Mammoth Mailing

Hearing and Vision Screenings: 12/9/24 to 12/13/24

Movement Education Equipment in Physical Education: 12/9/24 to 12/20/24

Picture Make-Up Day: 12/11/24

Winter Concert for Kindergarten, First and Second Grade:12/12/24 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Windsor Mill Middle School

Spread the Warmth Event: 12/16/24

Winter Spirit Week:12/10/24 to 12/20/24 (More Details to Come!)

Winter Break Starts: 12/20/24 (School Closes 3 Hours Early at 1:00pm)

School Reopens: 1/2/25

Active Minds Winter Session Clubs Start Date: 1/7/25

Schools Closed for MLK: 1/20/25

Second Quarter Ends/ School Closes at 1:00pm: 1/24/25

Schools Closed for Professional Development: 1/29/25

Dear Winfield Families,

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to each of you for being an integral part of our school community. This season is a time to reflect on the many things we are thankful for, and at the top of our list is the unwavering support, kindness, and partnership of our families.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we hope your days are filled with warmth, love, and cherished moments with family and friends. As we move into December, we recognize and honor the many holidays and traditions observed by our diverse community. Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, or simply embracing the joy of the winter season, we wish you peace, joy, and togetherness during this special time of year.

We are grateful for the opportunity to work with your children every day and look forward to welcoming 2025 with excitement and hope. Thank you for being a part of the Winfield family.

Below are some general reminders for December and January!

Wishing you a safe, happy, and healthy holiday season

Warm regards,
Dana Bisker

Thank you, Community Partners!

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible organizations that generously supported Winfield families during this holiday season. Their kindness and dedication have made a meaningful difference in our community:

• The Baltimore Ravens: Thank you for donating 100 turkey dinners on November 18th. Your generosity brought joy and nourishment to many families in need.
• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority: We deeply appreciate your contributions on November 22nd, ensuring that our families had a holiday filled with warmth and care.
• Union Bethel AME Church of Randallstown: Your support on November 22nd and 23rd was a blessing to so many in our community. Thank you for sharing in the spirit of giving!
• LifeBridge Health/Northwest Hospital: We are grateful for your thoughtful donations on November 26th, helping to make this holiday season brighter for our families.

Holiday Break

• Dates: Holiday break will begin on December 20 and run through January 1.
• School Resumes: Classes will resume on January 2, 2024.

Special Events

• Winter Concert: Mark your calendars for our Winter Concert on December 12th at 6:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you there!

After-School Programs

• Out-of-School Time Reminders:
  • Tuesday, December 3rd: Last day of Fall Session of Active Minds Math.
  • Wednesday, December 4th: Last day of Fall Session Wednesday Clubs.
  • Thursday, December 5th: Last day of Fall Session Thursday Clubs.
  • Active Minds Winter Session: Begins on January 6th.

Testing

• CogAT Testing: For 2nd grade students, CogAT testing will take place from December 2nd to December 6th.
• WIDA Testing: Testing for Multilingual Learners will begin at the end of January. A detailed schedule will be shared soon.

Lost and Found

The Lost and Found, located outside the cafeteria, is overflowing with items!

• Reminder for Students: Please check for any missing items before winter break.
• Invitation for Parents: We encourage parents to stop by and check for any items their child may have misplaced.
• Note: All unclaimed items will be donated after the close of winter break.

Uniform Reminders

We thank you to all our families who are adhering to and participating in our Uniform Policy this year; our students look GREAT and seem to enjoy it! Therefore, this is a reminder that Winfield Elementary is a uniform school, and we encourage all students to wear them four days a week, Monday – Thursday- Friday, with the exception for some Fun Friday Spirit Days. For the safety of all our students, CLOSED-toe shoes, sneakers preferably, are the footwear of choice. Students are not allowed to participate in PE or recess if they are wearing anything other than sneakers.

If your student(s) could benefit from a uniform item or two, we currently have items available in our Wooly Mammoth Clothing Closet, located in the Winfield Community Cottage. If you’d like to visit the closet, you can contact our Community Facilitator or CARE Liaison for an appointment; see their information below. Thank you, in advance, for your continued participation in our Uniform Policy!

