Kenmore Elementary 2475 Singerly Road Elkton, Maryland 21921 Phone (410)996-5060 Fax (410)996-5467

Rose Clark, Principal
George Whisner, Local Support Teacher

Kenmore Cubhouse News

April 2008

A Message from Ms. Clark…

“All kids need is a little help, a little hope,
and somebody who believes in them.”
-Earvin “Magic” Johnson

During this busy time of year when everyone begins the seasons that are more interactive with sports and outdoor activities, I would like to ask you to help your children remember the importance of school including their class work and homework. Also, I would like to encourage you to remember the following as you support them:

ABC’s of Education            What Children Need from A to Z
A+ Attitude                                            Acceptance
Balance                                                Boundaries
Courage                                               Compassion
Dedication                                           Devotion
Enthusiasm                                          Encouragement
Friendliness                                         Fun
Generosity                                           Goals
Heart                                                     Honesty
Initiative                                                Inspiration
Joyfulness                                            Justice
Knowledge                                          Kindness
Leadership                                          Laughter
Motivation                                            Modeling
Never-ending Ideas                           Nurturing
Optimism                                              Opportunities
Preparation                                          Praise
Quest for Learning                              Quality Time
Responsibility                                      Respect
Sensitivity                                             Support
Trustworthiness                                   Trust
Understanding                        Unconditional Love
Versatility                                              Values
Warmth                                                  Wisdom
eXcellence                                            eXcitement
Your Best                                               You
Zeal                                                         Zest

“In spring, nature is like a thrifty housewife…taking up the white carpets and putting down the green ones.”
Mary Baker Eddy

“Suddenly a mist of green on the trees, as quiet as a thought.”
Dorothy M. Richardson

A Word from Mr. Whisner:

Thank you parents and families for your participation in the events at Kenmore that take place during and after school hours.  Every minute you spend engaged in your child’s education boosts their achievement and sends the message that you value education. 

This week we will be participating in the MSA’s for grades 3-5.  We have already sent home information for parents to elaborate on the process and purpose.  Additionally, I met with all 3rd-5th grade classrooms to prep them and pump them up about the upcoming tasks. 

The biggest point that I have stressed is that there is no mystery to the material that students will encounter on the MSA.  Students have been practicing these same concepts throughout the school year.  In other words, they know what to expect.  Please encourage your child/children to do their very best by getting a good night’s sleep and eating breakfast.  You can help further by getting them up and going in the morning so that they don’t arrive late for testing. 

As always, thank you for your support and involvement!

Special Request from our Kindergarten:

As you are doing spring cleaning, please keep Kenmore's kindergarten classrooms in mind. If you have any toys or games your children no longer use, chances are we can use them in kindergarten! Some items we would greatly appreciate: plastic food, toy dishes and utensils, dolls, plastic animals, cars, tractors, toy farm, doll house, toy rake and hoe, blocks, doctor's kit, play money, purse, wallet, cash register, games such as Twister, Candy Land, Hi Ho Cherry O. The themes we study in kindergarten are: Look At Us (all about me), Colors All Around, We're A Family, Friends Together, Let's Count, Sunshine and Raindrops (weather), Wheels Go Around (transportation), Down on the Farm, Spring Is Here, and A World of Animals (large animals). If you think you have anything we could use, please send it in to school! Thanks in advance for you donations!

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Kindergarten registration for the 2008-09 school year will be held April 7-18, 2008.  Kindergarten is mandatory in Maryland for all children who will be five years old on or before September 1, 2008. Exemptions are accepted for children attending kindergarten in a private school or you may request a maturity waiver which allows your child to be exempt from kindergarten for one year due to his/her maturity level.  Waiver forms are available in the office and must be completed and returned to the main office of Cecil County Public Schools for approval.

If you, a relative, or a friend, have a child who will be five years old on or before September 1st, please notify the school office at 410-996-5060.

Counselor's Corner:

April’s character trait is Integrity.
Listed below are ways students and their families can display Integrity.  Continue to talk with your children about their Character and encourage them to show good character in school as well as in the community.
APRIL...
Integrity
* being sincere
* doing what is right
* being true to ourselves having good values
* having honor

Music News:

As Winter turns to Spring, the students in the second and third grade general music classes are beginning to prepare for their Spring Concert.  They will be sharing this concert with you on THURSDAY, MAY 29th @ 7:00 p.m. in the KES Cafeteria!  Both the 2nd and 3rd grade will be singing a few selections to show you just some of the things they have learned throughout the year, and 3rd grade will also be playing several selections on their recorders.  We are also excited that Mrs. Roy & Miss Treese will be working with their 2nd Grade Integrated Arts classes to have a couple square dances in the program.  It should be WONDERFUL - mark your CALENDARS!

