Dolphin Digest
Family Weekly Update: May 29, 2022
Gilpin Manor Elementary
Mark Etzel, Assistant Principal
Lauren Kegley, School Counselor
Misty Pearson, Community School Advisor
Maggie Buto, Title I Resource Teacher
Melissa Pratt, Title I Resource Teacher
Charlie Givens, Student Services Resource Teacher
Jessica Janusz-Grimes, School Mental Health Professional
Email: dfoskey@ccps.org
Website: www.ccps.org/gmes
Location: 203 Newark Avenue, Elkton, MD, USA
Phone: 410.996.5040
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GilpinManorElementary/
Note from the Principal
Hello Gilpin Families,
Can you believe there are only 9 (yes I said nine) school days left in the 2021-2022 school year? We are going to make them some of our best! That excitement starts with several fun activities planned. While we were disappointed that we had to reschedule our Fun and Fitness Day, we are excited to still get to experience it outside this year. Fun and Fitness Day will be held on Wednesday, June 1. Additional details here: Fun & Fitness Family Letter-REVISED.
Also, please remember that we have our 'Moving Up Night' coming up on Tuesday, May 31 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. We kindly ask that you RSVP for this event so that we are fully prepared for all of our guests.
REMINDERS:
- Please complete our Spring GMES Family and Community Engagement Survey. We appreciate your time and feedback!
- Consider signing up for Camp Invention.
In addition, please check out the SEL information shared further down in our Dolphin Digest. Each week, there will be new details about Social and Emotional Learning: What is it? How does it help students? What is the home-school connection? This week: future SEL at GMES!
At Gilpin Manor, we strive to be a support system for our GMES students and families. If you are in need of assistance, have questions, or just need to check-in, please email me at dfoskey@ccps.org or contact the school at 410-996-5040. Mr. Etzel, our assistant principal, can also be reached at mcetzel@ccps.org. I hope you are safe and well!
And, as always, be kind to one another.
Fondly,
Don Foskey
#WeCan
**Please be sure to check out Dr. Lawson's 'Superintendent's Update' from February 25th about the updated optional mask procedure in addition to the 'Test to Stay' protocols!
REMINDER
GMES Community Pantry
Have you heard the news? The wonderful folks at Nicanor, Inc provided Gilpin with a FREE community pantry located just outside of the main office. The purpose of the pantry is to provide 24 hour access to food and other small house hold items a family may need. There is no paperwork to be filled out, but there is a QR code scan to keep up with usage and potential needs for the pantry. The pantry will be stocked by Nicanor, Inc and other charitable donations from our school community. The motto for our pantry is, "Take what you need and give what you can"!
Principal's Book of the Month
We have a new program at Gilpin Manor. It is called ‘Principal’s Book of the Month.’ Throughout the school year, Mr. Foskey will select a book that will be given to every GMES student. During the month, students are encouraged to read the book. Teachers may complete activities with the book in classrooms as well.
The ‘Principal’s Book of the Month’ program will help us continue to build our learning community. One book will give us a common experience to discuss with our entire school family. Our books might have gentle messages, celebrate a person or event, or give us ways to discuss our Gilpin values. These books are intended to highlight something special and bring joy to our lives. We hope you and your child will read our book of the month.
June Principal Book of the Month: The Dot
Cafeteria News: Lunch Update
Social-Emotional Learning
SEL stands for Social Emotional Learning. It is a part of how we develop as humans. It is the process through which we manage emotions, set goals, problem-solve, make responsible and caring decisions, develop empathy for others, and develop healthy identities.
Future SEL at GMES:
Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, we have taken time to provide direct instruction about social-emotional learning. Knowing how hard the pandemic has been on everyone, we felt that it was best to support our students in this way as they readjusted to being back in the classroom. Students have engaged in 20 Second Step lessons, many morning meetings and community circles, and other team-building, community-building, and confidence-building activities.
As we think ahead to the 2022-2023 school year, we are excited to continue our SEL work. We will connect with parents and build a stronger connection between school and home. We will support families as they, too, work on SEL skills and capacities at home. We also look forward to expanding our offerings of small support groups and after school activities. The new school year will be very exciting!
