The Wellwood Globe

At Wellwood International, our mission is to help students grow into knowledgeable, kind, and confident learners. We provide a challenging and supportive education in a multicultural setting, where every child learns to respect and value differences. We want our students to feel safe, cared for, and inspired to do their best every day.

Dear Wellwood Families,

Happy March! As we move closer to spring, our school is full of energy and steady growth. Students are showing greater confidence in their learning, and it is exciting to see them take on new challenges with pride. This time of year allows us to see the progress they have made since the fall, and we are grateful for the strong partnership we have with our families in supporting their success.

Our students recently completed the winter Star assessments. These included Star Early Literacy for grades K to 2, Star Reading for grades 3 to 5, and Star Math for grades K to 5. The results show meaningful progress across the school. In Early Literacy, thirty percent of our K to 2 students demonstrated high growth from fall to winter. In Reading, forty three percent of our grade 3 to 5 students showed high growth. In Math, thirty eight percent of our K to 5 students demonstrated high growth. This is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our teachers and paraeducators who provide meaningful and rigorous instruction each day. While this is only one data point, I encourage you to review the report when you receive it to better understand your students’ strengths and the areas where continued support will help them finish the year strong. We are grateful for the support you provide at home.

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, it is important for families to stay connected to their child’s progress. Please check your child’s Wellwood Folder each evening and continue to visit Schoology regularly to review assignments, class updates, and grades. These habits help keep students organized and aware of how they are progressing.

Families can also remain engaged by reaching out to teachers with questions that support student success. Some helpful questions to ask include:

• Is my child meeting grade level expectations in reading and math?
• What growth have you seen in my child since the fall?
• What work habits support my child’s success, and which habits need strengthening?
• What areas should we focus on at home to help my child continue improving?
• How can I support the learning goals you are working on in class?

These questions help create a clear picture of your child’s progress and strengthen our home and school partnership.

I also want to highlight a special event coming up this month. Wellness Night will take place on Tuesday, March 10 from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. This will be a fun and interactive evening for the whole family. You will be able to visit movement and mindfulness stations, learn simple healthy habits, connect with community partners, and enjoy activities that support physical, emotional, and mental well-being. If your family plans to attend, please remember to RSVP. The RSVP links have been included in my Sunday Messages and were also sent through Talking Points. Your response helps us prepare materials and food so every family has a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Thank you for everything you do to partner with our school. I look forward to seeing many of you at Wellness Night and throughout the month.

In Partnership,

Mrs. Alonna Thompson

athompson8@bcps.org

Mar 6 (F) - Class Picture Day

Mar 10 (T) - Wellwood Wellness Night, 5:30-7pm Register Here

Mar 20 (F) - School Closed to Students - Professional Development - Eid-al Fitr

Mar 25 (T) - PTA Meeting, Wellwood Learning Cottage & Online, 6:00-7:00pm

Mar 25 (W) - Kindergarten Field Trip to the BMA

Mar 26 (Th) - Pre-K Field Trip to Oregon Ridge

The Department of Special Education in Baltimore County has a Family Support Services Division that holds regular workshops for parents and families.

Upcoming workshops:

• March 4th 11:30-12:30 SST and 504: What’s it all about? Learn about the Student Support Team (SST) process in BCPS and its role in proactively planning for students with academic and/or social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs.
• March 12th 11:30-12:30 6:30-7:30 Recreational and Social Opportunities for Teens with Disabilities
• March 25th 12-1 PM Spotlight Series: An interview with Darian Senn-Carter whose impressive life story includes his autism diagnosis in adulthood and how he came to view autism as his super power.

NAEP

All 4th grade students will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on March 9, 2026. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of achievement across the country.

Your child will take a mathematics or reading assessment. In addition to subject-area questions, students voluntarily complete NAEP survey questions. These questions provide valuable information about participating students’ educational experiences and opportunities to learn both in and outside of the classroom. More information about NAEP survey questions is available at https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents under the section “Survey Questionnaires & Your Student: What You Need to Know.”

The assessment takes about 120 minutes for most students, which includes transition time, directions, and completion of survey questions.

The information collected is used for statistical purposes only.

MISA

5th graders will take the MISA assessment in March. The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) is the umbrella for annual statewide assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The Science (MISA) assessment will focus on the ability to demonstrate the essential knowledge and understanding of science and engineering to make sense of real-world phenomena and solve authentic problems.

The assessment includes 4 sessions. Each regular session is 40 minutes in length.

Testing will take place March 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th from 10:15-11:30am. Cell phones and smart watches should be left at home on these days.

Attendance prizes for our BINGO Board contest will be going home this month, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank‑you to all the families who participated! Your encouragement and partnership make a meaningful difference.

As we move forward, we kindly remind families that students should aim to maintain an attendance rate of 94% or higher. We understand that absences can happen—children do get sick, and some time at home is necessary. What matters most is helping students attend school regularly whenever they are healthy enough to do so.

Consistent attendance supports students in keeping up with their learning and staying connected to their classroom community. When children miss too much school, even for excused reasons, it can make it harder for them to stay on track academically. Thank you for all you do to support strong attendance and your child’s success!

