
Brandt 's Quarterly Newsletter
2023-2024 Marking Period 3
See what our amazing scholars were up to during the second marking period!
INSIDE THIS EDITION
- Principal's Message
The awesome happenings in:
- Kindergarten
- First Grade
- Second Grade
- Third Grade
- Fourth Grade
- Fifth Grade
- Science
- World Language (Mandarin)
- Physical Education
- Art
- Music
Don't forget to check out the:
- Counselor's Corner
- Nurse's Nook
Principal's Message
Hello Brandt School Family -
As we conclude the third marking period of the school year, I'm pleased to share some highlights and updates from our vibrant school community:
At Brandt, we nurture not only academic excellence but also social and emotional well-being. Throughout the quarter, we've honed in on social-emotional learning opportunities to support our students' holistic development. From mindfulness exercises to small lunch bunches, we've provided various opportunities for students to develop essential skills such as empathy, resilience, and self-awareness.
Our commitment to student engagement and empowerment has been evident in the diverse range of activities offered this quarter. From the first grade theatre showcase to collaborative projects, our students have had ample opportunities to explore their interests, express their creativity, and build meaningful connections with their peers. These experiences not only enrich their educational journey but also contribute to their overall sense of belonging and fulfillment.
Strong partnerships between parents and teachers play a pivotal role in supporting students' growth. We've continued to prioritize open communication and collaboration, providing parents with resources and strategies to support our students at home. Additionally, our dedicated team of educators remains committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment where every student feels valued and supported.
As we reflect on the accomplishments of our students and staff this quarter, let's take a moment to celebrate our visits from the Rutgers University Center for Metropolitan Studies and Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. It is magnificent that our learning community hosted these outside agencies to witness our collective excellence in action.
As we prepare for the final stretch of the academic year, let's remain steadfast in our commitment to nurturing the social and emotional well-being of our students. Together, we create a supportive and empowering environment where every student feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive.
Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our school community. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our students.
Regards,
Mr. Bartlett
K-5 Homerooms
Kindergarten
The year is flying by! We’ve learned so much during the third marking period. In ELA, we continued to work on sounds and letter blends. We have learned about the different verb tenses and prepositions. We are identifying our vowels and looking forward to diving deeper into long vowel sounds in the upcoming weeks. We have been expanding our writing genre to include fantasy and realistic fiction. We really enjoy reading our stories to our classmates when we are done and having our work be displayed in the classroom or out in the hall for all to see.
In Math, we have been concentrating on single digit addition up to twenty, decomposing numbers zero to twenty, as well as solving addition and subtraction story problems. We are able to identify whether a word problem is addition or subtraction by identifying the key words for each. The students are doing such a great job at both types of problems.
We have been very busy in Social Studies the last couple of months. We celebrated our 100th Day of School with so many fun activities. The month of February was Black History Month. We learned about many famous African Americans and the important things they have done to impact our world. We also talked about Presidents’ Day and Groundhog Day. March was Women’s History Month. We learned about many famous women and the important and wonderful things they have done to impact our world. We also went on our class trip to the Children's Museum of Staten Island. We had such a great time with our classmates!
First Grade
ELA: Students have been learning different variations with vowels and consonants. They have been focusing on r-controlled vowels. Students have been practicing changing words from singular to plural and identifying irregular plurals. In reading, students have been working on using context clues to decipher between multiple meanings of words. Students have been learning how to write a How To paper as they worked through the writing process.
Math: Students have been learning how to collect and organize data. They have been using bar and picture graphs to represent their data and are able to write about their findings. They have been practicing reading graphs and comparing numbers.
Social Studies: This marking period the students have been reading about influential people in history for both Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. First Graders had fun learning about different colleges as part of our school wide March Madness activities. Students also created and decorated their classroom doors to support their assigned team during the basketball tournament.
The First Graders also finished up their marking period with Ms. Rotundi and theater class. The students did an amazing job putting on their performance about happiness. We even took a trip to the Children’s Museum in Staten Island where we explored various hands-on activities as well as made art projects inspired by the famous artist Alama Thomas Woodsey!
