Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year!

Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year! Ms. Lord’s Class Grade 5

What we will review tonight… School Lunch/Policy • Volunteer hours • Lunch procedures Classroom Expectations Homework Classroom Economy Odds and Ends Websites • Class blog: http://nlsilk.weebly.com • Engrade • Edmodo • Spelling City • Think Central Class Blog Clubs How to contact me  How students get home Dress code

School Policies Absences • Must have excuse note within 48 hours • 10 absences are allowed per year. After that, referrals well be given • 3 referrals may stop your child from being reenrolled and/or going on class field trips Volunteer Hours • 15 volunteer hours MUST BE DONE by DECEMBER! • You have until the last student day for students to complete your remaining hours. Lunch • Students must preorder lunch or they will not be able to get hot lunch! • PB&J for those who do not preorder- no excuses

Classroom Expectations Respect! Respect is my number 1 rule in the class! I expect all students to respect each and every person in this building, their environment, and themselves. Without feeling respected, no one can learn to their highest potential because a lack of respect leads to a fear of being wrong. We are all wrong every now and then… even adults… its called learning!!! We have a lot to learn and a lot of questions will need to be asked and explored. To be a TOP PERFORMING class, we MUST be a team and support one another!

5th Grade will have 50 minutes of homework per night 30 minutes of reading ________________________ The breakdown is as follows: Approximately… 25 minutes of language arts or social studies 15 minutes of math 10 minutes of science **Hebrew is extra and should be maximum of 10 minutes a night, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays** Homework Policy

Homework Policy Homework is assigned MONDAY through THURSDAY!!! Incomplete is considered undone… (Even 2 problems is unfinished homework… you cannot succeed without trying!) Homework is NOT graded for as an A, B, C, etc. It is graded in that your child has attempted to practice the material. For Absences: Your child has one day for each day missed to complete missed assignments. For Projects: Each day the project is late, 10 points will be deducted. (For example, if your child’s project is 2 days late, the highest percentage they can receive is 80%) On En-Grade, “M” indicates a missing homework assignment. Please watch for this! Your child’s agenda will be your best friend! Please make sure you check it and initial it every day. Any notes can be written directly into the agendas as we check them daily. Also, any missing homework assignments will be brought to your attention through a form stapled into the agenda for the day. Please sign and return this with your child on the next school day. NOTE: Homework is intended to cement the knowledge taught to your child throughout the school day! We NEED YOUR HELP in making this the BEST year possible for your child! PLEASE let me know if you have any homework concerns.

Classroom Management System To be an active, participating member of society, students must learn the value of money. They must also learn how use technology and become self advocates. Each day students will receive Class Points via the website ClassDojo. These will not be linked to a student’s grade, but will be a good indication for parents about the student’s level of focus and class cooperation. **Instructions for parent access and student access are on my class website** Class Points are earned for for completing classroom jobs, assisting others, completing homework, and any other reward I feel they deserve. Class Points are deducted if a child is disrespectful, does not have homework, or in some other manner hinders learning.

Classroom Management system • At the end of each week students will have the opportunity to trade in their positive Class Points **This is a strong volunteer opportunity for parents, as I will need help running and purchasing supplies!!** • They may also choose to pool their points together for a class party or snack day. • I like to be proactive in involving families early as you are your child’s first, and best, advocate. • In the instance of a negative Class Points day: • First a student will be given the chance to reflect on his or her behavior and choose a better path. • Second, a student will be sent home with a Think Page to be completed at home and signed by a parent. • In extreme circumstances, students will begin serving detention after school and may require their own behavior management system.

Odds and Ends Agendas & Field Trip/Class picture shirts are MANDATORY. Both can be purchased downstairs tonight. Shirts are $6. Agendas are $9. Room Parent Procedures • Configure class e-mail, make a class contact list • Plan parties/collect items • Class fundraisers • Act as liaison between the teacher and parents

Websites This class uses multiple websites that can all be found on the class website (linked through the school). These websites are: Engrade Edmodo Spelling City Think Central Class Blog

Class Blog

Clubs Science Club Mrs. Silk Math Superstars: *$10 dollar charge for the year *Limited Space: 23 Students (First come, first serve) *Club Starts Oct. 1st *Held on Tuesdays 2:15-3:00 *Students will have time to work out difficult math problems on their own, I will then go over every problem with them and ensure they understand how to solve the problems. *Logical Thinking *Brain Teasers *Competitions Science Club is open to a maximum of 46 students. There will be a Monday and Wednesday class; each class is identical. Do not wait to sign up! Classes fill up FAST! Students MUST COME TO THE CLASS DAY TO WHICH THEY WERE ASSIGNED. You may sign up for science club in the first 2 weeks of school. The cost is $15 for the year (15 classes) and the information for the club is 100% FCAT based. September 23 will be the first Monday date and September 25 will be the first Wednesday date of class. There are 15 classes throughout the year and class dates/topics listed on Mrs. Silk’s class website are tentative, but we will try to keep them as solid as possible  Math Club Ms. Lord

Communication There are several ways to communicate with me. You may call the school to leave us a message. We will get back to you by the end of the school day. E-Mail: alord@bengamlacharter.org Use the magnet and check the class blog. You may write to me at any time in the student agenda. I check the agendas daily. Make sure you are checking it daily as well as we may be writing notes to you  Wednesday Folders will be sent home weekly with your child. Please review the papers inside, sign, and return the folders by Thursday.

Behavior, Facebook, and Cell Phones… oh my! Behavior: Your child is expected to follow Ben Gamla’s 3 Building Expectations (Respect, Responsibility, and Safety) as well as classroom expectations. Detentions will be given for extreme behavior. Facebook: Facebook is NOT appropriate for students in grade 5! If you choose to allow your child to be on Facebook, understand that any consequence of Facebook activities will be your responsibility. The school in no way, shape, or form endorses student use of Facebook. Cell Phones: We understand safety and cell phones are connected and want your child to be as safe as possible at all times. With that being said, however, cell phones are prohibited to be used in the school building! Cell phones must be turned off and placed in backpacks while your child is in the building or on the playground. Any child caught using a cell phone on campus will have the cell phone confiscated and the phone will be handed over to administration. The student using the cell phone will also be given a written referral as stated by Broward County. This is NOT a Ben Gamla rule and is out of our hands. Cell phones can only be retrieved from administration by a parent and/or guardian.

Car Riders/Dismissal NO SMOKING IN THE CAR POOL AREA… even in your car! NO CELL PHONE USAGE in the car pool area! This is simply for the safety of our students, staff, and other drivers. You must remain in your vehicle at all times. Please do not get out to walk your child across the road.

Dress Code Uniforms must be worn Monday through Friday unless you have paid for a “Dress Down day.” If you would like to participate in Dress Down days, students must pay $1 for the tops and $1 for the bottoms (total of $2 for the whole outfit). Payments must be received by Thursday of the week you wish for your child to dress down to participate… no exceptions.

Field Trips/Parties Field Trips • You MUST be on time to attend a field trip… busses will NOT wait for you! • You may NOT SMOKE while chaperoning on a field trip. If you have volunteered for a whole-day trip and are a smoker, please plan accordingly as you will NOT be permitted to smoke in front of students or leave the group. Parties • Parties will be held during lunch and must be cleared with the classroom teacher in advance! • No holidays will be celebrated at Ben Gamla Charter school. Example: No Valentine’s Day, Halloween, etc. Volunteer hours can be accumulated by volunteering for class parties and/or field trips!

Questions and/or Concerns???

Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year!