News from the Hill October, 2021

October, 2021

NEWS FROM THE HILL

CLUBS ARE IN FULL SWING AT HHA!

Pictured left to right Girls on the Run, Garden Club, Roller Skating Club, Elementary and Middle School Soccer

Welcome to Hampstead Hill Academy!

Note from Principal Hornbeck

As a conversion charter school, HHA is part of the Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) family of neighborhood

schools that benefit from more autonomy over hiring, curriculum and budget. BCP holds our contract with City

Schools. HHA is in the fourth year of our current five year contract, and will be eligible for a new, longer-term

contract of eight years, which the School Board will vote on in December of 2022. We definitely want to go for

the stability of the longer term contract. A key piece of contract renewal is the School Effectiveness Review or

SER for short. Our SER is tentatively scheduled for the week of March 7, 2022 and requires a great deal of

preparation. A team of educators and central office staff conduct something similar to the collegiate

accreditation process. There will be staff, parent and student focus groups, announced and unannounced

classroom observations and a detailed document review. The SER process also looks at schoolwide goals in

reading, math and attendance. For this year, our faculty is setting a rigorous and achievable goal of Principal
significantly surpassing the 50th percentile national average of students meeting or exceeding individual math Matt Hornbeck
and reading growth goals. We are aiming for 65% of our students to meet or exceed their math growth goal,

55% to meet or exceed their reading growth goal, and to maintain at least a 94% overall attendance rate. Parents may be asked to participate in a

SER focus group. Please be supportive and stay informed.

Hampstead Hill Academy VISION STATEMENT
500 South Linwood Avenue
Baltimore, Maryland 21224 Hampstead Hill seeks to be a safe, nurturing, diverse,
family-friendly neighborhood school with rigorous,
410.396.9146 tel. 410.396.3637 fax effective academic programs and exciting, engaging
www.hha47.org extracurricular activities. We believe all parents want
the same thing for their children: more and better
Matt Hornbeck, Principal [email protected] opportunities for college and career. We believe in
John Paz, Assistant Principal [email protected] the importance of the arts, and we want our students
Cassandra Bailey, Assistant Principal [email protected] to be great communicators, listeners and writers. Our
students will be forward thinkers, persistent,
Hampstead Hill Academy is operated by the Baltimore responsible, caring, dependable and healthy members
Curriculum Project, a local nonprofit organization celebrating of the greater community.
more than a decade of service and student learning in
Baltimore. MISSION STATEMENT

Laura Doherty, President Hampstead Hill Academy is a neighborhood public
[email protected] charter school that exists to educate children living in
John McGill, Director of Academic Affairs both our attendance area and throughout Baltimore
[email protected] City. Our talented staff uses research-based
www.baltimorecp.org curriculum to develop and implement rigorous lesson
plans that continuously raise the academic bar for our
HHA News from the Hill Magazine is published monthly for students. Our whole school community is dedicated
the families and community of Hampstead Hill Academy to working together to challenge our students to
succeed in a fair, consistent, just and joyful learning
Editor Publisher environment.
Geraldine Swann Matt Hornbeck
Director of Community Outreach Principal

Magazine contributors:
HHA staff

Club coordinators
Community Organizations

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IMPORTANT DATES THIS MONTH What’s Inside…

 10/5, Mindfulness Workshop 8:30 am Top News Stories page 3
 10/5, PTO Meeting 7 pm
 10/6, National Walk to School Day  Current HHA information along with
 10/6, Traditional Craft Making 8 am upcoming events
 10/6, Early Release Day 12:35 pm
 10/6, Parent Teacher Conferences 1:05 – 2:35 pm News from the Teams page 5
 10/6, Progress Reports Sent Home
 10/7, Padres Unidos/Parents United Meeting 8 am  What your child is doing in class along
 10/7, Tutti Gusti Night 3-8 pm with resource, enrichment and ESOL
 10/9, PTO Baltimore Marathon Cheer 9 am – 12 pm information
 10/12, Padres Unidos/Parents United Meeting 8 am
 10/12, Chat With Matt 8:30 am Club/Activities News page 11
 10/12, Chat With Matt 3:30 pm Zoom
 10/14, Closing Festivities for Hispanic Heritage Month 8 am  Updates and announcements for the
 10/15, School Closed, Staff PD many clubs offered at HHA
 10/15, PTO Happy Hour 6 pm
 10/16, Lantern Making Workshop 10 am Family Information page 12
 10/19, Mindfulness Workshop 8:30 am
 10/20, School Family Council Meeting 3 pm – Library  Issues important to our parents on a
 10/21, Padres Unidos/Parents United Meeting 8 am variety of subjects
 10/22, PTO Movie Night 6 pm
 10/23, Creative Alliance Great Halloween Lantern Parade PTO News page 15
 10/24 – 29, PTO BeeFit
 10/26, Mindfulness Workshop 8:30 am  News from the Parent/Teacher
 10/28, Dia de los Muertos Potluck Dinner 4:30 pm Organization at HHA

PLEASE CHECK HTTPS://HHA47.ORG/PARENT-STUDENT- Family Fun Information 15
CALENDAR/ FOR THE PARENT AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES
 List of neighborhood organizations along
CALENDARS with telephone number and email
address

DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR
YOUR STUDENT

It is important that we have the following documentation completed for each one of your children:
Emergency Contact Form - Please visit www.hha47.org to complete your child's emergency contact
information for the upcoming school year. The information on this form will provide us:

 the most up-to-date contact information
 who to contact in the event of an emergency, if the parent(s) cannot be reached
 and will grant your child permission to do a variety of activities at the school.

If you have completed these forms thank you!

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TOP NEWS STORIES

NWEA MEASURES OF ACADEMIC

PROGRESS (MAP) TESTS

What value does school add? How much does each student learn over the
course of a year? All students in grades 1 – 8 have recently taken a formative
test called Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) in reading and math. Each subject test is untimed and will be administered in the fall and again
in the spring. MAP testing helps to determine your child’s instructional level and measures their academic growth over the course of the school
year. MAP is nationally normed with millions of students across the U.S. Students will take the tests on a laptop or iPad in their classroom in the
fall, winter and spring. MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to your child’s level of performance. This significantly reduces anxiety and helps
make the test a more positive experience. In addition, the tests take less class time while providing the teacher with detailed information about
each child’s performance and growth.

MCAP IN THE FALL AND SPRING - THIS YEAR ONLY

As a reminder, there are about 100 school days left before 3 - 8 grade students sit for the state MCAP test in reading and math. HHA students have
historically done very well, handily beating the City and State averages in all grades. Too many of our students do not meet the standard, but
please know that we are on it! As a reminder, the first week in October, MSDE is requiring the MCAP to be given to all 4 - 8 grade students, BUT for
the previous grade. This is to get a sense of how students in Baltimore and all of Maryland are performing after the long period of remote learning.

PROGRESS REPORTS SENT HOME stand in line on the sidewalk until the all clear is given to re-enter
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6TH the building. Lockdown drills require all doors to be locked and
students to quietly sit or stand around the classroom away from the
HHA sends home report cards each quarter, which is every 45 school door. Severe weather drills require students to move towards the
days. In addition to four report cards, there are four interim or center of the building, sit in rows in the hallways and cover their
progress reports for K - 8 students sent home about halfway through heads with their hands. During the evacuation drill, all students and
each quarter. This is one of the key ways our school communicates staff move in an orderly fashion across Eastern Avenue to line up by
with you regarding your child’s academic performance. Teacher the Pulaski monument. We practice reverse evacuation drills in case
comments are included, and, if needed, a parent/teacher there is a concern in the neighborhood, and we need to have
conference will be requested. You may request a conference as well. everyone inside the building. Drills usually take between 5-8 minutes
Please look carefully at each subject area to see if a teacher and staff work to minimize anxiety and worry while making sure we
conference is requested. Don’t be the last parent to sign up for Class regularly get this needed practice in keeping students safe. Please
Dojo! HHA no longer uses Bloomz. Teachers are sending Dojo see Mr. Hornbeck with questions, feedback and concerns.
messages to parents and pictures of what is happening in
classrooms every week. Don’t miss out. If you need to, contact your BUILD CORE TEAM - LET’S
child’s teacher by email, which you can find on our website, to get ORGANIZE HHA’S POWER!
your Dojo invitation resent. Also, your child’s teacher or Ms. Swann
can help you connect to City Schools Parent Portal, which will let you HHA inspires and creates leaders in all generations of this
see your child’s grades when the teacher enters them. Remember community. As a member institution of BUILD (Baltimoreans United
to celebrate the hard, smart work of your child! Your time is one of in Leadership Development), HHA leaders including parents, staff,
the most valuable rewards you have to offer your child. Choose administrators and students take action and get results. We have
something fun (without a screen!) for both of you such as sports, worked together to pass and fully fund the Blueprint for Maryland’s
cooking, playing a board game, bowling, reading, singing or just Future and helped define a citywide conversation to stop the
taking a walk together. violence. We have a Core Team of leaders to listen, identify, engage,
and activate the leaders in our school community around the issues
SAFETY FIRST that matter to all of us. The Core Team attends School Family
Council (SFC) meetings and is trained in the BUILD ideals of
HHA students and staff practice a number of safety drills every year, relational power and community organizing. There is an upcoming
including fire drills, evacuation drills, lockdown drills and severe training on April 13th. If you are interested in joining the team please
weather drills. While it is very unlikely that our school will ever face speak with Jill Vasbinder Morrison, HHA parent and BUILD Leader
the real-life need for these drills, we take this practice seriously. We ([email protected]). Current Core Team members are
have already had a fire drill and reverse evacuation, evacuation and Alejandra Flores, Liz Kaplan, Lucy Mendez, Matt Hornbeck and Jill
lockdown drills this year. Students and staff did an excellent job. Vasbinder Morrison. Learn more about BUILD here:
Fire drills are straightforward and more familiar to parents. The http://www.buildiaf.org. An update regarding the Blueprint for
alarm is triggered and students exit the building with teachers to Maryland’s future is attached to the magazine.

