November, 2019

Volume 5, Issue 3

Baltimore City Public

Schools

Letter from the Principal

Dear BIA Families: Happy Holidays! This is a wonderful time of year, but also very busy and so can be stressful. As the adults scurry around preparing for the excitement of the holidays, children can also feel the stress and exhaustion brought on by this busyness. Please continue to support your child in his/her school success by ensuring a bed time is maintained at a reasonable hour. Adequate sleep supports learning, brain development, concentration, and mood and so directly affects children’s success at school. We are PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) school which supports students inter-nalizing what it means to be Respectful, Open-minded, Caring and Knowledgeable (ROCK) in their actions with others. Our goal is to support students by teaching the correct behavior using our school-wide essential agreement for behavior expectations in all areas. We do this by ac-tively engaging students during instruction, looking for the positive first, and providing imme-diate, frequent, and explicit feedback. One of our goals is to keep our students focused on learning by ensuring safety and so we are working to eliminate incidents of physical aggression between students. We will continue to support students who have conflicts with other students through peer mediation, conflict resolution, social skills training, counseling and behavior in-centive programs. Making mistakes is part of the learning process for all of us. Our job as teachers, parents, ad-ministrators, and school staff is to support students in reflecting on their mistakes and making a plan for how to not make the same mistakes again. If that occurs, the teacher, school adminis-trator, behavior intervention staff, or counselor will contact you. We always work to support students toward a solution. Disruptive and unsafe behavior such as physical aggression will result in consequences in order to change behaviors. This will help to protect the safe learning environment for all of our stu-dents. We ask that you review the content of the Student Code of Conduct (https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/BacktoSchool-July2019-CodeEnglish.pdf) to learn more about our school district discipline and behavior procedures. Did you know that if your child chronically misses school that it has a huge impact on their learning? Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 18 or more days of school in a year for any reason (excused, unexcused, vacation, all day appointments). The law requires school dis-tricts to meet with parents if a child has 5 or more excused absences in a month or 10 or more excused absences in a year. Research shows that chronically missing school can result in low reading skills, students failing subjects, and higher high school dropout rates. Read this research summary for more details. Here are some great resources: Building Habits of Good Attendance: http://attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Attendance_ESP1PG_English_062614.pdfOpens a New Window. When Is Sick Too Sick For School?: http://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/toosickforschool_REV.pdfOpens a New Window.

As winter break draws near, please remember that school is in session through Friday, Decem-ber 20 and attendance will be taken and monitored. We continue to work as a school communi-ty to ensure that every student meets the state minimum requirement of attending school. School will reopen on Thursday, January 2. We wish you a safe, restful holiday season and a very happy new year!

Elena Lokounia, Principal

Inside this issue:

Letter from the principal 1

News from ELA 2

News from Spanish Im-

mersion Program

2

News from Chinese Im-

mersion Program

3

News from Arabic Immer-

sion Program

3

News from Russian Im-

mersion Program

4

News from French Immer-

sion Program 4

Counselors’ Corner 5

News from the Resources

Team

5

Baltimore

International

Academy

ELA News You Can Use

Page 2 Baltimore International Academy

The ELA Department is continuing to challenge our students with the Wit and Wisdom curriculum. Our elementary students are learning the fundamentals of reading and writing. It is so important parents work with their students at home on reading fundamentals. Please begin to read to your students in kindergarten. A new reading interventionist, Ms. Thompson has been hired to begin working with struggling readers in grades K-3. We are so glad to have her as part of the BIA ELA family. Ms. Stern, our 4th grade ELA teacher is also working with struggling readers in grades 3 and 4. Mr Eades has been hired to work with struggling readers in the middle school and struggling learners in math K-8.

The middle school has been thriving and growing as we continue with Wit and Wisdom. Our 6th graders just finished reading about the Great Depression in “Out of the Dust.” They are now learning about Greek mythology as we begin reading “The Odyssey.” Our 7th grade is continuing to learn about the Middle Ages as we read “Castle Diaries.” Our 8th graders are finishing up “Crossover” about 2 young middle school basketball stars who learn some valuable life lessons through playing basketball.

