Stoneleigh Home-School Connection
10/30/2020
For 4th Grade Parents/Guardians
Final Opportunity
During the second math unit, students will be learning various multiplication strategies to help them understand the concept of multiplication. The Fourth Grade team will be hosting two information sessions for parents to learn these strategies to be able to support students during virtual learning.
These sessions will be held on Monday, November 2nd from 5:00-5:30 PM and 5:30-6:00 PM. The same information will be presented at both sessions. The presentation will be recorded and posted in Schoology for families unable to attend.
If you would like to attend a session, please use the Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/ujc-tudw-pkq
From Stoneleigh Elementary
We Value Our Partnership With Students And Families
Our desire is for students to be as independent as possible given the maturity of each grade level. To that end teachers have set up their Schoology course in a format familiar to students. Teachers continue to walk students through how to access instruction and assignments just like when we are in the school building. We have and will continue to develop materials and assignments that are designed to facilitate the independence of each student.
We recognize parents/guardians have obligations outside of the virtual schooling environment. Feel free to step away and know that we are going to teach and assist just like we do in the school building. Please know that we do not expect parents to be:
- sitting next to their student all day,
- typing in the chat box for their child,
- teaching their child (please encourage them to ask the question and seek assistance as they would in the school building),
- providing answers to assignments,
- answering questions during a unit test, assessment, or culminating event (please encourage them to ask the question and seek assistance as they would in the school building),
- taking a unit test, assessments or culminating events for the student.
Together as we encourage and applaud confidence and independence students will make tremendous growth and develop the “I can do it” attitude. Let your child know you have confidence in them and they should ask their teacher for help just like in school. However, you are nearby should logging-in or getting kicked off become a problem.
Together we will make this virtual experience a positive for all.
Expectations of Students During Asynchronous Learning
Kindergarten
- The number of assignments per day for all content areas during the asynchronous learning time should take the students no more than 30 minutes total each day.
- All assignments paper/pencil or digital are due by the next day when they see their teacher. (For example: Student has small group at 1:20pm and is given an assignment it is due to the teacher by 1:20pm the next day.)
- Wednesday assignments are due by 3:30pm that day.
1st Grade
- 1 Graded Assignment per content area per week (4 total). Should take 15 minutes or less each.
- Phonics: 3 workbook pages, and free choice practice activities include digital and screen-free options.
- ELA: Free choice practice activities include digital and screen-free options.
- Math: 2 workbook pages (Based on what we have seen so far), and free choice practice activities include digital and screen-free options.
- Content: Optional review activities
2nd Grade
- An average of 5 assignments per week per content area- not all will be graded, and some will be completed in class; assignments should take approximately 10-15 minutes each to complete,
- All assignments are due Sunday at 11:59pm to allow flexibility of screen time and family schedules,
- No more than 50% of all weekly assignments are digital
3rd Grade
- Math: 4 independent assignments (2 per lesson with 2 lessons per week)
- ELA: 2 independent assignments, accelerated/advanced students may have 3 independent assignments
- Phonics: 2 assignment plus a decodable
- Content: 1 assignment
- Each assignment should take approximately 20-30 minutes
- Assignments due by Sunday by 11:59 pm
4th Grade
- Math and ELA assignments daily should take approximately 20 minutes each
- Asynchronouse work should take approximately 35 to 60 minutes a day
- All assignments due by Sunday at 11:59pm
5th Grade
- 1 ELA, 1 Writing, 2 Math, 2 Content Assignments per week that are submitted for grading
- Each assignment should take approximately 20-30 minutes
- All assignments due by every Friday at 11:59 pm, but can be submitted early
Young Author Contest
Elementary School Young Authors’ Contest 2020 – 2021
Who: Students in Grades 1st through 5th
What: Write a poem or short story!
See attachments below titled YA Flyer for Students and YA Student Cover Sheet.
Entry Information
- Entries must be original work.
- All entries must use no smaller than 12 point font in Times New Roman.
- Short story entry must range between 100-400 words (gr. 1-2) and 300-800 words (gr. 3-5).
- Poem entry will consist of a single poem, any style, and must range between 25-150 words (all grade levels).
- Entries must not include graphics.
- Each entry must include a completed cover sheet signed by the student author’s parent.
Submission
For additional details and guidelines, contact your local reading council Young Authors’ Contest Chairperson.
Entries due to Ms. McGraw at jmcgraw@bcps.org
Friday, December 4, 2020
(Winning entries will be forwarded from local chapters to SoMLA by January 15, 2021.)
Black Saga Club for Students In Grades 3rd - 5th
Is your child interested in History?
Do they enjoy working as a team? Then Black Saga might be the club for them! Black Saga is open to all students in third, fourth and fifth grade. This virtual club promotes perseverance, study skills, and leadership as students work together.
Traditionally Black Saga has been a team competition, this year the Black Saga program will shift to be a celebration of African American heritage and history in Maryland. Teams will complete an inquiry and activities to examine several famous Marylander icons: Thurgood Marshall, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Matthew Henson, and Elijah Cummings. The program will run from November through March.
See the attachment below titled Welcome Letter 2020 for specific details.
