Algonkian Elementary

November Newsletter

Principal Page

We are halfway through the 2nd quarter of the school year. This past month I met with all grade levels to review data and student progress. We analyzed the data in reading and math for each student to reflect on personalized learning and interventions needed for each student to be sucessful.

The staff would like to thank the PTA for our Thanksgiving luncheon. We loved all the food and treats that were shared with us on that day.

There will be a table set up on the main entrance with lost and found items. Many items have been in our lost and found for over 2 months. Any items not claimed by December 15 will be delivered to a local charity organization where they can find use for these items.

Our last day of school before winter break is Wednesday, December 20. Students and staff return to school on Tuesday, January 2nd.

Algonkian Elementary is making regular on-time school attendance a priority. Help us achieve our goals and support your student’s engagement with learning. In addition, students who attend school regularly and on time build skills that will support them beyond LCPS. Make school attendance a priority! See the LCPS Attendance Resources webpage for tips and advice to support your student’s school attendance.

Below are some important dates for December

12/5 Prismatic Magic Assembly

12/14 ALG- Staff Meeting

12/8 Winter Bingo- Virtual

12/21 Winter Break Begins

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Library

NEWS FROM THE ALGONKIAN LIBRARY

Grades K-2 discussed the difference between fiction and nonfiction. We read a nonfiction book about sloths and the Virginia Readers’ Choice (VRC) book, Mindful Mr. Sloth by Katy Hudson, which is fiction. Mindful Mr. Sloth taught us about mindfulness and we practiced calming our bodies and minds by picking flowers and breathing slowly like a sloth. We also learned the difference between a good prediction and a not-so-good prediction. The VRC book, Are You a Cheeseburger? by Monica Arnaldo was a funny read aloud where we got to practice making good predictions.
Grades 3-5 reviewed fiction and nonfiction shelf order and how libraries use the Dewey system to stay organized. We learned about a garbage collector with a big heart who started a library for kids in his home in Bogota, Columbia. We read the VRC book, Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel. We also read the VRC book, The Day We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, and practiced predicting, discussing, and writing in response to literature.

LIBRARY PARENT VOLUNTEERS

The library is looking for parent volunteers willing to help shelve and straighten books each week. Please sign-up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0445A5A828AB9-46248557-library

CHAT N CHEW

Chat n Chew is underway! It is open to any Algonkian student in 2nd - 5th grade. Each child who is signed up receives a checked-out book and meets at lunch in the library to discuss what they read. We are offering two different Chat n Chew sessions this school year: one in January and one in April. Feel free to sign up for one or both. We also need parent volunteers!

To sign-up, go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0445A5A828AB9-46489735-chat

Monday, January 8th 12:45-1:15 4th grade

Tuesday, January 9th 11:00-11:30 2nd grade

Wednesday, January 10th 12:10-12:40 3rd grade

Friday, January 12th 11:35-12:05 5th grade

Monday, April 15th 12:45-1:15 4th grade

Tuesday, April 16th 11:00-11:30 2nd grade

Wednesday, April 17th 12:10-12:40 3rd grade

Thursday, April 18th 11:35-12:05 5th grade

PLAYAWAYS

3rd, 4th, & 5th grade parents:

Playaways continue to be very popular at the Algonkian library! Playaways are like MP3 players with an audio book loaded onto them. Because of the high cost of Playaways, we require students to have parent permission to check them out. Click below for more information and the permission form: https://permission.click/8wx0r/int

LOST BOOKS

Occasionally checked out library books go missing. We normally don’t send fine notices until the end of the year, but there are some students who have not been able to check-out for several weeks because they aren’t bringing back their library books. If you are unable to locate the book (or they are damaged beyond repair), you can use our online school payment system to pay for a replacement. E-mail Mrs. Whitehouse about the book and she will get the process started for you.

BOOK DONATIONS

The Algonkian library is happy to accept book donations from families as long as they are hardcover books in new to very good condition AND a fit for our collection. Please contact Mrs. Whitehouse to make arrangements if you have books you would like to donate.

LIBRARY BIRTHDAY BOOK PROGRAM

For those parents new to Algonkian, every student gets to pick-out a birthday book from the library! When your student’s name is announced on the morning show for their birthday, they come to the library and choose a brand new book to keep! Summer birthdays will be announced in the weeks leading up to the summer. Every student will get a birthday book to keep each school year.

