Toquam Celebrates: Black History

Dear Toquam Families,

As we move through this exciting time of the school year, we are proud to honor Black History Month and celebrate the many contributions and achievements that have shaped our nation and our school community.

We are also thrilled to invite you to our annual STEM Night, where our scholars will showcase their Science Fair projects. We encourage 100% participation! Scholars must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Participants are welcome to dress up for the occasion. We will kick off the evening with pizza, followed by exciting and brilliant student experiments and presentations.

Immediately following the Science Fair, we will be revving up for our Annual Spelling Bee, scheduled for March 25th. Please begin practicing with your child at home. Our classroom teachers will also provide time for students to practice in preparation for the classroom challenge.

Then, on April 28, we will participate in another National AVID Showcase, where visitors will observe our school in action using best teaching practices. YES, our kindergarten scholars are using Cornell Notes, and other grade levels are engaging in Socratic Seminars, Philosophical Chairs, and other rigorous instructional practices that incorporate Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR). Please sign up and join us for this fantastic opportunity to see our teachers masterfully instruct and our scholars shine.

We look forward to celebrating learning, creativity, and academic excellence with you.

Humbly,

Principal Brooks

Our next parent meeting will be on Tuesday, February 17th from 9:00am - 9:30am. We will be having presentations on summer camp opportunities. See flyer below for more details.

KINDERGARTERN:

Feb. 2026

FIRST GRADE:

Dear First Grade Families,

Here’s what we’re up to…

Literacy: Students will continue to work in small groups, targeting specific skills they need. We are continuing to learn about the writing process while creating out book "When We Grow Up."

Math: We have started unit 6, where students are learning addition fact strategies and working on developing fluency with basic addition facts, and are beginning to learn to tell time.

Knowledge: We are starting unit 6, where students are going to be learning about astronomy. We are continuing to use AVID strategies, like philosophical chairs, note taking and graphic organizers.


It's continues to be windy and frigid! Please make sure your scholar is dressed warm and with a winter jacket, gloves and a hat! Please let us know if you need help with chap stick, lotions or winter clothing for your kiddo. We can try to get that to your child if needed.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership and encouraging curiosities!

The First Grade Team 🍏🍎

SECOND GRADE:

Dear Families,
We can’t believe we are already halfway through the school year! Our second graders continue to grow, learn, and impress us each day.
Math
Unit 3: Numbers Within 1,000
Students are moving from place value into adding and subtracting two-digit numbers using open number lines and learning about money.
Literacy
In Magnetic Reading, students are working in Unit 4, “It’s on the Map.” In Empowering Writers, we are focusing on narrative writing. In CKLA Knowledge, students will explore Life Cycles, including night and day, the four seasons, and the life cycles of animals such as frogs and chickens.
Science
Earth Science: Earth Materials (NGSS: Processes that Change the Earth)
Students are exploring different types of rocks and minerals and learning how natural processes shape the Earth. Our young scientists are also applying their knowledge in hands-on projects, investigating questions and conducting experiments.
Important Dates & Reminders
Science Fair: 2/18/2026, 4-6pm
Field Trips: Ridgefield Playhouse, 3/5/2025 and Stamford Museum and Nature Center 3/12/26 and 3/18/26
AVID Showcase:

Our 2nd Annual AVID Showcase on April 2nd will highlight students’ thinking, collaboration, and academic growth for visiting educators and district leaders.
It continues to be windy and frigid! Please make sure your child is dressed warm and with a winter jacket, gloves and a hat! Please let us know if you need help with chapstick, lotions or winter clothing for your kiddo.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to an exciting second half of the year!
Warmly,
The 2nd Grade Team 🤗😘😋

THIRD GRADE:

Dear 3rd Grade Families,

We have a busy month of learning ahead!