Grade Level School Counseling Courses
Most students have already added the course with the help of their homeroom teacher and Ms. Leaf or Ms. Kaminski. In case your child has not yet added their course the codes for each grade level are below:
- K code: 7RG3-J2BJ-HC753
- 1st code: NHGH-K62G-WRSV9
- 2nd code: MD3Z-45JC-4XST8
- 3rd code: WWZX-CNN4-HZXX5
- 4th code: 98X6-63KW-7425N
- 5th code: ZWT4-VCWP-FQW69
Students and Parents/Guardians Need To Acknowledge The Behavior Handbook Electronically
At this time all students have reviewed the behavior handbook and the addendum for the virtual environment. Students and parents/guardians need to acknowledge the behavior handbook electronically. While many students and parents have completed this task there are several who have not.
If you or your child still need to complete this task you will continue to receive phone calls and emails requesting acknowledgement. Students can do so by visiting the folder on their homeroom page. Directions for parents/guardians to acknowledge the behavior handbook are below.
If you need assistance setting up your BCPS One account, directions are below in the attachments titled Create An Account and Add A Student.
To access BCPS One, go to BCPS One under the Parents tab on bcps.org.
2nd FAQ Session
The FAQ session was well received, so the PTA and Ms. Hollenbeck are offering the same opportunity for the November PTA meeting. If you would like to submit up to 2 questions for Ms. Hollenbeck or the PTA to address as part of our 2nd FAQ session offered as part of the PTA Meeting at 7pm on Thursday, November 12th please use the link below. The meeting will be streamed. Specific information as to how to access the meeting will be shared prior to the meeting.
The PTA will use the submitted questions to identify 20 questions for reply.
The survey will close on Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 5:00pm for meeting preparation.
Homerooms Still Need Parent Liaisons/Classroom Buddies - Virtual Learning Model
Homerooms Still In Need Include:
- Ms. Hancheruk
- Ms. Fisher
- Ms. Ratajczak
- Ms. Schindler
- Mr. Gieron
- Ms. Hornberger
- Ms. Sturkey
Parent Liasions/Classroom buddies will serve as liaisons between the PTA, the classroom teachers, and the families. The classroom teacher will select a responsible adult member to serve as classroom buddy. The position can be shared by more than one adult, if preferred. The PTA will provide a budget (to be determined) to support the work of the buddy. The goal of the classroom buddy is to facilitate access to information for all families.
Responsibilities during distance learning will include:
- Access to information. The classroom buddy will be available to draft emails (or phone messages if no email is available) to communicate information from the PTA regarding important SES events or classroom activities.
- School connection. The classroom buddy will attend virtual PTA meetings as often as possible in order to connect and stay informed regarding school news and PTA plans/events and share with the other families in the homeroom.
- Community building. The parent liasion/classroom buddy will participate in community building activities to lift spirits during virtual learning (i.e. mailing supportive notes; emailing messages to teachers; planning virtual classroom activities; periodic teacher appreciation gifts, etc.).
The role of class parent does not extend to issues relating to teaching or issues with individual students, but rather the whole class and enriching/social events for them all.
From BCPS
7 Facts for Understanding Attendance in BCPS Virtual Classroom Environment
- In order to be marked present for a given day, students must log onto the appropriate learning platform (Google Meets, Schoology) during school hours.
- Student should log onto their Google Meets classes and Schoology account between 8:30am and 3:30pm. This time period has been identified as "school hours."
- When students are absent for a full day, parents/guardians should provide teachers with an email note explaining the reason for the absence in order for the absence to be marked excused. No email notes are required for lateness to class.
- On Wednesdays, all students work independently to complete assignments posted by their teachers in Schoology. When students log on during school hours, they are marked present.
- Students who are having technical difficulties that prevent them from logging on and being marked present should contact their teachers.
- Parents/Guardians can expect an automated attendance call if their child did not log onto Google Meets or Schoology during identified school hours.
- Students' log-on practices are stored in the Student Information System as "daily attendance." Daily attendance data will be printed on the students' report cards.
All Baltimore County schools have a designated pupil personnel worker who is available to assist students and families with attendance-related matters. When seeking support for the school's pupil personnel worker, parents/guardians should contact a representative from the school or call the Office of Pupil Personnel Services at (443) 809-0404 and leave a message.
Reassuring Children Coronavirus Fears & Concerns
Kids today are as exposed to the news cycle as adults are, but they have less life experience to interpret what they’re seeing and hearing. Your job isn’t to shelter them from the news; it’s to help them understand and process it. Children of all ages want reassurance that their family will be safe.
See the attachment below titled Reassuring Children Cornavirus Fears Concerns for specific information.
Active Calming And The Four Main Breathing Exercises
Use this fun, easy to assemble spinner to help children practice active calming and the four main breathing exercises in Conscious Discipline: S.T.A.R., Drain, Pretzel and Balloon.
Helps with active calming and as a self-regulation tool
See the attachment below titled Make and Take 3 Breathing Choices Spinner.
Stoneleigh Elementary
Email: STES0905@bcps.org
Website: https://stoneleighes.bcps.org
Location: 900 Pemberton Road, Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-3600
Twitter: @StoneleighES