Gleason PAWS
Excellence Begins Here
Gleason Vision
Gleason Misson
Gleason Elementary
Email: gleason@cfisd.net
Website: https://gleason.cfisd.net
Location: 9203 Willowbridge Park Boulevard, Houston, TX, USA
Phone: 281-517-6800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gleasontigers/
Twitter: @gleasontigers
March 5, 2021
Principal Message
Dear Parents,
We're so excited that our 4th grade Name that Book team will represent Gleason at the district level competition on March 30th. We wish you the best of luck!
The 4th marking period will begin on April 12th (a remote learning day). The survey window to make changes for the new marking period learning option will be open from Monday, March 22 to Sunday, March 28th. The change will be effective beginning April 12th. If your child will continue with the same learning option for the 4th marking period, no action is needed.
This is a reminder that next Friday, March 12th is a Remote Learning Day. Face to face and CFISD Connect students will complete all assignments at home. Connect students will receive their remote learning day assignments through Schoology. Face-to-face students will receive a paper packet that they should complete at home and bring back on Monday, March 22nd. These activities must be completed either online in Schoology or by turning in the paper packet in order for your child to be counted "present" for attendance. Teachers will not be available to parents on March 12th. All face-to-face students will bring home the packet and a breakfast and lunch from food services on Thursday, March 12th. Don’t forget that Monday, March 15th begins Spring Break; a holiday for both staff and students. Thank you for your partnership with our school and district as our teachers plan and prepare during these unprecedented times!
We are wishing everyone a relaxing Spring Break. Please remember the district will be closed Monday, March 15th thru Friday, March 19th. Club Rewind will not be available during this week at Gleason.
Mrs. Melancon
Grade Level News
Pre-Kindergarten
Pre-Kindergarten has many busy weeks ahead of us in the month of February. In literacy, we are working on mastering all letters and the sounds they produce. We are learning how to speak using complete sentences of four or more words. In reading, we are beginning to blend beginning sounds with the rest of the word to form familiar one syllable words. We are using our letter sounds to write words and continuing to stay on topic as we write. In math, we will be using concrete models to add and subtract up to 5. We will be using positional words to describe where things are located. We will continue to work on recognizing one-digit numerals 0-9 and counting to 20.
Kindergarten
Thank you Gleason families for partnering with us this school year to help your student grow academically. Please continue reading with your student every day, allow them to tell short stories, and have them write sentences/stories using sight words. In Reading Workshop, we are discovering the reader within and digging deep for those reading strategies that will help us grow as independent readers. In Writing Workshop, we are exploring writing using multiple genres. We are still working on the conventions of writing, such as; having capital letters at the beginning of our sentences, spelling our sight words correctly, and being sure to end those sentences with punctuation marks. In Math, we will explore money (identifying coins), geometry (shapes), and more and fewer. We are still reviewing the following math skills: addition, subtraction, measurement, counting to 100, making combinations up to 10, and counting forward and backward from 1 to 20. Please remember to send a dry, healthy snack and water bottle with your student daily. Also, make sure there is a complete change of clothes in their backpack. The Kindergarten team sincerely appreciates your support!
First Grade
Happy March, First Grade Parents! Time is quickly passing us by!
In reading, we are finishing up our non-fiction unit. In this unit, we are learning how to identify and use the features of a non-fiction text to help us learn more about the topic of the non-fiction book. When you're reading non-fiction books with your firsties, ask them if they can identify the different text features of a non-fiction book and how they can use that to help them understand the book better.
In writing, we have just wrapped up how-to writing, and we are now moving on to All About Books! Here, students are learning how to create their own version of a non-fiction book! Using what we have learned in reading about non-fiction text features and the purpose of non-fiction texts to create our own non-fiction books! You can help your firstie out by having lots of conversations about what are all the things they love and know about.