Second Grade
ELA: This marking period, students took a deep dive into Realistic Fiction to start thinking about main characters and their traits. We compared how characters change throughout a story and discussed problem and solution in deeper detail. Students also continued to focus on a story’s setting and how it can change over the course of the book or story. We also continued to use text evidence in our comprehension responses and worked on restating our questions to provide deeper details in our answers.
This marking period was a busy one for second grade writers! Students started off the marking period with revisiting personal narratives. The 2nd grade writers moved through the writing process as they wrote stories based on personal experiences. Students started with a brainstorm, then wrote a rough draft, revised and edited and finished up with a final copy. It always feels so good to publish a final draft. After personal narratives, the students moved into our favorite writing piece…realistic fiction! The 2nd graders took time to explore realistic fiction books before beginning their own. Once they were ready, students brainstormed ideas about characters, settings, and realistic problems/solutions their characters can have. After coming up with an idea, the students went through the writing process again. They wrote rough drafts, revised by adding more detail, edited and then made their final copy. Afterwards they had an author celebration to celebrate their hard work. Being an author is so much fun.
Social Studies: This marking period in Social Studies we have been able to focus on a few special months to truly help us understand ourselves, and the world around us. We had Black History Month in February, Women’s History Month in March, and are currently working on understanding and appreciating Autism Acceptance Month. We are researching different men and women who have autism, and how their autism has truly helped them in their lives and how it has also helped society. We really enjoy understanding how our differences actually help the world in the best way possible!
Math: This quarter in math, 2nd graders dove deeper into math concepts of data collection, analyzing data, and measurement. During our data unit, students were able to successfully collect data based on various survey questions and turn the data they collected into a variety of graphs including bar graphs, picture graphs, tally charts, and line plots. In our measurement unit, 2nd graders learned how to accurately measure different items using a 12 inch ruler. They were also able to differentiate between standard and nonstandard units of measurement. Students also learned how to determine which unit of measurement is most appropriate for measuring certain objects. We had a great time with the hands on and interactive aspects of these units.
Third Grade
ELA: This quarter students in Third Grade took a deep dive into their third grade Reading Wonders curriculum. Through a variety of books and articles, students explored several different themes including: What makes different animals unique? How can one person change the world? What do we know about Earth and its neighbors?
Students also conducted their fourth novel study: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. Students were given an opportunity to study the evolution of E. B. White's Newbery Honor Book. It is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. It contains illustrations by Garth Williams.
Math: Students focused on developing ideas about collecting, representing, describing, and interpreting data. Students used bar graphs, pictographs, and line plots to represent, describe, and compare categorical and numerical data. They solved one- and two-step "how many more" and "how many less" problems using information presented in the graphs. Students also generated measurement data in inches, half-inches, feet, and yards.
Social Studies: This quarter students used the provided resources to research and learn about influential African Americans who helped shape our world. Students also explored the amazing Women of History, third grade students learned how those in history created change, helped navigate our society into a more perfect union and how they continue to honor those legacies.
The concepts of this unit helped to promote civic responsibility and help to establish a life-long process of a citizen’s role in their world. Students completed the unit of study understanding the importance of their civic choices and how those choices affect the lives of those around them.
Fourth Grade
ELA: This marking period students read Wonder By RJ Palacio. This novel takes a look into the life of fifth grader August Pullman as he enters middle school. Students go through the novel experiencing the story from multiple different points of view. Students are looking at the themes of kindness, friendship, standing up for yourself and others, and being yourself and how the characters, as well as themselves, experience them in life. Students are all-in on practicing the inferencing skills as well as discussing how different points of view make a narrator reliable or insightful in various ways. Wonder is a much loved book in fourth grade and students have learned so much about life and treating people with respect and kindness through this heartwarming novel.
