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School hours for the 2008/2009 year are 7:45 a.m - 1:45 p.m. The portable is open to well-behaved PB's at 7:00. Short day dismissal is at 11:45.
Here is some information about the Polar Bears, including work habit expectations and ways in which I'll communicate with you about your PB's progress.
PB Shorthand: These are some abbreviations and symbols I use on communications
PB: Polar Bears. That’s us! We’re called The Polar Bears because we’re cool.
EC: Extra Credit. Extra credit can help a grade, but never hurt.
Some PB's may be SLD (specific learning disability) resource students. SLD students do only starred spelling words and homework assignments (marked with a star). Non-SLD students do all assignments.
Grading and Work Expectations: Most of these are common to all of our school’s fifth grade classes. Your child will bring home a separate note detailing our homework, grading, and textbook policies.
All work (except for math) is to be done in cursive. This includes spelling tests. Some science, health and social studies tests are exempt.
Written work should have our class’ proper heading, as pictured at right (but in cursive). Work without a heading may not be accepted and may earn a zero; work with an incorrect heading may lose points.
All work should have your child’s number on the top right: Your child is certainly not a number to me, but being able to sort papers by number eases the paper-sorting chores for our student helpers.
Homework should be handed in the day it is due. Avoid handing it in ahead of time.
Late homework may not be accepted except when accompanied by a parent note.
Tests and Projects are the primary source of grades: There are many tests in fifth grade. Although I do grade some daily work, the grades from tests and projects such as reports have a much greater weight.
Missed, incomplete, or late assignments may count as a zero grade: I usually drop the lowest grade in each subject at report card time.
News and Info
Grade reports come home frequently in the Polar Bears, usually weekly. In addition you can call me anytime to check on your child’s grades or you can request a written grade report. Or, click here to see your child's grades online (you must be registred for the PB discussion board and have your child's secret number and a password to find the grades).
Weekly and Grade Reports: A weekly behavior and work report will come home with your child on the last day of each school week. Updated grades are usually included on the report. Please sign each report and have your child return it to me on the following Monday. Contact me if you’d like a daily behavior report. I send home detailed grade reports at mid-terms and a report-card preview a week before report cards come out. The report card preview lets us discuss any grading issues or possible mistakes before grades are officially posted. See the grading questions page for more information.
Weekly News: Your child will be bringing home our weekly newsletter on the first day of each school week. It will keep you up to date on our daily activities, list any new spelling words, and let you know when your child has homework and on what day it is due. I do not use the weekly news to explain assignments in fifth grade. The newsletter is also posted to this web site - right here! Our weekly spelling and homework are also posted during the school year. See the homework policy page for more information.
Monthly News: I send home a Polar Bear Newsletter on or near the first of every month. The newsletter will outline the month’s activities, list important dates and birthdays, and other important class news.
Misc. Stuff
Lunch: Remind your PB to keep lunch money in a safe place, not on or in a desk. I will lend money to Polar Bears who have forgotten or lost their money so long as they are responsible and repay me.
Absence/Tardy: The school asks that you call the office to notify them of any absence (you may also e-mail me or call me at home or on the cell phone. If your child will be out for more than a few days, let me know and I will put together a packet of activities so s/he won’t miss much. The most important teaching of the day often occurs in the minutes following the last morning bell, so it’s important that your child is on time for school.
Morning: When I don’t have a morning meeting, I let well-behaved Polar Bears into the classroom early (no earlier than 7:00 - contact me first if you'd like your child admitted into the classroom early.) Until 7:00, they may be unsupervised.
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