Algonkian Elementary
November Newsletter
Principal Page
Google Meet joining info for PTA meeting
https://meet.google.com/kfv-zxrz-tfc
On Thursday, November 19 we will have our Back to School Night for those parents that chose hybrid for their 3rd through 5th grader. Back to School night will begin at 6:00 PM and a google link will be sent out prior to the meeting. Please look for the survey from LCPS which will come out at some point the week of November 10.
We will be sending out information on what days 3rd- 5th grade students will be attending when in person school starts back up for them at December 1. Due to room capacity and size of classes we are not able to honor any requests to switch days.
Technology Updates
Technology Updates
October was National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
It is a good time to review with students and review our own responsibility for the security of our personal and work data. It is important to stop and think before you click on links and attachments. What many people don’t realize is that these seemingly random details are all that criminals need to know to target you, your loved ones, and your physical belongings—online and in the real world.
- Never click and share on a website personal information.
- Limit what information you post on social media—from personal addresses to where you like to go hang out or play outside
- Keep Social Security numbers, account numbers, and passwords private, as well as specific information about yourself, such as your full name, address, birthday, and even vacation plans.
- Disable location services that allow anyone to see where you are— and where you aren’t —at any given time.
Here are some family friendly tips for privacy and cybersecurity.
Grades K–5 Family Tips: Help Boost Kids' Safety, Privacy, and Security
https://www.commonsense.org/education/family-tips/k-5-privacy-and-security
Further Resources for Parents:
https://www.commonsense.org/education/toolkit/family-engagement-resources
Have fun and safe surfing the web!
Art Updates
Hello Bobcats
I hope that you all are are doing well and having an ARTASTIC month!
I will be posting Updates on the Art Schoology each week about the supplies needed for that week and information about that weeks Art Class. Please check each Monday.
For the month of November the students will be creating a variety of projects inspired by artists from diverse backgrounds:
Kindergarten: Native American Totems
1st Grade: Diversity Toy M achine
2nd Grade: Native American Weavings
3rd Grade: Diversity Cartography
4th Grade: Diversity Shoe Design
5th Grade: Native American Car Design
5th Grade: Zines of Change
Music Updates
What are we doing in music class?
5th Grade- Students have been working on meter, musical form, note naming, note values and creating short rhythmic compositions. This month we will continue to focus mainly on reading notes on the treble clef and rhythmic patterns in preparation of our recorder unit. Information about purchasing recorders will be sent home in the near future.
4th Grade- Students are working hard on a variety of musical skills; music form, note values, note naming, and ostinato. We will continue to review reading notes on the treble clef in preparation for playing recorders. Information about purchasing recorders will be sent home in the near future.
3rd Grade- Students just finished an introduction to note naming. This month we will be working on ostinti with a speech piece, a question/answer activity to prepare them for improvising, moving in AB form, and will revisit reading notes on the treble clef.
2nd Grade- Students are working hard on steady beat, tempo, dynamics and rhythm/ostinati. This month we will participate in a few Thanksgiving activities.
1st Grade- Students have been working so hard on steady beat, tempo, dynamics, and note values. This month we will participate in a few Thanksgiving activities.
Kindergarten- Students are working hard on a variety of musical skills; listening, following directions, steady beat, movement, and ununpitched instruments just to name a few. We will be continuing our On the Farm unit and doing a few Thanksgiving activities.
Please feel free to contact myself at kim.Comrie@lcps.org or Mr. Holmes at Ronald.Holmes@lcps.org with any concerns or questions you might have. We’d love to hear from you! Go Bobcats!!!
PE Updates
Kindergarten, First and Second Grades
The past few weeks we have worked on the following:
PE rules and procedures
Special awareness Personal and General
Locomotor skills/ Galloping
Fundamental catching
In the next few weeks we will be working on the following:
Reinforcing special awareness
Throwing and catching with implements
High, medium and low movement patterns
Locomotor skills/ skipping
Third, Fourth and Fifth Grades
The past few weeks students have worked on:
PE Rules and Procedures
Five components of fitness
FITT Principle
Throwing and catching w/ implements
Fitness Gram Fitness test items
Juggling
In the next few weeks we will be working on the following:
Continue Juggling lessons
Continue fitness testing preparation
Healthy food choices and dietary needs
Have a Great Month!
Joe Terango and Kris Goodwin
Algonkian P.E. Teachers
Health Clinic Updates
Please remember to fill out the daily COVID-19 symptom checker questionnaire. This is required each day your student is attending school at Algonkian. It is easy to get into a routine when you have the questionnaire set up to go directly to your texts. Thank you in advance for your help.