As the marking period progressed, students were busy working on all three writing styles: narrative, LAT, and RST. When it comes to answering comprehension questions based on their current novel, students have been working on finding relevant text evidence to support their ideas. Students also worked on narrative writing during their weekly Night Writes, where they must read a literary passage and continue the story while maintaining the characters already introduced in the passage. Lastly, students are working on RST essays after reading informational texts of their choosing that relate to the theme: sports make the world a better place. Again, students must find relevant text evidence from the various articles to prove their thesis.
Math: At the beginning of Marking Period 3, our fourth grade mathematicians launched Unit 6 of Investigations, which focused on fractions and decimals–learning that they are so much more than just a “model.” Students have realized fractions can be groups of students in the class (boys vs girls, teachers vs students), measurements in the kitchen (½ of a cup vs ⅓ of a cup), and of course–sharing food (YUM)! Students have realized decimals can be applied to money. Students worked on shading in a decimal grid (tenths and hundredths) that correspond to a given decimal. These decimals are also transformed into fractions. Afterwards, these decimals and fractions are then compared to each other. Lastly, mathematicians learned what to do when fractions with unlike denominators are given and how to represent them in models, using a number line, as well as mathematical equations. This unit wrapped up just in time for students to complete LinkIt! Form C.
At the end of Marking Period 3, our fourth grade mathematicians launched Unit 7, a review of multiplication and division strategies that also connect to measurement conversions (metric and customary!) as well as estimation. So far students have worked on how to convert large units to smaller units using multiplication while converting smaller units to larger units requires division strategies. In addition, students are working on a new Ten-Minute Math activity: What Time Is It? This allows students to work on the concept of elapsed time. Students are drawing number lines and discussing how to “jump” various increments to determine end times or elapse time.
Social Studies: Throughout Marking Period 3, our fourth grade agents of change focused on influential women for Women’s History Month. Students learned about the contributions of each of these women as well as the obstacles they had to overcome to find success in their designated career path. Students completed choice board activities in order to further their exploration! In addition, our agents of change took time to highlight the importance of the month of April: Autism Acceptance Month. Students read articles about Autism Acceptance and Awareness as well as watching videos sharing facts and insight from people with Autism. Students had great class discussions about how they can make a difference in their communities and make everyone feel accepted for who they are!
Fifth Grade
ELA: Students began the marking period with the novel study The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. This novel takes place during extreme cultural upheaval of the Civil Rights Movement, as Black activists pushed for racial equality and desegregation. Students applied various reading comprehension skills and were able to make connections to current events.They observed different points of view and explained how those perspectives affected the events of the novel. Also, students identified major themes of the novel such as family, coming of age, and acceptance. To conclude their study, students crafted a literary analysis essay where they analyzed the ways in which point of view and perspective impact events in a story.
Fifth graders are excited to begin their next book, Chasing Lincoln’s Killer by James L Swanson. This fast-paced, nonfiction thriller follows the twelve day manhunt for John Wilkes Booth after his assassination of President Lincoln. Students are making connections between the significant historical events, ideas, and people and then will get creative by scripting and filming a breaking news story related to their reading!
Math: During the start of marking period 3, mathematicians completed Unit 6: Between 0 and . In this unit, students used rectangular grids and number lines to represent and examine the place value of the digits in decimals, understand the size of numbers that include decimals, and identify equivalent decimals and fractions. In investigation 2, students used grids to help them visualize and identify the place value of decimals as they began adding and subtracting them.
Next, students began Unit 7: Races, Arrays, and Grids, which focused on multiplying and dividing rational numbers, extending students’ understanding of the meaning of those operations and of place value. Students used contexts and representations (fraction bars, arrays, and grids) to solve problems involving multiplication and division of fractions and decimals. Lastly, they applied their understanding of multiplication and division to solve measurement conversion problems.