Winter Spirit Week

We are excited to get enjoy the spirit of the season the last week before winter break, December 16th- 20th. During this time, uniforms will not be required.The schedule is forthcoming for Walking in a Winfield Wonderland. Keep a lookout for them in the next week!

Greetings from the ISDM team! November has been a month filled with learning and gratitude. In Mrs. Kinsey/ Room 1, we have been learning about place value, structuring sentences, the solar system, and learning about gratitude. This month we will be visiting some general education classes to share what we are grateful for and dropping off some festive treats!

In Mrs. Gregory room, our little babies are making progress in following routines and structure! They are making strives with sitting for instruction and participating in their daily lessons!

In Mrs. Riggs room, the students have been working hard on place value strategies, expressing their feelings through art, and finding coming up with things to be thankful about!

It was such a highlight for the Ravens to visit our school on 11/18/2024! Player Nick Moore, (#46) spoke exclusively with our students and spoke about his mother teaching children with special needs, such a kind spirit!

The ISDM team wants to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Pre-Kindergarten has been very busy this past month. We have been learning about different environments and recycling. We have read stories such as People and the Environment, Smash! Mash! Crash! There Goes the Trash, and Why should I Recycle. We explored outside around the school and learned about pond environments. The next environment we will be learning about is the coral reef. In Math we have been learning about shapes and comparing numbers. The students are very excited about our new class pet. Mrs. Northern’s class has a fish named Bluey and Ms. McHugh’s class has a fish named Bingo

We can’t believe that it’s already December! Our kindergarten students have been working hard.

In phonics, we are learning to read sight words, identifying letter sounds we hear at the beginning and ending of words, and blending sounds to read words. Be on the lookout for the little decodable books coming home each week. Please have your child practice reading these books regularly. They are a perfect way to practice reading sight words and blending words with our new letter sounds.

In ELA, students will listen to and read a variety of literary and informational texts to make connections, visualize, and identify the main topic and key details. The students will identify characters and settings in order to retell the facts or events in a text.

In math, we worked on learning to count by 2’s to 20, explore even numbers as doubles, add and subtract by 1, compare and order numbers from 1 to 10, and write equations to show sums up to 5.

Please remember to complete your child’s weekly homework packet. Return the homework on Fridays or Mondays. Also, remember to label your child’s belongings including their winter-weather clothing! Thank you for all your support! Happy Holidays!

Happy December! Thank you for all of your support in the first quarter. We appreciate you.

In math, we will be practicing efficient math strategies to add and subtract within 10 and 20. We will also build understanding of place value with tens and ones.

In ELA, we will learn that animal bodies and animal homes come in many different shapes and sizes. We will read books about animal characteristics, and we will learn how animals use their bodies to survive. Children will explore animals further by writing about their favorite animals.

In phonics, we continue to 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 and 20 to build fluency. Additionally, it is encouraged that you read with your child each night for about 15-20 minutes, as well as practice sight words. 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.

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 2025. Email or send the completed application and certificate to your child’s teacher. Thank you in advance!

Thank you for meeting with us to discuss your child's progress, for celebrating American Education Week, and for attending our Writing Workshop for Families.

In math, students will continue to add and subtract within 100 using an open number line, the traditional algorithm, models, and decomposing numbers. In reading, students will continue to focus on foundational skills, word analysis, and spelling patterns. They will read texts to learn ways to listen to each other, compromise, and see different points of view. Also, they’ll identify the theme, central idea, and author’s purpose for writing. Students are encouraged to read nightly, respond to prompts in written form, and practice addition and subtraction facts as needed.

Our next trip is Monday, February 3rd. We’re going to Goucher College to see a show. More information about this trip will be sent home soon. We’re considering a trip to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC in the spring. The cost will not exceed $30. We will provide more information if the trip is confirmed so you can plan accordingly. If you plan to chaperone any field trips or volunteer in the classroom this school year, please complete the BCPS volunteer application and training. Email or send both to your child’s homeroom teacher.

The cold and flu season has arrived. If you would like a mask for your child, please let us know. Thank you for the donations of tissue. Any donation of wipes is appreciated.

Reminders:

• The holiday concert is on Thursday, December 12th at Windsor Mill Middle School.

• Cogat testing will take place in December.

• Send a note when your child is absent.

• Check your child’s blue folder, homework, and supplies.

