Back to School Night

Elkridge Elementary

Meet the Teachers

Angel O’ConnellBenaiah LeeCheryl Rager

Debra SchwarzlSherri Sloat

Paige ZimmerErica Thogerson (Special Educator)Susan Meyenburg (Paraeducator)

Our Vision & Mission

VISIONEvery student is inspired to learn and empowered to excel

MISSIONWe cultivate a vibrant learning community that prepares students to thrive in a dynamic world

School News and Information

Email

Print

Social mediaWeb

Face-to-Face

Texts

Elkridge Elementary News: email

System-wide Weekly News for Parents: email

Emergency notices (school closings/delays): text and/or email

Sign up at www.hcpssnews.com

HCPSS News

School Closing/Delay Notifications

Email and text: HCPSS News

System website:www.hcpss.org

Facebook:www.facebook.com/HoCoSchools

Twitter: @hcpss

New school website

EES.hcpss.org

Student Information System / Parent Portal

Elkridge Elementary Twitter: @hcpss_ees

HCPSS Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HoCoSchools

HCPSS Twitter: www.Twitter.com/HCPSS 

Interact with the Superintendent:

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/SuperHCPSS 

Blog: superintendent.hcpss.org

Social Media

9:10-9:30 Morning Work9:30-10:30 Related Arts10:45-12:00 Math

Your Fifth Grader’s Morning

Your Fifth Grader’s Afternoon

12:00-12:30 Recess12:30-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:45 Language Arts2:45 Content (Science/Social

Studies/Health)

3:45 Dismissal

Reading Levels

WORD STUDY A Powerful New Approach

Suffixes

Greek & Latin Roots

PrefixesPhonics

Spelling

Vocabulary

Did you know??

• The English language has approximately 2,000,000 words

• Technology contributes 20,000 new words per year

• School texts and reading materials include more than 180,000 different words

• Over 60% of the words students encounter in their reading have recognizable word parts

Word StudyTHEN

• Assigned word lists • Little or no connection to

curricular areas or each other

• The weekly assignment: “Find and write a definition for each word,” or “Use each word in a sentence”

• A test came at the end of the week (rote memorization)

Why UseThis New Approach?

• Systematic approach to word awareness and vocabulary building

• 90% of English words of two or more syllables are of Greek or Latin origin

• Most academic vocabulary is derived from Latin and Greek origins

Word StudyNOW

• Word lists are organized through meaningful roots or patterns

• Expand and deepen word knowledge during content-area study

• The weekly assignment: “Meet the Root, Combine and

Create, Read and Reason,

Extend and Explore”

• Applied spelling and language conventions tests

WORD STUDY IN SCHOOLGrades 3, 4,5

• Meet the Root: students define and conquer a list of words as they identify the word parts and roots

• Combine and Create: students combine words built from the root and pattern

• Read and Reason: students read text in which they encounter the word part/root

• Extend and Explore: students create new applications for the vocabulary

Weekly Language Arts Homework Grades 1 through 5

Daily Reading: Students will read for a specified time (according to grade level) with a parent signatureQuick Write: Twice a week students will select a “quick write” topic based on Science, Social Studies, and Health Standards.

Word Study Pattern menu: Twice a week students will choose an activity from the “Word Study” menu provided. These word study activities follow the new word pattern introduced in school.Please note: Words that are included on the “Week’s Word Study Pattern” are only suggested words for practice. Students will not be tested on these words, they will be tested on their knowledge of the actual “word study pattern”.

“WORD STUDY” AT HOMEGrades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

• Word Sorts: students sort for the pattern

• Word Hunts: students search for the pattern in a variety of text

• Word Associations: write additional words that connect to the target word or pattern

• Vocabulary: students find new and interesting words to put in their notebooks

Homework

Students will record all homework assignments in their agenda books. Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday.

Math and Language Arts (and once in a while in content areas).

Check EES website for links to teachers’ individual web pages.

Homework is part of the learning behaviors’ section of the report card.

“What? No Homework?”

When homework is not turned in on time, students fill out a homework

excuse note.

One copy is kept at school and one copy comes home to you.

This copy needs to be signed and returned back to the teacher.

Content Units

Social Studies* Colonial

America* The American

Revolution* Building a New

Nation* We the People

Science* Patterns and Cycles* Earth Matters* What Can We Do? (Focus on the

Chesapeake Bay)* Forces and Motion

Standardized Assessments

Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)

PARCC

CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) - Grades 3-5

MSA

Maryland State Assessment

Science MSA Window in April 2015.

Students receive individual scores and all students should be

present for all testing.

* Grades are based on student performance – class work, quizzes, and unit tests.

GradingGrading

Grading: Effort Criteria

Uses time wisely Cooperates and contributes

to discussions Produces quality work based

on ability Takes responsibility for all learning

Outstanding Satisfactory

Needs Improvement

Report Card

Students receive letter grades of A, B, C. Any grade of D or E is considered below satisfactory.

Progress Reports are sent home about four weeks into the quarter. Progress report envelopes need to be signed and returned to the homeroom teacher.

Report cards are sent home at the end of each quarter.

Above, on, and below grade-level status is based on county standards and student’s academic performance.