Social Studies: Fifth grade historians started off the third marking period exploring their next unit of study, the Civil War. They began by studying how the war impacted the lives of different groups of people including soldiers, women, and people of color. After gaining the necessary background knowledge, students engaged in activities to analyze the most significant battles of the war such as Fort Sumter, Gettysburg, and Antietam. They learned about the key people and generals, war tactics and battle strategies, as well as how each individual battle impacted the overall war. After researching about the Confederacy’s surrender, students were divided into groups to begin their final unit project, where they became experts on one Civil War battle, created a product, and shared a presentation to teach their peers. Students are eager to begin the final unit of the year, Reconstruction, where they will learn about how the United States came together again in the aftermath of the war.
Science and Related Arts
Science
Kindergarten
After completing that module we returned to Science Dimensions and learned about how the sun warms the earth. We drew illustrations of the sun in our interactive notebooks and talked about what the sun does for all living things.
We are currently working on another Science Dimensions unit on Plants and Animals. We are learning about what living things need to grow and survive.
First Grade
Our First Graders at Brandt have been working hard in the 3rd quarter of school! We finished coding projects, touched on the external plant parts, and learned about the roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruit, and seeds. Together, these parts work together and function to help the plant survive. Last, they were able to incorporate coding and plant structure, and the kids created their own plant diagram through code based on what they learned.
To commemorate Black History Month the students learned about black scientists, engineers, inventors, and leaders in STEM. They studied Mae Jemison, who was NASA’s first female black astronaut, a physician, and a chemical engineer. We recognized George Washington Carver, who was a well-known botanist, educator, and scientific engineer. Another inventor and engineer was Garrett Morgan.
Women’s History Month in March was celebrated by reading short biographies about the amazing women who were the trailblazers in STEM. We enjoyed learning about Ada Lovelace, who was decades ahead of her time as she was considered, “The computer programmer who had ideas long before there were computers.” Along with that, we worked on mini projects, such as bookmarks as an extension activity. The most popular woman scientist to learn about was Jane Goodall. Her connection to chimpanzees was very inspiring. She taught a lot about how chimpanzees' survival and family structure is very similar to ours. Her observations and passion for the animals was noteworthy.
Our First graders also discussed the origin of daylight saving time, and its importance. The children now understand that people believed that if we shifted our clocks forward by an hour in the Spring, we would be able to maximize the amount of sunlight we utilize every day instead of relying on electricity.
Perhaps the most exciting event was the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th! When all was said and done, it was recorded that some in Hoboken reported a 90% totality. The last solar eclipse (partial) was 7 years ago in the U.S. On April 8th, we wore special glasses and learned how to be cautious when looking at the sky and especially towards the sun. Some of the children noticed strange colors in the sky, resembling rainbows, sunshine, and dark clouds. According to NASA,this eclipse lasted about four and half minutes in total and the next eclipse will take place on August 23, 2044. That’s 20 years from now!
Second Grade
It has been a busy but exciting marking period in second grade science! Most of the marking period was spent learning all about the surface of the earth, the bodies of water that can be found on it, maps, how land can change slowly through weathering and erosion or quickly through various natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and volcanoes. The various units ended with an exciting activity in which students used this knowledge to create a structure that prevented flooding from occurring after a flash flood. Students had so much fun creating a structure out of clay and rocks and worked together in groups to help keep a toy house safe from flooding water. Other popular activities included the students exploring the world through the application Google Earth and when students got the chance to create their own maps of real and imaginary places.
We then finished the marking period with our last unit in Project Lead the Way, which was all about the form and function of items both nonliving and living objects, like plants. Students looked at the properties of different items and tested out their flexibility, strength and hardness. We also learned a lot about plants, the functions of different parts and what role those parts played in the acts of pollination and seed dispersal. The students loved getting a chance to do a pollination simulation and act as pollinators with silk flowers, pipe cleaners, and powdered sugar, which represented pollen. Other favorite activities included a properties of matter speed round challenge and an absorbency investigation where students made predictions of how absorbent various kitchen utensils could be. This will help students prepare for their final project of the unit which will have them create a device that spreads seeds across a field. Students have come so far this year with how well they work together and apply their shared knowledge to design and create solutions to various problems.
