Baltz Bears Fall Newsletter 2020
Believing, Achieving, Learning and Team Building with Zeal
Keeping up with Kindergarten!
Our little Kindergarten rock stars have really taken on the start of their school career with so much enthusiasm! We have been working on our first 10 letters and letter sounds as well as beginning some word families and sounding out CVC (Consonant Vowel Consonant) words! We have been practicing our sight words each day and continue to add to our sight word knowledge every week.
Our English Language Arts curriculum has been focusing on homes and different environments where animals live. We are beginning a new unit now that we have started our new in person/online classes with a couple new wonderful additions to our teaching team! This unit focuses on understanding “then” and “now” comparing how things have changed such as farming, using different types of tools to help people do their jobs. We will be focusing on comparing and contrasting and working on opinion writing.
In Math, our main focus has been number identification up to 10 as well as beginning stages of adding and subtracting numbers up to 10. We have also begun to practice identifying 2D shapes. We will be beginning teen number identification and how we can make a teen number using 10 plus some ones. We continue to work on creating word problems for addition and subtraction and using pictures to help us create our addition and subtraction stories.
We are so excited to see what the rest of the school year will unfold for your little learner! They have already shown how awesome they are and how hard they can work in their own home environment! We know they will have an amazing Kindergarten year! Thank you parents for all you have done so far to make this transition for your kiddos possible!
Fabulous in First Grade!
First graders were on point this marking period! We learned a lot about stories including characters, setting, plot, ending, and how authors use details to write! We also became great sentence writers because we learned about capitals and punctuation! First graders worked hard as mathematicians to show partners of a number up to 10. All five first grade classes also blossomed into communities of leaders as we explored a civics unit in social studies. But don’t forget, first graders are scientists too and they can tell you all about the weather! Miss Trate, Miss Flowers, Mrs. Campanella, Miss Rooney, and Miss Dale are so excited to jump into the second marking period with both new friends and old. Goooo Baltz!
Soaring in Second!
2nd graders at Baltz Elementary are working hard in the “in school” classroom and the “virtual” classroom! We have had some math and language arts assessments and are now really getting into a new routine, with some students starting with new teachers. All 2nd graders start each day with a Morning Meeting. It is a great way for all the students to get to know each other, to create a community and sense of belonging in each classroom. During our Morning Meeting, we have a greeting, a “share”, a short inclusive group activity and we read a morning message. This also creates opportunities for students to foster speaking/listening skills and cooperative interaction. It’s a positive way to begin each day.
In math, we started our year with lessons focusing on building fact fluency. Students have been solving addition and subtraction equations and moved into word problems. We solve LOTS of word problems in 2nd grade! We are working on different strategies with the goal being that students solve fluently within 20. Practicing math facts with flash cards (all 2nd graders got some at the beginning of the year) and on a computer (Dreambox on Classlink) would be a great use of any extra time at home. In Reading, we are excited to really dive deep into books this year focusing on different reading strategies. Our focus right now is still whole group and working on taking those skills and applying them independently. A big goal for 2nd graders is to become fluent readers AND comprehend what is being read. All 2nd graders should be reading at home! The best way for these kiddos to become better readers is if they read, read, read…and read some more!!
Contact us :
Odette Fuentes - odette.funetes@redclay.k12.de.us (302) 992-5560 ext. 213
Dan Jones – danieln.jones@redclay.k12.de.us (302) 992-5560 ext. 215
Jeanine Mauchin – jeanine.mauchin@redclay.k12.de.us (302) 992-5560 ext. 211
Andrea Simmons – andrea.oreilly@redclay.k12.de.us (302) 992-5560 ext. 209
Thriving in Third!
Hello 3rd grade families! This has been a year like no other but thanks to your help and support and a lot of hard work and patience from the students remote learning was much smoother than we could have hoped for! It has been great seeing the kids every day. You could feel their enthusiasm and excitement over Zoom even though we weren’t in the same room. This wasn’t how any of us would have dreamed of starting out a new school year but we all did the best we could and we’re now ready to move on to the next phase.
Even with all of the changes this year, the kids have still been learning. In Math we have introduced the new skills of multiplication and division and will be continuing to practice with them for the next month or two. In reading we have read stories focusing on understanding the characters in those stories, how to describe them and figuring out why they are doing the things they’re doing. The students are also using the skills to write stories of their own. In Science and Social Studies the students have learned the difference between bartering and trading and climate vs weather.
It won’t be easy saying goodbye to the kids who are staying remote and we know that it isn’t easy for many of them to get a new teacher after starting a relationship with their remote teachers. But we are all happy with the time we had and looking forward to the challenges this next part of the year will bring!
Fun Times in Fourth Grade!
Round 2! Marking Period 2 in Full Effect
What a year so far it has been. Marking period 1 has zoomed right on by as we begin marking period 2!
In the first marking period our fourth grade students were exposed to many new and exciting curricula. In ELA, we read and solved the mystery of what was happening to the porpoises in, Porpoises in Peril. We also discover how Mary Anning cracked open the world, and helped change the world of science with her curiosity and love for fossils. In Math, we tackled place value, multi-digit subtraction and two step word problems. Doug, our science guy, exposed us to what the world may have looked like millions of years ago when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Finally, in Social Studies, we traveled the globe learning about the continents, oceans, and regions of the United States.
