Dragon Tales
Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School
October 9, 2023
National Bullying Prevention Month
October in National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to focus and raise awareness on bullying. During this month, many groups across the country will release new resources, campaigns, and efforts aimed at bringing awareness to the issue of bullying.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. Bullying can also take place through technology, known as cyberbullying. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
There are many other types of aggressive behavior that don’t fit the definition of bullying. This does not mean that they are any less serious or require less attention than bullying. Rather, these behaviors require different prevention and response strategies.
On October 18th we will wear the color orange for Unity, as we take a stand against bullying.
Throughout the month of October, the Counselor, Ms. Maria Ayers provides our students with lessons on kindness, friendship, and bullying prevention.
PTO Board Members
Congratulations to our 2023-2024 elected PTO Board!
President- Nikki Cottingham
Vice President- Danielle Owens
Treasurer- Jamila Screven
Secretary- Brandi Carter
PAC- Leslie Smallwood
Fundraiser Coordinator- Shawana Hilliard
We look forward to a great year. PTO meetings will begin the month of November. Look for many opportunities to join and support Dr. Mudd PTO.
Calendar of Events
Perfect Attendance for September
Parent Liaison News
Volunteer Opportunities
During the 2023-2024 school year, there may be many opportunities for you to volunteer such as school events, field trips, reading/math partners, and more. In order to be an approved volunteer, you must complete a volunteer application and background check.
We are asking you to complete the attached form if you may be interested this year in volunteering so we can submit your name for the volunteer approval process. The background check can take up to 14 days or more for approval.
Please complete this form if you are interested in volunteering or chaperoning during the school year so Ms. Smallwood can send you the link for the volunteer approval process. The application must be completed on a desktop. Please do not use your cell phone to complete the application.
Contact Ms. Smallwood, parent liaison Lsmallwood@ccboe.com 301-645-3686 with any questions.
Dr. Mudd Families,
Here is some information on the Title 1 Thriving Threes & Me Program for the 2023-2024 school year. It is a fun and educational program geared for our early learners.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Grade Level Information
Kindergarten News
We enjoyed our pumpkin farm field trip on October 6th. Here are some pictures from our trip. Our Kindergarten Readiness Assessment has been completed and parents should get the results in the month of November.
1st Grade News
Hello First Grade Parents,
We are entering our second month of school. Students are doing well adjusting from Kindergarten to First grade.
As a reminder if there is a change in transportation, please send the change in writing to the office and the classroom teacher my noon.
Remember to practice sight words, a new set is sent home weekly. Also have your student read to you every day. It makes a big difference.
We have started a new math module, where students are solving word problems with addition and subtraction. You can practice adding and subtracting at home.
If we can work together at home and at school, we know students will continue to be successful.
As always if you have any questions please reach out to your child's teacher.
Thank you,
First Grade Team
2nd Grade News
Hello Second Grade Families!
In our next math unit, students add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and the relationship between addition and subtraction. They then use what they know to solve story problems. In the first section, “Add and Subtract” students use methods that make sense to them to help them solve addition and subtraction problems. They can draw diagrams and use connecting cubes to show their thinking. For example, students would be exposed to the following situation: Make trains with cubes. Find the total number of cubes you and your partner used. Show your thinking. Find the difference between the number of cubes you and your partner used. Show your thinking.
As the lessons progress, students analyze the structure of base-ten blocks and use them to support place-value reasoning. Unlike connecting cubes, base-ten blocks cannot be pulled apart. Students begin to think about two-digit numbers in terms of tens and ones. To add using base-ten blocks, they group the tens and the ones, and then count to find the sum.
Over the next three weeks, our class will be learning about working out conflicts and disagreeing with others in a respectful way. We will read about how to get along and compromise, and even learn tips about settling differences from a conflict-solving superhero.
We are going on a field trip October 17, 2023 (Alexander, Bland, and Buitrago-Curtis) and October 19, 2023 (Foster) to the James Richmond Science Center. A paper permission slip is not required for this field trip. There was not one sent home.
We are using laptops to practice math and reading skills. Ms. Bland is requesting students to bring in headphones if they have them.
As the weather is changing, students can bring in a light jacket or hoodie if they are cold in the classroom.
During the day, we have a snack after specials because lunch is not until 1:00 PM. Please send in a small snack (chips, crackers, cookies, etc.) if you would like your student to have a snack at that time.
Thank you for all you do!
Ms. Alexander, Ms. Bland, Mrs. Buitrago-Curtis, and Mr. Foster
3rd Grade News
Hello Parents,
We first wanted to say we have had a great time dressing up for our spirit weeks. Thank you to all for celebrating with us.
Math
- Please continue to work on multiplication facts
- Ask the students to draw equal groups or arrays to help them solve problems
Reading
- Make sure students are reading nightly
- Ask questions to help your child understand the text
- Have your child write a letter to a character to help reach our writing goal
General
- Please send in water bottles
- Check folders and agenda books daily
- Please check parent vue for grades
- If you have any questions, please email your child's teacher
4th Grade News
In math, we are continuing unit 2 on fractions. We will be working on understanding that fractions are a part of a whole by using models, fraction bars, and number lines.
