The Owl's Nest February
OAKLEIGH ELEMENTARY 410–887-5238
Oakleigh Elementary School
Assistant Principal: Lisa Grace- lgrace3@bcps.org
Email: smason@bcps.org
Website: http://oakleighes.bcps.org
Phone: 410-887-5238
Facebook: facebook.com/OakleighElementarySchool
The Principal’s Corner
Winter Greetings,
The Survey is here! Please complete the BCPS Stakeholder Survey found at www.bcps.org to share your input for Oakleigh Elementary and Baltimore County Public Schools. We hope you love Oakleigh students and staff as much as we do!
THANK YOU to all parents who returned completed Emergency Closing Forms. We have been very lucky with the weather so far this year, but winter is far from over. In the event of an emergency that causes Oakleigh Elementary and/or all BCPS schools to close early – information on the forms will be used for your child’s dismissal. If you have not yet returned the form, please do so as soon as possible. Additional copies are available in the school office.
Parents are asked to listen carefully to the news on the television or the radio for the latest information regarding school closings and delays. Information for late openings, closings, or early dismissals will appear in a banner moving across www.bcps.org. I encourage you to download the BCPS Now app for alerts about delays and closings.
Attendance and on-time arrival are important. We have been experiencing a high volume of absences and lateness recently. Students miss valuable learning time that cannot be replicated with paper and pencil make-up work. It is important to get to school on time each day to ensure a successful beginning. On-time arrival helps everyone in the class begin learning without disruptions. THANK YOU to all of the families and students who value good attendance!
I wish everyone a happy and healthy February!
Mrs. Mason
February Dates To Remember
February 20th- Schools Closed- President's Day
February 26th- Oakleigh Family Skate Night 4:30-7:00 @ Skateland
Looking Ahead:
March 2nd - Reading Night @ Parkville Library from 6-7:30
March 12th- Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebee's
March 31st- Family Bingo Night @ Pine Grove Middle
PTA UPDATES!
Hello Oakleigh Families,
We have some exciting events scheduled in the coming months. Mark your calendars:
February 26th Family Skate Night - Bring the family our for an afternoon of skating. Spirit Items will be available for purchase.
March 12th Flapjack Fundraiser at Applebee's - Volunteers are needed. Check out the PTA for more information
March 31st Family Bingo Night - This event will be held at Pine Grove Middle. We are looking for vendors for the Family Bingo Night. Anyone interested should contact Katia King at BingoVendors@oakleighpta.org
Photos are still being collected by the Yearbook Committee. Please send them to Jean White at president@oakleighpta.org.
More information about these events can be found on the PTA's website, www.oakleighpta.org.
-Jean White (PTA President)
Pre-K News
We will be focusing on kindness this month. Your child will be able to earn a heart to add to the kindness tree when a kind deed is done. Please encourage your child to use kind words and actions at school, We are looking forward to having a tree full of hearts.
The 100th day of Pre-Kindergarten will be February 10th. It amazes me how much your children have grown so far this school year. They are becoming more independent each day.
The Parent University debuts new online resources about learners from birth to Pre-Kindergarten. Please go to www.bcps.org/programs/birthThroughPrek for resources that pertain to your children. In the early childhood section, users will find information on services benefitting early childhood, Baltimore County Public Library programs, BCPS programs for early childhood, and resources for users. I hope you find the resources helpful.
Thank you,
Mrs. Schwink
Kindergarten News
Our 100th day of Kindergarten will be February 3rd! We are so proud of our Kindergarten students! Students are now one hundred days smarter and it shows in all that they do! We encourage you have your child count 100 objects at home and practice skip counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's. Please record each month the books you and your child are reading together by coloring in the objects on the reading calendars. We are seeing growth in every child.
Our students have completed their MAP testing in Reading and Math. They will be tested again in the Spring. Children are encouraged to continue practicing their sight words, letter identification and consonant/vowel sound identification. Reading with your child is important and asking good questions will increase their comprehension and reasoning abilities.
We encourage parents to login to their BCPSOne account by going to https://bcpsone.bcps.org/. Use your child's username and password next. Click into digital content and they are able to access dreambox and a variety of digital resources and databases.