Contact your child’s teacher via email if you have questions, concerns, or would like support. Have a wonderful holiday and break!

The third graders have been working super hard. They are showing so much growth as the months roll by! We can’t believe it’s December.

In math we are working on 3 -digit addition and subtraction story problems. We are focusing on the operations and how to choose between them. We are rounding 2- and 3-digit numbers to the nearest 10 and 100. We are learning how rounding can be useful in the real world!

In advanced math we are working on time and measurement skills. Students are learning how to tell time on an analog clock by minute as well as finding elapsed time. We are also looking at measurements and solving multistep story problems. Ending off our unit, we will be discussing fractions and equal shares.

In ELA, we have been busy learning about text features and how we use them to understand better what we are reading. We are learning about the main idea and key details and how they tell us what the story is about. We are also exploring new vocabulary words and expanding our writing skills.

We are super excited to watch these students grow and stay excited about learning. If your child does not have headphones in school, can you please send them in a pair? They are extremely useful when they are on their devices and for testing.

Please check out some pictures below from our trip to the B & O Railroad Museum. The students had an amazing time and enjoyed learning about the history of the railroad!

Welcome to the 2nd quarter!

In grade 4 math, students are building upon their knowledge of fractions and decimals. In grade 4 advanced math, students are extending their knowledge of fractions, decimals and multi-digit multiplication. In ELA, we are finishing up Module 3- “Rise to the Occasion.” Students read and viewed a variety of texts on the topic of meeting a challenge. To end the module, they will write an opinion essay on what it takes to meet a challenge. Module 4 will begin after the Thanksgiving holiday. In Health we have begun Unit 2, Growing and Changing.

Students will participate in STEM Day at Towson University this month! They have the opportunity to enhance their understanding of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math concepts as they apply to the real world. They will explore several STEM exhibits hosted by NASA, the Maryland Zoo, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and more! If you plan to be a chaperone on any of our upcoming field trips, please visit the BCPS website to complete the volunteer training as soon as possible. Upon completion, please return your certificate and application to the school. BCPS Volunteer site

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s subject area teacher.

For the month of November students focused on learning about fractions. Students learned how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. Students also learned how to multiply a fraction by a whole number. The main focus of the unit was how to create equivalent fractions. Students also learned how to convert fractions into mixed numbers or improper fractions.

As we delve into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), students are gaining essential technical skills that will shape their future. By learning AI, students are not only understanding how algorithms and machine learning models work, but also acquiring hands-on experience in coding, data analysis, and problem-solving. They explore key areas such as natural language processing, computer vision, and neural networks, which are transforming industries across the globe. These skills empower students to build AI-driven solutions, innovate in tech fields, and become leaders in developing the next generation of intelligent systems. As AI continues to evolve, mastering these technical skills will be crucial for students to navigate and contribute to a future where AI impacts every facet of our lives.

In English Language Development (ELD), we will continue to support the development of our multilanguage learners (MLLs) skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing using a variety of resources including the HMH Tabletop mini lessons, Rigsby texts and other materials. In the month of December, we will begin to adapt our lessons to meet students’ needs as they prepare to take the WIDA ACCESS Tests coming up in January.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

In the Art Studio, the students created Fall themed artwork.

Fourth and Fifth graders focused on self-portraits using lines and shapes. 5th grade also began exploring clay. Both second and third grades created pumpkin art in different mediums; watercolor and paper collage. First graders and Kindergarteners practiced basic shapes, and their cutting and gluing skills. Pre-k practiced fine motor skills, and cutting and gluing skills throughout various projects.

Can you believe we are already in December! Coming back from Thanksgiving Break has definitely put a new song in our Music Program here at Winfield, and your Primary students cannot wait to sing it for you on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 6pm at Windsor Mill MS for our annual Winter Concert! Please make sure to save the date!

Now that you know what our Primary students are working on, I want to congratulate our Intermediate students who successfully completed their mid-unit assessment, and each scored a perfect score. It’s no surprise that they accomplished this, because they have been learning how to work in groups and working in paying attention to specific details. I am very proud of each of them!

Pre-K and ISDM students and families…your turn to SHINE is coming up in January! Please stay tuned for those dates as they are soon approaching!

