Mammoth Monthly Newsletter

October 2nd - Professional Development - Schools Closed for Student

October 7th - Stanger Danger Family Event - 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

October 13th - Columbus Day/ Indigenous People's Day (Schools are OPEN)

October 17th - MSEA Convention - Schools Closed for Students and Staff

October 20th - Professional Development - Schools Closed for Students

October 31st - First Quater Ends - Schools Closed 3 hours Early for Students

Dear Families,

As we settle into September, I want to thank you for helping us begin the school year with such enthusiasm and positivity. Our classrooms are filled with energy, curiosity, and joy as students dive into new learning experiences and routines. It’s wonderful to see their excitement each morning!

We are also thrilled to see our before- and after-school programs in full swing. These programs provide meaningful opportunities for students to learn, grow, and connect beyond the regular school day.

September 26th marked the midway point of the first quarter. This is a great time to review your child’s grades in the Parent Portal and also check their attendance record. Staying informed helps us all support students in staying on track.

We are very proud to share that our school-wide attendance rate is currently above the 94% BCPS standard! Thank you for making attendance a priority and ensuring your child is in school each and every day — your commitment makes a real difference.

In order to maintain a smooth start each morning, we are striving to have students arrive between 9:00 and 9:15 a.m. daily. Students who arrive after 9:15 a.m. will be marked late. Prompt arrival helps students begin their day with less disruption and maximize instructional time.

Why does attendance matter so much? Research shows that regular attendance is strongly linked to academic success. Even missing 10% of school days — roughly 18 days in a year — can have a negative impact on student achievement. Attendance Works Students who are frequently absent often fall behind and struggle to catch up because lessons build on one another. Schools That Lead+1

As a reminder, here are a few key expectations and guidelines:

• Uniforms: Students should wear uniforms Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, students may participate in dress-down day if they choose.

• Morning Arrival: To promote independence, students should walk independently to their classrooms once they enter the building each morning. Staff members are present to offer support when needed.

• Cell Phones: Please remember our district policy “Off and Away All Day.” Students should keep cell phones turned off and stored for the duration of the school day.

Thank you again for your continued partnership, support, and dedication. Together, we are creating a positive, caring, and academically strong environment where every child can succeed.

With appreciation,
Dana Bisker
Principal

🎉 Congratulations to our September Winfield High Five Winners! 🎉

Your hard work, dedication, and positive attitude continue to make Winfield a fantastic place to be. Thank you for going above and beyond — you truly embody what it means to give a “High Five”! 👏

Keep up the amazing work! 🌟

As special educators, and as special educator team members, our primary focus for the 2024-2025 school year is to “promote and strengthen inclusion”. We are committed to achieving and accomplishing effective inclusion through strategic partnerships and work relationships with general educators to support students in integrated learning environments.

In doing so, I’d be remiss if I failed to take the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of our Art Teacher, Ms. Richardson for furthering the cause of inclusion by showcasing the outstanding artwork of ISDM’s very own, Kaelynn McCoy to the first-grade team. We appreciate Ms. Richardson’s

That said, I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Art Teacher, Ms. Richardson, for her efforts to share the beautiful work, and artistic talent of our very own Kaelynn McCoy. We appreciate Ms. Richardson and others for seeing and appreciating the enormous talent that our students display daily.

It’s been a fantastic start to the academic school year. We’ve enjoyed the opportunity to work with your sons and daughters in the areas of phonics, math, and life skills. We look forward to additional opportunities to learn, grow, and have fun together. ISDM Matters!

Our Pre-Kindergarten students are off to a great start this school year!

We are currently working on Unit 1’s Connect 4Learning theme: “Connecting with School and Friends”. In Unit 1, Connect 4 Learning builds the most important school-based connections between the child and his/her peers, teachers, and the school community.

Additionally, students learn social-emotional skills, classroom routines, and how to use classroom materials. They explore mathematics manipulatives, learning foundational ideas and skills through play. They have opportunities to engage in hands-on science explorations in the senses. Language is woven throughout the unit as the children hear and use rich vocabulary in context. They will hear and have opportunities to explore the richness and depth of high-quality children’s literature as they learn about the ways print is used and begin to understand how to handle and work with books. The focus on social emotional development in this unit sets the stage for learning across domains and units.

Finally, our scholars are beginning to learn how to follow the routines of the day, be with a group, make friends, and work together.

