The Owl's Nest December
OAKLEIGH ELEMENTARY 410–887-5238
Oakleigh Elementary School
Assistant Principal: Lisa Grace- lgrace3@bcps.org
Email: smason@bcps.org
Website: http://oakleighes.bcps.org
Phone: 410-887-5238
Facebook: facebook.com/OakleighElementarySchool
The Principal’s Corner
Greetings Oakleigh Families,
The clocks have been changed and the weather has certainly grown colder! As we enter December, children will be spending more time indoors. I encourage you to use this time to help students learn while playing. Family game nights, shared reading, and building puzzles provide opportunities for thinking and using strategies while building math and language skills. Consider baking together or conducting kitchen experiments. Be creative in helping students recognize math in typical daily activities. Visit the public library for new stories to read. Join us for the PTA Holiday Craft Workshop. Your children learn from you, their first teacher, whenever you spend time together.
Have a fun-filled December!
Mrs. Mason
December Dates To Remember
December 6th- Monthly PTA Meeting @ 5:30 PM
December 7th- Holiday Craft Workshop 6-7:30 PM
December 9th- 5th Grade Ballroom Dancing Performance 9:50-10:40 - 5th Grade Parents Invited!
December 9th- Half Day Professional Development- Elementary & Middle Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students
December 13th- Holiday Music Concert- 6PM, Students report 5:30PM
December 22nd- Spirit Day- Wear Your PJs
December 22nd- Winter Break Begins at the End of the School Day
PTA UPDATES!
Hello Oakleigh Families,
Thank you to everyone who supported the PTA through the Joe Corbi fundraiser.
Our next Family Event is the Holiday Craft Workshop. Flyers were sent home with the students. If you didn’t receive one, more are available in the office and on the website. We are looking for volunteers. This is a great way for Middle and High School students to earn Service Learning Hours. Please contact Jean White at president@oakleighpta.org for more information.
The Yearbook committee is in need of your photographs. We need photos from Field Trips, Family Events, etc. Please send them to Jean White at president@oakleighpta.org
Have you checked out the PTA’s website lately? You can find information regarding upcoming school and PTA events, Membership forms, Fundraising information. Our Business Members are also listed. Under the Resources tab, we have Volunteer Training information, specific links to useful BCPS pages, and even links to school menus. Head over to www.oakleighpta.org.
If you’re not a member, it’s not too late. Membership forms are available in the office and on the PTA’s website.
The PTA’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, December 6th at 5:30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Take Care,
Jean White (PTA President)
Box Tops! Box Tops!
SPIRIT DAY
Celebrate your Oakleigh Spirit by wearing your Pajamas on December 22nd.
Please refrain from wearing slippers.
Kindergarten News
Thank you for visiting our school during American Education Week! The children enjoy seeing their parents and family members visit. We look forward to more volunteers in the classroom. We will be welcoming more community volunteers on a regular basis in order to assist with reading. We look forward to the extra assistance. Please take a moment and fill out the volunteer form on the school website, spring field trips will be here before we know it!
The Kindergarten students enjoyed another visit from our community. We welcomed Officer Ducet and Sgt. Fink and discussed important community rules. The students answered important questions and learned important rules that keep us safe.
The students have started their next math unit 3. Help your child observe the world around them and identify patterns. Students will count and compare number quantity up to 12. Continue to practice counting from 1 to 100.
Thank you very much for your continued support and visiting us during Kindergarten Conferences!
The Kindergarten Team
1st Grade News
Hello Families,
We enjoyed seeing many parents on Conference Day and throughout American Education Week! In reading, we have been reading nonfiction texts about different animals. First graders have been working hard to identify the topic and key details in a text. While reading nonfiction texts at home, ask your child to identify the various text features that we have been discovering at school.
In math, we have moved into unit 3, which focuses on addition, subtraction and number systems. Our story problems in our unit continue to become more complex! Please remember to go through the steps to solving story problems with your child as they complete their homework each night. As always, thank you for your ongoing support!
The First Grade Team
2nd Grade News
During reading this month, we will read a variety of fiction and non-fiction text. We will practice asking and answering questions, identifying text features, and explain how characters change throughout stories. In math we are beginning Unit 3. We will be working on subtraction facts, story problems, and addition problems with more than two numbers. Please continue to practice math facts and counting money at home.
Thanks!
The Second Grade Team
3rd Grade News
Third graders have officially started unit two in the English/language arts curriculum, which focuses on stories that teach lessons/morals. We will be reading fables, folktales, and myths. You can use this as an opportunity to check out these types of stories from your local library or find some to read together online.