In math, we are learning about halves and fourths, going back to review addition and subtraction strategies, and we will start learning time to the hour and half hour. We are also about to learn our last type of word problem, missing part. By the end of March, your first grader will be able to identify and solve for an addition, subtraction, comparison, or missing part word problem! Continue to help your firstie grow by reviewing coins, 3-digit place value, addition and subtraction facts, reading and pulling information out of picture and bar graphs, as well as attributes of 2D shapes!
Last but not least, in science we are learning about light/heat energy and will be moving onto weather!
Please continue to encourage your firstie to read as much and as long as they can, review identifying and spelling their first-grade sight words, and their addition and subtraction facts to 20! Thank you for all you do! Us first grade teachers could not do it without all of your support!
Second Grade
In reading, our second grade students will choose a research topic, create goals, and generate questions to research using multimodal informational texts. Students will navigate informational texts using text/graphic features and use their questions as a guide for gathering information. Students will learn various ways to organize and write down information, facts, and their learning with assistance.
In writing, students will apply their knowledge of informational structure and elements for inquiry and research. They will progress through the writing process to create their own informational text based on research. We will be prewriting and planning with the characteristics of the genre incorporated. Students will revise to improve their drafts by adding, deleting, or rearranging ideas and details. Students will complete this writing unit by creating a project to present their topic.
In Math, second graders will be learning place value up to 1,200 including representing numbers in different forms and comparing and ordering numbers including up to 3 and 4 digits. We will use number lines and problem solving strategies. We will begin addition and subtraction including base ten blocks and the algorithm. We will solve story problems using addition and subtraction with the problem solving plan.
In Science, we will begin our study of Astronomy. We will begin by studying the objects in the sky. We will learn about patterns of the Sun, day and night, shadow patterns and the pattern of the Moon’s appearance.
Third Grade
It’s hard to believe we are already more than half way through the year! This month our readers are wrapping up our research unit and publishing their pieces they’ve been working so hard on. We are moving into our biography unit. In this unit, readers get to explore and learn about new people they may not have heard of before along with their accomplishments. Readers are going to learn about the features that make up a biography as well as diving deeper into our reading comprehension skills like, inferring, determining word meaning, determining the summary of a section and selection.
Our wonderful writers are wrapping up their feature articles and publishing their final pieces. We are so proud of all of their hard work! This month, our writers get to explore essay writing by choosing something they’re an expert at and being able to tell all about it. They will learn about the structure of an essay and how to apply what they’ve learned to their own piece. During our grammar time, students will be learning more about the use of commas as well as possessive nouns, and adverbs. We can’t wait to see all the wonderful work they’ll accomplish.
In math, we will be completing our geometry unit by studying 3D shapes. We will then begin our unit on expanding place value to 100,000. We will start by composing and decomposing numbers and then move on to comparing and ordering numbers up to 100,000. We will end that unit by rounding whole numbers up to 100,000 using number lines.
Our scientists loved learning about the planets and our solar system! We are looking forward to our Girls in STEM Day on March 1. We will then begin our unit on ecosystems and structures. We will learn about different ecosystems and the structures needed by plants and animals in order to survive in these ecosystems.
Fourth Grade
In reading we've spent the last few weeks exploring biographies and learning about important figures in our history. For the next few weeks, we will be taking a closer look at informational text by studying its text structure. Students will discover the purpose behind quotes, extreme language, numbers, and statistics. We'll also compare ideas across different texts. Be sure that your child is continuing to read books that they love at home for at least 20 minutes each day. We will be prepping for STAAR Reading very soon!
In writing we are finishing up our fourth essay. Before and after Spring Break we will be working on a STAAR Writing review where our students will work on skills that have been taught throughout the year. Be sure that you are reviewing your child's graded work with them. It would help to look over their past essays and discuss what they are proud of as well as what improvements they would make.
In math we are going to discuss customary and metric measurements with the relationship to length, volume/capacity, weight/mass, and time. We will continue working on converting measurements such as foot to inches, pounds to ounces, gallon to quarts, and so on. This will lead us into finding area/perimeter. We will continue to work on past content to improve students preview skills so having student practicing multiplication and division is highly encouraged, as well as addition and subtraction facts as they are the foundation for math.
