January Monthly Update

QUICK FACTS:

Chronic Absenteeism (missing more than 10% of days enrolled for any reason) is the single strongest predictor of dropping out before graduation.

Students who drop out are more likely to be poor, unemployed, have substance abuse problems, be teen parents and be involved with the law.

Students who miss a month or more of kindergarten are more likely to perform poorly in 1st grade, particularly in reading.

By 6th grade, a pattern of chronic absence is a predictor of high school dropout rates.

Research shows that a student's success in 9th grade is directly linked to the likelihood the student will successfully graduate high school with a diploma by 12th grade.

(Statistics courtesy of The Children's Initiative)

• Let your child know that you think school is important.

• Make sure your child goes to school regularly and on time.

• Take an interest in your child's school work.

• Set a regular bedtime schedule. Age should not be a factor.

• Provide your child with plenty of time to get ready for school.

• Provide regular times and a quiet, clean area for doing homework.

• If your child starts to miss school, speak to the school and let your child know that he/she must attend.

• Have regular communication with the school.

• If your child is ill, contact the school and explain the reason for the absence.

• Don't expect your older children to stay home and act as babysitters for younger children.

• Set good examples and enforce rules.

• Include regular exercise and a balanced diet in your child's daily activities.

• Post the school calendar and notes on the refrigerator, or another prominent location.

• Limit and balance extracurricular activities.

• Keep open communication lines with your child.

Talking to your child, regarding the importance of attendance, is another support of being responsible. Our motto at Glen Ave: "Daily and on-time attendance, equals academic success."

More on Daily Attendance: Children who miss school miss out on opportunities to learn, build lasting friendships, and develop the skills and attitudes needed to become good citizens and valued employees. There is a clear connection between student attendance and student performance in school. Data shows that higher attendance equals higher achievement for all students

January is a milestone month because it is when students take their second iReady and MAP diagnostic for the school year. These diagnostics show how much your child has learned since September. It is a local assessment that all students in all Wicomico County elementary schools will be taking. It is a good indicator of how your child will do on MCAP in the spring (Grades 3-5).

We want to encourage our students to do their very best to show what they know and hope you will encourage them to do the same. Things you can do at home to prepare them for the diagnostic is to make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep the night before, eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the test, come to school on time, and take the assessment seriously.

Students who meet their mid year growth target will be invited to a Glow Party that will take place in February during the school day. Testing will take place the week of January 17th and the week of January 22nd. If you have any questions about the iReady or MAP diagnostic assessments, please contact your child’s teacher.

MCAP ELP - January 9th-February 16th

iReady - January 17th & 18th

MAP - January 19th & 22nd

Winter-Spring Schedule

FREE To Wicomico County Students 4th & 5th Grade

10 am - 12 pm

Location Varies

Register Early - Space is sometimes LIMITED

Pre-registration is Required

See the link below for more information & registration

We are excited to be hosting the Aquatics Mobile Science Lab for our scholars. This opportunity is paid for using Title 1 funds! This will take place the week of January 22-26.

The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation’s Mobile Science Lab Program teaches elementary students in Maryland the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives. Each of our three themed labs feature a wide variety of 50-minute experiments and investigations as well as 25-minute mini-lessons based in agriculture. These are all aligned with NGSS, Environmental Literacy Standards, Science & Engineering Practices, and CCSS. Our Aquatic lab with investigations on the relationship between water and agriculture.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are thrilled to announce the pilot of Mystery Science as a potential science resource. You can explore Mystery Science lessons and resources at www.mysteryscience.com. For more information or questions please contact Hemalatha Bhaskaran, Supervisor of Science, at hbhaskar@wcboe.org.

We are excited to share some news regarding an innovative step we are taking to enhance the educational experience of students in elementary mathematics. The world of education is ever evolving, and it is our responsibility to ensure that our students are equipped with the most current and effective learning resources.

In our constant pursuit of providing the best possible education, we have carefully selected two sets of new instructional materials that we believe hold the potential to significantly enrich the learning experience of our students. We are currently piloting these materials in selected elementary classrooms.

We greatly value the input of our parents and guardians, as your perspective is invaluable in shaping the direction of our educational initiatives. As part of this pilot program, we are inviting you to review the materials and offer feedback. Your insights and observations will play a crucial role in helping us assess the potential of these resources for wider implementation within Wicomico County Public Schools.

Please use the links below to view the two potential programs. After you view the materials, we invite you to complete a survey which will allow us to capture the feedback of stakeholders like you. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer Davis, Supervisor of Elementary Mathematics, at 410-677-4478 or jldavis@wcboe.org.

