From the Principal’s Desk Calendar of Events 1 Fall Parent Workshops & Student Fun Night 6:00-7:30 PM 4 Peacemaker House Party / Spirit Day 9 Schools Closed for Students /PD Day 10 Individual Picture Day 10 Interim Reports distributed – Grades 4-5 15 School Improvement Team 3:45 PM 17 Generations Day AM 18 Schools Closed for Students/MSTA Convention 21-25 Red Ribbon Week 31 PTA Pre-Parade Parent Breakfast 8:45–9:15 AM 31 Halloween Parade 9:15 AM 1 Spirit Day 6 Coffee w/ Counselor 5:15 PM 6 PTA Meeting 6:00 PM 7 Peacemaker Swag Shop 8 Peacemaker Pep Rally/ House Party 8 3-hour early dismissal / 1st Marking Period 18-21 American Education Week 21 Individual Picture Make-up Day 21 Report Card Distribution 22 Conference Day Schools Closed for Students 28-29 Schools Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday October 2019 Rodgers Forge Chronicles Rodgers Forge Elementary School empowers students to be lifelong learners. Dear Rodgers Forge Families, Pinwheels for Peace has become a wonderful tradition at RFES! With pinwheels in hand, students paraded to share their commitment to being a Peacemaker before they assembled with their grade level in the shape of peace signs. During Pinwheels for Peace a few students shared acts of Kindness. Students are encouraged to continue sharing acts of kindness to be highlighted throughout the year. #bekind Beginning October 21 st our SGA has partnered with Ms. Ludwig to plan Kindness/Red Ribbon Week to promote being “Fit in Mind and Body”! During this week we will promote making healthy choices and being kind! DATE WHAT TO WEAR WHY? Monday, Oct. 21 st Tie-dye or Peacemaker House Color Promotion of Peaceful Behaviors. Tuesday, Oct. 22 nd Hat Day “Hats Off” to Healthy Eating Choices and Exercise Wednesday, Oct. 23 rd Crazy Socks “Sock-Out” Bullying Thursday, Oct. 24 th PJ Day Promotion of Rest and Sleep Friday, Oct. 25 th Purple Positivity Promotion! Most students in grades 1-5 have now completed the on-line MAP assessment in math and reading. This data will assist teachers in planning a responsive instructional program for each student. Students will take the MAP assessment again in the winter to determine if they met their projected rate of academic growth. MAP Home Reports will go home at the end of the first quarter. TONIGHT, October 1 st , we will offer Parent Workshops on Schoology/Grading & Reporting, Character Education (Peacemaker Houses and Restorative Practices), BCPSOne/Digital Resources, Guided Reading, and the Passport Spanish program. Parents can select three of the five sessions while students rotate through fun sessions connected to literacy run by RFES staff. The evening begins at 6:00. Later in the month we are looking forward to welcoming many visitors on Thursday, October 17 th for Generations Day! This RFES tradition is a very special day for our students, as well as our teachers, to engage visitors of all ages in 21 st century learning opportunities. Just a reminder that this event is strictly for “special friends and grandparents”. Parents are welcome to visit during American Education Week in November. Finally, we hope to see many parents, families, and friends along our Halloween Parade route the morning of October 31 st . The fun begins with a “Wicked Good Time” PTA sponsored parent get-together, complete with coffee and baked goodies for those who arrive early to watch the procession at 9:15. Please remember to submit the permission slip for the Halloween Parade so your child can participate. A hard copy of the permission slip will go home with students and there is also a copy in the Chronicles. I wonder what the teachers will dress up as this year?? For more exciting RFES news and events at RFES, like our Facebook page or follow us @missyfanshaw or @RodgersForgeES !! Missy Fanshaw Principal
Transcript
From the Principal’s Desk
Calendar of Events
1 Fall Parent Workshops & Student Fun Night
6:00-7:30 PM 4 Peacemaker House Party / Spirit Day 9 Schools Closed for
Students /PD Day 10 Individual Picture Day 10 Interim Reports distributed – Grades 4-5 15 School Improvement Team 3:45 PM 17 Generations Day AM 18 Schools Closed for
Students/MSTA Convention
21-25 Red Ribbon Week 31 PTA Pre-Parade Parent Breakfast 8:45–9:15 AM 31 Halloween Parade 9:15 AM
1 Spirit Day
6 Coffee w/ Counselor 5:15 PM
6 PTA Meeting
6:00 PM
7 Peacemaker Swag Shop
8 Peacemaker Pep Rally/ House Party
8 3-hour early dismissal / 1st Marking Period
18-21 American Education Week
21 Individual Picture Make-up Day
21 Report Card Distribution
22 Conference Day Schools Closed for Students
28-29 Schools Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday
October 2019
Rodgers Forge Chronicles Rodgers Forge Elementary School empowers students to be lifelong learners.
