📣39th Harvest for the Hungry: Kids Helping Kids Fundraising Campaign, October 1-31, 2026
AACPS & AA County Food Bank partner to hold the largest annual fundraiser for the food bank! 100% of proceeds benefit the AA County Food Bank
Donate online at aacps.org/harvest or bring in canned/dried goods to your school

Today we celebrate our 🐐GOATs of Shady Side! Mr. Ray, Ms. Carmen, and Mr. Michael make our school GREAT! Thank you to our AMAZING custodial crew!💙💛🪽

🍕We have dinner covered Monday night! Grab lunch or dinner at Ledo's tomorrow to support our 4th Grade field trip to Medieval Times! 🏰

🌟We’re THRILLED to share our Teacher of the Year nominee, Mrs. Mitchell! Mrs. Mitchell embodies the spirit of “Together” that defines Shady Side Elementary. She creates classrooms where everyone belongs and everyone is successful. Congratulations Mrs. Mitchell! 💙💛🪽

✨💙 **SHADY SIDE SPOTLIGHT** 💙✨

Today, we are shining the spotlight on our amazing custodian, **Michael Gross**! 🌟

Behind every clean hallway, ready classroom, and welcoming space at Shady Side Elementary is someone who works incredibly hard to make our school a place where students and staff can learn, grow, and feel at home.

Michael’s hard work, dedication, kindness, and willingness to always lend a helping hand truly make a difference. So much of what he does happens behind the scenes, but his impact is felt throughout our entire school. 💙

Michael, please know that you are appreciated more than words can say. Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our school and for being such an important part of our Shady Side family. We are so lucky to have you! 🌟

**Thank you, Michael, for all that you do!** 💙👏

💙Shady Side💛 had some very special visitors today! Dr. Bedell, Ms. Pulliam, Ms. Catalano, Dr. Roberts, Mr. Dickerson, Ms. Alvear, and Ms. Tillar got to see our Seagulls in action. We are so proud! #togetherwegrowtogetherwesoar #belonggrowsucceed

Seagulls, we're ready for you! 💙💛🪽

Shady Side's Terrific TA Team spent their afternoon growing as learners. We are so excited for this school year! #together #belonggrowsucceed

Anne Arundel County Public Schools has a free mobile app that makes staying informed easier than ever before. In the 2026-27 school year, routine announcements about school system events and operations will be disseminated primarily through the mobile app, the news section of the AACPS website, and through messaging to families (not through social media). Emergency notifications will continue to be featured in the alerts banner at the top off the AACPS website on social media pages. To ensure receipt of the latest updates and information, families should download the app and follow their student's school(s).Download the app in the App Store or on Google Play today!

Look who stopped by today! 🩵💛 Bob Mosier came down to talk with our team about sharing the AMAZING things happening at Shady Side! 🐦✨ We can’t wait to share all the great things our Seagulls are doing! Be on the lookout 👀 for all the Seagull Scoop on our feed!

Let's fill a school bus with school supplies!

For the last several years, the AACPS community has been very generous by stuffing a school bus with donations of school supplies for students. This year, we’re doing it again!

Thursday, August 20
3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Old Mill Middle School South, 430 Old Mill Road, Millersville

Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell, Board members, district leaders and Education Foundation members will be there, and OMMS will be hosting its annual block party at the same time. Bring your school supply donations and join us!

Bus routes and schedules for the 2026-2027 school year are now available online. For complete information, go to www.aacps.org/buses. Information may change prior to the start of the school year as routes are adjusted, so please check back periodically. Questions should be directed to the Transportation Division.

Are you unsure about whether your student is eligible for bus transportation in the upcoming school year? Anne Arundel County Schools’ Transportation Eligibility Tool can give you the answers you need. Just to go www.aacps.org/transportationeligibility and enter your address. Specific bus schedules will be posted online no later than Wednesday, August 12.
#BelongGrowSucceed #AACPSFamily

The heat of summer makes outdoor water activities enticing for children and adults alike. Following these simple tips from our partners at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources can increase enjoyment and prevent tragedy.

REMINDER: AACPS’ Summer Meals Program continues to operate mobile meal delivery to 19 community sites despite the extreme heat advisory. Those sites are:
• North County: Heritage Hills, Pumphrey Center, Willows Apartments.
• West County: Pioneer City, Meade Village, Spring Meadows, Still Meadows.
• Annapolis: Admiral Farragut, Annapolis Gardens, Bywater, Congregation Kneseth Israel, Hilltop Village, Woodside Gardens.
• South County (all sites designated as rural): Boones Mobile Estates, Lyons Creek Estates, Maryland Manor.
• Lothian (all sites designated as rural): Rio Vista, Patuxent Mobile, Wayson Woods.

Complete info: www.aacps.org/summermeals

On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Superintendent Dr. Bedell reflects on graduation season and celebrates the accomplishments of the Class of 2026. 🎓 #BelongGrowSucceed

- English: https://youtu.be/rwXLFEnibEY
- Spanish: https://youtu.be/MaE-IqC_xU8

On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Superintendent Dr. Bedell reflects on the excitement and pride of graduation season across AACPS over the next two weeks. #BelongGrowSucceed

- English: https://youtu.be/E65_9Vs3Tas
- Spanish: https://youtu.be/WWJm5_tP5FA

On this week’s Thursday Thoughts, Superintendent Dr. Bedell discusses the newly approved policy regarding personal care and toileting needs, formalizing practices already in place across our schools to support all students. #BelongGrowSucceed

- English: https://youtu.be/8H4P-4cQbaw
- Spanish: https://youtu.be/D4EJWS8MG7w