Our kindergarten friends are doing a wonderful job adjusting to classroom routines! Each class is building their class family while also learning about the people and places that make up our school community. We’ve been focusing on recognizing our own feelings, noticing others’ feelings, and learning how to regulate emotions. Ask your child to teach you a breathing technique they’ve practiced to help stay calm. We’re excited for an amazing year ahead as we continue our Conscious Discipline journey.

ELA

In ELA, our friends have been:

• Asking and answering questions about key details in a story

• Identifying characters and settings

• Staying engaged during group reading activities

• Practicing basic features of print (reading left to right, top to bottom, page by page)

• Learning the parts of a book (cover, spine, author, illustrator)

Coming in October:

• Identifying the main topic and key details in a text

• Making connections between illustrations and text

• Using drawing, dictating, and writing to tell an event

• Beginning to compose opinion pieces

Math

So far in Math, our friends have:

• Practiced identifying and writing numbers 0–5

• Built sets of 0–10 using ten frames and manipulatives

• Created and extended simple patterns

Coming in October (Unit 2):

• Comparing sets of objects using “more” and “less”

• Showing different ways to make 5 and 10

• Writing numerals 0–10

• Exploring two-dimensional shapes

Phonics

Recently, our friends have been:

• Practicing whole-body listening

• Beginning to identify and write letters of the alphabet

• Learning sound cards

• Exploring rhyming words and nursery rhymes

Coming in October:

• Continuing work with rhyming words and the alphabet

• Learning position and opposite words

• Being introduced to high-frequency words

• Reading with decodable texts

Homework

Homework began in September. Please check your child’s blue Take-Home Folder for their weekly packet:

• Homework is given on Monday and should be completed throughout the week

• Packets are due Friday (or the following Monday)

• Please also make time for 15 minutes of reading each night (children can read or be read to)

Important Reminders

• Label all belongings

• Bring the blue folder daily and empty papers each night

• Send a snack and water bottle daily

• Provide a complete change of clothes in case of an emergency

Upcoming Events

• October 3: Visit from the Fire Department

• October 29: Chesapeake Arts Center Field Trip

If you would like to volunteer for field trips or in the school building, please complete the BCPS Volunteer Training. The form is available in multiple languages:

🔗 BCPS Volunteer Information

Thank you for a great start to the 2024-2025 school year! You first graders have come prepared and ready to learn. We appreciate seeing so many families coming out to support us for Back to School Night.

In math, we are working on quickly recognize how many objects are in a collection (up to 10), without counting from 1, exploring number combinations that add up to 5 and 1, and counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s.

In ELA, reading books about making new friends and taking on new challenges. We will become familiar with new words and different activities about school. Children will also learn how to tell a story and tell one about a special moment in their lives.

In phonics, we review letters and sounds and use them to blend unknown words. Additionally, will work on identifying rhyming words and final consonant sounds in a word.

Your child is encouraged to practice addition and subtraction facts within 10 to build fluency. Additionally, it is encouraged that you read with your child each night for about 15-20 minutes. You can ask your child questions about the story they have read to build their comprehension. Please check your child’s blue folder for homework each night. Teachers can be reached via email. Please allow 24-48 hours for a response.

We look forward to our trip to Clark Elioak’s Farm on Friday, October 13th.

If you plan to volunteer or chaperone any field trips this school year, please complete the BCPS volunteer application and training as soon as possible. Go to www.bcps.org. Click Parent tab, scroll to Family and Community Engagement, then choose BCPS Volunteers. This must be completed each school year that you volunteer or chaperone. It will remain on file until June 2026. Email or send the completed application and certificate to your child’s teacher.

English Language Arts: HMH Module 1, Be a Super Citizen

Over the last three weeks, our class has been learning about what it means to be a good citizen—at home, at school, and in the community. We read about characters and real people who are good citizens, and we learned how our actions can make a difference to others. Children wrote a personal narrative about something they have done to make the world a better place.

Bridges Math Unit 1, Figure the Facts

In this unit your child practiced efficient math strategies to add and subtract within twenty, explore even and odd numbers, solve addition and subtraction story problems, and count by 2s, 5s, and 10s to solve problems.

Health Unit 1: A Healthy Return to School

Our first unit focused on mental, emotional, and physical health. Throughout the unit students will be gaining knowledge that will help them make healthy choices and decisions. In this unit, students will also learn how to advocate for their healthy choices that they decide to make. During the first three weeks of school the Conscious Discipline® lessons will be implemented. The remaining health education lessons (lessons 1-5) are meant to reinforce and expand upon the health skills in Conscious Discipline

Our third graders have been working hard during these last few weeks.

