Welcome to 4th Grade

1. Welcome to 4th Grade • My name is Mrs. Meyeres • Contact Information kmeyeres@staustinschool.org or 512-477-3751 • Tutoring held by appointment only, Thursdays at 7:15 a.m. • We are going green this year, please look for this document and other important information at www.staustinschool.org, click on admissions, click on 4th grade

2. Helpful Morning Routines • Get plenty of sleep • Eat a healthy breakfast • Positive interactions • Arrive on time. First bell rings at 7:50 and second bell rings at 8:00 • Students will have until 8:00 a.m. to unpack their backpacks and complete their morning routines. • After 8:00 a.m. the student will be counted as tardy.

3. Classroom Schedule • Please see the website (4th grade schedules) for the entire classroom schedule! • Tutoring is by appointment only! • You must email 24 hours prior (with the specific skill your child is needing help with) to the tutoring session. • 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade tutoring sessions will be held on Thursdays from 7:15-7:45.

4. Curriculum Highlights • TEKS followed: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=6148 • Scroll down to bottom of page, click 4th grade • Diocese of Austin – NEW Language Arts and Religion curriculum

5. Classroom Information • Mrs. Bybee and Mrs. Meyeres will be switching classes this year in Science and Math. • Mrs. Bybee will be teaching 4th grade Math, while Mrs. Meyeres will be teaching 5th grade Science.

6. Absent Work • When your child is absent, please email their homeroom teacher to let them know. • The handbook states that 2 complete school days are to pass before any work is given to the student. • The handbook also states that the student will have as many days to complete the make-up work as the amount of time missed.

7. Late Work • If your child did not turn in work on the day it was due, it is considered late. An automatic 11 points will be deducted. • There will be a homework log in the classroom where all late work will be recorded. • If the work is not turned in after the second day, a zero will be given.

8. Homework Log • And speaking of missing homework… • If your child does not turn in homework, they will fill out the homework excuse note and homework log. • Please look for the homework excuse note in the red folder.

9. Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS) • CHAMPS board • Positive behavior will be rewarded. • Ticket System • High Fives, Thumbs Up, Pat on the Back • PBIS • We are explaining our school values with the following words: Respect, Dignity, Integrity, Community.

10. Classroom Behavior Expectations • Be Respectful • Be Responsible • Be Ready • If the Classroom rules are not followed, the student will receive a verbal warning/redirection. • The second offense will result in another verbal warning/redirection. • The third offense will result in a check on the behavior report (noted in the agenda) and possibly a phone call or note home.

11. Lunchroom Procedures • Pre-K through 2nd grade visitors, please join your child at the designated “guest table” in the cafeteria • 3rd-8th grade guests, please sit with your child at their lunch table • Any child who doesn’t have a lunch to eat after 10 minutes into their lunch period, will be provided with a hot lunch and an invoice will be sent home.

12. End of Day • Our agendas have a new look this year. • We complete the agendas together by filling in each homework section as a class. • The agenda is separated into subjects. If your child receives a check on their behavior report, it will be reflected in the subject in which they received the check. Parents need to initial! • Students are dismissed at 3:30 p.m. They must have all materials when they leave the classroom, as they are not allowed back into the room after 3:30

13. Weekly Communication-Wednesday Red Folders • Folders go out on Wednesday afternoons • Please review each piece of work in your child’s folder WITH your child • Remove all papers • Sign where appropriate • Your child is expected to return their folder on Thursday, but we will give leeway until Friday

14. Birthday Celebration Procedures • If you would like to celebrate your child’s birthday at school, please bring napkins and either cupcakes or cookies to your child’s lunch from 12:00-12:20. • Teachers are not available to pass these items out according to PBIS policy.

15. Field Trip Information • This year we will be heading to the Bob Bullock Museum. • We will also start a new tradition by heading to the Red Bud Center with the 5th grade!

16. Room Parents • Elaine Candelas • Julie Schneider • Kelli House • Melisa Atkinson

17. 2011-2012 Music • Mrs. Corroa • email: jcorroa@staustinschool.org • Office hours by appointment

18. Music 4th and 5th Grade • Grades 4-5 • In addition to all of the above, students will learn the following: • Analyzing and categorizing musical sounds • Reading and writing music using a system of letters • Music History • Playing the recorder (All students will need a recorder and the book “Do It Play Recorder book 1”. If ordering through school, items are $7 for a recorder and $8 for the book. Parents can send a check to the school or be billed for items needed. All 4/5/6 students will participate in a partner program with the Austin Symphony called Link-Up, which involves singing and playing recorder in an interactive Young People’s Concert. The concert is Wednesday May 23 at 10:00. We will need parent drivers to transport the students. Please consider helping us out! • Each 9 weeks students will receive a participation/skills grade of ESNU. Daily grades will be based on an average in three areas: participation, effort and conduct. For the Participation/Effort DailyGrade: excellent participation and effort =E; participating but not showing much effort =S; poor participation and effort =N; no participation and effort =U. For the Conduct Daily Grade: 0-1 redirections =E,2 redirections=S,3 redirections=N,4 redirections=U + behavior report. • Music Classroom Rules: *Be respectful,* Be responsible,* Be ready

19. Extracurricular Band • Beginning Band is for 4th and 5th graders who have not previously played a band instrument. • 5th grade advanced band is for students who have completed beginning band. • Class schedule: Beginning Band-Tuesdays, 3:15-4:30 • 5th Advanced- M/W 3:00-3:40

20. Extracurricular Choir • Choir is open to students in grades 3 and above. Class schedule: Thursdays, 3:15-4:30

21. Music Academic Policy • All students in extracurricular music programs should agree to maintain their academic best. At any time, if a student is experiencing academic issues and needs a short time-out from band and choir to work on academics, the student’s parent should notify Mrs. Corroa.