Dear Rodgers Forge Families,
Pinwheels for Peace has become a wonderful tradition at
RFES! With pinwheels in hand, students paraded to share
their commitment to being a Peacemaker before they
assembled with their grade level in the shape of peace signs.
During Pinwheels for Peace a few students shared acts of
Kindness. Students are encouraged to continue sharing acts
of kindness to be highlighted throughout the year. #bekind
Beginning October 21st our SGA has partnered with Ms.
Ludwig to plan Kindness/Red Ribbon Week to promote being
“Fit in Mind and Body”! During this week we will promote
making healthy choices and being kind!
DATE WHAT TO WEAR WHY?
Monday, Oct. 21st Tie-dye or Peacemaker House Color Promotion of Peaceful Behaviors.
Tuesday, Oct. 22nd Hat Day “Hats Off” to Healthy Eating Choices
Thursday, Oct. 24th PJ Day Promotion of Rest and Sleep
Friday, Oct. 25th Purple Positivity Promotion!
Most students in grades 1-5 have now completed the on-line MAP assessment in math and reading. This data
will assist teachers in planning a responsive instructional program for each student. Students will take the MAP
assessment again in the winter to determine if they met their projected rate of academic growth. MAP Home
Reports will go home at the end of the first quarter.
TONIGHT, October 1st, we will offer Parent Workshops on Schoology/Grading & Reporting, Character
Education (Peacemaker Houses and Restorative Practices), BCPSOne/Digital Resources, Guided Reading, and
the Passport Spanish program. Parents can select three of the five sessions while students rotate through fun
sessions connected to literacy run by RFES staff. The evening begins at 6:00. Later in the month we are
looking forward to welcoming many visitors on Thursday, October 17th for Generations Day! This RFES
tradition is a very special day for our students, as well as our teachers, to engage visitors of all ages in 21st
century learning opportunities. Just a reminder that this event is strictly for “special friends and
grandparents”. Parents are welcome to visit during American Education Week in November.
Finally, we hope to see many parents, families, and friends along our Halloween Parade route the morning
of October 31st. The fun begins with a “Wicked Good Time” PTA sponsored parent get-together, complete
with coffee and baked goodies for those who arrive early to watch the procession at 9:15. Please remember to
submit the permission slip for the Halloween Parade so your child can participate. A hard copy of the
permission slip will go home with students and there is also a copy in the Chronicles. I wonder what the
teachers will dress up as this year??
For more exciting RFES news and events at RFES, like our Facebook page or follow us @missyfanshaw or
@RodgersForgeES !!
Missy Fanshaw
Principal
PAGE 2 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Important Steps when Entering and Exiting RFES
The safety of our students, staff, and visitors is a top priority for all of us at Rodgers Forge You can help us! Please be sure to follow these important steps when entering and exiting our school:
• Each visitor to schools must be screened at the entry door individually.
• Do not open or hold open a door for anyone else. You are not being rude!
• Pull/Push the front door closed upon entry or exit.