In math, students are examining place value and will explore the relationship between addition and subtraction. In this unit, students will add and subtract with 2 and 3 digit numbers (with regrouping). Please do not lose sight of multiplication and division, as Unit 3 circles back around to those concepts. You can reinforce both operations by practicing with flashcards at home. Just 5-10 minutes of practice each day can help students become fluent in their facts!
Many students are asking about field trips. We are looking forward to researching and planning a curriculum connected field trip in mid to late winter or spring depending on schedules and availability. Please go to the PARENTS section at www.bcps.org. There is a section there about how to become a trained volunteer. Only trained volunteers will be allowed to chaperone field trips so don't delay on completing the training and submitting the paper work.
Lastly, please do not forget to send your third grader to school with a coat, hat, and gloves as the weather turns colder.
The Third Grade Team
4th Grade News
As we also approach the cold and sniffling season, please send in a box of tissues for the class, if possible. Paper towels are not a good substitute.
We've been trying to improve behaviors in class, as some of our students are too often choosing to disregard the Oakleigh pledge about being respectful and responsible, which then keeps students from being able to learn. Please review expectations with your child, and contact their teacher is you have questions. Thank you to the many parents who are using Dojo, as well as signing the planner every night, so that we may be in communication about "our" kids. Together, we can help them learn how to make good choices, and show their best abilities.
Math is progressing, but we need to stress the absolute importance of memorizing the multiplication facts for success. Please contact Mrs. Hughes or Ms. Southern if you need suggestions on how to help with this. Reading for deeper meaning is also continuing. Please keep encouraging your child to read every night.
Thank you for coming to AEW! It was wonderful seeing so many parents. If you also wanted a conference, but weren't able to schedule on yet, please contact your child's teacher to arrange one.
Enjoy the holiday season, as we look forward to spending more time with family and friends.
Counselor's Corner!
Happy December Oakleigh Families!
As a school, we focus on a new character trait each motth. This month, our character trait is Joy! The students will learn the meaning of joy, how to recognize joy in others, and how to lead a joyful life.
During counseling lessons this month, the students will be presented with the Baltimore County Public Schools’ Personal Safety Program K-5: Making Healthy Decisions curriculum. This program includes age appropriate information on body safety and neglect and abuse prevention strategies and highlights the importance of telling a trusted adult about uncomfortable situations. The goal of the program is to help children be better able to handle the issues of personal safety should they arise. Parents should have received a letter explaining the program in more detail during the week prior to Thanksgiving. If you have any questions regarding the program, please feel free to give me a call.
Have a fantastic winter break!!
Mrs. McKinney
School Counselor
410-887-5238
Nurse's Corner
The best way to prevent you and your children from getting the flu is to get vaccinated every year. The Center for Disease Control recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive an annual flu vaccine.
Best wishes for a healthy and safe holiday season
Mrs. Levy
Art News
Warm up at the Walters Art Museum with three extra days of Drop-In Art Activities. 11:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.
Wednesday, December 28: Rubber Band Prints
Thursday, December 29: Colorful Snowflakes
Friday, December 30: Dream Catchers
Library Media News
A special thank you to all of the adult volunteers who helped to set up, run, and tear down the book fair! We couldn't do it without you!
Instrumental Music with Mr. Mitchell!
Hello!
We are continuing to become more and more comfortable with playing the first few notes on our instruments and are already making some great music happen! Bravo!!! Encourage your children to practice consistenly and with a purpose. A friendly reminder to check the schedule to know when your child must bring their instrument to school. Please make sure that parents/guardians sign each night they practice on their practice chart.
Our Fifth Grade Oakleigh Orchestra/Band/Chorus Winter Concert is fast approaching! Here is some important information regarding the concert.
· The day of the concert is Tuesday, December 13th, 2016
· Two concerts during school day and one night concert at 6:00 PM
· ALL students are to report to Oakleigh Elementary School at 5:30 PM
· ***ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE NIGHT CONCERT***
· Bring all materials (music, instrument, reeds, cork grease, valve oil, etc.)
· All students who are performing are to be dressed in Concert Dress
Physical Education News
December will be another very exciting month in Physical Education. 5th grade will be participating in ballroom dance, with a guest instructor during the week of December 5th - 9th, culminating in a show on Friday December 9th from 9:50am-10:40am.
Please be sure to send your student to school with the proper sneakers on PE days, so that they may safely participate in all activities.
Mrs. Bornman and Mr. Strevig
STAY CONNECTED!!!
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