The KES Cubs Chorus is continuing to work hard in preparation for their Spring Concert. The Cubs Chorus will be performing "I Need A Vacation" by Mac Huff and John Jacobson.  They will be joined by the Band on stage for the SPRING CONCERT on MONDAY, MAY 12th @ 7:00 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Lastly, don't forget to come out and support the Kenmore students, as well as students from each CCPS Elementary School selected for the Elementary All County Honors Chorus. The selected students from Kenmore Elementary School are Brianna Bailey, Lindsay Jones, Savannah Rund, Julianna Eckman, and Taylor Prach!  KES music teacher Mr. Moon will once again be conducting this group. The concert will take place on Tuesday, April 8th @ 7:00 p.m. at Rising Sun High School.  For ticket information or to purchase tickets, please contact Mr. Moon at school or via e-mail at wmoon@ccps.org.

Kindergarten News:

It continues to be very busy in our kindergarten classrooms! In reading, we have begun our Farm Unit. This unit will last for the next four weeks. We will begin this unit by finding out what the students already know about farms. We will read many fiction and nonfiction books about farms and write about the animals, crops, and tools that can be found on farms. Our dramatic play area will be turned into a farm. The block area has a toy farm and plastic farm animals. The sensory table will have hay (shredded paper) and tractors. (If you have any of the following items to donate to our kindergarten classes it would be greatly appreciated: stuffed farm animals, toy farm, plastic farm animals, tractors, doctor's kit, ace bandages) At the end of this unit, the kindergarten classes will visit Walnut Spring Farm.

In Math, we have just completed Unit 7. We will begin Unit 8 this week. During this unit, we review telling time to the hour and patterns. We will continue to learn about shapes and their attributes. We will also solve addition and subtraction word problems. Watch for the Unit 8 Parent Connection to come home for more details.
Please continue to practice word wall words with your child frequently! Thank you for your continued support!

News from the First Grade:

Spring has sprung in first grade!  Our students are very excited about the change in seasons and the new change in our  Language Arts theme.  We just began Theme 8, Our Earth.  Over the next few weeks our students will be learning all about the Earth, its resources and how to use them responsibly.

We have sprung a new unit in Math which is all about geometric shapes, their faces and corners.  Don’t be surprised if your child points out cones, spheres and cubes in your travels together.

In Science, students have started studying living organisms,
just in time for our trips to Fair Hill later in April.

As the warmer weather comes in, don’t forget to send in coats for your children. Our playground can be very windy and quite chilly.  We are looking forward to the remainder of the year as we prepare ourselves for second grade.

News from the Second Grade:

Ask your children about the Spelling Bee, if they haven’t told you already. It sure was great to see five of our friends spelling such hard words in front of an audience. Wow! Way to go Maggie, Ella, Conlan, Nathan, and Chloe.  Our second graders have been doing a great job on writing assignments this past month. We have been working on personal narratives, how-to paragraphs, acrostic poems, and informative reports. I am quite proud of the hard work they have been displaying in class. Ask your child about “good hooks” they have been using in their writing. 

We have been working on fractions, addition, and subtraction with regrouping for Unit 8 in Math this past month. In Social Studies we have been studying “Our Changing World”. We have been learning about the importance of communities and how they change. The students have been exposed to various children’s literature that has provided them the opportunity to recognize the differences in the world, from landforms on. We will begin our unit on insects next week and I hope the children are prepared to be up to their elbows in dirt and fun!

We appreciate all of your hard work as parents and your assistance in daily homework assignments and weekly reading logs. It is really nice to have such a strong parent connection. Thank your for your constant support and wonderful students.

News from the Third Grade:

It's April already!  We have so many things left to learn!  We have completed Unit 7 in Math and found that many students have not mastered the basic multiplication facts. If your child is going to succeed in learning the facts, they need to practice at home, and often.  We have begun Unit 8, Fractions and Probability.

We are almost done Theme 5 in reading, which includes a focus on biographies.  The final book project will be on a biography your child will read.  The students will be dressing up as the subject of the biography and tell about "their life".  Please make sure that the book your child has chosen is not below his/her reading level.  If you have a question about the book, please send it in to school and we will take a look at it and let you know if it is challenging your child's reading ability.

The mini-unit in Social Studies, Living in a Community, State and Nation, is completed and we are looking forward to starting the Economics unit which will include making a business for three Mini-Society days.  Much more information will follow on this great learning experience.

In Science, our last unit is on Plants and we will attempt to grow some in our rooms.  We are hopeful, as this is the first time we have ever gotten the kits in the spring!  We usually have the kits in the winter.

The MSA tests are this month.  A good night's sleep and a good breakfast will insure your child will have a chance to do his/her best.

News from the Fourth Grade:

Fourth grade is gearing up for MSA testing this week and next.  We will take the reading portion on Tuesday, April 1 and Wednesday, April 2.  Math MSA is scheduled for April 7 and April 8.  Please help us by having your child to school on time.  Eating a healthy breakfast is also important.

Our new theme in Language Arts will be starting very soon.  The theme Nature; Friend or Foe has several exciting stories to read.  The writing focus will be a research project.  Grammar lessons will focus on adverbs and prepositions.

All classes are currently studying the state of Maryland in Social Studies.  We hope to take a trip to the Baltimore Museum of Industry in May.  In Science we will be observing crayfish. 

IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES – Please mark your calendar.

“Our Mission: to provide an excellent Pre-Kindergarten through graduation learning experience that enables ALL students to demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for lifelong learning and productive citizenship in an ever-changing, global society.”