Third Grade
This marking period was an exciting one for 3rd grade scientists! We started off learning about animal and plant life cycles. Students participated in a research project where they worked in groups to find information about different amphibians & insects. Students were tasked with researching the different stages each organism goes through during their life cycle as well as additional fun facts to teach their classmates! Afterwards, students began to learn about alleles. We discussed the difference between recessive and dominant alleles, and how we look the way we do because of the traits we inherited from each parent. The last unit students worked in during this marking period was all about organisms and their environment. Students have been observing ways in which plants & animals interact and react to their environments!
Fourth Grade
The 4th graders had a busy 3rd marking period in science. We finished up with our human brain presentations, seeing so many amazing concussion prevention plans and ideas. During March the students focused on women in STEM, with each student making a presentation on a specific woman who had positive impacts on the STEM community. Students were able to share some of their presentations with the class and their friends. Additionally, we have partnered up with the Whale and Dolphin Conservation team to learn more about whales around our community, how they are identified by their markings, etc. By the end of this unit each class was able to officially name a whale in the WDC database based on their markings. We had a very exciting Marking Period 3 and will have a lot of great things to come in our final two months!
Fifth Grade
During marking period 3, fifth grade science classes studied the following units: Earth & Human Activities and Robotics & Automation. In the Earth & Human Activities unit, students learned about the four spheres: the biosphere, the hydrosphere, the geosphere, and the atmosphere. Students also considered ways to go “green” within a city by finding ways to use energy and resources efficiently and cleanly to minimize negative impacts on the environment. In the robotics unit, students researched and compared autonomous robots to identify characteristics that robots share and characteristics that are unique to each robot. Throughout the unit, students worked in small groups to design and build robotic vehicles using VEX kits.
World Language
In Mandarin class, the students began the third marking period learning the unit of "Food" and talked about the traditional Chinese food we eat during Lunar New Year. The kindergarten and first grade students were working on the unit of “Colors” as well as reviewing skip counting up to 10,000. Second to fourth graders started the unit of “Lunar New Year Food”. They learned the vocabulary of common Chinese food and how to order food at a Chinese restaurant. During Women's History Month, the students learned the story of Mulan, a Chinese female warrior.
Physical Education
This quarter, the Physical Education Team embarked on new units incorporating individual skill development, but also on fostering, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. Our students, ranging from kindergarten to second grade, familiarize themselves with one of the three fundamental hits in volleyball. Through diligent practice, students learned hand placement, movement, and follow through techniques. For our younger students, the primary objective was to keep the ball in play and successfully send it over the net. Meanwhile, our older students phase the additional challenge of accomplishing this task within three hits. Central to achieving these goals was effective communication. Students were encouraged to vocalize their need for assistance by calling out “help” when necessary, prompting, collaboration, and teamwork.
This unit underscored the importance of being not just a skilled player, but also a supportive teammate– a lesson encapsulated by John Gordon wisdom: “you have to work as hard to be a great teammate as you do to be a great player.” Focusing on teamwork and skill development. Working together to achieve a common goal is an important aspect of sports and life in general. Using different equipment appropriate for different age groups, such as a large beach ball for younger students (K-1) and a regular volleyball for older one (2-5). This allows for a tailored learning experience that matches the students abilities and developmental stages. Learning skills like setting, bumping, and serving not only improves their volleyball abilities, but also fosters collaboration, communication, and coordination among the students. These are valuable lessons that extend beyond the volleyball court, and into the various aspects of their life.
Vincent Lombardi stated individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. The second unit of this quarter, students exemplified this principle through remarkable displays of teamwork, both across different grade levels and within their own respective grades. Utilizing an Omnikin ball, they engaged in a thrilling game of ‘Indiana Jones.’ The objective was clear: employing their upper body strength, students pushed the sizable Nylon ball in a circular motion while attempting to tag their peers out of the game. Once tagged, students seamlessly transitioned into the role of ‘boulder helper’, contributing to the game until the conclusion of the round. Their collaborative efforts within the classroom community were truly commendable.