Have the happiest and merriest month!

Hello Winfield family! I hope the holiday season is treating you all well and going smoothly. This month in PE, we will be starting our Movement Education unit, which will improve students' muscular strength and endurance and allow them to climb to new heights!

During this unit, students must wear tennis shoes on their PE days. Please help your students achieve their best by making sure they come to school in clothes that they can easily move around and participate in physical activities.

As part of Winfield's School Counseling Program, your child’s class will be participating in a counseling core curriculum lesson during the month of December on personal safety and decision-making. The lessons are based on Baltimore County Public Schools’ Personal Safety Program PreK-5: Making Healthy Decisions curriculum. This program includes age-appropriate information on body safety and neglect and abuse prevention strategies and highlights the importance of telling a trusted adult about uncomfortable situations. Our goal is to help children be better able to handle the issues of personal safety should they arise. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Hearing and Vision Screenings:

Hearing and Vision Screenings will take place during the week of December 9th-13th.

Please look out for information regarding Hearing and Vision Screenings which will go home or will be sent out during the week of November 25th.

Students in PreK, 1st and 4th grades (as well as Kindergarteners who were not screened in PreK) are routinely screened.

Dental Health:

In December (December 18th), we will have Dental Health Education for 2nd and 3rd. A staff member from the Baltimore County Health Department will present dental health materials to the students in those grades. They will also distribute Dental Sealant consent forms to students in 2nd and 3rd grade. A Dental Hygienist or dentist from the Baltimore County Health Department will come during the week of January 9th-16th to place sealants on the molars of students in grade 2 and 3 who have their consent forms completed.

If you have any questions regarding Dental Sealants or Hearing and Vision Screenings, please contact Nurse Newmark at 443-809-4711 or lnewmark@bcps.org

Winfield Elementary School is proud to announce our upcoming Spread the Warmth event, which will take place this winter holiday season on Monday, December 16th! This annual event is designed to bring warmth and cheer to our school community and provide support to families in need.

Our Spread the Warmth event will include the collection and distribution of winter clothing, including coats, hats, scarves, gloves, pajamas, school uniforms, and blankets, to ensure that all our students and their families stay cozy during the cold months.

We look forward to celebrating the season of giving with you and spreading warmth and joy to all our families!

Spotlight on Community Partners for the Month:

Thank you to the following Winfield Elementary School Community Partners who provided Thanksgiving Holiday Meal Baskets to over 120 of our Winfield families this Holiday season: Weekend Backpacks Baltimore in partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated, Sorority Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter, Union Bethel AME Church of Randallstown, Lifebridge Health/Northwest Hospital, and First Fruits Farm. Your generosity truly embodies the spirit of giving, and we are grateful for your ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in our community. We wish you a healthy and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

1st Quarter Attendance Celebrations:

Congratulations to all our students who achieved or surpassed the state’s standard attendance rate of 94% or higher. Congratulations to our parents for your dedication and commitment to ensuring that your child attends school regularly. On November 15th, we celebrated with 268 students at our quarterly attendance ceremony.

Community School Advisory Team:

We are looking for stakeholders to join the Community School Advisory Team. The team is led by the Community School Facilitator and includes administrators, staff members, families, students, community members and community partners. The goal of the Community School Advisory Team is to improve student achievement by enhancing the school’s instructional program and support services. The team will work together to develop a vision for the school and community, determine programs and activities for the school, implement and assess activities, and make budgetary decisions regarding the Concentration of Poverty Grant. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 10th 5:15 – 6:15 pm in the Community School Resource Cottage.

Community Resource Cottage:

The Community School Resource Cottage is open and has resources for families that include school supplies, shoes, school uniforms, non-perishable food items, toiletries, household items, winter accessories and more. If you need resources, please contact Cortly Witherspoon at cwitherspoon7@bcps.org to make an appointment.

Become a Volunteer:

Families and Community Members interested in volunteering must complete a new volunteer application and complete the volunteer training each school year. Please use the following link to complete the application and training. All completed volunteer applications and certificates must be turned into your child’s teacher or Volunteer Coordinator, Cortly Witherspoon @ cwitherspoon7@bcps.org

Volunteer Application and Training Link:

https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/FACE

Happy Holidays from Winfield Elementary School!