Please register your family if you plan to attend!

We hope to see you there!

Hi Wellwood Families!

Welcome to the Counseling Corner, where we will showcase helpful tips and information about Social Emotional Learning.

Theme of the Month

As part of our School Counseling Program, your child’s class will have the opportunity to engage in a counseling core curriculum lesson each month based on a different theme. It is our hope that the core curriculum counseling lessons will help to promote the social emotional, academic, and career development of our students. We hope that you can help your child reflect on these lessons by discussing their content together.

In the month of March, students will discuss the topic of careers. In the lessons, they will explore a variety of careers and begin to explore their career interests. Below is the list of books/resources used in each lesson.

• Kindergarten: Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Deborah Hembrook and Kathryn Heling
• 1st grade: Career Day by Anne Rockwell
• 2nd grade: Career Scoops (videos)
• 3rd grade: What Shoes Will You Wear by Julia Cook
• 4th grade: SMARTS! Everybody’s Got Them by Thomas Armstrong
• 5th grade: Traitify career interest inventory (website)

Parent University Events

* Dine & Learn: Bullying in the Age of Social Media

March 4th – 6:30 PM

Virtual Presented by Amanda Tennant, LMSW, Thrive Behavioral Health

* Lunch & Learn: Raising Social Citizens: Teaching Young Children About Kindness, Diversity, and Community

March 6th- 12:30 PM

Virtual Presented by Dr. Keisha Wizzart, the Center for Family Success

*Lunch & Learn: Understanding Credit

March 10th – 12:30 PM

Virtual Presented by Brian Peller, CUBDP, CCUFC, Freedom Federal Credit Union

* Dine & Learn: Dementia Information Workshop

March 10th -6:30 PM

Virtual Presented by Emily Kearns, Dementia Specialist, Baltimore County Department of Aging

* Dine & Learn: Brain Health

March 18th – 6:30 PM

Virtual Presented by Emily Kearns, Dementia Specialist, Baltimore County Department of Aging

*Red Flags of Advertising and Scams – Protecting Seniors and Caregivers in Today’s Marketplace

March 24th – 5:30 PM

In Person, Cockeysville Branch of Baltimore County Public Library

Presented by the Better Business Bureau in partnership with Baltimore County Dept. of Aging, BCPS’s Parent University and BCPL

Click here to register for any of the events

Resources

• BCPS Virtual Calming Room

• Baltimore County Crisis Response: 410-931-2214

• Crisis text line: Text the word "TALK" to 741741 for free 24-hour support

• Maryland Food Bank: 410-737-8282

• 211 Maryland: dial 211 or https://211md.org/

• Maryland Suicide and Crisis Hotline: dial 988

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK

• Trevor Lifeline: Text “START” to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386

• Baltimore County Department of Social Services: 410-853-3000

• Sheppard Pratt's Urgent Walk-In Clinic is available through virtual appointments. https://www.sheppardpratt.org/care-finder/virtual-crisis-walk-in-clinic/

Mind Over Matters is an ongoing movement to raise awareness about mental health and promote wellness for students, staff, and families.

Theme for March – April: Relationship Skills

Definition: The ability to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups. This includes the capacities to communicate clearly, listen actively, cooperate, work collaboratively to problem solve and negotiate conflict constructively, navigate settings with differing social and cultural demands and opportunities, provide leadership, and seek or offer help when needed.

Lindsey Delis

ldelis@bcps.org

443-809-1167

Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Hello Wellwood families! Welcome to “The Wildcat Den: Family Spotlight of the Month" where we will celebrate many wonderful Wellwood families! This section of the newsletter will showcase the voices and experiences that make Wellwood special!

This month we are featuring:

Miller–Hicks–Marion Family

Students: Kamion Miller (2nd grade), Greyson Miller (Kindergarten), Dylan Hicks (5th grade), and Nation Marion (Kindergarten).

During Black History Month, their family makes it a priority to celebrate and learn together. They explore HBCUs and visit meaningful cultural institutions such as the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the African American Heritage Museum. In addition to community engagement, their family prioritizes traditions that bring them together — especially family meals and birthday celebrations. When asked what being part of the Wellwood community means to them, the family shared that it represents a diverse environment where their children are learning about different cultures and world history.

We are grateful to the Miller–Hicks–Marion family for sharing how they celebrate Black history and for being an important part of the Wellwood community!

Be on the lookout for next month’s Family Spotlight survey—we can’t wait to highlight even more of our wonderful Wellwood families!

Please remember to call the office at (443) 809-1212 to register to attend this registration event!

In celebration of Black History Month and all they've learned this year, our Black Excellence club presented biographies of notable Black Americans.

The dance group SOLE Defined brought high energy and fun to our Black History Month assembly, using tap dance and interactive routines to teach students about rhythm and musicality.

Led by Mr. Lowery, students took the stage during our Black History Month assembly to share biographies of notable Black Americans and impress the audience with their bucket percussion performance.