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HOW DOES HHA COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILIES

HHA uses the following ways to communicate with families.
 Post a monthly news magazine. This is a comprehensive document with information from Mr. Hornbeck, staff, club coordinators,
community partners, etc. The magazine is posted monthly at www.hha47.org
 Send out parent emails – please sign up for our email list at www.hha47.org
 Post information on the HHA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HampsteadHillAcademy/
 Check out the HHA website at www.hha47.org
 Parent and Student Activities/Club Calendars at https://hha47.org/calendar-of-student-parent-events/ - You can set to view in week,
month or agenda.
 Class DoJo – for parent/teacher communication. Check with your child’s teacher for information on how to join.
 Staff emails – List of staff email addresses is located at https://hha47.org/staff-contact-roster/
 Campus Portal – Please email Ms. Varner at [email protected] for letter of instructions and activation code
 Parentlink phone calls
 Not sure where to find what, email Ms. Swann at [email protected]

Sign up to receive HHA emails at
www.hha47.org. Look for the icon on the
front page of the website at the bottom.

CHECK OUT THE HHA WEBSITE AT WWW.HHA47.ORG FOR A MULTITUDE OF INFORMATION INCLUDING:
STAFF EMAIL ROSTER, BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS, CALENDARS AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

HHA ALUMNI REUNION WAS A HIT!

Thanks to Student Outcomes Committee Chair Kirby Conrad for leading the annual HHA Alumni Reunion event. It was fantastic to be back in
person! This is an opportunity for current and former students to visit with each other and see their teachers as well as share what they like and
what they find challenging in high school. There is a survey completed by alums that helps HHA shape our programming to better prepare students
for high school. Breakfast, lunch and a friendly soccer or basketball game round out the day.

HHA staff, former students and current students had a great time at the HHA Annual Alumni Reunion!

OCTOBER IS COLLEGE AWARENESS MONTH

October is College Awareness Month. College is important in order to get a good paying job, and a college degree is more likely to lead to fulfilling
leadership positions that can contribute to the common good. All of HHA’s teachers have a college degree, and the vast majority has at least one
Master’s degree. Principal Hornbeck graduated from Baltimore City College in 1985, Bowdoin College in 1989 and the University Of Maryland
School Of Law in 1996. Learn more about how to apply, be accepted, and pay for college at www.collegeboundfoundation.org/.

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Featured College Graduate

Lydia Walther-Rodriguez holds a degree in Political Science and International Relations
from Morgan State University. CASA de Maryland’s Baltimore Regional Director joined
CASA in 2012. Prior to her current role, Lydia served as a Community Organizer and Lead
Organizer. Since migrating to the U.S. from Panama, she has lived in Baltimore City for
more than twelve years. She began advocating for immigrant rights as a student activist
at Morgan State University fighting for the Maryland DREAM Act in 2010. She has
advanced CASA’s Police Reform campaign, expanded its youth college access program,
and led the Baltimore region’s community organizing team. Read more: Baltimore
Magazine: She’s Got Next: Meet 30 Women Shaping Baltimore’s Future.

EXCELLENCE IN GIFTED AND TALENTED Lydia Walther-Rodriguez
EDUCATION (EGATE)

HHA is proud to provide universal screening for giftedness in kindergarten and for all
students new to HHA in other grades using a less culturally and linguistically-biased measure called the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT-3).
For more information on the NNAT, see http://images.pearsonassessments.com/images/assets/nnat3/LRNAS13714_FAQsforNNAT3Page_print_no-
crops.pdf. In other EGATE news, check out our website at https://hha47.org/gifted-and-talented-education/ for additional information and our
new EGATE banner on the front of our building!

MASK UP TO PICK UP! UNIFORM REMINDER

For the time being, we are asking all parents The HHA student uniform consists of a
to mask up when you pick up or drop off. collared navy blue shirt with tan or khaki pants,
Help keep everyone safe by masking shorts or skirts. Shorts and skirts may not be shorter
than fingertip length. Jeans are not permitted. If
whenever you enter the greentop area or in your child needs an extra layer in the classroom, we
any congested area with lots of people. suggest a navy blue or tan sweater or crew (not
hooded) navy blue sweatshirt. Outdoor jackets and
hooded sweatshirts are not acceptable to be worn

during the day in the classroom.

NEWS FROM THE TEAMS

PREK

Ms. Klenk and Ms. Kaminaris: Students are doing a fantastic job adjusting to school, learning rules and having fun learning! For the month of
October, students will use their five senses to observe the changing season, and share what makes our families and friends special. In math, they
will work on sorting items in different ways, and begin the math unit on counting, writing, comparing and representing numbers 1-5. Students will
also start the language program, and learn how to apply concepts and use full sentences when speaking.

October will be a very busy month so please check your child's folder daily for notices about upcoming events. Students will take their first
Audubon trip to Patterson Park in October (see below). As the weather cools, if you need to update your child's clothes in their cubby, please do so.
Also, please practice having your child put on and zip up their jacket.

Ms. Klenk's Audubon Schedule Ms. Kaminaris' Audubon Schedule
October 13th from 1-2 pm A Swift Adventure! October 13th from 11:45 am -12:45 pm A Swift Adventure!
October 29th from 1-2 pm Signs of Fall October 29th from 11:45 am -12:45 pm Signs of Fall

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KINDERGARTEN

Ms. Maciel, Ms. Wallis and Ms. Villa: Kindergarten is really getting into the groove now! Entry for the day is going well, and students are getting
very comfortable with the building and getting around to familiar places. Currently, students are studying the 5 senses, and will look for signs of
autumn with their sense of sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. Talk to your child about the parts of the body that are used for their 5 senses.
Students have also started switching for math class. If you are not sure who your child's math teacher is please reach out to their homeroom
teacher. Students will work on counting and writing their numbers correctly. Handwriting and fine motor skills is a big focus in kindergarten. Some
ways to help support these skills at home are:

 playing with play dough  stringing beads
 using kitchen tongs  putting cotton balls into small openings
 using tweezers  string pipe-cleaners through holes of a pasta strainer
 clipping clothespins

Thanks for all of your support at home and don't forget to encourage independence. Students can practice opening snacks, doing chores, tying
shoes, zippering coats and packing their own lunches. Everyone looks forward to a wonderful new month with so many fun experiences!

GRADE 1

Ms. Bierley, Ms. Clary and Ms. Douglas: Students are looking forward to their visit to Patterson Park on Friday, October 8th for the first Audubon
lesson. They will learn about adaptations and insects by catching and observing them up close. Parents are welcome to join. The students are fully
engaged in the Fables Unit of Core Knowledge, and are busy participating in the activities related to the fables. Progress Reports will be sent home
soon. Please review your child’s report and contact their teachers if you have any concerns. Don’t forget that homework began on October 4th. As a
reminder, please check Class ClassDojo and your child’s folder each night for important information. The 1st grade team would like to thank parents
for their support having their student wear a mask and for sending in a healthy snack each day.

GRADE 2

Ms. Bonner: Scholars continue to do a great job following school rules and procedures. Reading scholars are practicing fluency and comprehension
skills by reading about an apple tree named Tina. In language, scholars are practicing their writing skills by writing sentences with capitals, periods
and correct spelling. They are also learning about the past tense of words as well as reporting on a picture. Spelling scholars are learning about the
e-e pattern and words with an "o" in the middle and an "e" at the end. Core Knowledge scholars are reading different fairy tales and tall tales, and
math scholars are finishing the first unit on place value and will move to the next unit on addition and subtraction. Remember that your student
must bring a healthy snack every day due to their late lunch period. Make sure to check your child’s folders every night for important information.
Be on the lookout on ClassDojo for information on the first Audubon trip on October 27th as well as in your child’s folder.

Ms. Graston: Students are growing more and more comfortable in their school schedule. They
welcomed the class pet, Lily Pad, seen in the picture. Students read comprehension and informational
passages, and built multi-disciplinary vocabulary, such as with a particular favorite word from reading:
“ugh.” “Ugh” was a column word this week. Students also read Beauty and the Beast. They were very
enthusiastic about the story. Ms. Guitian stopped by to discuss questioning while reading, Ms. Drake
sang a song with the students, and Ms. Durkin taught students to say “Yay mistakes!” Cheers to an
eventful September, now onward to October!

Ms. Weber: Students have almost completed the first series of stories in reading. Please look for a
special project assignment to come home sometime next week. Also, as a reminder, please check your
child’s homework folder or ClassDojo for any important announcements. An Audubon trip to Patterson
Park is coming up in October and parent volunteers are needed. More details will follow in the early
days of October.