22. Music Performance Uniform • Performance uniform: white collared shirt(could be school Mass shirt),black pants/skirt, black shoes, red choir vest or band cummerbund(issued by school and returned by end of year).

23. Music Dates to Remember • November 11- Choir Fest at Holy Family Catholic School (during school day. We will need drivers. Please help!) • November 15/16-Fall Band and Choir concerts, 6PM/9AM • December 3- Advanced Band and choir performance, Parish Fair,4:30 PM • December 9- 7PM Advent program-All students participate • March 9-Pre-K through 2nd grade spring musical, 2:15 PM • May 8/9-Band/Choir spring concert, 6PM/9AM

24. Spanish 2011-2012 • Sra. Carmen de la Morena • E-mail: cdelamorena@staustinschool.org • Office hours: Mondays 3:30-4:30, room 201 • Website location: www.staustinschool.org; click on Academics; click on Spanish

25. Pre-K through 8th grade highlights • Spanish Around the World, 16 de Septiembre, Hispanic Heritage Month, All Saint’s Day/Día de los muertos, The Epiphany/Día de Reyes, Lent and Easter/La Cuaresma y Las Pascua, School Wide Spanish, Christmas/Navidad La Posada, • 38th Annual Spanish and Portugese Declamation Contest at the University of Texas at Austin - April 2012

26. Spanish Classroom Expectations • Respect Yourself • Respect Others • How? • Be respectful • Be responsible • Be ready

27. Spanish Grading System • E = Excellent • S = Satisfactory • N = Needs improvement • U = Unsatisfactory

28. ¡School Wide Spanish! (SWS) • This year will mark the beginning of a school wide initiative to encourage student and families to speak Spanish. • ¡Hablaremos español dentro de nada! We’ll be speaking spanish in no time!

29. Library • Mrs. Kathy Hymel • E-mail khymel@staustinschool.org • Each grade comes to library twice a week, as an extension of Language Arts. Students read, sometimes have enrichment activities related to the reading, learn basic library skills, and check out books. • Behavior expectations are: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Ready

30. Physical Education • Ms. Cheree Monden • E-mail: cmonden@staustinschool.org • 512-477-3751

31. Physical Education CLASSROOM RULES • 1. Be RESPECTFUL (to self, others, and equipment) • Follow directions and procedures • 2. Be RESPONSIBLE • Follow Directions • Respond immediately and appropriately to whistle/commands • Sit quietly in designated area • 3. Be SAFE • Keep hands, feet, and equipment to yourself • Dress appropriately (tennis shoes) • 4. Be an EAGLE • PARTICIPATE- Always put forth your best effort • Sportsmanship- Always show DIGNITY and INTEGRITY • Teamwork- COMMUNITY, help others to learn the activity

32. Physical Education POSITIVE CONSEQUENCES • 1. Verbal praise • 2. Special activities • 3. Free Choice FRIDAY’S POSITIVE REDIRECTIONS • THE 3 R's.... • 1. REMINDER • verbal reminder • 2. READ / RETURN • read the rules • rethink your behavior- check the rule(s) that apply • return demonstrating correct behavior • 3. REPORT / RECEIVE • report to the penalty box • receive reinforcement activity

33. Physical Education SUBJECT FOCUS • 1. Fitness • 2. Health/Nutrition • 3. Wellness • 4. Sportsmanship GRADING PROCEDURES • 1. Performance • 2. Participation/Effort • 3. Behavior • 4. Proper attire- appropriate tennis shoes, with shoe strings or straps, must be worn in order to participate

34. Art • Ms. Michelle Lyczak • E-mail: mlyczak@staustinschool.org • Office hours are by appointment • For more information go to www.staustinschool.org, click under Academics, then Art

35. Art • Expectations:In our art classes we, • A ct responsibly • R espect others, the tools and the place • T ry to do your best always!

36. Art • Grades K-5 have art once a week. St. Austin’s Art curriculum is based on the Texas state standards for the Visual Arts.Objectives:-To communicate feelings and ideas through creative visual expression. • -To develop familiarity and skill with an increased variety of media and technique. • -To develop understanding and appreciation of self and others through art and it’s history and culture. • -To explore, analyze and critique art and artists throughout history and the art exhibited by peers. • -To develop skills in the care and safe use of art supplies and equipment.

37. Technology • Mr. D • Email: jdziedzic@staustinschool.org • Tech will be integrated with the classrooms with projects connecting with core subjects. Tech will also focus on keyboarding for grades 2 - 8