Second Step SEL Lessons:
Throughout the fourth marking period, our students will work through our Second Step Elementary unit 4 which focuses on problem-solving. Children will learn how to manage strong emotions to feel calm before solving problems, describe a problem and identify the wants and needs involved, think of many possible solutions and their potential outcomes, and pick the best solution.
To support families with SEL, below are a few resources:
- Second Step Program: Information for Families (see sample lessons!)
- What Parents Need to Know About SEL
- Resource Guide to Social and Emotional Learning
- Let's Talk SEL
Do you have a question about SEL at Gilpin Manor? Ask it here: GMES SEL Family Questions
Community School Advisor: Connection
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
May: Mental Health Awareness Month, Better Speech and Hearing Month, Healthy Vision Month, & Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
- Monday, May 30 - No School: Memorial Day
- Tuesday, May 31 - 'Moving Up Night' from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
June: Immigrant Heritage Month
- Wednesday, June 1 - Fun and Fitness Day
- Thursday, June 2 - Careers on Wheels (grades PreK, K, 1, & 2)
- Thursday, June 2 - Dolphin Pride Day: Sunglasses Day!
- Thursday, June 2 - Spring Concert at 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 7 - 6th Grade Open House at Elkton Middle School at 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 8 - 5th Grade Luau (students only)
- Thursday, June 9 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony at 9:30 a.m. (must have tickets)
- Thursday, June 9 - Grade Level Recognition Gatherings (flyer went home last week)
- Friday, June 10 - Last Day of School for Students (early dismissal at 1:30 p.m.)
Car Loop
REMINDERS:
- All parents/guardians MUST remain in their vehicles. (Please park your car in a parking spot if you need to buckle your child's seatbelt.)
- Vehicles may ONLY turn RIGHT when leaving the car loop.
- In car loop 1 (grades Preschool, PreK, and K) - Please be sure to pull up close to the person in front of you so we can get as many vehicles as possible off of the main road.
- Please keep music turned down quietly while on school property.
- Please do not smoke while on school property.
Our car loop operates with two car loops again this school year to ensure the safety of students, families, and staff members. Students in grades Preschool, PreK, Kindergarten, and their siblings will use the smaller car loop at the front of the building. Students in grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, will use the car loop on the library side of the building. The library side of the building will require parents/guardians to enter down by the public library entrance.
To use the Car Loops, families must complete a GMES Car Rider Loop Application Information Sheet. You may do this electronically here: Car Rider Loop Application.
Attendance
Attendance at school each and every day is very important. This make sure students have consistent access to teachers and learning experiences. We will share weekly attendance rates for each grade level and the whole school each week.
Check out this great resource about attendance at school: Absences Adds Up!
Our goal each week is for each grade level, and our school overall, to have 90% or greater attendance. Attendance rates for this week are posted below:
PS: 96.1% PK: 87.6% K: 93.3% 1st: 88.3%
2nd: 88.2% 3rd: 89.2% 4th: 86.5% 5th: 89.6%
Overall: 89.4%
Congratulations to Preschool and Kindergarten for surpassing our goal of 90%!
Please see Dr. Lawson's Elementary School Update from October 4, 2021: Elementary Update.
Check out the MD SNAP-Ed Facebook page for more information on cooking demos and other great nutrition information - https://www.facebook.com/EatSmartMD
PTA Post
Please look for the membership forms that will go home with students the first week of school.
If you are interested in joining the PTA, a committee, or have any questions, please email us at gilpinmanorpta@gmail.com
2021-2022 PTA Board Members:
- President - Sabrina Roberts
- Vice President - Renee' Sayers
- Treasurer - vacant
- Secretary - vacant
- GMES Staff Liaison - Kelly Strawbridge
Be sure to 'Like' our Facebook page - Gilpin Manor PTA.
GMES Schedule
Office Hours: 8:00 am. - 4:30 p.m. (M,T,TH,F) 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (W)
School Hours - PreK-5th Gr: 8:45 a.m. - 3:35 p.m. (M,T,TH,F) 8:45 a.m. - 1:50 p.m. (W)
School Hours - Preschool: AM Session- 8:45 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. PM Session- 12:50 p.m. - 3:35 p.m.
CCPS and GMES Resource and Support Information
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