Welcome to the Fifth Grade!
I am excited to have your child in my class, and look forward to an educational, as well as, a challenging school year. We will discuss our classroom rules and policies, and would like to let you know what will be happening in the 5th grade.
Daily Schedule:
Mass-Tuesday (K-5), Thursday (5th), Friday (all-school)
Music-Tuesday, Thursday: 10:30-11:05
Friday: 11:00-11:35
Beginners Band-Monday through Thursday: 11-11:35
P.E.-Monday and Wednesday: 10:30-11:05
Art-Wednesday: 2:30-3:00
Lunch: 11:40-12:10, Recess 12:10-12:30
Afternoon recess: 2:15-2:30
Library-Thursday: 1:40-2:10
Mass Servers
Students will train to serve during Mass. They will serve all of the Tuesday and Thursday masses. I stress reverence during mass. I expect fifth graders to sit up straight and participate in the mass.
Bullying Action Plan
I have sent home a copy of the plan that we will discuss to have a happy and safe classroom/playground environment. If you would like to discuss the questions with your child and fill out the form together, and return it to me on Wednesday, August 18th, that would be acceptable. Otherwise, students will be given the opportunity to fill it out after our class discussion on the first day of school. I also have a basket near my desk so students may write their concerns and leave them in the basket. I will address these on an individual basis. Our goal at St. Mary is not to allow bullying, but we must be aware there are concerns so they can be addressed before there is a real problem.
School Uniform
Proper attire and wear of the school uniform as outlined in the handbook will be followed. Any uniform infraction will result in no recess for that day. Please make sure your child has appropriate school attire.
School Safety Patrol
Patrol duty is not required, but 5th grade students enjoy doing it. As soon as all the permission slips are returned, I will send a schedule home so you are aware of your child’s scheduled duty. If your child is at school and finds that he/she cannot perform their assigned duty that day, they are responsible for finding a replacement. Late work, corrections, uniform infraction, or owing recess time will result in no patrol duty for that day.
Assignments
Assignments, when assigned, will be due at the beginning of that subject the next school day. Incomplete assignments, assignments left in book bags, or at home will be graded as late, and 10% will be deducted from the grade. I expect students to come to school prepared, and that includes assignments completed and ready to participate in discussions and grading. We go through the assignments, students grade their own papers, turn them in, and I look them over (and regrade, if necessary) before I send them home. Graded papers will go home daily.
~Daily assignments only, (no tests or late work) with a grade of 64% or below, may be corrected for a grade up to 80%. These need to be corrected right away and turned in. If a student has a correction or late work, I will stay after school to help with the assignment. I would like your permission for your child to complete any missing, late, or correction after school on the day it occurs. If transportation arrangements prevent this, I do understand.
~Tests with a grade of 64% or below will be sent home for a parent’s signature. Your child’s test needs to be returned the following school day. This lets me know that you are aware of your child’s grades. (If you would like to see a copy of the test the students took, you may request one at any time. Please return it to school the following day.)
Research Reports
We will be doing at least two reports that will require research. Most of the actual research will be done here at school. I do not expect you to research or type the final report for your child. The first report will be on the rain forest or ocean life, and the second report will be a “Christmas Around the World” report. This year, as in the past three years, students will be sharing their reports with other classes.
Birthdays
Birthdays are special days in all of our lives, especially to children. You may celebrate your child’s birthday with cookies, ice cream bars or popsicles, cupcakes, candy bars, crackers, and/or juice boxes. Please do not send or bring a cake that requires cutting, nor juice that needs to be poured. Birthday treats need to be easily passed out by the birthday child and a student helper. There are 13 students in my fifth grade and 16 in Mrs. De Longe’s 5th grade this year. Some students like to share with the other class because they have been in and out of classes together over the past few years. This is not mandatory, but there must be enough treats for every student in our class.
Scholastic Book Clubs
I will order from Scholastic Book Clubs. Please write your check payable to the Scholastic (not to me or St. Mary), or cash will be accepted, and I will write the check to them. Orders generally arrive in 5-7 school days after ordering on-line.
If you have any concerns at any time, please feel free to contact me. I will return phone calls during my breaks, which are the P.E., Music, Art, and Library times I have given in the daily schedule. Do not hesitate to call me if there is an assignment that your child is unclear on, questions or concerns about classroom procedure, or any other thoughts you may have. Thanks for being great parents and letting me share in your child’s life.
