Baltimore Highlands Elementary

6th - Report Cards Distributed

17th - Schools Closed Presidents' Day

28th - Coffee with Principal Goldbloom

Dear Families,

As always at Baltimore Highlands Elementary, the safety of our students is our top priority. With this in mind, we will be updating our procedure when admitting people to the school. We will be greeting all visitors and asking for the name of the visitor and the name of the student that the visitor is here for. Please be sure to bring the proper identification when picking up your child. Please be patient with us as this is for the safety of our students and staff. When visiting the school, please ensure that the door is closed behind you and that no one else enters with you. All visitors must buzz in and be cleared by the main office before entering the building. We appreciate your cooperation and patience in helping us to keep everyone safe.

Thank you,

Mrs. Goldbloom

Pre-K

In the month of February, Pre-K is working on letters and sounds for Nn, Ll, Cc, and Jj. In the area of phonemic awareness, we are counting syllables, blending word parts, discriminating rhyming words, producing rhyming words, and stretching individual sounds in words with 2 or 3 sounds. In Math, we are identifying numbers 1-15 and creating sets to match. We are doing simple addition by counting on from a number. We are also measuring using nonstandard measurement tools to determine weight and length.

Kindergarten

In the month of February, Kindergarten will be reading biographies and other informational texts about inspiring people who did not give up when faced with challenges. We will be writing personal narratives about times that we learned how to do something new, and did not give up. The Module for ELA is "I CAN DO IT!". In math, we will be learning about two-dimensional shapes and using them to compose other shapes. By the end of February, we will be able to correctly identify shapes by using their given attributes. We also will be completing the science unit titled "Weather Wonders". This unit will allow students to understand the weather, the effects it has on humans and problem solve real world situations caused by weather. Our field trip to the Aquarium on February 5th, will give our students background knowledge about animals and their habitats that we will be learning about in the coming months. Thank you for reading with your child nightly, practicing sight word at home and helping them to be best prepared for school!

1st Grade

Happy February! Hope everyone is doing great! In Math, we are working on geometry. Students are learning to identify shape names and their attributes. We are starting a new Science unit called "X Marks the Spot". Students will observe patterns within nature to solve a problem and find missing treasure! In Phonics, we will continue to learn letter sounds and spellings. We will continue to work on long vowels and their many spellings. Continue to work with your child to recognize and spell words with these letters. In Reading, we have started our sixth module called "Celebrate America" and will be learning about holidays and symbols. In Writing, we will be writing a narrative about our favorite holidays. Be on the lookout for information on the 100th day of school and a Valentine's Class Party. Hope you have a fabulous month and let us know if you have any questions!

2nd Grade

Reading- In ELA over the next three weeks, our class will be learning about different kinds of weather and how weather may change from season to season. We will read books and poems about weather and watch a video of a cool weather experiment. Children will also write a poem about how the daily weather affects them.

Math- In math, our class will be representing numbers using groups of 1s, 10s, and 100s to demonstrate an understanding of place value to 1,000; using models, sketches, and numbers to add and subtract within 1,000; mentally adding and subtracting multiples of 10 and 100 to and from any number within 1,000 and solving money story problems involving pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters using correct notations.

3rd Grade

This month in third grade we are starting to prepare for MAP and MCAP testing. In doing so, we are honing our skills and learning how to apply them to test like questions.

Reading-In Reading, we are exploring animal behaviors and their adaptations, while practicing reading skills such as author's craft, text features and text structure. We will research a writing piece about a specific animal and their adaptations that help them survive harsh weather.

Math-In Math, we are starting to learn about division. We will take what we know about multiplication and shift those ideas to division. This helps us explore the idea of area and creates a greater sense of word problems.

4th Grade

ELA - Module 6 "Marvels of Nature" In February, our 4th graders will listen to, read, and view a variety of texts that expose them to information about the Earth's natural wonders. We will focus on informational text that will give us an opportunity to identify texts and graphic features, central ideas, and text structure. These strategies will develop our ability to understand unfamiliar text. In Module 6, students will explore poetry and literary nonfiction to build knowledge across genres. Building our vocabulary will continue throughout this module to develop strong readers. The students will learn about our world and it's unique places with amazing wonders of land, ocean and sky. Students will end this module with an assessment.

Math - Unit 5 "Geometry and Measurement" This month in Math, our 4th graders will begin unit 5. We will identify, draw, compare, analyze, and classify angles. The students will study angles in detail. Making a connection between angles and two-dimensional figures. This study of angles will develop from understanding two very basic benchmark angles, the "right angle" and the "obtuse angle". This knowledge will help them determine the measure of interior angles using a tool called pattern blocks. We will transition from using pattern blocks to measure angles into using a protractor. Students will transition into examining circles in which they will identify parts of a circle. They will learn that there is a 360 degree measurement in a full turn. We will end the Unit with an assessment that will assess the skills mastered in this module.

5th Grade

Reading- As we transition into the third quarter of the year, we are entering a new module as well. In this module, students will listen to, read, and view a variety of texts and media that present students with information about how people create and share different forms of art. We will be focusing on the genre of biographies to provide students with opportunities to identify central ideas, point of view, author's craft, figurative language, and literary elements in order to better understand unfamiliar texts. As they encounter these various texts and literary skills, students will learn about the powerful impact of various art forms.

