Welcome to 5th Grade Curriculum Night!

Welcome to 5th GradeCurriculum Night! Reed Elementary 2013-14

Absences and Tardies: • School begins promptly at 7:55 am. • **Students arriving after 7:55 am must sign in at the reception desk and obtain a tardy pass before coming to class. • In the event of an absence, parents should call the school office prior to the start of the day. Messages can be left on the school answering machine before and after office hours. A hand-written parent noteshould be sent with your child upon returning from any absence. (Doctor notes are appreciated too.)

School and Home Communication: • Red Agenda folders will have homework and ongoing classwork. Please initial the spiral daily. • Blue Tuesday folders will have school information and weekly work including any assignments students may redo. • Class news and important information will be sent via email. • The Reed website has each teacher’s webpage. • The Eye Opener will be sent via email on Mondays. • School Messenger calls to relay important information. • Progress reports will go home after the first 4 weeks of the grading period. • Report cards will go home every 9 weeks. • Feel free to email your child’s teacher and ask for an update. • Together, parents and teachers are a team dedicated to your child’s success! We will help him/her thrive in fifth grade!

Graded Work: • Daily work and homework will make up 60% of the student’s report card grade. • Tests, quizzes, and projects will make up 40% of the student’s grade. • Students may redo most failing assignments. Work will be sent home on Tuesday and needs to be returned by Friday. • 10 points will be taken off per school day for late work up to five school days. • Late work is defined as any assignment that is not turned in the date it is due as long as the student is not absent that day.

Homework: • Reading- Students need to read at least 20 minutes every day. At home reading may be completed using a free choice text – chapter book, magazine, online article, etc. • Math - In addition students will have math homework Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays • Science – Homework assignment Monday – Thursday, THINK Sheets, due on Friday. • Any other assignments not completed during the school day.

Make-up Work: • Students are responsible for getting make-up work when they are absent. • Students have one day for each day they are absent to complete their work before it is counted as late.

Updating my Child’s Information Electronically through Family Access : • Allen ISD is requiring all families to update student information electronically this year. • If you have not yet updated your child’s information, please see Mrs. Deschenes in the office at your earliest convenience. She can provide you with a password and answer your questions! • All forms must be updated as soon as possible. • Family Access Demonstration

How can I support my child’s learning at home? • Encourage your child to put his/her school materials in the same place every day. • Check your child’s agenda daily. • Establish a "homework-comes-first" policy. See “Homework Tips“ handout. • Set limits on your child's television watching. • Tell your child that you expect him to write down all assignments in his/her agenda. • Have your child do the harder assignments earlier in the evening when he/she is most alert. • Put up a checklist in a prominent place to remind your child of materials to be brought to school daily. • Mark on the family calendar tests, projects, and important school activities. • Have your child put all school materials inside his/her backpack before going to bed.

Language Arts and Social Studies Curriculum: • Our ultimate goal is to help every child feel successful by becoming critical thinkers, problem solvers, and avid readers and writers. • We will use the district-wide units of study as we plan our lessons and integrate our subjects. • Possible projects this year: • History Alive lessons • Research on a given topic – related to social studies • Six Flag Reading Challenge in the spring • Bluebonnet Book Challenge with Mrs. Steffens • Scholastic News • Veteran’s Day Celebration M W

Math Curriculum: • Homework – Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday • Mrs. Dingler’s website

Science Curriculum: • Online Learning Exchange aka Ole’ • Mrs. Stinchcomb’s website

Birthday Celebrations at School: • Due to the Texas nutrition laws, parents will NOT be able to supply the class with any food items in celebration of a child’s birthday. This includes cupcakes, candy, cake, etc. • Another option parents could consider is to send a goody bag for each student in your child’s class. NO CANDY will be allowed in these goody bags, but you could include items such as bookmarks, stickers, pencils, small “treasures,” etc. Again, completely optional. • You may also donate a book to your child’s classroom in honor of your child’s birthday. • Please be considerate when planning birthday parties outside of school. If you are handing out invitations at school, please include one for the entire class OR only boys/only girls. Otherwise, invitations should be mailed to avoid any hurt feelings.

How can I contact the teacher if I have questions or concerns? • Email us: christi_stinchcomb@allenisd.org (Science) jennifer_miller@allenisd.org (ELA/SS) juliakay_weston@allenisd.org (ELA/SS) jennifer_dingler@allenisd.org (Math) • Call 972-727-0580 • Schedule a Conference : 10:20 am – 11:00 am

Our School Parking Lot: • Use the northwest entrance only. • Do not drop off students anywhere but along the sidewalk. Students should never be asked to walk through the parking lot unattended. • When visiting the school, please do not park along curb in the front of the school, this area is reserved for buses and daycare vans only. Always use a parking space when coming inside. • 5th grade students will be dismissed at 2:55 pm • Remain in your car and follow the flow of traffic around the lot. Teachers and students will be watching and students will be sent to your car. • Student Safety Signs are provided to each family picking up students by car each day. Please attach it to your visor or place it on the dashboard of your car each day during pick up. The signs will speed up dismissal and are also helpful during rainy weather when students wait in the gym.School staff can quickly see which child you are picking up and bring him/her to your car. • Car signs are also a safety measure to ensure we are releasing students to the correct adult. Please help us by ALWAYS having your car sign visible.

Parent Waiting Area: • This is a location for parents who choose to park and walk to the school to pick up their children each afternoon. • To help staff ensure we are releasing students to the correct adult, we ask that parents have the student safety sign provided by the school that states their student’s name and grade. Parents will show the sign to the staff member on duty and students will be sent to the parent. • The Parent Waiting Area is NOT an attempt to keep parents away from teachers or to extend the amount of time it takes to unite parents with students after school. It was created to provide a place for parents to wait that will still allow teachers to focus completely on ensuring all students are dismissed safely. Your child’s safety is our number one concern! • Parents who need to speak to a teacher can still do so by scheduling an appointment or waiting until approximately 3:15 when students are all dismissed for the day.

Camp Information: • Collin County Adventure Camp Dates – Dec. 16-18 • Payments are due November 1st. • We accept cash, checks payable to Reed (with DL #) and online payments through the web store. • You may make multiple payments or all at once – whatever is easiest for your family! • Our goal is that every child who wants to attend camp, gets that opportunity. If you have concerns – please contact us! • Camp Chaperones are still needed! Let’s Talk! • Online information

Thank You for Coming! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Welcome to 5th Grade Curriculum Night!