In science we will continue our geology unit. We will explore the different soil properties and focus on color, texture, water retention, and fertility. We will also spend a day discussing women who have impacted the STEM in a positive way to encourage and lead our students forward.
Fifth Grade
In the month of March, 5th graders will be investigating social issues to craft arguments. As readers, they will continue to recognize characteristics of argumentative texts. They will practice identifying the author’s claim and explain the author’s use of facts as evidence for or against that claim. Students will determine author’s purpose and message. As writers, 5th graders will work through the writing process to compose an argumentative essay. They will generate and clarify questions, identify and gather information, and demonstrate understanding by paraphrasing to deliver their message.
In Science, 5th graders will continue learning about the physical properties of matter. Properties that we will focus on in March include solubility, classifying matter, and mixtures and solutions. We will wrap up matter on March 10th when we take our Unit Test.
In Math, we will be learning about Patterns on a Coordinate Planes and Geometry which include knowing types of angles, symmetry, classifying triangles by their angles and sides and identifying and classifying quadrilaterals by their attributes.
A Note from the Nurse....Mrs. Compton
We are continuing to work hard to have Gleason a healthy learning environment, by wearing our mask properly (above nose and over mouth) and keeping socially distant. Please continue to screen you student daily using the Health Screening for Students Protocol. If your student has any symptoms, has been exposed or is currently waiting on a COVID test result please reach out to the nurse, Sarah Compton.
CFISD is offering free Rapid Testing for students who are experiencing symptoms. Please visit https://www.cfisd.net/en/parents-students/health/coronavirus/rapid-testing-students to make an appointment.
Please be aware that if your child needs medication, including over-the-counter medication, cough drops, or ointment during the school day, a parent/guardian must bring it to the clinic and complete a “Request to Administer Medication” form. Medication cannot be transported in a student's backpack.
If your child has had any changes in his/her health please email sarah.compton@cfisd.net, or call the clinic 281-517-6808 to inform the nurse.
From the Library....Mrs. Jones
Online Book Fair
A Virtual Book Fair is Coming April 5 through April 18. Don’t miss an opportunity to update your child's library with some of the new titles. Gleason’s webpage will be open 21 days prior to the fair. See the attached flyer for more details.
Don’t Forget Connect Student’s Checkout
A Parent or Guardian can pick up books from a cart at the front of the school on Tuesday or Thursday each week between 9 am and 3:30 pm. Books will be packaged in a heavy plastic bag with the child’s name and checked out items in the bag. You will use this same bag to return books. If your child is not sure how to put a book on hold, have them view the How to Check Out a Book.
Before you come to school Students must check their library account to see if the requested book has been checked out to them. Please allow a week for delivery of requested books.
DISTRICT CHROMEBOOKS: BEST PRACTICES
CyFair devices are updated periodically by our technology department. In order for your student’s device to receive the updates, the chromebook must be “shutdown” completely. The updates are pushed wirelessly to the chromebook when the device is powered on. Save time and frustration by following these daily routines;
● Use your own login and password and do not share with others.
● Logout of Schoology, Classlink, and the Chromebook each day.
● Do not use Bookmarks to start Zoom or Schoology.
● Shutdown the chromebook to charge each day.
Getting Help Username and student are available from your student’s teacher. Students or parents create or change a password by going to this link: stugo.cfisd.net Click on Student Password Reset to get started.
The help desk is available at 281-897-4357.
NO PLACE FOR HATE
Our February No Place for Hate lesson for grades 3-5 was respecting opinions. We discussed the difference between a fact and an opinion and applied that knowledge in order to state facts and opinions about ourselves. We then decided how much we agree or disagree with a variety of statements. From that activity, we participated in a discussion about having similar and/or different opinions than our peers. Our next lesson will be the week of March 29.
