Page 1 A Message from the Principal . . . American education week is approaching. We are very excited to have you come and visit out school. Please make sure that you have RAPTORed in prior to the visitation. We are send- ing home a visitation sheet and are asking that each of you and other visitors come to the office by November 9th if possible to scan your id. We will be sending a form home for you to indi- cate what day you are visiting. We will batch print each day’s visitor the night before which is why we ask that you come in to have your id scanned, if it hasn’t been already. You will not have a badge if your form is not returned or you are not in the system. It is especially important for you to tell any grandpar- ents or family members that they must do this prior to the visita- tion day. There is a huge back up in the office when people do not pre-register and it takes time away from classroom visits to wait in the long line. We want to invite each of you to be a part of our PTA. They are working diligently to increase parent involvement and have started several new initiatives this year. They are al- ways looking for people to assist with events, copying, and help- ing with their events. Also, please check out the Essex PTA Fa- cebook and Essex Elementary pages for new information. As I look around the school campus, it is clear to see Au- tumn is in full swing with the vibrant colors that adorn our trees. Be sure to check out the information from Mrs. Skeels regarding our budding artists and their projects. As we fall into November, Mr. Quinn and I want to ex- press our appreciation for all the hard work your children as well as our teachers and staff members do each and every day. We are truly honored to be part of something unique, powerful and precious! Something important really does happen each and every day at Essex Elementary School. November 11/3, 10, 17, 24 Chess Club 3:30 —4:30 11/5 Gr. 5 Philadelphia Field Trip 8—4:30 11/5, 12, 19 After School Tutoring 3:30— 4:15 11/6, 13, 20 Good News Club 3:30—5 11/11 Square 1 Art Orders Due 11/12 Distribution of Report Cards Pre-School/Pre-K Conference Day/ No a.m. or p.m. sessions today 11/13 Elementary Conference Day— Closed for Elementary Students 11/16—20 American Education Week 11/17 Banking Day 8:45 a.m.—9:10 a.m. PTA Meeting 6P 11/23 Lifetouch Make Up Day 11/26—27 Thanksgiving/Schools Closed 11/30 Magnet School Applications Due December 12/8 Winter Concert 2:15 & 6 p.m. 12/15 Banking Day 8:45 a.m.—9:10 a.m. 12/24—1/3 Winter Holiday Break Return to School January 4, 2016 January 1/14 Team BCPS Day 1/15 End of 2nd Quarter 1/18 MLK, Jr. Birthday / Schools Closed 1/19 Professional Development/ Schools Closed for Students February 2/4 Distribution of Report Cards 2/15 Presidents Day, Schools Closed Spring Break 3/25—4/3 Return to School April 4th 2016 Volume 16, Issue 3 DATE: November 2015 Essex Elementary School Phone: (410) 887-0117 Amy Grabner, Principal Fax: (410) 887-0118 Randy Quinn, Assistant Principal http://essexes.bcps.org NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER American Education Visitation Schedule Monday, 11/16 2 nd & 4 th Grade 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, 11/17 3 rd & 5 th Grade 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Pre-School 3 / 4 9:00 & 1 p.m. Wednesday, 11/18 Pre-k/Kg/1 st Grade 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Afternoon Pre-K 1 p.m. Thursday, 11/19 Make-Up Day 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Transcript
Page 1
A Message from the Principal . . . American education week is approaching. We are very excited to have you come and visit out school. Please make sure that you have RAPTORed in prior to the visitation. We are send-ing home a visitation sheet and are asking that each of you and other visitors come to the office by November 9th if possible to scan your id. We will be sending a form home for you to indi-cate what day you are visiting. We will batch print each day’s visitor the night before which is why we ask that you come in to have your id scanned, if it hasn’t been already. You will not have a badge if your form is not returned or you are not in the system. It is especially important for you to tell any grandpar-ents or family members that they must do this prior to the visita-tion day. There is a huge back up in the office when people do not pre-register and it takes time away from classroom visits to wait in the long line. We want to invite each of you to be a part of our PTA. They are working diligently to increase parent involvement and have started several new initiatives this year. They are al-ways looking for people to assist with events, copying, and help-ing with their events. Also, please check out the Essex PTA Fa-cebook and Essex Elementary pages for new information. As I look around the school campus, it is clear to see Au-tumn is in full swing with the vibrant colors that adorn our trees. Be sure to check out the information from Mrs. Skeels regarding our budding artists and their projects. As we fall into November, Mr. Quinn and I want to ex-press our appreciation for all the hard work your children as well as our teachers and staff members do each and every day. We are truly honored to be part of something unique, powerful and precious! Something important really does happen each and every day at Essex Elementary School.
November
11/3, 10, 17, 24 Chess Club 3:30 —4:30
11/5 Gr. 5 Philadelphia Field Trip 8—4:30
11/5, 12, 19 After School Tutoring 3:30— 4:15
11/6, 13, 20 Good News Club 3:30—5
11/11 Square 1 Art Orders Due
11/12 Distribution of Report Cards
Pre-School/Pre-K Conference Day/
No a.m. or p.m. sessions today
11/13 Elementary Conference Day—
Closed for Elementary Students
11/16—20 American Education Week
11/17 Banking Day 8:45 a.m.—9:10 a.m.
