Welcome to

Thunder Hill Elementary School

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Back to School Night

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Mrs. Marti Miller Ms. Kim Dillard

Principal Assistant Principal

Administrators

Front Office Team

Ms. Veenstra

School Counselor

Mrs. Meyer

School Psychologist

Mrs. Schneider

Teachers’ Secretary

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Mrs. Harman

Teachers’ Secretary

Ms. Easton

Principal’s Secretary

VISION: Every student and staff member embraces diversity and possesses the skills, knowledge and confidence to positively influence the larger community.

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VALUE

ACHIEVE

EMPOWER

CONNECT

MISSION: HCPSS ensures academic success and�social-emotional well-being for each student in an inclusive and nurturing environment that closes opportunity gaps.

More information: www.hcpss.org/scta

School and System News and Information

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Email

School news, HCPSS News,

emergency notices

Urgent/emergency notices only

HCPSS website

www.hcpss.org

Systemwide news and information resource

School website

thes.hcpss.org

School news, calendar, sports and clubs, staff directory; more

Social Media

Thunder Hill Twitter: @hcpss_thes

HCPSS Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HoCoSchools

HCPSS Twitter: www.Twitter.com/HCPSS 

HCPSS Instagram: instagram.com/hocoschools

HCPSS Flickr: flickr.com/photos/hcpss

Superintendent Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjmsuper  

• School system news and announcements
• Upcoming events
• Opportunities to share input on HCPSS policies and decisions

Weekly System Emails

HCPSS Mobile App

Free download on App Store:

• iPhone
• iPad
• Android

School Closings/Delays

@hcpss

www.HCPSS.org

HCPSS News

HoCoSchools

HCPSS Status

status.hcpss.org

Hotline

410-313-6666

Mental Health and Student Supports

School Counselor: Ms. Kasey Veenstra

School Psychologist: Mrs. Molly Meyer

Pupil Personnel Worker: Mr. Neil Gwinn

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More information: �www.hcpss.org/supports/mental-health-wellness

Synergy Student

Information System

Canvas

Learning System

www.hcpss.org/connect

Family File

• Parent contact information
• Medical data and contacts
• After-school transportation
• Data privacy preferences

www.hcpss.org/connect

Update Student Information

• Athletic participation forms

HCPSS Connect: How to Get Help

Login Assistance:

Contact the school office

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Guides and Resources:

www.hcpss.org/connect

Canvas: What to Expect

Course Homepage:

Overview

Student privacy information

Resources

Calendar dates/events

Announcements

Student skill building (grade appropriate)

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Have Canvas Questions? Click the Orientation box�on the Canvas homepage to access Parent Guides

Interactive School Menus

• Food descriptions
• Nutrition and allergens
• Carb counts
• Pre-payment links
• FARMS application link
• Breakfast and lunch menus

• http://hcpss.nutrislice.com

• HCPSS Mobile App

• free iPhone or IOS app

Qualifying families can receive free or reduced-cost:

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Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMs)

• School meals
• Health insurance
• HCC tuition
• SAT, ACT and AP exam fees
• Camps, sports, child care
• Many other benefits

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Step 1: Visit www.hcpss.org/farms/

Step 2: Click “Apply Online” to begin the online application process

Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMs)

HCPSS WEBSITE

APPLICATION

On Canvas via �HCPSS Connect

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Curriculum content overview for each

• Grade (PreK – 5)
• Subject area

What Your Child Will Learn Guides

www.hcpss.org/connect

2020-2021 Fall Instruction

Information and updates:

www.hcpss.org/2020-2021/

Answers to frequently-asked questions:

help.hcpss.org

Community Resources

Several organizations in Howard County offer services and resources for students and families.

www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/

Attendance

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

• ES homeroom teacher and mathematics teacher take attendance
• MS & HS attendance is taken for each class

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Wednesday (complete at least one item during the week)

• Submit assignment to one teacher
• Engage in synchronous instruction with an HCPSS teacher
• Complete work in the Canvas learning management system, DreamBox or Lexia Core5

Special Education Services

Each student's IEP or IFSP team, which includes the parent, will discuss how the student’s current plan will be implemented for 2020-21.

The previous individualized continuity of learning (ICOL) plans will no longer be used.