Currently, some of our students are back into the swing of things by coming back to school while others, continue their fourth grade journey virtually. In the upcoming months, in both ELA and Science, our students will read and discover how the body works and why we need both our bones AND muscles to move. They will start multiplying multi-digit numbers in math. START PRACTICING THOSE BASIC FACTS TODAY! Lastly, in Social Studies we will learn about how our region was settled upon and colonies were made.
Some reminders for in-school learning:
· PLEASE bring a water bottle everyday
· Dress for the weather – this is especially important for physical education. If weather permits, this year the students will have their gym class outside!
· Uniforms are still encouraged but they may wear their everyday clothes as well.
· Masks are required at all times, in most situations. Please make sure to have your mask on before walking into the building.
Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher at any time with questions or concerns. We are here to help and want what’s best for your child.
Sincerely,
The Fourth Grade Team
Ms. Joanna Toto -Fourth Grade Teacher
Ms. Christina Personti -Fourth Grade Teacher
christina.personti@redclay.k12.de.us
Ms. Erin Czulewicz -Fourth Grade Teacher
erin.czulewicz@redclay.k12.de.us
Mrs. Erin Ellis -Fourth Grade Teacher
Ms. Amy Britz-Fourth Grade Remote Teacher
Mrs. Denise Zuniga -Fourth Grade Special Education Teacher
denise.zuniga@redclay.k12.de.us
Mrs. Jennifer Dalby - Fourth Grade Special Education Teacher
jennifer.dalby@redclay.k12.de.us
Mrs. Angela Farley Fourth Grade Para
Flying in Fifth!
Our six weeks of remote learning were gone before we knew it. There was a lot of learning and team building during that time. Whether it was a teacher helping a student or students or students helping their teacher.
What does the second marking period look like?
Math
Students will begin to work with adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators! It’s crucial that students are practicing their multiplication and division facts for this unit.
ELA
Our next text is Washed Up, where 3 families enter a survival contest. Let’s see who the final survivors are.
Science
Our ecosystems unit is coming to an end. Soon we will begin our astronomy unit.
Social Studies
After learning our 10 amendments from the Bill of Rights, we will switch gears and look into Banks and the economy.
We would like to emphasize the importance of work completion during the second marking period for on campus learners and remote learners. It is crucial that students complete all assigned work during class, independent time, or for homework.
Student Success Tips:
1. Students should visit their virtual classroom to see their assignments.
2. Students should utilize their schoology calendar to see all of their assignments and when they are due.
3. Students should maximize their independent time to complete as many assignments as possible.
4. Students can always join their teacher during office hours.
5. Students should dedicate a time to complete their work on their own.
Please check HAC constantly to revise student grades.
We are really excited for this next step. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your student’s teacher.
UA Fall 2020
UA Newsletter Article: Fall 2020
Welcome to the 2020/2021 school year at Baltz. Our Unified Arts (UA) team is ready to meet you in weekly classes for Music, Art, Physical Education, and Library. Check with your homeroom teacher and in Schoology to access our class links so you can easily attend your daily specials. Mrs. Eveland will be joining the 3rd grade team for the second marking period. She will be missed but we know she's going to be a great asset to our third graders! We are excited to welcome our new team member and music teacher, Kathryn Whitesel. Ms. Whitesel is eager to get to know you and share her love of music with Baltz students and families. See you on Zoom! Let’s have a great year together!
‘Fall’ing FORWARD Together
We’ve come too far to FALL BACK . And whether you’re ‘on line’ or ‘in person’ , a student,
friend or family member I am here to help. So let’s all keep up the good work continue to Fall
forward-together!
Prevent without Relent:
Everyday is a good day to review and reinforce face coverings, handwashing, social distancing with your children and family members but as the holiday season approaches let us all be reminded that it is more important than ever COVID-19: Holiday Celebrations | CDC
And especially vital when we start back to school. Please screen your child every morning by
asking them ALOUD health screening questions. D-19 Screening Tool for Families . If they
answer YES you are required to KEEP them HOME and contact their doctor for further
instructions. Also be reminded that during the school day, students requesting to see the nurse for any system complaint that has also been associated with COVID19 is required to be picked up from school and then requires a doctor’s note before being allowed to return to school. We’ve come to realize that your child’s choice of face covering has been a new and
unexpected way for us to recognize and also get to know them. Please review below the many guidelines and suggestions that will keep them happy and keep everyone protected!
How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask | CDC
Trust in knowing that every precaution to protect your children and the entire school community have been into practice. Here are few ideas that will help you do the same!
● Remove shoes at designated area
● Hang up jacket in designated area
● Hang up backpack: Wipe down backpacks and school bags with disinfectant
wipes and let air dry. Remove water bottle and any lunch items and place them
directly in sink or dishwasher.
● Hang up mask: Designate a drop spot for your child’s face covering so it can be
washed daily/switched out with fresh coverings. Regularly inspect cloth face
coverings to ensure they are not worn or damaged. Wash masks according to
the material. When in doubt, hand wash in warm soapy water.
● When all is unpacked everyone go straight to a thorough handwashing.
Have a safe and healthy break and remember Prevent without Relent. If you have any
questions or just want to talk
Reach Nurse Sheila Rimmer
302 992 5564 sheila.rimmer@redclay.k12.de.us
Reading Specialists' Corner
Mrs. Kelly and Ms. Brown are enjoying working with students on sight words, phonics and decoding skills, reading decodable and leveled readers, comprehension skills, vocabulary, and writing skills! Students are working hard and showing improvement during our Zoom and in-person sessions!
Please continue to support your child at home by reading to/with them each day. Feel free to contact the Reading Specialists if you have questions about helping your child with reading skills at home!