Principal's Bulletin

Ross Elementary School March 4, 2022

Principal's Message

Dear Families,

Teachers are looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your child's progress at our upcoming Parent/Teacher Conference Day on Thursday, March 10. Please note that Thursday and Friday (March 10 and 11) are "no school" days for students due to conferences and professional development. Conferences may be scheduled directly with your child's teacher through the link on their weekly class newsletter.

We held our first "lock down" drill today. Every school in DCPS practices monthly safety drills in addition to monthly fire drills. Today's drill, lasting less than 3 minutes, included moving students away from the classroom doors, locking all classroom doors, and staying quiet. Students are taught about the drills in advance.

Warm Regards,

Holly Searl, Principal

holly.searl@k12.dc.gov

Summer Learning Opportunities

Learn about DCPS summer programming here.

Ross students are assigned to Marie Reed Elementary for the Elementary Summer Acceleration program. Registration opens on March 9.

ISO Yearbook Photos

We are beginning to collect photos for our 2021-2022 yearbook! Families can submit photos on our shared Google Drive folder. We are looking for photos from field trips, school events, athletics and more. Please upload the highest quality photo available. We will begin our online pre-sale on March 16th, the yearbooks will cost $25.00. If you have any questions or suggestions, please reach out to Mr. Eickmeyer.

March Curriculum Update: Art

For all grades:

We have a new Instagram page! It will be private, with only Ross community members joining. The handle is: @ross.elementary.art
In prep for an upcoming architecture unit, "Build Day": Please send in a medium cardboard box with your student (cereal box size or a little larger. Write student name/grade on box) by Monday, March 14. If you have any other recycled materials (buttons, metal, popsicle sticks, yogurt cups, etc) donations are welcome. We will be constructing buildings!
Angela Cirillo angela.cirillo@k12.dc.gov

K1:

We have been finishing up our Alma Thomas painting unit. Students learned about the life and paintings of artist Alma Thomas. They also learned the chemistry of color mixing (making secondary colors, tertiary colors, tints, and shades) by mixing the three primary colors and adding black or white. They are using this knowledge to create painted canvases, inspired by something of their choice in space or nature. Their paintings will use the small brushstroke style of Alma Thomas.

2/3:

We have been finishing up our Alma Thomas painting unit. Students learned about the life and paintings of artist Alma Thomas. They also learned the chemistry of color mixing (making secondary colors, tertiary colors, tints, and shades) by mixing the three primary colors and adding black or white. They are using this knowledge to create painted canvases---inspired by a landform of their choice (connected to their science unit)-- using Alma Thomas style brush strokes.

4/5:

We have been finishing up our Alma Thomas painting unit. Students learned about the life and paintings of artist Alma Thomas. They also learned the chemistry of color mixing (making secondary colors, tertiary colors, tints, and shades) by mixing the three primary colors and adding black or white. Students are using this knowledge to create very detailed, painted canvases, inspired by something in nature or in space of their choosing.

March Curriculum Update: Music

PreK: Students are learning about different ways they can use their voices (whisper, talk, shout, and sing) and identifying the types of voices they hear. They will use ribbon wands to perform the song "Follow the Rainbow" as a nod to St. Patrick's Day.

K/1: Students started this week with a lesson on Louis Armstrong, and it turns we have some natural scat singers in the K/1 classes!! They will further explore improvisation using Orff instruments. Solfege singing and rhythm identification will continue to be reinforced through singing games and manipulatives.

2nd: Students continue to work on their opera story based on "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters" with Kennedy Center artist Ms. Mary. They completed the libretto this week and will begin blocking next week. Role assignments will also be made so students can begin learning and memorizing their parts. The libretto will be made available for practice at home.

3rd: Students continue to work on their opera story based on "Strega Nona" with Kennedy Center artist Ms. Mary. They continued work on the libretto this week and created vendor groups. Role assignments will be made soon so students can begin learning and memorizing their parts. The libretto will be made available for practice at home.

4th and 5th: Students were introduced to Kennedy Center artist Ms. Imani this week. Her program "Telling Your Story Through the Beat of the Blues" will lead students through the development of jazz starting from its African roots. The residency will culminate with students writing their own blues song. This week, they learned an African chant, and in coming weeks, they will learn about work songs, spirituals, and ragtime.

Leah Inger leah.inger@k12.dc.gov

March Curriculum Update: Library

March Library Family Update

Students are enjoying their weekly library visits. In addition to the lessons and activities listed below, students also can draw and color, play games, work on puzzles, explore in the STEM Lab and of course find a snuggle to cozy up with and read a book.

Here is what is happening by grade level.

PK4: Reading books written by women. Identifying the title of a book.

K/1: Digital Citizenship: Online Neighborhood Safety: Just like the real world, it is important to stay safe when traveling online.

Women’s History: Ms. Julie will be joining us for Women’s History activities.

Read Alouds: Books by women authors.

2nd/3rd: Digital Citizenship: Giving Credit: Students learn why it is important to give credit and the right ways to do it when they use images, words or ideas that belong to others.

Women’s History: Researching inspirational quotes made by women.

Research Support: Activism- Identifying primary resources.

Read Aloud: Socks by Beverly Cleary

4th/5th- Creator’s Rights & Responsibilities: Students will learn about copyright and explain how it applies to creative work, describe rights and responsibilities as creators, apply copyright principles to real life scenarios.

Women’s History- Researching inspirational quotes made by women.

Research Support- Exploring Discovery Education, Newsela, Britanica Online and the Library of Congress websites as primary resources for American Revolution and the Civil War.

Read Aloud: Tiger Skin Rug by Joan Haig

Checkout this blog on the Women’s Quarter Project: https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2022/01/trailblazing-american-women-on-quarters/

Women’s History Month Events and Activities at DCPL: https://www.dclibrary.org/womenshistory

Stay tuned for news about our Mother’s & Father’s Day Book Sale- it is the library’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Questions or comments? Please reach out to me at: lisa.juriga@k12.dc.gov

March Curriculum Update: Health and Physical Education

Pre K 4

Students are exploring the similarities and differences of the underhand and overhand throw.

K/1

Physical Education- We have started our very popular Parkour Unit. Our young students are learning the proper technique for jumping and landing. The students are learning about their center of gravity and how it affects balance.

Health- We are finishing up our 1st Grade 3rs Unit learning about gender roles. We will then begin our Growing Vegetable Soup Unit where students will learn about the similarities and differences between fruits and vegetables. They will also have the opportunity to taste some of the healthy foods we learn about.

2nd Grade

Physical Education- We have started our very popular Parkour Unit. Our young students are learning the proper technique for jumping and landing. The students are learning about their center of gravity and how it affects balance.

3rd Grade

Physical Education- We have started our very popular Parkour Unit. Our young students are learning the proper technique for jumping and landing. The students are learning about their center of gravity and how it affects balance.

Health- Students will begin learning about the systems of the body (respiratory, digestive, circulatory, muscular, skeletal, and nervous).

4th Grade

Physical Education- Students will explore the 5 health components of physical fitness as they begin to create a workout of their own.

Health- Students will begin learning about nutrition. We will discuss the affects that fruits and vegetables have on the human body. We will also learn about the foods that are seasonal in our area, where to purchase locally grown foods, and the importance of composting.

5th Grade

Physical Education- Students will explore the 5 health components of physical fitness as they begin to create a workout of their own.

Health- Students will be completing their 3Rs Unit. For our last two topics we will be discussing sexual orientation and communication with peers when making serious decisions.

Jason Shegda jason.shegda@k12.dc.gov

March Curriculum Update: Spanish

PK

Students are learning Spanish phonetics, students practice pronunciation and writing every day. Commands in Spanish are reinforced every day in class.

K1

Students are learning about the parts of the face/body. Students are also learning about traditional celebrations around Latin America (The Carnival).

Grade 2

Students will start a pen pal dynamic and will receive letters from second graders at Seaton ES. Students will write down brief information about themselves in Spanish, in exchange they will get a letter from a student at Seaton. Students will be encourage/guide to write down their letter in Spanish.

Grade 3

Students are learning about different countries in Latin America. Students are preparing presentations about a Latin American country they chose.

Grades 4 & 5

Students are learning vocabulary about climate change. Students in 5th grade are doing oral presentations on different climate change topics they chose. 4th grade is going to complete a writing project.

Rafael Lemos-Lugo rafael.lemos-lugo@k12.dc.gov