Third grade scholars have been working hard since the start of the 2025-2026 school year. They have been working to build relationships and connect with one another during morning meetings. Additionally, they have also been working hard cultivating newly developed and acquired skills.

In math, we have been working on building our knowledge of addition and subtraction patterns. They are learning to use these known patterns to help them to solve word problems and double-digit addition and subtraction. The students are also learning about place value and how to use tools in the classroom to help them with their work. In accelerated math, we have also been working on multi-digit addition and subtraction within 1,000. The students are getting used to a faster pace curriculum and excelling at overcoming challenges!

In ELA, we have been exploring the HMH reading curriculum. This curriculum is jam packed with vocabulary, writing and reading comprehension skills. They have been learning about different points of view and how to make predictions within a story. We are currently working on writing our own personal narratives by learning and understanding the writing process.

Third grade teachers are excited to see the students off to a great start and are enthusiastic to have this opportunity to learn and grow with them over the course of the next year. We look forward to having a fun-filled and productive year of learning.

Welcome to 4th grade!

Fourth grade teachers have been focusing on teaching students how to be responsible as they prepare for fifth grade.

In doing so, we are holding them more accountable for completing and keeping up with assignments and encouraging students to take the opportunity to repair and return assignments. Students should complete their homework each night, which will be a review of the concepts and skills learned in class.

In math, we focused on multiplicative comparisons in the standard grade 4 classes, and geometry and measurement skills were taught in the grade 4 advanced class.

In our science unit, “Turtle Trouble,” students are determining how injuries impact the behavior, reproduction and survival of plants and animals.

In ELA, we are finishing up Module 1 “What makes us who we are?” The students are publishing their expository essay about how their environment shapes their identity. Over the course of Module 1, the skills focused on are central message, main idea, and text structure.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us via email. We thank you for your support and partnership this year in helping your child to achieve success!

Best wishes to you, your scholar, and your family for a spectacular school year. It has been our pleasure to work with you and your family to start the 2025-2026 school year.

Science

In science, our 5th graders are diving into an exciting unit on matter and chemical combinations. Students are exploring how different substances interact and will use their knowledge to investigate which chemical combinations work best to create fuel for a rocket. Through hands-on experiments, they will test and analyze data to determine the most effective way to propel their rockets. This engaging unit allows students to think like scientists and engineers as they apply their learning to real-world challenges.

Math

In math, our 5th graders are using the concept of volume to explore and extend their strategies for multiplication. They are practicing a variety of methods, including ratio tables, traditional multiplication, and recognizing patterns to solve problems efficiently. Students are also learning how multiplication can help them solve real-world division problems, with ratio tables serving as a powerful tool for both operations. In addition, they have been introduced to helpful strategies such as doubling and halving, as well as multiplying by 10, to strengthen their number sense and flexibility with computation. These approaches allow students to deepen their understanding of math while building confidence in applying different strategies to problem-solving.

ELA

In this new learning module, our fifth graders will be diving into the exciting world of inventors! Through a mix of reading, listening, and viewing different kinds of texts and media, students will explore how people come up with amazing ideas to solve problems and make the world better.

This unit focused on informational texts, helping students understand the author’s purpose, main ideas, and how the text is organized. They also read narrative nonfiction, realistic fiction, and even a bit of science fiction/fantasy to see how innovation and creativity appear across different types of stories.

Building on what we learned in September—like finding the main idea, using text evidence, and expanding vocabulary—students will continue to grow as thoughtful readers. As we explore inventors and their stories, students will see how qualities like perseverance, imagination, and problem-solving can lead to incredible inventions.

As this new school year begins, I am sending warm wishes to all the incredible students, parents, educators and partners in our community. This season is all about fresh starts, big dreams, new beginnings, and the excitement of learning.

Students - May this year be filled with discovery, growth, and plenty of joy.

Parents – Thank you for the seemingly effortless way you juggle backpacks, afterschool clubs, and busy schedules. We see you, we feel you, and we’re cheering you on every step of the way!

Educators - We appreciate you for ALL of the incredible work you do, and long hours you put in. Keep up the good work. You too are appreciated.