The mission of the Division of Student and Family Services is to support the total educational experience, thus assuring all students the opportunity to develop skills essential for successful learning, healthy physical/emotional/social growth and gainful employment. Please click the link to view the available resources.

Riding a school bus is a privilege. With this privilege comes your responsibility for good conduct, proper care of the bus and respect for the rights of others. All Board of Education policies and regulations are in effect while riding the bus as well as attending school. Please remember to treat others the way you wish to be treated.

Some of the student expectations are:

• Follow the directions of the bus driver at all time
• Sit in assigned seat and remain seated while the bus is in motion
• Sit facing forward and keep feet, legs and objects out of the aisle and inside the bus
• Keep area clean and do not damage or destroy the bus
• No eating or drinking on the bus
• Refrain from any disruptive behavior which could distract the bus driver
• Refrain from using curse words or other inappropriate language toward the driver or other students

Violation of these rules may result in the suspension of riding privileges. The driver of the bus has the authority and responsibility to enforce these rules.

The following discipline procedure has been established for Wicomico County Schools. Students have been made aware of this procedure.

The discipline procedure is as follows:

• 1st offense - Referral to the principal's office. Discipline at the discretion of the principal/designee.
• 2nd offense - Referral to the principal's office. Discipline at the discretion of the principal/designee.
• 3rd offense - Referral to Transportation Office. Automatic conference with Director of Transportation Services/or designee, parent, student, (and driver if deemed necessary). Student suspended from the bus until a satisfactory conference is held. During this conference, a decision will be made as to how long the student will remain off the bus.
• 4th offense - Automatic 30 school days off the bus.
• 5th Offense - Automatic removal for the remainder of the school year.

Any time a driver deems it necessary, a driver may suspend a student's riding privilege for 1 day without the approval of the school. The contractor/driver must contact the parent/guardian, stating the reason for removal and the day the student may not ride the school bus.

All students who ride a bus have had a bus expectations meeting in the cafeteria with their bus drivers. Students were reminded of their expectations and had a chance to listen to their bus drivers express their concerns about their safety and well-being while transporting them to and from school. We had a high number of bus referrals in Quarter 1 and have been working toward decreasing that number in Quarter 2. Students who receive a bus referral in Quarter 2 also lose 3 Dojo points. Dojo points are used to purchase items from the school store and participate in different schoolwide events.

Please help us remind your bus riding students of their expectations while being transported to and from school.

Teachers Who Make a Difference is a monthly honor designed to recognize local teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students. Each month a winning teacher is chosen by selection committee from all submitted nominations. Teacher nominations are open to any person on the Delmarva Peninsula, including students, parents, teachers, friends, and acquaintances of nominees. To nominate a teacher, complete and submit the form found on the Contest page of 47abc.com. The nomination period is open from September 18, 2023 through May 31, 2024. Each month (October 2023 through May 2024), a teacher is selected from all 2023-2024 entries and is recognized by 47ABC as a “Teachers Who Make a Difference” award winner. Employees of Marquee Broadcasting, Inc. and its affiliates and associated companies, sponsors and their immediate families are not eligible to participate. All submissions become the property of Marquee Broadcasting, Inc. Marquee Broadcasting, Inc., their agencies, and parent companies assume no responsibility or liability for injuries incurred during the acceptance or use of this prize and is not responsible for any lost or missing entries.

Congratulations to Ms. Williams and Ms. Greenan for being Glen Avenue's Quarterfinalists for Teacher of the Year!

Announced January 9, 2024

Congratulations to Ms. Greenan! She is Glen Avenue's Semifinalist for Wicomico County Teacher of the Year! We wish her the best of luck!

Announced January 12, 2024

What we are doing this month!

• Fitness and Endurance

• Dance and Rhythm

• Mindfulness and Yoga

• Floor Hockey skills

Social Emotional Learning

In PE we emphasize: Integrity, Honesty, Sportsmanship

*To help your child be successful in our class please make sure they are prepared coming to school with sneakers and comfortable clothing on their assigned gym days!

As we ring in the New Year, our young artists will be learning about different new year traditions and customs from around the world.

*If you or anyone in your family still uses large wall calendars, specifically the ones with the beautiful landscapes, I will be collecting any old ones for a 4th grade lesson on artistic space.

I am SO proud of all my Band & Strings students! Our studio recording day was a success! 🎥🎵 Keep an eye out for our Digital Winter Showcase Video - The link is posted on our ClassDojo School Story!

This month in music class, we will:

• Sing with Solfege symbols

• Use xylophones to play with various songs

• Practice our rhythm reading!

• Celebrate the Chilly season with songs about the Winter weather

This past month, our Glen Gators have been working hard in Media, using Pebble Go to learn all about the origins of the December holidays and how people around the world celebrate!

