12 Baldwin Hills Bi-Annual News - Baldwin Hills Elementary ... · greatness—college, career and beyond. This affirmation spans kindergarten-fifth grade and is underscored with our

Baldwin Hills Bi-Annual

News Winter/Spring 2017

School-wide Positive Behavior Support is a District mandate and we at Baldwin Hills are working to make our school one where students are empowered to govern their own decisions as we recognize the virtuous humanity of each and every child.

We celebrate: Positive Office Parties take place M, W, Th, F, where students who were noticed as exhibiting “Model of Excellence” behavior in their practice of the HEARt CARD virtues are given a golden HEART CARD and invited to party in the office with Dr. Davis! We also have monthly Golden HEARt CARD FUNdraiser dances as another means of celebrating righteous behavior!

We honor: Soaring Scholar Assemblies take place each month, where students are recognized by their teacher for righteous conduct as well as for academic achievement. Abundant thanks to Mrs. Porter-Morris and the Soaring Scholar Ambassadors for their continued leadership in getting this program in place and cherished here at Baldwin Hills!

We affirm: Our school’s motto, “Anchored and grounded in strengths from our past, poised and ready to soar!” speaks to our commitment to teach our students of their rich cultural backgrounds and histories, upon which we all stand; the great heritage of our communities propels us to greatness—college, career and beyond. This affirmation spans kindergarten-fifth grade and is underscored with our school!-wide unit themes…for semester 2: community, state, nation & world. We soar!

Photos: Soaring Scholar Awards, Golden HEARt CARD Positive Office Party, Community Explorations in Room 6

School Culture

• 02/15-4/6: Semester 2 Tutoring

• 02/24: End of 2nd Trimester

• 02/27 Wk.: Black History Program

• 02/28: NO Banked Day, 2:30 out

• 03/06 Wk.: Conferences (12:55 out)

• 03/13 Wk.: 5th Grade Science Camp

• 03/31: C. Chavez Day-No School

• 04/07: 1:30 dismissal

• 04/10-04/14: Spring Break

• 04/28: UnSat Notices go home

• 05/16: Open House:

STEAM/PBL Showcase

• 05/24: Multicultural Festival

• 05/31: Memorial Day-No School

• 06/02: 5th Grade Culmination

• 06/09: 1:30 out-Last day of school

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Calendar Corner

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Baldwin Hills Elementary Pilot Bi-Annual News: Winter/Spring 2017 Edition

www.balwdinhillselementaryschool.com and like/find/follow us on Facebook page: @Baldwinelementary

Instruction Our instructional program’s core objective is to deliver academically rigorous, culturally responsive instruction yielding students meeting/exceeding grade level benchmarks year after year. This spotlight shines on our S.T.E.A.M. instructional practice:

S.T.E.A.M: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics or S.T.E.A.M. is a core instructional pillar in our school. As a school community, for our second trimester we have been studying Earth Science and for trimester 3, Physical Science, as we work to incorporate the Next Generation Science Standards. Students are engaging in inquiry-based explorations, building their knowledge with their peers.

Our scholars engage in S.T.E.A.M. enrichment each week with yoga, critical thinking through chess instruction, as well as engineering. In engineering for second semester, scholars are being guided through discussion and design of bridges, parachutes, walls, pulley systems and suspension bridges to develop their understanding of the engineering process.

Photo Credits: 5th Grade Earth Science with Room 4 Scholars & Engineering with grade 4, taught by 2nd/4th grade parent, Mr. Louis

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Monthly Family Forum Notes/Announcements v Attendance: Please continue sending to your child to school each day in wellness so we can meet

our goal of proficient attendance. Proficient attendance is maintained by having no more than 1 absence for every 25 days of instruction (maximum of 7 absences for the school year). Students who are picked up 30 minutes or more before dismissal without a valid excuse are considered truant. Please make appointments/travel arrangements for outside the school day.

v Classroom Visitors’ Policy: In order to maximize instructional time for each and every scholar, classroom visitors may not interfere, disrupt or cause substantial disorder in any classroom or school activity. Visitors are expected to:

o Understand school policy in requesting a classroom visitation, which includes phone call to classroom prior to visit to ensure minimal interruption

o Sign in and out in the Main Office, completing a visitor’s permit upon arrival at the campus. o Enter & leave the classroom as quietly as possible, not interfering with any school/room activity. o Keep the length and frequency of classroom visits reasonable (20 min. recommended). o Follow established procedures for meeting with the teacher and/or principal following the visit. o Return the visitor’s permit to the point of origin before leaving the campus.

v Monthly Council Meetings: Every third week of the month we have our monthly council meetings, spaces for parental input in school decision-making. Mark your calendars: every 3rd Wednesday morning, ELAC @ 8:15, every 3rd Thursday evening, SSC @ 4:30 and GSC, @ 5:45. Meetings are open, so please come out, get involved and share your voice!

v Monthly Family Forums: We have TGIF Morning Family Forums, each first Friday @ 8:15 and with support from a grant from Penny Appeal, we have Evening Family Forums during the fourth week of the month @ 5:30. These are ongoing opportunities to foster community building between home/school. Please make plans to join us! Continue to visit our website

v Safety First: Please follow traffic rules during arrival/dismissal. Please take the documented route of turning onto Burnside instead of Ridgeley. Ensuring safety for our students is all of our responsibility.

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