Parents will be contacted at the start of the school year on how best to provide services for their child in a virtual environment.

School Meal Services

Grab-and-Go Meal Service

Breakfast: 8am-9am

Lunch: 10:45am-12:45pm Weekdays at all HCPSS schools (except Burleigh Manor MS & Hammond HS)

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Prices based on eligibility status (free, reduced-price, or full-price)

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* Students may receive meals at any location

Student Well-Being

We care about you! For assistance, contact:

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Mrs. Miller, Principal

Ms. Dillard, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Meyer, School Psychologist

Ms. Veenstra, School Counselor

Your Child’s Teacher

Supporting Instruction at Home

HCPSS offers best practices to support families in transitioning to virtual instruction in the home environment

https://www.hcpss.org/2020-2021/supporting-instruction/

Obtaining a Device

To identify your need for a Chromebook or internet:

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1. Parents/guardians should log in to HCPSS Connect.
2. From the left menu, last choice, select “More Options” then choose “Student Technology” from the center of the screen.
3. On the HCPSS Student Technology screen, use the drop down arrows to indicate the Technology Requested for each student. Changes are saved immediately.
4. If a device has already been issued, it will appear in the inventory list. If a student already has a device issued, a new request will not be processed.
5. Families will receive a confirmation email with necessary information, including pickup location, date and time.

Back to School Night

Curriculum Information

Grade 5

August 2020

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The 5th Grade Team

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Virtual Learning 2020-2021

How does virtual learning this school year compare to the continuity of learning model in Spring 2020?

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Virtual Learning

Related Arts

Related Arts: 5 Week Cycle

1 related arts cycle = 5 weeks

• 2 synchronous (live) sessions of related arts
• 3 asynchronous sessions (can be done throughout the week, or on Wed.)

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Virtual Learning Grade 5

Student Schedule

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Student Day

9:00am-3:50pm

Creating a Healthy Learning Environment

• Reassure your student(s) that although this learning at home experience is new for everyone, and that we are here to support them and help them be successful.
• Limit distractions (other devices) and create a space for completing school work that is separate from where eating and play occur, as much as possible.
• Work together to create a space that is comfortable, quiet, and dedicated to learning during instructional time.

Synchronous Instructional Time

• Students are expected to engage in lessons, using the chat box and/or their microphone.
• Camera use is encouraged, but not required
• Teachers ARE allowed to request a student turn on their camera, to see their “work” or have them demonstrate something, for a short period of time.
• Note the “additional synchronous support” time on the daily schedule, may or may not be used for your child each day

K-5 Asynchronous Work

• Most asynchronous tasks will be “weekly” assignments - posted on Monday and due the next Monday, to allow for flexibility in work completion (Related Arts, Math, Reading, Writing, Health)
• Science and Social Studies asynchronous tasks are directly connected to the lessons; therefore, they will be assigned after a lesson, and are to be completed prior to the next lesson.

Curriculum in each Content Area

Language Arts - Synchronous Lessons

Whole group language arts instruction 4 days a week, that will include:

• Direct instruction of the reading and writing standards through modeled lesson and interactive read alouds;
• Differentiated small group instruction (which will occur each day during the ELA time, as well as the additional synchronous time for some reading groups). Each small reading group will be 20 minutes.

Supports for reading instruction are available on the

HCPSS Family and Community Resource pages

Language Arts - Asynchronous Tasks

Asynchronous tasks will consist of Lexia Core5, independent reading, and writing.

• Students will be engaged in Lexia Core5 for 15-20 minutes daily.
• Independent reading will occur in the ELA time and is encouraged during/after lunch each day.
• There will be one assigned asynchronous writing lesson each week.

For more information about HCPSS Elementary Language Arts visit : https://www.hcpss.org/academics/english-language-arts/

Grade 5 Mathematics - Synchronous Lessons

• Whole group instruction 60 minutes each, 4 days a week
• Standards-based instruction centered on big ideas in grade 5 including
• Multi-digit addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
• Fractions (operations and equivalency)
• Decimals (concepts and computation)
• Problem solving
• Small group instruction will be part of this time as needed
• For more information about mathematics visit https://www.hcpss.org/academics/mathematics/

Grade 5 Mathematics - Asynchronous Tasks

• One DreamBox lesson per day (approx 15 minutes)

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• One non-DreamBox additional practice activity on Wednesdays (approx 15 minutes)

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• Note that additional practice on DreamBox is optional and that extensive additional practice should be avoided.