Parents please be on the lookout for overdue book notices or fines that have been sent home this past week. Encourage your child to search for these items and return them to Ms. Williams in the media center. Students will either have to return these overdue books or pay the fines for lost books before they are able to check out another book. Thank you for your assistance in this matter!

Attention 4th Grade Families: I am excited to announce that 4th grade classes will participate in a Poppin’ Readers Challenge for the month of January! Please see the flyer below for more information, and stay tuned!🍿📚

Happy New Year! Second graders will continue to shine in 2024. We will wrap up our Pinky and Rex fiction series and begin working with a narrative nonfiction and nonfiction unit about immigration. Students will read to learn about many journeys to America as they learn more about the author's purpose and how readers connect details to understand the big ideas in text. In math, scholars will dive into place value and use this knowledge as they solve more complex number stories. In science we will learn all about matter in the world around us. January is also when we will show our growth on both our I-ready assessment and MAP. Please continue to read at home with your scholar and discuss what you read. We also are encouraging scholars to practice sorting and counting coins at home to reinforce this tough skill. Happy 2024!

Happy New Year! In January, third grade will be reading Tales Our Aubuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection. We will be recounting the stories, discussing characters, and explaining the folktale lessons. Please have your scholar read for 20 minutes each night and practice retelling what they read. In math, we will be starting our unit on Measurement and Geometry. We will be measuring, exploring geometric attributes, and calculating perimeter and area. Please have your scholar practice multiplication math facts at home. In science, we are still working on our Forces and Interactions unit. We will be learning about gravity, friction, and different types of interactions.

In the month of January, we will be taking our mid-year IReady (Reading) and MAP (Math) test. We can’t wait to see how much progress they have made so far!

Happy 2024! January is a busy month in 4th grade! In ELA we will be starting a new novel, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. We will be learning about Chinese Folktales and we will connect the lessons learned in those folktales to our lives. In Math, we will be exploring Multiplication and Division of multidigit numbers. We will also spend time exploring fractions and fraction equivalence. In Science we will be learning about Weathering and Erosion and how weathering and erosion changes a landscape over time. Please make sure your child takes time to read for at least 20 minutes each night. Your child also needs to practice their multiplication and division facts for at least 10 minutes daily. These tasks completed at home will help your child tremendously at school!

Great things are happening in the Fifth Grade!

In math we will be starting a new unit on decimal place value. The students will work with decimal operations and look to see how fractions and decimals are alike. So be sure to ask about tenths and hundredths all month long! We are also starting a new unit in reading regarding the young heroes of the civil rights movement. We will be looking at some of those activists that did what they could even though they were young. Social studies is very exciting because we are moving on from the Constitution and starting to explore westward expansion. We will study the ways that our country developed and how we became the country we are today. Finally, in science, we are going to be examining the life sciences. We will grow seeds, study food webs and look at the connections between plants and animals. This is always a very exciting part of the year, so we look forward to being successful in 2024! Happy New Year!

In January our scholars will start a new unit called: Keeping My Body Healthy. The scholars will learn what it means to be fit. They will participate in activities to learn that fit people make good choices. They eat fruits and vegetables and they exercise. Scholars will write about how they can keep their bodies healthy, learn to make a healthy snack and use manipulatives that reflect making good choices. At home, please encourage your child to think about what they can do to make good choices.

Please continue to check on DOJO for messages and photos. Feel free to reach out to Mrs. Krider with any questions or concerns.

Now that the New Year is in full swing, I wanted to recommend that if you have not scheduled an annual well-check appointment for your student, now is a great time to remember to call the pediatrician’s office. Annual visits are part of preventative measures to ensure that your student is in the best possible health to be all that they can be! Also, if your child does not have a primary medical provider, now is the time to consider it. A primary doctor, a nurse practitioner or a physician's assistant can follow your student closely and they have a better knowledge of your child’s medical history and lifelong health, whereas the Immediate Med Centers and local hospitals only have a small snapshot of your child’s acute care needs. The primary care provider is key for making sure that your student’s overall health and services do not fall through the cracks. If you have questions about which pediatrician’s office to choose, you can speak to family and friends that you trust, or you can google local area pediatricians or you can call the Wicomico County Health Department at 410-749-1244 for more information. Wishing you and your family a Healthy New Year!

Congratulations to the class winners and good luck in the schoolwide spelling bee!

