Bancroft Community Newsletter

First Grade is ready for Spring and has been enjoying the warmer weather at recess! In Science, the kids have learned about weather and the different strengths of the wind. All classes made windsocks to test the wind’s strength and the direction it blows.

We also had visitors from Partners In Outreach come visit our classes to read the story Between the Lines by Lindsay Ward that had a wonderful message of spreading happiness to make our world a better place. Each student got their own book to take home as well.

March seemed short and sweet but was very busy with St. Patrick’s Day phonics fun, the Wizards assembly, and Rocking our Socks for Down Syndrome Day. When we come back from our Spring vacation, our First Graders will travel to Longwood Gardens to learn about Plant Power to get us ready for our upcoming Life Science unit on Plants and Animals. We look forward to April showers bringing beautiful May Flowers!

We had a wonderful and busy month in second grade! Our students have been working hard, learning new skills, and showing great teamwork in the classroom! Students continued practicing their phonics skills to help them read unfamiliar words. Breaking apart words into smaller, manageable chunks has helped our students improve their fluency, accuracy, and confidence in reading! We also worked on many different vowel teams this month! Students enjoyed playing a game where they could put word parts together to make a word with two or more syllables.

In Reading, we enjoyed discussing what different cultures can teach us through storytelling. There are common themes and messages that can be found in many folktales throughout the world. In writing, we described a character’s feelings by using text evidence and illustrations. We focused on organizing our ideas into clear sentences and short paragraphs. We also enjoyed a visit from Partners in Outreach this month! They read us a story, and each student was able to take home a copy of the book! What a wonderful way to support reading!

In Math, we have been hard at work learning several strategies to add and subtract three-digit numbers. We have enjoyed using base-ten blocks and place value concepts to understand this important skill. The students have been doing a great job explaining their thinking and working together to solve word problems.

We also want to take this time to thank our amazing families for their continued support this year to help set students up for success. The home-school relationship is such an important one, and we value your partnership, time, and commitment. We look forward to meeting with our families during conferences, and we appreciate your time and flexibility in making this happen. We hope you all enjoy a relaxing and fun-filled Spring Break!

March was an exciting and busy month for third grade in so many ways!

We started the month strong by learning all about fractions—what they are, how to write them, and how to find equivalent fractions. Students also had the opportunity to exercise their creative writing skills by crafting step-by-step instruction guides on how to catch a leprechaun! This project required lots of revising and editing to make sure their leprechaun traps would really work.

In reading, we explored different types of inventions and the famous people who created them. Students were especially interested to learn about Shirley Jackson, who helped develop caller ID and call waiting. We also discovered a device called UNI, which allows hard-of-hearing students to communicate and translate their words with classmates. One of the biggest surprises was realizing that cell phones weren’t always as small as they are today!

One of the highlights of March was celebrating our third grade teacher and teammate, Ms. Rachel Pearson. Ms. Pearson was nominated for the FMFCU Foundation Celebration Award, and we honored her during a school-wide morning meeting. She was completely surprised and so deserving of this special recognition!

As we move into April, we are preparing for PSSA testing. This is the first year our third graders will take this assessment, and we are keeping things calm, cool, and positive. Please help your child do their best by ensuring they get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast each morning. Our students have been working hard, and we know they will do an amazing job!

After testing, we are looking forward to welcoming PAWS for People for a special spring visit. We’re also excited to spend more time outdoors with planting activities and enjoying reading in the sunshine.

Fourth graders recently participated in a meaningful Black History Month research project. The students explored various influential figures and events that have shaped African American history.

Each student selected a person or event to investigate. They used a variety of resources to gather information, fostering their research skills. Their projects culminated in a 5 paragraph essay,

After completing their research reports, students created engaging presentations. They practiced speaking skills and learned to convey their findings to their classmates. This project not only enhanced their understanding of history but also encouraged respect and appreciation for diversity.

In math, students are learning about fractions, including mixed numbers. They will soon relate them to decimals.

In Science and Social Studies, students researched the cause-and-effect relationships among weathering, erosion, and deposition, and how landforms are created.

March Madness Book Series Challenge ended with Harry Potter taking the prize as the most favorite book series! The students had fun each day voting and breaking down the data to see fractions and percentages.

Adopt-a-Peep: students participated in a playful project producing adoption papers and persuasive personal statements to promote their precious Peeps! (Alliteration and other figurative language welcome!)

During the month of March, 5th grade was focusing on the trait of RESPONSIBILITY. The students worked in their houses on a homework completion challenge. We tracked which houses had math and reading homework completed. The houses with the most success were Friendship, Integrity, and Grit.

In addition, students engaged in meaningful conversations during morning meetings, exploring what it means to be responsible at home, at school, and in the community. These discussions helped students reflect on their choices and understand the impact of their actions.

Developing responsibility is an essential life skill, especially as students prepare for the transition to middle school. We are proud of their growth and continued efforts!

On March 25th, our 5th grade students visited the Kennett Middle School to become more familiar with the building and the expectations that lie ahead. This visit provided a valuable opportunity for students to explore their future school, ask questions, and begin preparing for a smooth and confident transition to middle school.

This month, our first, second, and third grade classes enjoyed a special guest reader visit organized by Alicia Naimoli. In collaboration with Partners in Outreach, we welcomed volunteers from KPMG into our classrooms.

Each guest reader spent time connecting with students, sharing a read-aloud, and thoughtfully answering questions. To extend the experience beyond the classroom, every student received a copy of the featured book to take home, and additional copies were donated to the classroom and school libraries.

Spring brings warmer weather—and seasonal allergies for many students. Common symptoms include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, and coughing. These symptoms can sometimes mimic a cold, but allergies are not contagious.

To help your child feel their best at school:

• Consider starting allergy medications before symptoms begin (check with your child’s healthcare provider).

• Encourage your child to wash hands and face after outdoor play.

• Showering and changing clothes after being outside can help remove pollen.

• Keep windows closed at home and in the car during high pollen days.

If your child requires allergy medication during the school day, please be sure all required forms are completed and medication is provided to the nurse’s office.

Feel free to reach out to the school nurse Mrs. Carter with any questions or concerns!