Mammoth Mailing

March 4: Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day

March 4th - 8th: National School Social Worker Week

March 19: Multicultural Night (5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

March 22: Spring Break – (Starts at the end of the school day)

March 25: Maryland Day

Virtual Learning/ Inclement Weather Days

Dear Winfield Families,
As you may recall, in order to avoid extending the school year due to emergency closures, BCPS has been given approval by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to open virtually on snow days beginning after the third closure. Any potential virtual snow days will begin for Winfield students at 11:00 a.m. and will include synchronous (live instruction) over Google Meets and asynchronous (student self-paced) activities.
Accessing the synchronous portion of instruction requires students to have access to an internet-connected mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. Please take a moment to complete the attached (very brief) survey to share whether your child has access to one of the devices listed above, or if they would require the use of a school-provided device to complete work on a potential virtual snow day.

Please be advised that if you opt for a device to be sent home with your child, it will be the responsibility of the parent to ensure that the device is returned in good condition immediately upon our return to school. This is crucial to your child’s success in both testing and daily instruction. Any lost or damaged devices will be the financial responsibility of the parent. The current cost to replace a school device is $390.00.

Your input is one of the most important voices we consider when we make schoolwide decisions, so I greatly appreciate your participation in this survey by 4:15 p.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024. When completing the form, please complete one for each child that attends Winfield Elementary.

Please complete this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedeugxEFX-damj-DQYi3xVTrlQ9Zo3F8OIHsZHQDmNRz-CLA/viewform

BCPS Climate Survey

The annual BCPS Climate Survey has been revised. The new 2024 BCPS Climate Survey has fewer questions for all stakeholders with a focus on school climate and engagement. The survey will be available from Monday, February 5, through Friday, March 8, 2024. The survey is for all stakeholders: students in Grades 3–12, parents/caregivers, community members, and all staff. It takes three minutes or less to complete and is anonymous.

Please click this link to choose a specific language.

Dear Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,

Starting this month, our standardized testing “season” will begin. The MCAP assessments will be given to every Baltimore County Student in grades 3-5. The MCAP Assessments are designed to measure a student's progress toward mastering the Common Core State Standards. Teachers use the results of this and other assessments to help tailor instruction to your child's specific learning needs and help prepare students for college and careers later in life. School administrators have developed testing schedules to meet the needs of their individual buildings. This year, MCAP will consist of four units of science (5th grade only), four units of Math and four units of English/Language Arts. No more than two testing units will be given on any individual day. Please rest assured that students with identified learning needs will be provided with the necessary accommodation according to their individual plans (IEP, ESOL, 504). We plan to complete testing by the end of May. Make-up tests will be administered as needed. The testing schedule is below:

English/Language Arts

Math

English/Language Arts

Math

Science

English/Language Arts

Math

Testing will begin promptly at 9:30 am. Students that do not arrive in time for their assigned testing session will be required to make-up the testing session. This is very disruptive to your student's schedule and could result in the loss of instructional time.

Parents can help their students by:

● Encouraging students to stay positive and do their best on these assessments.

● Making sure students get a good night's sleep before testing

● Eating a good breakfast each morning.

● Ensuring that students arrive at school on time (9:05 am) and remain in school the entire school day.

All public schools in Maryland are required by state and federal laws to administer the MCAP assessment.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Berger at 443-809-0766.

We are very pleased with the progress our students are making socially, academically and behaviorally. We look forward to building on that momentum and having another impressive month ISDM!

We have continued our focus on communication and life skills. This has been accomplished by teaching student's step-by-step instructions to make a fruit salad, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We have also been teaching students yoga and mindfulness strategies and techniques.

Additionally, we have continued to stress the importance of the effective usage of school-based technology including Go Talks and IPADs to further support student-based communication needs.

ISDM has been continuing with the HMH modified curriculum for Language Arts and Bridges Modified Curriculum for Math. We have also been using the Unique Learning System to supplement instruction.

In Ms. Chochos’s class, students have been focusing on alphabet knowledge, words to know, and matching and rhyming words. They have also been reading books such as Jabari Jumps. In math, students have been focusing on matching and identifying shapes and one-to-one correspondence.

In Ms. Riggs’ and Ms. Kinsey’s classes, students have continued their focus on learning about the days of the week, and months and seasons of the year. Additionally, students have been exploring the weather, and discussing their favorite weather conditions. They have also been learning how to effectively discuss their feelings in a constructive manner using words, phrases, and visuals.

In language arts students have been reading about the importance of working together, unity and teamwork. They have also been focusing on learning the alphabet, the sound each letter makes, and learning sight words.

In math, students have been learning about money, its purpose, and how to effectively use it.

We look forward to another terrific month of learning, and the continued growth and progress of our students and department!

It is hard to believe that we have completed 6 full months of school already, and that we only have 4 months more to go. The children are thriving both socially and academically. This month's unit is called “Museums and Collections”.

In Science, we will be learning about Dinosaurs, Medieval Times, and Museums. In Math, we will continue to explore counting and identifying shapes, but we will also include analyzing patterns to broaden our knowledge. In Literacy, we will listen to and discuss Fairy Tales, and will learn to identify real versus imaginary stories. Additionally, we will continue to practice writing capital and lowercase letters, and the respective sounds they make.

