Mammoth Mailing

March 5th: Title I Pre-K Wooly Workshop with SEL Focus 5:30-7:30 pm

March 14th: 2nd & 3rd Grade Field Trip to DC

March 18th: Parent Feedback Meeting from 5:15 to 5:45

March 25th: Maryland Day

March 25th: Community School Advisory Team Meeting

March 25th: Title I 3rd Grade Wooly Workshop MCAP 5:15 - 7:15 pm

March 27th: Class Picture Day

March 31st: No School for Students/Professional Development Day for Staff 5:15-from 6:15 pm

April 2nd: Multicultural Night from 5:30-7:30 pm

April 3rd: National Air and Space Smithsonian Museum Field Trip 2nd and 3rd Grade

April 4th: School Closes 3-hours Early for Grading & Reporting

April 8th: Movie Screening of Documentary Screenagers for 4th and 5th Grade Families from 5:30-7:00

April 9th: Career Day during School Day

April 11th- 21st Spring Break

April 24: Report Cards Distributed on FOCUS

April 25th: PreK and Kindergarten Conference Day

April 25th: 3rd Quarter Attendance Assemblies in the morning

April 28th: Pre-K Conference Day

We’re excited to share the progress our students and staff have made during the first half of the school year! Through hard work in the classroom and engaging after-school programs, we are seeing great growth in academics and student experiences.

ELA Progress: Students are showing significant gains in reading! The percentage of students scoring proficient on assessments tripled from fall to winter, and fewer students are in the intensive intervention range after our benchmark testing in reading. We continue to support learning with targeted interventions and co-teaching strategies to ensure every student thrives.

Math Progress: Our students are excelling in math, consistently outperforming the district average and countywide end-of-unit assessments in grades 2-5! Teachers are integrating word problems into daily lessons, and students are strengthening their problem-solving skills. Next, we’ll focus on small-group instruction to prepare for state testing.

Attendance & School Climate: Attendance remains a key focus, as chronic absenteeism has slightly increased. To support families, we will be offering family engagement workshops in the coming weeks, where parents and caregivers can learn strategies to help ensure regular school attendance. Our goal is to work together to remove barriers and support every student’s success.

After-School Programs: Student engagement is strong, with nearly 200 students participating in extended learning programs, from math tutoring to dance, sports, and arts. This spring, even more activities will be available to provide well-rounded experiences for our students!

We’re proud of our progress and grateful for your partnership in supporting student success! Let’s keep the momentum going into the second half of the year! 🚀📚🎉

Please see below for two important reminders for families:

Thank you for your continued support! 💙💛

Ms. Bisker

🗣️ Parent Feedback Listening Sessions: Attention Active Minds Parents:

As we continue to provide enriching experiences for our students through Active Minds, we value your feedback and input to help shape the remainder of this year and plan for the opportunities we can offer in the upcoming school year.

We would love for you to join us for a brief 30-minute Parent Feedback Meeting immediately following the Tuesday Active Minds session. This is a great opportunity for us to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and ideas to enhance our program and ensure we are meeting the needs of our students and families. During this time, we will also discuss how you as parents would like to see our Title I funding spent in regards to literacy and mathematics supports for your child.

Meeting Details:
📅 Date: March 18th
⏰ Time: Right after the Tuesday Active Minds session (approx. 20 minutes)
📍 Location: Cafeteria

Your voice is important, and we truly appreciate your time and commitment to making Active Minds the best it can be. We hope to see you there!

📱 Device Reminders: Chromebook Fee Reminders:

As a reminder, families are financially responsible for any avoidable damage to student-assigned Chromebooks or other devices. Some families may receive a letter in the coming weeks regarding charges for damages their child has incurred during the 2024-2025 school year.

If your child’s device has sustained significant damage, you will receive an invoice outlining the necessary repair or replacement costs. For example, severe damage to a device holds a fee (such as missing keys, touchscreen issues, or major case damage) of a $200 charge. Payment plan options are available if needed.

If you receive a letter regarding a device charge and have any questions or require a payment plan, please contact Principal Dana Bisker at 443-809-0766 to discuss available options. Payments can be made in cash or by check payable to Winfield Elementary School.

We appreciate your cooperation in addressing any outstanding device fees. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that all students have access to the necessary tools for learning.

