Glen Acres Elementary School
February 7, 2021
It's Black History Month- Let's Celebrate and Learn Together
Dear Families,
Here's what is happening at school this month:
Kindergarten: Teachers are utilizing books to read, learn, and highlight the contributions of 5-7 African Americans during their lessons.
First Grade: Teachers created a digital library of famous African Americans to discuss with their students during the English Language Arts block. In addition, during social studies, the students will be researching African Americans on PebbleGo and reporting out about what they learned.
Second Grade: The students and teachers will be using PebbleGo to choose an African American to research. Each student will complete a banner about the person he/she chooses to research and the student work will be displayed in the hall.
Third Grade:
The students studied important black Americans during their non-fiction and biography unit of study ( December - January). In February, they will be doing an equity activity that involves diversity in children's literature.
Fourth Grade: The students are reading, researching, and viewing clips of African Americans across different fields. The students will be asked to think about the person's early life, challenges and obstacles faced, major accomplishments, and what the students admire most about the person.
Fifth Grade:
The fifth grade teachers and students are spending a week in science exploring black inventors. In addition, during the English Language Arts block, the teachers are spotlighting different people and events from black history to discuss.
Music: Teacher and students are discussing historic African American artists, songs from Africa, African American spiritual songs, call and response songs, and work songs.
Art: The teacher and students will be celebrating the life and accomplishments of Faith Ringgold- author, activist, and illustrator. They will create works of art inspired by Ringgold's book Tar Beach.
Library: In grades kindergarten and first grade, the students will be studying the biographies of famous African Americans. The teacher will be utilizing Trombone Shorty and Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 to teach the students about Troy Andrews and Katherine Johnson. In grades 1-5, the teacher and students will be reading and discussing, Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions.
Morning Announcements: African American people and their contributions will highlighted.
Cafeteria: Students are having fun listening to music from The Wiz and from famous African Americans.
Enjoy the week!
Donna
Do You Want to Learn More About Black History? These resources are resources you can use at home as well.
Below find links to Epic Book Collections you may find helpful during Black History Month.
Black History/African American Characters:
Martin Luther King, Jr.:
Famous African Americans
Picture Day For Hybrid A Students and CYBER is Monday, 2/8. If we need to reschedule due to weather, we will let you know!
The new date for Hybrid A students and cyber and remote students is February 8th . Cyber and remote students may come to school between 3PM and 4 PM to get a picture if interested.
Instructions for how you are able to view your child’s photo prior to purchasing are attached ( below). You DO need to PRE-REGISTER in advance at: DelawareValley.GotPhoto.com using your student ID# with GA20 on the end. All Portrait Orders this year will be by default - shipped to the school for 2-3 weeks after going online. After that they will then be shipped to home at a nominal fee.
CALENDAR:
This week:
Monday, February 8: Day 4: Spirit Wear or Wear Green, Hybrid A attends brick and mortar, Hybrid B virtual learning. It is Picture Day for A students and Cyber students.
Tuesday, February 9, DAY 1: Hybrid A attends brick and mortar, Hybrid B virtual learning.
Wednesday, February 10, DAY 2: REMOTE DAY FOR ALL. Mrs. Brunner's class pick- Wear Your Favorite Color Shirt.
Thursday, February 11, DAY 3: Hybrid B attends Brick and Mortar, Hybrid A virtual learning. PTO Meeting at 7Pm, Ms. Ryan will post the Zoom link on Seesaw and Schoology.
Friday, February 12, DAY 4: Spirit Wear or Wear Green, Hybrid B attends brick and mortar, Hybrid A virtual learning.
FOR K-2 Families: Additional Ways to support at home learning
Thanks for all you do to support our students' learning!
For K-2 Families:
In the list below, please find some areas that are integral to learning beginning math and reading.
- In K-1, phonological awareness and phonics.
- In 1-2, practicing high frequency words and addition concepts.
- In K-2, understanding story elements( character, setting, events, problem and solution) , reading/writing numbers, and skip counting.
In the link below, please find fun ways to practice these with your children at home.
For Fifth Grade Families
Do You Have an Upcoming Kindergartener?
ABSENCE NOTES:
The district will accept parent notes via email for students who are absent from school. An original signature is not required. The email address must be registered in Power School and will be verified by the attendance secretary when the note is received. Parents can still choose to submit notes in paper form within five school days of the absence. The email needs to be sent directly to the building attendance secretary (tweaver2@wcasd.net), not through Schoology or Seesaw. Phone calls will not be accepted as documentation of a student’s absence. This will go into effect starting December 14, 2020 and will remain in place until otherwise notified.
TECH SUPPORT:
As technical issues arise during remote learning, please use the following resources:
Tech Support @ Home – WCASD website with important information:
- Schoology / Seesaw Support
- Laptop / iPad Support
- Additional Resources
If there is an issue with your 1:1 device please email GAEtech_support@wcasd.net