Also, we will work with our students on social and emotional learning skills, and best practices to de-escalate ourselves and problem solve during crisis.

At home, please practice the following with your child to keep the information fresh in his or her mind, and reinforce classroom learning:

• Writing the Alphabet

• -Utilizing Rhyming Words

• -Reviewing Patterns

Now that Spring is approaching, please revisit your child’s “change of clothes” to ensure that they are weather appropriate and fit comfortably should an accident occur. As you review your child’s “change of clothes”, please consider replenishing the following clothing items: pants, shirts, underwear and socks.

Lastly, we will be happy to accept donations of glue sticks, crayons, markers, tissues, and disinfecting wipes.

Thank you for your support of the Pre-k program!

We are excited about the growth and progress our students are making this school year.

In phonics, we have learned all our short vowel sounds and most of our consonant sounds. The students are putting CVC words together, such as cat, hot, 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 the 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. In order to make the rest of the year as successful as possible, please make sure your child is getting to school on time every day.

1st Grade students are progressing nicely and are being prepared for the nuances of their 2nd grade experience. Below, please find what’s next on our journey of learning, and helpful tips on how you can be supportive along the way.

MATH:

In this unit your child will:

Practice efficient math strategies to add and subtract within the range of 0–20

❚ Tell, write, and solve a variety of addition and subtraction story problems

❚ Write equations to match the problems

❚ Use place value strategies to add and subtract up to 100

❚ Measure, order, and compare height in inches

Parent tip: It might seem simpler for students to complete addition and subtraction facts with numbers alone. However, first-graders are still developing a sense of numbers and an understanding of what it means to add and subtract. Students build this understanding of numbers and adding and subtracting through story context in real situations.

For example, math equations with a missing addend such as 6 + ___ = 13 are notoriously challenging for many first graders. When the same problem is put into a story context such as:

“There are 6 penguins resting on the ice. Some other penguins got out of the water to join them on the ice. Now there are 13 penguins on the ice. How many penguins got out of the water?”

It takes on meaning, and students can act out the story or use math materials to make sense of the problem. Then, they can write the equation that matches the story problem.

READING:

In this unit:

Children will explore how holidays and symbols help us learn about and celebrate our country. We will read books about national symbols and learn how holidays honor our country and its heroes. Children will also write a personal narrative about a favorite holiday memory.

Parent Tip: Make a special time and place to read with your child every day. During this module about holidays and national symbols, try these activities during your reading time together:

•Read about symbols and draw pictures of national flags that represent your family heritage.

• Clap your hands when you read about leaders who help our country.

• Read facts about the Statue of Liberty and try to imitate the posture of this national monument.

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 2024. Email or send the completed application and certificate to school.

Also, cold and flu season are upon us, and we are accepting donations of boxes of tissues. Please feel free to send donations with your child. It is greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your support.

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 Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center to see Pete the Cat is Wednesday, April 24, 2024. There are a limited number of seats. Chaperones will be chosen based on when interest forms were received. An information letter and permission form will be sent home in March. We may have 2 more trips (in and/or out of the building). The cost will not exceed $20 per trip. Adequate time will be provided so you can plan accordingly.

Please check your child’s supplies and replenish as needed (pencils, large erasers, and tissue) and review the contents of your child’s homework folder each night. 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.

Third graders have been working hard and doing a great job. They are improving every day in both their actions and their work.

In math, we have been working on multiplication and division strategies to solve one and two step story problems. We have been using those strategies to solve perimeter problems as well.

In ELA, we have been reading nonfiction stories and working hard to understand text features and how they are useful to help us understand what we are reading. We have also been learning how to read for clarity and understanding by finding the central idea and key details.

Fourth-grade teachers are focusing on preparing students for fifth grade. In doing so, we are holding them more accountable for completing and keeping up with assignments. We are encouraging students to check their grade reports weekly and take the opportunity to repair and return assignments that they did not do well on. Students should be completing their homework each night and reviewing concepts and skills learned in class daily. This includes reading each night to build stamina and practicing math facts to build math fluency. We have noticed that are reading incentive program is helping with motivating students to read more. Morning meetings have centered around making better choices when getting into confrontations with peers and seeking help from an adult before the situation escalates. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us via email. As always, we thank you for your support and partnership this year in helping your child to achieve success.

Students in fifth grade have been busy preparing for our upcoming field trip to BIzTown. Students have been applying for jobs, learning how to write checks and reconcile their checking accounts as well as working collaboratively with those in their business. Also, students are preparing to show their learning in 5th grade by taking the Measures of Academic Progress test, MAP. In addition to these events, students are continuing to practice multiplying multi-digit numbers, multiplying and dividing fractions. In the ELA classroom, students are continuing to read biographies about individuals who have made a significant contribution to society. Students then wrote about these contributions in essays that have supporting details and quotes that support their ideas.

