Oakleigh Owl News
February 2022
A Message from the Principal
Greetings OES families,
I hope you are all doing well. It has been a long start to 2022 with many interruptions to instruction with snow days and adjustment for potential virtual learning. It has been difficult to get into a routine. It appears things are stabilizing. Before and after school activities have resumed and hopefully, we are returning a more consistent schedule.
As you know, the second marking period ended on Friday January 21st. Teachers have been working diligently on report cards. If you have a 4th or 5th grade student who has an I (incomplete) for a grade, there is still time to turn in the assignment. Incompletes turn into an E two weeks after report cards go home. We want student to have every opportunity to show what they know and earn high marks. Report cards will be distributed on Monday, February 7th.
As we move into February, we will be celebrating and honoring Black History month through a variety of school wide activities. During this month we want to share information about famous African Americans and historical figures who have contributed so much to changing and shaping our society.
As a reminder, we are entering testing season and it is extremely important that all devices and chargers are at school so students can access the needed program. If you still have a charger at home, please send it to school with your child.
Thank you for all you are doing to support school safety. This includes sending your child to school with a mask and discussing with them the importance of wearing it correctly. We have seen a great improvement in students who are arriving with their mask and students are doing a much better job wearing their mask correctly.
We are seeing some students arriving at school very early. Please make sure your child is not at school alone prior to arrival time which is 8:35. We do not have staff on duty until that time to be outside supervising students.
As a reminder school will be closed on February 21st, for Presidents Day.
Thank you for another great month at Oakleigh. Stay warm and safe.
Mrs. Metheny - Principal
Spotlight on Physical Education
In Oakleigh's PE program, 3rd-5th grade recently finished the FitnessGram tests to measure their Health Related Fitness. During that time, K-2 was practicing fitness stations with modified exercises that they could easily do. We are finishing up a basketball unit for 3rd-5th and dribbling skills for k-2. Our next unit is rope jumping for K-5! During this unit, we will be participating in the Kids Heart Challenge. Every PE course in Schoology has a red folder with KHC information. We want to spread awareness for heart health and raise money for the American Heart Association. All the money that we raise STAYS IN MARYLAND. If you can, please register and start spreading the word. To get started, download the KHC app, OR go to HEART.ORG/KHC, OR scan this QR code! Questions? Email Mr. Asher. Jasher2@bcps.org.
IGE 3's
January was a busy month for Preschool. We learned all about winter and snow! We read many winter stories and discussing how things change in winter. We worked on being able to answer “wh” questions before, during and after reading. We also be worked on sequencing stories. We also tried out some fun science experiments, such as making snow and snowflakes!
Pre-K
Kindergarten
Kindergarten has been doing a great job this January! In reading, we have been working on blending and segmenting CVC words, adding to our ever growing “sight words” list, and substituting sounds and letters to make different words. We have learned about who are neighbors are and how to make our communities better! We have also been busy celebrating the winter season creating beautiful snowflakes and reading winter stories.
In math, we are counting backwards, counting from a number other than 1, adding numbers up to 10, and counting by 10’s.
First Grade
Second Grade
During the month of January, Second grade worked on reading nonfiction texts and fables/pourquoi tales. We identified the elements of a pourquoi tale and we used that understanding to write our own stories to end the unit! Then we began our mystery unit in ELA by solving "The Case of the Missing Sound/Spelling Cards"! We are now reading West Meadows Detectives: The Case of the Snack Snatcher and working on identifying mystery story elements and how to solve the mystery. In math we continued working on adding and subtracting and practicing solving with a number line. We then began our unit focusing on measurement using nonstandard units and standard (inches, feet, and yards). We look forward to a great second half of the year!
Third Grade
January has been a hectic month in third grade. In between the closings, third graders have been busily working! In Language Arts students focused on how inventions were created, and innovations were made to improve upon them. They also presented a research project about an important invention. Be sure to ask what your child researched so he or she can tell you all about it.
In Mathematics, third graders finished adding and subtracting with regrouping and began a unit all about telling time and measurement, which includes fractions. They are enjoying some hands-on activities in the classroom with measuring water and mass. You can work these vital concepts into everyday conversation in order to help solidify your child’s learning. Just ask them what time it is!
Fourth Grade
Happy end of quarter two fourth grade families! In ELA we are beginning our “Taking a Stand” unit. Students will be analyzing various text structures and features found in non-fiction text and discussing ways to make a difference. In math we are finishing up our first unit on fractions and will be revisiting place value shortly. Please make sure your children are practicing basic math facts at home. (Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division flash cards can be found at the dollar store). Now that we are well into the year, students should be fluent with all basic facts. This will help them succeed with fourth grade math standards as we go into the second half of the school year strong!
Fifth Grade
5th grade is looking forward to getting back into a regular routine after several snow and asynchronous days lately! Students have been busy building and launching their own rockets in science, and beginning to read historical fiction novels in ELA. In math, students have been working with decimals and place value. This translates well into counting and using money correctly in the real world. 5th grade is also about to begin their puberty education unit in health class, so please be prepared with any questions your child might come home with. Finally, as we enter the second half of the school year, please make sure you replenish your child’s supplies and continue to check Schoology regularly for their grades. Thank you for all your support as we move into quarter 3!
FALS
In Math, Mrs. Cunningham's class has been working on adding double digits! Mrs. Pappas' class has been continuing their learning about place value. Mrs. Mullen's class has been working on number sense with numbers 11-20! Way to go team!
Mental Health Corner- From Ms. Kersey
"A recent study on New Year’s resolutions found that about 40% of Americans set resolutions at the start of the year, and less than half are successful after six months. We all want to make positive and impactful changes in our lives, but how can we make the changes last?
Keep them realistic. When setting resolutions, it’s important to take time to reflect on the change you wish to see and what you realistically can do to achieve that change. By taking smaller, more achievable steps towards your goals, there is a greater chance that you will keep them.
This applies to all kinds of resolutions, including mental health. You can help manage your mental health symptoms by taking small steps every day."
Using these steps from Mental Health First aid may help one in achieving goals through the year:
- Make time for self-care
- Be Kind to Yourself
- Make sleep a priority
- Limit your screen time (social media, etc.)
- Learn more about mental health
- Monday, February 7th- Report Cards Distributed
- Monday, February 21st- President's Day, School Closed
Oakleigh Elementary
Location: 1900 White Oak Avenue, Baltimore, MD, USA
Phone: 4108875238
Twitter: @ESOakleigh