“Burtonsville Elementary School: Home of the Brightest Stars in the Universe”
“We ARE the Brightest Stars in the Universe: We Plan, We Believe, and We Achieve!”
Melissa F. Smith
Principal
Bettye Sellman
Assistant Principal
Vol. 6
November 12, 2010
Courageous Conversations
As we approach the holiday season many of the children and
even the adults focus on the receiving end. I would like to
suggest to you that now is the time, if you haven’t already,
to remind your child(ren) how incredibly blessed they are to
have a warm shelter, warm, clean clothes, enough food to eat
and are surrounded by people at home and school who
believe in them and embrace them.
During these economic times the idea of increasing personal
debt or expecting others to provide sacks of toys and gifts is
something that needs to be reconsidered. When I separated
from my husband and was responsible for our household, I
sat down with my son and told him that our lifestyle had to
change. Yes, I told Christopher, we would have food,
clothing, and shelter, but we would not be able to have
celebrations as large as we used to. Yes, we would have to
pick and choose the activities we would be able to pay for. I
felt then and do now that the season of giving is everyday
and always thinking that you should be on the receiving is
wrong.
In these tight economic times, the needs of our families are
great and we would like to support as many of our needy
families as possible so don’t take advantage by always
coming to us expecting us to play Santa. Reframe the
season of receiving to one of giving: volunteer to run errands
for the elderly, visit the nursing home, send cards to
veterans. We have been blessed to have a community that is
responsive to our needs. We receive support from Valley
Brook Community Church, Burtonsville Baptist Church,
Faithful and True Christian Center, PNC Bank of
Burtonsville, Neediest Kids (MCPS), and Manna Food. I
also receive cash and credit card donations from some of
you. The staff also contributes as well.
There are other outside resources that you can avail
yourselves to:
 Whosever Will Christian Church Food Bank
4514 Sellman Road, Beltsville 20705
301-257-0400
Hours: First Wednesday of the month
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Last Friday of the month
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Last Wednesday of the month
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Last Friday of the month
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Share Food Network
People’s Community Baptist
31 Norwood Rd
La Joy Mosby, 301-384-2601
REG: SAT 7-9PM
Mt Jezreel Baptist
420 University Blvd
Bernetta Robinson, 301-899-0637
Miguel Palacios, 703-578-4080
Cecilia Mason, 301-552-2821
REG: D DAY 11:30AM-12:30PM
Vehicles For Change
5230 Washington Blvd; Halethorpe, MD - (410) 242-9674
Vehicles For Change
7060 Aviation Blvd, Glen Burnie, MD - (410) 540-9023
Vehicles For Change
6350 S Hanover Rd, Elkridge, MD - (410) 835-3823
Again, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
911: Transportation/Bus Issues
Parents…..children are NOT to be dropped off in front
of school when buses are there. This is a safety issue; we
had one child who was almost hit by a bus. Parent drop
off is in the back of our school.
The front of the school is for buses only from 8:50-9:30
a.m. and from 3:00-4:00 p.m. and parent drop-off and
pick-up are the same at the rear of the school.
Arrival and dismissal are busy times of the school day, but
when the weather is wet and nasty the likelihood of an
accident occurring increases greatly. I ask that you respect
our rules and demonstrate responsibility by keeping your
child safe and dropping them off in the rear of the building.
Also, there were many who were late and were not signed in
by you. This is another expectation.
Bus riding is a privilege. The children are expected to stand
in line at the bus stop with no playing at the stop. They are
expected to sit quietly on the bus, stay in their seats, and to
follow the directions of the safety patrols and driver. As all
privileges, it can be taken. Please talk to your child about
respectful, responsible behavior on and at the stop.
Second grade has one high ability group and the others are
heterogeneously grouped. Addition and subtraction facts are
extended and by the end of the year students are able to
regroup. Simple multiplication is introduced. Problem
solving becomes more complex and multi-stepped. A
variety of strategies are introduced and applied throughout
the year. Paraeducators or the special education teacher
provide support to the classroom where those students are
assigned.
Third grade is the application and extension of the
foundational skills learned since kindergarten. Probability,
fractions, and data analysis are all introduced. Students are
given multiple opportunities across the units to apply the
strategies that are learned and practiced during our Friday
Focus. Paraeducators or the special education teacher
provide support to the classroom where those students are
assigned.
Fourth grade includes four digit multiplication, division,
addition, subtracting fractions and converting fractions to
decimal, probability, and data analysis. Problem solving
focuses on multiplication and division. Paraeducators or the
special education teacher provide support to the classroom
where those students are assigned.
Data Nights
Thank you to all who came out for our Data Night, Family
Math and Reading Nights. I hope you enjoyed yourselves
and learned how to support your star as well.