GRADE 3

Reading – Ms. Kaplan: Students are doing an amazing job with their reading lessons. They are working Leonardo and Lily Pad

on reading fluency and comprehension skills. Some students are reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,

and others are reading about Henry and Tim’s adventures. Reading homework is assigned every night, so please make sure your child has

completed their assignment. As always, reach out to Ms. Kaplan on ClassDojo with any questions or concerns. Happy Reading!

Language/Social Studies - Ms. Billups: Students are working on learning the components of a sentence, and in social studies, they are learning
about the population of Baltimore and how it is tracked with a census.

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Math - Ms. Knudsen: Students have worked hard to compare numbers by
looking at different place values, learn mental math subtraction and addition
strategies and use bar models to interpret one and two-step word problems.
This month, please look for your student's log-in information for the academic
website DreamBox. This program helps students practice skills previously taught
and prepare them for skills that will be taught in upcoming grades.

GRADE 4

Reading – Ms. Schultz: Students had a strong start this year in reading.
Currently, some classes are reading The Wizard of Oz and some classes are
reading The Odyssey. Students show their comprehension of what they read each
day in class by answering multiple choice questions and short answer writing
prompts. Ms. Schultz is
very proud of the effort
Students engaged in reading in Ms. Kaplan’s class. made by the students and
the class and looks forward
to the students growing as readers this school year. If there is anything that she can do to
better support your child, please don't hesitate to reach out to her at [email protected] or
on Class Dojo.

Language/Social Studies - Ms. Conrad: Students have been progressing in language. They
are beginning to learn important parts of speech and using this knowledge to write clear
sentences. In social studies, they have created maps of various places to demonstrate their
understanding of the five key elements of a map.

Math – Ms. Murray: Students in Core 1 and 3 are finishing the first unit with a very exciting
portfolio project. They have the task of visiting Petsmart, Party City, Walmart, or a local
grocery store, and completing a mission attached to that location. Students must prepare a
shopping list, find prices for each item, and then round each item price to the nearest $10 or
$100. After rounding, students will compare their rounded total to the actual total and make
an argument on whether or not rounding was effective in their mission. All students will
display their work on a poster board or Google slide. Students in Core 2 are working in the
first unit to determine patterns in number sequences and shapes. Next, they will learn about
multiples and factors.

GRADE 5

Reading – Ms. Pellegrini: The Robins and Owls have explored a variety of personal narrative
pieces over the last several weeks and will begin to work on their first portfolio project this
month, writing a personal narrative. Students will also work on incorporating sensory details
and figurative language into their writing. The Pandas will engage in readings from a variety
of genres including short stories, poetry and informational texts. All students will continue to
work on answering text-dependent questions, building vocabulary, and making inferences
from the text.

Language/Science – Ms. Ruppenthal: Students will construct parallel sentences that use the
words “only and also.” They will learn how to use a diagram to write sentences that express
disagreement or agreement. They will also continue to use prefixes and suffixes to change
the meanings of words. These lessons build upon those mastered throughout the month of
September. In science, students will continue to learn about living systems. They will
investigate organisms, like red worms, that consume and recycle dead organisms and organic
waste. After the conclusion of investigation one, students will discover the many
characteristics of nutrient systems. This will include the study of how plants and animals
obtain their nutrients. They will also analyze the process of digestion and how it is used by
animals to break down complex food items.

Math – Ms. O’Connor: Students are learning multi-digit multiplication and division with both Ms. Conrad’s students are learning to
whole numbers and decimal fractions. These problems have many steps and can be really draw maps in social studies’ class.
tricky, but students are doing an excellent job mastering this content. They have also been
practicing writing and interpreting numerical expressions. These are important foundational
skills. Additional practice for students can always be found on IXL.com or Prodigy.

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GRADE 6

Humanities – Mr. Farber: Students have been reading The Outsiders and have begun the Springboard curriculum. They are progressing toward
their first embedded assessment for the quarter, which is a personal narrative that each student will write. They will complete these stories later in
October. Students were also shown how to log in to Infinite Campus to check their grades. Parents/guardians, please be sure to have your student
show you their grades.

Math – Ms. Bentil: This month, students will add to their knowledge of representing and reasoning ratios by learning different ways to represent
collections of equivalent ratios. They will learn this by using ratio tables, double number lines and coordinate planes. They will end the ratios and
proportions module this month with unit rates and percents. Please encourage your students to find and share ripples. Ripples are connections
that are made between the content they are learning (ratios) and the world around them.

Science – Ms. Poole: Scientists have begun their first unit called, Can I Believe My Eyes? Throughout this physics unit, students will explore the
interactions of light and matter, as well as the functions of the eye. They will use this information to explain how we see objects and color. As part
of this unit, students have created 2D and 3D models, used a light sensor to measure light and explore how the eye works. Moving forward, they
will experiment with light in order to determine how light interacts with matter, as well as how light provides color to the world.

GRADE 7

Language Arts – Ms. Locke-Jones: Students continue the novel study of Jacquline Woodson's Miracle's Boys. Throughout the month of October,
students will analyze character traits and determine how Woodson's word choice impacts the mood of the text.

History – Ms. Kosmer: Students are finishing the research portion of their National History Day projects. They will begin to build their projects in
class. The Showcase for NHD is on Friday, October 29, 2021. They will share their presentations with the 6th and 8th grade students.

Math – Mr. White: Students will work on Unit 1B: Multiplying and Dividing Rational Numbers. They will learn how to multiply and divide positive
and negative integers, fractions, mixed numbers and decimals.

GRADE 8

Language Arts – Mr. Ball: Students have enthusiastically been learning
argumentative writing. They have been reading and analyzing arguments from a
wide range of authors on the value of work for teenagers. They have had the
opportunity to examine multiple styles of persuasive writing and examine the
author’s perspective and purpose as well as how text structure contributes to an
author’s effectiveness. As students begin the second half of the quarter, they
will analyze the value of a college education and will engage in writing their own
argumentative essay on the topic.

Pre-Algebra/Algebra 1 – Mr. Pratta - In Algebra, students will complete the unit
on one-variable statistics and will begin studying linear equations, inequalities
and systems. They will expand and deepen their prior understanding of
expressions, equations and inequalities. In Pre-Algebra, students will begin
studying dilations, similarity and slope. In this unit, students learn to understand
and use the term “dilation,” and to recognize that a dilation is determined by a
point called the “center” and a number called the “scale factor.” Students will
also learn the terms “slope” and “slope triangle,” and use the similarity of slope
triangles on the same line to understand that any two distinct points on a line
determine the same slope. All students will begin work on their first portfolio
project of the year.

Science – Mr. Lohrman: Students finished writing the CER (Claim Evidence Students engaged in Mr. Pratta’s math class.
Reasoning essay) answering the question "How does food provide your body
with energy?" They have completed many different experiments and learned
that food is "burned" in our cells through a process of cellular respiration.
Starting in October, students will start the second IQWST unit answering the
question "Why do organisms look the way they do?" This unit is about how
traits are passed from parent to offspring.

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LEADERS GO PLACES

LGP is a rigorous middle grades leadership program that motivates students to achieve
excellence in scholarship, leadership and citizenship. Students earn rewards and recognition
for reaching the following benchmarks:

 For Scholarship, students must earn a 3.0 GPA or higher in order to make level.
 For Citizenship, students must complete at least two hours of community service.
 Leadership is measured by a student’s behavior. Students earn merits or demerits

on Class Dojo. They must have an 80% positive percentage on Class Dojo.

Students can earn merits by demonstrating the Five Promises. We believe these behaviors
will help students be successful in life, not just here in middle school. The five promises are listed on the chart to the right.

Each quarter, there are three incentives for students. In order to participate in out of uniform days and middle school dances, students must have
an 80% average on ClassDojo. To attend the LGP field trip, students must meet all three requirements to be on LGP level. Check out the important
dates below.

LGP rewards for the month of October, and students take part in the weekly LGP circle.

ENRICHMENT

MUSIC LESSONS DRAMA

Ms. Alexander: Thank you to everyone who registered for HHA's Ms. Durkin: PreK and kindergarten students will engage in dramatic
2021-2022 instrumental music program. Ms. Alexander is so excited play to develop an understanding of acting, the setting and story
to start lessons with all of the new and returning students. For characters. Grade 1 - 8 students will participate in a variety of
students and parents renting an instrument from HHA, on both developmentally-appropriate activities to build ensemble with their
Wednesday, October 6th, from 12:30 to 3 pm, and on Thursday, classmates, develop basic storytelling skills and practice
October 7th from 3-5 pm, Ms. Alexander will be stationed outside of mindfulness. Ms. Durkin is still seeking volunteers to assist when
HHA's main entrance for instrument pickup. If you have any taking classes to the park for lessons. Please complete this volunteer
questions about the instrumental music program, please reach out form (https://forms.gle/HQNRupfmBvXVRbnC8) or contact
to Ms. Alexander at [email protected]. Ms. Durkin at [email protected] if you are interested in helping.

