Carroll Manor Crusader
4434 Carroll Manor Road Phone: 410-887-5947
Baldwin, MD 21013 Fax: 410-887-4948
Principal: William Cirrincione
Assistant Principal: Angela McNelly
http://carrollmanores.bcps.org
Principal’s Message
It seems hard to believe, but we have almost completed three weeks of school! Labor Day weekend may have passed, but the summer heat was certainly still with us this week. Please remember that Carroll Manor Elementary will still be open even if the non-air conditioned schools are off due to heat. The students should be dressing in layers when they come to school as the temperatures in the rooms vary. We use the emergency contact dismissal form if ONLY Carroll Manor Elementary must close early. If there is a system-wide early closing students will be dismissed their normal way on that day. Despite the heat, it is evident that the students and faculty are energized and that the 2016-2017 school year will be a great one! We will make sure that this year is packed with quality instruction, numerous challenges, new successes and many special events. As always, we are committed and dedicated to give 100% to our Carroll Manor families as we carry on our long and outstanding tradition of excellence.
It has been an exciting first few weeks of school, as all of the students in grades 1-5 have received their own computers. The teachers and students are very excited about this technology upgrade and it will allow teachers to better personalize and customize instruction for students. We are excited about these upgrades, but still realize that effective teachers and students that work hard each day are the key to our success in the future.
Thank you for making our new staff members feel welcome at Carroll Manor. They are working hard to give our students the best education possible.
Our enrollment as of September 10th is 350 students which is eight students over the projected enrollment of 342. Our Back-to-School Night was held on Tuesday, August 30, with well over three hundred parents in attendance. It is extremely rewarding to see so many parents attend Back-to-School Night where the academic year is explained by the teachers. We encourage all of our parents to become active participants in their child’s education. Please remember, in order for anyone to volunteer at the school or attend any field trip, they must complete the Volunteer Training, which is now available on the BCPS website.
As always, thank you all for your continued support! We are looking forward to a fantastic and productive 2016-2017 school year!
The Crusader Newsletter September 2016
Dates to Remember:
9/8 Robotics
9/12 Prof. Dev. Day-Schools Closed for Students
9/13 PTA meeting 9:00 a.m. Art Room
MAP Window Opens
Lego Club
9/15 Robotics
9/19 Buster Bus (Kindergarten)
9/20 Vision & Hearing Screening
Lego Club
Art Club
9/21 Vision & Hearing Screening
9/22 Vision & Hearing Screening Robotics
9/23 Vision & Hearing Screening
9/26 Picture Day
9/27 Lego Club
Art Club
9/29 Robotics
Mrs. McNelly’s “Updates”
During the first two weeks of school I have met with each grade level to discuss and review the Student Handbook. We clarified for the students what the behavior expectations are at Carroll Manor Elementary.
As you already know, Baltimore County Public Schools has implemented a clearly defined Discipline Code designed to contribute toward a safe and orderly learning environment for all students. As emphasized in the Student Handbook, the Discipline Code is based on a belief that every student can achieve in such an environment.
We hope that you review the Student Handbook with your child and/or children. We are very fortunate that here at Carroll Manor students rarely break a rule from the Student Handbook while in the classroom. Most of our violations occur in three specific places: the cafeteria, at recess, and on the school bus.
It is also important to note that the Student Handbook is in effect for all school sponsored activities (i.e. Activity Nights, Spring Fair, etc). Students had five days from their presentation to return the signed portion of the Student Handbook.
Art Smarts
Welcome back to an exciting new art school year! We are happy that almost all of our third, fourth and fifth grade students have brought in their spiral bound sketchbooks, and many of our students in grades K through 5 have their art smocks in gallon zippered and labeled plastic bags. Thank you to parents for sending those supplies in with your children. Way to go!
Our Kindergarten students are learning about all kinds of lines. We’re creating imaginary creatures by drawing with different kinds of lines, and then will be moving on to paper strip sculptures with lines in space.
Grade 1 students have used the sides of crayons to create an undersea background and then will be looking at shapes to create seaweed, fish and other underwater sea creatures out of torn and cut paper to make their own sea creatures after learning about the author and illustrator Leo Lionni’s book Swimmy.
After studying artworks by Carmen Lomas Garza, a Mexican American artist originally from Kingsville, Texas, Grade 2 students have been working drawing people in different poses to portray friends and family at gatherings using a variety of crayon techniques.
Our Third Grade students are learning ways that Faith Ringgold expresses her life experiences in her story quilt artworks. Faith Ringgold grew up and works in Harlem, NY. Inspired by Faith Ringgold’s ideas, they will be using fantasy ideas and their imagination to portray themselves flying over places important to them, and will create a quilt-like paper border to their artworks.
Our grade four students are working on pictographs that illustrate words that use either the substitution of an image for a letter, the shape of the meaning of the word, or characteristics of the word. These are techniques that graphic designers use in their work. Students will choose a word to illustrate using one or more techniques.
Finally, our Fifth Grade students are exploring drawing techniques, specifically contour, stipple, hatching and crosshatching. They’ve practiced on sea shells and will move on to flowers, and will create a close-up version of a flower in the technique and medium of their choice.
Instrumental Music
Fourth grade students are beginning a wonderful adventure into the world of musical instruments.
This year they will learn about and play instruments from the Brass, Woodwind, String, and Percussion Families. They will begin with the String family and will learn the basics to play the violin. I encourage you to ask them what they have learned each week. Each unit will wrap up with performance and written tests.
