Robert Frost ES
2024-2025 Newsletter No. 5
Dear Parents and Families,
Happy February! As we enter the second semester, I want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we’ve made and set our sights on the exciting opportunities ahead. The second half of the school year is a critical time for all our students, and together, we can ensure that they continue to grow, thrive, and achieve their goals.
Attendance Matters
One of the most important factors in academic success is consistent attendance. Regular attendance not only ensures that your child doesn’t miss out on important lessons, but it also helps them stay engaged and connected with their teachers and classmates. As we move into the second semester, please make sure your child is at school every day, on time, and ready to learn. Missing even a few days can make a big difference in their progress, especially as we approach mid-year testing.
Stay Connected with ClassDojo
Communication between home and school is more important than ever, and we encourage all parents to stay connected with their child’s teachers through ClassDojo. This platform is a great way to track your child’s progress, get updates on assignments, and communicate directly with teachers. If you haven’t signed up yet, please do so as soon as possible to ensure you’re in the loop!
Online Platforms for Reading and Math
To support your child’s academic growth, we encourage you to take advantage of our online learning platforms for reading and math. Students want to practice at home on DreamBox, iReady and Lexia. These tools are designed to reinforce what they’re learning in class and provide extra practice at home. Regular use of these resources can help students stay sharp and make measurable improvements in their skills. Usage will improve their fluency and comprehension.
Mid-Year Testing
February also marks the season for mid-year assessments. These tests are a great way for us to monitor each student’s progress and ensure they’re on track. Students who attend school regularly and complete their assignments are in the best position to succeed. Please encourage your child to do their best and take these assessments seriously. The data we gather will help us tailor instruction to meet their needs.
Dress for Success
As we all know, February can still be chilly, and we want to make sure students are comfortable and able to focus in the classroom. Please make sure your child is dressed in layers so they can stay warm during the colder mornings and afternoons. A well-prepared student is a focused student!
Bus Behavior
We also want to remind students that the bus is an extension of the classroom. School rules apply while riding the bus, and students are expected to be respectful, orderly, attentive, and responsible. A positive and safe environment on the bus helps set the tone for a great school day, so please remind your child of the importance of following these expectations while traveling to and from school.
Reading Family Night
We’re excited to announce our upcoming Reading Family Night this month! This event will be a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, learn about strategies to support your child’s reading development at home, and discover new ways to encourage a love of reading. We look forward to seeing all of our families there for this important and engaging evening.
Thank you for your continued support. Let’s make this second semester a time of growth, collaboration, and success for all of our students. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warm regards,
Dr. Tracie Connelly
Principal
PEA: Ms. Ledesma
Greetings Robert Frost´s Family!
Look for updates and communications through ClassDojo.
Any suggestions please email me at sofia.ledesma@pgcps.org or send a dojo message!
Professional School Counselor: Kodi Ross
We came back from the Winter break learning about Growth Mindsets - how to build resilience and keep trying at things even when they seem difficult. Our students have learned a lot about positive self-talk and the power of the word "yet"!
In February, we will be doing social skill lessons and I will be starting a round of small groups focusing on emotional self-regulation to help students build mindfulness about their emotions.
Please continue to prioritize attendance - your student has to be in school each day to learn the material in order to succeed in their classes. It is also important to send notes when your student is absent due to illness so that their absences are coded as Excused/Lawful.
Kodi Ross - Professional School Counselor
Ms. Gordon's Reading/Testing Corner
Hello Fabulous Frost Families!
Wow! What a January it has been!
Lots of time to READ, READ, READ!
We have been busy with ACCESS testing for our Multilingual Learners, and i-Ready Diagnostic testing for our K - 5 students.
We have begun our Benchmark Testing in Math in K-5, and Reading in Gr. 3-5. Benchmark tests cover the information that was taught during the second quarter.
We are also working on DIBELS testing with our K-3 students which will inform our teachers about student progress with reading foundational skills.
