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
November at Carroll Manor is a busy month, American Education Week, Grandparents’ Day, Elementary Conference Day, and several other activities. Of course, as we think of November, we think of Thanksgiving and our countless blessings.
October was a great month at Carroll Manor! In addition to our instructional program, students participated in Red Ribbon Week activities, numerous field trips, the Pumpkin Decorating Contest and the annual Halloween festivities and celebrations. Once again, the Pumpkin Decorating Contest was a success with over 150 entries! Students and staff were impressed with the creativity exhibited by this year’s entrants. This year we even had a few teachers enter the Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Special thanks to Sharon Andrulot for organizing and coordinating the contest. The many-end-of-the month activities, including field trips and class parties were enjoyed by all of the students. We want to express our appreciation to all of the parent volunteers who helped to make all these October events so special for our students. Thank you to all of the students that “shared their treats” and donated all of their excess “trick or treat” candy to the Dulaney High School Key Club. All of the donations will be distributed to schools and institutions who were unable to participate in “trick or treating.”
The first quarter marking period ends on Friday, November 3rd and report cards will be distributed on Thursday, November 16th. Elementary Conference Day is slated for Friday, November 17th and classroom teachers will be scheduling conferences for all parents. The PTA will hold their monthly PTA meeting on Tuesday, November 7th at 9:00 a.m. at Carroll Manor. This meeting is open to all parents and I hope to see you there. November also brings American Education Week, the week of November 13th- 16th. Classroom visitations begin at 9:00 a.m. after the morning announcements. A schedule for the week is highlighted in the newsletter and is on the calendar. This is your opportunity to see first-hand your child’s instructional program. Grandparents’ Day will be held on Thursday, November 16th. We look forward to seeing you during this very important week.
In closing I hope that everyone has a tremendous month of November and a great Thanksgiving Holiday!
Will Cirrincione
American Education Week 2017
Listed below is the American Education Week
classroom schedule:
K: Wednesday, Nov. 15th, 9:00-11:30
1st Grade: Monday, Nov. 13th, 9:00-11:20 Grandparents’ Day: Thursday, Nov. 16th
2nd Grade: Wednesday, Nov. 15th, 9:00-11:05 same times as your visitation time.
3rd Grade: Tuesday, Nov. 14th, 9:00-11:10
4th Grade: Monday, Nov. 13th, 9:00-11:45 (end of special)
5th Grade: Tuesday, Nov. 14th, 9:00-11:50
The Crusader Newsletter November 2017
Dates to Remember:
11/6 Chess Club
Gr. 5 Trip
Picture Re-Take
11/7 PTA Meeting 9:00 a.m.
11/8 Art Club
11/10 Spirit Day (Inside-Out)
Assembly 1:00-3:00 Cafeteria
11/11 CVP Fundraiser
11/13-11/16 American Education Week
Chess Club
11/15 Art Club
Knitting Club
Papa John’s Night
11/16 Grandparents’ Day
11/17 Conference Day-Schools Closed
11/20 Chess Club
11/22 Art Club
11/23-24 Thanksgiving Holiday Schools Closed
11/27-12/1 Jingle Bell Shop
11/29 Art Club
Mrs. McNelly’s “Updates”
American Education Week and
Conference Day
November is a busy month for elementary schools. With American Education Week, the distribution of report cards, and Conference Day, November is a month for parents to monitor their child’s/children’s educational
progress. While American Education Week visitation is just a short snapshot of what your child is doing in the classroom, it is a good opportunity to observe the classroom dynamics. Taking the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher for a conference after the distribution of report cards is an excellent way to discuss his/her strengths and needs.
Art Smarts
We’re having lots of interesting projects going on in the art room this fall. And many of our classes have earned all their stars and have celebrated with free-choice learning day.
Our Kindergarten students have learned about many kinds of lines. They learned to paint a variety of lines in concentric circles to create a flower that fills the page with several colors of paint. Then they have learned to paint between those lines with a variety of contrasting colors, and following painting rules for keeping their colors clean, rinsing and drying their brushes, and filling in areas neatly.
After studying about the Walters Art Museum’s Chinese Wine Jar, grade 1 students are creating underwater pond pictures with crayons, which are sticks of water color paint that can be drawn with and then wet with a brush to turn them into water color paint. They are creating carp that look like they are swimming, a variety of water weeds, and other pond creatures. Finally, they will color in the water with the side of a crayon once the painting is dry.
Second grade students were looking at a variety of portraits by many different artists, and have been painting their own self-portraits. They have been learning about painting a figure, a variety of different brush techniques, and sponging a background.
Grade 3 students are combining a variety of shapes along with ideas for cities from their imagination to create an oil pastel and water color paint cityscape. Artist Greg Otto, who has made many colorful renditions of Baltimore buildings, is our inspiration for color.
American artists Wayne Thiebaud and Janet Fish are the subject of study in grade 4, specifically their still life paintings and hot edges. Students were asked to add an object that they brought from home to add to our own collection of still life objects. They will add that object to their still life drawing, all which are being drawn from observation. Students are giving attention to the size, placement and layering of objects to create the illusion of depth. Markers or color pencil, and a watercolor sponged background will be used to add color and visual interest.
