NORWOOD NEWS

Our community is a community of superstars! Here are some updates as we work to bring out the best in our students and help them all reach for the stars.

Norwood Elementary provides relevant and challenging learning for all of our students. We believe all students are capable of achieving grade level standards, and provide the needed supports for each child on their learning journey. We strive for all of our superstars to reach their fullest potential in our ever-changing 21st century world.

• Tuesday, January 14: Winter Concert for 2nd and 3rd grade - Doors open at 5:45 Concert at 6:00 pm
• Monday, January 20th: Schools Closed- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Friday, January 24th: Schools Close 3 Hours Early 12:20pm dismissal - Second Marking Period Ends
• Wednesday, January 29th: Schools Closed for Students

Reminder: School Hours

8:20am arrival / 8:35am late bell / 3:20pm dismissal (no drop-off prior to 8:20am as there is no supervision outside before then)

PK Schedule: AM session (8:20am - 11:05am); PM session (12:40pm - 3:20pm)

Congratulations to Ms.Ramroop's class for winning the winter attendance challenge! Their hardwork and dedication for being to school 94% or more of the time, has won them a party!

Tuesday, January 14th is our 2nd and 3rd grade Winter Concert and Art Show. Please join us to celebrate the musical and artistic accomplishments of your 2nd and 3rd grade students. Doors will open at 5:45 for a 6:00 concert.

Thanks so much!

Ms. Murph and Ms. Go

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you all! Each year, BCPS honors one of our many outstanding educators by naming a Teacher of the Year. The BCPS Teacher of the Year is selected by a committee of administrators, teachers, students, and BCPS staff. However, before that honor is established, each BCPS school, program, and center can nominate one teacher for consideration.

It is with great pride and joy that we announce our Norwood 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year Nominee for BCPS is Mrs. Jirsa!

Mrs. Jirsa is our Pre-K teacher who is truly a virtue master! Her classroom is a calm and safe space where students thrive and learn so much. The remarkable progress her students make is a direct reflection of her dedication and skill. She is patient, kind, and incredibly talented in what she achieves in her classroom. Her value to her students and colleagues is immeasurable, and her positivity is something we all cherish.

Beyond her professional excellence, Mrs. Jirsa is an amazing friend to staff and someone we can always count on at Norwood. Our students are incredibly fortunate to begin their school journey in her nurturing classroom. She has been recognized in the Baltimore Ravens Touchdown for Teachers program for her outstanding work.

Despite having a full family life, Mrs. Jirsa continually seeks to improve her skills. She completed her Master’s degree when her daughter was just one year old and is now in the process of becoming Nationally Board Certified, all while raising two children. Her love of teaching extends beyond the classroom and is evident in her family.

Every day, Mrs. Jirsa creates a classroom filled with love and learning. For most of our students, she is their first teacher and one they will always remember. She makes learning fun and engaging, and we are incredibly lucky to have her at Norwood.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Jirsa on this well-deserved honor. We are so proud of her and grateful for all she does for our students.

With each monthly newsletter you will gain access to unit overviews for math instruction at each grade level. Below are the unit overviews for unit 5 of math, available in both English and Spanish. The overviews share the main learning goals of the unit, show sample problems that students might see with instructional notes for family members, and include frequently asked questions.

Here are the current Math overviews below, both in English and Spanish for each grade level.

Kindergarten | Kinder

English | Español

Grade 1 | Grado 1

English | Español

Grade 2 | Grado 2

English | Español

Grade 3 | Grado 3

English | Español

Check out this amazing interactive family resource for math. This provides models and examples of what students are learning in class and can be used to sharpen their skills."

Grade 3

Grade 2

Grade 1

Kindergarten

We will be having our monthly free community produce market on Wednesday January 29th at Holabird STEM Middle starting at 4:00pm until supplies last.

***Please bring your own bag***

Take advantage of this amazing opportunity!

The Baltimore County Department of Health is coming to Norwood this month to give a dental hygiene presentation to our second and third graders. In addition, dental screenings and dental sealant placements will be offered at Norwood from February 3rd through February 10th. Dental sealants help to protect the chewing surfaces of molars, where most cavities form. This service is free of charge, but parental consent is needed. If you are the parent of a second or third grader, you will get an information packet with a consent form that must be signed in ink with your child's name on it before the program begins. Please return it to the school nurse when completed. You may call the school nurse or the Baltimore County Department of Health directly with any questions at 410-887-2780.

