BFES Monthly News
DECEMBER
Bell Fork Elementary
Say HELLO to our Wonderful Custodial Staff!!
Joseph Dietz
Stephen Jones
Yaquelin Ojeda
Our Busy Classrooms 📕
Kindergarten
December is going to be a fun, activity filled month for kindergarten. Please be sure to check your students Take Home Binder nightly for important information. We will also post information on ClassDojo, so please be sure to check that as well.
One of our first Holiday activities is our Class Stocking Stuffer. A letter was sent home recently in binders describing this activity. Please read over this letter so that you are aware of the details of this fun activity and the due dates for items. If you have any questions, please ask your students teacher.
Finally, with the cold weather approaching please send in a weather appropriate change of clothes with your student. If they have a set here already, they will be sent home once a replacement is received. Also, please do not send your student in Crocs. Several students are having a hard time keeping them on throughout the day. They are also hard for them to climb and run and play during recess and PE. Thank you so much for your help and understanding.
First Grade
Dear Families,
This month we will be learning about the following:
ELA - 1. Final -e and Common Vowel Team Conventions for Representing Long Vowel Sounds
2. Decode Regularly Spelled One-Syllable Words
3. Demonstrate Command of the Conventions of Standard English Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling When Writing
Ways to Practice:
· Phonics & Decoding: Use flashcards, sound drills, and phonics games.
· Sound Isolation: Play games like "I Spy" to isolate initial, medial, and final sounds.
· Reading Comprehension: Have students read short stories or passages and answer questions about key details.
Writing- Encourage students to write sentences or short stories, focusing on proper capitalization, punctuation, and spelling. These skills all build on one another and are key to becoming a confident reader and writer. Situations Involving Adding to, Taking From,
Math-Adding to: A situation where something is being added to a group (e.g., "There are 7 apples. I pick 5 more apples. How many apples do I have now?")
· Taking from: A situation where something is being taken away (e.g., "I have 10 candies. I give 3 away. How many candies do I have left?")
· Taking apart: Dividing a group into smaller parts (e.g., "There are 8 blocks. I give 2 to my friend. How many blocks do I have left?")
· Comparing: Comparing the sizes of two groups and finding the difference (e.g., "I have 7 apples, and my friend has 4 apples. How many more apples do I have than my friend?")
Science- Understand the characteristics of various environments and behaviors of humans that enable plants and animals to survive.
Social Studies- Explain how the artistic expressions of diverse people and cultures contribute to communities around the world.
Second Grade
In 2nd grade, students will build upon their math skills by learning 2-digit addition and subtraction, as well as how to solve word problems with 2-digit numbers. They will also explore concepts related to money and telling time, developing practical numeracy skills.
In language arts, the focus will be on mastering r-controlled vowels and long vowel spellings. Students will practice their writing abilities by crafting fictional narratives, while also working on fluency and comprehension during reading activities.
The CKLA Knowledge portion of the curriculum will introduce students to the fascinating histories and cultures of ancient Asian civilizations. Through this interdisciplinary study, they will broaden their global awareness and deepen their understanding of the world around them.
Throughout these engaging lessons, 2nd graders will continue to build a strong academic foundation that will serve them well as they progress through their educational journey.
Third Grade
Dear Families, we hope this newsletter finds you well and filled with joy as we embrace the holiday season. Your support and partnership are invaluable to us, and we are grateful for all that you do to enhance our school community.
Important Announcements:
- 3rd Grade Winter Extravaganza: We are excited to announce our upcoming Winter Extravaganza on December 18th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. We look forward to seeing all families there for an evening of fun and celebration!
Celebrations from the Week:
This week has been filled with wonderful moments that highlight the hard work and incredible spirit of our students:
- Our students enjoyed an in-house science field trip where they explored the Earth and shadows.
- We continued our Fun Friday tradition, celebrating excellent behaviors and fostering a positive school environment.
- We had a delightful behavior party, recognizing students for their outstanding conduct.
Thank you for encouraging your children to embrace these experiences!
As we continue our learning journey, here are some exciting topics our students are exploring:
- Students are learning effective multiplication strategies to strengthen their math skills.
- We are diving into literature, focusing on how characters and their actions impact the plot of the stories we read.
- Next, we will transition to studying landforms, which will expand their understanding of our planet.
Your involvement at home enhances their learning and curiosity!
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Hello 5th Grade Families!
We are looking forward to holidays and spending time with family and friends, but we still have so much to learn! Here are the upcoming topics we will be learning about in December!
