Welcome Families!

Welcome Families!

Meet the Fifth Grade Team Devon McCain: dmccain@nisdtx.org, 817-698-7223 Elyse Lombardo: elombardo@nisdtx.org, 817-698-7221 Kelsey Faber: kfaber@nisdtx.org, 817-698-7224

Meet the Specials Team Visit their websites! Sarah Ascher, Art Teacher • sascher@nisdtx.org Stacie Breckley, PE Teacher • sbreckley@nisdtx.org Kayla Gentry, Music Teacher • kgentry@nisdtx.org

Cox Elementary Mission Statement Cox Elementary is committed to creating a culture of high achievement and performance for all learners, both students and staff, while fostering positive relationships within our school community.

What is Love and Logic? Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. The Love and Logic process is as follows: • Shared control: Gain control by giving away the control you don’t need. • Shared thinking and decision-making: Provide opportunities for the child to do the greatest amount of thinking and decision-making. • Equal shares of consequences with empathy: An absence of anger causes a child to think and learn from his/her mistakes. • Maintain the child’s self-concept: Increased self-concept leads to improved behavior and improved achievement. • To learn more about Love and Logic, please visit their website at: www.loveandlogic.com.

Wayne A. Cox Elementary Cougars’ Plan for Success • We will treat each other with respect. • If you have or create a problem, youwill be asked to solve it. • If you have trouble solving the problem, or choose not to, we will do something. • What we do will depend on each person and the unique situation.

Elementary Student Dress Code According to the NISD 2013-14 Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, students are required to have safe shoes for physical education and recess every day. Sandals must have a strap on the heel; flip flops do not meet dress code. (Page 36) Flip flops, open-toed shoes, platform shoes, crocks, and bootsare unsafe for PE and recess. Elementary dress and grooming guidelines can be found on pages 35-36 of the NISD Student Handbook and Code of Conduct.

Grades Online A letter will be mailed home for each student with a Home Access Center (HAC) login and password. Progress reports and report cards for students in grades 1-5 are viewed online through the HAC, unless requested by the parent. If you have not received a HAC letter, please email us at: coxelem@nisdtx.org. Kindergarten students will receive a paper copy of their report card beginning the second six weeks.

Grades The grading system for NISD is as follows: 100 – 90 A Excellent Progress 89 – 80 B Above Average Progress 79 – 70 C Average Progress 69 – 0 F Unsatisfactory Progress (Failing) Other areas of study such as art, music, PE, work habits, social behavior, and student progress are marked as follows: E = Performs consistently at excellent/above standard expectations S = Performs consistently at standard expectations N = Performs slightly below standard expectations U = Performs consistently below standard expectations

Homework Guidelines • Check for homework notes in your child’s planner. When there is homework, your child will write the assignment in the subject area. • Spelling words will be listed in the planner every Monday. Students will be tested each Friday on these words.

Fifth Grade Schedule • Doors Open: 7:20 • Tardy Bell: 7:45 • Recess: 12:45- 1:05 • Lunch: 12:15-12:45 • Specials/Conference: 1:50-2:45 • Dismissal: 2:45

Communication • Student Handbook and Code of Conduct at: www.nisdtx.org/studenthandbook • Class websites at: www.nisdtx.org Select Cox Elementary> Staff> Teacher Name • Daily Communication: Student Planners and Three Inch Binders • Pay lunch account online: Parents>Menus/Food Services • Should your child bring lunch money with him or her to school, it needs to be in an envelope or bag with your child’s name, the teacher’s name, and “lunch” written on the front of the envelope. The envelope needs to be placed in the clear pocket sleeve of the yellow Daily Communication Folder. • Transportation changes must be in emailed to the front office at: coxelem@nisdtx.org by 2:00 p.m. • Parent/Teacher Fall Conferences

Mathematics Focus on Problem Solving –open-ended tasks that teach important habits of mind Numbers and Operations - multiplication and division- using the standard algorithm along with other strategies and equivalence Algebraic Reasoning – solve expressions and equations using the order of operations Geometry and Measurement - classify figures, determine area and volume, and use units of measure Data Analysis- solving one- and two-step problems using data from tables and graphs

Science Processes and Inquiry Problem Based Learning (PBL): Wind Turbines Build and Test Blades for Wind Turbines Matter Force, Motion, and Energy Earth and Space Science Life Systems Outdoor Learning Center (OLC) Dates: October 23rd and 24th

English Language Arts Readers Workshop Mini-lessons that teach strategies for becoming better readers Independent reading, partner reading, read-aloud Reader’s Notebook, Independent Reading Folder Spelling Writers Workshop Mini-lessons that model, encourage, and guide students to become writers Independent student writing Celebration! (Response groups, author’s chair) Writer’s Notebook

Social Studies United States History 1565- Present Document Based Question Use of primary and secondary resources How did the Constitution guard against tyranny? Units of Focus European Colonization American Revolution Government Westward Expansion Civil War Reconstruction

Make-Up Work • Make-up work may be requested only if a child has been absent for more than two days. Parents may email the front office before 9:00 a.m. to request homework on the second day of an absence. The make-up work will then be available at the front desk at 3:20 p.m. on the second day. • Work will not be sent home with siblings, neighbors, or friends. Teachers often need to work with children when they return to school, so not all work will be sent home.

Birthday Celebrations • Parents may provide a treat for a child’s birthday that will be served during the last hour of the day. Please provide individual servings for the celebration (i.e., cupcakes, cookies, etc.). • Napkins must be provided. • Treats are to be dropped off at the front office, or the student may bring them to the classroom in the morning. • Parents are not to be in attendance at this time, and we do not take pictures of this celebration. • Personal party invitations may not be handed out during the school day. The child, however, may stand outside the classroom door as students are leaving for the day to pass out party invitations.

STAAR Testing Dates Texas Education Agency: visit www.tea.state.tx.us April 1: 4th Grade Writing Day 1; 5th Grade Math April 2: 4th Grade Writing Day 2; 5th Grade Reading April 22: 3rd Grade Math; 4th Grade Math April 23: 3rd Grade Reading; 4th Grade Reading; 5th Grade Science

Getting Involved at Cox Elementary Join the PTA Email: weathers_stephanie@yahoo.com Dads…Become a Watch DOGS Dad Program kicks-off in October. Information will be forthcoming. Volunteer in the Library Contact Ms. Savage at csavage@nisdtx.org Assist in the Lunchroom Email: coxelem@nisdtx.org Assist the Room Parents

Room Parents for Fifth Grade Devon McCain’s Room Parent Info: Kerri Ketchum, kerriketchum@gmail.com 817-726-1885 Elyse Lombardo’s Room Parent Info: Dana Huff, danamhuff@yahoo.com 214-676-4721 Kelsey Faber’s Room Parent Info: Ginger Dearing, jdearing1@hotmail.com 405-397-5881

Thank You for Your Partnership! • Remember to check district, school, and teacher website for current information. • Be sure to keep your email, phone, and address information updated with the front office at Cox Elementary. It will be an extraordinary year at Cox Elementary!

Questions or Concerns?

Welcome Families!