MUSIC CLASS FOOD FOR LIFE

Students have been working in music to become composers. They Ms. Mitchell: Students learned how to make a healthy plate of food
are beginning to identify sounds and assign them to movements, according to the MyPlate.gov guidelines. They learned about
while learning musical notation. vitamins, minerals and the benefits of healthy eating. Students also
made granola, smoothies, ancient grains and salads.
ART

Ms. Butcher: Elementary school students have been learning about
warm and cool colors and have been creating fall owl paintings and
cityscapes. Middle school students have been learning about
landscape painting and have been going to the park to practice their
skills.

9

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Mr. Edwards: PreK and kindergarten will use various games and exercises to refine locomotor
movements such as hopping, skipping, galloping. Gameplay and the use of scooters and
parachutes will be used to help condition upper and lower body muscles. Grade 1 - 4 students are
taking part in yoga workouts and low-impact gameplay. Outdoor activity will allow for refining
throwing and catching skills, and grade 5 – 8 students will have several "equity in athletics"
discussions to begin classes in this phase. In addition, they will do yoga and low-impact gameplay.
When exercising outdoors, they will be introduced to ultimate Frisbee.

NATURE EXPLORATION

Ms. Riorda: Nature Exploration classes have been out in the school garden and in Patterson Park
every day. The youngest students are using five of their senses to explore the biodiversity we can
find in these two very different habitats. Older students are in the park doing pond
investigations. They are sampling the plants and animals that are surviving in the pond and
making hypothesizes to explain the amount of life living in a habitat that is overrun by invasive
species.

LIBRARY

Ms. Kannam: Hello from the HHA Library! Students are enjoying outside reading time.
Remember that all students can check out library books at any time. Please just have them talk to
their teacher to arrange a good time to visit or pop in at the beginning or end of the school day.
Happy Reading!

Nature Exploration students work in
the school garden and investigate

nature in Patterson Park.

HHA students enjoy reading outside during library time.

TECHNOLOGY

Ms. Sparwasser: Ms. Sparwasser is currently out on maternity leave. Classes are being led by Ms. Protopapas who is following work plans
designated by Ms. Sparwasser for use during her absence.

GIFTED AND ADVANCED LEARNING PROGRAM NEWS (GAL)

Ms. Guitian and Ms. Gonzalez: October is shaping up to be full of new and creative ways for GAL students to learn and grow. Mrs. Guitian is
working in many classrooms to establish Supported Independent Reading (SIR), helping students find and read books they love and guiding them to
be confident, reflective readers. GAL students in grades 1 - 3 now have access to DreamBox, an adaptive math learning platform that enables
students to learn new skills at a brisk pace. Please look for Dreambox login information to be sent home this week. Grade 3 students are working
with big numbers in the M3 unit How Big is Big? Others are getting ready to develop algebraic thinking skills with the M3 unit called Awesome
Algebra. If you have a kindergarten student, you may have heard about the exciting work Ms. Gonzalez is doing to develop their logical thinking
and analogical reasoning skills.

If you received a notification confirming your child’s GAL status, please be sure to return the form to your classroom teacher and to fill out the
parent survey, now available on the website under the About Our School – Gifted and Talented tab. Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Guitian look forward to
using the survey information in order to develop individualized learning plans (ILPs) for your children. The process for formal identification of new
GAL students is ongoing. New assessment data will be analyzed and parents notified if their child becomes eligible. Please reach out if you have any
questions: [email protected].

1100

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Ms. Shaffer: The World Health Organization recognizes World Mental Health Day on October 10th
every year. The day provides an opportunity “for all stakeholders working on mental health issues
to talk about their work, and what needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for
people worldwide.” This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is young
people and mental health changing the world.

ESOL DEPARTMENT NEWS

Ms. Bailin, Ms. Brezenoff, Ms. Hicks, Ms. Hyatt, and Mr. LaBarr: The ESOL Team will finish
confirming services for existing students, testing new students for program eligibility, and
obtaining parent consents. Students will then begin to learn in small groups in the ESOL room and the regular classrooms. If you have any
questions, feel free to reach out to any of the ESOL teachers.

CLUB/ACTIVITIES NEWS

As a reminder, students will not be permitted to join two clubs that meet on the same day.

NOTIFICATION OF CLUB OPENINGS

Parents will be notified two ways regarding club openings. Some club coordinators will send an interest form home with the student to complete
and return to school. Other coordinators will send out an interest form via e-mail and posting on the HHA Facebook page. Parents signed up to
receive emails will receive these notifications.

If more students sign up for a club than there are openings, a lottery will be held. Students selected will
receive a permission slip. If your child does not receive a permission slip,
your child was not selected in the lottery.

GIRL SCOUTS

HHA Girl Scout troop #5394 still has openings for kindergarten and 1st grade students. The Girl Scouts meet
the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month from 4:30 to 6 pm in the HHA gym and outside. Please contact Jill
Vasbinder Morrison [email protected] for more information on how to register.

GIRLS ON THE RUN

The HHA Girls on the Run team is off to a great start! Runners have enjoyed getting to know each other
participating in lessons involving connection, choices, “Star Power” and self-talk. They look forward to
continuing to build their self-confidence, self-love, endurance and team connection!

HHA BUILDERS CLUB – SERVICE CLUB FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS

The first meeting for Builders Club, for middle school students, will take place on Tuesday, October 5th from
3 – 3:30 pm in Ms. Kaminaris' classroom. Club members will talk about what projects to focus on during the
year and what the new club name should be. Come with your ideas! If you have any questions, please see
Ms. Marybeth Smith, Ms. Kaminaris or Ms. Bierley. You can also email Ms. Smith at [email protected].

All lost and found items are held for one week only.

Items marked with the student’s name will be returned to the student. Please come into
school as soon as possible to check for any lost items.

11

DEBATE CLUB – GRADES 3 - 5 HHA is excited to be offering
another year of Spanish
Attention students in grades 3-5. Ms. Kaplan and Ms. Satterlee are Immersion Classes with The
excited to announce that HHA's elementary debate team will start to Language Project. The Language
practice on Tuesday, October 19th. Students on the debate team will Project’s hands-on, interactive,
discuss relevant issues and build their capacity for self-expression and high-energy approach ensures students are motivated and
through speech writing, debate games and artistic self-exploration. engaged while learning a new language at the same time. This fully
If you are interested, please complete the interest form at the back immersive, independent learning program is helping thousands of
of the magazine and give to your homeroom teacher. students worldwide unlock the benefits of bilingualism. There are
still a few openings in the PreK and kindergarten classes. The
CREATIVE ALLIANCE OPEN MINDS program begins Thursday, October 7th, and takes place every
ART CLUB Thursday from 2:50-3:50 pm. Price for 30 weeks is 1 payment of
$404 (reflects pay-in-full discount) or 9 payments of $47
Join a STEAM powered program, integrating stage magic, the arts, approximately.
and reading. An arts/craft project or a prop build, and a math
component will be part of each class. Classes are themed to the For more information about the program or to register your child,
book series "The Magic Misfits" by Neil Patrick Harris. This visit www.languageprojectkids.com. Sibling discounts available at
afterschool program is for students in grades 3, 4, 5 and will take check out. If you have any questions, please contact
place at Hampstead Hill Academy. An Interest form with detailed [email protected] or call 410-935-3795.
information is attached to the end of the magazine.

ROLLER SKATING CLUB

The Roller Skating Club is off to a great start with 17 members from grades 5 - 8. Students are having fun exercising, improving balance,
cooperating and learning the basics of skating. The more experienced skaters have done an excellent job helping those who are new to skating. Just
two weeks in, several students who had never tried on roller skates before, are moving around with confidence as they discover a new skill. Of
course what would roller skating be without music, and the club members have enjoyed selecting a wide variety of songs for a playlist. Coach
Brigitte’s goal is to get everyone comfortable enough to dance on skates by the end of the season! Thank you to Coach Brigitte for doing an
outstanding job!

HHA students have been having a great time learning how to roller skate and improving their moves.

FAMILY INFORMATION

THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

 13% of the school year is completed
 23 of our 180 student days are completed
 There are approximately 100 school days left until our

3-8 grade students take the MCAP Assessment in
reading and math beginning in April, 2022.

12

What Does the MCAP
Look Like for Your
Child?

Spend some time learning about this new state assessment for your child at the Maryland State Department of
Education at http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DAAIT/Assessment/index.aspx

KNOW THE NO’S

 No gum at school. It is distracting and prevents students from reading aloud clearly.
 No smoking in or around school property. This is against the law on school property.
 No double parking or idling at drop-off and pickup. Double parking creates a dangerous situation, and you could get a $252

ticket for double parking.
 No crossing in the middle of the street. Cross your child at the corner. Do not encourage your child to get to school by

crossing in the middle of the street! This can be extremely dangerous for your child.
 Please remind your child, especially older children, that ball playing is not allowed in front of the school or on the blacktop

during school arrival and dismissal times. Also, ask them to be mindful of smaller children to avoid accidentally bumping
into them.