Our Middle School PBIS trip for December will be to Skate Land. We look forward to skating, socializing and eat-ing pizza. This is a reward for good behavior. We had a wonderful time last month at Sky Zone. Our school newspa-per The Eye of the Owl is flourishing and our Baltimore Urban Debate League team attended our first model con-gress at Western High School. Our bill on zero-based vehicle emissions was passed. The kids did a great job! From the ELA team of Ms. Vanessa Cheng, Ms. Sandra LoFaro, Ms. Taylor Stern, Ms. Kira Casey, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Eades and myself, Peace on Earth and Happy Holidays!

News from the Spanish Immersion Program Posadas: A Traditional Mexican Christmas Celebration

The celebration of the Posadas is an important Mexican Christmas tradition and features prominently in holiday festivities in Mexico (and more and more north of the border as well). These community celebrations take place on each of the nine nights leading up to Christmas, from December 16 to 24th.

The word posada means "inn" or "shelter" in Spanish. In this tradition, the Bible

story of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and their search for a place to

stay is re-enacted. The tradition also involves a special song, as well as a variety

of Mexican Christmas carols, breaking piñatas, and celebration.

Asking for Shelter

There are two parts to the traditional posada song. Those outside the house sing the role of Joseph asking for shelter and the family inside responds, singing the part of the innkeeper saying that there is no room. The song switches back and forth a few times until finally, the innkeeper agrees to let them in. The hosts open the door, and everyone goes inside.

Celebration

Once inside the house, there is a celebration which can vary from a big fancy party or a casual neighborhood to a

small get-together among friends. Often the festivities begin with a short religious service

which includes a Bible reading and prayer.

On each of the nine nights, a different quality will be meditated upon: humility, strength, de-tachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy, and generosity. After the religious service, the hosts distribute food to their guests, often tamales and a hot drinksuch as ponche or atole. Then the guests break piñatas, and the children are given candy.

The nine nights of posadas leading up to Christmas are said to represent the nine months that

Jesus spent in Mary's womb, or alternatively, to represent nine days journey that it took Mary

and Joseph to get from Nazareth (where they lived) to Bethlehem (where Jesus was born).By

Suzanne Barbezat

Page 3 Baltimore International Academy

News from the Chinese Immersion Program

.BIA’s Annual Chinese Book Fair

The Annual Chinese Book Fair is so far a great success. Our Chinese Immersion Stu-

dents came to view our selection and some students purchased books. As we mentioned, reading is a fun way to experience language. Sometimes, our children need to learn in a different fashion and require a more re-

laxed, slow paced activity for learning. Reading enables the student to choose their pace, which is an attribute of learning that other methods may not be able to provide.

We strongly encourage our students to pick up some books to enjoy. We will continue the Book Fair till De-cember 19th. Books can be viewed and/or purchased daily

in Room 106 from 3:00 to 4:00. Huge thanks to all the students, parents and our Chinese immersion teachers.

News from the Arabic Immersion Program

World Arabic Language Day—December 18th

The Arabic language is a pillar of the

cultural diversity of humanity. It is one

of the most widely spoken languages in

the world, used daily by more than 290

million people. World Arabic Language

Day is celebrated every year on 18 De-

cember since 2012. The date coincides

with the day in 1973 that the General

Assembly of the United Nations adopt-

ed Arabic as the sixth official language

of the Organization.

In the diversity of its forms, classic or dialectal, from oral expression to poetic calligraphy, the Arabic lan-

guage has given rise to a fascinating aesthetic, in fields as varied as architecture, poetry, philosophy and

song. It gives access to an incredible variety of identities and beliefs and its history reveals the richness of

its links with other languages. Arabic has played a catalytic role in knowledge, promoting the dissemination

of Greek and Roman sciences and philosophies to Renaissance Europe. It has enabled a dialogue of cultures

along the silk roads, from the coast of India to the Horn of Africa.

