SMALLTALK NEWSLETTER May 2019

Fort Smallwood Elementary 1720 Poplar Ridge Road

Pasadena, Maryland 21122 410-222-6450

Vision, Mission and Values Statement

Parents, please review our school’s Vision, Mission and Values statement: These are not just words to us. These are our beliefs. Eve-rything that we do is based on them. Please read them and know we do have your child’s best interest at heart.

What are we about?

Vision In partnership with parents, teachers, and the community, Fort Smallwood students will be provided the opportunity to achieve and maintain a solid educational foundation that stimulates thought, celebrates diversity, and prepares stu-dents to have a positive impact on their community, country and world. Mission We are committed to fostering each child’s full academic potential by providing instruction that is engaging, challeng-ing, appropriately supported, and promotes life-long learn-ing.

Values We value a school supportive of: • High expectations for learning and behavior • Instruction that appeals to a variety of learning styles and

experiences • Maintaining a safe and orderly learning environment • Fostering positive, open, and effective home/school com-

munications • Promoting parent involvement opportunities within the

school • Respecting all members of the Fort Smallwood School

community.

Principal’s Message Greetings to the Fort Smallwood Community!

It is hard to believe; however, the end of the school year is upon us. The time for Kindergarten (Friday, June 7, 2019 at 6PM) and Grade 5 (Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 3 PM) promotion ceremonies are here, along with the many other fun and exciting end-of-year activities that are set to occur. This includes our end of year Pancake Breakfast and Movie for Grade 5 students on the last day of school, June 14th.

Keeping safety in mind, please remember not to plan to attend Field Day (Friday, May 31st) unless you have been specifically notified that you were selected as a volunteer (we’ll have more than 40). Also, as stated on the form, be sure you have had your AACPS county-approved background check completed prior to planning to attend. You will hear from Mr. Bruso on or before May 24th, if you were se-lected to assist us on that fun day. Thanks to all who volunteered to participate, as your willingness is indicative of the excellent commu-nity involvement our school is so fortunate to enjoy. Again, we thank you in advance for helping to honor the safety measures we must put in place to make sure that all our students remain protect-ed while at school.

Thank you for encouraging your students to do their absolute best on PARCC and all other assessments. Their hard work and the seri-ousness with which they take the tests are evident every day. There are just a few more weeks until the testing, for our intermediate level students, is over!

Parents, begin to remind your students about considerations for the end of the year: start to return borrowed or overdue library books; prepare to locate any other resources and/or assignments that may need to be returned to your child’s teachers in the coming weeks. Interims will come home Tuesday, May 14th, so take time to set end-of-year academic and/or personal goals with your students. If they previously set a long-range goal for the end of the school year, now is a good time to start discussing with them how they fared. Self-reflection on goal setting will continue to be an essential skill in their lives.

Lastly, from me to you, thank you for another outstanding school year here at The Fort. It continues to be an honor and privilege to service these fine students and the community from which they come. I’m grateful to be a part of such a fantastic team. Together, we have, we can, and we will accomplish much!

Mr. Sembly

Principal, Fort Smallwood Elementary School

The Anne Arundel County Public Schools System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, natural origin, religion, age, disability, sexual orienta-tion or familial status in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs. Questions regard-ing nondiscrimination should be directed to Mr. Leslie N. Stanton, Specialist in Human Relations, AACPS, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, (410) 222-5318, TDD (410) 222-5500 or www.aacps.org

Join Cub Scout Pack 441 Cub Scouting is fun for the whole family. In Scouting, boys and girls start with their

best right now selves and grow into their very best future selves. It’s fun, hands-on learning and achievement that puts kids in the middle of the action and prepares them for today – and for life. Cub Scout Pack 441 meets most Tuesdays in the Fort Smallwood Elementary School cafeteria at 7 p.m. To learn more about joining for next year, email Pack441contact@gmail.com or visit face-book.com/CubScoutPack441.

Fort Smallwood School is equipped with a video camera system. It covers selected inte-rior and exteriors public por-tions of the building and grounds. It is NOT monitored constantly, but it is monitored during emergency situations. During certain events, when the safety or security of students may be in question, au-thorized personnel from local, state, federal police or fire emergency units may be given access to view im-ages projected on the camera system. If you have any questions about the system, you should call the Super-visor of School Security at 410-222-5083.