Masks are required for everyone inside the building. Please
make sure your child has a clean, close-fitting mask that is

as comfortable as possible each day.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS OUTWARD BOUND TRIP TAKES
HHA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Please know that the breakfast and lunch menus are subject to STUDENTS HIKING AND
change without notice. However, changes are rare. In general, you CANOEING!
can rely on the menu. The monthly menu template has been
updated to reflect that HHA serves fresh vegetables, only serves HHA 7th and 8th grade students will participate in a life-shaping,
chocolate or strawberry milk once a month rather than every day, week-long Outward Bound trip camping and hiking along the
and serves a deli sandwich or sun butter sandwich rather than Appalachian Trail and canoeing in the Potomac River. Special thanks
peanut butter and jelly. Reasons for these long-standing practices at to faculty leader Melissa Riorda and trip chaperones Brandon Pratta,
HHA include healthy eating and nut allergies. There is a balanced James Edwards, Steve Plunk and Kelli Poole. We expect the
meal served every day that includes a whole fruit. Thanks to Outward Bound motto, “To Serve, To Strive, and Not to Yield” will
Cafeteria Manager Gwen Moore and her terrific staff for all they do mean a great deal to the students who are on these trips this fall.
each day. Our little cafeteria serves more than 100,000 meals each See more at https://outwardboundbaltimore.org/course-finder/
school year!
JOIN US FOR A CHAT WITH MATT
JOIN US WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 6TH FOR NATIONAL TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH AT 8:30 AM
WALK TO SCHOOL DAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH AT 3:30 PM ON ZOOM

National Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 6, 2021!
Walking to school promotes student health, builds community, and
has been linked to improved student performance. In addition, it
removes cars from the morning commute, reduces congestion, and
benefits the environment. Stickers will be given to walkers during
morning arrival. Learn more at http://www.walkbiketoschool.org.

13

ANNOUNCEMENTS CREW

Zoe Wahl and Marianthi Diniotis are the announcements crew for the first part
of the school year. You can hear their voices each morning direct from the
main office as they bring you the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance data,
current weather conditions and announcements regarding everything
happening at HHA. Thanks to both students for brightening our mornings!

THE DENTIST IS COMING TO HHA

Smile Maryland Dentist will be at HHA on
October 12th and 13th. If you have not signed up
your child for a dentist visit at our school, please
visit www.MySchoolDentist.com and submit your
child’s information.

Announcement crew practices The Pledge before going live.

CANTON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION NEWS

Check out the new foldable, reusable CCA tote available exclusively for sale at 2910 on the Square. Effective October 1, 2021, the Comprehensive
Bag Reduction Act bans single-use plastic check out bags at the point of sale, pickup, or delivery. Baltimore businesses must charge a minimum of
$0.05 for each alternative bag distributed at check out, of which $0.01 must be remitted to the city. To help move our city forward to sustainability,
we support this ban and encourage neighbors to incorporate reusable totes into their daily routine. Ours is great because it folds into a small little
bag with a hook for easy carrying/storing. Great for bike rides, backpacks, handbags, etc. Proceeds support the upkeep of O’Donnell Square Park.
#GetNeighborly.

PARENTS ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR THE SCHOOL FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH AT 3 PM IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

HHA is serious about attendance. Our talented staff cannot teach unless students attend school. There is a district-wide focus on student
attendance. Again this year, there will be mandatory hearings at school headquarters for the parents of students with poor attendance. Each

month, the newsletter will include this chart so students and parents can review attendance averages.

Congratulations to the 4th Grade Team for having the highest attendance average for September.

September Attendance% Year Attendance%
Grade 93.48% Grade 93.48%
HHA average 95.42% HHA average 95.42%
Grade 4 95.29% Grade 4 95.29%
Grade 6 93.86% Grade 6 93.86%
Grade 2 93.66% Grade 2 93.66%
Kindergarten 93.31% Kindergarten
Grade 1 93.28% 93.31%
Grade 5 92.93% Grade 1 93.28%
PreK 92.47% Grade 5 92.93%
Grade 7 PreK 92.47%
92.25% Grade 7 92.25%
Grade 8 91.98% Grade 8 91.98%
Grade 3 Grade 3

14

PADRES UNIDOS/PARENTS UNITED

Padres Unidos/Parents United Meeting
Thursday, October 7th at 8 am
Tuesday, October 12th at 8 am
Thursday, October 21st at 8 am

Hispanic Heritage Month Activities
Wednesday, October 6th at 8 am / Traditional craft making
Tuesday, October 12th, time TBD / Workshop for middle School

Parents "La Escuela, Sus Hijos y Usted"
Thursday, October 14th at 8 am / Celebracion of the End of Hispanic

Heritage Month.

Mindfulness Workshops
Tuesday, October 5th at 8:30 am/Mindfulness workshops

"Atención plena"
Tuesday, October 19th at 8:30 am/ Mindfulness workshops

"Atención plena"
Tuesday, October 26th at 8:30 am/ Mindfulness workshops

"Atención plena"

Day of the Dead Celebration
Thursday, October 28th from 4:30 - 6:30 pm on the green-top. Rain
date Thursday, November 4th.

Members of Padres Unidos/Parents United Meeting took part in

Acknowledgments activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Special Thank You to Jaqueline Sanchez, Magdalena Gaspar, Laura

Naula, Crecenciana Cano-Leon, Jill Vasbinder Morrison, Felipa

Gonzales, Marta Orellana, Rosa Martinez, Michelle Fullmer and Yan Zhao for their collaboration and for being active members of Padres

Unidos/Parents United.

PTO NEWS

What to know about getting involved with PTO at your child’s school:

 You’re already a PTO member. All parents and teachers are automatically PTO members.
 Meetings take place the second Monday of the month at 7 pm. Details are on the school calendar located on the front page of the HHA

website (hha47.org).
 Active PTO members vote on school funding requests, like field trip support, classroom supplies and facility improvement projects.
 Our work makes a difference. We raise tens of thousands of dollars to fund critical needs at HHA.
 It’s fun! We plan kid-friendly movie nights, staff-appreciation events, family-night-out fundraisers and more. Please join us.

Upcoming PTO Events Include:

 October 5th, 7 pm PTO meeting. Details on school calendar. We hope you'll join us to discuss upcoming fundraising opportunities, events, and
more.

 October 7th, PTO Tutti Gusti Night – 3-8 pm. PTO will receive 10% of eat-in or carry out sales when the Tutti Gusti flyer is presented.
 October 9th, 9 am – 12 pm at HHA. Help us cheer on the Baltimore Marathon runners! Supplies will be provided for making posters, and

families are encouraged to wear blue and yellow to show school spirit.
 October 15th, 6 pm Happy Hour at the Bayside Cantina. Get to know your fellow HHA parents and build community. This is an adults-only

event. Details attached to the end of the magazine.
 October 22nd, PTO Movie Night, 6 pm. Details attached to the end of the magazine.

BeeFit is Coming!

Come one, come all! Special thanks to HHA’s PTO President Vic Victoriano and all the PTO Officers for stepping up to promote the Annual Bee-Fit
fitness fundraiser. The goal is to raise money for upcoming field trips and essential programming at HHA. Check out the flyer attached to the
magazine.

15

Reminders

Harris Teeter: Attach your Harris Teeter VIC card to HHA via the store’s Together in Education Program. When you shop Harris Teeter brands, a
percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to. There are no limits to how much a school can earn, and in past
years HHA has earned thousands to support school initiatives However, families must register to earn funds. You can sign up online at

harristeeter.com/together-in-education. Questions? Email [email protected]

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, PLEASE VISIT
WWW.HHA47.ORG UNDER IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THE HHA FEEDBACK FORM!

5th grade math teacher and Mac
Aunt Ellie O’Connor and

7th grade ELA teacher and Mac
Mom Kat Locke-Jones hanging
out with Big Mac himself on a
beautiful Saturday morning at
HHA for the Alumni Event. It
should be noted that Mac is a

Ravens fan.

FAMILY FUN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

 Southeast Anchor Library - located at 3601 Eastern Avenue; 410-396-1580, www.prattlibrary.org/locations/southeast/
 Friends of Patterson Park – located at 27 S. Patterson Park Avenue; 410-276-3676, pattersonpark.com/
 Creative Alliance at the Patterson – located at 3134 Eastern Avenue, 410-276-1651, creativealliance.org
 Patterson Park Audubon Center – located at 2901 E. Baltimore Street, 410-558-2473, pattersonpark.audubon.org/
 Please check the back of the news magazine for additional event information!

16

Creative Alliance Open
Minds Art Club
At

Hampstead Hill Academy

• This program is for students in grades 3, 4, 5
• Thursdays 2:45 – 4:45 pm
• Start date would be Thursday, October 14th
• End date would be Thursday, December 16th
• Number of students: 20

Join our STEAM powered program, integrating stage magic, the arts, and reading.
An arts/craft project or a prop build, and a math component each class.

Classes are themed to the book series "The Magic Misfits" by Neil Patrick Harris.

If you are interested in this club, please return this interest form by Friday,
October 8th, 3 pm. Only students selected for the club will receive a permission
slip.

Student’s Name: _______________________________________________

Homeroom Teacher: ____________________________________________

Grade Level: __________________________________________________

Parent’s Name: _________________________________________________

E-mail Address: _________________________________________________

Telephone Number: _____________________________________________

Please return this form to Ms. Swann.

