ROARing News!

Hello Baldwin Community, 

It is hard to believe that we have completed our first nine weeks of this school year!  During these first nine weeks, the students have been extremely busy learning new routines and procedures as well as specific skills and expectations for their grade levels. Our teachers have also been busy preparing hands-on learning opportunities and incorporating more technology within their lessons. For example, the fourth grade students have been working on "flipped" assignments. The students complete passive learning activities such as reviewing specific video models as homework and then come to class with more background knowledge on certain topics, which then allows the teachers to more deeply engage with students in class. They are using their in-class time for more active learning activities. I encourage you to ask your child how technology is being used in their classrooms. You will be surprised how much your children know about the use of technology for learning. 

During these first nine weeks, I observed your children working collaboratively with their classmates and solving problems during reading, math, science and social studies lessons. I also saw and heard them asking questions and using accountable talk to explain their thinking. We have also continued to teach our SEL (Social Emotional Learning) lessons every week stressing the importance of understanding perspectives and feelings and being accepting of others. Be sure to read the Weekly ROAR, our electronic newsletter, for information about our SEL lessons. 

On October 16th we had our annual PTA Baldwin Carnival and what a great family event it was! We had so many families attend the carnival and all of the children and adults seemed to be having a fabulous time. Thank you to our PTA carnival chair and assistants for organizing such a great event. Thank you also to all of our family and community sponsors; we would not be have been able to provide all of the fun activities without your help! I went home that night with about 7 dozen confetti eggs in my head and it was all worth it! The carnival was a HUGE success and we are very grateful to all of you for coming out to have fun with us!

This Friday, October 30, we will be hosting our Annual Vocabulary Parade and I highly encourage you to come out and see this fun event. The parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will be led by the Gorzycki Middle School Drum Line. We sent home all of the information 2 weeks ago, so be sure to review it with your child so that he/she can be prepared to represent his/her vocabulary word for the parade. It is a great learning experience for all of our children! I look forward to seeing all of you at the Vocabulary Parade on Friday! 

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for the generous gifts that you gave to all of the support staff at Baldwin at the end of September. You honored us with many beautiful cards, flowers and gifts. Thank you for making us feel extra special during Staff Appreciation Week! It is an honor to work for the Baldwin Children and Community! 

Thank you for your continuous support of the Box Top and Labels for Education programs, the Great Leaps Reading program, and for helping us in the cafeteria every day.  Your time is valuable and we appreciate all that you do to help us. I look forward to seeing you at Baldwin!

Roaring with Pride, 

Dr.  Peña

         

Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential student and/or employee information. Unauthorized use of disclosure is prohibited under the federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. §1232g, 34 CFR Part 99, 19 TAC 247.2, Gov’t Code 552.023, Educ. Code 21.355, 29 CFR 1630.14(b)(c)). If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. Please call the sender immediately or reply by email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.

ROARing News!

Hello Baldwin Community,

 

Our 15-16 school year got off to a great start! These past two weeks have been filled with excitement for our students and teachers. It has been a time for reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, as well as getting to know our new teachers and their expectations for this school year. We have grown in our enrollment numbers this year and have filled every classroom inside and outside of our building. We are very excited to welcome all of our new Bobcat Families and we hope that each new family will find opportunities to visit and get involved in our school.  

 

The mission of Baldwin Elementary is to promote a learner-centered education, where the unique and whole development of each child is nurtured in a shared partnership between caring, creative staff, parents, and community. We seek to create a challenging learning environment, provided in a nurturing, inclusive, and safe atmosphere that encourages high expectations for success. This learner-centered education inspires children to achieve their potential academically, physically, socially, emotionally, and artistically; fostering a life-long desire to learn.

 

As I walked through classrooms these past few weeks, I observed students showing their talents and asking questions. In every classroom, I noticed eager and attentive students working with their classmates and their teachers. I am also happy to report that our students continue to use the SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) skills we learned last school year. This will be our second year of implementation of this curriculum and through these lessons we will continue to help all of our students build their cognitive, affective and behavioral competencies.  Be sure to read the Weekly Roar; our new counselor will keep you updated on ways for you to continue this learning at home.