Students who did not pass hearing and/or vision screening received a letter in their take-home folder before the break. Take this to your child's health care provider so that they can be tested or referred for follow up. If you have any questions or any problems finding a provider, please call the school nurse.

Remember to send in a change of clothes, especially pants for your student. These will be kept in the student's locker in case of need during the school day. Please write your student's name on all articles of clothing sent to school, including coats and hoodies.

We have multiple hoodies, jackets, sweaters and water bottles in our Lost and Found, among other things. We will be donating them to charity if not claimed by the end of January. If your student is missing anything, please come to the Health Suite to check the Lost and Found items.

As we all know, getting proper sleep is very important to help our bodies recharge in order to fight illness and be attentive during the day. Attached are some articles with good tips for parents on how to help students manage screen time and get good sleep. (see attached flyer for more details on how to help your student manage screen time).

We love having your children at school all school year!

This is the time of year when winter weather takes a toll on school attendance. Snow and rain can make it hard to get your children to school. So can illnesses such as colds, flu, fevers, earaches and more.

These absences, even if they are excused, break the routine of daily attendance that contributes to students feeling connected and engaged in learning. Please consider these steps to keep your children healthy and in school this winter.

1. Develop back up plans for getting your children to school. Check who can give your children a ride if you can’t take them or see if your child can walk to school with other families.
2. If your children get sick or you are concerned about a cold, covid, or the flu, talk to your child’s medical provider or the school nurse for advice.
3. Stomach pain and headaches can be signs of anxiety and may not be reasons for keeping a child home. If you feel that anxiety or stress is playing a role, talk to your child’s teacher, the school nurse or counselor or your medical provider about how best to support your child.
4. Encourage children to wash their hands before and after eating and after using the restroom.
5. Avoid sharing cups and utensils with other individuals.
6. Dress your children for the cold weather. If you need help with winter clothing, call the school.
7. Encourage healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, drinking fluids and getting exercise.
8. If your children need to stay home for a prolonged period due to illness, talk to your child’s teacher to find out about resources, including computer or internet access, that they can use at home to keep learning once they feel well enough.

Let us know how we can help you. If you’re having trouble, need resources or advice, please call us at 443-809-7055. You can talk with Nurse Debbie, Counselor Bullock, Mr. Ramos, or Ms. Hotchkiss

Thank you for partnering with us!

NORWOOD ELEMENTARY CLOSING AND EARLY DISMISSAL 2024-2025 CALENDAR

Access the yearly calendar of closings and early dismissal for Norwood Elementary students by clicking here

ATTENDANCE REFERENCES

Access a quick guide to better understand your students absences and codings by clicking here.

PARENT RESOURCE HUB

Access a variety of resources available to our superstar families by clicking here.

FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION LIST

Access a list of food pantry distribution sites by clicking here.

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY MONTHLY EVENTS- JANUARY

Access the monthly calendar of events that are happening at the local library by clicking here.

Baltimore County has released a resource guide for New Americans! This guide contains valuable information and contact details for families regarding education, legal resources, housing, health, mental health, how to obtain a driver's license without an SSN, enrolling children in BCPS, and more! Its also available in the top 5 languages spoken in Balt. County.

https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/county-executive/immigrant-affairs

Global Refugee has key information and resources for newly immigrant families. Take a look at them by clicking the links below:

MMH Program

Reunified Families

Norwood Elementary School is a Title I community school within the Baltimore County Public School system. We are located in Dundalk, MD, and we strive for all of our superstars to reach their fullest potential in our ever-changing 21st century world.

If you have any questions regarding any of the information on this newsletter, please contact Diego Ramos (Norwood Bilingual Family Services Liaison) at dramosquinteros@bcps.org, or by calling his direct line at 443-809-1505.

Website: https://norwoodes.bcps.org
Location: 1700 Delvale Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21222, USA
Phone: 443-809-7055
Facebook: facebook.com/NorwoodES
Twitter: @NorwoodES