Math- We are saying goodbye to decimals and saying welcome back to fractions as we enter a new unit in math! In Unit 5, students extend their understandings of multiplication and division to working with fractions. In the beginning of the module, students will review and extend skills and concepts that were first introduced in 4th grade to solidify their understanding of whole-number-by-fraction multiplication. As they continue to dive deeper into the module, they will use rectangular arrays to model and solve fraction by fraction multiplication problems. Towards the end of the module, we will begin to introduce division of whole numbers by unit fractions, which will allow the students to tackle concepts that are challenging.

As a community, Baltimore Highlands Elementary School believes that our differences are our strength. Sharing our unique backgrounds provides valuable opportunities for learning and growth. This month we recognize and celebrate the diversity that makes our school community so special.

Throughout the month, students will engage in activities and discussions that highlight various cultures, traditions, and perspectives, fostering a sense of respect, empathy, and unity. We encourage families to join us in celebrating this important theme by sharing your unique stories, participating in upcoming events, or simply continuing the conversation at home. Together, we can create an environment where every student feels seen, heard, and valued.

Please follow the links to read more about discussing diversity with children:

https://kidskonnect.com/articles/teaching-kids-about-cultural-diversity/

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qPRMR3Jqq7ouro5K_mLO_VT1UJPhU25y/view?usp=drive_link

February marks National School Counseling Week, a time to recognize the invaluable role that school counselors play in supporting students' academic, social, and emotional well-being.

At Baltimore Highlands ES, our school counselors are dedicated to ensuring that every student has the support they need to thrive. They lead, advocate, educate, and collaborate to promote equity, access, and inclusion for all students. By aligning the school counseling program with the district's mission, they help create a safe and welcoming learning environment where every child can grow with confidence.

A thriving school community is one where students feel safe, included, and valued. Together with teachers, principals, and staff, our counselors work to build a school culture that encourages respect, connection and personal growth.

Here's how we support our students every day:

• Fostering respect and inclusivity by celebrating diverse cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives.
• Building strong relationships through open communication, active listening, and empathy.
• Creating engaging and interactive learning environments that meet different learning styles.
• Prioritizing mental and physical well-being with programs that support emotional health, movement, and exercise.
• Encouraging student voice and leadership by empowering students to express their ideas and take initiative.
• Recognizing student achievements and celebrating their accomplishments.
• Ensuring our school facilities are accessible, safe, and welcoming for all students, providing spaces to learn, relax, and connect.

Let's continue working together to create a school environment where every student can thrive!

To read more about the role of the elementary school counselor:

American School Counselor Association: The Essential Role of the Elementary School Counselor

Helping Your Child Thrive in School - Did You Know...?

At Baltimore Highlands ES, the school counseling/SEL program theme of inclusion and acceptance of both self and others is interwoven throughout the lessons. Students are taught to utilize empathy and respect when interacting with others who may be different from them. Exclusion of others based in fear of the unknown - when we learn about each other's differences, we often find that we actually have much in common.

If you have any questions/concerns, please feel free to contact the school counselors: Ms. Phipps at pphipps@bcps.org (Pre-K-2nd Grades) 443-809-2473 and Mrs. Bradham at bbradham@bcps.org (3rd-5th Grades) 443-809-1053.

Baltimore Highlands has been given the exciting opportunity to partner with Vision to Learn, an organization that provide glasses to students who need them at no cost to families. Next week our annual Hearing and Vision screenings will be completed and we will start sending out notification letters to the guardians of any student who failed their hearing or vision screening.

If your student failed their vision screening, they have the opportunity to have a complete eye exam with an optometrist (eye doctor) right here at school. This opportunity means your child may get an eye exam and glasses quickly, without needing to worry about health insurance and without taking time off school or work for appointments. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. To participate you must fill out the permission slip that will be sent home next week. Please be on the lookout for a letter in your child's backpack. If your child passed screenings , you will not receive a letter. Please call our health office with any questions at 443-809-6063 or email our school nurse, Mrs. Grisley, at lgrisley@bcps.org.

Sometimes, you just "gotta show some love"!

In this month of February, the staff at BHES would like to take the opportunity to express how much we appreciate our BHES families! Each day you share your amazing children with us, and we are privileged to be your partner in helping them learn and grow! We know that parenting children is a wonderful, exhausting, often challenging job and we are here to assist in any way we can.

Resources you may find helpful include:

• BHES Monthly Coffee with the Principal - Join our Principal, Mrs. Goldbloom, in the cafeteria for a relaxed time with coffee and donuts the last Friday of the month to ask questions, raise concerns and connect with other parents. (The next meeting will be on February 28 from 9-10 am)
• School Food Pantry- Our food pantry is open Tuesdays from 9-10 am and 3-5 pm. Families may visit once per week. The pantry is located in one of the trailers behind the school building (closest to the parking lot).
• Family Resource Help- Ms. Artis, one of our wonderful School Social Workers is available on TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS for assistance with connecting to resources for parenting support/resources, housing concerns, BGE bills, food access, clothing, childcare and more. She can be reached directly at 443-809-7983.

As always, if you have questions, other concerns, or would like to know more, call or text Jill Savage at 443-885-0792 or email at jsavage@bcps.org.