Glen Acres Elementary School

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are a few important calendar items for GAE students:

2/15- Monday- NO SCHOOL President's Day.

2/17- Wednesday- Hybrid A and 4- Day students attend school Brick and Mortar, Hybrid B virtual learning day. Wear Red, Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Here are few important calendar items for families:

2/17 @ 6:30 PM- For 2021-2022 Kindergarten Families: A Parent Information Session. Please register in advance by clicking on the K101 pdf file in this newsletter.

2/18@ 6:30 PM- For 2021-2022 Sixth Grade Families: Middle School Information Session. Please register in advance by clicking on the Important Information About the Fifth Grade Transition to Middle School pdf file in this newsletter.

2/23@ 7PM - Free Parent Session on: Behavior and Contingencies- Understanding and Setting Limits, Accountability, and Positive Reinforcement. Please register in advance by clicking on the Free Parent Workshop Sessions pdf file in this newsletter.

2/24 between 2:30- 4:00 PM- PICTURE MAKEUP DAY- If your child missed getting his/her picture taken, you can bring your child in during this time to get a picture. There will be no retake pictures at school this year.

Enjoy the week!

Donna

Dear Families,

It's Black History month and a great time to highlight the lives and contributions of African Americans throughout history. The GAE team incorporates black history studies throughout the year and across the curriculum through the study of: children's books; biography research projects; black children's authors and illustrators; history; science; music; and art resources. However, February is our time to highlight, celebrate, and learn more.

Here's what is happening at school this month:

Kindergarten: Teachers are utilizing books to read, learn, and highlight the contributions of 5-7 African Americans during their lessons.

First Grade: Teachers created a digital library of famous African Americans to discuss with their students during the English Language Arts block. In addition, during social studies, the students will be researching African Americans on PebbleGo and reporting out about what they learned.

Second Grade: The students and teachers will be using PebbleGo to choose an African American to research. Each student will complete a banner about the person he/she chooses to research and the student work will be displayed in the hall.

Third Grade:

The students studied important black Americans during their non-fiction and biography unit of study ( December - January). In February, they will be doing an equity activity that involves diversity in children's literature.

Fourth Grade: The students are reading, researching, and viewing clips of African Americans across different fields. The students will be asked to think about the person's early life, challenges and obstacles faced, major accomplishments, and what the students admire most about the person.

Fifth Grade:

The fifth grade teachers and students are spending a week in science exploring black inventors. In addition, during the English Language Arts block, the teachers are spotlighting different people and events from black history to discuss.

Music: Teacher and students are discussing historic African American artists, songs from Africa, African American spiritual songs, call and response songs, and work songs.

Art: The teacher and students will be celebrating the life and accomplishments of Faith Ringgold- author, activist, and illustrator. They will create works of art inspired by Ringgold's book Tar Beach.

Library: In grades kindergarten and first grade, the students will be studying the biographies of famous African Americans. The teacher will be utilizing Trombone Shorty and Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 to teach the students about Troy Andrews and Katherine Johnson. In grades 1-5, the teacher and students will be reading and discussing, Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions.

Morning Announcements: African American people and their contributions will highlighted.

Cafeteria: Students are having fun listening to music from The Wiz and from famous African Americans.

Enjoy the week!

Donna

The picture above is a google slide that fourth grade made to use during Black History month. They have embedded links to video clips.

This is a view that the students and teachers see when they are using the PebbleGo resource.

Below find links to Epic Book Collections you may find helpful during Black History Month.

Black History/African American Characters:

https://www.getepic.com/collection/29303825/black-historyafrican-american-characters?utm_source=t2t&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=content&share=16350629220

Martin Luther King, Jr.:

https://www.getepic.com/collection/29301908/martin-luther-king-jr?utm_source=t2t&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=content&share=16350629220

Famous African Americans

https://www.getepic.com/collection/29607926/notable-african-americans?utm_source=t2t&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=content&share=16350629220

This week:

Monday, February 15- No School, President's Day.

Tuesday, February 16, Day 1: Hybrid A and 4 day students attend brick and mortar, Hybrid B virtual learning.

Wednesday, February 17, DAY 2: Hybrid A and 4 day students attend brick and mortar, Hybrid B virtual learning. Wear Red- Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Thursday, February 18, DAY 3: Hybrid B and 4 day students attend Brick and Mortar, Hybrid A virtual learning.

Friday, February 19, DAY 4: Spirit Wear or Wear Green, Hybrid B and 4 day students attend brick and mortar, Hybrid A virtual learning.

Thanks for all you do to support our students' learning!

For K-2 Families:

In the list below, please find some areas that are integral to learning beginning math and reading.

• In K-1, phonological awareness and phonics.
• In 1-2, practicing high frequency words and addition concepts.
• In K-2, understanding story elements( character, setting, events, problem and solution) , reading/writing numbers, and skip counting.

In the link below, please find fun ways to practice these with your children at home.

https://www.canva.com/design/DAETs--PBPU/9STBRGr-4A3CfsOaYHnFIA/view?utm_content=DAETs--PBPU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton#2

This week, you received important information about your child's transition into middle school. I have attached the email again. It is important that you read it so that you are aware of the information. Please let us know if you have questions.

Do you have a kindergarten student you are going to be registering? If so, please note the documents in the attachments below, they provide information about an upcoming parent session on 2/17 at 6:30 PM along with information about how to register. Please call the office, 484-266-1702, if you have questions or need additional information. Thanks.

As technical issues arise during remote learning, please use the following resources:

Tech Support @ Home – WCASD website with important information:

• Schoology / Seesaw Support
• Laptop / iPad Support
• Additional Resources

If there is an issue with your 1:1 device please email GAEtech_support@wcasd.net