STUDENT YEAR05-06 SCHOOL (school name here)TEACHERI.D. #

A - Outstanding Level D - Low Level 1 - Outstanding A - Above Grade LevelB - High Level E - Failure 2 - Satisfactory O - On Grade LevelC - Satisfactory Level 3 - Needs Improvement B - Below Grade Level

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

ATTENDANCE 1 2 3Days AbsentDays PresentDays Tardy

EFFORT CODE: Indicates level of effort

demonstrated in each subject area and learning behavior

INSTRUCTIONAL CODE: Indicates the instructional

level at which the student is working

GRADE

EVALUATION CODE: Indicates performance

at the student's instructional level

Total

Completes homework on time

REPORTING PERIOD

Your student's placement will be Grade __ for the school year ___

Principal __________________________________________

GRADES 3, 4, AND 5 REPORT CARD

LIBRARY/MEDIADemonstrates knowledge and skills

4

Effort

SCIENCE

SOCIAL STUDIES

HEALTH EDUCATION

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

MUSIC

ARTEffort

Demonstrates knowledge and skillsEffort

REPORTING PERIOD

Demonstrates knowledge and skillsEffort

Demonstrates knowledge and skills

Effort

Effort

Spelling

REPORTING PERIODINSTRUCTIONAL LEVELSReadingMathematics

REPORTING PERIODLEARNING BEHAVIORSRecognizes rights of others with courtesy

Demonstrates knowledge and skills

Follows established rulesExercises self-controlWorks cooperatively with othersTakes appropriate risksListens attentivelyResponds appropriately to directions

Writes legibly

Problem solving applicationsEffort

Demonstrates knowledge and skills

Persists when thinking through problemsWorks with accuracy and precision

Effort

Demonstrates knowledge and skills

Completes classwork assignments

Effort

LANGUAGE ARTS

MATHEMATICSUnderstanding of concepts

ReadingWritingLanguage Mechanics

GT at EES

Mrs. Pfeifer and Ms. Fastman

The GT Program

Fifth Grade GT Math

Curriculum Extension Units

Seminars

Home-School Communication

On occasion, a teacher may write a note in your child’s agenda book

Weekly Take Home Folder (school bulletins/notices/graded papers)

Sign & return papers, homework excuse notes, progress reports and report cards

Field Trips

(pending approval from the county)

Maryland Science Center – October 24

Philadelphia – May 15

Field Trips

Philadelphia – May 15The cost for the trip is about $50. We

plan to send out a payment plan letter with 2 payments of $15 each due in October and February. The final payment will be due in April and will depend on fundraising.

Special Activities

Fifth Grade Musical – Nov. 19 and 20

Simulated Congressional Hearing – May 22nd

PTA will need volunteers to help with food and decorations

Puberty Education

The county requires that fifth grade students receive instruction in

puberty education. A permission slip will come home before we begin our unit. There is also a

parent information session that you may attend in the Spring.

EES Parent Volunteer Training

Who are Parent Volunteers?o All parents who volunteer in the classroomo All parents who volunteer to chaperone a field trip

The purpose of the training To comply with MD State Law & HCPSS Policy 1030 To review how to report suspected child abuse To review the importance of protecting all students’

confidentiality To review general expectations of parent volunteers

MD State Law & HCPSS Policy 1030

Requires employee or parent volunteers of the Howard County

Public School System to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect to Howard County Department of Social

ServicesProvides immunity from civil liability

or criminal penalty for a report made in good faith

Failure to report may result in suspension or termination of services

Role of Child Abuse Liaison

Coordinates support for students suspected of being abused or neglected

Acts as resource for information relating to child abuse and neglect reporting procedures

Assists with completion of child abuse reporting forms as needed

You may contact Kristen Tacka, Child Abuse Liaison if you would like support during the reporting process.

Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect

Make oral report immediately to Department of Social Services (410) 872-4203

Follow up with written report within 48 hours (forms are in the front office).

Tell Mrs. Anoff, Principal, and Mrs. Tacka, Liaison, that a report was filed.

A copy of the report WILL NOT be kept in student educational record.

Parent Volunteer Code of Ethics

Confidentiality: Any information you have access to in the school or

classroom is confidentialAs a volunteer, you are required to

protect the confidentiality of all student information that you see or

hear while volunteering

Parent Volunteer Expectations

Thank you for volunteering!

Please make arrangements for siblings to stay home so that you can focus on enjoying your volunteering experience.

Please do not take photographs of students. Other students’ parents are depending on us to protect their child’s privacy.

Please keep your cell phones on mute and out of sight when volunteering.

Certificate of CompletionElkridge Elementary School

This is to certify that I have viewed the HCPSS Child Abuse Reporting Procedures and Parent Volunteer Code of Ethics and understand my responsibilities with regard to these policies.

Name_______________________________

Date________________________________

Please print, sign, and return this certificate to the EES front office.

See You in Our Classrooms…

The fifth grade classrooms are located on the upper level of the school, down the hallway from the gym. Ms.Rager, Mrs. O’Connell, and Mr. Lee are in the first pod., Mrs.Zimmer, Mrs. Sloat, and Ms. Schwarzl are in the next pod.

Staff members will help direct you to

the correct pods.