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Dear Parents,
I hope everyone has had a
great summer and is rested & ready to start back to school. Elementary
Open House will be Monday, August 16th from 6:30-8:00 p.m., and classes
will begin on Wednesday, August 18th. Teachers and staff have been working
throughout the summer attending workshops and preparing their rooms and materials.
The school supply list can be accessed by a link on my home page or on the
Dora School home page. You will be able to find out your child's assignments for the
week, spelling list, news, etc, from our class web site. The address is
http://www.dora.org/4th%20grade/default.htm.
Reading
Every classroom in the
elementary will have 90 min. of uninterrupted reading time each morning.
Extra teachers will be assigned to each classroom to provide better
instruction, as well. 20 minutes of reading will be assigned nightly.
I will be testing students for the first couple of weeks to determine their
reading levels and plan needed interventions. Students will also need to
earn at least 4 Accelerated
Reader points each month in
order to earn prizes from the AR Store in the library. Most books are from
1/2 to 1 point in value, but larger, more difficult books can be worth more.
Math
In math, we will be practicing
graphing skills, and working with fractions and word problems. Our
first test will be Lesson 10. Please practice addition, subtraction,
and beginning multiplication facts with your child, as they will be given
a timed test over these facts about once a week. A little practice at
home really helps to keep those skills sharp. Students will work Side
A of a math practice sheet here at school. Side B will be
homework. You can expect this homework 3-4 nights per week. If your
child has free time at school, they may have time to complete their homework
in class. What they don't complete, they can finish at home. I
ask parents to check over their child's math Side B homework & initial it at
the top of the page.
Behavior
Our school is still implementing
the behavior program called Positive Behavior Support. The behaviors
that we expect here at school in all settings will be directly taught so
that students clearly understand what is expected of them. Good behavior at school is
rewarded in several ways. First, students with outstanding behavior
will be given Falcon wings to display in the hallway with their names.
Students get to put a star on our
behavior chart each week when they
stay on the top behavior chart level. There are 5 levels on the chart with consequences for
each level. If a student has to move their clip down a level, they serve 5
minutes time out at recess. Good classroom citizens are also honored with treats
each week and certificates each quarter. I will send a behavior report home in a "Friday Folder" every Friday (if possible) for you to initial & return. Your
child's work inside the folder is yours to keep. Just have your child return
the empty folder on Monday, and they will receive a reward.
Notes
Please send a note or call me if your
child has special needs that I should be aware of. Also, please send a
note if your child will be going home with someone different or riding a
different bus. When you send a note, the principal has to initial it
in order for the bus driver to accept it. Only call the school if it
is an emergency that your child be dropped off somewhere else. It's better
not to wait until it's time for school to
dismiss to call & make arrangements.
Absences
The school
will need a parent or doctor note when your child has to be absent.
Absences will be counted as unexcused if there isn't a note. Students will have
1 day to make up work
for each day that they were absent. If their work is turned in late (more than 2
days), they will only receive 1/2 credit. Students will have the
option to make up work during free time at school or to stay for tutoring
where a teacher can help them. If a student fails to complete daily
assignments they will be asked to move their clip on the behavior chart.
If the assignments aren't turned in the next day, they will have to serve
lunch detention or serve after-school detention, & the parent will be contacted. (Refer to
student handbook).
Wellness Program
The school is
implementing the wellness program again this year. For
birthday or holiday parties, please send healthy snacks &
drinks. Mr. Luna will be checking what is served at
these parties to make sure everyone is following the guidelines.
Some snack & drink ideas might include light butter popcorn,
nuts, fruits, vegetables & dip, jerky, baked or whole grain chips, whole grain
muffins, crackers, cheese, salsa, granola bars, sugar-free jello,
applesauce, fruit roll-ups, fruit popcicles, yogurt, juice,
apple cider, milk, & flavored water. Below are
some websites with recipe ideas.
http://healthy.betterrecipes.com/healthysnackrecipes.html
http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/healthy_school_snacks.pdf
http://www.rd.com/healthy-low-calorie-snacks
Please try to spend a day with
us in the classroom if possible. Also, if you have questions or
concerns, please ask me. That's the best way to get reliable answers.
I don't mind at all for parents to call me at home. If you would
be able to volunteer in the classroom or help with parties or field trips,
please sign & return the form below. I look forward to
meeting all of you and working with your child this year.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Hollingshad
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____ Yes, _____________________ would like to help in the
classroom.
I can help on the following
days____________________________.
____Yes, _____________________would like to help with
parties & field trips.
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