Feel free to email Mrs. Whitehouse with any questions: susanne.whitehouse@lcps.org

HAPPY READING!

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Art

Hello Bobcat Artists!!!

I hope that you all are doing well and having an ARTASTIC Month!

This month students will be creating a variety of projects inspired by artists from diverse backgrounds.

Kindergarten- Snowed In Origami House

1st Grade- Shadow Puppets

2nd Grade- Selma Burke Coins

3rd Grade- Phillip Simmons Iron Gate Landscape

4th Grade- Graffiti Money

5th Grade- Tom Fruin Stained Glass House

Check out your Art Schoology Page for fun Art Activities and more!

If you have questions, please contact me at Caryn.Michael@lcps.org

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Music

Algonkian Music with Ms. Comrie

What are we doing in Music?

5th Grade- Students have been working on rhythms, reading notes, and will begin learning about middle school music choices. In addition, students who wish to audition for All County Chorus, will do so in the next couple of weeks. In January we will begin preparing for our musical.

4th Grade- Students have been reviewing naming notes on the treble clef staff and practicing a variety of rhythms. When we return from Winter break, we will start learning the recorder. Information will be going home about purchasing recorders. If you have any questions or issues with purchasing the recorder, please email Ms. Comrie at kim.comrie@lcps.org. Students will need recorders starting the first week of January.

3rd Grade- Students have been learning to name the notes on the treble clef staff, rhythms, speech, singing, movements, and body percussion.

2nd Grade- Students have been working on half note and quarter note pulses and will begin some holiday activities. We will continue this for the rest of the month. When we return from break, we will be working on rhythmic “ostinato” and movement.

1st Grade- Students will begin working on playing a steady beat with holiday activities. We will continue with holiday activities the rest of the month. When we return from break, we will be working on movement activities that reinforce the steady beat, identifying form, melodic direction, and instrument exploration.

Kindergarten- Students have been working on counting and playing with farm activities. Next, we will begin holiday activities for the rest of the month. When we return from break, we will be working on fingerplays, melodic direction, and movement games.

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Health Clinic Specialist

Health Updates

Happy Holidays from the Health Office! Brighten the holidays by making your health a priority. Take steps to keep you and your loved ones healthy—and ready to enjoy the holidays.

Wash hands often to help prevent the spread of germs
Bundle up to stay dry and warm.
Manage stress.
Get your vaccinations.
Practice fire safety.
Eat healthy, stay active.

Also, as we head into winter, if you would like to keep over the counter medicine in the health office, please complete the Authorization for Medication Administration form. You may find the form online at LCPS.org. Click on Families in the upper right-hand corner. Scroll to the bottom and click on Medication at School (Middle column). On the left-hand column click on Health Documents and Forms. Scroll to the bottom and click on Authorization for Medication Administration.

Once the form is completed, bring the form and an unopened, and unexpired box of medicine to the health office.

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PE

Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grade activities:

Currently:

Slide Step (Locomotor)
Three and six pin bowling – Grip, Eye Focus and Stepping with opposition.
Activities circuit.

Future Activities:

Jump Rope Skills

Fourth and Fifth Grade Activities:

Currently:

Three, Six and Ten pin bowling- Grip, Eye Focus and Stepping with opposition.
Cardio activities
Activities circuit

Future activities:

Jump Rope Skills

Have a Great Month,

Kris Goodwin and Joe Terango

Algonkian Physical Education

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Parent Liaison- Casey Hansen

Family Liaison Newsletter from Casey Hansen (casey.hansen@lcps.org)

We will soon be wrapping up our Winter Coat Drive to help families in our very own community. If you would like to donate a new or like-new winter coat, please drop off all coats by Monday, December 4. If you are donating a coat that is not new, please make sure that it is gently used and free of stains, rips, tears, and broken zippers. All sizes welcome.

The last day to donate new, unwrapped toys for the Marine Corps Toys For Tots Toy Drive is also Monday, December 4. Thank you for your generosity this holiday season.

If you qualify for Free & Reduced Meals, I want to remind families that the Loudoun County Dental Clinic provides services for Loudoun County residents up to 21 years old and younger, and who meet the income eligibility criteria. Their office is in Leesburg and depending on your income level, their service fees are very low or free of charge. They help families that are uninsured or on Medicaid.