PTA Meeting 6P
11/23 Lifetouch Make Up Day
11/26—27 Thanksgiving/Schools Closed
11/30 Magnet School Applications Due
December
12/8 Winter Concert 2:15 & 6 p.m.
12/15 Banking Day 8:45 a.m.—9:10 a.m.
12/24—1/3 Winter Holiday Break
Return to School January 4, 2016
January
1/14 Team BCPS Day
1/15 End of 2nd Quarter
1/18 MLK, Jr. Birthday / Schools Closed
1/19 Professional Development/
Schools Closed for Students
February
2/4 Distribution of Report Cards
2/15 Presidents Day, Schools Closed
Spring Break 3/25—4/3
Return to School April 4th 2016
Volume 16, Issue 3
DATE: November 2015
Essex Elementary School Phone: (410) 887-0117
Amy Grabner, Principal Fax: (410) 887-0118
Randy Quinn, Assistant Principal http://essexes.bcps.org
Thursday, 11/19 Make-Up Day 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Page 2 Volume 16, Issue 3
CAFETERIA NEWS CORNER… A message from Miss Dotty, Café Manager
Miss Dotty is happy to report that BREAKFAST is going really well! We have many new students trying our breakfast treats in the morning. We are hoping to get more participants as we believe it increases student productivity. Evidence suggests that eating breakfast really does help kids learn. After fasting all night, a de-veloping body (and brain) needs a fresh supply of glu-cose — or blood sugar. That's the brain's basic fuel. A better breakfast can increase your child’s brain power.
Also, if you ever have questions about your child’s breakfast, lunch or snack account, you can call the school or email Miss Dotty at [email protected].
LIBRARY NEWS . . . A message from Mrs. Frank
Have you heard the news?! Our morning news crew are winners of the first BCPS Attendance Com-mercial Contest for the elementary level! Below is an excerpt from the BCPS web page: Looking for the next advertising genius? They might just be here in the classrooms of Baltimore County Public Schools. To promote the importance of attend-ance – being in school on time and every day, the school system coordinated its first ever student attend-ance commercial contest. More than 43 entries were received from elementary, middle and high school stu-dents and student groups around the county. Kudos to the following 5th grade students who worked with Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Skeels: Kiersten Bisson, Ezzah Chaudhry, Amber Jour-dan, Ciara Regulski and Trevor Valentijn.
PHYSICAL ED NEWS . . . A message from Mrs. Howell
Please continue to send in your COCA COLA bottle caps that we collect for phys ed equipment and your soda can tabs that Mr. Gray collects and donates to the Ronald McDonald House.
MUSIC ROOM NEWS … A message from Mr. Gogel
Our 5th Graders are rehearsing for the upcoming Winter Concert
Elfis and the Frozen Princess … mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss this holi-day musical treat on December 8th.
PTA NEWS . . . The PTA would like to thank everyone includ-
ing teacher and parent volunteers who participat-
ed and donated wonderful baskets to the Bingo
Night in October. It was a highly successful night
with many people winning prizes and cash. All
funds raised will go back into the school and sup-
port the upcoming winter dance, your student's
activities and the school needs. Even if you did
not win, we hope you had a fun time and know
that your contributions will be used to great ben-
efit of the school. Thank you all for attending.
We hope to see you at our next scheduled
meeting this month on the 17th at 6 p.m.
Happy Thanksgiving from the members of
your PTA Board!
Page 3 Volume 16, Issue 3
ART NEWS . . . A message from Mrs. Skeels
Amazing ART Happenings
The art room is humming with creativ-ity and fall is in the air. Our students have been busy, Students in K-5 have just completed their Square 1 Artwork. Personalized brochures will be delivered next week. Look for them to come home in backpacks. Orders are due on November 11th.
This fundraiser supports the art studio to bring exciting materials and experiences to our students beyond what Baltimore County pro-vides. Please try to order online. For every online order your student will receive an extra ticket to be entered to win a special art bundle of supplies. Every paper order will receive 1 en-try.
Time to celebrate. Alaina Long will be representing our school at the Maryland Art Ed-ucators Association rewards reception at the Walters Art Museum where Mrs. Skeels, (yep, me) will be receiving an award as Baltimore County’s Career Elementary Art Teacher of the Year. Each year the county chooses art educa-tors to celebrate at each school level, elemen-tary, middle and high. It is a great honor to be selected and represent Essex Elementary School and our awesome students!!
continued…
3rd – 5th grades are beginning their plans for their set of Artist Trading Cards. Students will be planning, creating, reflecting and sharing these tiny artworks. Students will begin to use the art studio as an artist, choosing the materials that will help them to bring their ideas to life. As stu-dents become familiar with the proce-dures for each art material, a new mate-rial will be introduced. Students will begin to think and act like real artists as they explore themes, techniques, and historical to contemporary artists.