Fifth grade students are encouraged to join the band program this year. A demonstration was given for all students to help them narrow their instrument choices. The next step was students try their three favorite instruments. I sent home information to assist with getting an instrument for the student. If you have any questions after reading through the literature, please call (410-887-5947) or e-mail me () for assistance. When you e-mail me please include a phone # I can reach you.
I will also be at school to answer questions and give out contracts for those families who want to use a school owned instrument this year. I will be at Carroll Manor Elementary on Wednesday afternoons, all day Thursday, Friday this year. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year with your child.
Media Matters
Welcome back to the Carroll Manor School Library. I am Deborah Williams, the Library Media Specialist. I teach the BCPS Library Media Program to all children at Carroll Manor.
The BCPS Library Media program promotes Literary Appreciation and Media Literacy. Through this program, I encourage children to enjoy reading, offer them access to a variety of literary media, and teach them to use skills, resources, and tools to question, draw conclusions, make informed decisions, and create new knowledge. In elementary library, children develop their taste in literature and learn to navigate nonfiction resources.
I am looking forward to sharing a new year with your children. Look for library books coming home soon. I hope you will find time to read these books to your children or let them read to you. Reading together is time well spent!
If you have any questions or concerns about Library, you may contact me at or call 410-887-5674. Happy reading!
Ms. Williams
Catching Up with the Counselor
The other day I was flipping through a copy of Growing up with a Bucket full of Happiness: Three Rules for a Happier Life. I re-read the “Facts of Living”. I thought about how having an early understanding of these principles would make life go so much smoother!
Here they are:
1. Some people will be your good friends, and some will not.
2. Sometimes even good friends and family will let you down. Sometimes you’ll let them down, too.
3. Sometimes you’ll make the team and sometimes you won’t.
4. Sometimes you’ll win, and sometimes you’ll lose.
5. Some people you’ll like won’t like you back.
6. Sometimes you’ll work hard and get a good grade, and sometimes you’ll work hard and not get a good grade.
7. Some people will judge you even before they get to know you.
8. Some people will say and do things that will hurt you very much.
9. Some things in life are just not fair.
10. No one gets to choose the body or the talents they were born with, only what they do with them.
As I read this list I thought about how hard it is to teach these lessons to our children, maybe because we wish it wasn’t the truth. But without learning these core concepts about life and living, we are more likely to find our experiences disappointing and painful, when in reality they are just a fact of life. Consider working on one or two of these principles with your child this year!
Mrs. Fitzsimmons
Notes from the Nurse
Welcome Back
Discretionary Medication and Health Contact Information Forms:
This form should have been in the take home folders on the first day of school. As we start a new school year ALL NEW FORMS NEED TO BE COMPLETED as soon as possible. Please return this form to the Health Suite ASAP so I will have it available if needed. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions (Cindy Rupert, RN @ 410-887-3455). Thank you.
Vision & Hearing Screening
The technician from the BCDH will be here on Sept. 20th- 23rd to do the vision and hearing screenings for Kindergarten, 1st & 4th grades along with any new students to BCPS this year. Retesting will be on Oct. 6th. If you have a child in 2nd, 3rd or 5th grades that you are concerned about their vision and or hearing please contact Mrs. Rupert, RN- 410-887-3455.
FLUORIDE RINSE PROGRAM:
This program is offered to Baltimore County families who have well water.
We will be starting our Fluoride Rinse Program the beginning of October. It is done in 1st through 5th grades. All 1st graders and new students to CMES will be given permission forms on September 15th. Please return the form to the Health Suite ASAP whether you decide yes or no. That way I know what you want your child to do. This permission slip is good for all years your child attends Carroll Manor. You may send a note in to me at anytime to change your child’s status in participation… Give me a call if you have any questions. (Cindy Rupert, RN @ 410-887-3455)
Just a reminder:
Head Lice
It is not something that is only on someone because they are dirty. In fact whenever I have found nits it is on the ones whose hair is clean. Please check your child(ren)’s hair from time to time. If you find anything you are not sure about please feel free to give me a call. Head lice do NOT jump or fly. They can move very quickly though. The first thing you may notice is the nits (eggs) attached to the side of the shafts of the hair, usually near the scalp. The eggs hatch in 7-10 days after being laid and in another 7-10 days these nymphs are mature and will lay eggs. The key is being vigilant in picking out all the eggs even after treatments. Remember it is important to talk to the parents of your child’s friends so they can examine their child’s hair too. You don’t want to go to all the work of ridding your child of head lice only to get re-infested because the source did not do the same.
Shoes for school:
We highly recommend sending your child to school in tennis shoes everyday. They not only need them to participate in Physical Education but need them to play safely at recess. Many students wearing crocs and sandals are ending up in the Health Suite with blisters or bleeding sores from the shoes rubbing while they are running around. Please help me out with this. J
Musically
Once again the halls of Carroll Manor are resounding with music! The elementary vocal music curriculum is aligned to the new National Core Arts Standards of Creating, Responding, Performing and Connecting with music. Components of the standards that will be studied in vocal music class are: rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, form, timbre, expression, style, vocal technique, movement, improvisation, aesthetics, criticism, historical context, and cultural context. The sequential enriching music program consists of singing, playing instruments, listening to music, improvising and composing music, and moving to music. Also included are learning experiences designed to develop the ability to read music, use the notation and terminology of music, analyze and describe music, make informed evaluations concerning music and understand music and music practices in relation to history and culture and to other disciplines in the curriculum.
Music education provides many benefits for children beyond the realms of music itself. Numerous studies have shown that music education significantly contributes to child development by improving intellectual, motor and social skills and abilities. Here at Carroll Manor we have a vibrant music program in place. This could not be accomplished without the continuous support of the music program by the parents and the PTA. We appreciate your support and generosity!