Principal’s News

1. SUDLERSVILLE ELEMENTARY A Title 1 School APRIL 2011 “Where Eagles SOAR!” www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/WELCOME.HTM Principal’s News Dear Parents and Friends of SES, With spring’s arrival, it may be instructive to review the value of student attendance. For some time we have been aware of the correlation between students who are in school every day and those who earn a spot on the honor roll. More often than not, honor roll students are those who have excellent attendance. Please do all in your power to see that your child is in school each day right through June 17th. Thank you for your support during last month’s Maryland Student Assessment (MSA) “testing season.” Students in grades three, four, and five worked very hard on their reading and math tests and we anticipate good results. Parents of fifth grade students are reminded that those pupils will be administered the MSA science test on April 12th and 13th and it is essential that they all be here on those two days. One fifth grade class will take the assessments on-line; the other two will use the traditional paper and pencil format. In the next several years, it is anticipated that all testing will be conducted on-line. Later this spring when students and school scores arrive, we will send them to parents. Be sure to check for your invitations the upcoming “Muffins for Moms” and “Donuts for Dads” morning activities. We would like to see you there. In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful spring weather and remember: Keep Reading -- both to and with your child. Sincerely, Upcoming Events • 3/31 & 4/1 • Jump Rope for Heart • Grades 3 & 4 • 4/1 ½ Day • 4/7 & 4/8 NO SCHOOL • Parent/Teacher • Conferences • 4/9 Easter Egg Hunt • 4/9 – 4/15 BOOK FAIR! • 4/12 &4/13 MSA Science • for 5th Grade • 4/14 Donuts for Dad • 4/15 Jump Rope for Heart • Grade 5 • 4/20 Earth Day • 4/21 – 4/26 SPRING • BREAK! • NO SCHOOL! • 4/28 School Pictures SSSHHH!! Please remember our hallways are now “Quiet Zones!” Ed.D.

2. SUDLERSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Title 1 School APRIL 2011 “Where Eagles SOAR!” www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/WELCOME.HTM We are sure hoping that Spring shows up soon.  We have started our new unit "In the City, In the Country".  We are learning the differences between the city and the country.  We will learn a lot about farms and the plants and animals that live and grow there.  Continue to practice counting, sorting and patterns at home, as well as identifying letters and numbers.  On Tuesday, April 19 we will have an Easter celebration including an Easter egg hunt and yummy snacks.  We look forward to meeting with everyone for parent conferences.  If you haven't responded to your conference time please let us know whether or not you will be able to attend so we can reschedule if necessary. This is the fun part of the kindergarten year!  The students are developing confidence in their reading ability and are becoming more independent.  At our upcoming conferences we will be discussing ways to help your child prepare for first grade.  For example, handwriting and letter formation are important skills in first grade.  At your conference, you will learn ways to help your child have success in first grade with great handwriting. PreK News Grade 1 News Grade 2 News A happy spring to everyone! Now that the nice weather is here and spring fever has set in, please review appropriate school behavior and good manners with your children. Even though students would rather be outside playing, we still have lots of content to cover during our last marking period. Your support is greatly appreciated. Parent - Teacher conferences will be on the 7th and 8th of this month. It is so important to be involved in your child's education and to keep the lines of communication open. We hope to see everyone at their appointed times. If the time you were assigned does not work for you, please contact the teacher. Reading, writing and math continue to be our fundamental priorities. This month we will finish our reading theme on families, concentrate on improving our writing skills and cover measurement in math.  In the next few weeks or so, permission slips for our field trip to Horne Point in the beginning of June will be going home. Please look for them.  Let’s celebrate spring! Second grade will welcome spring with a celebration on Tuesday, April 19th in the afternoon. We will send home more information as that time approaches. SES will also celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday, April 20th. Mark your calendars! April, already!  We will soon begin planning the June field trip to Tuckahoe Park, so there will be more information coming home regarding a parent-planning team. In math, we have finished our geometry unit and have begun Unit 8: Mental Math, Money, and Fractions. Please try to practice simple addition facts at home with your student. In reading we have started Theme 8: Our Earth, which will lead us through SES Earth Day on April 20th. In science we are experimenting with forces and sounds, and social studies has us looking at cultures and traditions from around the world. We look forward to seeing you all at conferences! Kindergarten News

3. SUDLERSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Title 1 School APRIL 2011 “Where Eagles SOAR!” www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/WELCOME.HTM Grade 4 News Grade 5 News Grade 3 News The fifth graders are working hard to do a good job in our final marking period.  We are focusing on using reading strategies for literary and informational texts while each class is reading a variety of genres.  Some of our important studies are on plot structure, characterization, and main idea.  In math we continue to learn about pre-algebra and geometry skills and then we will study fractions, area, volume, and capacity more in depth.  In science we are studying energy and forces as well as life science and ecosystems.  We will celebrate our life science studies on April 20 for our school's Earth Day activities. We will also heavily review all science content for our April 12 and 13 science MSA.  Our American history study continues as we focus on the people who started our country and government.  We will also be learning about the Constitution.  We can hardly believe that spring is here and we are almost middle schoolers!  Thanks to everyone for all of your ongoing support to make fifth grade so successful. Field Trips We are so excited to be off to Hagley Museum and Library.  There is so much for the students to learn about how children behaved during the Colonial Times. Interns Our interns have started transitioning into teaching full day.  They are truly making a difference with our students and it is great to see both our students and interns learn and thrive every day. Conferences Please don't forget about conferences on May 7th and 8th.  We have a lot to discuss and limited time. Nicer WeatherWe will be going outside more often, please make sure your student is dressing appropriately for the weather.  Our rule is if your parents sent you to school with a jacket you must wear it on the playground. Science Tree UnitWe have begun on unit on habitats and how trees effect our habitats.  Students will be researching as a group to determine the best location to plant the 9 trees that were purchased in the Fall.  Our goal is to plant our nine trees the beginning on May.  Please look for more information to follow as we would like to have as much parent involvement as possible once we start digging and planting.  Thank you~ Mrs. Settelmaier, Mrs. Comegys, Mrs. Hayman, Ms. Deegan, & Ms. Mazzatta Awesome April Totally, Terrific Third Graders! Happy spring! We are proud of each third grade student for working hard and trying their best on the M.S.A. We are all glad to be back to the regular school routine. In Reading we are studying the “Animal Habitats” unit and in writing we just completed our “Student Treasure” books. There will be a “Celebrating Third Grade Authors” event in May to recognize all students for a job well done on their individual books. Look for information coming home soon concerning a field trip for our third graders. Thank you all for your participation and cooperation during the parent conferences. Thank you for all your support! Happy spring!

4. SUDLERSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Title 1 School APRIL 2011 “Where Eagles SOAR!” www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/WELCOME.HTM The Shorebirds game is set for Saturday, May 14, 2011.  A letter will be sent home to the students that participated in the "Hit The Books" reading program in January/February.  Please return the bottom portion of the letter to your child's teacher by Wednesday, April 6, 2011.  We had 235 students participate is this reading incentive.  I am very proud of them all.  The reading incentive for April/May is called "Branch Out With Books".  A reading log and letter will be sent home in April.  Please check your child's communication folder for information.  Thank you for all of your support! Kelly EmbertSES Media Specialist The next assembly will be May 4, 2011, at 9am & 10am.  This will be the rescheduled CubananaPresents “Melodias y danza de Cuba” When Cubanana presents world famous Cuban music and dance, everyone loves to sing, dance, clap rhythms, practice Spanish, and play instruments! Students go on a virtual trip to Cuba, the Island of Music, through stories and a video backdrop while exploring popular genres and their roots—such as Cuban son (also known as salsa), chachachá, guajira, and conga. Cubanana promotes multicultural understanding and following your dreams. ***This program has been partially funded by the Queen Anne’s Arts Council**** Art News Health Room Media News Spring notes the arrival of new colors in nature, as flowers, grass, and trees bloom.  The same thing is happening in the art room!  We are very busy putting color into our art this marking period!  The art is fantastic.  Fifth grade is finishing the paper mache on their masks and beginning finalizing their designs for painting the masks.  Fourth grade is working on realistic and amazing landscapes.  Third grade is beginning the underwater scene to their gyotaku fish print (also amazing!).  Second grade is completing a variety of textures on their cactus (watch out, these artworks are sharp!).  First grade is doing a colorful collage for spring.  Last, kindergarten is working on beautiful spring turtles.  We are very busy! Congratulations to April's Artists of the Month: Kindergarten:  Johanni B. (Mrs. Nuse) First Grade:  Damion (Ms. Pierson) Second Grade:  Landon D. (Mrs. Eber) Third Grade:  Hayden R. (Mrs. Bildstein) Fourth Grade:  Hailey S. (Mrs. Settelmaier) Fifth Grade:  Mitchell K. (Mrs. Holden) Thank you and stop by and see our incredible art!Cassie HoslerSES ART We have had several cases of Fifth Disease this spring. Fifth disease is a rash illness caused by the parvovirus B19. This is spread by being exposed to airborne droplets from the nose and mouth of infected people. Symptoms can occur one to two weeks after exposure. Some may experience a low grade fever and fatigue followed by a bright red rash on the cheeks. The rash on the cheeks can be followed by a lighter lacey itchy rash on the body which can fade and reappear for one to three weeks. Other symptoms can be headache, stomachache, and body aches. Adults may experience joint pain as well. Some never experience any symptoms. The greatest risk of viral spread is before symptoms begin, so few control measures are necessary. Though uncommon some pregnant women who have not been exposed may have an increased risk for miscarriages and stillbirths in the first half of pregnancy. Fifth disease later in the pregnancy could also lead to anemia in the fetus. Mothers who are immune need not be concerned. Pregnant women who think they have been exposed should consult their obstetrician. People with immunodeficiency or chronic blood disorders should contact their physician. Call your pediatrician if your child has a fever over 102’F, is miserable from itching or you have any concerns. Cultural Arts

5. SUDLERSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Title 1 School APRIL 2011 “Where Eagles SOAR!” www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/WELCOME.HTM Upper elementary children expand their data displays to include line plots and stem and leaf plots. A line plot uses an “X” for each data point and plots the data above a line. The stack of “X”’s show how many responses were gathered for each interval. Children are asked to use this type of display to find the mode (most frequent response) and calculate the range (subtracting the minimum from the maximum value). A stem and leaf plot is used when there are many responses and the data is multi-digit numerical values. Data points are sorted by place value and placed on the chart. This helps to organize data and makes finding data landmarks easier. Older students find the median (middle value of the data) and mean (average). They also use the data to make predictions about situations. Finally, data display and analysis advances to plotting functions on a coordinate grid with a linear relationship. This process allows for extrapolation of data and predictions. It also prepares students for algebraic work later in school. At home, look for graphs to share with your child. Perhaps you can take a family survey or opinion poll and record the results. Compare your favorite sports teams using their data and statistics (such as batting averages or wins and losses). Help children see that data is everywhere! Reading News Math Matters What's it about? Students who think about what they're reading tend to understand and remember the material. Encourage your child to put on his thinking cap with these reading tips. Talk Talk with your child about the books he reads. For example, you might have him tell you why he thinks a books is interesting (the main character lives in Africa) or how it makes him feel (happy, scared). When he's finished, ask him if he would recommend the book to a friend and why or why not. Talking about what he's reading will help him understand the plot and characters better. Draw Picturing what he reads can strengthen your child's comprehension. He may want to sketch a character or scene from a chapter book. It he's reading a textbook, he might draw and label a plant or an atom. He'll learn to visualize when he reads, even if he doesn't draw every time. Write Suggest that your child write in response to what he reads. He can practice summarizing a plot by writing a book review to share with the whole family. He could even submit it to a magazine like "Stone Soup" or he can show how he feels about a book by writing a poem about it. Have fun reading!! Mrs. Thurber Reading Specialist Data and Statistics This month many families will be filing their income taxes. So, it is a natural month to discuss our Maryland math outcome of data and statistics. Across the entire age spectrum, our curriculum asks children to gather, display and analyze data. Data is gathered by asking questions or collecting results of an activity. Even our very young students can answer “yes/no” questions and see the results by displaying their choice, placing their name cards next to their response. Then they can compare the length or number of responses to see which choice had more or less as their analysis. As children get older, they can gather the results using tally marks for responses. They may then display their data using a pictograph or simple bar graph. Children can easily see which choice or result has the most or the least. They can even compare two choices and find their difference by grade 1! As their understanding of data and displays grows, children can use more complex questions or activities to gather data. The results can be placed in a table, chart or graph. We add the line graph, double bar graph and circle graphs to students’ ways to display data. When analyzing this data, older children can see patterns in data, find minimum and maximum values, and calculate the range of the data.

6. SUDLERSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Title 1 School APRIL 2011 “Where Eagles SOAR!” www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/WELCOME.HTM Enrichment News Parent Involvement S.E.S. To Celebrate Earth Day Students, parents, and teachers will partner with environmentalists from 16 environmental groups to celebrate Earth Day on Wednesday, April 20. Our school community is invited to join the day of activities. Parts of the day’s program will be shared with our S.E.S. sister school in La Guadalupe, Mexico. The day begins with a school wide assembly on environmental stewardship at 8:30 am. Vice President of Sultana Projects, Chris Cerino, will lead the assembly in song and verse about the importance of caring for our Chesapeake Bay area. Following the assembly, students will participate in 45-minute workshops that are scheduled throughout the day according to grade levels. Classroom teachers will also have a lesson plan on environmental stewardship designed by Mrs. Hayman. The S.E.S. PTA is sponsoring a luncheon for the presenters. Students in our S.E.S. Student Environmental Council and Mrs. Vooris’ enrichment classes have been busy making table centerpieces from recycled materials. They have also prepared signs and cards to promote the event. We need parents for the Fish Bus of aquariums, fish painting, dissection of oysters and squids, bird watching, and many other workshops. Every workshop has a leader who would love to have assistance from parents. Please contact Mrs. Leventhal or Mrs. Vooris who are co-chairmen of the event if you can lend a hand on April 20. You can call the school, 410-438-3164, or send email by going to the SES Web Site and clicking on their names. Everyone is welcome to participate. MANY THANKS to the SES PTA, Partnering For Youth after school program, Even Start, and the Family Support Center for sponsoring and participating in the “Be a Character” Reading Night on March 24th. It was a wonderful, fun and educational event that could not have been as successful without the help of our parents. Thank you to Mrs. Mohen “The Cat in the Hat” and Mrs. Newton for organizing the Dr. Seuss craft, Mrs. DiMaggio for organizing and attending the refreshments station, Mrs. Forstell for the awesome poster she created for the event and is on display in the foyer, Mrs. Weltner, Mrs.Olah, and Mrs. Sherwood for their assistance also. MARK YOUR CALENDARS - The ever popular annual “Donuts for Dads” will be held on Thursday, April 14th at the Sudlersville Fire Hall. Look for an invitation to be sent home soon! An announcement about a new program at SES will be made at the event. Muffins for Moms will be Thursday, May 5th. More info. later.  Last, but not least, is the Earth Day Event on April 20th. We need parents to help with this. I have some volunteers already signed up for the Bear and Deer education trunks and need some more volunteers to assist with this and other activities. This is a wonderful opportunity to participate with the students, learn more about our environment and what we can do to help improve it. Elaine Butler, Parent Coordinator x209 CONGRATULATIONS TO RUTH MURDOCH! Ruth Murdoch has won the Ben Carson award! The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 4-11 who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities.  To qualify, students must have a 3.75 GPA or higher and display humanitarian qualities through community service. Students are nominated by a teacher or administrator. They must also fill out a lengthy application which includes an essay that gets judged by a panel. Students then also receive the honor of being named "Carson Scholars" and are awarded with an Olympic-sized medal and a trophy for their school to celebrate their accomplishments. Two past winners from SES were Jessica Folker and Caitlyn Fiegel. Congratulations Ruth on a great accomplishment! TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST – MARY LEVENTHAL Mary Leventhal (3rd grade teacher at SES) has been named as one of the five finalists for the QAC Teacher of the Year.  The winner will be announced at the April 14th Gala to be held at the Prospect Bay Country Club.  Mrs. Leventhal was also a finalist last year and a number of years ago now retired 2nd grade teacher, Ann Campbell won the QAC Teacher of the Year honor. Congratulations Mrs. Leventhal!

7. SUDLERSVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL A Title 1 School APRIL 2011 “Where Eagles SOAR!” www.qacps.k12.md.us/ses/WELCOME.HTM Even Start Box Tops LAST CHANCE FOR YEARBOOKS!! Yearbook orders must be submitted by April 15th . Quantities will be limited and YEARBOOKS must be ordered ahead. Although we say this every year and sometimes really don't mean it- this year we do! Checks should be made to Barksdale Company for $15. Cash is also accepted. Books will arrive near the end of the year. Sudlersville Even Start Is Awarded Grant  Sudlersville Even Start Family Literacy Program, a Judy Center partner, is proud to announce being awarded a grant from the Women and Girls Fund in the amount of $6,760.00 to support two--6 week facilitated psycho-social educational group sessions.  These sessions will be conducted in collaboration with Corsica River Mental Health Services and Mid-Shore Council for Family Violence.  The sessions will begin in June of 2011. Remember to send in your Box Tops and Campbell Labels to school.  Look for the new sheet for April's Box Tops Collection.  If you need more Campbell Labels sheets, please let your teacher know or see Lollie Dixon. Don't forgot to go online to support SES: Box Tops, Campbell Labels, Food Lion and Coke Products Thank you for your continuing support of SES programs. APRIL