Collinswood Language Academy
Meet the Teacher Talking Points
2014-2015

1.  SIGN IN AND WRITE HOW YOUR CHILD WILL GET HOME IN THE AFTERNOON

a.  3-8- Make sure your child has their bus information in their bookbag, binder, or agenda.

b.  Students are only allowed to ride their assigned bus.

c.  Parents should record bus information at home or work, so they can refer to it (bus number) if they need to call the school.

d.  If you have an address change, follow the procedures posted on the CMS website for the necessary documentation you need. Submit documents to Ms. Silva.

e.  To ensure consistent communication and to ensure safety, students need to go home the same way every day. Frequent changes cause confusion. However, if a change is unavoidable, a written note needs to be given to your child’s teacher or call the office by 3:30 pm.

2.  Highlights of the Parent Handbook

a.  Arrival and Dismissal Procedures (page 7)-

i.  Arrival not before 8:45 am, unless in BSEP or tutoring program

ii. Early dismissal- before 3:30 pm (no dismissals will be permitted between 3:30- 4:00 due to the disruptive impact in the classroom)

iii.  Car riders, walkers, and ASEP beginning at 4:00 (4:05 K-2, 4:10 3-5, 4:15 6-8)

iv.  Changes must be made in writing (note or email)

b.  Uniforms Guidelines (page 6)

i.  K-5- white collared shirts and navy bottoms

ii. 6th grade allowed to add light blue collared tops and khaki bottoms

iii.  Shoes- No boots, no sneakers with lights- Shoe must be closed toe (sneakers are required for gym and for science labs, as appropriate)

iv.  ID Badges (and House Lanyards) are required parts of our uniform policy.

v. Uniform Citations or Office Referrals will be issued for violations (1st time - warning, 2nd time – citation, 3rd time – referral, 4th time – another referral, ISS. Parents will be notified as soon as possible)

c.  Expectation for Parents (page 15)

i.  Email teachers with questions/concerns and allow 24 hour response

ii. Schedule meetings when necessary, but avoid hallway meetings

d.  Monitor agendas, wikis, and/or PowerSchool (teachers do not check agendas in Middle School – Student responsibility) TEACH PARENTS HOW TO ACCESS PARENT PORTAL AND WIKIS (Parent Portal-

  1. Information system for grades, schedules and attendance
  2. Parent information will be sent home next week with their child
  3. Hotline- 980-343-9420)

iv.  Work as partners with the teachers to support their child(ren)

v. Read and follow expectations in the Parent Handbook

e.  Homework Policy

  1. Language Arts: Posted on Fridays in wiki, hard copies distributed Mondays, the article will be due on Friday. There might be other assignments.
  2. Math – Daily. Posted on the wiki.
  3. Social Studies / Spanish: Due Tuesdays and Thursdays, posted on wiki.
  4. Science – Assigned once a week, Monday to Monday.

f.  ***NEW DISTRICT POLICY*** Grading Policy (page 18)

  1. Middle School- 35% (classwork, informal assessments, and homework)
  2. Middle School- 65% (projects, tests, and formal assessments)
  3. If students get up to an 84 or less on a formal assessment (tests, quizzes…) it is HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITY to ask for qualifying work, and a retake will be scheduled. The maximum grade they can take will be an 84. If they do not take it at the scheduled time, the first grade will remain.
  4. Any work that is turned in beyond the due date will be assigned no higher than a 70.

g.  Expectation for Students (page 16)

  1. Be actively engaged in learning
  2. Be respectful of others
  3. Follow all school rules, bus rules, and Code of Code expectations
  4. Submit all school work on time
  5. Communicate any concerns about grades/ appeals directly to the teacher minimum of one week after you receive the grade to a maximum of the end of the quarter.
  6. Take responsibility for their learning, their actions, and their relationships with others
  7. No electronic devices (cell phone, ipod, MP3 players) should be one during the school day or on the school bus.

h.  Behavior Policy

  1. Students will receive house points for positive behavior, showing good character, academic efforts and successes.
  2. Behavior consequences: 1st – Verbal warning; 2nd – Consequences (walking laps, picking up trash, Friday lunch detention…); 3rd Parent Contact; 4th - Referral

i.  Birthday Celebrations- (page 10)

  1. Celebrations can consist of cupcakes, cookies, and cake that are store bought. Tell parents that the teacher cannot cut a sheet cake.
  2. No balloons, party favors, or gifts should be brought to school.

j.  Cafeteria- (page22)

  1. Universal Free Breakfast is available for all students who arrive on time
  2. Lunch – full price- $2.25 milk $0.50
  3. Schedule: From 12:45 to 1:15 (Approximately)
  4. Use PayPals to make electronic payments
  5. Snack lunches are issued if a student does not have money
  6. Overdue fees must be paid ASAP and will impact distribution of report cards and will impact high school graduation

3.  School Supplies

a.  Use of the supplies sent in

b.  When and how you want them set up and brought in

c.  $20 needs to be sent in for the grades 1-8

(Money will pay for student agenda and supplementary reading materials. Make check payable to Collinswood P.T.A.)

4.  Before and After-School Programs

a.  Before School opens at 6:45 am- $50

b.  After School closes at 6:00 pm-$35

c.  Combined- $76

d.  Available for Teacher Workdays

5.  PTA

a.  Membership $5.00

b.  Volunteer Pledge Form- Asking every family to donate 2 hours of volunteer time to the school (Helping Hands, Class Celebrations, Book Fairs, Fall Festival, Beautification Day, be a guest speaker, reading tutor, make items at home, other)