Mathematics
I would like to take the next several newsletters to share with
you how we teach and reach our stars one at a time. This
week I will share what we do during the math block.
Every Friday we have a school-wide focus on problem
solving, developing, and reinforcing basic skills. All of the
children are exposed to above grade level objectives.
Students are able to move from one group to another based
on their understanding of the concepts being taught. Within
each classroom, teachers teach a whole class lesson followed
by small group instruction. Centers, follow-up activities,
and the use of computers are part of the math program.
Kindergarten is a 45 minute instructional block with students
able to explore later in the day. First and second grade have
an hour math block with grades three through five having a
ninety minute block.
Kindergarten focuses on developing understanding of
numbers, adding and subtracting up to ten, counting money,
identifying shapes, and problem solving. Pretests are given
and students are regrouped based on their performance.
First grade has one high ability group, while the other three
classes are heterogeneously grouped. The focus is word
problems using addition and subtraction. Addition and
subtraction facts to twenty, telling time and counting money
are further extended. Three dimensional shapes are explored
during the geometry unit. Paraeducators or the special
education teacher provide support to the classroom where
those students are assigned.
Fifth grade continues to focus on multiplication and division,
and in the problem solving there is application of
multiplication and division. Students are expected to
convert fractions to decimals to percents. Data analysis is
extended even further. Paraeducators or the special
education teacher provide support to the classroom where
those students are assigned.
Math A, the sixth grade curriculum, is taught in one class.
One of the remaining four classes is moving at an
accelerated pace.
Math is our focus this school year and we ask you to support
your children by having them practice their math facts
wherever they are, encourage them to explain their thinking
and to use manipulatives (counters, beans, Cheerios, etc).
Holiday Baskets
Thanksgiving and Christmas are times that churches and
individuals feel compelled to supply a need in the
community. As Thanksgiving is fast approaching, we will
be asked to identify families in need of food and sometimes
small articles of clothing. If you are a family in need and
wish to be considered for a holiday basket, please call our
counselor, Mrs. Felita Barrett-Smith at 301-989-5654.
Again, we are talking about families who are struggling to
feed their families. Thank you.
Tired Children
What time does your child go to bed during the week? If
your kindergartner through second grader is going to bed
after 8:30, you need to reconsider their bedtime. If your
third through fifth grader is going to bed after 9:00, you need
to reconsider their bedtime. Some of the children are
dragging in each morning unrested, unhappy and wishing
they were still asleep. I realize some of you have long
commutes and wish to spend time with your child, but
remember it’s the quality of time, not the quantity. Having
dinner together is very important because it’s there where
you learn about their day. If homework is keeping them up
write a note to the teacher saying that it will be turned in on
Monday instead of Friday. If it is T, please monitor what
they are watching. Too much of the wrong stuff can impact
them in the wrong way. Please remember that they are still
children and they need at least ten hours of sleep each night.
A well rested, well-fed student is a better student! Thank
you for your cooperation in this manner and if you need me
to be the heavy, just send in a note or show them this
newsletter.
Attention 5th Grade Parents
Middle School Magnet Consortium meeting dates
The application materials for the middle school magnet
programs at Takoma Park Middle School and Eastern
Middle School are now available online at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprogra
ms. All fifth graders are eligible to apply. These are
exciting opportunities for interesting and challenging
experiences in middle school. The program at Takoma Park
Middle School focuses on math, science, and computer
science. The program at Eastern Middle School focuses on
humanities and communication arts.
Winter Weather Emergencies
Children’s Changing Bodies
There was a time when little people were little people and
they did not begin to emit an unpleasant odor until fifth
grade. For many of our children, this remains to be true.
We are now noticing that some of our second and third
graders need deodorant, as well as our fourth and fifth
graders. In a classroom with 22 to 28 children after recess,
the perspiration and over heated-bodies can become
something of a challenge. Please make sure your children
are using deodorant, especially in third, fourth, and fifth and
check to see if your second grader needs it. As always,
thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
LOST AND FOUND
Please check our lost and found for missing items before
and during conference time as we will be bagging the
items and giving them to a homeless shelter. Also remind
your children to be responsible for their items and dress
them appropriately for the weather.
Aaron’s Army
Aaron’s Army is the name of our single parents’ group that
we started last May. It was formed to support my single
parents. As a single parent, I walked alone. None of my
friends were single nor was my church supportive. As our
school population changed and I have more single moms, I
realized that there are experiences and strategies that we
could share and benefit from. It has been wonderful
watching my moms interact during our first three meetings.
The connections have been natural and rewarding. My
belief is that we will gain strength by walking this path of
parenthood together.
As our economy worsens, we will need to find ways to
stretch our dollars, have courageous conversations with our
children and ourselves about what we can and cannot afford,
and build friendships with folks that we have something in
common with.