PBIS NEWS
Our “ROAR”ing behavior has played a huge part in making this school year a success so far. Through showing respect and kindness for all and staying on-task so you and everyone around can learn. To also being accountable and responsible for having a positive attitude and showing up in person or online to do your best in class. This year has been a challenging one, but our Gleason Tigers are showing their resilience this school year. Let us continue to follow our ROAR expectations and finish this year off strong!
March Core Value-Patience
Waiting until later for what you want now.
From the Counselors....Mrs. Salazar & Mrs. McMahan
We have an additional counselor on our campus. Please welcome Patricia McMahan! She is coming to us from Adam Elementary. She has 10 years of classroom experience and will be an asset to our counseling department.
Mrs. McMahan will be working with pre-k, kindergarten, 3rd and 5th grade
Mrs. Salazar will be working with 1st, 2nd and 4th grade
This month our core value is Patience. Patience means waiting until later for what you want now. Our students are practicing patience every day at school. Practicing patience is a great way to help children understand delayed gratification which can help them achieve success in many areas of their lives, such as academic, career, relationships and overall good health.
Tips for learning to practice patience together
Research tells us that Patience takes Practice! Patience takes time to grow and strengthen like our muscles, our mind and our body. Some ways to help each other practice patience include lots of Positive Experiences. We can create positive experiences when, we as adults, can model patience by staying kind and positive when our children ask us the same questions repeatedly. We can also allow fun ways to experience Waiting Time. A fun game to try is holding a piece of gum in your mouth but waiting 2 or 3 minutes before beginning to chew it. If you chew too soon you spit it out! One last tip to try, give your child a Timeline. Instead of responding with “in a minute” or “soon” try saying “when I finish folding these clothes,” “when you finish your dinner,” or “after snack time or nap time.”
Make time for games and activities
Encourage your kids to make time for activities, interests, and hobbies they like. Many activities can help us grow in patience and help us grow in relationship with our children. Some activities include working on a puzzle, coloring books together, baking, blowing bubbles and not popping them, walking a hard-boiled egg on a spoon, planting a garden, or playing a board game. These are only a few activities. The most important part is modeling patience and growing your relationship with your children.
Model How to Treat Others with Kindness and Respect
Kids learn from adults’ actions. By treating others with kindness and respect, adults show the kids in their lives that there is no place for disrespect. Even if it seems like they are not paying attention, kids are watching how the adults around them manage stress and conflict, as well as how they treat their friends, colleagues, and families. So as we work together to teach social and emotional learning, we will see our students be ready to regulate their own emotions, show empathy to others and have more confidence and they will know they and all humans matter!
5th Grade Parents
Please continue to watch out for information on middle school. Your students received guidance this week about electives. The elective sheets have been assigned to your child through Schoology. Your students were shown how to fill out and return the elective sheets with the Kami app through Schoology. Please spend a few minutes with your child talking about the elective choices (1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice) and confirm with your signatures. This procedure is new and we’re finding some families that do not have CFISD computers are having difficulty with the Kami app. If Kami is not working for you, you can still complete the form with any program that your computer has and submit the assignment through Schoology. You may also print the form and send it back to school with your child.
Some students will be receiving a paper form, if we have not received the form through Schoology. If you have any questions, please reach out to the 5th grade counselor, Patricia McMahan at liliana.mcmahan@cfisd.net.
Transfer Students & Families Moving: Please fill out the elective sheet for the middle school your child is zoned for even if you plan to transfer schools or move to another school. The elective choices will transfer when everything is finalized.
Upcoming Events
March 12- Remote Learning
March 15-19 - Spring Break
March 23- 4th & 5th Connect Students TELPAS Testing
March 24- 3rd Connect Students TELPAS Testing
March 25- 2nd Connect Students TELPAS Testing
March 30- Name That Book District Competition
April 2- Student/Staff Holiday
April 15-18- Virtual Book Fair
April 6- 4th grade Writing STAAR
April 9- MP3 Ends
April 12- MP4 Starts
April 12- Remote Learning