🌟 What We’re Learning
📖 CKLA Knowledge – Unit 4: Ancient Rome
During this unit, students strengthen important reading and listening skills while learning about Ancient Rome. Students will practice listening carefully, understanding new vocabulary, and talking about what they hear. Students also work on identifying the main idea and important details, retelling events in the correct order, and explaining why events happened. They practice answering questions using evidence from the text and participating in discussions by sharing ideas and responding to others.
The unit also focuses on building strong academic vocabulary related to history and government. In addition, students practice writing short responses that explain what they learned, using complete sentences and clear details. By the end of the unit, students grow as confident listeners, speakers, readers, and writers while learning how to understand and explain informational texts.
➗ MATH – Unit 5: Fractions and Multiplication Strategies
During this unit, students practice different strategies to solve multiplication problems, such as using equal groups, arrays, repeated addition, and breaking numbers apart to make problems easier. The unit also introduces fractions as equal parts of a whole. Students learn how to identify, model, and compare fractions using pictures, number lines, and real-world examples. They practice understanding what the numbers in a fraction mean and how fractions relate to sharing and grouping. By the end of the unit, students develop stronger problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of multiplication and fractions that will support future math learning.

🌍 SOCIAL STUDIES – Ancient Egypt
We will continue our study of Ancient Egypt this month. Students will learn about the ancient Egyptians’ daily life, achievements, attire, careers, and more! They will explore geography’s effect on this civilization’s politics, economics, and religion. Students will learn how the ancient Egyptians’ innovations continue to influence today’s world.

✍WRITING - Empowering Writers
We are still learning how to Annotate both Narrative and Informational Text. Annotating helps us learn how to identify all the key components of both Narrative and Informational Text. We are also learning on composing a paragraph paying focus on beginning with a topic sentence and include at 4 sentences supporting the topic sentence followed by an impactful concluding sentence.

📅 Dates to Remember!
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Wednesday, February 18th - Friday, February 20th
Toquam’s Got Talent Show: Friday, February 20th
No School: Friday, February 13th & Monday, February 16th
Early Release Days: Wednesday, February 18th - Friday, February 20th, and Wednesday, February 25th
Science Fair Projects Due: Thursday, February 12th
Science Fair Presentations: Wednesday, February 25th @ 4pm-6pm

😊 Classroom Tips:
~Please practice Multiplication Facts with your child at home
~Fuel your child’s brain by sending them to school with healthy snacks
~Please remember to check your child’s Homework Assignment Planner every day
~Sign your child’s Reading Log every day
~Send your child to school with a winter coat, a hat, and gloves every day

FOURTH GRADE:

🙋🏻‍♀️Hello 4th grade families,
❄️🌸Hopefully the groundhog didn’t see his shadow and the warm spring days are coming soon! Thank you for making sure that your child wears a warm jacket, hat, and gloves to school, as we are braving the cold afternoons to go outside for recess and get some fresh air! Brrrr!🥶

Upcoming events:
📚Wednesday, February 5th: World Read Aloud Day
☃️Friday, February 14th - Monday, February 17th: NO SCHOOL - FEBRUARY BREAK
🔬Science Fair- Please work with your child to create a science experiment to share!
🐝Spelling Bee- Please work with your child by practicing the spelling word list that came home last week!

🤔 Math~ We are knee deep in Chapter 4 learning the different double digit multiplication strategies, such as lattice and partitioned rectangles. Here are some reference videos to help your child at home with these new methods. Partitioned rectangles/Area model and lattice. A strong knowledge of the multiplication facts is a MUST for success with these strategies!!🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏿‍♂️

✍ CKLA~ We are continuing our focus on the Medieval Ages. The students are working on writing a persuasive paragraph about what person they would have wanted to be if they lived during this time period. Some choices are a serf, nobleman, craftsman, knight, lord, monk or nun. The students are learning to start off with a strong opinion sentence, three supporting details, using evidence from the text and transition words, and lastly, a concluding sentence to wrap up their ideas. The students are also learning to identify the subject and predicate in a sentence, as well as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Life was sure different back in the Middle Ages! Ask your child to share some of the ways society has changed since then!