Our meetings are usually held the *third Thursday of the
month. Please call to let us know if you will attend by
calling the office. Child care and dinner will be provided. I
hope you will join us in this opportunity to be stronger
individually and collectively. I look forward to seeing you.
*New meeting day.
Winter weather emergencies, such as snow and ice, may
cause disruptions in school operations, including the closure
of school, a delayed opening, or an early dismissal.
Closure of School
When schools are closed system-wide, all instructional
programs and extracurricular activities in schools are
canceled. Private day care providers in school buildings
may elect to stay open if the schools are closed but the
administrative offices are open. In extreme conditions,
administrative offices also may be closed. If this occurs,
private day care programs located in school buildings are
closed as well.
Delayed Opening
A delayed opening means that schools open two hours later
than scheduled. All buses operate on the same delayed
schedule and, therefore, the pick-up times are two hours later
than normal. When elementary schools open on a delayed
schedule, the following programs are canceled: morning
sessions of half-day Head Start, prekindergarten, and other
specialized programs or field trips scheduled before 10:30
a.m. (e.g., the Thomas Edison High School of Technology
morning session). Activities that begin after 10:30 a.m. will
be held as scheduled. Afternoon sessions of prekindergarten
begin at the regular time. Full-day Head Start follows the
same schedule as other full-day programs. Parents should
continue to check for radio, television, or Web
announcements in the event a decision to delay the opening
of schools is reconsidered and a decision to close schools for
the day is made (by 7:00 a.m.).
Early Dismissal
An early dismissal means that schools will close 2.5 hours
earlier than scheduled. All buses operate on that same early
schedule and, therefore, drop-off times are 2.5 hours earlier
than normal. When elementary schools close early,
afternoon pre-kindergarten and other early childhood
programs are canceled, as well as any special programs or
field trips scheduled after 10:30 a.m. Morning
prekindergarten and morning half-day Head Start students
will be dismissed at 10:30 a.m. Full-day Head Start classes
will dismiss with regular kindergarten through Grade 5
students.
Public Announcements
1.
Information about school operations is announced publicly
as soon as possible on area radio and television stations,
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Cable TV
(Comcast Channel 34, Verizon FIOS Channel 36, RCN
Channel 89), Outlook, on the Internet at
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, and on a recorded
telephone message at 301-279-3673. Emergency e-mail
announcements are available by signing up for MCPS
QuickNotes on the school system’s home page. If schools
are closed or delayed, the announcement is made no later
than 5:00 a.m. (or the night before if possible). If schools
are closing early, the announcement is made by 11:00 a.m.
Emergency Weather Contingency Plan
2.
An emergency weather contingency plan will add student
instructional days to the end of the scheduled school year
if schools are closed more than four days because of
weather emergencies. The planned school year for
students ends on Thursday, June 16, 2011. However, if
schools are closed for more than four days due to weather
emergencies, the following schedule would extend the
school year in order to add the necessary make-up days:
3.
If schools are closed for five days, the school
year will be extended by one day to June 17,
2011.
4.
If schools are closed for six days, the school
year will be extended by two days to June 17
and June 20, 2011.
Weather Conditions and Decisions
The school system uses a variety of sources of information
to determine whether to close schools, delay the opening of
schools, or dismiss schools early. These sources include
actual physical inspection of road and school conditions by
transportation officials and other staff at areas throughout
the county, and an analysis of independent reports from the
National Weather Service, Accu-Weather, and the news
media. The most severe weather conditions within the
county are used as the basis for decision-making. Consistent
procedures are maintained in order to respond quickly to
emergency weather conditions and protect the safety and
well being of students.
All public schools within Montgomery County adhere to the
same schedule concerning emergency weather conditions.
The decision to change school operations is made by the
superintendent of schools or his designee and affects all
schools within the school system.
Upcoming Dates
11/19 – 2nd grade to Strathmore 11:10 – 1:50
11/19 – Aaron’s Army meeting at 7:00 (new day)
11/24 - Early release at 1:00
11/25 – 11/26 – No School Thanksgiving
11/29 – School Resumes
Food for Thought
5.
If schools are closed seven days, the school
year will be extended by three days to June 17,
June 20, and June 21, 2011.
6.
If schools are closed for eight days, the school
year will be extended by four days to June 17,
June 20, June 21, and June 22, 2011.
7.
If schools are closed nine days, the school
year will be extended by five days to June 17,
June 20, June 21, June 22, and June 23, 2011.
“The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called
Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called
Friends, red lights called Enemies and yellow lights called
Family. You will have flats called Jobs. But, if you have a
spare called Determination, and an engine called
Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called
_______, you will make it to a place called Success.”