Parent Resource Center Monday Message: 2.1.21

Good evening, and Happy February to you from the team at the PRC. We hope everyone enjoyed the wintry weather the weekend brought, and encourage caution on slippery roads and sidewalks!

This month, APS will celebrate Black History Month. Watch a message from Dr. Francisco Durán, APS Superintendent, and learn more about this year’s celebration and weekly themes here.

February is also Low Vision Awareness Month, and Rare Disease Day is recognized at the end of the month.

National School Counseling Week 2021: School Counselors – All in for All Students
This week focuses public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do.  More
This week, we celebrate all of our school counselors, and express deep appreciation and bid a fond farewell to Ms. Pam McClellan, who has just retired as our Supervisor of Counseling Services. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Susan Holland (former Director of Counseling at Thomas Jefferson Middle School) who will be acting in Pam’s position as a new Supervisor is sought.

Therapeutic Recreation Seeking Input
Although this snowy day is making summer feel a long way off, our great friends at Arlington County’s Therapeutic Recreation write:

We would like to hear from you to know your summer camp interests and needs. We are planning on being based indoors to have a homeroom for personal belongings, a staging area, and respite from heat and inclement weather. Our plan for camp is for our programming to be outdoors as much as possible.  We know there are a lot of unknowns and uncertainty during this time. We appreciate your time in helping us better understand your camp interests and needs in order to plan accordingly. Please respond to our  TR 2021 Summer camp survey

Talking with Kids about Race and Discrimination
Tuesday, February 2nd: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Register here
In this timely and free workshop, Dr. Ricia Weiner, Ms. Eleanor Lewis and Ms. Veronica Valdes, APS School Psychologists, will offer parents/caregivers developmentally appropriate ideas and strategies for talking with children (PreK through high school) about race, diversity and discrimination.
View English/Spanish Event Flier

NOVA Night/Noche de NOVA
English Session: February 9th – 7:00pm – 9:00pm – Register here
Spanish Session: February 24 – 7:00pm – 9:00pm – Regístrese en línea
Each year, NOVA representatives and Arlington Public Schools partner together for “NOVA Night”. This event has been extremely helpful for students and parents to learn about the services and opportunities at NOVA!
Join us to learn more about the topics listed below, as well as an in-depth discussion about disability support services at NOVA and the application process for those services.

• A brief introduction to NOVA
• Dual Enrollment
• Financial Aid
• Pathways to Baccalaureate
• First-Year Advising
• Transfer Options
• Sports and Student Life
• Disability Support Services

View English language NOVA Night 2021 flier
View Spanish language Noche de NOVA 2021 flier

Arlington SEPTA’s Monthly Meeting
Social Connection in the Age of COVID
Thursday, February 11th
Details and registration coming soon

Understanding Transition Services: What are Medicaid Waivers?
Wednesday, February 17th: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Register here
Arlington Public Schools’ Transition Services, Parent Resource Center and Program for Employment Preparedness (PEP) are continuing to sponsor a monthly Transition Series. This month will feature a session on Medicaid Waivers, presented by Lucy Beadnell, Director of Advocacy for the Arc of Northern Virginia. Medicaid Waivers provide a wide variety of supports to people with developmental disabilities to live and access resources in their community. During this presentation, Ms. Beadnell will review the basics of Medicaid Waivers, including:

• What a Waiver really offers
• Eligibility
• Application
• Waiting lists

For further information, contact Kelly Mountain at 703-228-2136 or Christina Eagle at 703-228-5738.

Arlington Special Education Advisory Committee (ASEAC) Meeting
Tuesday, February 23rd: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Virtual Meeting –  via Zoom
Registration coming soon
The Zoom meeting link will be sent to those registered prior to the meeting. Please note that the business portion of this meeting will be recorded through Zoom.

Community Webinar/Virtual Learning Opportunities/Meetings*
*The events included below are shared for informational purposes, and listing may not be inclusive of all available community learning opportunities and inclusion of opportunities does not reflect endorsement by Arlington Public Schools.

Putting the ‘AT’ in mATh: Making Math More Accessible with Assistive Technology
February 2nd: 12:00pm-1:00pm EST or 3:00pm-4:00pm EST
Register here
Sponsored by VDOE’s Assistive Technology Network

Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence (VCU-ACE) Lunch and Learn Series

• Lunch and Learn: Goal Setting for the New Year!
  February 4, 2021: 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET Register on Zoom
• Lunch and Learn: Autism and the Black Family
  February 11, 2021: 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET Register on Zoom
• Lunch and Learn: Women on the Spectrum – The Gender Voyage
  February 18, 2021: 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET Register on Zoom
• Lunch and Learn: Continuing to Lead the Way in Virginia Public Schools with Positive Practices in Distance Learning for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  February 25, 2021: 12:00 – 1:00 pm ET Register on Zoom

Supporting the Transition to Adult Life During a Pandemic
February 4th: 5:00pm-6:00pm EST Register here
Sponsored by Virginia CEC

Upcoming Events from PEATC – Virginia’s Parent Education and Advocacy Training Center

• Early Childhood Academy Course
  Open from January 16 – February 21, 2021 – Register here
• Self-Care & Social Emotional Wellbeing | February 3 at 11:30 AM
• TRANSITION UNIVERSITY: A free, parent-friendly 5-week self-paced online transition course
  Winter 2021: February 6 to March 26
  Register here
• 2021 Family Engagement Symposium
  March 6, 2021
  Register Here
• PEATC LATINX
  • Virginia Partners en Español | 17 de Febrero, 2021-1:30 PM
  • Grupo de Chat para Padres: Entra al GRUPO: https://bit.ly/2VoU2vw
  • ABRIL 24, 2021 | 10:00 AM  La Cumbre VIRTUAL de Alcance Latinx, REGISTRATE HOY
• Military Outreach*For Military connected families ONLY*
  • Introduction to Autism and ABA | February 18 at 11:00 AM.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Arlington Parent Support Groups
Now Meeting Virtually
These groups are geared to parents whose child is experiencing symptoms of a mental illness, including: depression, anxiety, eating disorders, mood disorders and more. No diagnosis is required to participate. Participants are given the opportunity to share their story, experience support, and glean guidance (as desired) from group members regarding both community and school resources. Confidentiality is respected.
School Age Students and Teens (PK-12)
Sundays 7pm-8:30pm
February 7 and 21
Older Teen and Young Adults: 3rd Sunday 1-3pm
Questions??  Contact:

• PK-12: Michelle Best (mczero@yahoo.com)
• Adults: Naomi Verdugo (verdugo.naomi@gmail.com)
• Both: Alisa Cowen (acowen@cowendesigngroup.com)