Creative Alliance Open
Minds Art Club
A

Academia de Hampstead
Hill

• Este programa es para estudiantes en los grados 3, 4, 5
• Jueves 2:45 - 4:45 pm
• La fecha de inicio sería el jueves 14 de octubre
• La fecha de finalización sería el jueves 16 de diciembre
• Número de estudiantes: 20

Únase a nuestro programa impulsado por STEAM, que integra magia escénica, artes y lectura.
Un proyecto de arte / manualidades o una construcción de utilería y un componente de

matemáticas en cada clase. Las clases tienen como tema la serie de libros "Los inadaptados
mágicos" de Neil Patrick Harris.

Si está interesado en este club, devuelva este formulario de interés antes del
viernes 8 de octubre a las 3 pm. Solo los estudiantes seleccionados para el club
recibirán una hoja de permiso.

El nombre del estudiante: ____________________________________________

Nivel de grado:_____________________________________________________

Profesor de aula:____________________________________________________

Nombre de los padres:_______________________________________________

Dirección de correo electrónico: _______________________________________

Número de teléfono:_________________________________________________

Devuelva este formulario a la Sra. Swann.

Elementary Debate Interest Form

Grades 3 - 5

2021-2022 Season

Express yourself! Ms. Kaplan and Ms. Satterlee are excited to announce that
HHA’s speech & debate team will return in early October. Students on the debate
team will discuss relevant issues and build their capacity for self-expression
through speech writing, debate games, and artistic self-exploration. We had an
incredibly fun & successful first year and hope you will join us! If your student is
selected for debate, they will be given a permission slip.

When?: 2:50-3:30 Tuesday and Thursday, begging Tuesday, October 19th
Optional Saturday tournaments will take place about once a month.
Where?: Room 202 (Ms. Kaplan’s room)
If you are interested in joining the debate team, please fill out the below
information and return this form to your homeroom teacher:

Name:_________________________________________
Email address: _____________________________________
Grade: ________________________________________________
Parent Phone Number: ________________________________________
Parent Email Address: ____________________________________





Join us Saturday, October 9th from 9-11 am to show
school spirit and cheer on the runners!

● The PTO will provide cow bells, Pom-Poms and
clappers for those who want to make some
noise.

● We will be providing posters for families to
make signs to support runners!

Wear BLUE and YELLOW! Line the
block. Cheer the runners.

Join us for the HHA PTO Happy Hour
on Friday, October 15th!

Bayside Cantina
2809 Boston Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21224

(410) 646-8532

When: 6pm
There will be appetizers offered courtesy of the HHA

PTO. Cash bar.

Please come to get to know some new
families at HHA!

Contact Kerry McCartney for questions. [email protected]
If you have a place you would like us to have a Happy Hour, please contact us!

*This is an adult 0nly event.*

CALLING ALL HHA STUDENTS AND FAMILIES!

HHA MOVIE NIGHT



Join us for a PTO-sponsored movie. We will

be showing Coco in honor of Hispanic
Heritage Month. Bring your own chairs and

blankets to set up for an outdoor movie
event! More details to come...

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2021
6:00PM

HHA GREENTOP

SAVE-THE-DATE | OCTOBER 24-30, 2021

What exactly is Bee Fit?

Bee Fit is HHA’s biggest fall fundraiser! It is organized and led by the PTO and held
every fall from late September through the end of October. Bee Fit is a fitness themed

fundraiser with field day activities that students participate in at Utz Field!

The Bee Fit fundraiser contributes to the goal of raising money for HHA-
sponsored activities for our children (school dances, Lego Club, Leaders Go
Places, field trip buses, and more), school enhancements (stadium seating for school
play, new gym equipment), and appreciation (pizza parties for best attendance,

teacher wish lists, end-of-year teacher gifts).

In 2019 Bee Fit participants raised $24,100, half of our school's fundraising
revenue for the year! This really is an incredible achievement, all in thanks to our

children and their families for their fundraising effort!

The best part of the hard work of our top fundraisers is they get super cool prizes!
Prizes in past years have included a BMore Licks ice cream party, a pizza and movie
party at The Creative Alliance, and an Urban Pirates party for 10. Stay tuned for an

announcement of this years prizes!

WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS!

If you have any questions or are interested in helping out, either in planning or during
the event, please contact the Bee Fit Committee Chair:
Danielle Kelly at [email protected],
or any PTO officer at [email protected]

Check out what the PTO is up to at https://hha47.org/pto/

Blueprint Breakdown - Concentration of
Poverty

In the course of their research to make the recommendations that would eventually become the Blueprint
for Maryland’s Future, the Kirwan Commission found that "A large fraction of Maryland
students, disproportionately low-income students, enter school far behind the others in vocabulary,
general knowledge, and the kind of social skills needed to succeed in school. They fall further behind with
every year in school." Further, the Maryland Longitudinal Data System found in 2019 that students who
experienced poverty for longer periods of time had worse educational outcomes, including higher
predicted likelihoods of dropping out of school and lower predicted likelihoods of high school graduation,
standardized assessment scores, and enrolling in postsecondary education - all things the Blueprint
works to address.

Consequently,
the first-of-its-
kind Blueprint
Concentration of
Poverty Grant
Program was
developed to fund
the provision of

wraparound
services, which will
largely occur through

the expansion of
Community Schools
throughout the state.
Qualifying schools
will receive grants at

varying levels
according to
concentration of
student poverty over
the 10-year
implementation
period, until
eventually all
schools with a
concentration of
student poverty of
55% or more receive
the increased
investments. The
annual grants are
provided in two
categories phased in
one after the
other: personnel
grants of $250,000

Source: 2020-2021 Maryland State Report Cards By School*
*2020 data is heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and is likely an undercount.

per school to hire a community school coordinator and a school health services practitioner and a year
later, per-pupil grants of up to $3,200 per student.

We updated our statewide Concentration of Poverty Map data to reflect the most updated figures
published by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) from 2020. You can find the original
source information by school here. Due to the economic impact of the pandemic as well as challenges
collecting data in 2020, we expect that the 2020 numbers are likely inaccurate due to the undercounting of
students experiencing poverty, particularly students from immigrant and/or mixed-status families
and students experiencing homelessness or housing instability.

This means that schools which may be eligible to receive funding based on the economic status of
students’ families, including Blueprint and federal funds, may not be recorded as being eligible “on paper”.
This is not a new issue in Maryland, and the Blueprint requires MSDE to report to the AIB this fall on the
progress they’re making to get a correct count of all students. This is why having accurate, easily
accessible data is so important.

Blueprint In Action - Accountability and
Implementation Board Nominees Selected

On September 1, 2021, the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) Nominating
Committee announced a list of nine candidates to serve on the AIB. All nine candidates received
unanimous votes from the Nominating Committee.

However, Delegate Alonzo Washington, who served on the Kirwan Commission, expressed concern that
Prince George’s County, home to the second-largest enrollment of public school students in the state,
was not represented amongst the list of nine candidates. His comments were echoed in a letter from
County Executive Alsobrooks to Governor Hogan. The Maryland Legislative Latino Caucus also wrote to
the governor, expressing concern about the lack of Latino representation in the list of nominees. Our
partners in the Maryland Alliance for Racial Equity in Education also noted the lack of Latino and
multilingual representation in a statement issued last week.

On September 10, Governor Hogan wrote to the AIB Nominating Committee, highlighting the concerns
above and a lack of representation from counties in eastern, western, and southern Maryland and
requesting a new slate of candidates. The Blueprint does not explicitly grant the Governor this
ability.
Until a decision is reached about the legality of the Governor’s request, we will continue to hold the
Governor to the current October 1, 2021 deadline to appoint seven AIB members from the existing list of
nine. In her commentary to Maryland Matters this week, our executive director talks about how critical a
functioning, fully-appointed AIB is to ensuring the successful implementation for the Blueprint, which is
currently being implemented without the intended oversight.

Here are key dates in October 2021 for the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future:

October 1 - Deadline for Governor Hogan to appoint the seven-member Accountability and
Implementation Board from the nine candidates submitted to him from the AIB Nominating Committee.

October 1 - Local School Systems submit the total number and percentage of students at each school
eligible for free and reduced meals for Fiscal Year 2021 (last school year). This information is very
important when determining a school’s eligibility for certain funding programs.

PATTERSON PARK AUDUBON CENTER

FALL GARDENING
WORKSHOPS & TOUR

FREE • on Zoom • Registration required:
patterson.audubon.org/events

INTRO TO WILDLIFE GARDENING
7:00 - 8: 30 PM
SEPTEMBER 30
OCTOBER 28

BIRD-FRIENDLY GARDEN
DESIGN

7:00 - 8:30 PM
OCTOBER 14

VIRTUAL GARDEN TOUR
7:00 - 8:00 PM
OCTOBER 21

OCT 23 & 30 Patterson Park
Audubon Center
BIRD WATCHING IN
BALTIMORE Bird Watching

Join us in Druid Hill Park & Patterson Park ────
Druid Hill Park
Audubon experts lead us in search of avian friends every month in Meet at 3001 East Dr.
these two city parks. Experience fall migration in Baltimore City!
No experience is necessary – perfect for beginners and experts Saturday, October 23
alike. Registration is required and Audubon’s COVID-19 rules
must be followed by all participants. BYOBinoculars! ────
Patterson Park
Visit patterson.audubon.org/events for info & to register. Meet at the fountain

Saturday, October 30

────
8:00 – 9:30 AM

FREE!
Registration required!
All ages & experience

levels welcome.

