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Dear Graceland Park Families,

As we transition into March, we welcome the promise of spring with warmer weather and renewed energy! This month, we will focus on MCAP preparation in the core content areas of reading, mathematics, science, and social studies while continuing to build upon the strong foundation up to this point of this school year.

Many parents often ask, “What can I do at home to help my child be successful in school?” Our answer is simple: Read with your child every day. Before, during, and after reading, engage in discussions about the story—ask questions, visualize the scenes, share personal reactions, and connect the story to real-life experiences. Most importantly, enjoy this special time together. Even just 10–15 minutes of reading each day can make a meaningful difference!

In addition to reading, here are a few more ways to support your child’s success:

Check Gradebook regularly in the Parent Portal.
Review learning activities that come home in your child’s backpack or in Google Classroom.
Have meaningful conversations about what they are learning in school.
Set clear expectations and encourage open discussions about their school experiences.

Try asking questions like:

What is the work of the week?
What made you happy today?
What made your teacher smile today?
Can you share an example of kindness you saw or showed?
What kind of person were you today?
What part of PRIDE did you exhibit today?
What was something new you learned today?

Your ongoing support plays a crucial role in your child’s success. Reviewing homework, reading together, checking grades in the Parent Portal, and discussing upcoming assessments are all valuable ways to stay involved. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support of our GREAT school!

Warm regards,
Ms. Mullally
Principal, Graceland Park

Graceland Park celebrated the 100th Day of School this past month. Our littlest of learners had fun activities all about 100 on this milestone occasion!

Important events for March 2025

March 3 - ASCBC Student Government Meeting, 9:00-2:00
March 4-March 7 - Grade 8 MISA testing, 8:45
March 5 - JO Club visit to Pre-K & K, 9:00
March 10-March 13 - Grade 5 MISA testing, 9:15
March 13 - Grade 2 Field Trip, Rawlings Conservatory
March 14 - School Closed for Students
March 14 - Parent/Teacher Conferences, 12:30-3:00
March 27 - Parent Power, 8:00
March 27 - Food Pantry Distribution, 11:00
March 28 - Early Release Day for Students, Dismissal at 11:15

During the month of March, all students in grade 5 and 8 throughout the State of Maryland will participate in MISA testing. MISA assesses student knowledge on NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards).

Applications for YouthWorks is now open! If you have questions about the application, contact Ms. Scribner, Community Schools Coordinator.

Do you have an interesting career? Want to help the school but don't know how? Graceland Park is looking for volunteers to present at our annual Career Day on April 11th. Please contact Ms. Orfanidis or Ms. Abad if you are interested or have any quesitons.

Do you know a child who will be 4 or 5 by September 1, 2025? If so, it is time for them to be registered for PreK or Kindergarten at Graceland Park Elementary/Middle School! Spread the word to family, friends, neighbors, and anyone who may have a child who is 4 or 5!

Mrs. Miller, Grade 6 Science Teacher

Mrs. Miller is a 6th Grade Science teacher at Graceland Park. This is her second year teaching and has been with City Schools for 3 years. She started off as a Paraprofessional and enjoyed helping the kids so much she transition from Paraprofessional to teacher.

Mrs. Miller was born and raised in Baltimore City. She is the youngest of four siblings and the first in her family to obtain a Bachelor's Degree. She studied Business Administration at Strayer University, graduating in 2021. She is currently completing her teaching residency through Baltimore City Teaching Residency (BCTR).

"What I love about teaching science is the ability to provide our scholars with hands on experiences." She loves Graceland, the staff, and the students. "I am not only teaching them but they're teaching me as well."

During her free time, she works at the Y after school program teaching the 3rd class that attends. She enjoys hikes, art and binge watching tv shows.

"I see myself at Graceland for a long time and I truly enjoy creating a safe and healthy yet fun environment for everyone to thrive."