****PICK-UP REMINDER!**** Please help our dismissal run smoothly by following this guideline: If you need to pick up your child for ear-ly dismissal OR if you are calling to have your child be a car rider, please notify the office by 3:15 PM. After that time, children will be dis-missed at 3:35 (our usual dismissal time) and in-tercom messages to the classroom will not be made.

Inside this issue:

G U I D A N C E N E W S 4 - 7

C H I C K - F I L - A N I G H T 8

C B M S 6 T H G R A D E O R I E N T A T I O N

9

A B S E N C E S H A N D O U T 1 0

S U M M E R A C A D E M Y 1 1 - 1 5

S C H O O L H E A L T H 1 6

A S K T H E P R I N C I P A L L A S T

P A G E

WELCOME WEDNESDAYS When you come to visit your child for Welcome

Wednesdays it is for lunch only and not for recess! Please bring a bag lunch from home or you may buy a lunch from the cafeteria, do not bring in lunches from fast food restau-rants.

You also cannot take pictures during lunch times.

Congratulations to the pictured 5th graders that earned a spot in the 5th Grade

Straight A Luncheon at Two Rivers last week courtesy of The Pasadena Business

Association. Great work Cade, Nikhil, Brandon, and Kamryn (left to right).

A special thank you to Mrs. Ellis who escorted them and cheered them on.

hoja informativa

MAYO 2019PERSEVERANCIA

PERSEVERANCEMAY 2019 | D�key

Refusing to give up whenlife gets hard

©2018/2019 CORE ESSENTIALS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDCoreEssentials.org

DILO:Rehusándoteadarteporvencidocuandolavidaseponedifícil.

CONOCELO:PREGUNTA A UN NIÑO:• ¿Alguna vez has tenido un momento difícil al aprender un nuevo concepto en la escuela?

¿Qué hiciste para poder lograr tu meta y aprender?• ¿Puedes pensar en algún tiempo cuando te diste por vencido con algo? Algunos ejemplos

pueden ser darte por vencido con algún problema de matemáticas o tal vez cuando estabas haciendo ejercicios en Educación Física. ¿Cómo te sentiste cuando te diste por vencido? Ahora, recuerda cuando te sentiste motivado y lograste tu meta, incluso cuando fue difícil. Contrasta esos dos sentimientos.

PREGUNTA A UN ADULTO:• ¿Qué ejemplos tienes de situaciones en tu vida que te han sido difíciles como adulto? Y

que ejemplos tienes cuando fuiste niño?• ¿Hubieron algunas cosas que te hicieron perseverar? • ¿Hay personas en tu vida que vas por ayuda cuando tienes problemas?

MIRALO:Siéntense todos en familia y miren el avance de la película “The Pursuit of Happyness” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00uTFVnWJMw.Lapelículatratadeunpadreysuhijoquepasanmuchasdificul-tades pero perseveran para alcanzar sus sueños. Hubieron momentos que incluso su misma seguridad y bienestar estuvieron comprometidos, pero ello se rehusaron a darse por vencidos y eventualmente salieron exitosos.

PRACTICALO:Untestdeperseveranciapuedesertuticketdeestemes.Retaatufamiliaahacerunatareafísicaen

el futuro próximo como participar en una caminata por la vida o una carrera de 5 kilómetros. Antes del

reto, hablen sobre maneras como pueden perseverar en familia cuando las cosas se pongan duras, que

puede ser como ya no poder caminar más o incluso no querer renunciar al reto. Establezcan metas jun-

tos y regístrense en algo divertido que les permitan experimentar como retarse y perseverar.

PHASENewsletter

PERSEVERANCEMAY 2019 | D�key

Refusing to give up whenlife gets hard

©2018/2019 CORE ESSENTIALS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDCoreEssentials.org

¿Hiciste la matemática? ¿Cuántas semanas faltan hasta que tu hijo o hija se gradúe de la se-cundaria? ¡Tienes cerca de36 menos que cuando el año escolar empezó!

No importa su edad, los niños necesitan de algunas cuantas cosas a tiem-po completo:

AMOR les da sentido de valor. Cuando ellos saben que son amados y ver como otros se aman entre sí, les da un ejemplo a tus niños que bus-car en futura relaciones.