Pronto concluiremos nuestra colecta de abrigos de invierno para ayudar a las familias de nuestra propia comunidad. Si desea donar un abrigo de invierno nuevo o como nuevo, deje todos los abrigos antes del lunes 4 de diciembre. Si va a donar un abrigo que no es nuevo, asegúrese de que esté usado con cuidado y sin manchas. rasgaduras, desgarros y cremalleras rotas. Todos los tamaños son bienvenidos.El último día para donar juguetes nuevos sin envolver para la colecta de juguetes Toys For Tots del Cuerpo de Marines también es el lunes 4 de diciembre. Gracias por su generosidad en estas fiestas.

Si califica para recibir comidas gratuitas o a precio reducido, quiero recordarles a las familias que la Clínica Dental del Condado de Loudoun brinda servicios a los residentes del Condado de Loudoun de hasta 21 años o menos y que cumplen con los criterios de elegibilidad de ingresos. Su oficina está en Leesburg y, dependiendo de su nivel de ingresos, sus tarifas de servicio son muy bajas o gratuitas. Ayudan a familias que no tienen seguro o tienen Medicaid.

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Search/Fusion/Edge

Kindergarten and First Grade students have applied perceiving, reasoning, and connecting thinking this month.

First graders listened to the wonderful book, Round Trip, by Ann Jonas. Her artistry allowed her to create pictures that can be used right-side-up and upside down to tell the story of a family’s “round trip” to the city. Ask your student to describe the wonder of turning the book upside down to tell about the return journey! My favorite picture is a rain storm and puddles - with an upside down train running across the middle. All the illustrations are in black and white. The students then worked with partners to create successively larger squares with the IZZI puzzle pieces (all in black and white patterns). Their next learning adventure was playing the game Qwirkle in small groups. Last year they learned to work cooperatively to build a square of seven rows of tiles - one row of each color and crossing rows that held tiles of all the same shape in each of the six game colors. This year they learned how to extend the puzzle with new color or shape rows.

Kindergarten students applied reasoning skill to create Venn diagrams with colored, spotted, or lined turkeys. Then they played the card game, BLINK!, with a partner - matching cards by color, shape, or number. Lots of fun and lots of great thinking! Second graders learned about the art of Pablo Picasso, then designed a turkey and camouflaged it in a Picasso style background. Next for them was a creativity activity in which they turned two circles and one half-circle into something new and unique.

Third grade students have begun the lessons that will result in the compilation of pieces for their portfolio of work used in the District evaluation process for gifted education services.

EDGE groups have applied new ideas in math problem solving. They also worked on logic puzzles and reasoning activities with a Thanksgiving theme. Hexagonal sudoku puzzles are more challenging than we thought! EDGE students also participated in a service project - creating cheerful holiday cards to brighten the life of a lonely senior citizen! The second grade EDGE group will begin to meet in December.

FUSION classes have been introduced to the first of the four frames of leadership - the structural frame. They have researched the life and vision of Walt Disney. They are now designing themed amusement parks in collaborative teams. In language arts, both fourth and fifth grade students are reading the book, Ungifted, by Gordon Korman. It tells about a young troublemaker who mistakenly gets assigned to the District’s elite gifted academy. He learns new respect for his “geeky” classmates and also discovers his own hidden talents. Students are also learning about the animal behaviorist, Jane Goodall. They will explore how this quiet woman achieved things trained scientists had failed to do. Her life’s work also prompts questioning modern practices that impact animal habitats and how it is resulting in some species becoming rare/extinct. They will relate her reluctant leadership skills to understand that leaders may or may not reach positions of power by choice, and how we all may have untapped leadership characteristics.

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Technology

LCPS will be celebrating Computer Science Education week December 11th through December 15. Algonkian Elementary welcomes students from Potomac Falls High School coming to share computer science lessons with us during this week.

Mrs. Burkett will continue to provide a variety of activities and fun events from kindergarten through fifth grade that will continue all through December.

Thinking ahead for the next few weeks as we prepare for winter break, many students will spend large amount of time on their devices , Do you know what websites or software your kids are using? Are they safe? Are they secure? Common Sense Media has many recommendations and suggestions for parents when monitoring student use on the Internet.

This guide helps parents evaluate everything from movies to software at age appropriate levels. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

Have a happy and safe surfing holiday!