February Monthly Newsletter

Teachers Who Make a Difference is a monthly honor designed to recognize local teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students. Each month a winning teacher is chosen by selection committee from all submitted nominations. Teacher nominations are open to any person on the Delmarva Peninsula, including students, parents, teachers, friends, and acquaintances of nominees. To nominate a teacher, complete and submit the form found on the Contest page of wmdt.com. The nomination period is open from September 24, 2024 through May 31, 2025. Each month (October 2024 through May 2025), a teacher is selected from all 2024-2025 entries and is recognized by WMDT as a “Teachers Who Make a Difference” award winner.

Congratulations to our schoolwide spelling bee winners:

Alexis Ortiz-Reyes- Gr. 5 (1st place)

Darius Thomas-Fassett- Gr. 4 (runner-up)

Both students will compete in the regional spelling bee at UMES on Saturday, March 1st.

As the parent or guardian of a child receiving special education services in Maryland, you should have received a copy of the Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey in the mail. By completing the survey, you can tell us how your child’s school partners with you. Your feedback will help guide efforts to improve special education and related services in your local school system. Parents are asked to complete the survey and return it in the postage paid envelope by May 30, 2025. The Survey may also be completed online. Please look for details in your survey packet.

Happy February families!

This month in ELA we are beginning our immigration unit in Fishtank. Students will read narrative nonfiction stories, as well as nonfiction books to work on understanding that authors always write for a purpose and to identify big information within the text. Scholars will identify and use new vocabulary words correctly and continue to learn about unpredictable vowel teams. In math scholars will continue to work on solving varied addition and subtraction problems and focus more on solving multi-step number stories. Students will continue to work on fact fluency daily. In social studies we will learn all about African Americans who made important contributions to our world. This month in science students will explore the properties of materials and matter! They describe and classify different types of materials by properties like hardness, flexibility, and absorbency.

Please ask your scholar about the Blaze a Trail to Literacy incentive. Scholars should be recording their reading in their reading calendars every day. The student who reads the most during this time will win a day as the fire chief! This program is so much fun and the kids really enjoy it.

Happy February families!

In ELA, we will finish up our Poetry unit and begin our next unit, Passing Down Wisdom: Hispanic Folktales. We will be recounting and discussing stories using details, find the central message of many folktales, explore and understand the world around us, to grapple with what it means to be a good person, and to consider what they can learn from the experiences of others. Please continue to read at home and work on homework weekly.

In Math, we will continue working on building our addition and subtraction fluency. Students will use a variety of strategies to add and subtract three digit numbers through solving real world problems. Check out the family guide for Topic 8 and Topic 9. Please continue practicing multiplication and division fluency at home.

In Science, we will be working through our Fates of Traits unit. This unit focuses on heredity, survival, and selection. Scholars will explore how plants and animals inherit traits from their parents and how these traits help them survive in their environment.

In Social Studies, we will continue our History unit. We will be focusing on different cultures around the world. We will also discuss Black History Month by reading about and discussing important figures in history.

In ELA we are continuing our study of Greek Myths. Students will also continue the thematic exploration from previous units about how a person’s beliefs, ethics, or values influence that person’s behavior. In Math we will begin learning about fractions. We will work on fraction equivalence, ordering fractions, adding and subtracting fractions. In Science, we will continue our study of rocks, fossils, weathering, and erosion. In Social Studies we will analyze primary sources, images, and literature from different parts of the journey enslaved Africans experienced.

Well, January came and went pretty quickly, but we still managed to get a lot in during that time. As we move into February in reading, we are looking into the heroes of the Civil Rights movement. We are looking into the young people that helped to shape a country where people are treated fairly and equally. In science, we are focused on the systems of the Earth and their interactions. In social studies we are exploring the causes of the Civil War and the lead up to the war between the states. In math, we are working on division with decimals, as well as working with fractions. We will find common denominators so that we can add and subtract using fraction. Our year is moving at a rapid pace and it is already half over. We are looking to developing our fifth graders into strong and productive middle schoolers.

Our students will LOVE our next unit about cultures. In this unit, students learn about how cultures have changed over time and the people who have helped bring change. In the first book of the unit scholars are introduced to some of the major changes that have taken place in our country and the people who helped bring those changes. In the Easy Read Book scholars learn that you don't have to be a grown-up to help bring change. The scholars discover how Ruby Bridges helped so that all children could go to the same schools. Students are given the opportunity to share their own "I Have a Dream" speech, just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Learning about different cultures helps people to get along and respect differences. For additional experiences scholars will be making sesame cookies. They learn that sesame seeds are commonly used in recipes across many different cultures. We will look at a Kente cloth, which originated in Ghana and is used for special clothing. They will make paper replicas of Kente cloth and learn about the colors and symbols that give it meaning in African American culture. Scholars continue to practice adding, subtracting, dividing and multiplying while using manipulatives from a Black History Month Parade. As you review materials sent home through this unit, encourage your child to discuss and share parts of their culture.

Dear Families,

Get ready for the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge, kicking off on Friday, January 30th! Please register today, under our school (Glen Avenue Elem)- heart.org/schools.

I am asking for your help in reaching our goal of 100% of our families learning the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. Please take a moment to watch this video of 5-year-old Phil and his mother, Megan. Last year, they saved a life because they completed Finn’s Mission where they learned the critical steps.

Get started early and be the first at our school to complete Finn’s Mission!

• Register: heart.org/schools or download the free “AHA Schools” app.

Complete Finn’s Mission: Complete all 7 steps and be entered to win two Super Bowl tickets!