Check out our new recycling bins in the lobby! If you have sneakers or used ink cartridges at home, Wellwood would love to recycle them for you!

Sneaker Recycling: Do you have any old sneakers or tennis shoes and don't know what to do with them? Drop them off in our lobby in our collection bin to be recycled!

Ink Cartridge Recycling: We take LaserJet and inkjet cartridges. Drop them off in our bins in the lobby to support Green School activities at Wellwood!

Wellwood is proud to be one of the first schools in Baltimore County to participate in school-wide cafeteria composting!

Looking for ways to support your student in math and reading at home? Students can access all the same apps that they do in school from their personal devices. Check out the How To guide below!

In Library class, February was filled with learning about historical heroes in honor of Black History Month.

• Fifth grade students interpreted the mood of illustrations in books that have won the Coretta Scott King award.
• Fourth graders learned about how historical fiction can be another way to learn about the past.
• Third and second grade students are currently researching, influential African-Americans by using BCPS digital content databases.
• And our Kindergartners and first graders have been making connections to books written by African-American authors.

It's been a great month of learning!

First grade students in Ms. Young's class learned about AB form and represented the changing of the form with a scarf-parachute movement activity. Students spun, wiggled and waved the parachute to make the scarves dance as the class sang Skinnamarink.

We had so many things to celebrate in February! We showed love for Valentine’s Day with heart murals, made paper lanterns for Lunar New Year, and created our own snowmen. We loved celebrating winter but are looking forward to the flowers of spring!

Our youngest learners have been obsessed with protecting the baby! Teams pull scooters (using a jump rope) around a cone and back, keeping their "baby" (bowling ping + hat) from falling. Did you drop the baby? Stop, fix it, continue...but no rushing allowed!

It teaches the tortoise-and-hare lesson: slow & careful wins. The students have been building control, balance, strength, and responsibility.

We are finishing up our Woodwind Family Unit! We learned all about the flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, and bassoon. We also got to explore making sounds on the clarinet. This gives students exposure to an entire instrument family so that they can make an informed decision about the instrument they decide to play in 5th grade!

Please make sure students are checking the calendar and bringing their instrument when they have instrumental music! I am noticing students not practicing as much at home, so please make sure to encourage them to practice 10-15 minutes 5x per week at least. We want to give you the best 5th grade concert we can, so practice, practice, practice!

Our PreK 3 students had an exciting art adventure! They watched a step‑by‑step “How to Draw a Fish” video and followed along beautifully. With focused listening and careful hand movements, our young artists created their own colorful fish drawings. It was a wonderful activity that encouraged creativity, confidence, and fine motor skills!

Our PreK 4 classes are stretching their imaginations while creating all kinds of transportation with recycled materials!

In February, Kindergarten celebrated the 100th day of school with fun hands-on activities. For example, we counted 100 Fruit Loops to make a fun necklace!

Our first graders explored the sky this month by measuring the sun’s position using handspans. They bundled up and bravely headed outside in the chilly morning air (and again at noon and in the afternoon!) to observe how the sun moves across the sky. Their curiosity and excitement made this hands-on investigation a bright success!

First graders also marked the 100th day of school with creative presentations that showcased counting by 1's, 5's and 10's! Students proudly shared unique projects featuring “100 items,” read aloud their writing about what life might be like at 100 years old, and demonstrated their growing confidence as speakers.

Our second graders had a fantastic month filled with learning and friendship! Students enjoyed practicing their math skills through fun partner games that encouraged teamwork and problem-solving. We also celebrated Valentine’s Day with big smiles as the class exchanged thoughtful cards and shared kind messages with one another.

As we worked on our Black History Month door display, we chose to honor John Lewis. During the process, we were excited to discover a special connection, our very own Genae’s grandfather, Dr. McCall, marched alongside John Lewis and Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. This unexpected connection made the project even more meaningful for our class and helped bring history to life in a very personal way.

Fourth graders have spent their February digging deep into the ancient and mysterious world of geology. Students learned that rock layers and fossils hold clues about the evolution of our planet. Throughout the unit, we've been following a BCPS student living in Egypt as he explores historical landmarks such as Wadi al-Hitan — the site of an ancient whale skeleton with feet — and the Pyramids of Giza, where he investigated the effects of weathering on the Great Sphinx. Students also read about some cool rock formations found all across America, including the mysterious singing rocks, and learned what a group of hikers uncovered about the ever-changing landscape of the Grand Canyon.

Our fifth graders have been busy learning about the interactions of the four spheres that make up Earth: hydrosphere (all the water on Earth), geosphere (all the rocks, lava, soil, etc. on and inside Earth), atmosphere (all the gases that surround the earth), and biosphere (all living things on earth, including microscopic ones, such as bacteria). As students conducted mini-investigations, they learned about scientific models and why we use them to explain scientific events.

In math, students have been busy identifying patterns and then expanding them. Additionally, students have been plotting coordinates—using the notation, (x,y)—on a coordinate plane.

2901 Smith Avenue

Baltimore MD 21208

Phone: 443-809-1212 | Fax: 443-809-1213