The Baker Buzz
Newton D. Baker School of Arts Family Newsletter - Apr. 2021
School Choice Portal, Make Choices by April 23
CMSD’s online school choice portal is open again, this time offering an opportunity to select PreK- and K-8 schools as well as high schools for the 2021-2022 school year.
The portal, ChooseCMSD.org, will remain open until April 23, when it will close and the District will make the second round of school assignments. Those assignments will be announced on May 7. The first assignments were released in February.
As part of The Cleveland Plan for education reform, CMSD offers a variety of school models. The District allows families to choose the schools that best fit their children’s needs, if space is available and, in a few cases, they meet admissions criteria.
Parents of children who are in kindergarten through seventh grade or ninth through 11th grades this year do not have to submit applications. The students will remain at their current schools for 2021-2022.
Note: Students who graduate from CMSD high schools receive Say Yes to Education scholarships, which pay up to the full value of tuition, minus federal and state aid, to all public colleges and universities and Pell-eligible training programs in Ohio and more than 100 private colleges and universities across the country. But to qualify, students must be continuously enrolled in a CMSD high school and live in the District or City of Cleveland from ninth grade until graduation.
P-EBT Funds Available Only On Remote Learning Days
Under federal rules, students in hybrid learning will not be eligible for Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer, or P-EBT, funds on the days they attend classes in their school buildings. They will be eligible for the benefits on the days they attend school remotely.
Students who are fully in remote learning will continue to receive the benefits on all days when school is in session.
The benefits are for students in preschool through 12th grade who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. P-EBT is part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Enrollment lists are sent to the Department of Job and Family Services on a regular basis, and any questions or concerns about benefits should be directed to DJFS at 1-866-224-0071. The school or District will not be able to address the situation.
Benefits are mailed out or loaded on cards in waves. Not every family will receive benefits on the same day.
April In-Person Menus
NWEA Reading - Third Grade
Third Grade will be taking the Reading NWEA on the following dates:
- Hybrid - Group A Students: Monday, May 3
- Hybrid - Group B Students: Thursday, May 6
- Fully REMOTE Students - To Be Announced (Week of May 3-7)
*** Reminder: Please make sure that devices are fully charged for the test, and if students wear prescription glasses - - please bring them too. ***
THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all our third grade families for making testing possible and encouraging your child to take their time and do their BEST work. We appreciate everything that you're doing to support our students in preparing for 4th grade!
April Testing Update
The following tests are conducted in April. Reach out to your scholar's teacher with any questions in regard to testing.
- Ohio State Test (OST) ELA (Grades 3-8) April 6-23
- Ohio State Test (OST) Math (Grades 3-8) April 19- May 7
- Ohio State Test (OST) Science (Grades 5 & 8) April 19-May 7
- Aimsweb Benchmark (K-3) April 26 - May 14
- Early Learning Assessment (PreK) Feb. 16 - May 14
Be sure your scholar is able to perform to the best of his or her ability by having your scholar follow these tips:
- Log into class on time and every day!
- Complete synchronous and asynchronous assignments
- Get a good night sleep.
- Have a healthy and nutritious breakfast.
- Practice every day!
- Relax!
Mark Your Calendars
- April 6 - Students Return From Spring Break
- April 6 - First Day of MP4
- April 14 - PreK Professional Development (No School for PreK)
- April 28 - P/T Conference Day
**Wednesdays will remain asynchronous learning days. The school building will be closed for cleaning and sanitation.**
Virtual Learning Opportunities for Parents/Caregivers
There are many community partners, agencies and organizations offering FREE online learning opportunities. Please check out the offerings below to attend a variety of workshops on topics which will assist you with supporting your family and gain new skills. These offerings include Online Computer Training, free high-quality courses, and career training programs online, and SEL and academic workshops to support scholars and families. Check them out on our Parent University webpage.