Greetings Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade Families,

Our standardized testing season will begin this month, and we want to inform you about the upcoming assessments for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. The MCAP assessments will be administered to all Baltimore County students in grades 3-5, and the MISA (Science) assessment will be given to 5th graders. These assessments are designed to measure a student’s progress toward mastering the Common Core State Standards. The results help teachers tailor instruction to meet the individual needs of students and prepare them for future academic and career success.

Testing schedules have been developed by school administrators to best accommodate the needs of each school. This year, the MCAP assessments will consist of four units of Math and four units of English Language Arts (ELA) for grades 3, 4, and 5, and four units of Science for 5th grade. Testing will not exceed two units per day. Students with identified learning needs will receive accommodations as outlined in their individual plans (IEP, ESOL, 504).

Testing for 5th grade MISA (Science) will occur in March, and MCAP testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Math and ELA will take place in April and May. Specific dates for testing will be shared soon, but here is a general overview:

5th GRADE
MISA (Science) – March
MCAP English/Language Arts – April & May
MCAP Math – May

3rd & 4th GRADE
MCAP English/Language Arts – April & May
MCAP Math – May

The testing will begin promptly at 9:30 am. Students who are late for their testing session will be required to make up the missed session, which can be disruptive and take away valuable instructional time. With that in mind, please be sure your students arrive to school each day on time.

As we continue to cultivate a successful testing culture at Winfield, here is how you can help your child succeed during this time:

• Motivate your child to stay positive and do their best on the assessments.
• Ensure they get a good night’s sleep before the test.
• Provide a healthy breakfast each morning.
• Make sure students arrive on time (by 9:05 am) and stay for the full school day.

All public schools in Maryland are required to administer the MCAP and MISA assessments as part of state and federal laws.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Hodge at 443-809-0766.

Winfield student leaders greeted Student School Board Member Chike-Kalu, and presented her with a bouquet of roses. They took her on a tour of the Winfield campus and concluded her visit with a 1-on-1 conversation about the role of the school board, the importance of civic engage, and the role young people can play to make our society a better place. Chike-Kalu challenged the student delegation to prepare themselves now to become the next Student School Board Member.

Greetings from the ISDM department! February has been a fun, busy, and successful month in ISDM. In Room #1, Ms. Kinsey’s students have been working diligently learning their African American History facts. So far, they have learned about Bessie Coleman, Garrett Morgan, and Muhammad Ali. In phonics students have been working on consonant blends sl and sm. In math students have started learning about measurement and fractions.

In Room 3, Ms. Gregory’s class welcomed a new student, which was exciting! Also, one of her students has been finding new ways to complete classroom jobs like getting breakfast and lunch. Students have also been requesting various items and breaks through the use of their communication devices.

In room 2, Ms. Riggs’s class has welcomed a new student! Students have been working on solving addition and subtraction word problems using manipulatives and math tools. The next unit involves measurement and fractions, which we will be starting soon.

In ELA, students have been continuing to focus on answering who, what, when, where, and why text questions and have been practicing going back into the text to look for answers to questions. Students have also been reading about different baby animals and have been reading about the holidays in February, including Valentine’s Day and President’s Day.

In phonics students have been working in the digraphs sh, ch, wh, and th and will soon be focusing on consonant blends sl and sm. The students have also been continuing to work on their communication skills using words, visuals, and devices. In addition to all this, students have also been learning about many African Americans who have made wonderful contributions to our country and the world, including Thurgood Marshall and Oprah Winfrey.

The ISDM team wishes to extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our incredible support staff team. These talented individuals work hard to help shape our climate, implement inclusivity, and display compassion daily.

We look forward to the month of March and the coming of spring!

The Pre-K classes have wrapped up their unit 3 How Structures are Built. We built bridges, ramps and our own creations. We looked at attributes of 3D shapes and experimented to see if they slid or rolled. Also, we learned how to add one more to a number. We read How to Books and created things step by step. It was a very busy unit.

Our new unit is Exploring Museums, and the students will learn about museums and collections. It will focus on two areas paleontology and medieval times. In Language Arts students will hear fairy tales and compare and contrast real and imaginary stories. They will continue to explore letter sounds and beginning sounds of words. In Math they will learn what a pattern unit is and how to extend it. In Social Studies we are learning different strategies to deal with big emotions.