Grade 5: Science Expectations

• There are four units of instruction:
• Q1 - Earth’s Systems
• Q2 - Patterns in Space
• Q3 - Structures and Properties of Matter
• Q4 - Matter and Energy in Ecosystems
• For HCPSS Science information, visit: https://www.hcpss.org/academics/elementary-science/
• For more information about the Next Generation Science Standards, visit: https://www.nextgenscience.org/parentguides

Grade 5: Science Virtual Learning

• Each Science lesson has 3 parts in Canvas:
• Part 1: Synchronous page (summary of the live lesson)
• Part 2: Asynchronous task (independent work for students)
• Checking for Understanding (page to submit assignments)
• There will be 8 two-part lessons each virtual quarter (8 synchronous live lessons, and 8 independent work tasks)
• Most synchronous lessons will be teacher demonstrations, to ensure student safety while at home

Part 1: Synchronous page (summary of lesson)

Intended as a resource for all students:

• Those absent during live instruction
• Those that need to finish work from the lesson
• Those that want to review to support their independent task
• Family reference

Part 2: Asynchronous Task page (follow up work)

• Student independent work that follows the lesson
• May include online videos, google slides, simulations, and/or articles to read/research
• Students should work in science journals

Grade 5: Science Virtual Learning Materials

• Students will be using a Science Journal with every lesson
• Some lessons may ask students to go outdoors for an asynchronous task. They are ALWAYS told to receive adult permission before going outdoors. There are also resources given, which they can use to complete the task if not able to go outdoors.
• Some lessons will require students to gather household items for use, such as: tray/cookie sheet, empty containers of different sizes (yogurt cups, butter tubs, applesauce cups, etc.), soil, sand, rocks

Social Studies Expectations

• There are four units of instruction in each quarter.

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• For more details on the main concepts of each quarter, go to: https://tinyurl.com/2020-SocSt-Matrix

Social Studies Virtual Learning

• Each Social Studies lesson has 3 parts in Canvas:
• Part 1: Synchronous (live) lesson with accompanying summary page (for those that missed the synchronous lesson)
• Part 2: Independent task (asynchronous work for students)
• Checking for Understanding (turned in via Canvas or in journal)
• There will be 8, two-part lessons each virtual quarter (8 synchronous live lessons, and 8 independent work tasks)

Social Studies Focus

• Learning social studies skills and content
• Becoming informed community members
• Authentic application of ELA skills
• Provide meaningful, engaging, and challenging problems

Grade 5 - Health Education Virtual Learning

• There are four units of instruction:
• Q1 - Social & Emotional Health
• Instruction will be all asynchronous tasks in Q1
• Q2 - Safety & Injury Prevention
• Two synchronous lessons in Q2, with additional asynchronous tasks
• Q3 - Substance Abuse Prevention
• Q4 - Puberty Education
• Students will be using a Health Journal in most lessons
• For more information about the HCPSS Health Curriculum, visit: https://www.hcpss.org/academics/health-education/

Determining the Grade

• Quarter grade will be determined by percentage of points earned.
• Assignments will be based on points.

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• One grade will be given for each content (ELA, math, science, social studies)
• Learning behaviors will not be reported on the report card during virtual instruction.

Join Band, Orchestra, and Chorus at

Thunder Hill!

Why join?

• Grade 3 (orch. only) and Grades 4-5 can learn to play an instrument and sing with friends!
• Participate in LIVE classes with Ms. Bryant and Mr. Javorsky
• Build a healthy, productive, and fun routine

Registration closes Friday 9/25!

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For detailed information and registration visit:

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www.ThunderHillMusic.com

2021 Battle of the Books Takes Place Virtually

Spring 2021

Mrs. MCILVAIN will be sharing the details during 5th grade media sync lessons between October 1st and 15th.

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Sign-up for coaches will be October 23 - November 6, 2020

Howard County Library and Howard County Public School System are excited to announce...