• Report directly to the main office upon entry and show your identification.
• Check out in the main office before exiting the building.
• Please remind your children not to open the door for anyone.
Dogs Although we love FIDO, there are many students who are very scared of your
family pet! If you are walking your dog as you walk your student to school, please
stop at the edge of the school property with your dog. We have several students
who get very anxious with the presence of dogs. Additionally, we have had a few
situations where dogs have become aggressive when in the presence of another
dog. We do not want students to be fearful of coming to school because of the
dogs that are outside. We appreciate your understanding with this matter!
PAGE 3 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
October Wicked Writing Contest
Write if you DARE… Students in grades K-2 have the option to write a spooky story
Students in grades 3-5 have the option to write a mystery
Submit your school appropriate, bone-chilling story by Friday, October 25th
outside of Ms. Day’s room in the bubbling cauldron. Please make sure to write
your name and grade level on your submission.
Winners will be announced on October 31st. There will be one winner per grade
level. Each winner will receive a Spooktacular prize!
PAGE 4 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Generations Day – Thursday, October 17, 2019
October 17th is Generations Day at Rodgers Forge. This day provides
an opportunity for grandparents, other relatives or family friends to
come and see our students hard at work! A light blue flyer will be sent
home with your child. Please register guests by returning the RSVP by
October 11, 2019. With safety procedures now in place in all BCPS
schools, we will need the full legal name and date of birth of each guest
attending Generations Day. If we do not have this information prior to
the day, then guests will have his/her license or identification card
scanned upon arrival in the main office. To avoid any back-ups, please
be sure to register your guest by the RSVP date and be sure to provide
all of the needed information.
The visitation for K, 1st, and 3rd grade students will be from 9:00 to
10:00 with registration beginning at 8:30 in the cafeteria. Coffee and
breakfast treats will be provided as well as student entertainment.
Visitation for 2nd, 4th and 5th grade students will be from 10:10 to
11:10. With coffee and breakfast treats beginning at 9:40.
Since parking will be very limited with all of our visitors attending the
event, if you can arrange to drop off your special guest or have them
carpool with other guests, we would very much appreciate it! If you
need handicapped accessible parking or assistance in the building,
please put a star (*) next to the names and add a phone number so that
we can contact the guests about special arrangements.
Our school PTA will have a direct donations table set up if anyone
wants to make a donation.
We look forward to spending the morning with all of our special guests
here at Rodgers Forge.
PAGE 5 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
PEACEMAKER HOUSE PARTY DATES
October 4th
November 8th
December 19th
January 24th
February 26th
April 3rd
June 18th
Students are encouraged to show
their RFES pride by wearing their
peacemaker color to each house
party!
Ice Cream Social and Cakewalk…..A Huge Success!
Cake and ice cream…a wonderful combination! The
evening was a huge success, as teachers and staff
contributed their time and creative energies to bake
sweet treats for the event. As a show of gratitude
for all the PTA does for students and teachers,
proceeds from the Cakewalk will be donated to the
PTA. They will receive a check in the amount of
$1,000. Many thanks to our PTA for organizing the
Ice Cream Social and huge shout out to the Towson
University Field Hockey Team for helping to “scoop”
and clean up at the event!
PAGE 6 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Happy fall!!! Hard to believe that it is already October! It has been my pleasure getting to know many of
your children and you! I have received such a warm welcome to Rodgers Forge and I am very grateful.
Along with pumpkins, Halloween costumes and cooler air, this time of year also begins cold and flu
season. The best way to prevent the spread of contagious illness is by regular and thorough hand
washing. Beginning in kindergarten, children are taught the correct methods and times to wash their
hands. Our teachers strongly monitor this. Students are encouraged to use hand-sanitizer when water
for hand washing is not available. However, washing hands with soap and water is the single most
effective method of preventing the spread of illness.
Students with signs/symptoms of contagious illness are excluded from the classroom and sent home.