We will finish up our unit making collections for a class museum.

In phonics, we have learned 4 out of 5 short vowel sounds and many consonant sounds. The students are putting CVC words together, such as cat, hot, bun, and lip. We have learned 30 of our 50 high-frequency sight words so far. Please make sure your child is practicing these words daily. The more words a student knows the more fluent of a reader he/she will be.

In math, we are learning to identify different shapes. Students are sorting 2-D and 3-D shapes by different attributes, such as color, number of sides/corners, and size. They are learning to skip-count by 5’s and to count backward from 20. We are also learning to compare numbers and quantities using greater than and less than symbols.

This month, in social studies, we are integrating concepts we are reading about in ELA. Students will be working on the concepts of civics, geography, and history. Students will be defining freedom and equity. They will be locating key physical features and human-made features in their school community using maps and other geographic tools. Also, they will be analyzing photographs, images, and texts from schools in the past to explain how life today is similar and different than in the past using evidence from a variety of sources.

Please continue to send in homework every week. Also, send in a change of clothes that fits your child as many students have grown since the beginning of the year. To make the rest of the year as successful as possible, please make sure your child is getting to school on time every day.

March is here, and we are excited to dive into a new math unit: Unit 6 – Figure the Facts with Penguins! This month, your child will be working on important math skills while having fun learning about penguins. Here’s what we will be focusing on:

What We Are Learning in Math:

· Practicing efficient math strategies to add and subtract within the range of 0–20.

· Telling, writing, and solving a variety of addition and subtraction story problems.

· Writing equations to match story problems.

· Using place value strategies to add and subtract up to 100.

· Measuring, ordering, and comparing height in inches.

What We Are Learning in ELA:

· Module 7: Students will discover that they can use their observation skills to notice natural changes, such as changes in weather and changes in water as it moves through the water cycle. They will reinforce their knowledge through a variety of text genres, including an engaging song to wrap up the module.

· Module 8: Children will deepen their understanding of the lessons that stories can teach, such as the importance of resilience in the face of challenges. Children will discover that characters in stories rarely get things right the first time they try something new. Like real people, characters often overcome challenges by refusing to give up and trying again.

How You Can Help at Home:

· Encourage your child to practice addition and subtraction facts with flashcards or simple math games.

· Ask your child to create and solve their own addition and subtraction story problems.

· Practice measuring objects around the house using a ruler to reinforce measurement skills.

· Discuss real-life examples of place value, such as counting groups of tens and ones.

· Read stories together and talk about the challenges characters face and how they overcome them.

· Observe and discuss natural changes in the environment, such as weather patterns and water movement.

Virtue of the Month:

· Students will learn about the Virtue of the Month for March, which is Hard-working. At the end of the month, two students will be chosen from each class who exemplify this virtue.

Up Coming Field Trip:

· We will began collecting money this month for a field trip to Camden Yards in May

Important Dates:

Additional Important Dates:

· March 27: Class Picture Day

· March 31: Professional Development Day (schools closed for students)

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Let’s have a fantastic March full of learning and fun!

In math, students continued to solidify their understanding of place value to 1,000. Students calculated the value of a set of coins, used standard and non-standard units to measure objects, and used the traditional algorithm to solve 2 and 3-digit addition and subtraction problems. Students are encouraged to connect real life objects to 3-D figures.

During phonics, students continued to read and write words with long vowels. Students will learn about and identify compound words, synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and multiple meaning words. Students are encouraged to read and respond to a text each night. We read about various leaders and their accomplishments. In the next module, students will learn how weather changes from day to day and season to season. They will learn to notice how weather affects them and the community.

Our field trip to The National Air and Space Smithsonian Museum is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 3, 2025. There are a limited number of tickets and seats on the bus. An information letter and permission form will be sent home in March. The cost will not exceed $30.00

Please check your child’s supplies and replenish them as needed (pencils, large erasers, and crayons) and review the contents of your child’s homework folder each night. Donations of tissue are appreciated. We try to have outdoor recess as much as possible. Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Thank you for your support! Email the homeroom teacher with any questions or concerns. We will respond within 48 hours.