In reading, we are working on identifying the author’s purpose for writing a text, identifying the point of view of a text (1st, 2nd, or 3rd person), and looking at literary elements (characters, setting, plot). We will practice monitoring and clarifying as we read to check for understanding. Additional information on vocabulary and spelling words was sent home with students in black Tuesday folders.
Light Jackets: With the weather starting to change, please ensure that your child brings a light jacket to school. While the classrooms may be a bit cooler, winter coats are not necessary at this time. We want to make sure our students are comfortable and able to focus on their studies.
Student Birthdays and Celebrations: We love celebrating our students' special moments! To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, we kindly request that you bring pre-packaged treats for birthday celebrations. This helps us maintain a healthy environment for everyone. Please remember to inform the teacher in advance if you plan to bring treats, so we can make appropriate arrangements.
Feel free to reach out to the team via email/Talking Points, or schedule a phone conference as needed.
Ms. Butler, Ms. Doss, Mrs. Forbes, Ms. Williams
5th Grade News
Please review the grading policy in your ParentVUE emails. They were also sent home with students for review.
If you are interested in volunteering for any 5th grade field trips, you must complete a background check and be on an approved volunteer list. Reach out to your homeroom teacher to obtain documents related to this protocol. Approval could take up to two weeks. Also, please complete the volunteer opportunities form using the QR code in the Parent Liaison News.
Our students were selected to present Morning Announcements to the school for the first four weeks of October. Look at our wonderful leaders and announcers!
Photos are below.
Special Area News
Library News
Happy Fall Readers! Here are some library announcements and reminders.
Reminder: Storybook Pumpkin Contest
Students will decorate pumpkins as their favorite Storybook characters! Pumpkins are due October 16th. The winner of the contest will be chosen when voted for by their peers. Voting will conclude October 30th. Pumpkins will be sent home, October 31st. The grand-prize winner will receive a book character plush, a book and a certificate.
Contest Guidelines:
· The contest is open to grades pre-k through 5th.
· Pumpkins must be made of synthetic materials due to perishability of real pumpkins.
· Pumpkins must be a storybook character that is appropriate for grades 5 and under. Overly scary pumpkins and pumpkins unrelated to reading will be disqualified and sent home.
· Pumpkins must come with a label of the character’s name and name of the book or book series for voting purposes.
· Student’s name and grade must be labeled on the pumpkin.
For storybook pumpkin decorating ideas, visit www.pinterest.com. See example.
The Smart Cookie
Pinned to Pinterest by NessaMadeMoments
Book Checkout
· Students in grades k-5 have begun to check out their books. All student’s books will remain in their classroom for the remainder of first quarter.
· Kindergarten through second-grade will keep their books at school for the entire year.
· Starting second quarter, grades 3-5 will be able to take their library books home. Some teachers may elect to continue to require students to keep their library books at school.
Benefits of Reading with Your Child
So, when students take home their library books, do we know if they actually read them? What if the book is too hard? What if your child can read the book, but is unmotivated to start or finish the book?
One thing that will be very beneficial is reading with your child. According to pediatric dentist, Dr. Varima Garma, there are 13 benefits of reading with your child (https://dentistmaa.com/benefits-of-reading-to-children/).
1. Increases listening ability
2. Increases the child’s vocabulary
3. Increases bonding
4. Enhances reading skills
5. Increases concentration
6. Develops imagination
7. Helps in calming and relaxing
8. Develops cognitive skills
9. Develops empathy
10. Better performance at school
11. Keep them away from gadgets
12. Improves communication
13. It is fun
What Can this Look Like?
You can read the book for them or listen while they read to you. You can take turns reading as well. Don’t be afraid to help with unfamiliar words. I promise…it’s not cheating. In time, the more you practice together, the more phonetical patterns begin to make sense and they will recognize the same words or similar words on their own.
1. Read a story at bedtime
2. Incorporate 20 minutes of family DEAR time. DEAR means “Drop Everything And Read”
3. Talk about the library book. What was it about? Is it fiction or non-fiction? What happened to the main character? What was the setting? Did you agree with the ending? Can you tell me any facts you learned from your non-fiction book? Can you locate the table of contents? Where is the index and how is it used? Would you recommend this book to another reader?
With today’s busy daily expectations, finding time to read with our students can be difficult. We hope you can create time to read with your child. Take pictures of your reading time and share how your family is able to make it work. Send your feedback to Mrs. Wall, media specialist at jwall@ccboe.com. We’ll share the good news with our school community on Class Dojo and school newsletters.
Art News
For Art, we had an excellent art presentation last week from kindergarten to 5th grade. Each student had a chance to present a meaningful masterpiece from their portfolio to their classmates. Students also decided whether to display their masterpiece in class or take it home.
Pre-K is currently working on a shape collage.
Kindergarten will create a clay sculpture of a person that shows an action.
1st Grade will create a building collage using a variety of shapes.
2nd Grade will create a clay pot similar to nature.
3rd Grade will create an art piece of a group of animals in the fall.
4th Grade will work on drawing a group of people that represents an activity.
5th Grade will design Zentangles.