Children must be free of symptoms and fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of Tylenol/Motrin)
before they can return to school.
October is the perfect month to get everyone a flu shot! If you need help in finding a place to get one,
let me know.
Please continue to reach out to me if your child has been absent due to illness or has a health concern
that could impact their daily learning. If you have updated paperwork, such as: immunizations, physical
exams or dental exams, please continue to send those in.
Wishing you a fun and healthy autumn season!
Leah House, RN
PAGE 7 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
The Reading (and Writing) Corner
It’s been an exciting September at Rodgers Forge Elementary! Many of our
students have been immersed in the writing process and have had the opportunity to
create personalized writer’s notebooks. These notebooks will be a place for our creative
students to capture thoughts, record memories, play with language, and jot down seeds of
unborn stories. Writer’s notebooks can also include drawings and sketches that will one
day inspire a story. Students in 2nd and 4th grade created heart maps as a useful
reference that they can turn to when they are not sure what to write about. As writers,
it is important that we have the opportunity to engage in the many forms of academic
writing, but also write about what is important and meaningful in our own lives.
Here are some suggestions from www.readingrockets.org that engage students in the
writing process at home:
• Have your child write instructions for taking care of the family pet. These will be useful as
you plan for vacations!
• Write a letter or thank you note to a relative. Talk through what your child wants to say
before writing begins.
• Make a shopping list before going to the grocery store.
• Write an online review of a book or an item you recently purchased or a recipe you tried.
• Find a picture in the newspaper and write an article to accompany it.
• Start keeping a personal diary, a household guestbook, or a baby book for a younger
sibling.
Happy Writing 😊
~Molly Day - Reading Specialist
PAGE 8 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Library News and Notes:
Off to a Fantastic start! Our students have done a fabulous job finding books that are perfect for their own tastes
and interests. In addition, they have done a great job returning library books on time!
Encourage your child to bring their books back on time so they can check out more great
books! The rules for checkout are –
5th Grade – Can check out 3 books
2nd – 4th Grade – Can check out 2 books
Kindergarten and 1st Grade – Can check out 1 book
These limits help to ensure there are wonderful books for everyone, and encourage
responsibility.
Reading Relay 2016
What is happening in library? Kindergarteners have started their year learning the routines of the library. They have
worked diligently to learn the rules of the library, how to find their books, the
organization of the Everybody section, and how to be responsible library citizens! They are
working so hard and have done such a great job with all of the new library rules and
routines.
Students in grades 1-5 have been engaging in a variety of lessons that address how they
can practice digital citizenship in school and at home. Students have participated in a
variety of online and offline activities that address how to demonstrate respect and
responsibility online, how to prevent cyberbullying, how to leave positive digital footprints,
and how to show appropriate netiquette while online. Students are demonstrating strength
in knowing how to take our RFES Code of Conduct and apply it online.
PAGE 9 RODGERS FORGE CHRONICLES
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
A GREAT parent resource is https://www.commonsensemedia.org/. This website
provides many great articles and resources for promoting safe use of media in the
lives of kids, families, and schools!
Self-Checkout
All students are checking out their own library books and it is going fabulously! During
book checkout, students are able to select materials and visit the self-checkout counters
to scan their BCPSOne card and library book barcodes. This routine allows students to
learn the responsibility of checking out books, while making the most time to circulate
materials and enjoying their selections. This is teaching students to manage their time
effectively and to take responsibility for checking out their own books!
