Bobcat Bulletin
May 24, 2019
Student Book Clubs
Making a Difference
Celebrating Students
June - The Launchpad to September
We often hear from families that "no valuable learning happens in June." We want to make sure you know that is NOT the case! We have been meeting to share how to make June one of the most important months of learning and we came up with many great ways to keep the learning going. We know that students do best when routines and structures are in place and expectations are high. We also know that June is the perfect opportunity to prepare for September! Teachers have collaborated to identify what the receiving grade level teachers see as some of the most important skills that students are lacking when they start school in September. Teachers are communicating these to students as a motivator to work hard to be ready for the next grade! Each of our students is going to be "in training" for the next year! Please help us communicate the importance of coming to school ready to learn and give good effort all the way until the final day! There is lots of important work to do!
Staffing and Teacher Assignments for 2019-2020
Please take note of the following staffing changes for next year:
- Congratulations to Mrs. Blank who is retiring at the end of the school year after more than 40 years of teaching in FCPS.
- We wish Mrs. Wantz well as she moves to Deer Crossing Elementary School and takes on a fifth grade position.
- Mrs. Kearney is moving into the position of Math Interventionist
- Mrs. Cangemi is joining the second grade team
- Ms. Fuller is looping to second grade
This makes our grade level teams for 2019-2020:
Pre-K - Mrs. Noffsinger
Kindergarten - Mrs. Chapin, Mrs. Kenyatta, Mrs. Llewellyn, Mrs. McGinnis
First Grade - Mrs. Gentzler, Mrs. Hansel, Mrs. Priolo, Mrs. McKernon
Second Grade - Mrs. Cangemi, Ms. Fuller, Ms. Gordon, Mrs. Plog
Third Grade - Mrs. Benfield, Mrs. Christensen, Mrs. Myers, Mrs. Trendell
Fourth Grade - Mrs. Carpenter, Mrs. Kallarackal, Mrs. Phelps, Mrs. Weedon
Fifth Grade - Mrs. Lepine, Mrs. Llewellyn, Mrs. McConville, Mrs. Thomas
Teaching Assignments
This year, your child's teacher for the following school year will be shared later in the summer instead of on the report card. We are growing in enrollment and many homes in our attendance area are under construction. If our enrollment increases considerably, it could affect staffing so in order to avoid having to change students' class assignments, we plan to wait until late July/early August to share teacher assignments. Please encourage anyone you know who is not signed up for Find Out First to do so; information will be shared through FOF throughout the summer.
Come Celebrate Learning With Us!
We hope that you are able to join your child's K-5 classroom on June 10 at the time below for a special classroom celebration. Teachers will present all students with a pin as recognition of their hard work this year and we will recognize our parent volunteers in attendance who have given time in classrooms and throughout the building.
Grade Level Celebrations
Pre-K: Information Previously Sent for Celebration on June 6
Grade K: 10:35-11:15
Grade 1: 1:15-1:55
Grade 2: 2:00-2:40
Grade 3: 9:00 - 9:40
Grade 4: 9:50-10:30
Grade 5: 12:00-12:40
We Appreciate Our Volunteers
Safety
- When dropping a student off in the morning, it is best to drive through the drop off line in front of the school. If you choose to drive into the parking lot area, please park and walk your child to the cross walk. Do not drop children off in the parking lot.
- During arrival, please do not drop your child off on Kingsbrook Drive and allow him/her to walk up through the parking lot. It is safer to drop off at the crosswalk so walkers can use the sidewalk.
Safety Drill
Next week, we will practice a safety drill to ensure that procedures are in place should there ever be a dangerous situation in the building. Based on the location of any dangerous situation, staff makes the decision for students to exit the classroom through its exterior door or to lock down in the classroom. Each classroom teacher has a spot designated outside the school where the class will meet for this drill. Teachers will be given advanced notice of the drill scenario and where the dangerous situation in the building is located. The goal of this drill is to make sure that procedures are in place and to adjust any of these procedures as needed in order to prepare for a real emergency.
Restaurant Night at Panda Express
Summer Meals Program
As in years past, FCPS will participate in a summer meals program to provide FREE breakfast and lunch for children 18 years old and younger and for adults older than 18 enrolled in an educational program for persons with disabilities. Children do NOT have to be enrolled in a Frederick County public school to participate.
Breakfast is 8:30-9 AM. Lunch is 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.
Locations:
Frederick High
Governor Thomas Johnson Middle
Hillcrest Elementary
Lincoln Elementary
Monocacy Middle
North Frederick Elementary
Waverley Elementary
Whittier Elementary
In addition, the C. Burr Artz Library will serve lunches (only) 11:30 AM-12:30 PM.
Meals are offered on the following dates:
June 24-August 21, 2019, Mondays-Thursdays** at the above schools
and
June 24-August 20, 2019, Tuesdays and Thursdays** at C. Burr Artz Library.
**Closed Thursday, July 4. Open July 1, 2, 3 and open Friday, July 5.
Lost and Found
Tips from Ms. O'Neill, School Support Teacher
Is Your Child Over Scheduled?
Is your family life one big blur as you run frantically from one activity to another because your child is in too many activities? Could this full schedule be putting your child on overload?
Alvin Rosenfeld, M.D., a child expert and author of the book, The Over Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap, indicates that scheduling children in too many activities is a nationwide problem. Why would this be a problem? What are some possible signs that your child is on an out-of-control treadmill? How can a parent get the family back on track balancing their child’s schedule?
Signs that your child may be overloaded
* Headaches
* Stomachaches
* Fatigue
* Decline in School Grades
* Difficulty in Falling Asleep
You might be thinking that there are many reasons for the symptoms listed above; you would be correct. However, experts suggest you start eliminating and regulating your child’s activities and notice if these symptoms disappear. In addition, remember that it is always wise to consult your personal physician when there is a question about your child’s health.
So how can you balance your child’s schedule and keep the family running smoothly?
Here are some guidelines:
* Set priorities- family, school, and then activities. Activities should never replace the time spent with family. Blended families especially need to make sure they are spending family time together building quality relationships.
* Rest time- Always allow for enough rest time during the day and between activities.
* Allow enough time for delays-Do you schedule activities back to back with no cushion time? Do you panic if there’s a kink in the schedule? Or, worse yet, does your child panic when running a few minutes late? If so, your schedule may be too tight.
* Schedule recreation-Recreation should be fun and refreshing with no expectations. Recreation can also be enjoyed as a family with lasting memories.
In a nutshell, use common sense when scheduling any activity for your child. Children don’t need to be busy 24/7. Allow your child quiet time during the day. Also, give your child free time to be creative and just be a ‘kid.’
Your family life will be happier and run smoother when you and your children aren’t overscheduled and on overload!