Favorite quote: "You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, love like you'll never be hurt, sing like there's nobody listening, and live like it's heaven on earth." -William W. Purkey

Each morning, a character trait is highlighted on morning announcements. These character traits embody the spirit of a Graceland Park scholar. Here are the words that will be highlighted this month.

Week of March 3 – Fairness - Fairness is the act of doing things that treat all people equally and with respect. Knowing what is fair and unfair is important in getting along with others. Fairness encourages people to act respectfully and responsibly, especially when working with others. Some examples of actions that promote fairness are taking turns, playing by the rules, and not blaming others for your mistakes.

Week of March 10 - Community - Community refers to a group of people who live in a particular area or have common interests. We may belong to many different communities such as a school, religious, or cultural communities. People within communities often rely on each other in times of need or to accomplish tasks. Everyone at Graceland brings important strengths and contributions to our school community. How will you contribute to your community this week?

Week of March 17 - Inclusivity - Inclusivity is ensuring that all people feel included or part of something regardless of their differences. It is making sure people feel welcome and a part of the group. Inclusivity is about embracing others and being kind. One way to practice inclusivity is inviting others to play with you at recess so no one is left by themselves.

Week of March 24 - Cooperation - Cooperation is working together to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Working well with others is an important aspect of cooperation and a necessary life skill. You may be asked to cooperate with classmates on a group project or with teammates during practice or a game. When cooperating with others, it is important to communicate with each other and take turns.

Week of March 31 - Leadership - Leadership is being in a position to influence, motivate, and guide others towards achievement of a goal. There are many different styles of leadership but successful leaders have the following skills: active listening, empathy, clear communication, and critical thinking. Can you think of other skills or traits that make a good leader? How will you be a leader in your classroom?

Do you know know CORE is?

CORE is a low-tech visual tool to help facilitate communication. CORE vocabulary is made up of 80% of what we say throughout the day. The CORE vocabulary board is made up of what City Schools determined to be the 50 most appropriate words students use during the academic day. Our goal is to use this tool school-wide to help increase communication and understanding for our students, especially in the early childhood grades.

Our March CORE focus words are off and see / look.

Students in 3rd through 8th Grade hosted “A Gallery of Heroes: A Celebration of African American History." They researched famous African Americans and presented them to the school community.

A special THANK YOU to the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange for donating school supplies to the school! Their generosity was greatly appreciated!

4th grade explored books for their new module about the Revolutionary War at a tea party. They learned about British customs, the colonial time period, and tea party etiquette, while collaborating to brainstorm questions they have about the Revolutionary War!

PreK had their annual Drive-In Movie in their homemade vehicles during the “On the Move” unit! In the afternoon, families were invited to Fanny’s Car Show to explore the different vehicles students created. Thank you all for your support!

Girls on the Run started this month and it is off to an excellent start! This program inspires participants to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others. We can't wait to see how fantastic these young ladies are when they complete their first race together!

Graceland's Green Team continues to promote green efforts in the building. This month they reinforced the importance of recycling.

Physical Education & Health

PK-2nd Grade: The elementary students will be starting a new unit focused on Yoga and body movements. The main focuses are flexibility and keeping proper control of their body through challenging movements.

Grades 3-5: The intermediate students will be working on a healthy heart challenge focused on jump roping. They will learn about understanding their heart rate and the ranges it goes through. They will be learning new skills and techniques for jump roping to help get their cardiovascular system moving.

Grades 6-8: The middle school students will be starting a new hybrid unit focused around racquet sports. The combination of learning tennis basics and translating that into paddleball will challenge them in a new way using the racquets as an extension of their body. They will also focus on teamwork and working in a confined environment to develop their special awareness.

Music

Pre-K students are having a wonderful time with engaging in music and movement activities. They are exploring a wide range of percussion instruments, developing their sense of rhythm and coordination while having fun.

Kindergartens are engaging with the story of Abiyoyo through ukulele playing; reacting with excitement whenever the character's name is mentioned.

Grade 1 & 2 students are joyfully performing "This Little Light of Mine," a song by Scott Joplin, a renowned Black musician, while playing percussion instruments.