HISTORIAS acerca de su pasado, su familia y su medio ambiente les da una perspectiva más grande de quienes son.

TRABAJO que es apropiado para ellos les ayuda a darles un propósi-to y significado.

DIVERSION les ayuda a estar conectados con otros.

GRUPOS o TRIBUS (un equipo, un grupo juvenil, un grupo de reparto, una clase, etc.) que les dé un sentido de pertenencia y aceptación.

PALABRAS de ánimo, de apoyo y corrección, para darles dirección en su vida.

Entonces, no te olvides: El año escolar tal vez este por terminar, pero todavía hay tiempo para incorporar amor, historias, trabajo, diversión, tribus y palabras en el tiempo que te falta por terminar.

May 2019Perseverance

Newsletter

SAY IT:Refusing to give up when life gets hard.

KNOW IT:ASK A KID:• Have you ever had a hard time with learning a concept at school? What did you do in order

to accomplish your goal and learn?• Can you think of a time when you have given up on something? Examples might be giving

up on a hard math problem or giving up in PE when trying to do pull ups. How did it feel when you gave up? Now think of a time when you powered through and accomplished a goal even when it was hard. Contrast the two feelings.

ASK A GROWN UP:• What are examples of things in your life that have been hard as an adult? What about

when you were a child?• What are some things that you have done that have helped you persevere? • Are there people in your life that you go to for help when life gets tough?

SEE IT:Sit down together as a family and watch the trailer for the movie The Pursuit of Happyness youtube.com/watch?v=00uTFVnWJMw. The movie depicts a father and son who run up on some very difficult times but persevere to reach their dreams. There are times when their very safety and well-being are compromised, but they refuse to give up and eventually become very successful.

BE IT:A physical test of perseverance might be the ticket this month. Challenge your family to take on a physical endeavor in the near future such as a local Relay for Life walk or 5k run. Prior to the challenge, discuss as a family ways that you can persevere even when the going gets tough. That might be refusing to walk or refusing to quit even. Set goals together and register for a fun way to challenge and persevere.

May 2019Perseverance

PERSEVERANCEMAY 2019 | D�key

Refusing to give up whenlife gets hard

©2018/2019 CORE ESSENTIALS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDCoreEssentials.org

PHASENewsletter

PERSEVERANCEMAY 2019 | D�key

Refusing to give up whenlife gets hard

©2018/2019 CORE ESSENTIALS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDCoreEssentials.org

Have you done the math? How many weeks do you have from now until your child graduates from high school? You have about 36 less than when the school year started!

No matter their age, kids need a few things over time:

LOVE gives them a sense of worth. Knowing they are loved and seeing others love each other gives an example of what your kids will look for in future relationships.

STORIES about their past, their family, and their environment give them a bigger perspective.

WORK that is appropriate for them helps to give them purpose and significance.

FUN helps give them connections to others.

GROUPS or TRIBES (a team, a youth group, a cast, a class, etc.) give them a sense of belonging and fitting in.

WORDS that encourage, support, and correct give them direction.

So don’t miss it. This school year may be over, but there is still time to incorporate love, stories, work, fun, tribes, and words in the time you have left.

May 2019Perseverance

During this information session, parents/students will see a presentation about middle

school life at CBMS and meet the principal, 6th grade administrator, and 6th grade school

counselor. Parents will have an opportunity to ask questions and get tips on how to help

their students with the transition from elementary school to middle school. There will be

beak out sessions for parents to learn about the academic programs at CBMS, SPEd

services, students support services, and other programs offered by CBMS. Parents and

students will also receive information about the summer orientation in August.

©2011 Reach Out and Read, Inc. All rights reserved. ATT1PG_09/11

For more on school readiness, visit attendanceworks.org and reachoutandread.org

DID YOU KNOW?• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.

• Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.

• Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.

• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.

• Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.

Help Your Child Succeed in School:Build the Habit of Good Attendance EarlySchool success goes hand in hand with good attendance!

WHAT YOU CAN DO• Set a regular bed time and morning routine.

• Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

• Find out what day school starts and make sure your child has the required shots.

• Introduce your child to her teachers and classmates before school starts to help her transition.

• Don’t let your child stay home unless she is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.

• If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make her feel comfortable and excited about learning.

• Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.

• Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.

When Do Absences Become a Problem?

