Baltimore Highlands Elementary

18th - PTA Meeting 5:45 pm

31st - No School - Professional Day

28th - Coffee with Principal Goldbloom 9 am - 10 am

28th - Light Up the Night Spring Fling BHES PTA

Hello BHES Families,

As we approach spring, we are implementing an attendance incentive competition. Our competition began on Monday, March 3 and ends on Friday, May 2. All students need to do is maintain a 94% attendance rate. Any students who meet this goal will be entered into a lottery. Students in grades pre-kindergarten through second grade will be entered into a lottery to receive a bike or scooter and helmet. Students in grades third through fifth will be entered into a lottery to attend the Orioles game at Camden Yards on May 15. Good luck to our students!

Please remember that the safety of our students is our top priority. All visitors should be prepared to state their name, child's name, and purpose for visiting before being buzzed into the office. Please do not pass the door to the person behind you. Each person must be individually buzzed into our school.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support. We are excited for a marvelous March!

Mrs. Goldbloom

Pre-K

We are looking forward to a full month in March! This month we will be learning the letters U, H, V, and Q and the sounds they make. We will continue our phonological awareness by listening for beginning, middle and ending sounds in words. We will continue working on producing rhyming words. In Reading, we will be continuing our unit on museums and dinosaurs. We will be talking about an author and illustrator and their roles in stories. We will also be talking about key details in our stories. In Math, we will be working on 3 dimensional shapes, basic addition and subtraction problems, and teen numbers. Make sure to wear your green on March 17th!

Kindergarten

In ELA Phonics, we are focusing on blending and reading words and sentences. For Reading, we will begin Module 6; Home of the Free and the Brave. This module will have us learning about the history of the United States. For Writing, we will be going back to informational writing to share what we have learned about. Social Studies is also connected to this module. We will be researching and creating a town flag to represent Baltimore Highlands for our inquiry-based project. Finally, in Math, Kindergarten will be learning about, describing and identifying three dimensional shapes, as well as, learning about place value to help us compose ad decompose teen numbers up to 20.

1st Grade

Happy March! Hope everyone is doing great! In Math, we are working on addition and subtraction within 20. Students are learning to recognize different story problem situations involving penguins. We are starting a new Social Studies unit called "My Nation is a Community". Students will explore the ways in which people live and work together in a community! 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 seventh module called "The Big Outdoors" and will be learning about how things in nature change. In Writing, we will be writing a poem about things you like in nature. Hope you have an awesome month and let us know if you have any questions!

2nd Grade

Reading- In ELA this month, children will read and listen to stories about important people. These stories will help children recognize that people's lives are shaped and molded by their experiences. They will also be writing an imaginative story about made up characters and the adventures they take.

Math- In Math this month, children will identify, describe, draw, and create 2-D shapes based on their defining features.; explore the area of shapes, especially rectangles; split whole shapes into 2, 3, or 4 equal parts called halves, thirds, or fourths/quarters and recognize that equal parts of identical wholes do not need to be the same shape.

3rd Grade

Reading- In March, 3rd grade will be exploring the idea of making a difference. We will be reading texts about city farming, recycling, protecting our environment and supporting others. While we read these texts, we will be furthering our understanding of concepts like main idea, text structure, and author's purpose.

Math- In math, we will be diving into the world of geometry. We will learn about different shapes and their attributes. We will also use what we know about multiplication to determine the area of irregular shapes.

4th Grade

ELA - Module 7 "Tricksters and Tall Tales" In March, our 4th graders will listen to, read, and view a variety of texts that will provide them with the skills and knowledge to answer the question, "What lessons can you learn from characters in Traditional Tales?". We will read a variety of Traditional Tales such as fables, legends and folktales that will give us an opportunity to identify text and graphic features, central ideas, and the ability to retell a story. These strategies will develop our ability to understand unfamiliar texts. In Module 7, students will learn new vocabulary words that will promote understanding of new text. This is a great opportunity to share some Traditional Tales with your students to increase understanding and make connections. Students will end this Module with a performance task.

Math - Unit 6 "Multiplication, Division, Area, and Perimeter" This month in Math, our 4th graders will begin Unit 6. We will continue our learning of multiplication and division strategies. The students will start the month with revisiting how to find the area and perimeter of a figure. They will transition into division with the ability to recognize they are able to use the same models for multiplication and division. Doubling and Halving factors in a multiplication equation is a strategy students will develop. Choosing the appropriate model based on the numbers in a problem will be a skill that we will work to master. We will end the unit with an assessment that will assess the skills mastered in this module.

5th Grade

Reading- In this next module, we are mixing reading with science as we learn about exciting land, sea, and space discoveries! Students will be listening, reading, and viewing a variety of texts and media that present them with information about exploration. We will be focusing on the genre of autobiography to provide students with opportunities to identify the author's craft and purpose, and to make predictions in order to better understand unfamiliar texts. Students will encounter informational texts, persuasive texts, science fiction, and narrative nonfiction to build knowledge across genres. Try to get your students to read science fiction stories and have discussions with them about the things they are curious about or wonder about in the story!

Math- Shapes, shapes, and more shapes! In this next unit, students are introduced to several geometric concepts, including coordinating graphing and the use of hierarchies (ranking order) to classify two-dimensional shapes by their properties. Students also review volume while working on counting cubes that will fit into a box to measure prisms in continuous units and using standard formulas such as V=lxwxh and V=bxh, to find their volumes. Have students practice at home using these formulas for items around the house to practice these skills.

As the weather begins to change and it gets warmer, we get excited for all the exciting things happening. March is WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH! It is an annual observance to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. We have A LOT of amazing women at BHES and want to celebrate them and we also hope you will celebrate all the women in your lives too.

The character strengths that we will be highlighting in our daily morning meetings during March are organization, teamwork, honesty, and fairness. The students will learn more about each strength through a variety of activities, videos, and games. Ms. Phipps and Mrs. Bradham will be teaching classroom guidance lessons on careers. In Pre-K, Ms. Phipps will be discussing the variety of jobs that people do in our school building and then introducing the students to new careers. In Grades K-2, students will explore an assortment of careers to learn about career options for their futures. In grades 3-5, the students will increase their awareness of their own personal abilities, strengths, skills and interests and connect them to possible careers and then be able to learn more about specific careers that they are interested in.

Our PBIS event for March will be our annual Shamrock Shake. The students who follow our school's code of conduct and earn enough Positive Paws will be invited to participate. There may be 2 special "leprechauns" that appear on this special event.

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.

As we move through the school year, I want to take a moment to discuss how snack foods impact your child's health, energy, and overall well-being. We understand that snacks can be an easy and convenient way to keep kids satisfied throughout the day, but it's important to ensure that the choices we make for snacks support their growth and development.

Why Nutrition Matters for Growing Kids

Proper nutrition is crucial for children, especially during the elementary school years when their bodies and brains are developing at a rapid pace. Healthy eating habits provide the necessary fuel for school performance, physical activity, and general well-being. A well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein helps:

• Boost brain function: Good nutrition supports better concentration, memory, and cognitive function, leading to improved academic performance.
• Encourage healthy growth: Adequate nutrients, like calcium and protein, are essential for healthy bone growth and muscle development.
• Strengthen the immune system: A diet rich in vitamins and minerals helps children fight off infections and stay healthy throughout the school year.
• Maintain healthy weight: Encouraging balanced, nutrient-rich snacks can help prevent overeating and establish healthy eating habits for life.

However, many common snack foods--such as sugary treats, chips, and processed foods--offer little nutritional value and can cause energy crashes, difficulty concentrating, and even contribute to long-term health issues such as obesity and diabetes. Processed foods can also contribute to constipation, which is a frequent reason students miss class time to see the nurse for stomach aches.

Tips for Setting Snack Limits

1. Establish Regular Snack Times: Create a routine for when your child will have snacks, whether it's during a short break after school or before activities. Consistent timing will help them understand when they can expect snacks, reducing the likelihood of snacking mindlessly throughout the day.
2. Offer Healthy Options: Keep a variety of healthy snack options available, such as: Fresh fruits (apples, bananas, grapes), Vegetables with hummus (carrot sticks, cucumber slices, bell pepper), Whole grain crackers or rice cakes, Low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, Nuts and seeds (in moderation), Cheese sticks or slices
3. Lead by Example: Children are more likely to make healthy choices when they see their parents and caregivers choosing nutritious snacks themselves. Make it a family habit to opt for wholesome snacks at home.
4. Limit Processed Foods: While occasional treats are fine, it's important to limit snacks that are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Try to avoid bringing items like sugary granola bars, candy, or chips into the house on a regular basis. I like to refer to these kinds of snacks as "treat foods" so kids understand that these should not be eaten with every meal.
5. Make Healthy Snacks Fun: Get creative with how you present healthy snacks. Use cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of fruits or vegetables, or make a "snack kabob" with cubes of cheese, fruit, and whole grain crackers.
6. Encourage Portion Control: It's easy for kids to overeat when snacks are left out in large quantities. Offer reasonable portions and encourage your child to listen to their body when it comes to feeling full. Use a small bowl or cup to serve a portion of a snack to your child and try to purchase snack-sized bags instead of giving a child a large bag of a snack. Children have a difficult time knowing what a single serving looks like. They need our help.
7. Educate About Nutrition: Take the time to talk to your child about the importance of healthy foods and why they should make good choices. Teaching kids to understand how nutrition impacts their health will help them feel empowered to make better decisions.

How to Enforce Limits Effectively

While setting snack limits is key, it's just as important to follow through with those limits. Here are some strategies to help reinforce health habits:

• Consistency is key: Be consistent with the snack rules and expectations, even when other people (like friends or extended family) may offer different foods.
• Positive reinforcement: Praise your child for choosing healthy snacks and offer encouragement when they make the right choices.
• Provide alternatives: If your child craves something sweet or salty, suggest healthier alternatives that meet that craving (for example, apple slices with peanut butter for something sweet or air-popped popcorn for something crunchy).
• Involve kids in snack planning: Let your child help choose and prepare their snacks, so they feel ownership and pride in making healthy decisions.

If you feel like your child's nutrition is causing them to be unhealthy, you can work with your pediatrician to develop nutritional goals.

Please call our health office with any questions at 443-809-6063 or email our school nurse, Mrs. Grisley, at lgrisley@bcps.org.

Did you know that consistent school attendance is one of the biggest predictors of school success and graduation?

After 2 years of improved attendance, Baltimore Highlands students are currently struggling to attend regularly. Currently, 32% of our students are considered "chronically absent". That means, of our 446 students, 143 have missed more than 20% of the scheduled school days. Even missing only two days a month would add up to 18 missed days of learning by the end of the school year.

We understand there are many factors that impact student attendance and some are unavoidable. While we know that children get sick and have doctor's appointments, there are also factors that are more situational and need support and resources to help improve. When your child is sick, please continue to communicate with your child's teacher and send in doctor's notes when appropriate. Please reach out to me, one of our two School Social Workers, the School Counselors, or the School Nurse if you have concerns that are getting in the way of your child attending school regularly and being on time. We are here to help!

Since we know we could all use a little extra motivation to remind us how important it is to show up, we are focusing our energy on encouraging students to "show up" for the remainder of the school year! We will be sharing grade level attendance data every day and will be celebrating the grade level with the best attendance each week and each month!

In the main lobby, you will be able to see a display on the wall showing how classrooms are doing with our school wide attendance. Our goal is for 94% of our students to be present each day!

Ask your child how their grade is doing and encourage them to "show up for success".

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.