2nd - What is that about? 2nd grade just fin-ished exploring the color wheel and ab-stract painting influenced and inspired by Wassily Kandinsky
1st – Pumpkins anyone? Painted paper, ob-servational pumpkin drawing and land-scape collage describes the pumpkin patches that Winslow Homer inspired.
K – Our Line Ninjas have been learning about all things line. We have drawn lines, painted lines, sculpted lines into some crazy hats. We have karate chopped our lines. Ask your little line nin-ja to show you their vertical, horizontal and diagonal line moves.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER! BCPS VOLUNTEER TRAINING RESOURCES
Thank you for your interest in volunteering in Baltimore County Public Schools. Our schools depend on volunteers and value their contributions to enhance the programs and services provided for students. Volunteers are important mem-bers of Team BCPS and help our professional staff sustain effective learning environments, enrich the education and experiences of students and build critical partnerships to increase achievement for all students. Volunteers are essential to the educational process, as they bring knowledge and skills into our schools and strengthen classroom instruction. VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTIONS: Go to the BCPS Website www.bcps.org Click on the COMMUNITY tab Click on the VOLUNTEER WITH BCPS tab You can access the application on and line training as directed. All volunteers must complete the volunteer application and participate in an orientation/training session annually. Step 1: Complete the on line BCPS Application for Volunteer Services. (The school also has copies.) Step 2: Attend a scheduled BCPS volunteer training at any school or complete the online volunteer orientation. You will be provided with a certificate once you successfully complete the training. Step 3: Submit the application and the valid training certificate to the school in which you intend to volunteer. Volunteers may provide hard copies or the documents may be emailed to the school volunteer coordinator. Both docu-ments must be submitted at the same time to be accepted and reviewed by the school staff. Once the application is reviewed and training has been verified, volunteers may be placed by schools and offices ac-cording to identified needs to perform tasks that support our established goals. Goals of the BCPS Volunteer Program
* Expand parental involvement and engagement strategies to meet the unique needs of all families in the school communities. * Acknowledge parents and community members as important partners in the education of all students. * Strengthen the relationship between schools and parents, guardians and community stakeholders through meaningful service opportunities. * Support teachers and staff with the implementation of curriculum and school programs. * Utilize the knowledge and skills of volunteers to promote student achievement. * Offer direct support to students needing additional assistance with assigned tasks. * Assist school staff and students with extra-curricular activities, afterschool programs and fundraising opportunities. * Provide supervision and direction for students while participating in off-campus learning experiences (field trips).
Types of Volunteer Activities
* Classroom Assistant - assisting teachers and students with classrooms activities * Academic Tutoring * School PTA Councils * Area Education Advisory Councils * Music and Sports Booster Programs * Field-trip Chaperones * After School Activities * Student Mentoring * Career Awareness - speaking to students about career pathways and opportunities * Clerical/Office/Library support
The Baltimore County Kindergarten Classroom Volunteer Initiative The Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Baltimore County has partnered with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) to help our youngest learners through their first year in public school. This opportunity is available ex-clusively for citizens 55 years old and older. (Learn more from a recent blog entry by the RSVP director.) Interested sen-ior citizens can contact RSVP at 410-887-3101 or visit them online at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/aging/volunteer/rsvp.html.
For additional information about volunteering with Baltimore County Public Schools, please contact The Office of Family & Community Engagement at 410-887-4554 or by email at [email protected].
Maryland STEM Festival School Age Learn and explore science, technology, engineering and math through various activi-ties. Nov. 10 Tue 6:00 PM
LEGO Fun School Age (Children under 8 with adult) Create with LEGO blocks! All supplies provided. Registra-tion required. Nov. 12 Thu 6:30 PM Canines, Cats and the Chesapeake Bay School Age Many species share our water-shed- through literature and art share how we work to pre-serve our greatest natural re-source. Accompanied by Pearl, an Instructional Canine. Pro-vided by the Snyder Founda-tion for Animals.
STEM Saturdays School Age Make, create and explore at your branch. Join us each month for a new maker activi-ty, experiment or craft. Regis-tration required. Nov. 14 Sat 2:00 PM Paws to Read School Age Register your shy or reluctant reader to read with a lovable pet from Pets on Wheels. They are friendly, nonjudgmental and good listeners. Contact branch to register. Nov. 14 Sat 3:00 PM
Magic: The Gathering Card Game All Ages (Children under 8 with adult) Bring your cards and face off against other Magic: The Gath-ering players. Players should bring their own deck of Magic: The Gathering cards. Nov. 16 Mon 3:30 PM
International Games Day @ Your Library All ages (Children under 8 with adult) It’s all fun and games at the li-brary! Libraries around the world will participate in Inter-national Games Day. Join the fun and meet up for gaming at your local branch. Nov. 21 Sat 12:30 PM
Wii and PS4 Gaming School Age Play Super Mario Bros., Madden NFL and other fun Wii and PlayStation 4 games.
Essex Branch:
1110 Eastern Boulevard www.bcpl.info
(410) 887-0295
Volume 16, Issue 3 Page 10
American Education Week Something important happens here.
