WELCOME to Third Grade Parent Orientation Tuscany Heights Elementary

1. WELCOME to Third Grade Parent Orientation Tuscany Heights Elementary

2. Third Grade Team for 2019-2020 Mrs. Jennifer Anderson Mrs. Sandra Ferguson Mrs. Teresa Fernandez Mrs. Angelique Forsyth Mrs. Denise Olguin We look forward to working with your children!

3. Attendance/Tardies • Students are picked up by their teacher in Coach Kaufman’s gym at 7:30 a.m. • School Starts at 7:40 a.m. • Tardy bell rings at 7:50 a.m. • Parents will need to walk their child into the front office if you arrive after 7:50 a.m. • Students are considered absent after 9:15 a.m.

4. Communication A tool we find useful in communicating between school and home is through the use of BOB (BE ORGANIZED BINDER) and Agenda Book. Both the BOB and Agendashould be brought to school each day and then taken back home each night. You will find: • a record of daily behavior • homework packet • graded papers • notes and forms • grade level newsletter Please check and initial the agenda every night!

5. Agendas Please Purchase an AGENDA at Meet the Teacher! Agendas will also be available for sale in the front office once school begins. Third grade students use the agenda daily.

6. Behavior Specific codes for behavior can be found in the Agenda on the Tigers’ Code of Conduct page. Your child’s conduct grade is derived from the number of agenda marks each nine weeks. 0-3agenda marks = E 4-6 agenda marks = S 7-9 agenda marks = N 10+ agenda marks = U Students with an office referral will receive an “N” for that nine weeks grading period.

7. Grades Grades are based on the following configuration: A 90%-100% B 80%-89% C 70%-79% F 69% and below Check your child’s BOB for graded papers or reviewed assignments.

8. Grading Policy • Grades are based on the quality of the student’s work. • Any student who scores below a 69% will be re-taught the information will have to opportunity to redo the assignment. • The maximum grade earned for corrected/re-taught assignments will be a 70%. See NEISD website for further information on grading policy at www.neisd.net

9. Curriculum Please keep in mind that the third grade curriculum is more rigorous in preparation for the STAAR test. You may see this reflected in your child’s grades. Please rest assured that we work hard with all students to master these rigorous expectations. We also appreciate your support at home throughout the year.

10. Homework Homework will be sent home on Friday and will be due the following Friday. Please check the BOB for homework assignments. Students shouldpractice their math facts and read for at least 20 minutes each night.

11. Parent Portal / Skyward Parent Portal is now Skyward Family Access Please use Skyward Family Access to: • check grades • cafeteria balance • attendance • library books checked out

12. Technology Students in 3rd grade will use ipads for apps in math and reading. They will be using the computer lab or classroom Chromebooks for MAP testing in reading and math, research and for meeting their math fact goal on Math Magician. Teacher will typically use their own cell phone for Groupme messages, to track Classroom DoJo. and for dismissal.

13. Specials This year specials classes include: P.E., Music, and S.T.E.A.M. lab The P.E. coaches, Ms. Kaufman & Mrs. Fonger, are requesting that all students wear tennis shoes on their assigned P.E. days. Third grade specials time will be 10:55-11:45.

14. THE is Lighthouse School! We teach Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits: Habit 1: Be Proactive Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind Habit 3: Put First Things First Habit 4: Think Win-Win Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood. Habit 6: Synergize Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw Habit 8: Find Your Voice The leadership binder is where students keep track of their academic and personal goals and track their progress throughout the year. Students will also be allowed to apply for leadership roles throughout the school and in the classroom.

15. STAAR TESTing (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) In third grade, the students will be tested on Math and Reading. Testing dates: Math – May 11, 2020 Reading- May 12, 2020

16. Library The library will have a flexible schedule allowing students to return/check-outbooks (up to 3) as needed. A set library time is scheduled once every week. Ms. Johnson, the librarian, will help us withresearch projects. Parents may set up a library account and check out 5 books at a time. Visit the Tuscany Library website to download ebooks.

17. Library Books Reading five Bluebonnet books will allow your child to vote in January for the 2019 winner. Battle of the Books competition is held in May. It is a goal to have students read at least five books from this list. SSR (Self-Selected Reading) during class is great timeto read these books

18. Dismissal Procedures • Dismissal time is at 2:55 p.m. • If students need to leave early, then parents must pick up before 2:30 p.m. • Only Summerglen residents can be Summerglen walkers and will be dismissed at the gate.

19. Transportation Tags All students need to have a transportation tag attached to their backpack to indicate how they go home. Please be sure that your child’s backpack has the appropriate tag for the entire school year. • If your child will be a car rider, you will need to get a color coded tag from the office before school begins. • If you lose or forget your car tag you will have to wait until 3:15 p.m. to get a new tag and check out your child. • KIN, Walkers, Daycare, and Bus riders will have their tags attached to their backpacks on Monday by their teacher. If you lose your tag, let your homeroom teacher know.

20. Transportation If there is ever a change in the way your child will be going home at dismissal time, please send in a written note with your child. If you have to make a change after our school day has started, please call the office at 407-8200 prior to 2:30. This will ensure that your child gets home the correct way.

21. Toys Just a friendly reminder that toys are not allowed to be brought to school unless your child has earned the privilege with their classroom reward system.

22. Snack Third grade students may bring a water bottle to keep in the classroom. They may also bring a healthy snack to eat in the morning. The teachers will notify parents if there is a food allergy that other students need to be considerate of.

23. Lunch The lunch menus for each month are given to the students to keep in their B.O.B. binder. The menus are also available onlineon the NEISD website. Pre-payments may be made by sending in a check written in either black or blue ink and made out to Tuscany Heights Elementary. Pre-payment may also be made online. Lunch time for 3rd grade is 11:50-12:20 p.m. Please remember: If anyone other than the parent or guardian wishes to eat lunch with a student you need to send a note to the office by 10 a.m. Also, another student can not eat with you unless we have received a note from their parents prior to lunch.

24. Birthdays Birthdays may be celebrated at school for third grade from 2:40-2:50 p.m. with a store bought treat. Please also supply napkins or plates for your treat. Please ask your child’s teacher about any allergies in the classroom. If your child wishes to pass out party invitations at school, they must have one for each child in the classroom or one for all boys or all girls.

25. Parties Third grade will celebrate with two parties this year. Winter Party on December 20. End of the Year Party

26. Attendance & Absences School goal is to have 97% students present daily!!! • If your child is absent, please inform the school before 8:30 a.m. • Send a note with explanation when your child returns to school. • Please check school calendar when scheduling vacations. • In order to be organized for a productive day, please try to bring your child to school by 7:30 a.m. • Parents will be notified of excessive tardies and absences.

27. Visitors & Volunteers Third grade loves to have volunteers and we appreciate your willingness to share your time with us. To apply for volunteer status, simply go to the NEISD website and fill out the application to ensure you are D.P.S. (Department of Public Safety) cleared. Visitors and volunteers must sign in at the office to receive an ID badge that must be visible as you travel within the school. Third grade will need volunteers to be field trip chaperones, speakers and to assist with teacher tasks. PTA is also a great way to volunteer!

28. Clinic We use a Clinic Flow chartin every classroom to decide if visiting the nurse is the best solution at the time of the request. Our ultimate goal is to make sure everyone is in the best of health. However, we prefer students learning in the classroom.

29. Family Photos Wanted In the front office, we now have a Tuscany Family Tree. We would like all students to bring in a family photo (4x6) to add to our tree.

30. Thank you so much for reviewing this information. Third grade looks forward to a great year. Involvement in your child’s education is greatly appreciated.