles at play.

From robots and drones to yoga, carnival games, raffles and a silent auction, expect a day of family fun! Exhibitors and vendors will round out the attractions.

A regional science fair for middle school students organized by the Senior Science Society will be held in conjunction with the Magic of Science Family Festival. Student participants will display their innovative projects in various STEM disciplines.

* Hands-on Science Experiments
* Indoor and Outdoor Kids Zone
* Exhibitors
* Entertainers
* Middle School Science Fair
* Food Trucks
* Robots
* Silent Auction & Raffles
& MUCH MORE!

Visit www.MagicofScience.org for more details!

Registration is open for Harford County’s 8th annual summer bike camp. The camp is for people with differing abilities, ages 8 and older, to learn and experience bike riding.

Volunteer spotters are also needed to assist instructors and serve each rider on a specially adapted bike, no experience is necessary.

Registration: Harford County Bike Camp | Harford County, MD

Join the Harford County Health Department Minority Health Program for its 4th annual I YOU WE MATTER Youth Symposium for middle and high school young men.

This year, they are proud to partner with The Ward Y in Abingdon, bringing impactful discussions, mentorship, and resources to our youth. Participants can expect:

• Food
• Games & prizes
• A "three-on-three" basketball tournament
• An all-start panel of community leaders and mentors to discuss future goals and mental health

See the flier for more information and the QR code to register.

All Harford County Public Schools parents/guardians are invited to participate in the first 360 Superintendent Annual Evaluation Survey, led by Dr. Aaron Poynton, President of the Board of Education (on behalf of the Board), in collaboration with Superintendent Sean Bulson.

Your voice is vital in helping the Board assess and strengthen leadership effectiveness across the school system. This short survey—designed to take five (5) minutes or less—will provide valuable insights into how HCPS is progressing in key areas aligned to the Board’s top three priorities:

• Academic Achievement (focus on math, reading, and language arts)
• Improving School Environment (emphasis on attendance and safety)
• Increasing Community and Parental Trust (through partnerships and transparency)

To learn more about the strategic goals and data informing this evaluation, the following resources are available to review:

• Superintendent Portfolio Based on Board Survey Criteria
• Annual Report (2023-2024)
• Advancing Strategic Plan (2024–2027)
• State of the District Data Dashboard

Important Information About the Survey:

The survey will remain open through Friday, May 30, 2025, at 11:45 p.m.

To ensure the accuracy and reliability of the results, all parents and guardians completing the survey will be required to enter the 6-digit Student ID of one currently enrolled child. This is the same 6-digit number used for Food & Nutrition services and can be found on report cards or progress reports. You may also look it up at Registration.hcps.org.

While responses will include identifying details to prevent duplicates or fraudulent responses, individual identities will remain confidential and will not be linked to specific survey responses.

This evaluation survey is one of several tools the Board uses to assess the superintendent. It will not be used in isolation, but rather to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

Follow the instructions below to participate in the survey:

• To complete this survey, log in to Online Registration/Online Forms by entering your email and password at https://registration.hcps.org/. If you do not remember your password, click the “Forgot your Password?” link and follow the prompts to reset it.
• Once logged in, the survey can be accessed from the dashboard. Click on the 360 Superintendent Annual Evaluation Survey! in the blue box

• To complete the survey, parents and guardians will be required to enter a 6-digit Student ID at the end of the survey, before clicking the Submit button. The 6-digit Student ID is displayed to the right of the student name on your dashboard.
• If you do not see your student(s), please verify and/or change the email address on file for that student by logging into your HAC account and clicking the registration tile.

If you do not yet have an online registration account with HCPS, please enroll using the “Create an account here” button at the bottom of the page.

• You must create the account using the email address on file at the school.
• To verify and/or change the email address on file, log into your HAC account and click the registration tile.

Thank you for your time and continued partnership in supporting student success at HCPS.

Congratulations to Heather Wink of Magnolia Middle School for having been named the Third Quarter Most Valuable Parent (MVP) Award winner! Join us in celebrating her!

The MVP Award recognizes one HCPS parent/guardian a quarter during the school year for their efforts to go above and beyond in modeling one or more of the National PTA Standards.

Parents/guardians are nominated by their school's PACE Liaison. All nominations are reviewed by the HCPS External Customer Service Task Force and a winner is selected. Winners receive a certificate and personally engraved plaque from Parent Academy and Superintendent Bulson.

Selecting the third quarter winner from among all the fantastic nominations was not an easy task. We’d like to give a shout out and heartfelt thank you to each of this quarter's nominees. We are so grateful for all they do to support students and our schools.

The award presentation took place this recently at Magnolia Middle School with Superintendent Bulson and leaders from the school. Watch the special video highlighting Ms. Wink and her why for being involved.

All MVP Award winners will be archived on the HCPS website here:

https://www.hcps.org/.../parentac.../mostvaluableparent.aspx

Harford County Public Schools is now accepting prekindergarten applications. Please help us share this information with your community so families who may not be connected to HCPS are aware.

All prekindergarten applications for the 2025-2026 school year MUST be submitted electronically, as required by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Education. To assist families in completing the application, a step-by-step video tutorial (below) and guide are available on hcps.org. Technical support is also available to families by calling 410-809-6333 to speak with a Harford County Public Schools early childhood staff member.

Income verification is required when applying, please be prepared to share the pertinent details.

Please note, due to state law, prekindergarten and kindergarten instruction cannot be virtual, meaning registration is not available for prekindergarten at Swan Creek School.

Additional registration information may be found here.

Thank you for helping us spread the word! If you have any questions, please contact your local elementary school, or our Office of Early Childhood at 410-588-5252 or 410-809-6333.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is seeking valuable feedback from families of students receiving special education and related services through the annual Maryland Parent Survey. This survey provides an opportunity for families to share input about their experiences throughout the Special Education process.

If this survey applies to your family, please participate by visiting www.mdparentsurvey.com. Families have until May 30, 2025 to complete the survey.

Additional resources may be found here.

Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board Business Meetings? Provide your feedback on the policy by the deadline listed on the webpage! https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.aspx

Harford County Public Schools students, staff, and families looking for help with mental health or substance use are reminded they can call Care Solace at 888-515-0595 for 24/7/365 personalized and confidential help finding a therapist. Or, they can search on their own at www.caresolace.com/harford.

The Harford County Public Library offers so many educational, fun, and FREE events at each of its branches year-round. Be sure to visit the events page of their website to see what's happening this month!

• Harford County Public Library
• Harford County Parks and Recreation
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford & Cecil Counties

Additional resources may be found in the Harford County Community Services Resource Guide.

Be sure you are following the Parent Academy page on Facebook for announcements, updates, resources, and more shared regularly throughout the school year.

Also, bookmark the Parent Academy webpage on hcps.org where all workshops and Real Talks are archived, and where you can find information on other Parent Academy sponsored programs, like Family Friendly Schools.

Looking for an earlier issue of Parent Connection? Visit the newsletter archive on hcps.org by clicking here.

HCPS parents are students’ first and best teachers.

Editors: Mary Beth Stapleton, Manager of Family and Community Partnerships & Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation 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: facebook.com/HCPSParentAcademy