 

This next Thursday, Sept. 10th, will be our first Back to School night event for all parents of students in Prek through 2nd grades. The following week on Sept. 17th, we will host our Back to School night event for all parents of students in grades 3-5. I encourage all of you to attend these events so that you can learn more about the curriculum and expectations for each grade level. At these events, you will also learn about ways to get involved in your child's learning and about the many volunteer opportunities at our school. The school to home connections and relationships are vital to each child's learning. I look forward to seeing all of you at our Back to School night events.

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage all of our families to join the Baldwin PTA. The PTA provides ongoing support to our students and teachers. A single membership is just $8.50, but join as a family and you receive a discounted rate of $15. You can find a link to the PTA membership application on the Baldwin website, as well as a list of this year's budget and a listing of ways the PTA has supported our school in the past. Don't wait, join today!

 

I also highly recommend that everyone join the listing to receive the Baldwin Weekly ROAR! This is a weekly electronic newsletter that keeps you informed of all events and activities at our school. You can find the link to join on the Baldwin website. In this week's ROAR, I sent a plea to all of our families asking all of you to consider giving one hour a week to our school by volunteering in our cafeteria. This will help us continue offering a 30 minute unstructured recess time for all classes. The sign up link can be found in this week's Weekly ROAR. Thank you to the parents that have already signed up to help!

 

I look forward to a successful and fun school year! Enjoy your Labor Day and I will see everyone bright and early Tuesday morning!

 

Roaring with Pride,

Dr. Peña

         

Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential student and/or employee information. Unauthorized use of disclosure is prohibited under the federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. §1232g, 34 CFR Part 99, 19 TAC 247.2, Gov’t Code 552.023, Educ. Code 21.355, 29 CFR 1630.14(b)(c)). If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. Please call the sender immediately or reply by email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.

Roaring News!

Dear Baldwin Community,

 

This past Thursday and Friday, the Baldwin PTA held their annual Gifts of Time auction items. The children were very excited at the opportunities they might have to share some special time with their teachers, the PE coaches, Art and Music teachers, Betty J., and the administrators. Thank you to everyone that dropped by the school and signed up for one of the many events that were available. I personally cannot wait to share my time with those that were the highest bidders for lunch, bedtime story reading, my ice cream dates, principal for 1/2 day, subbing in a class and the recordings of my telephone message by nine weeks. I know that I will have a blast with all of these students!

 

Perhaps you didn't get to participate in this year's Gifts of Time, well, there is still another fun event that is right around the corner that you can come and enjoy. The annual Baldwin PTA Bash will be held this coming Friday, April 24th and I guarantee that you will have a great time with friends as well as have the opportunity to bid on some amazing baskets and other items in the silent auction. Please join us this Friday for this exciting event that benefits our school; put on your boots and scoot your way to the Baldwin Bash!

 

I also want to remind everyone that this week is our second round of STAAR testing. The school will be closed to visitors Monday through Wednesday due to the administration of our state assessments. Your children and our teachers have been concentrating and learning all of the required Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills all year at each of the grade levels, and I am confident that the children are well-prepared and will succeed on their assessments. Please be sure your children get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive to school on time, especially on these three days.

 

If you haven't read this week's ROAR, please make some time to read it. I sent a congratulatory note to our students, teachers and families for their hard work and you don't want to miss it! Also in the ROAR there are some important dates for some fun spring time events you won't want to miss. So check out the Weekly ROAR and mark your calendars for all of the fun-filled events that are scheduled for April, May and June.

 

Thank you again for your continuous support! I look forward to seeing you at Baldwin.

 

Roaring with Pride,

 Dr. Peña

         

Confidentiality Notice: This email message, including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential student and/or employee information. Unauthorized use of disclosure is prohibited under the federal Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. §1232g, 34 CFR Part 99, 19 TAC 247.2, Gov’t Code 552.023, Educ. Code 21.355, 29 CFR 1630.14(b)(c)). If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, disclose, copy or disseminate this information. Please call the sender immediately or reply by email and destroy all copies of the original message, including attachments.