FOLLOW US + TAG US
www. facebook.com/

PattersonParkAudubonCenter

@audubon_pattersonpark

patterson.audubon.org

FIRST SATURDAYS Patterson Park
Audubon Center
HABITAT GARDEN
VOLUNTEERS ────
Patterson Park
Join us in Patterson Park Meet at the wetland

Help build bird habitat in Audubon’s native plant gardens in garden
Patterson Park! We need volunteers to make sure they remain Uphill & northwest of
healthy habitats for the park’s birds and butterflies, as well as safe
spaces for learning and exploring. Come to weed, mulch, and plant the Boat Lake
while spending the morning outdoors with friends, family, and ────
Audubon. We’re happy to sign service learning hours for helpful
students. No experience is necessary. Registration is required and Bring Your Own
Audubon’s COVID-19 rules must be followed by all participants. Water, gloves, tools

Visit patterson.audubon.org/events for info & to register. if you have them
────

9:00 – 10:30 AM
FREE!

Registration required!
Service learning
hours!

FOLLOW US + TAG US
www. facebook.com/

PattersonParkAudubonCenter
@audubon_pattersonpark
patterson.audubon.org





This month we have great news to share with your
community about free programs for kids - let's get
to it!

Este mes tenemos buenas noticias para compartir
con su comunidad sobre programas gratuitos para
niños, ¡empecemos!

Read to Reef: Get 4 free tickets to the National
Aquarium when your child reads 5 books about anything
aquatic in nature. Stop by the library to sign up during the
month of October or sign up online. Kids have until January
17 to read their books and use their free tickets!
Call (410) 396-1580 for more information.

Read to Reef: obtenga 4 boletos gratis para el Acuario
Nacional cuando su hijo lea 5 libros sobre temas acuáticos.
Pase por la biblioteca para registrarse durante el mes de
octubre o regístrese en línea. ¡Los niños tienen hasta el 17
de enero para leer sus libros y usar sus boletos gratis! Llame
al (410) 396-1580 para obtener más información.

Storytime! Sing and rhyme with Ms. Kelly every Tuesday at 11am at Southeast Anchor Library. And if you can't
get enough storytime fun, join Ms. Meredith at Patterson Park Library every Wednesday at 11am for more of
the same!

¡Tiempo de cuentos! Cante y rime con la Sra. Kelly todos los martes a las 11 am en Southeast Anchor Library.
Y si quieres más diversión, únase a la Sra. Meredith en la biblioteca de Patterson Park todos los miércoles a las
11 am para más de lo mismo.

Hispanic Heritage Month: We have a beautiful display of books by people of Latinx heritage, about notable
Latinx people, and books in Spanish. Come take a look!

Mes de la Herencia Hispana: Tenemos una hermosa exhibición de libros de personas de ascendencia
latina, sobre personas latinas notables y libros en español. ¡Ven a echar un vistazo!

Reading Garden: The library's outdoor space is open from 10am until just before closing 6 days a week. Kids
(and grownups!) can relax or run around in this fenced area. We have ordered new hula hoops, jump ropes,
kickballs and more that kids can borrow.

Reading Garden: el jardín de la biblioteca está abierto desde las 10 am 6 días a la semana. Los niños (¡y los
adultos!) pueden relajarse o correr en esta área vallada. Hemos comprado nuevos hula-hulas, sogas, kickballs
y más que los niños pueden tomar prestados.

Social Worker in the Library: Every Thursday from 10-5:30 social work students Elizabeth and Tim are
available for walk-up consultation. They can help with public assistance applications, employment, education,
and much more. Se habla espanol!

Trabajador social en la biblioteca: Todos los jueves de 10 a 5: 30 Elizabeth y Tim están disponibles para
consultas sin cita previa. Pueden ayudar con solicitudes de asistencia pública, empleo, educación y mucho
más. ¡Se habla español!

Upcoming: Some of what we're working on for upcoming months: Saturday Zumba classes! Bike repair clinic!
Kerplunk! And Wednesday Crafternoons are returning in November! We'll open the Creation Station every
Wednesday after school for a fun craft activity, including craft workshops with visiting authors and artists!

Próximo: Algunas de las cosas que estamos planeando para los próximos meses: ¡Clases de Zumba los
sábados! Clínica de reparación de bicicletas! Kerplunk! ¡Y las manualidades regresan todos los miércoles
después de la escuela en noviembre! Los niños pueden venir a la Creation Station de la biblioteca para una
divertida actividad de manualidades, que incluye talleres de manualidades con autores y artistas visitantes.

Hours: The library IS open to the public at our regular pre-pandemic hours:
Monday-Thursday 10am-8pm
Friday-Saturday 10am-5pm

Horario: La biblioteca está abierta al público en nuestro horario habitual antes de la pandemia:
Lunes a jueves 10am-8pm
Viernes a sábado de 10am-5pm

your journey starts here free TO BMORE

#atthepratt

After School Activities:
September & October

Disco Slime Half Day Fun: LEGO Build & Share
Tuesday, September 14, 4:00 p.m. | Forest Park Wednesday, October 6, 2:00 p.m. | Zoom

Learn about and listen to some of the giants of the Join us for a live LEGO® build! Try a challenge or just
Disco era while making our own Disco-themed glitter build and share your creation. Materials needed: LEGO®
slime to take home. bricks and your imagination

Garden at the Library Altar-Making with the
Thursday, September 16, 3:00 p.m. Creative Alliance’s Artesanas
Reisterstown Road Thursday, October 14, 5:30 p.m. | Virtual

Join the librarian in the garden to weed, pick herbs, and Celebrate life and new beginnings with Creative
learn about the different flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Alliance’s Artesanas! Learn about the traditions of Día de
los Muertos and altar making during this virtual event.
Healthy Little Cooks: Power Up Your Food!
Tuesdays, September 21 & October 19 Stomp Rockets
4:30 p.m. | Virtual Thursday, October 21, 3:30 p.m. | Hamilton

Get your MOVE on and FOOD on by joining Healthy Create a rocket and then launch it using air power!
Little Cooks for a fun and easy after school recipes, as Grab a book bundle before you leave to continue the
we learn all about POWERING UP our bodies and food! learning at home.

September: Power Up Your Brain! Coloring Club
October: Power Up Your Smile! Thursday, October 28, 5:00 p.m.
Edmondson Avenue
Hispanic Heritage Month:
Sidewalk Chalk Murals
Tuesday, September 28, 3:30 p.m. | Roland Park

Pre-registration required for all in-person programs. prattlibrary.org
Call the branch to register.

your journey starts here free TO BMORE

#atthepratt

Thursday October 28
4:00 p.m. | Virtual

Listen to stories about having pride in
being yourself, told by Bambi Galore and

special guests!

Register at bit.ly/3fWOIdF prattlibrary.org

your journey starts here free TO BMORE

#atthepratt

Family Storytime

Storytime is back!

Join us every week at Southeast Anchor Library and the Patterson Park Branch
to share stories, movement, songs, and rhymes! Masks are required, attendance
space is limited. For children 2–5 and their caregivers, all abilities are welcome.

Southeast Anchor Library Patterson Park Branch
Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m.
With Ms. Kelly With Ms. Meredith
Call 410-396‑1580 to register. Call 410-396-0983 to register.

And don’t miss Virtual Storytime Live on Facebook and YouTube. A new storytime
every Thursday at 11:00 a.m.

The free educational and cultural programs at Pratt libraries are made prattlibrary.org
possible by the generous support of donors to the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

your journey starts here free TO BMORE

#atthepratt

Homework Help

Need some homework help this school year? Teens ages 11–18 may join the Pratt
Teens server on Discord to get LIVE homework help in English, Reading, Math,
Social Sciences, and other subjects from a Morgan State University student.

Please be advised that Discord does not allow accounts under age 13; a parent will
need to create the account for those under 13.

Drop-in hours:

Monday – Friday: 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

To access the server, apply here. prattlibrary.org

The free educational and cultural programs at Pratt
libraries are made possible by the generous support
of donors to the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

your journey starts here free TO BMORE

#atthepratt

Doors Open Baltimore Storytime Doors Open Baltimore
Activity Sheets
Saturday, October 23, 10:30 a.m.
Hampden Branch | 3641 Falls Rd. October 1 – 31 | All Pratt Locations

Celebrate Doors Open Baltimore with a special During Doors Open Baltimore, stop by any
storytime at the recently renovated Hampden Pratt Library location to pick up coloring sheets
Branch! Enjoy books, rhymes, and songs related to featuring Baltimore city landmarks and a word
cityscapes, architecture, and construction. search. Activity sheets available on a first come,
first served basis, while supplies last.
This indoor program has limited attendance, and
pre-registration is required. To register, please call Digital files will also be available at prattlibrary.org
the Hampden Branch at (410) 396-6043. for at-home printing beginning October 1.

Doors Open Baltimore presented by AIA and BAF

prattlibrary.org

your journey starts here free TO BMORE

#atthepratt

Learn about ecosystem health with the Smithsonian Environmental Research
Center (SERC)! Join us virtually to get a lab tour and hear from the Ecosystem
Conservation Lab. Ecosystems rely on all the organisms to be balanced, come
learn how and why this is important and how we can keep our ecosystems
healthy! We will be conducting some hands-on activities that you can follow
along at home!