If your child is a hybrid student and requires an epi pen or an inhaler/spacer or other prescribed medication at school, please be advised that you will need to bring in Physicians orders and the medication to the Health Office before October 27. New Physicians orders are required each year.
You may find all necessary forms at LCPS.org -> Families -> Medication at School (Middle column) -> School Health Forms (Scroll to bottom) -> Health Documents _> select the form you need.
If your child is a hybrid student and requires any over the counter medication at school, including lotions or cough drops please complete appropriate paperwork.
All medication must be brought in by a parent or guardian in the original container, with a signed LCPS Medication Authorization form. I cannot accept medications without authorization. You can find all necessary forms at LCPS.org -> Families -> Medication at School (Middle column) -> School Health Forms (Scroll to bottom) -> Health Documents _> Click on Authorization for Medication Administration.
The fall brings cooler temps, new teachers and new friends at school. Practice good hand washing skills at home to help keep the germs to a minimum and stress the importance of proper handwashing at school.
Fall sports have begun for a lot of students, that means possible injuries. Please continue to advise the Health Office of injuries that impact your student at school.
A good night’s sleep and proper hydration are the best medicine for your student.
Contact the Health Office with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your student.
Also, please get your flu shots early.
If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at megan.tuma@lcps.org.
Library
Permission Clicks to fill out for parents of students in grades 3-5:
Online Tools used in Library : https://permission.click/6qgJ5/us
Playaway Check-out: https://permission.click/NqNMj/us
The BOOK BUS makes four stops::
Carrollton Rd and Halifax Court 9:04
Chelmsford CT (Across from the playground) 9:29
Quarterpath Trace Circle and Stillwood PL 9:55
Ashcroft Terrace and Graham Cove Sq 10:18
Whittingham Circle and Byron Ct. 10:41
(Please note that social distancing and masks are required at the BOOK BUS stops. Staff will be wearing gloves to handle the books. Students will not touch a book until it is checked out to them. Books are quarantined for at least 72 hours before they can be checked out to a new student.)
The bus will have the following:
A collection of books for browsing/checkout
Specific books that have been requested by parents who have joined the Algonkian Book Bus Schoology Group (instructions below)
A book return
Our next run is Monday, November 9th. Don't want to wait in line at the Book Bus? You can request up to 5 books in advance and we will bring them to you! Join the Algonkian Book Bus Parent Schoology Group to access the Google Form for book requests. For instructions on how to join the group, go to: https://bit.ly/33ldChe
HAPPY READING!
SUSAN R. SMITH PARENT LIAISON
Happy Fall! I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather these past few weeks. I would like to remind everyone about Algonkian’s Resource Assistance Program. This allows families to self-identify to receive resource information from both the County and Private organizations. The information is sent home in an email and all communications are strictly confidential. Please email me directly to be included in this Program or if you have any questions. My email is Susan.R.Smith@lcps.org. Also, the resources that I receive will be posted on my page on the Algonkian Website. Click on Resources, then Parent Liaison, then Articles. The information is not a direct link to the websites. You will have to copy and paste to access the link.
SEARCH/EDGE/Futura
Seems like the year is going by so fast! I am continuing to post choice boards every week for all grade levels. I am incorporating activities that are challenging, but fun. Every student, K – 5, should be choosing one activity each week to spark their thinking. Please send me pictures or descriptions of the things your child is accomplishing! The creativity of our Bobcats is amazing!
SEARCH lessons will continue to be done online, even for students who have returned via the hybrid model. These lessons will be synchronous, no matter in which week they occur.
The identification process from last spring has finally been completed and I am excited to begin FUTURA Transition lessons with our new group of fourth graders.
The fifth graders welcomed new members as well. Per their teacher’s direction, other fourth and fifth grade students have been joining our reading and math sessions. We have explored poems, “A Lazy Day” by Paul Laurence Dunbar and “The Cry of the Children” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Mrs. Browning’s poem was first published in 1843 and addressed the harsh child labor situation. It has been a good lead-in to the FUTURA theme for this year, Innovation, which will consider the impact of the inventions and innovations of the industrial revolution as well as modern changes.
Don’t forget, Bobcats: Always use your BRAINPOWER!
Potomac Falls Cluster Schools- Got Talent
Algonkian Elementary School
Assistant Principal: Karen Shields
Bookkeeper:Gayle Cowden
Registrar: Peggy Franzen
Health Specialist-:Meg Tuma
Email: brian.blubaugh@lcps.org
Website: https://www.lcps.org/algonkian
Location: 20196 Carter Court, Sterling, VA, USA
Phone: 571-434-3240
Twitter: @ALG_LCPS