Students in all grades are taking the Winter MAP test in math, and we are excited to see their progress! Once your student has completed MAP testing, follow up with Mr. Schilling for more details on their winter score and how your student can get started in Mappers. Mappers is a COMPLETELY FREE online resource that will provide practice specific to your student based on their most recent MAP score! Email Mr. Schilling at mschilling@bcps.org for more info.

If you have a student in Grades 3-5, MCAP testing is quickly approaching as well! Try your best to get your child to Winfield on time and remind them to do their best so they can show off all they’ve learned this year when it comes to math!

If you're curious about creative, fun-filled ways to support your child's growth in reading, please find some helpful tips below:

• Writing journals: With spring break coming up encourage your child to write in a journal to describe what he or she does over break.

• Draw: Drawing is a way to communicate thoughts.
• Read: Reading exposes students to vocabulary. Through reading, students see a variety of authors’ techniques that they can use in their own writing.
• Ask questions: Encourage your child to dig deeper in his or her writing by asking questions. Some examples are “How did that happen?” “How did that make you feel?” “Can you tell me more about that…?” “What are some other words you could use to describe…?”
• Provide a place to write: Provide your child with supplies such as paper, pencils, and crayons. You can also gather family photos and magazines in the center that can be used as story starters.

• Display writing: Encourage your child’s writing by giving positive feedback and displaying their work.

In STEM, students in K through 2nd are progressing in their science units and making meaningful connections to different topics that are impacting our school communities. Students in grade 3rd through 5th are also progressing in their science units learning about forces, energy sources, and matter.

**3rd grade parents, please be on the lookout for papers coming home with students in the next couple weeks that has materials that they are allowed to bring in for their projects as they will be beginning to make their cars for the BCPS Safe Racer competition that is being held in April.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

In Art, the students continued 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. They also made artwork with positive messages about what they can do to help change the world.

The Baltimore County Health Department, Dental Division, will be coming to Winfield during the week of April 11th, to place Dental Sealants on those students in 2nd and 3rd grade who return their consent forms. Students in grades Pre-K-3rd grade will view dental health education materials provided by the Baltimore County Health Department, on March 12th-13th. Consent forms for dental sealants for 2nd and 3rd graders will be sent home on March 12th. If you would like your child to have Dental Sealants placed on their teeth, please make sure to return the consent form to Nurse Newmark. If you misplace or cannot find the consent form, please call (443-809-4711) or email (lnewmark@bcps.org) Nurse Newmark and she can send another one home.

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. In the month of March, the theme is mindfulness. Students will learn about mindfulness through learning different grounding techniques, engaging in a hands-on activity using their 5 senses, watching mindfulness videos and other independent activities.

Ms. Funmilayo: PreK (Ms. Schwartz), K, 2nd Gr, 4th Gr

Mr. Carothers: PreK (Ms. Katenkamp), 1st Gr, 3rd Gr, 5th Gr

Active Minds Session 2 is wrapping up and students have participated in Math Support on Tuesdays, Drama / Dance on Wednesdays, and Art / Coding / Yoga on Thursdays! If your student is unable to attend a Tuesday session due to illness, please email (mschilling@bcps.org) or text (443-595-6263) Mr. Schilling.

Session 3 will be starting in March so be on the lookout for more opportunities for your child to participate in after school clubs and activities. More details will be shared in the coming weeks!

Congratulations to Winfield Students Who Earned 94% or Higher Attendance for Marking Period 2!!

Students received certificates and were entered into a raffle to win prizes. Three lucky students won the grand prize, a brand-new bike, thanks to donations from our community partner H.E.Y. HUB.

New Partnership:

Winfield Elementary has partnered with Deer Park Middle Magnet School to provide tutoring to Winfield students. Deer Park Middle Magnet School’s 8th grade National Junior Honor Society students will provide homework help and tutoring to Winfield students in grades 3 – 5 students on Thursday afternoons from 4:00 – 5:00 pm from February 22 – April 18th. If you are intereted in your child participating, contact Monique Banks at mbanks@bcps.org for additional information.

Multicultural Night Event:

Winfield Elementary School will host a Multicultural Family and Community Engagement event on Tuesday, March 19th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm to celebrate the various cultures of our students, families, staff and community members. Families and community members will engage in academic enrichment and cultural arts/crafts activities. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample various cultural foods.

We are looking for family members who are interested in participating in the cultural dress parade. Family members are asked to wear clothing and accessories that represent their culture. If you are interested in participating in the cultural dress parade, please contact Monique Banks at mbanks@bcps.org or 667-251-3533.

Resources:

The Winfield Elementary School Community Resource Cottage is open and available to students, staff, families, and community members. Resources available include food, coats, winter wear accessories, toiletries, uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies.

Hours of Operation:

Monday: (Walk-in) 9:30 – 4:30 pm

Tuesday: (Walk-in) 9:30 – 4:30 pm

Wednesday – Friday (By appointment only)

Food Giveaway Sponsored by Winfield Community Partners

Sponsor: Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Reverend Raymond F. Edmonds Jr., Pastor

Location: 8615 Church Lane, Randallstown, MD 21133

Date: Every 1st Saturday of the month

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm