WORDS TO THE WISE
Westowne Elementary School
A Message From Mr. Palmer
Spring is truly here! At the writing of this message, the Orioles are 12 and 22 (unfortunately, sitting in last place in the AL East standings), UMBC Lacrosse has had a rough start at 3 and 7, but now sit at 6 and 8 as the American East Conference Champions and a trip to the NCAA tournament, and Catonsville High School Baseball is 12 and 1! Moreover ,leaves are out, flowers are blooming, and students are wearing shorts to school! Can you believe the third marking period ended on Friday, April 5, 2019 and report cards will be going home on Tuesday, April 23, 2019? The end of the third marking period is a good time to measure your child’s success with their academic goals. As you review the report card with your child, please help to identify areas of strength and provide plenty of praise and encouragement. Areas identified as needing improvement should be discussed and must be the focus during the fourth marking period. Please remember that encouragement will go a long way with your child’s effort and self esteem. About nine weeks to go with the last day of school scheduled for June 17, 2019!
Keep Reading
Families who read together provide the strongest model for future reading. Research has established that children who read nightly show an increase in their love of reading, their vocabulary development, and comprehension skills. We encourage family participation in this activity which offers students opportunities to expand their horizons and broaden their knowledge. Please keep the use of the Baltimore County Public Libraries (BCPL) in mind to select interesting books for your student(s) to read each day. We also look forward the BCPL summer reading program, to ensure a comprehensive reading selection during the summer months.
“Few children learn to read books by themselves. Someone has to lure them into the wonderful world of the written word: someone has to show them the way.”
-Author Anonymous
Nurse's Notes
Here are some helpful tips regarding Seasonal (Spring) Allergies. Please administer allergy medication to your child before school. I do not have allergy medication at Westowne.
*insert the thing I sent you here, please*
If you received a Vision or Hearing Screening failure letter, please schedule an appt. for your child with a vision or hearing specialist. Take the form with you to the doctor so the doctor can complete the bottom portion of the form. Please return the completed form to the school nurse ASAP.
Please send a reusable water bottle to school with your child every day. Water is vital to good health.
First reminder: If your child has any type of medication at Westowne, including Epi Pen and inhalers, all medications must be picked up on or before the last day of school. All meds left at school on June 17th will be discarded.
As always, please call or email with any questions or concerns.
443-809-0023
PTA Spring Club Information
Running Club—SPRING 2019
Get moving, get running, and take care of your heart as you work up to running a 5K with Westowne Elementary! This after-school Club is led by Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Brumfield, Mrs. Cvengros, and Ms. Kountz, and organized by the PTA. Tuition covers the Towson Healthy Hearts 5K registration and other Club expenses.
When: Wednesdays, April 24 - June 5
Times: 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th
Lego Robotics Club—SPRING 2019
This club introduces building and programming robots using the LEGO We Do Construction Sets and Software. This program is organized by the PTA and taught by Westowne parent, Adam Nickel, with the help of another parent volunteer Dean Kaman.
When: Fridays, April 26 - June 7
*No club on May 24 (Memorial Day weekend)
Times: 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Grades: 3rd, 4th, 5th
Concert Alert
CONCERT ALERT!!!!
Concert Information
Thursday May 16th, 2019
Dress Code: Please wear something comfortable, but presentable. Limit clothing with holes and jeans if possible.
Concert Start Time: 7:00 pm
Children should arrive promptly at 6:40 pm through front lobby doors. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER UNTIL 6:30pm. All student performers need to be accompanied by an adult for the entire length of the concert!
Any questions contact
Ms. Case – scase@bcps.org
Ms. Goetschius – mgoetschius@bcps.org
Ms. Sweeney – bsweeney@bcps.org
Westowne: (443) 809-0854
Lead in Drinking Water – Public and Nonpublic Schools
IMPORTANT NOTICE: WATER SAMPLE RESULT(S)
Westowne Elementary School
LEAD WATER SAMPLE RESULT(S)
All Maryland public and nonpublic schools are required to sample all drinking water sources for the presence of lead pursuant to the Code of Maryland Regulations. On March 2, 2019, 46 water samples were collected from Westowne Elementary School. Of these water samples, NONE (0) had levels of lead exceeding the action level of 20 parts per billion (ppb) for lead in drinking water in school buildings.
ACTION LEVEL (AL)
The AL is 20 ppb for lead in drinking water in school buildings. The AL is the concentration of lead which, if exceeded, triggers required remediation.
LOCAL AND FEDERAL DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
Without being required to do so, BCPS has tested school drinking fountains for lead since 2016. There are no federal regulations for schools regarding drinking water. The federal Clean Drinking Water Act requires public water systems to test for lead. Nine of our schools have well systems, and those systems have tested for lead as required.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD
Lead can cause serious health problems if too much enters your body from drinking water or other sources. It can cause damage to the brain and kidneys, and can interfere with the production of red blood cells that carry oxygen to all parts of your body. The greatest risk of lead exposure is to infants, young children, and pregnant women. Lead is stored in the bones and it can be released later in life. During pregnancy, the fetus receives lead from the mother’s bones, which may affect brain development. Scientists have linked the effects of lead on the brain with lowered IQ in children. Adults with kidney problems and high blood pressure can be affected by low levels of lead more than healthy adults.
SOURCES OF HUMAN EXPOSURE TO LEAD
There are many different sources of human exposure to lead. These include: lead-based paint,
lead-contaminated dust or soil, some plumbing materials, certain types of pottery, pewter, brass fixtures, food, and cosmetics, exposure in the work place and exposure from certain hobbies, brass faucets, fittings, and valves. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 10 to 20 percent of a person’s potential exposure to lead may come from drinking water, while for an infant consuming formula mixed with lead-containing water this may increase to 40 to 60 percent.
NEXT STEPS
None
HOW CONSUMERS CAN REDUCE EXPOSURE TO LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
- Run your water to flush out lead: If water hasn’t been used for several hours, run water for 15 to 30 seconds or until it becomes cold or reaches a steady temperature before using it for drinking or cooking.
- Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. If lead was present in the plumbing, it would dissolve more easily in hot water.
Please note that boiling the water will not reduce lead levels.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For additional information, please contact David Glassman, Supervisor, Environmental Services at 443.809.6310 or dglassman2@bcps.org.
For additional information about reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/lead.
If you are concerned about exposure, contact your healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, please contact the Baltimore County Department of Health at 410.887.3725.
From The Library
And the Winners Are...
In late April or early May, the Maryland Association of School Librarians will announce the winners of the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Awards. Each year picture books, chapter books and graphic novels, in various age categories, are nominated and Maryland students read and vote for their favorite.
Westowne students voted for their favorites a few weeks ago. The books with the most votes from Westowne are…
Picture Book category – Claymates by Dev Petty
Chapter Book grades 4-6 category – (tie) Chester & Gus by Cammie McGovern, The Safest Lie by Angela Cerrito, and Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
Graphic Novel grades 4-6 category - Time Museum by Matthew Loux
Westowne’s votes will be added to the votes of other Maryland students. The winners of the 2018-2019 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Awards will be announced soon.
In recognition of all Black-Eyed Susan nominees, past and present, this month Owl be recommending… any book nominated for the Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award!
Lists of current nominees, past winners, and all nominees & winners can be found at http://maslmd.org, then click on the “Black Eyed Susan Award” tab in the bar at the top.
(The 2019-2020 Black-Eyed Susan nominee list will be available soon. It has great ideas for summer reading.)
Clearing Student Library Accounts – overdue books, outstanding fines, etc.
As the end of the school year approaches, please help your child clear any obligations in his/her BCPS library account before Summer Break begins. Overdue school library books and unpaid fines for lost or damaged books stay on student accounts from year to year and will follow them if they change schools.
If you aren’t sure if your child owes any books or fines, then have your child check his/her library account online at any time – log in to BCPS One, click on Digital Content, click on Destiny, click on Westowne Elementary School (6th from the bottom), open the “hamburger menu” icon (3 stacked lines) in the upper left corner, click on “Checkouts” to see any books currently checked out and click on “Fines” to see any unpaid book fines.
Overdue books can be returned to the school library at any time. Students do not need to wait until library class to turn in a book. There are no late fees – we just want to get the books back.
Book fines can be paid at the school library between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on school days. The library can only accept cash payments and cannot make change. Partial payments can be arranged.
If you have any questions about your child’s library account, books, or fines, please contact Miss Johnson directly at cjohnson13@bcps.org.