Please read over this information carefully. A hard copy was given at Orientation.
Dear Family,
It’s going to be a great school year! Below you will find lots of important policy information that you and your child will need to know about fourth grade. Please read it together carefully, fill out the last page, and return it to your child’s homeroom teacher. Please keep this information in a safe place at home!
Parent Portal- The best way to keep up to date with your child’s grades is by logging into the Pinpoint Parent Portal. Please regularly log in to see your child’s most current grades. Email subscriptions are super handy for staying up to date! Come to Open House on September 8th to learn more.
Homework- IMPORTANT!!! It is the child’s responsibility to write down the daily homework assignments in their agenda. We will dedicate a portion of each class teaching the children how to use the agenda books and where to write their assignments down. Homework is due the following day unless indicated otherwise. Your child’s teacher will indicate in the agenda book if the assignment was incomplete or missing. Homework is always assigned by the teacher in that specific subject (example: math teacher assigns math homework).
Student Agenda Books- Your child will be given an agenda at no charge. There is a $5.00 replacement fee. Agendas are used daily as a means of home/school communication and to record homework assignments, due dates, etc. Your child’s teachers may also use the agenda to inform you of any behavior and/or work/study problems that occurred that day. You are asked to review and initial the agenda daily. By doing so, you will stay informed of your child’s assignments. Please read the Parent and Student Success Handbook in the front of the agenda for additional school wide information and policies.
Accelerated Reader (AR)- Your child is required to participate in this school-wide reading program. Students are expected to read at least 20 minutes per day at home and record the number of minutes in their agenda. You are asked to verify these minutes by initialing daily in the agenda. Your child will record and track their points in their Language Arts classrooms. Points are earned once a child reads and passes the corresponding AR Test at 85% or higher. Participation impacts his/her grades! Students will receive a language arts grade for their cumulative average and one for the percent of their goal that was completed. Your child will read books at or above their reading (lexile) level as determined by the STAR reading assessment. Students are encouraged to check out chapter books as well as picture books in order to stay on track to meet their goal for the grading period. Opportunities are available throughout the week for your child to check out books as well as take AR tests. Students are expected to bring their books to class on a daily basis. Special rewards are planned for students who reach and/or exceed the minimum requirement! J
Leon County Schools Grading Policy- Report card final grades are based on the following percentages:
Tests/Quizzes – 80%
Classwork/Homework/Projects – 20%
Discipline Plan- Springwood Elementary School Student Behavior Expectations
OWLS ARE:
*Respectful *Responsible *Safe *Ready to Learn
All students are expected to behave according to the Springwood Student Behavior Expectations and the Leon County Schools Student Code of Conduct. Rules will be clearly posted in classrooms and common areas. When a rule is not being followed students will be given a verbal warning and reminded of both the expectation and the rule. If the behavior continues the teacher will use a classroom intervention. Some possible interventions may include, but are not limited to: a seating change, conferences with the student, parent contact, student behavior contract, loss of privileges, time-out in another room, redirection, apology, and/or verbal and non-verbal prompts. If an intervention is not effective the student may receive additional interventions or an office referral. Please be aware that behaviors of a serious nature, such as fighting, bullying, vandalism, etc. will likely be referred directly to our administration and they will make a determination concerning appropriate consequences. Students must have at least satisfactory behavior and work/study skills to attend field trips. Students following the Springwood Behavior Expectations will be rewarded in the classroom and with special school-wide activities. We look forward to seeing respectful, responsible and safe fourth grade owls that are ready to learn! J
Home/School communication- The agenda book is a source of academic and behavioral communication from your child’s teachers to you. You are encouraged to communicate with your child’s teachers via email, written note or telephone. We will send important school/4th grade/classroom related information home via email, the Springwood take home folder, and class blog. Please provide us (and update as necessary) an email address that you frequently check. Keep in mind that teachers are usually available by phone and for email communication before and after school and during their planning period. Please call, write, or email in advance if there are time sensitive needs or issues. Please join the Springwood listserve for important school-wide information.
Our Email Addresses and Class Blogs-
Tara Lynch: lyncht@leonschools.net
(lynchrodriguez.blogspot.com)
Cindy Rodriguez: rodriguezc@leonschools.net (lynchrodriguez.blogspot.com)
(blakesowls.blogspot.com)
Tara Williams: williamst3@leonschools.net
(mrswilliamsclass4th.blogspot.com)
Class Rotation- In 4th Grade we use a team teaching model and departmentalize subject areas. Students will transition once per day to another teacher. Mrs. Williams (math/ science) and Ms. Blake (language arts) will team together and Mrs. Lynch (math/ science) and Mrs. Rodriguez (language arts) will team together.
Birthdays – We love to recognize birthdays. If you would like to send in a treat for the class, items must be in the office by 10:45am. Please only send in easily distributed items such as cupcakes or cookies (no sheet cakes.) Make sure to notify the homeroom teacher at least a day in advance.
Thanks in advance for your support and cooperation! We look forward to working together to ensure that your child has a successful year!
Sincerely,
The Fourth Grade Team
Citizenship and Work/Study Information
Citizenship Grade Codes
E = Excellent
Very consistent demonstration of expected behaviors
S = Satisfactory
Demonstrates characteristics of expected behaviors most of the time
N = Needs Improvement
Inconsistent demonstration of expected behaviors
Work/Study Skills Codes
Grades for work/study skills are based on the following:
· Staying on task
· Participating in lessons and discussions
· Putting forth effort into assignments
· Working well independently and in a group
· Finishing work in a reasonable amount of time
· Completing class work and homework on time
· Paying attention