CHRONIC ABSENCE 18 or more days

WARNING SIGNS 10 to 17 days

SATISFACTORY 9 or fewer absences

Note: These numbers assume a 180-day school year.

©Jason Miczek Photography

Please write El Campo del Bosque on the outside of the envelope

El Campo del Bosque2019 Arlington Echo Summer Spanish Camp

I have participated in:

After-school foreign language class for _______ years

Foreign language class/club at Anne Arundel Community College

Spanish play group

Spanish classes during the school day for _______ years

I have had no experience learning Spanish

El Campo del Bosque in (check all that apply): 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Please explain any other exposure or experience with Spanish that may help the instructors place your child appropriately (i.e. “my grandparents are Spanish-speaking and live with us...”)

(Please do not include medical information here.)

MaleFemale

Parent or Guardian Signature

Send to: Office of World & Classical Languages, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

A $100 deposit is required with the application. Make checks payable to Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Attach Request for Financial Assistance form if applicable. Deadline: July 5, 2019.

Student’s Name SIF Number

Street Address City Zip Code

Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian email

Home Phone Work Phone Cell Phone

Current School Current Age Grade

Payment/Refund Policy: Full payment is due 30 days prior to start of camp. If full payment is not received by this time, your child’s reservation will not be held. After this date, we cannot guarantee that space will be available when your payment is received. If a cancellation is made before the 30 day time period, a 100% refund will be issued (with a $10 processing fee). If a cancellation is made any time between 30-15 days prior to the start of camp, a 50% refund will be issued (with a $10 processing fee). No refunds will be issued 14 days or less prior to the start of camp. Additionally, there shall be no partial refund granted for any camper’s late arrival, early withdrawal, non-arrival or dismissal for cause. All cancellations must be received in writing.

Application Form

To download an electronic copy of this fillable application, go to: www.aacps.org/languagecamps

T-Shirt Size

Youth Small Youth Medium Youth Large Youth Xtra Large

El Campo del BosqueYou will find yourself immersed in an exciting world where you will

experience Hispanic culture and speak the Spanish language through word games, skits, music, art, and outdoor activities.

Children gain an introduction or enhance their existing Spanish speaking skills while learning about the cultures in which Spanish is spoken. Children will have the opportunity to go canoeing,

seining and swimming, along with taking nature walks.

For more information:

O�ce of World & Classical Languages| ElCampodelBosque@aacps.org | 410.222.5424

Who: Rising 1st–5th Graders

Where: Arlington Echo

When: Monday–Thursday, August 5–8, 20198:30am–3:30pm

Cost: $300 $100 nonrefundable deposit; $200 to be paid upon acceptanceFinancial Assistance in the form of Partial Scholarships may be available.

Meals: A culturally authentic lunch and snack will be provided.

At this time, no transportation will be provided for this camp

Please see reverse side for the El Campo del Bosque application and instructions.

School Health Services Positions The Anne Arundel County Department of Health is seeking RN’s, LPN’s and health

assistants to provide health services for students in Anne Arundel County Public

Schools for the upcoming school year. The positions include:

Full-time and part-time positions

No nights or weekends

Summers off – follows the public school calendar

Health Insurance and leave benefits

457 Deferred Compensation Plan

For more information or to obtain an application, please call 410-222-6838 or visit

our website: www.aahealth.org. Smoke-Free Workplace. EOE.

May

2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 Book Fair

Final Welcome Wednesday

Book Fair & evening purchase 5/-7

Donuts with Dad 7:45 AM

Book Fair

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 PTA Teacher Appreciation

Week

2nd Grade Field Trip to Eco Adventures

MP Awards Assembly

Gr. 4-5 at 2:30 PM

Gr. 2-3 at 3:00 PM

K Field Trip – MD Sci. Center

Gr. 1 Field Trip – MD Zoo

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 PTA Meeting 6 PM

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31 PK/ECI Field Trip – MD

Zoo Field Day

ASK THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Do you have a question or concern regarding a school matter? This form is provided as a means of open communication with parents/guardians to keep informed of school-related topics. Simply, complete the form and send it back to school. I will respond via a phone call, letter, or e-mail.

Thank You,

Mr. Sembly

Principal

My question

is:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian’s Name_______________________

Child’s Name______________________ Grade________

Teacher____________________