Visit any Enoch Pratt Location to pick up a kit while supplies last! Kits will be
available in early October.

Saturday, October 16, 11:00 a.m.

This event is virtual. prattlibrary.org
Visit prattlibrary.org for streaming information.

your journey starts here free TO BMORE

#atthepratt

Virtual
Early Learning & Storytimes:

September & October

Pratt Virtual Storytime Live! Cultural Traditions Storytime:
Dia de los Muertos
Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, October 16, 11:00 a.m.
French/English Family Storytime /
Contes en famille, français/anglais Join the Enoch Pratt Free Library and Artesanas from
the Creative Alliance for a special edition of storytime!
Saturdays, September 11 & October 9, 11:00 a.m. We’ll read a book exploring the cultural traditions and
celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Join us live for an interactive storytime with read- and learn about creating an ofrenda (altar) at home.
alouds, songs, movements, and games. For children
under 12. Spooky Storytime with Aurora Gorealis

Turtle Dance Music: Tails and Tales! Monday, October 18, 6:00 p.m.
A Music, Bubble and Comedy Dance Party
Settle in for some slightly spooky stories, songs, and
Saturday, September 18, 11:00 a.m. | Forest Park & rhymes with guest reader Aurora Gorealis of Shocktail
Virtual Hour!

This performance celebrates famous children’s stories Drag Queen Story Hour
and songs about animals! Space is limited for the
outdoor portion of this program and pre-registration Thursday, October 28, 4:00 p.m.
is required. To register, call the Forest Park branch at
410-396‑0942. Listen to stories about having pride in being yourself,
told by Bambi Galore and special guests!

Fall Fun Storytime

Wednesday, September 22, 4:00 p.m.

All events are virtual and may require registration. prattlibrary.org
Visit prattlibrary.org for more information.

Underwater worlds are waiting.

Dive into a book and earn free admission to the
National Aquarium for yourself and your family.

New seasons begin each spring and fall.

Baltimore-area children in fifth grade and younger
with a valid Pratt library card can earn admission to the
National Aquarium for themselves and up to three family

members by joining the Read to Reef book club.
Visit aqua.org/read for program dates and information.

Los mundos submarinos
están esperando.

Sumérjase en un libro y gane entradas gratis
al National Aquarium para usted y su familia.

Las nuevas temporadas comienzan
cada primavera y otoño.

Los niños del área de Baltimore en quinto
grado y menores, con una tarjeta de biblioteca
Pratt válida, pueden ganar entradas al National
Aquarium para ellos y para hasta tres familiares
uniéndose al Club de Lectura Leer en el Arrecife.

Visite aqua.org/read para obtener fechas e
información sobre el programa.



K-12 Breakfast Me

October 2021

Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Students must select at least 3 food items.
One item must be a serving of fruit or vegetable.

4 Assorted Cold Cereal 5 Mini Cinnamon Rolls 6 Cream Cheese Mini 7
Nutrigrain Bar Fresh Peach Bagels
Black Plum Banana
Graham Crackers Milk
Orange Juice, 6 oz. Fresh Peach
Milk
Black Plum
Milk

11 Assorted Cold Cereal 12 Strawberry Banana 13 Strawberry Cream 14
Nutrigrain Bar Yogurt Cheese Mini Bagel
Banana
Graham Crackers Assorted Cold Cereal Pear
Orange Juice, 6 oz. Fresh Orange Milk
Banana
Black Plum Milk
Milk

18 Assorted Cold Cereal 19 Mini Cinnamon Rolls 20 Cream Cheese Mini 21
Graham Crackers Black Plum Bagels
Nutrigrain Bar Pear Banana
Fresh Orange Milk Pear
Ginger Gold Apple Milk
Milk

25 Assorted Cold Cereal 26 Peach & Raspberry 27 Strawberry Cream 28
Nutrigrain Bar Yogurt Cheese Mini Bagel
Banana
Graham Crackers Assorted Cold Cereal Fresh Peach
Orange Juice, 6 oz. Fresh Orange Milk
Banana
Black Plum Milk
Milk

This institution is an equal opportunity p

enu

Thursday Friday

1 Oatmeal Breakfast
Bun

Graham Crackers
Assorted Fresh Fruit

Milk

Assorted Cold Cereal 8 Peach & Raspberry Options Available Daily at
Nutrigrain Bar Yogurt Breakfast:
Banana
Blueberry Muffin Cold Cereal Options-
Applesauce Cup Assorted Fresh Fruit Apple Cinnamon Cheerios,
Milk
Milk Multi-Grain Cheerios,
Original Cheerios,
Oatmeal Breakfast 15 PD DAY
Bun Schools Closed Cinnamon Toast Crunch,
Golden Grahams, Honey
Banana
Applesauce Cup Kix

Milk 1% White Milk, Fat Free
White Milk
Assorted Cold Cereal 22 Peach & Raspberry
Nutrigrain Bar Yogurt (Click for Nutritional
Banana Information)
Blueberry Muffin
Applesauce Cup Assorted Fresh Fruit Menu subject to change
Milk
Milk

Oatmeal Breakfast 29 Oatmeal Breakfast
Bun Bun

Banana Graham Crackers
Applesauce Cup Assorted Fresh Fruit

Milk Milk

provider.

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE LUNC

October 2021

Monday Tuesday Wednesday

4 Fish Nuggets 5 Mandarin Orange 6 Steak Burger 7
Deli Sandwich Boom Boom Sauce 14
Oven Fries Chicken PVDBeg&etaJrSiaannBdweaicnhs 21
Side Salad Assorted
Side Salad Assorted Brown Rice Fresh Fruit Assorted
Fresh Fruit Assorted Milk
PBD & J Sandwich
Milk Broccoli 13 Teriyaki Chicken
Brown Rice
Side Salad Assorted
SPDaBut&eeJdSCaanbdbwaicghe
Fresh Fruit Assorted Side Salad

Milk Assorted Fresh Fruit
Assorted Milk
11 Breaded Mozzarella 12 Cheese Steak Sub
20 Chicken Burrito Bowl
Sticks PDB & J Sandwich FPDBies&taJTSaacondBwlaicchk
Oven Fries Beans
Marinara Sauce Cup
Side Salad Assorted
PDBB&abJy Sandwich Side Salad Assorted Fresh Fruit Assorted
Carrots
Fresh Fruit Assorted Milk

Side Salad Assorted Milk

Fresh Fruit Assorted

Milk

18 Hamburger on Bun 19 WG Chicken Tender
RPDBoa&stJedSBanudttwericnhut
PBD & J Sandwich Squash
Oven Fries Side Salad Assorted
Fresh Fruit Assorted
Side Salad Assorted Milk

Fresh Fruit Assorted

Milk

25 Breaded Chicken 26 Sweet Chili Turkey 27 Popcorn Chicken 28
Macaroni and
Patty Sandwich Meatballs Cheese

PDBB&abJy Sandwich CPDoBnfe&ttJi Sandwich Steamed Carrots
Carrots Corn Salad Side Salad

Side Salad Assorted Side Salad Assorted Fresh Fruit

Fresh Fruit Assorted Assorted Fresh Fruit Assorted Milk

Milk Assorted Milk

This institution is an equal opportunity pr

CH MENU

Thursday Friday

1 Cheese pizza Wedge Daily Available Lunch
Turkey Pepperoni Options
Pizza Wedge
Carrot Sticks Milk Options:
1% White Milk, Fat Free White
Side Salad Assorted
Fresh Fruit Assorted Milk, sometimes Fat Free
Chocolate Milk, Fat Free
Milk Strawberry Milk Seasonal

Sloppy Joe on 8 Cheese pizza Wedge Fresh Fruit
WG Hamburger Bun Turkey Pepperoni Apples, oranges, nectarines,
PDi&zCzaJarrSWoatneSddtwgiceikcsPhDB plums, watermelon, peaches,
Tuna Salad
WG Bread, 2 slices Side Salad Assorted bananas
Celery Sticks Side Fresh Fruit Assorted All rolls, breads, and tortillas

Salad Milk are made with whole grain.
Assorted Fresh Fruit
15 PD DAY Menu is subject change.
Assorted Milk
Schools Closed Milk
Cheese pizza Wedge
Turkey Pepperoni 22 Cheese pizza Wedge Condiments
PDi&CzzeJaleSWrayneSddtwgiceikcsPhDDB PDBC&arrJoSt aSntidcwksich
Lunch Daily Available Nutritionals
Side Salad Assorted Side Salad Assorted
Fresh Fruit Assorted Fresh Fruit Assorted

Milk Milk

Italian Meatball Sub
Tuna Salad

WG Bread, 2 slices
Broccoli

Side Salad Assorted
Fresh Fruit Assorted

Milk

Spiral Rotini w/Italian 29 Cheese pizza Wedge
Meat Sauce Turkey Pepperoni
Tuna Salad Pizza Wedge
Carrot Sticks
WG Bread, 2 slices
Side Salad Broccoli Side Salad Assorted
Assorted Fresh Fruit Fresh Fruit Assorted

Assorted Milk Milk

rovider.