After a much needed break students came back to PE to finalize their SGO testing for the year. Students worked on increasing their cardiovascular and muscular endurance. Students were tested on push ups, sit ups, and the Pacer. Students were reminded that these tests are not a competition against their peers but against themselves. Students ended the quarter with learning how to make a smart goal. These tests are the best way to make smart, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound goals.
Art
Over the past few weeks in Art, students have been working extremely hard on their projects and working towards the upcoming District Wide Art Show. They have been working on the PATH posters that will be handed in this coming week, and working on their projects based on their field trips that they experienced.
The students have been working on mosaics, dream catchers, butterfly paintings, and vintage NYC posters. We are looking forward to Spring and the upcoming weeks and projects!
Music
As we “shot” our way through the 3rd Marking Period, students in our K-2 classes got a chance to vote on selected songs from Quaver’s Music Madness. The theme for this year was seasons where students listened to all movements of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. This activity provided students the opportunity to share their passion for music with the rest of their peers. What can we say; THE MADNESS IS BACK!
We have also started to learn how to compose music at a young age by using QComposer from Quaver Music education. This is how our young learners develop their musical skills and are able to gain more knowledge of music in the classroom. We feel that all of our K-2 students should have the opportunity to learn and grow and share their musical talents with the Brandt community.
Counselor's Corner
As your school counselor, I am here to help with any needs you may have throughout the school day.
What does a School Counselor Do?
Provide support for students to ensure they maintain academic standards and set goals for academic success
Develop programs to provide students the skills to improve organization, study habits, and time management
Assist students in working through personal problems that may affect academics or relationships
Help students improve social skills
The week of February 5-9 we celebrated National School Counselors Week. I was so overwhelmed with the outpouring of love from the students, staff and families. I received so many cards and notes from students thanking me for being their school counselor. Thank you to everyone in our Brandt community for allowing me to support our students, and work in a field that I truly love.
February was Black History Month - a time for recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Black Americans throughout U.S. history. The books below feature stories of courage, strength, and determination, and help children learn about the important role African Americans have played in our country's history. These favorites make for excellent reads all year long.
Nurse's Nook
Allergy Season is upon us!
The beautiful weather is a sure sign of spring, and for many people a sure sign of allergy season. Children are no exception! In the spring pollen from trees, flowers, grass, and other plants become airborne. When these pollens get into a person’s body through their mouth, nose, or even eyes, the body perceives these substances as a threat and mounts an immune response (allergic reaction). This response includes the release of chemicals called histamines, which trigger allergy symptoms. Windy days stir up pollen even more, and rainy days help to wash it away.
The signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies are numerous and are like other illnesses such as colds and even COVID-19 infection. Common allergy symptoms include:
· Itchy nose, throat, and/or eyes
· Watery eyes
· Runny nose and/or congestion
· Sneezing
· Sore throat
· Fatigue
· Headache and/or sinus pressure
· Cough
If you believe your student might be susceptible to seasonal allergies, speak to your child’s doctor about the use of an over the counter 24-hour allergy medication. Some physicians recommend a nasal spray in addition to or instead of an oral medication. Please be aware that Benadryl is NOT a 24-hour allergy medication. It is effective for only a few hours, then another dose is needed. There are many other effective options which do not need to be given as often.
If your student already uses an allergy medication, I strongly recommend that you begin that regimen NOW, and maintain it consistently throughout the allergy season, or as directed by your doctor. Taking a medication such as Claritin or Zyrtec once symptoms have already started or in a single dose may not provide instant relief but should help with continued administration.
Other ways to help reduce allergy symptoms include washing your face and eyes after coming indoors and wash your hair at night (or at least brush it out well) to keep pollen that has attached to your hair from transferring to your pillowcase.
Any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me.
Office# 201-356-3697
Email: cnuovo@hoboken.k12.nj.us