4th Grade

Ruth Janvier (Ms. Farrell)

Addiasa Duroseau (Ms. Manchin)

Criss Estime (Ms. Evans)

MaKenzie Tilghman (Ms. Eichhorn)

Savannah Simpson (Ms. Bradley)

5th Grade

Joshua Benoit (Mr. Field)

Hyamansky Benoit (Ms. Kelly)

Skylynn Grasson (Ms. Auvil)

Elisha Trader (Ms. Lovely)

Elijah Jean (Ms. Green)

December's students of the month were selected for being a "Jolly Ole Kiddo" and showing a good mood and a positive attitude. Students were celebrated with hot chocolate with marshmallows and a book from the book vending machine! Congratulations!

2nd Grade

Ms. Ryan - Dadna Leonard

Ms. Greenan - Ahrianie Perez

Ms. Branyon/Sutton - Kevin Armstrong

Ms. Beetler - Eugene Pierre

Ms. Glading - Bos’tyn Walters

3rd Grade

Ms. George - Braelynn Webster

Ms. Moziek - Darwin Gallardo

Ms. Steele - Layla Quailes

Ms. Wise - Yamen Osman

Ms. Shue - Beatrise Dorvilus

4th Grade

Ms. Manchin - Eva Hayes

Ms. Evans - Cristian Hernandez-Alvarez

Ms. Bradley - Savannah Simpson

Ms. Eichhorn - Ja’zie Beavers

Ms. Farrell - Bry’ell Harmon

5th Grade

Ms. Green - Daisey Mendoza Martinez

Ms. Lovely - Elisha Trader

Ms. Kelly - Talia Belizaire

Ms. Auvil - Skylynn Grasso

Mr. Field - Charlie Dervil

Krider-Cemarlie Gerard

Kids Read Now is a program where students select 8 books they would like to read over the summer. A book is mailed each week personally to the child. Once they have read the book, a parent/guardian reports that they read it via - scanning a QR code, sending a text message, calling the company number or logging onto the website. Over the summer Glen Avenue School read 701 books!!

92 students at Glen Avenue completed the challenge of reading all 8 books. (Last year we only celebrated 30 students.) Of those 92 students- 12 of them have completed the challenge two years in a row and 8 three years in a row.

Click the link below to view all 92 students that achieved this amazing feat!

These students were celebrated in the cafeteria on Thursday, January 18th!

Due to inclement weather and potentially hazardous road conditions, Wicomico County Public Schools will dismiss 2 hours early today (Tuesday, January 9th). All after-school and evening activities are cancelled.

Wicomico County Public Schools will have a 90-minute delay on Wednesday, January 10th, to allow time to evaluate road conditions. Updates will be provided tomorrow morning if needed. Doors will open on Wednesday at 10 am. Instruction begins at 10:30 am. Breakfast will NOT be served at school.

Due to inclement weather conditions, Wicomico County Public Schools has cancelled all after-school and evening activities for Tuesday, January 16th. Please be safe.

Glen Avenue’s doors will open at 10 am! Instruction will begin at 10:30 am. Breakfast will NOT be served at school.

Glen Avenue will dismiss at 1:35 pm!

Monday, January 22nd. Wicomico County Public Schools will have a 90 min delay due to road Conditions. Glen Avenue's doors will open at 10am. Breakfast will NOT be served at school.

Please look in your students book bag for a flyer about our Great Chili Cook Off. We invite all to join us Wednesday, January 24th for a fun family night enjoying dinner, games and crafts together. Come ready to stuff the ballet boxes of your favorite chili with dollars and change! Every chili will have a charity that they are representing. All the money collected will go to the charities of our teams. If chili is not your favorite, no worries. We will have a hot dog dinner ready as well. And because the weather is getting "chilly", ALL students who attend will receive a new warm and cozy blanket thanks to our faith based partners at LiFT Church.

Can't wait to See you at 5:30 on January 24th.

As a Title I school, we are required to inform you of your right to request information on the qualifications of the teacher and/or the instructional assistant who will be working with your child. Please rest assured that we have worked diligently to ensure that all staff members meet the requirements set forth by the Maryland State Department of Education. If you would like to exercise your right to request this information, you may email or send a letter using US mail to the Director of Human Resources or to my attention. You will receive a response from the Director of Human Resources within 30 days of the original request. We look forward to serving you and your student this year.

Title 1 schoolwide schools create school improvement plans (SIPs) to provide a quality program to meet the needs of all students. The SIP is written with input from teachers, parents, administrators, and other community members. Multiple data points including attendance, assessments, discipline reports and overall climate of the school are reviewed to identify areas of strength and challenge. Strategies are written into the plan to focus on the needs of the students.

However, there may be times when everyone is not in agreement with the priorities or direction of the plan and may feel more attention should have been directed to other areas. In these circumstances, you are encouraged to share your comments and/or concerns regarding your school’s SIP with us.

Brochures

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Compact

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