Georgia O’Keeffe, American artist, is inspiring our fifth grade artists to draw silk flowers from observation, to enlarge and magnify them on their papers. Students have explored and experimented with a variety of materials and are now working on their final choices of materials, sometimes combining several. They’re using analogous color schemes in the flowers, and complementary colors to set them off in the backgrounds. If you don’t know what analogous or complementary colors are, ask your fifth grader to explain!
Mrs. Steelwright
Media Matters
During the month of November, Kindergarteners are checking library books in and out. They are learning ways to keep the books healthy and happy while participating in weekly story times.
First graders are learning to be “library detectives” by recognizing “secret codes” on their library books.
Second graders are learning to recognize the arrangement of the Fiction Section and to read a map while we follow the adventures of Elmer Elevator in My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett.
Third graders are reviewing the arrangement of the fiction and nonfiction sections as well as reviewing searches in Destiny.
Fourth and fifth graders are previewing books in the running for the Black-eyed Susan Book Award this year. Fifth graders are putting their research skills to work learning to utilize Boolean Logic in their online searches for information.
Thank you to all parents who volunteered to help in library this year. Parent volunteers help the children check books in and out and shelve library books. They help keep the library in order and the children happy. We truly appreciate everything you do!!
Musically
The fifth grade chorus and instrumental students will perform in the Winter Music Concert on December 19, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria. Please mark this date on your calendar since December is such a busy month! To prepare for this concert, fifth grade students have been learning how to read two-part choral music! BRAVO!!!
During vocal music class the fifth graders have been listening to Danse Macabre and Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens.
The fourth grades have been listening for tone color with seasonal songs by playing various instruments. They have especially enjoyed the spooky organ piece Toccata and Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The third graders have been listening for tone color which is the unique sound of each instrument. They will conclude the unit by listening to The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas.
The first and second grades have been busy listening for high and low sounds. They have been singing songs with high and low pitches, responding to high and low sounds with movement, and locating and playing the high and low bars on the xylophones. Second grade students have learned how to locate high and low pitches on the music staff. The first and second graders have also been enjoying dramatizing the story of In the Hall of the Mountain King by Edward Grieg.
The kindergartners are continuing to listen for and respond to the steady beat of music. They have also
been singing and playing instruments with seasonal songs. Five Little Pumpkins has been their favorite song.
Mrs. Wenck
Catching Up with the Counselor
November is here and so is our fall food drive! Please donate canned goods to help families in Baltimore County. A flier will be sent home in your child’s folder. Please let me know if your family is in need of food this season, or any time of the year. Requests for help are anonymous and welcomed.
Dear Mrs. Fitzsimmons,
On conference day my child’s teacher said that he needs to improve his work habits. What does this mean?
Signed, Baffled in Baldwin
Dear Baffled in Baldwin,
“Work habits” is a broad term that covers a lot. Included in the term ‘work habits’ are a student’s ability to not only be successful in his or her own work, but also when working with others. You may be surprised to know that students are evaluated on their ability to share work equitably in a group, and accept a role within a group. Even managing one’s own behavior and persevering through challenges are considered part of your ‘work habits’. If you have concerns about how to help your child develop these qualities, please let me know. I am happy to help!
Mrs. Fitzsimmons
Notes from the Nurse
ALL Student Absence(s) REQUIRES a note to the teacher:
If your child is out for any reason (illness, vacation etc.) for 2 or more days please call or email me and let me know. When the child returns to school please send a note to the teacher explaining the absence and the dates. (Call Mrs. Rupert, RN- 410-887-3455; or email: )
If the absence is 3 days or more have your child’s doctor write a note for the absence.
HEALTH & WELLNESS TIPS
BCPS has two resources for parents regarding Health & Wellness.
On the BCPS website find the Health & Wellness page of Parent University (click Parents on the home page and choose Parent University from the drop down, then click on Health and Wellness) you will see four boxes that populate most of the page.
· The top left box contains a Health Tip (The box says Welcome to Parent University.) These tips will change weekly.
· The box below that, entitled Nutrition and Fitness, offers several links. The first link says “Ask-a-Nurse.” If you click on this link you will see five videos featuring Katie Lanier from Mays Chapel and Jim Slayton from Deer Park Elementary addressing common health concerns. You may find the additional “Ask-a-Nurse” clips under the “MOREVIDEOVIEW ALL”
· then scroll down to find more “Ask-a-nurse” clips
Stay Healthy from the “Colds and Flu”
Please reinforce the following health skills with your child: good hand washing, using your elbow if you cough or sneeze, eating healthy foods, exercising and getting a good night’s sleep. These easy skills go a long way in reducing germs and keeping everyone healthy. Research shows that a busy child can touch upwards of 300 surfaces in as little as 30 minutes. Remember to clean the surfaces kids touch most frequently such as doorknobs, light switches, faucets, toilet handles and toys. By working together we can keep Carroll Manor a healthier place to learn and grow.
Remember if your child has a fever they must remain at home until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 410-887-5947.
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.
Gym Shorts
I have many exciting activities planned for the month of November. Please make sure students are dressed appropriately and wearing athletic shoes on their assigned gym days. Clothing should allow for physical activity in warm or cooler temperatures. We will be going outside as much as possible while the weather is nice.
Kindergarten and firsts graders will work on kicking, trapping, bowling and rolling, fundamental skills using parachute activities, recreational activities, walking/jogging skills and rhythmic movement skills.
Second and third graders will work on soccer skills and lead up activities, fundamental skills using a parachute, playground games and recreational activities, walking and rhythmic movement skills.