Team Gator Parent & Student Handbook

October 1, 2010 Dear Students and Parents,

Welcome to our team—the Raiders. We hope the information that you find in this handbook will answer many of the questions you may have throughout the school year. Please keep this handy for future reference.

Open communication between students, parents, and teachers is extremely important for a successful school year. Please note our classroom phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

Phone e-mail

Mr. Mortensen 810-225-5366 [email protected]

Mrs. Dewey 810-225-5391 [email protected]

All calls and e-mails will be returned as soon as possible. You may also leave a note for the teachers in your child’s planner.

Our goal is to make 6th grade challenging and exciting for you. Let’s work together to make this your best year ever!

Sincerely,

Mr. Mortensen and Mrs. Dewey Team Gator Parent & Student Handbook

Homework (HW): Homework will be turned into the teacher at the beginning of class. If the homework is not completed the student will turn in their planner to the teacher. The teacher will write in the student’s planner. This note should facilitate immediate communication to the parent concerning incomplete assignments. Parents will receive this information each night, as they review and sign their child’s planner.

We want all students to take part in the correction of homework because it is a great opportunity to correct any mistakes and it reinforces the concepts. Any work that is incomplete will be marked wrong. Work that is late will be marked down. It is not fair for a child to listen to all the correct answers in class, and then turn in their late assignments expecting full credit. “No Name” papers will be placed on the chalkboard for 24 hours. If the paper is not claimed, it will be thrown away.

Homework (HW) is usually the daily class work that the child was not able to finish in class. We make time in our classes for work to be reviewed, discussed and to finish in class. However, if a student was not able to finish the work in class, the teacher will assign it as HW. Homework is sometimes given as a way to reinforce the variety of concepts covered in school. This also provides an opportunity for the necessary practice of skills that students need in order to move on to the higher- level thinking and application of those skills.

If a long term project has been assigned, the students will know in advance the timeline for due dates before they begin their project. Students fill out our their agenda daily. These plans are not set in stone, however they do provide a structure for the week. When you and your child review his, or her planner, you will see if any assignments were not turned in on time. Late/Absent Work: All late work will be accepted at the latest, on the next Friday, following the specific week it was assigned. Each student has will sign a study buddy contract, so that they may call each other if they have missed an assignment. Your child should have his or her study buddy’s name and phone number recorded in their planner. Study buddies record information and gather work for the absent buddy. Absent students may retrieve this work from their buddy when they return to school.

Late work is graded and entered into TeacherEase as soon as the teacher is able. Students’ late work will be marked down 15%.

Grading Policy: Each subject area is unique and requires a variety of expectations as the students master the different benchmarks. Homework, projects, tests, group activities, quizzes, and reports are part of every student’s grade

Math, science, language arts, and social studies grades are all calculated on a point system. That means that some homework, tests, quizzes and projects are worth more points than others, therefore some assignments will have more weight, or points than others. It is important to remember this when reviewing TeacherEase. A child’s points may not be added together and divided to find their grade. We use the same grading scale that is found in the student planner. The grading scale can be located in the front of the student planner. Students have reviewed this page in math class.

All grades are weighted according to the teacher. Math grades are weighted 60% for quizzes, assessments, and projects, and 40% for classroom work and homework. Language Arts grades are weighted 45% for projects and assessments, 25% for homework and classroom work, and 30% for Moodle assignments.

Progress Reports: Please access your child’s progress in TeacherEase. Parent Involvement: We appreciate it when family members come into our classrooms, we may be asking for reading group support, and parents to help with copying materials. Stayed tuned to your child’s planner for invitations.

Communication: It is our goal to provide a classroom environment where all students feel safe and can excel to the best of their ability. Emphasis will be placed on supporting positive classroom behavior. We hope that by working together, every student will have a successful school year. Keeping an open line of communication between students, teachers, and parents will help us to achieve that goal. Feel free contact us with any questions or concerns.

*Write a note in your child’s planner. *Email us [email protected] or [email protected].

Planners: The student planner is also an excellent way to regularly check in with your child and their daily assignments. Talking with your child about the day and signing their planner reinforces communication between school and home.

Establishing the habit of filling out a daily planner is a 6th grade expectation and a necessary life skill. To reinforce this responsibility, it will be part of each student’s citizenship grade.

We check planners weekly. Signing your child’s planner each night would be ideal. As you sign their planner, you may include questions or comments for the teachers. The student is responsible to point out when there is a message from home for a teacher. Team Raiders’ Mission Statement: Raiders teachers want to create an educational environment where students feel safe. We believe in communication between home and school. It is our mission to prepare Pinckney’s students to become productive, caring, life-long learners.

Behavioral Expectations: Students will: Follow the B.A.A.M. agreements Use manners- Raising your hand to be called upon Use please, thank you, you’re welcome Always bring the correct materials to class including your chapter book. Complete and turn in assigned work

Go Raiders! Mr. Mortensen Mrs. Dewey Raiders Team Handbook

Please (print first if you’ve received an electronic copy), sign, and date this page acknowledging that you and your child have reviewed the team handbook together. All Raiders please turn in by October 8, 2010 to Mr. Mortensen, or Mrs. Dewey.

______ (Parent Signature) (Date)

(Student’s Name)