Thank you,
The Kindergarten Team
1st Grade News
Happy winter to our first grade families! In reading, our first graders are finishing unit 3, which focuses on folktales and plays. Students have enjoyed determining the central message in numerous folktales and performing plays for their peers. In math, we are finishing unit 4, which involves students completing surveys and representing and analyzing data. We will soon be working on measurement and using a variety of units to measure lengths. Students are also enjoying our social studies unit about communities. They are learning about physical and human-made features, goods and services, and opportunity cost.
We encourage parents to give students time to work on dreambox at home. They can login to their BCPSOne account by going to https://bcpsone.bcps.org/. They are able to access their lesson tiles, dreambox, and a variety of digital resources and databases.
Thanks,
The First Grade Team
2nd Grade News
Happy February! This month, we will be finishing up Unit 4 of reading. We are reading stories about unique cultures, environments, plants, and animals from around the world, and focus on the qualities that make them unique.
In math, we are analyzing and organizing data. We will use the data to construct graphs, charts, and take surveys. Please keep practicing math facts!
We encourage you to utilize BCPS One to access Dreambox, iReady, and to stay updated with grades. We appreciate your support!
3rd Grade News
Third Grade News
As we move forward into the second half of the school year, please remember to refresh your child’s supplies. Notebooks and folders may need to be replaced due to wear and tear and also check if additional pencils and glue sticks are needed. Many students still do not have earbuds for their devices, which are necessary to cut down on distractions when the students are using them. Wal-Mart, the Dollar Store, and Walgreens all carry inexpensive earbuds. Please reinforce the proper use of technology at home so that students will use it respectfully at school too. Also, as the weather turns cold, please send your child to school with a winter coat, a hat, and gloves as we go outside for recess if the temperature allows.
The third quarter brings us back to multiplication and division in Mathematics. Close attention will be placed on solving story problems using both operations. The goal for students is to develop a much deeper understanding of both multiplication and division, including how they are related to each other. Please allow your children to practice their math skills by utilizing Dream box independently at home. The students enjoy playing the online games which build their foundational skills in math.
As we wrap up Unit 2 in ELA, ask your child to share his or her original fable! We are now beginning Unit 3, Inventions and Innovations. Talk with your child about inventions you use on a daily basis, as well as innovations to inventions, such as the telephone, computer, and refrigerator. In Health this quarter we will be talking about communication. Ask your student about effective communication using I-statements as well as how to avoid conflict.
As always, please email or call with any questions, concerns, or compliments!
The Third Grade Team
4th Grade News
Sometimes, when we can't get out for recess on days due to the weather, behavior becomes more of a problem. Try to encourage your child to play outside as often as possible, to help get some fresh air and exercise. It really helps when they can burn off steam, allowing them to better focus in class. And since we go out as much as possible, remember to send your child in each day with warm winter wear, so they can enjoy the fresh air.
Thanks again for your support!
The Fourth Grade Team
5th Grade
Hello Oakleigh Families,
In Language Arts this month, students will research an African-American who made a positive contribution to society for Black History Month. In math, 5th grade students will continue to solve long division problems. Also, in science students will start their STEM fair projects both in class and at home. Please continue to check your child’s academic progress by regularly checking BCPSone for your child’s current grades. Also, band students be sure to remember your instruments on band days, Monday mornings, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Thanks,
The Fifth Grade Team
BOX TOPS!!!! BOX TOPS!!!!
Reading Night
The Reading Committee at Oakleigh will be hosting a reading night on Thursday, March 2nd from 6-7:30. The event will take place at the Parkville Library located at 9509 Harford Road in Parkville. Reading night will be for students in grades K-5. The theme of the evening will be Dr. Seuss. Look for a flyer in your child's folder coming home soon. We hope you can make it to this special event!
Visual Art Studio
The Baltimore County Summer Visual Arts Enrichment Program provides opportunities for students in grades 3-12 to build their personal art skills and add to their art portfolios. A variety of courses are offered to meet the varied needs and interests of the student whether the student is seeking to improve his or her art skills or is preparing a portfolio for acceptance into a magnet program, entrance into a college program, or preparation for an Advanced Placement exam. For program overview and application visit > https://www.bcps.org/academics/va/summer_art_EP.html
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