The 3rd graders are progressing rapidly! They have successfully completed their Green Belt, demonstrating a strong foundation in musical concepts. They are now mastering the Orange Belt, learning the lively song "Merrily We Roll Along" and adding the note "E" to their recorder repertoire.

The Orff instruments are alive and well in the 4th grade classroom! Students are exploring the diverse sounds of the xylophone and other instruments, creating captivating and unique musical pieces. With Jazz Unit, they were able to play 12 bar blues.

The talented middle school musicians are making significant progress toward playing the keyboard, focusing on Ludwig Van Beethoven's iconic "Ode to Joy." They are skillfully learning to play both the melody and chords, creating a beautiful and harmonious sound! To celebrate Black History Month, pianists from 803 are completing rehearsals to accompany 7th graders performing "Life Every Voice and Sing" and "Liberty and Justice for All."

Visual Art

Congratulations to four outstanding artists who have had their work submitted for the annual FYI show at the Baltimore Museum of Art in March! Manuel A. and Esteban M. from 601, Karen M. from 603, and Karol C. from 501 all completed projects that showed excellent craftsmanship and creativity and will make Graceland proud at this City-wide exhibit.

Ms. Kyriakakos' fifth grade art students honored African American artists this month by creating posters.

Visit our school website for the most updated information and calendar events
Grade level newsletters will be posted on the school website by the 10th of each month! Check out what your child is learning in their class!
Attendance matters! Make sure you have your child come to school every day and on time! With GREAT ATTENDANCE (absent two days or less) comes special perks. See the flyer below for the quarterly attendance incentive.
Parking - Do not double park or yield to let passengers out of your vehicle on the streets around the school. This is for the safety of ALL students. All vehicles picking up students at dismissal should be parked on Gusryan as that is the designated "car rider" area.
Snow - Please look at our instructional plans below in case there is a snow emergency. It is important that all families are aware of this information!
English - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LamBFmiyzyUuztuoFzxw-iSTpOnHhnaAkLA6ZXs04Jo/edit?usp=sharing
Zoom Links - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wUL3RedETAaVoVbzWND7DvywY4iRzL3i2oNTiOaluGY/edit?usp=sharing

As the weather turns colder, remember that all students will still go outside for recess if the "feels like" temperature is above 32 degrees and there is no precipitation forecasted.

Attendance — If your child has GREAT attendance, they will get to have their GLOW ON for our quarter three attendance incentive!

City Schools has explicit guidelines for what is permitted and not permitted for dress code in our schools. Please look at the flyer that was published at the beginning of the school year for a reminder of the protocol.

Join us each month for Parent Power - a workshop tailored to parents to help their child at home with their education and provide them with resources. This month the Parent Power meeting will be on Thursday, March 27th. This month parents will learn more about how to support your child's social-emotional development.

March winds bring April showers, April showers bring May flowers and June sun bring the end of the school year! Please remind scholars that it is time to show the amazing person they are in all they do to succeed.

In preparing scholars for success please encourage them to attend one of the after school tutoring programs. Y after school at Graceland or the Graceland tutoring program.

March winds will usher in Spring, and Daylight Saving Time. On March 9th, remember to "spring forward" an hour on your clocks. March 20th is the first day of Spring.

March is the month of honoring women. The theme for National Women’s History Month 2025 is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations”. The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is “Accelerate Action”.

On February 11th, Principal Mullally presented to parents and the Community, Baltimore City School’s Immigration Guidelines. Feedback received showed that participates felt that the meeting was informative and appreciated. The information presented dismissed rumors they thought were true. Thank you Principal Mullally for supporting our families.

As always, kudos to parents, community members, staff and all other stakeholders for supporting our school, scholars, and families. It is my joy partnering with you as we achieve our school’s vision and mission! At any time you or your family is in need of support, please reach out directly to me.

Family & Community Newsletter March 2025

Important events for March 2025