Community Partners -Thank you for your continued support. Here’s to a year of potential, perseverance, and progress! "Language is the road map of a culture." — Rita Mae Brown

Welcome to the new school year!

I would like to congratulate all of the new to Winfield families for their hard work/diligence in getting their children's immunization records into the school in a timely fashion! Due to this diligence, we did not have to exclude any students this year for immunization non-compliance on September 15th! Great work!!

If your child needs medication to be administered at school, whether daily or as needed, we would need a doctor's order in order to do so. If you need a medication order form, please let me know. I have attached a regular medication order form and the asthma order form to this email message.

Please reach out to me with any questions you may have: 443-809-4711 or lnewmark@bcps.org

Wishing everyone a healthy and productive school year!

Dear Winfield Families,

As part of our School Counseling Program, your child’s class will have the opportunity to engage in monthly counseling lessons throughout the school year. October is Bullying Prevention Month! As such, this month’s counseling lessons will discuss the topic of bullying prevention. These lessons help students understand what bullying is, how it can affect others, and—most importantly—how they can stand up for themselves and support their classmates in positive ways.

Below is the list of books/resources used in each lesson:

Pre-Kindergarten: The Way I Feel by Janan Cain

Kindergarten: Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Bullying by Howard Binkow

1st grade: Have You Filled a Bucket Today by Carol McCloud

2nd grade: I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoet

3rd grade: One by Kathryn Otoshi

4th grade: Simon's Hook by Karen Gedig Burnett

5th grade: My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig

Resources for Bullying Prevention Month

Here are some resources to help promote good citizenship and bullying prevention at home.

• BCPS website for Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation (BHI)

• https://www.bcps.org/dos/department_of_school_safety/bullying__harassment__or_intimidation

• Get Help Now

• https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now

• BCPS Virtual Calming Room

• https://www.bcps.org/dos/department_of_student_support_services/virtual_calming_room

Please feel free to contact the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Team with any questions or concerns.

Mr. Carothers – School Counselor (Pre-K, 1st, 3rd, & 5th)

Mrs. Robertson – School Counselor (Pre-K, K, 2nd, & 4th)

Mrs. Broyles – School Social Worker

As we start the school year in grades 1-5, we have been learning and putting into practice the habits of responsible digital citizens. We have talked about being safe online, creating a positive digital footprint, and what information is safe to share. As we continue to talk about digital citizenship, we will be focusing on how digital media can impact our mental health and developing strategies to engage in a balanced life.

In Prekindergarten and Kindergarten, we have been focused on our Library Orientation and developing our book care skills.

All students have been checking out books on their library visits and books can be returned any time to the library drop box just outside the library media center.

The Amazing Reading Race

We are getting ready to take a trip as individuals and as a school by racing our way around the world! You get to pick your journey and see how far you can travel by checking out books to read that are set on different continents and countries.

Each reader in our school will be issued a Reading Passport. As they read a book, they will record the book in the reading passport. Once they have read five stories from one continent, they will earn a stamp and become a member of that continent’s Reader Leader Club. The reader’s name will be posted on the Continent Reader Leader Club banners in the library. For those students who read five books from each continent, they will become Global Reader Leaders and have completed the most amazing journey around our planet.

During our Amazing Reading Race different rewards and challenges will be unlocked as grade level teams reach their circulation goals. Baltimore County Public Schools has set a goal of 35 book checkouts per student for the school year. Our school has a goal of 17,150 books checked out this year!

Little Free Library is coming to Winfield Elementary!

Thanks to a collaboration with Winfield Elementary School’s PTA, we have been awarded a grant to establish a Little Free Library which will be situated just outside the main door of the school! This Little Free Library will be stocked with books for our community to enjoy! We are hoping it will be a great resource to help build libraries at home! As part of the ribbon cutting ceremony, we are hoping to gift a new or gently used book to each student

To make this happen, we are asking parents to donate 1-2 gently used books for us to redistribute. We are especially looking for board books for the PreK 4 students but will accept all children’s books for PreK 4- 5th grade students. There will be a collection bin in the front lobby from Tuesday, September 30, 2025- Friday October 3, 2025. Once again, the goal is for every student to get a book, regardless of whether they bring in a book or not. We can accept up to 2 books maximum per student. Extra books will be used to keep our new Little Free Library stocked.

Save the Date for our 1st Scholastic Bookfair

Our first Scholastic Bookfair we be held from December 8-12, 2025. More details will be sent home as the Bookfair draws closer. If you can volunteer any time during that week to help with the bookfair it would be greatly appreciated.

