Contact Information

1. Contact Information Welcome to Mr. Karr’s Science & Social Studies Class!! • Mr. Karr • Room 334 • Email: Nicholaskarr@tomballisd.net • Phone: 281-357-3020 ext. 1517 • Conference Time: 10:15-10:59 • Website: https://goo.gl/hfp4oz

3. NIS School Rules Show respect to everyone. Keep hands, feet, objects, and comments to yourself. Follow directions the first time. Allow teaching and learning to take place at all times. Maintain NIS as a safe and clean school.

4. NIS Expectations Respect Organized Accountable Reliable

5. Dress and Grooming Highlights(Secondary Handbook pg. 27) • The district’s dress code is established to teach grooming and hygiene, prevent disruption, and minimize safety hazards. • Hair should be clean and neatly groomed and not covering the eyes. Hair should not be colored or styled that distracts from the learning environment.. • Clothing that does not adequately cover the body or that has tears or rips that are higher than mid-thigh, such as: i. Low cut, see-through, spaghetti straps or backless dresses, or other revealing tops. Midriffs are to be covered. ii. Sleeveless shirts for boys. iii. Baggy/oversized pants or pants that hang on the hipbone, or unhemmed shorts. iv. Shorts, skirts, or split skirts shorter than mid-thigh in length. Skirts should be slit no higher than mid-thigh. • Parents will be contacted if a student’s dress or grooming is not in accordance with district policy.

6. Motivational Math & Science Workbooks With a goal to increase each student’s understanding of math and science processes through application, NIS has purchased a math and science workbook for each student in 5th grade. Although we want the students to show how they solved the problems by writing directly in the workbook, we cannot afford to replace lost ones. There will be a charge (to be determined) to replace which is similar to how we do lost textbooks.

7. SSI (STUDENT SUCCESS INITIATIVE) • This is an SSI year (Student Success Initiative). State law requires that all 5th graders must pass the STAAR exam in Reading and Math to be promoted to 6th grade. (Students will have 3 attempts to do this.) In addition, students will be taking the Science STAAR test for the first time.

8. AI (ACCELERATED INSTRUCTION) TIME • Accelerated Instruction Time was created districtwide in 5th grade this year to address the SSI requirements without interrupting regular classroom instructions. Below are the key purposes for the AI time that addresses all students’ needs: • Students in need of interventions in Math or Reading will receive additional instruction by teachers and instructional specialists in a smaller group setting. • Gifted and Talented students will be serviced by the GT Specialist for in-depth research and exploring the affective needs of the gifted. • For the students who do not fall into either of the above categories, they will be taught important 5th grade science readiness standards. This will also include reviewing the 3rd & 4th grade standards to increase success of their working knowledge of the 5th grade science TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills). These standards will be taught in a variety of settings including technology instruction in the computer labs.

9. Bring Your Own Device Policy • Intermediate Campuses Guidelines: Students may bring their electronic device to the classroom to be used for academic purposes. • All electronic devices must be used at school in accordance with the TISD Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy. This can be found at www.tomballisd.net. • All students will follow the school wide procedure for In-Class Usage.  Each teacher will indicate through a signal process the expectation of the use of electronic devices that day in class. (green and red indicators)

10. Bring Your Own Device Policy (Continued) • Unless the classroom teacher authorizes use for instructional purposes, students’ electronic devices shall remain silenced and in a backpack, locker, or other secure area(including the classroom). • Electronic Devices shall not be used between class periods. • Electronic Devices may be used before and after school at teacher’s discretion, as long as students follow TISD acceptable use guidelines. *Violations of the user agreement may result in withdrawal of privileges and other disciplinary action including a fee to have it returned.

11. Absences and Tardies State law requires that students be in attendance at school 90% of instructional time which includes tardies and early departures. If your child is absent, please send a signed note with them when they return explaining the reason for the absence. If a child is absent more than 5 consecutive days, a note from the doctor or health clinic to verify the illness or condition will be required. Tardies are issued for any student arriving after 7:45 or leaving early from school. Each student is allowed two tardy excuses each nine weeks, starting on the third tardy a consequence will be given. A detailed explanation of this policy will be in this Wednesday’s Folder.

12. NIS Conduct and Behavior Expectations • Planners will be used by your children to keep track of homework. Please check it daily. • Wednesday folders will be sent home with student work each week. • Progress reports will be sent home every 3 weeks including grades and conduct. • Home Access parents will be receiving this information in the near future. This information (including your personal password) allows you access to your child’s grades online. Please keep this information in a secure spot. • Students will be receiving individual conduct grades for each content area. • Conduct scale for each week based on marks received: 0-1 E 2 - S 3 - N 4 or more - U Let’s ROARinto the 2016-2017 school year!

13. Grading Guidelines • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 75-79 C • 70-74 D • 69< F • Academic Grades • MAJOR=60% of nine week average • Science 3 per nine weeks (8 per year) • Social Studies 3 per nine weeks (8 per year) • DAILY=40% of nine week • Science 6 per nine weeks (16 per year) • Social Studies 6 per nine weeks (16 per year) 10 points off for every day late up to 3 days.

14. Homework (Science Only) • 3 points per assignment completed. 1 point for every day late up to 3 days. • Only homework assigned. This does not include classwork that the student did not finish.

15. Extra Credit • Every test that a student takes and receives a grade below a 70 will need a parent’s signature acknowledging that they are aware of the grade and the student’s corrections. Students then have the opportunity to make corrections on 1 test per 9 weeks in order to earn credit back to a test grade for no more than a 70%. • Test corrections will have a due date for students to return regardless of the grade.

16. Classroom Organization • Homework- Filled out at the start of every week Science and SS in their Planners. I do random checks to make sure students are keeping up. Please check these as well. • Student’s responsibility. • Snap shot of Classroom Calendar is accepted.

17. Science/ SS books • Motivation Science (Consumable) • Pearson Textbook (Consumable) • Science and SS Interactive notebook • Google classroom • US History Book • Science and Social Studies Folders • *consumable textbooks are like any textbook in the past.  If they are lost or damaged they will have to be paid for and they also must be turned in if a student moves during the school year or they will have to pay for  them. *

18. Science Scope and Sequence • 1st Semester: - Nature of science • Physical Science: • Classifying matter, circuits, types and uses of energy, mixtures and solutions, Forces • Earth Science (Pt. 1): • Changes to land, weathering and erosion, Sedimentary Rock formation

19. Science Scope and Sequence • 2nd Semester • Complete Earth Science - Alternative energy, Fossils, Weather/ Climate, Sun, Earth, Moon. * Life Science • Ecosystems, life cycles, human/nature interactions, how humans change the land

20. Social Studies Scope and Sequence • Early Colonization • Events that led to the American Revolution • The American Revolution • The Constitution/ Bill of Rights • The Civil War • Industrial Revolution • 20th century America

21. Extra information • Transportation Changes to front office in writing/fax in the morning (we can not accept changes over the phone or via email) • No transportation changes past 2:00

22. Contact Information • Mr. Karr • Room 334 • Email: Nicholaskarr@tomballisd.net • Phone: 281-357-3020 ext. 1517 • Conference Time: 10:15-10:59