Hello Gator Families! During the month of February our students will participate in lessons highlighting the cultures and history of Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, as well as Black History month.

This month in music, we will be celebrating Black History Month by exploring genres including Ragtime, Spirituals, Blues, Jazz, Reggae, Zydeco, and Hip Hop - and we will learn about different black musicians like Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, and Bob Marley!

Some of our students will also be diving into the musical culture of Lunar New Year, and performing some fun Valentines Day activities!

🎤 Students participating in the (All-County Elementary School) ACES Choir will continue rehearsing every Wednesday afterschool from 4:45-5:45 pm at Wi Middle. See image below for all rehearsal dates!

ACES Website Here: https://srush56.wixsite.com/aces

• James M. Bennett High School will be hosting its annual Rock and Roll Revival show this month! 🎸 Ticketing and more information here: Rock & Roll Revival

• Salisbury University will host many musical events in the upcoming months - some are free, some require paid tickets. Here is their lineup for the spring semester! Salisbury University Performing Arts

🎵 A reminder for Band & Strings students: make sure you are bringing your instruments and music on the designated days! Your grade depends on your preparedness.

This February, we’re going to show our love and appreciation for reading by reviewing different literary genres, and voting for the literary genre that we love the best! 💘

In addition to sharing our love for reading, students will be reading and researching about the many amazing African American trailblazers, leaders, and icons for Black History Month. They will create presentations using Wixie or Google Slides to share their knowledge.

The Scholastic Book Fair is quickly approaching! From February 3rd-7th, students and families will have a chance to raise money for our school and media center while purchasing some awesome NEW titles! Click the link below to set up your scholar’s e-Wallet.

In conjunction with Physical Education, this month I wanted to focus on preventative tips to help both students and their parents/guardians to stay on the right track with heart health. I have included a poster from the American Heart Association with recommendations. I want to add to this poster to make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. As always, check in with your student’s pediatrician or your doctor for any advice prior to starting any program or following any advice. Make sure that you are also seeing your doctor on a regular basis for routine check-ups.

Hey Gator Families,

First, thank you all for being patient with us as we call and send messages or emails about your Scholar's attendance. Our goal is simple - we want your scholars here to learn all they can.

We are gearing up for our Q2 attendance Incentive for those Scholars who were here every day for Term 2. We will also be doing a parent drawing for an Acme gift card for those students who have been here daily. Either Ms. Beebe or I will send you a talking points message to inform you your name has been drawn - you will need to come to Glen to sign the gift card and pick it up. We can not send it home with your scholar.

Attendance - Please remember to get your notes in before the 5-days

• Link to our Counties Attendance Policies and Procedures - https://www.wicomicoschools.org/documents/for-parents-%26-students/attendance-policy-%26-procedure/467488

• Per our County's attendance Policy, at 5 days, an Attendance Intervention is done, and the grades are turned to E’s until work is made up.

Truancy - Per Maryland Dept of Education:

• A truant youth is unlawfully absent from school for more than 8 days in any quarter, 15 days in any semester, or 20 days in a school year.
  Md. Code Ann., Educ., §7-302.2

• An absence, including an absence for any portion of the day for any reason other than those cited as lawful in the link below, is presumed to be unlawful and may constitute truancy.
  Md. Code Regs. 13A.08.01.04

• Please use the link to see more information on Truancy in Maryland - https://www.mdcourts.gov/circuit/somerset/truancy

Notes/Reminders:

• If you change your phone number, let the school know as soon as possible. In an emergency, we need to have everyone's updated number.

• If you move, please contact me so I can see how I can help - whether to set up transportation or to touch base with the new school where you moved to help make the process smoother for you and your scholar.

As always, please reach out to me with any questions.

Kindly,

PPW-Mrs. Jo

This is Michele McGoogan, principal of Glen Avenue. As a Title 1 school, we are required to inform you of your right to request information on the qualifications of the teacher and/or the instructional assistant who will be working with your child. Please rest assured that we have worked diligently to ensure that staff members meet the Maryland State Department of Education requirements. If you would like to exercise your right to request this information, you may email or send a letter using US mail to the Director of Human Resources to my attention. You will receive a response from the Director of Human Resources within 30 days of the original request. We look forward to serving you and your student this year.

School-Family-Scholar Agreement for Improving Student Achievement

This agreement is a pledge to work together to share responsibility for student learning, high achievement, and student success in school and in life. This compact is aligned with our School Improvement Plan to promote student learning, student attendance, a positive school climate and with our grade level learning outcomes. Upon request, interpreters and transportation can be provided so families can attend school functions.

The Wicomico County Board of Education recognizes that families are their child’s first teachers and that they function as educators throughout their child’s life. More than thirty years of research show that student academic success and high self esteem are closely related to family engagement in education from prekindergarten through high school. Glen Avenue Elementary School also believes that the education of children is a shared responsibility. Involvement by the school, the family and the community creates a stronger educational system and improves the quality of life for the students, their families and the entire community of Wicomico County. The school system as well as individual schools make the commitment to establish programs and practices that create a climate of mutual trust and respect and that support family engagement.

Glen Avenue School creates a caring school community that provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to be thoughtful, responsible, and highly productive citizens as well as lifelong learners.

Glen Avenue Elementary School will be:

• the school where all teachers want to teach,
• Students want to learn, and
• Families wish their children could attend

The mission of the Division of Student and Family Services is to support the total educational experience, thus assuring all students the opportunity to develop skills essential for successful learning, healthy physical/emotional/social growth and gainful employment. Please click the link to view the available resources.