In physical education, we are completing our unit on teamwork. Students have done an amazing job working together and planning with each other in different activities. After we have completed the unit on teamwork, we will move into the unit on sportsmanship. The sportsmanship unit will help students to more fully understand friendly competition.

As we continue to learn, grow and have fun together, please make sure that your scholar wears the appropriate footwear to school on PE days. This helps to ensure their safety as they participate in physical activities. Note: we encourage students to wear tennis shoes on PE days, as they have traction, treads, and provide the support necessary to participate in physical activity safely.

Thank you for your well wishes and continued support as we seek to embark upon a safe, healthy and productive school year.

In Art, students started the year off creating their own Art Portfolios. They accomplished this important task through unique creative drawings. Additionally, students were afforded the opportunity to share their artwork with classmates, which prompted group discussion and positive presentation skills.

The students also began reviewing one “Element of Art”, Color. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students reviewed the colors of the rainbow and proceeded to practice drawing a rainbow.

Students also learned about Hispanic artwork, and the talented artist who painted them. This invaluable introduction encouraged and inspired our very own students to create their own artwork in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lastly, we welcomed Ms. Tiya to the art studio to work with primary students in expanding their creative learning through art.

We look forward to the of the other amazing opportunities the 2025-2026 school year has to offer.

We are thrilled to kick off the school year with your students! We've jumped right into the basics of music with all grades, focusing on keeping the beat and identifying different notes and their and their respective time values.

The 3rd and 4th grade students are already exploring new instruments, and 5th grade students have started private instrument lessons. Our students are off to a great start, and we are extremely proud of their emerging growth and progress.

To partner with us in helping to ensure your scholar’s success, please encourage them to practice at home, and follow classroom rules and expectations. We make it a practice to encourage our students to always strive to do their very best.

Thank you in advance for your support. We look forward to working with your scholar this year.

We have had a fun start to this new special here at Winfield. Over the past month and a half in dance, we’ve been focusing on creating a safe, supportive, and fun environment where students feel free to express themselves through movement.

We've explored free movement through music, encouraging creativity and confidence while building a strong foundation for self-expression. In addition to this, we’ve started learning about jazz dance, including some basic movements and techniques.

Students have also begun working on remembering choreography, developing both their memory and performance skills as they grow more comfortable moving as a group.

We look forward to working with your children to grow our program in the 2025-2026 school year.

The Winfield PTA is excited to announce that we have partnered with Winfield Elementary School to create the “Little Free Library”. This important initiative will 1) promote literacy and 2) give back to the community.

As we kick off this literacy project, one of our primary goals is to gift every student at Winfield with a “new-to-them book”. To assist us in accomplishing this goal, we are asking parents to donate 1-2 gently used books for us to redistribute. Note: (We are especially looking for board books for the PreK 4 students, but will accept all children’s books for PreK 4- 5th grade students)

For your convenience, there will be a collection bin in the front lobby from Tuesday, September 30th - Friday October 3rd to receive your book donation.

For more information on our project, or to get involved in the PTA, please email President Mfoudi @ winfieldpta@mail.com

Dear Winfield Families,

We are off to a great start for the 2025–2026 school year, and we are so grateful for the strong partnerships and family engagement that make our school community thrive!

A special thank you to our generous community partners who continue to support our students and families:

• Baltimore County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter

• Weekend Backpacks Baltimore

• The Education Foundation

• Northwest Hospital

• Soles 4 Souls

• CFE Foundation

Because of their donations of backpacks, school supplies, shoes, and food, our students are well-prepared for a successful year.

We also want to thank all of our families who attended our recent events: the Pre-K and Kindergarten Family Resource Fair, End of Summer Jam/Back to School Night, and Fall Festival. We hope you found the activities and resources beneficial for your family and enjoyed connecting with our school community.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce our next family event:

📅 Stranger Danger Family and Community Event
Date: Tuesday, October 7th
Time: 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Location: Winfield Elementary School

This event will give families the opportunity to interact with the Baltimore County Police Department, build positive relationships, and feel comfortable with our local officers. Students can enjoy a mobile gaming truck, arts and crafts activities, and a special visit from the Orioles Bird mascot. The evening will also feature a police job recruitment event.

We look forward to seeing you there for another fun and engaging family experience!