🔬Science~ Our unit is Plant & Animal Structures. This unit focuses on the structures that enable plants and animals to survive in specific environments. Students will identify plant and animal structures and relate them to a function for survival, growth, or reproduction. Students will focus on plant structures. Students examine seeds and explain how these structures help protect the baby plant and assist in its initial growth in the soil. Students will observe the radish seeds they planted to identify external plant structures that grow from a seed. Celery and carnations are used to demonstrate the presence of internal structures, such as veins. Students dissect a flower to review structures and their functions. Lastly, students examine how their senses help them experience the world.

♥️February tips: Please remember to ask your child about their daily homework assignments and to check them over each night. Please have your child study their basic addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts daily! XtraMath.org is a FREE website that will challenge your child to master their facts! Please have your child read for 20 minutes each night independently OR enjoy the time reading to/with your child. Our classrooms would appreciate any donations of Kleenex boxes AND hand soaps to keep us all healthy.
Miles of smiles,
The 4th grade team.😊 😇😋😙

FIFTH GRADE:

Dear 5th Grade Families,

We’ve had a busy and exciting week in 5th grade! Here’s what’s happening in our classrooms:

Math
Students have just finished Unit 4: Decimal Concepts and Coordinate Grids and will now begin Unit 5: Operations with Fractions. This unit will focus on multiplying and dividing fractions—key skills that will build on their previous learning.

CKLA
We are wrapping up our Poetry Unit and preparing to dive into an exciting new story: The Adventures of Don Quixote. Students will explore this classic tale and analyze its themes and characters.

Science & Social Studies
Our Physical Science: Structures and Properties of Matter unit is coming to a close, and we will soon transition back to Social Studies, where we will begin learning about the Age of Exploration. Students will discover how explorers shaped the world and what motivated their journeys.

School News
Help support our 5th grade by participating in our Valentine’s Day Candy Gram fundraiser! Your contributions will help us raise money for upcoming events and activities.

As always, thank you for your support! If you have any questions, please reach out.

Warm regards,
5th Grade Team

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ygP9268VEWSXN7mbVkOLCJvZSsNXGPbeDCEXPFhjhRY/edit?usp=sharing

EL Newsletter #10

Dear New Arrivals Families,
Welcome to February! Our students are expanding their knowledge and continue to develop their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English.
In Literacy, we continue to learn many strategies to improve our reading and writing. The students are using their foundational addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills to learn many new math concepts. In Social Studies, we will be learning about the Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day. The students will also learn about Black History month, feelings and emotions, and clothing. In Science, we finished our study of the five senses. The students also took some mid-year reading and math i-Ready assessments to determine their growth and development.

IMPORTANT! The New Arrivals classes will be taking the LAS LINKS tests this month. The testing takes place from February 3rd to March 7th. The test is given in four sections: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. A combination of tasks gives the teachers the ability to determine the students' level of English proficiency.

Please note the following upcoming dates:
February 13 and 16 -NO SCHOOL - February Winter Vacation February 18-20: Early Release Parent ConfErences
February 2 to March 6 - LAS LINKS TESTING
February 25 - EARLY RELEASE - Teacher Professional Development

With the cold winter weather, please remember to send your child to school dressed appropriately in long pants, sweatshirts, coats, gloves, and scarves so they can stay warm during outdoor recess.

Please continue to check your child’s backpack every night for important information and homework. Homework packets are sent home on Monday and are due by Friday of that week. Please contact us via REMIND if you have any questions. Also, please update the PickUp Patrol if your child’s dismissal should change.

Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation.

Regards, Ms. Belcher, Ms. McCarthy

Our Moana Jr cast is working hard on our production! The performances will be on Friday, March 27th at 7pm and on Saturday, March 28th at 2pm at Dolan Middle School! The link to purchase tickets will be in next month's newsletter.

• Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950) was a groundbreaking historian, author, and journalist, known as the "Father of Black History," who dedicated his life to studying and promoting the contributions of African Americans, leading to the establishment of Black History Month.
  
  
• Born to formerly enslaved parents, he overcame immense obstacles, working in coal mines to fund his education, eventually earning a PhD from Harvard, and founding the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) to ensure Black history was recognized and taught (Wikipedia)