News from the Russian Immersion Program

Russian Samovars Our students learned about Russian cultural family tradition

when family and friends get together for worm tea and cookie. Samovars and tea-drinking are an indispensable element of Russian culture. In modern Russia, samovars are rarely used to boil water for tea as originally intended, however many families place samovars in the center of the table during holiday celebrations. What is a Samovar? A samovar is a device traditionally used to heat and boil water for tea. The word samovar in Russian is derived from "сам" meaning self and "варить" meaning to boil. The name can be loosely translat- ed into English as "self-boiler". Samovars are made from metal and consist of a large urn-shaped container and a metal pipe running vertically through the middle. To boil the water inside a samovar, the pipe is filled with solid fuel such as pine

cones, charcoals and wood chips which are set on fire. A small tea pot is used to brew a tea concentrate. The tea pot is often placed on top of a samovar to keep it heated with the passing hot air. The tea is served by pouring tea concentrate into a cup and diluting it with boiled water. The water is released through a faucet at the base of the metal container. Sam-ovars were one of the earliest home appliances in Russia. Families and guests would sit at a large dinner table to have a leisurely talk and discuss the latest events while drinking hot tea. What is a Samovar singing about? Russian people believed that the samovar has a soul. This belief was mainly based on the fact that samovars were producing different sounds when being heated with fuel. The shape of the samovar's body accounts for amazing acoustics and water makes peculiar noises when it is being brought to the boil. It was common to say that "a samovar is singing" (самовар поёт).

News from the French Immersion Program

FRENCH WEEK

The French week was a great success! Throughout the week the French teachers presented the similarities between Paris and Washington, taught the official song of the week “Paris et sa soeur Washington” to all the immersions program of the school. The students showed their knowledge of French through the spelling bee contest, it was remarkable!

Finally, the French celebration was a great success, with students singing wonderful French songs, dancing and reciting beautiful French poems. A big and good French meal closed this wonderful evening with all the families, students and staff. BRA-VO!

Counselor’s Corner

Greetings from your clinical team!

Ms. Allie Walker, School Counselor intern’s last day with us will be Friday, December 13, 2019. She will be graduating from Loyola University with her Master’s Degree in School Counseling. Ms. Walker has been a tremendous asset to us and she will leave a caring, warmth lasting impression on our students. While we are sad to see her leave, we would like to congrat-ulate her and wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

Baltimore International Academy

Clinical Team

Great Teams at BIA!

Middle School VEX IQ Robotics Team Elementary VEX IQ Robotics Team BIA Urban League Debate Team

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore International Academy

4410 Frankford Avenue

Baltimore, MD 21206

Phone: 410-426-3650

Fax: 410-426-36

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News from our Resources Team

December 10th is the concert day! 5 p.m. start, all the way. Come have free hot chocolate drinks while we treat your ears to something musical. How sweet! This Hot Chocolate themed concert is sure to warm you up this winter. (Thanks to the local coffee shop dona-tions!!!) The Resource Team's spring theme will be *drum roll please*: Africa and Australia! The spring concert will be a sound and sight safari that explores these two continents. If you have any resources you would like to offer up the resource team, send an email to KELevitzky@bcps.k12.md.us. Are you a middle school parent or a kindergarten/new to BIA first grade parent? Would you be interested in our new "Big Sister/Brother" program called Target Practice? Volunteer middle school students are paired with volunteer K/1st grade parents to exchange emails/contact information and help the new BIA family members with their target language assignments and to practice their target language skills. Those interested please email Mrs. Levitzky, KELevitzky@bcps.k12.md.us, who is the head of the Target Prac-tice initiative. Middle schoolers can receive Student Service Learning Hours upon the completion of Tar-get Practice. Arts Every Day assemblies and workshops will begin soon! Keep an ear out for other performance group opportunities that would occur in the spring.