Baby chicks are hatching at Forest Hill CLC.

Weathervane Playhouse is holding an APS Neighborhood Playhouse on July 5-15 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Harris-Jackson CLC (1085 Clifton Ave.).

Quickmed Urgent Care Akron (1037 N. Main St., Suite A) is offering free physicals for all local school-aged children until August 22, 2022, by appointment only. See the flier below for more information.

Nirmala Ghimirey was born in a refugee camp in Nepal without access to electricity, water or healthcare. The camp was gated, and there wasn’t much to do. She never imagined going anywhere further than the camp.

Summit County Public Health is providing free COVID-19 vaccine clinics (for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines; first, second and booster doses) during the week of May 16.

i9 Sports is now offering its summer sports program sign-ups in Cuyahoga Falls, Copley, North Canton, Seven Hills, Northfield and Shaker Heights.

The Blue Heron Homecoming is an annual environmental festival that allows community members a chance to learn about the Akron Waterways Renewed! program.

Weathervane Playhouse is holding its Summer Theatre Academy 2022 from June 6-August 12 (1301 Weathervane Lane).

The Ohio & Erie Canalway Fishing Derby will be held on May 25 from 4-6 p.m. at the Wilbeth Road Trailhead (392 W. Wilbeth Trailhead). This derby is a free fishing and environmental education program for third- and fourth-grade APS students.

Akron Public Schools will make face masks optional starting Monday, March 14. This applies to all students, staff and visitors to its buildings, buses and vans. Superintendent Christine Fowler Mack does, however, want those who remain at high risk for severe illness to consider continuing to wear face coverings indoors and in large gatherings.

The Akron Zoo is hiring. See the flier below for details.

In May 1851, at the Second Ohio Women’s Rights Convention at the Old Stone Church in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth, a former slave and uninvited speaker, raised up her imposing six-foot presence and electrified the audience with a powerful speech that many historians consider to be the most important women’s rights and abolitionist speech in U.S. history.

To help combat students falling behind in school, caused in large part to the shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, a school district is offering an extended-hours hotline to help the students who need it.

The Summit County Youth Flag Football Association is offering flag football to the families of Summit County for the spring 2022 season.

Kids ages 7-13 learn while doing what they love in Classroom Antics STEAM Camps by developing video games, creating stop-motion animation movies, producing videos, coding computer programs, animating with Minecraft or engineering LEGO robots!

"At this time of year, even as winter holds on fast, periodic days of sunshine and melting snow instill us with hope for the arrival of spring and, with it, feelings of joy and optimism. It is not surprising that National Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated today, February 17, at a time when many need a dose of positivity most."

Around 10% of Akron Public Schools students experience homelessness each year, said Shannah Cariño, the homeless liaison for the district. One program aims to help keep those children on track.

Before School Program for Journaling, Crafts, and Yoga

The Cuyahoga Falls Amateur Baseball Association is now holding online registration for youth baseball for boys and girls. See the flier below for more information.

The American Red Cross is facing a national blood crisis – its worst blood shortage in more than a decade, posing a concerning risk to patient care. The Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood or platelets now to avoid further delays in vital medical treatments.

The West Akron Baseball and Softball League is now offering online registration at wabl.org.

COVID cases have more than doubled in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ohio, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and New York have contributed the most to the rise in pediatric hospitalizations.

A nonprofit that distributed thousands of free books to Summit County children came into being through the wishes of a little boy.

Ohio Vax-2-School is a public outreach campaign to increase awareness of the availability and efficacy of COVID-10 vaccines and provide incentives to younger Ohioans to get a COVID-19 vaccination.

A change is coming to the Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts in Akron. Incoming fourth-graders who want to attend the school will go through a different process than older grades.

We want to hear the voices of our APS families! The answers to the Family Pulse Survey will give us a “snapshot” of how APS families feel at different points during the school year.

Read by Loren Cristian Jackson from Akron Men's Basketball.

The Cleveland Browns are happy to help APS kids STAY IN THE GAME! To learn more about what the Browns are doing and how you can help.

Akron Public Schools thanks Beyond the Game and its founder and President Devin Jordan, Beyond the Game, for his generosity of spirit and the donation he arranged with Walmart for our students.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time when people across the country try to raise awareness and find solutions to this ever-growing issue.

The Akron Safe Routes to School team has brightened the sidewalks around Findley CLC and Forest Hill CLC using chalk.

The release of the State Report Card for Akron Public Schools and for all Ohio school districts today provides data for districts to use in assessing and planning with regard to student progress in an unprecedented year of disruption and recovery.

Read by Atlantis Perez & Olivia Otani from Akron Softball.

Akron Public Schools psychologist Erich Merkle, Ph.D., has seen changes in some students since they returned from having, essentially, a year away from their traditional learning environment.

This is the farm and family that we will be working with From Sugarcreek Ohio.

Please see the letter below from Superintendent Christine Fowler Mack concerning the Tik Tok "devious licks" challenge.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds (Post-Pandemic Education Stabilization funds or ESSER) are provided to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools and address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation’s students. Funds have been appropriated to local school districts to mitigate learning loss and address the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you for all your work during these very tough times. I deeply appreciate what you and your team are doing to protect and educate Ohio’s children.

Akron Children’s Museum (ACM) will reopen to all visitors on Friday, October 1, 2021, after temporarily closing its doors on March 13, 2020, to adhere to the COVID-19 safety mandates. The Museum remains committed to providing a safe museum experience where children and families can learn through play. New safety protocols are in place for staff and visitors. Members and those wishing to become members are invited back for an early preview period beginning Wednesday, September 22, the first day of the Fall season, through Thursday, September 30, 2021. The first 150 member-children will receive a “Welcome Back Snack Pack” as a show of appreciation.

Akron Public Schools is a blend of students of all races, creeds, and colors.

The 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments started July 15. If you have filed your 2020 tax return already, you don't need to take any action. If not, you should file as soon as possible. For people who are not required to file a tax return and didn't file in 2019 or 2020, there is a registration tool available from the IRS. Visit IRS.gov/childtaxcredit2021, or check out the flier below.

Children's hospitals are on the frontline of care for kids, anchoring the pediatric safety net for the most vulnerable among us. Tragically, rising numbers of COVID-19 infections among children, surging cases of respiratory illnesses such as RSV and the pandemic's ongoing impact on mental health are pushing our children's hospitals to capacity. Combined with significant hospital workforce shortages, the pediatric safety net for all children is being threatened in unprecedented ways. We call on leaders in the public and private sectors and the American public to stand with us to help protect our children. Read more in the flier below.

APS is a great place to work. Come join our team. Apply here: https://www.applitrack.com/akron/onlineapp/

Beginning August 27, 2021, Summit County Public Health will offer $100 Visa or MasterCard gift cards to any Ohio resident 12 years of age and older who receives their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine while supplies last.