BCPS Database Spotlight
Looking for a great online resource that can support your emergent reader? Well, try the
FREE BCPS database PebbleGo. This database features “expertly-leveled text and
navigation specifically designed for your beginning researchers. Enriched with spoken-word
audio, text highlighting, and audio/video media, PebbleGo builds a foundation of research
skills for ever learner!” Check out information in the fields of animals, earth and space,
biographies, and social studies! To visit this site, just log onto BCPSOne, and click on
Digital Content. and click on the PebbleGo link. Don’t forget to have a copy of your child’s
BCPS login information to gain access. Any questions? Just contact me at [email protected]
During October, classroom lessons will address the topic of bullying. One of the most common observations school
counselors, teachers, and administrators notice is the misuse of the word bullying by students and adults. There is a
difference between peer conflict and bullying.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS REFERRAL PROCESS – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
I wanted to provide some information on private school referrals. For those of you who are interested in having your student apply to a private school, I will be responsible for processing records and referrals for our students. It would be very helpful if you could follow the procedures below. These steps will help expedite the application process for you and your child.
• Please submit the application and the permission to release information forms to Mrs. Ludwig for processing (do not give the form directly to your child’s teacher). The Common Referral Form is not to be completed by our staff until after December 1st. This referral form is sent with your student’s academic transcript so that the private school receives one complete packet of information.
• After December 1st, your student’s teachers will complete the Common Referral Form, which is a confidential document used by most private schools. This form requests information about academic ability, classroom performance, school behavior, and personal abilities.
• Please include a $5.00 check made payable to Rodgers Forge Elementary. This fee will cover the cost of duplicating records, the large mailing envelope, and postage to mail the completed application (please do not send stamped envelopes). In the interest of your student’s privacy, we do not e-mail or FAX transcripts to private schools.
• Please be patient. Allow at least two weeks for our staff to process your application package.
• In order to ensure that your application is to the private school by the appropriate deadline (for most schools that is January 15th), please send in your request by December 15th. All requests that are turned in after December 15th cannot be guaranteed to be sent out by January 15th.
Thank you for turning in your Box Tops. We are still counting but will be making our fall box top winners announcement soon.
Remember to be saving box tops for our January homeroom contest.
Download the new Box Top app and scan your receipt!
Keep collecting!
Thank you for supporting Rodgers Forge Music!
Save these Date: Concert Connections Fifth graders will participate in our Winter and Spring Concerts. The chorus, band and orchestra will be featured at both events. Concert attire will be white shirts and dark pants or skirt. More information will be sent home before the
concert dates. Winter Concert: December 10, 2019 @ 6:30
Spring Concert: May 19, 2020 @ 6:30
February 13, 2020 will be our school STEAM Night. We will be sharing our talents at the 10th Annual Coffeehouse.
Third Graders will be learning to play the recorder. As part of our Recorder
Karate program we will celebrate our accomplishments with a concert on April 21, 2020. Our concert attire will be casual. School colors, red and or white
Wow, I can’t believe it is October already! I hope your child has been telling you about all the exciting activities we have been doing in Physical Education!
Fourth and Fifth graders are finishing up a unit on football. The students learned and demonstrated correct techniques for throwing and carrying a football by participating in games of Football Frenzy and Flag Football
Our Third graders are finishing a unit on flying disc (frisbee, where the students participated in games of Frisbee Golf, Frisbee Bocce and Frisbee 21. These flying disc games are great way to connect Physical Education and home. Each game can be slightly altered to play in your backyard or an open space.
First and Second graders are wrapping up a unit on tag, where they working to demonstrate body control and various locomotor movements. During this unit, we discussed the importance of getting our bodies moving every day in order to stay healthy.
Finally, our Kindergarteners have been working towards establishing a routine. Each lesson contains our famous roller coaster run, a dance segment, individual skill work and a teamwork activity or game. The Kindergarteners are having a ball when they visit for Physical Education.
A few final reminders: 1. Cross Country Races for 4th and 5th graders are:
-October 3 @ Riderwood Elementary -October 16th @ Stoneleigh Elementary -October 22nd @ RFES (Interested 3 graders may run in the RFES, look for information coming home this week.) Races begin at 4pm! 2. Closed toe shoes with a rubber sole for example most tennis shoes and Keen-like sandals are fine for recess and PE. I recommend not wear open toe sandals or slip-ons, as they are not the safest footwear for the playground equipment.