Computer News
Students will be working with Ozobots throughout the month of October. Students will specifically be working with Color Codes and how to use colors to program their Ozobots. This link below is demonstrates exactly what we are doing in class and how the Ozobot works.
https://static.ozobot.com/assets/7a4d3f8f-ozobot-color-codes-guide-2023.pdf
Support Staff News
Hi Dr. Mudd Family,
In honor of National Bullying Prevention Month, we wanted to share information regarding what bullying is and the warning signs that may indicate such behavior. According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.”
In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
· An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
· Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.
There are three types of bullying:
· Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Verbal bullying includes:
o Teasing
o Name-calling
o Inappropriate sexual comments
o Taunting
o Threatening to cause harm
· Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying includes:
o Leaving someone out on purpose
o Telling other children not to be friends with someone
o Spreading rumors about someone
o Embarrassing someone in public
· Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. Physical bullying includes:
o Hitting/kicking/pinching
o Spitting
o Tripping/pushing
o Taking or breaking someone’s things
o Making mean or rude hand gestures
In order to understand what bullying is, it is also imperative to understand what it is not as well. These items listed below are sourced from starnashville.org. Though they may indicate risk leveled behavior, they are not defined as bullying.
· Simply disliking someone is not an act of bullying: It is human nature to not like every person you encounter. While it may not feel good to know someone doesn’t like you, verbal and non-verbal messages of “I don’t like you” are not acts of bullying. It is important to remember that while you may not like everyone, everyone deserves to be respected (Safe From Bullies).
· Exclusion: Exclusion can be a very unpleasant but, just like you won’t like everyone you encounter, it is normal for people to gather with their friends or play a game at the playground with just their friends. However, acts such as shunning, alienating, and leaving someone out on purpose can be considered acts of bullying (Pacer).
· Making a joke about someone: Occasionally being teased is not uncommon and when everyone involved is not offended it is not considered bullying. However, when the intention of the act is to be hurtful or harmful it becomes bullying (Pacer).
· Arguments: People disagree about a variety of different things. However, when a power imbalance exists, or the intent is to be mean or control someone else that is bullying. (Pacer) So, in situations when a power imbalance does not exist or both kids do not perceive a power imbalance this is not considered bullying (StopBullying).
· Isolated acts of harassment, aggressive behavior, intimidation, or meanness: Even though bullying and harassment go hand in hand, not all harassment is bullying or vice versa. The federal civil rights law states, harassment is unwelcome conduct based on a protected class that is severe, pervasive, or persistent and creates a hostile environment (StopBullying). So, unless the behavior is severe in its harm, a single incident does not typically constitute bullying.
Feel free to let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We are always here and happy to support you any way that we can!
-Ms. Maria Ayers, School Counselor and Mrs. Nikkia Williams-Deleon, School Psychologist
Instructional Leadership Team News
Testing
iReady testing is coming to a close! This year, parents will be able to access a digital report from the iReady platform in Clever. Information regarding this report will be available soon. There will be an iReady zoom meeting also to learn more about iReady scores. Please know that Dr. Mudd students are able to access and use iReady at home using their clever login information. Clever | Log in Use this link and log in to access iReady and practice those skills at home!
KRA is coming to an end also! Reports will be available around mid-November. Please be on the lookout for this information!
Gifted
We are so excited to work with our enrichment groups this year. Teachers are pulling small groups and working on engaging group activities with students as well. Our accelerated students are working hard, and we are proud of their efforts.
Supporting Your Child with a Problem-Based Curriculum
Learning how to learn in a problem-based classroom can be a challenge for students at first. Over time, students gain independence as learners when they share their rough drafts of ideas, compare their existing ideas to new things they are learning, and revise their thinking. Many students and families tell us that while this was challenging at first, becoming more active learners in math helped them build skills to take responsibility for their learning in other settings. Here are some ideas for encouraging your child:
- If you’re not sure how to get started on a problem, that’s okay! What can you try? Could you draw a picture or diagram? Could you make a guess? Could you describe an answer that’s definitely wrong?
- If you’re feeling stuck, write down what you notice and what you wonder, or a question you have, and then share that when it’s time to work with others or discuss.
- Your job when working on problems in this class is to come up with ideas and share them. You don’t have to be right or confident at first, but sharing your thinking will help everyone learn. If that feels hard or scary, it’s okay to say, “This is just an idea . . .” or “I’m not really sure but I think . . .”
- Whether you’re feeling stuck or feeling confident with the material, listen to your classmates and ask them about their ideas. One way that learning happens is by comparing your ideas to other people’s ideas.
We are excited for you to be able to support your child in their journey toward knowing, using, and enjoying mathematics.
The Judy Center Early Learning Hub is a FREE resource for families with children ages birth-5 years old where families can participate in family learning experiences and receive services and support.
Judy Center services include:
· Day time and evening Play Groups
· Home visiting program for children birth to 3 years old
· Developmental and Health Screenings
· Dental services
· Family engagement activities
· Referrals to a variety of community partners
If you are an expectant mother or a parent/caregiver with a child between the ages of 0-5 years old and would like to receive information about our programs and services, please scan the QR code to provide your contact information.