None of these tests are given for a report card grade. They help teachers know what students have learned and what to focus on with them so that they will be successful!
Thank you again for ensuring a good night’s sleep for your children, and for encouraging them to do their best on the tests!
Happy Reading!
Ms. Gordon
Reading Specialist
Library Media Specialist: Ms. Banks
This month, we're diving into the fascinating world of biographies with our elementary students!
Through this engaging unit, students will explore the lives of influential figures, from scientists and artists to leaders and trailblazers, learning how their achievements have shaped history and our world today.
Aligned with AASL and Maryland College and Career Standards, this lesson encourages students to:
- Read, view, and listen to information in a variety of formats
- Make inferences and understand key details
- Gather and organize information ethically from reliable print and digital sources
- Take notes
- Provide proper credit to their resources
Mr. Tamoshunas' Math Corner
We are halfway through the school year and it is so so important for students in all grade levels to be fluent with their math facts! This will help them succeed in following grades and more importantly help build the foundation for success in careers, college, and life!
Mental Math is performing the math in your head without paper.
Kindergartner Parents- Have your child practice mental math to:
- Make 5 or even 10
1st Grade Parents- Have your child practice mental math to:
- Make 10 or even 20
2nd Grade Parents- Have your child practice mental math to:
- Make 20
- Skip count by 2's, 5's, or 10's (2,4,6,8 or 5,10,15, 20 or 10, 20, 30, 40...)
3rd-5th Grade Parents- Have your child practice mental math to:
- All Multiplication Facts from a times table from 0 to 10
Math Fluency Practice Links for Grades K-5 (Your child will need their computer)
If you attended Math Night, remember playing games that involve counting, adding, multiplying, or subtracting- simply by having your child perform those math operations correctly with two rolled dice before moving their pawn, picking up a card, or marking a spot in connect four will keep your child engaged and learning!
We are going to finish Benchmark II shortly and MCAP will be on April 7th.
And always remember you can always count on your math friends!
Best numeric wishes- always!
Mr. Tamoshunas
Math Resource Teacher
Kindergarten: Ms. Rowe & Ms. Stancil
Check out what we are learning in Kindergarten!
Math:
- We will begin to subtract numbers up to 10 using math manipulatives, pictures, and drawings
- We will continue to use our chromebooks to access the Dreambox app.
- Reading:
- We will continue utilizing the Really Great Reading series where we will begin units 15, 16, and 17.
- We will also learn 6 new heart words! Please continue to review the list of heart words that was sent home with your students.
- We will continue to use our chromebooks to access Lexia and the Really Great Reading Playground app.
- Science:
- We will learn about weather and pollution
- Social Studies:
- We will learn about maps and history
- We have also been busy completing iReady, DIBELS and Math Benchmark testing.
- For Valentine's Day we will have a celebration in class!
1st Grade Team: Ms. Jones & Ms. James
Winter has really been challenging our school year. Hopefully it will warm up soon. The 1st Graders made beautiful fish with Ms. Hall in Art Class.
In Science, we are learning how important sound is when communicating for animals and people.
In math, we have been learning subtraction strategies and we are moving on to learning how measurement and telling time is used in our daily life .
In reading we are continuing to learn new phonics concepts with Really Great Reading, while reading non-fiction on how people get involved in their community.
First graders are learning how important it is to understand that everything has a sequence in all subjects. This is covered in Social Studies by a unit on how lives change with time.
We are also discussing what order we do things like putting our socks on before our shoes😄 Help your child understand by asking them what should be done first, next and last.
2nd Grade: Ms. Toms & Mr. Berry
It may be cold outside, but that isn't stopping us in second grade!
We are hard at work with winter testing and learning new things!
Coming up this month in second grade:
- We will be expressing our opinions through writing
- Learn about problems with unknowns in math and solving to find the unknown
- Learn about our world and maps
- Look for patterns in the earth and understand what causes changes to the land
- Compare and contrast 8 year olds and babies and identify the differences in skills and abilities of both Students are required to complete 5 Dreambox lessons a week and meet their goal on Lexia.