In the month of March, our third graders are diving into MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) practice. The MCAP is an important state assessment that measures students' progress in key subjects like math and English Language Arts (ELA). This practice will help prepare our students for the upcoming assessment and give them confidence as they demonstrate their skills.

Our third graders have been busy multiplying and dividing, as well as exploring the attributes of different shapes in math. In ELA, they’ve been working on identifying text and graphic features, summarizing central ideas, and understanding an author’s purpose.

A reminder to all parents: the sign-up sheet for the MCAP Parent Session, happening on March 25th from 5:15-7:15 PM, was sent home. We hope to see you there to learn more about how you can support your child’s learning during the MCAP process!

Thank you for your continued support!

As we move into the second half of the year, we have increased the expectations of our students as they approach fifth grade. This means we will be modeling those behaviors that will make them successful learners in fifth grade which includes independently checking their assignment status and grades in Schoology.

In ELA Module 6, students listened to, read, and viewed a variety of texts that presented them with information about Earth’s natural wonders. A genre focus on informational text providing students with opportunities to identify text and graphic features, central ideas, and text structures in order to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students also encountered poetry and literary nonfiction to build knowledge across genres. As students build their vocabulary and synthesize topic knowledge, they learned that our world is full of unique places with amazing wonders on land, in the ocean, and in the sky.

In Grade 4 math, students will study addition, subtraction, and measurement concepts. As part of their work, students investigate and use the standard addition and subtraction algorithms. They compare the use of algorithms to other methods and generalize about which works best for certain problems.

In Grade 4 advanced math, students study skills and concepts related to place value, from reading, writing, and comparing decimals to rounding and examining the decimal patterns of multiplying and dividing numbers by 10. Students use their place value understandings to convert within a measurement system, and they use both whole number strategies and place value understanding to add and subtract decimals to the thousandths.

In fifth grade math class this past month, we've been learning about fractions, including how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide them. We've been practicing finding equivalent fractions, simplifying them, and comparing different fractions to see which one is greater or smaller. We also explored how to multiply and divide fractions, which means understanding how to work with both the numerators and denominators.

For multiplication, we learned how to multiply the numerators and denominators directly, and for division, we’ve been practicing how to flip the second fraction and multiply. It’s been fun using these skills in real-life situations, like when cooking or sharing things equally.

We are excited to be actively working on learning about coding using Scratch and Scratch Jr. in class!

These platforms are a fun way for our students to develop computational thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity by creating games, animations, and storytelling.

Scratch: Program designed for children ages 8 and older-Allows students to create projects using colorful coding blocks that allow characters to move, interact, and respond to user input.

Scratch Jr. : A simpler version of Scratch that is designed for younger students ages 5-7 with larger colorful coding blocks that are easier to manipulate for early explorers.

Students will use the appropriate Scratch program to learn sequencing, loops, conditionals, create characters, backgrounds, and stories, and fix errors or solve coding challenges.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the ways you helped during WIDA testing, especially with all the snow days, late openings, and schedule changes! Your flexibility, patience, and commitment to supporting our multilingual learners does not go unnoticed. I truly appreciate all that you do! Finally, we will be concluding the WIDA testing in its entirety any time soon. Stay warm and safe, and hopefully, we’ll see some sunshine soon! ☀️

March Madness: Tournament of Books!

Get ready, readers! March is here, and that means it’s time for our March Madness Tournament of Books! Just like the basketball tournament, our competition will feature exciting matchups—but instead of teams, books will go head-to-head in a battle for the championship!

Here’s how it works: We’ve selected 16 fantastic books to be part of the tournament. Students will vote for their favorite, and the winners will move on to the next round. By the end of March, we’ll have crowned our 2024 Champion Book!

This is a fun way to get excited about reading and discover new books along the way. Students can check out the books from the library, listen to read-alouds, and discuss their favorites with friends.

Be sure to check the bracket outside the library to see which books are advancing each week. The final matchup will take place at the end of March—will your favorite book win?

Get ready to read, vote, and cheer for your favorite books in this exciting tournament! Let the March Madness of Books begin! 🏀📚

Please continue to monitor your children for signs of illness, which have been circulating throughout the winter months, such as influenza like illnesses and GI related illnesses. If a student has a fever (100 degrees F or higher) they must stay home from school and remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours without any fever reducers (Tylenol or Ibuprofen etc.) Please see the attached resource guide for reference regarding when to keep your child home from school.