Cleveland Public Library Delivery Service
Adult residents of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District may now have Cleveland Public Library books and movies shipped to their homes. Learn more about Words on Wheels at https://bit.ly/37WHp2c and Cleveland Public Library.
P-EBT Produce Perks Matching at Kamms Corner
Wonderful news – as of Monday, the USDA has extended the Pandemic EBT program through the summer! At Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market, families can see dollar-for-dollar returns at the market: spend $25 dollars with your P-EBT card at the Market and you can get $25 credit towards fresh fruits & vegetables!
This year, the Farmer’s Market will begin on Sunday, June 13th and continue through Sunday, October 17th at the corner of Albers Avenue and W. 168th St (right behind Walgreens with convenient access to the bus line as well as ample parking). In addition to the nutrition supplement programs that we are super excited to host again, we hope to bring back more family-oriented activities that can enrich the experience for everybody, plus sustainability activities, health screenings, and more.
Baker Highlights
Remote Learning at Baker
Ms. Shuey
Ms. Sherwin
Ms. Green
Back to Kindergarten!
Hands-on in Second Grade
During remote learning, second graders in Ms. Masuga's class studied all types of weather. A tornado was voted as the favorite type of weather we learned about. During the first week of school, students created their own tornados, using an empty water bottle, glitter, and water. The second-grade students were able to experience that a tornado must spin violently to be destructive.
Second graders in Ms. Masuga's class have also been busy learning the attributes of 2D and 3D shapes. Students showed off their knowledge of our math vocabulary: sides, vertices, edges, faces, and vertex, while describing and creating shapes with toothpicks and mini marshmallows. The students agreed that the easiest shape to make is a triangle and the hardest shape to create was a 3D pentagon. Check out the pictures below!
Delicious Fractions!
The fifth grade students in Ms. Campion's class worked on making equivalent fractions like 4/12 = 1/3 with their own Hershey's Bar. After their exploration of the book, The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Fractions Book, video, and equivalent fractions, they were able to eat their math work. Who knew Math could also be delicious? Below are pictures of the students demonstrating how 6/12 is equivalent to 1/2.
The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Fractions Book by Jerry Pallotta
Attention Band & String Students
From Mr. Cummings - Attention BAND and STRING students, please return all school band instruments to Mr. Cummings or the music room ASAP. Let Mr. Cummings know if you have any questions. Thank you!
Back to Baker in Second Grade
Stay Connected With Baker
Synchronous (On-Stage) vs. Asynchronous (Off-Stage)
Synchronous time is the live instruction held on Zoom or Teams that your scholar participates in at a set time on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Links to all live sessions are on the Seesaw/Schoology pages of the teacher.
Asynchronous learning is student-centered and student-guided learning. Examples of asynchronous learning include self-guided lesson modules, pre-recorded video content, virtual libraries, and discussion boards.
As always, reach out to your scholar's teacher if there are any questions about what is assigned during asynchronous time!
Tech Respect & Responsibility
In Need of Tech Support?
If you have technology challenges, please call the CMSD Help Desk at 216.838.0440. They are there and eager to support!
If the problem has not been resolved through the Help Desk, then give us a call at the school. We are willing and eager to assist! Please call the CMSD Help Desk at 216-838-0440 before coming to the school with technology issues.
Need to Enroll?
If you are interested in enrolling a student at Newton D. Baker, please reach out to our secretary, Ms. Lee, directly at 216-838-6650.
If you would like more information about PK enrollment, please see the flyer below.
Family Resources
COVID-19 Assistance
Newton D. Baker School of Arts
If you'd like to receive The Baker Buzz directly to your inbox, please send an email to dominick.wobser@clevelandmetroschools.org.
Email: lisa.williams-locklear@clevelandmetroschools.org
Website: https://www.clevelandmetroschools.org/baker
Location: 3690 West 159th Street, Cleveland, OH, USA
Phone: 216-838-6650
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ndbsoa
Twitter: @newtondbakerart