- ELA: Continued learning about main idea, key details, summarizing, and inferencing
- Math: Adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers, and estimating with fractions and decimals
- Science: Continued learning about weather, climate, and the water cycle.
- Social Studies: Continued learning about Native Americans
As a reminder, don’t forget to join PowerSchool's Parent Portal if you have not done so already. This way, you can help your child keep track of their grades and missing assignments. Students have been logging in to complete their assessments and check their grades as well. Please feel free to stop by the front office with identification to complete the form to join.
Thank you for your continued support, and please be sure to keep in touch with us!
EC
Support Teachers
In fifth grade resource we are continuing to work on answering comprehension questions using text evidence and using context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words.
In math we continue to work on multiplication facts, division, and one and two-step word problems.
In kindergarten resource we are focusing on identifying all letters of the alphabet, uppercase and lowercase, and the sounds of the letters. We are also focusing on letter placement in their writing.
In math we are counting to 0-10. We are working on writing our numbers, identifying numbers and matching numbers to objects.
ESL- Dale - We celebrated the season of thankfulness by constructing thankfulness journals across all grade levels. Supporting the writing language domain, students added an entry each day! As we move into December, we’re excited to build language skills by exploring and sharing global holiday traditions. Students are also advancing their multilingualism journey through the Lexia program, strengthening their academic English proficiency. Additionally, they continue to develop English skills through meaningful discussions in Math, Science, and Social Studies in Lexia.
Data Manager
Parents just a few friendly reminders . . .
Tardies & Check Outs - Parents, we have many students who are tardy and or check out early, we ask that you please make every effort to arrive on time and only check out early when necessary. These habits cause multiple interruptions to classrooms but most of all it takes away from your child’s instructional time.
Absences - Please make sure you are turning in Dr. notes and or handwritten notes which should include your child’s full name, date of absence along with the personal illness or injury information.
ID Check – Per Onlsow County School Policy, we are a 100% ID check school. Please make sure you bring a state issued ID or driver’s license with you, a military ID will not be accepted as a form of ID.
We appreciate your help and support as we work together to ensure your child has a safe and successful school year.
AVID - 4TH GRADE
4th Grade- We are using a variety of AVID strategies are techniques used to engage deeply with texts, promoting critical thinking, comprehension, and academic success. These strategies facilitate active reading, writing, and discussion practices, enabling students to construct meaning from complex texts. Examples of AVID strategies include:
Marking the Text
- Underlining or highlighting important information
- Writing notes or questions in the margins
Organizing and Visualizing Information
- Creating concept maps, diagrams, or graphic to isolate key information
Engaging in Collaborative Discussion
Writing to Learn
- Summarizing and paraphrasing
These strategies foster a deeper understanding of texts, encouraging students to become active participants in their learning process.
Student Services
School Counselor:
During the month of December, all grade levels will learn the difference between a small problem vs a big problem and ways to solve small problems with others in a positive way.
Nurse Custy:
Smile Dental will be on campus Dec 2 - 4
**All children with fevers of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater will be excluded from school until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Aspirin, etc.). Those with vomiting and/or diarrhea can return when they have been symptom free for 24 hours.
School Social Worker News- Karen Dew
If you feel I can be of assistance for your student and/or family, please reach out to me by calling me at 910-347-4459 ext. 74015.
Specials
In Art- K-1 will be working on holiday ornaments. 2-3 are making weaved snow globes with dimension. 4-5 are practicing magazine editorials.
In Media- For the newsletter: We will be making Holiday cards for troops overseas and reading holiday stories. Ask your student how they are doing with their Accelerated Reader book and if they have taken a quiz to earn points. Have a Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!
In Spanish - K-5 Students will work on Christmas Vocabulary, Christmas around the world and Christmas songs.
In PE- For the month of December, students in PE will be using the skills that they have learned so far to participate in holiday themed activities, games, and dances.
In Music - This month, students will explore various holiday music traditions from different cultures globally. Additionally, we will continue our study of the treble clef and focus on recognizing notes on the music staff.
UPCOMING EVENTS
12/2 - 12/4 - Smile Dental on Campus
12/4 - Interim Reports!
12/5 - CiCi's Pizza Night
12/10 - Candy Man Carnival
1:00 PM
12/11 - Winter Showcase
12/17 - 5th Grade D.A.R.E. Graduation
12/18 - 3rd Grade Winter Extravaganza
5:30pm - 7:00 pm
12/20 - 1st Grade Pola Express
12/20 - 1/3 - HOLIDAY WINTER BREAK!!
SEE YOU BACK ON CAMPUS JAN 6TH 2025!!