Really Great Reading supports our phonics program so students should complete the open lessons each week.
Stay warm!
3rd Grade RELA & Social Studies: Ms. Jackson
In Grade 3 Language Arts, we have been reading and writing about how food gets to our table!
- Where does it come from? How is it grown?
- Who makes sure it is grown and transported to the grocery store?
- What is involved with growing a garden?
- We worked on identifying 3 Big Questions we have as we read.
- The author may include their opinion -- so readers question what the author is saying.
- We have been talking and writing about what we are reading and what our opinions are on various topics.
Upcoming Events:
- DIBELS Testing: January 13th-February 7th
- Benchmark #2: January 21st-February 7th
Third Grade Math, Science, & Health: Ms. Richards
We will be diving into the world of multiplication and division.
These are important skills, and I encourage you to help your child practice at home.
Simple games and flashcards can make studying fun!
Ms. Richards
Fourth Grade Math & Science: Ms. Bechtold
4th grade Math and Science in December
Math 4th grade - We are continuing to work on Division strategies.
We are moving into decimals for 3 weeks and then fractions.
Parents please continue to work with your kids on multiplication facts.
Science we will be learning about speed and energy and collisions.
5th Grade RELA & Social Studies: Dr. Harvin
Although February is a short month,
it will be exciting for our Grade 5 students!
We will wrap up our Benchmark Assessments at the beginning of the month. We will also participate in our first trip of the school year to Camp Schmidt on February 10th and 11th!
February is also Black History Month!
Finally, in RELA for quarter three, we are focusing on the essential questions of how genres affect the way a story is being told and how learning about natural disasters makes us safer.
In Social Studies we will continue to focus on the challenges of a new and expanding nation and begin looking at the challenges of American economic, political, and civil life.
Dr. Harvin
5th Grade Math & Science: Ms. Brady
What's Happening in 5th Grade Math & Health?
Math:
We are beginning Unit 5.5 Multiplying and Dividing Decimals by Decimals.
Please continue encouraging your child to practice their multiplication facts daily.
Health: Students are learning about Emotions and Feelings and how to self-regulate.
SEAD: Ms. Watts
Welcome to the third quarter!
This quarter, the students will focus on Social Emotional lessons about healthy relationships and interactions.
As our program continues to grow, . we are reminding the students how to be good friends, respect others and their belongings and to be accepting and understanding of differences. Please use the following links to continue the discussion about healthy relationships and interactions while conversing with your family and children at home:
Special Education: Ms. McCollum
Parents & Guardians,
Here are some:
Common Myths and Misconceptions about Inclusive Practices
Remember,
Physical Education: Ms. Fortunato
- Make commercial time, exercise time. Have kids get up and do jumping jacks or duck walks around the living room during commercial breaks of their favorite shows. No commercials? Just set a timer for a break in the middle of the episode.
- Play video games that incorporate movement. Host a family game night of Just Dance or Wii bowling- or similar games that get participants up and moving.
- Incorporate small dance parties throughout the day. Put on a favorite song and have kids dance around the room. Or have them dance along to a video on sites like Go Noodle.
- Do a clean-up sprint. Encourage kids to dust, vacuum or declutter as many rooms as they can in five or 10 minutes.
- Build an indoor obstacle course. Use household or garage items to encourage kids to crawl, jump, and wiggle their way to fun.
- Hold a scavenger hunt. Get kids moving throughout the house on a race to find items on individualized search lists.
School-Based Clinician: Tanya Anderson, LCSW-C
Welcome to Mrs. Anderson's Mental Health and Wellness Corner!
Click on the image -------------------------------------->
Mental Health and Wellness Corner
Mental Health Services Referral Link
Tanya Anderson, LCSW-C
School-Based Mental Health Clinician