Also, on March 17th, we will have the Dental Department from Baltimore County Department of Health come to present on Dental Health Education for Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade.

As many of you are aware there are serious outbreaks of measles in parts of our country.

While most students are fully vaccinated against measles and should be immune, the following people may want to consult with their health care provider about whether additional vaccines and/or precautions are needed:

• Parents of young children who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine,

• Parents of children on "catch-up schedules" for vaccines,

• Parents of students who have had health or religious exemptions to vaccines, and

• Adults who did not have two doses of measles vaccines when they were children (typically persons vaccinated prior to 1989.)

The Baltimore County Department of Health can assist persons who do not have insurance for vaccines as well as those have Medical Assistance. The attached flier provides more information about measles and health department resources.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nurse Newmark 443-809-4711.

During this month, all classes will get to participate in the Heart Adventure Course, which was created in order to promote awareness of physical inactivity as one of the primary risk factors for coronary heart disease. The Heart Adventure Course is a fun and exciting way for elementary school students to learn about the heart. The course incorporates a general understanding of the heart, its function, and the value of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise. This will be a great unit to teach students the importance and impact of having a healthy and active lifestyle.

In Art, the students were hard at work completing and refining identity projects, to create heart art for February. They enjoyed coloring, sculpting and folding paper hearts. In celebration of Black History Month, students learned about famous African American artists. 5th grade completed their clay letter project. 4th grade completed their creative name designs. 3rd grade created Chinese lanterns and 2nd graders created transparent 3D snakes to celebrate the Lunar New Year. 1st graders practiced patter design making heart Zentagles. Kindergarteners became book illustrators by creating their very own Book with a book cover!

This month in vocal music, we are exploring exciting new time signatures and celebrating Black History Month through music! Our primary students are making friends through music, building connections as they sing, play, and move together. In the intermediate grades, we’re refocusing on taking turns and teamwork through music integration activities. We’re having a great time learning and growing together! 🎵✨

February is recognized as American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease and encourage healthy lifestyles to prevent it. It’s important for people of all ages, including kids, to take care of their heart health. Heart disease can often be prevented by adopting healthy habits early on in life.

For kids, it's especially important to:

1. Eat healthy: Eating nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins helps maintain a healthy heart. These foods provide essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that support heart function and overall health. Limiting sugary and processed foods is key to reducing the risk of obesity and related heart problems.

1. Get plenty of rest: Adequate sleep is crucial for physical and mental health. When kids don’t get enough sleep, it can affect their mood, energy levels, and even their heart health. Sleep helps the body recover, grow, and keep the heart and other organs functioning well.

1. Drink water: Water is vital for maintaining proper circulation, regulating body temperature, and supporting all bodily functions, including heart health. Staying hydrated helps the heart pump blood more efficiently, keeping the body energized and healthy.

1. Exercise: Regular physical activity strengthens the heart, helps maintain a healthy weight, and improves circulation. Kids who get enough exercise tend to have healthier hearts and better overall health, which sets the foundation for a healthier future.

These healthy habits not only improve heart health but also build resilience against many chronic diseases. By focusing on wellness from a young age, kids can set themselves up for a long, healthy life.

Congratulations to our Winfield Elementary students who participated in the American Heart Association Fundraiser. They raised $580 for the organization. Student participants received prize incentives for participating.

On February 21’st, Winfield Elementary School joined schools throughout Baltimore County in celebrating the "100th Day of School". Students and teachers alike celebrated this exciting milestone because it serves notice that our school, like others throughout the county, has completed more than half of the 2024-2025 school year. Not sparing any expense, teachers decorated their classrooms, encouraged students to dress up as centenarians, and facilitated opportunities to do projects and participate in activities all inspired by the number 100.

Winfield concluded Black History Month with two amazing back back-to-back performances honoring the history and rich legacy of the African American Experience. On Thursday, February 27th the Winfield Community was treated to an evening of thought-provoking music, poetry, acting and dance, followed by a moving and powerful performance by Wombworks Productions on Friday, February 28th. Students, Staff and teachers alike were inspired, uplifted, and encouraged to continue the fight for freedom, justice and equality for all people.