WELCOME TO FIFTH GRADE!
We set VERY high expectations for our students and expect that all students do their best at all times. We hold students 100% accountable for their choices and students will quickly learn that not only are they the center of our classroom universe, but that all of their choices do have consequences…be it positive or negative. We will work together to create a safe, enjoyable, and respectful learning environment so that students are excited to walk through the door each day. Our class curriculum is closely aligned with the Arizona Career and College Readiness standards to ensure that your student will know and be able to do what is expected for success in school and in life.
The following letter provides information about each core class as well as fifth grade procedures and policies.
English Language Arts (ELA):
ELA is taught by Mrs. Deb Bleikamp. Deb has been a teacher for 10 years and spent most of those years in 5th grade. Deb is a PROUD mother of three girls. Her twins, Shaye and Kaitlyn are sophomores at NAU, and her oldest daughter, Taylor, lives in Idaho. Deb’s favorites are Reading, Hiking, Golfing, Traveling, and attending Concerts and Plays. She has 2 cats and 2 desert tortoises. She is excited to have the honor to teach all of our 5th grade students.
Our ELA curriculum teaches comprehension skills and strategies by using our Reading Street text as well as various literature studies. Grades are determined through both story and unit assessments, quarterly book projects, reading logs, and finals. In order to encourage reading and to practice our comprehension skills and strategies, students will be assigned weekly reading logs. Reading logs will be handed out on Friday and are due the following Friday. In order to receive full credit, students must complete the front side, answer ANY 4 QUESTIONS on the back side, and have an adult sign their logs. Students are required to read for at least 20 minutes a night for 4 nights. Extra copies of the reading log and rubric are available on the classroom website as well as the Extra Copies Bin in my classroom. Projects, study guides, reports, and other assessments will be given specific due dates ahead of time and recorded in planners.
Math:
Math is taught by Mr. Nick Helmick – the coach of Room 303’s Helmick Heroes! He is a native of Arizona and graduate of NAU in Flagstaff. This is his fifth year of teaching and third year at Paseo Hills. Mr. Helmick is very excited about math this year!
Our Math curriculum teaches skills and strategies by using Eureka Mathas well as various projects and inquiry-based assignments. This program is also available online through the teacher webpage. Grades are determined through unit assessments, quizzes, homework, projects, and finals. Homework will be assigned four nights a week and students will be required to complete this. If there are any questions, please have your student come to class prepared to ask for help at the beginning of each day. Students should also be practicing their math facts as well as any assigned homework. Students will not be allowed to make up any assessments unless all homework is complete and a retake contract is complete and turned in to the teacher by the assigned date. Special projects will be given specific due dates ahead of time and recorded in planners. Please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Helmick if you have any questions or concerns.
Science:
Science is taught by Mrs. Sue Piotrowski. She is a graduate of Grand Canyon University. This is her sixth year teaching 5th grade and ninth year working in the district. She is happily married and has three awesome children, all who have been in DVUSD schools. She loves to read, travel, swim, teach and follow her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes!
The Science program is aligned to FOSS, an inquiry-based curriculum. Due to the hands-on nature of the curriculum and project-based learning, students are expected to maintain a detailed Science notebook to support their understanding. Grades are based on quizzes, tests, projects, notebook checks and data recording.
Social Studies:
Social studies is taught by Mr. Corey Hawkins. He has been a teacher for 16 years, mainly in 5th grade, and taught fourth grade at Paseo Hills last year. He went to College of the Ozarks in Missouri and is married with a 2 year old! He enjoys watching and playing most sports, spending time with his family, or just being outside doing something!
The social studies curriculum is closely aligned to the Arizona College and Career Readiness standards and covers American History from the time of early European exploration through the Civil War and Westward Expansion. The majority of academic learning will be completed in the classroom, and grades will be determined through participation, classwork, quizzes/tests, and projects. Homework assignments will be given, but most homework will be on an as needed basis if students do not complete their work during the allotted class time. Any work that is not completed during the school day needs to be completed at home and turned in the following school day unless otherwise specified. Students will also be expected to spend time studying at home prior to unit quizzes and tests, and dates for these assessments will be written in the planner in advance in order for students to prepare adequately.
Writing:
Writing is taught to students by their homeroom teacher. Writing skills will be practiced and applied across all subjects. The writing curriculum consists of grammar, word study, writing composition, as well as speaking and listening skills. Grades are determined through final written pieces, grammar and word study assessments, participation in collaborative discussions, and oral presentations. Most writing practice will occur during class but students may have to complete some practice or projects at home, including studying for their weekly word study assessment to ensure their success.
Food: All fifth grade classrooms are PEANUT-FREE ROOMS. Food is not allowed in the classroom with the exception of celebrations. If your student would like to celebrate with his or her homeroom, that will take place during our Writing class. All food must be store-bought according to health regulations.
Homework Practice, Projects, and Assignments:
Yes, all fifth grade students may have homework practice every night. We do work very hard in our classes to make sure that a majority of the work does get done during the allotted class time, but home practice will happen, especially if students choose to not use their class time wisely. There will be Math homework every night. All practice work is due the following day unless otherwise specified. Projects, study guides, and reports will be given a specific due date ahead of time which will be recorded in the planner. It is expected that all students will turn in their formative, practice assignments within the first 10 minutes of class.
Grading:
Due to the direct alignment with Standards Based Grading (SBG), some practice/homework, andclasswork may be used as a formative assessment only. This means that grades for these assignments may appear in the gradebook as a CHECK mark showing completion of the required assignment or as a % that does not affect the student’s grade. Summative assessments (tests, quizzes, and project based learning) will impact the final grade. SBG aligns grading and reporting with the Arizona Career and College Readiness Standards, allowing students, parents, and teachers to work closely together to achieve academic success through a variety of different methods. Please review the SBG pamphlet found on our website with your student. The understanding and application of the above mentioned is imperative for the success of your students’ learning. Retakes are only permitted if the student has completed a retake contract, ALL their required practice for the unit of study AND has a parent or guardian signature on the assessment to be retaken. Retake contracts are available in each classroom and may be printed from our website. Retakes may be taken during our scheduled tutoring times or by appointment.
All retakes and late work must be completed and turned in TWO weeks prior to the closing of the grade book each quarter. Retakes are not permitted for any district-mandated assessments or finals. If any student is absent, they have one day to make up the work for every day that they missed.If a student is absent on a date where a major project is due, they are to turn in that project the day he or she returns to class.
Grades are maintained regularly and may be accessed through PowerSchools. To monitor your student’s academic progress, please visit:
Communication:
All fifth grade students are required to use their planner and it becomes an easy way to keep the communication lines open between school and home. All students will carry their planner with them from class to class. Students will write down their nightly practice or important information concerning test, projects, etc. in RED along with a quick summary of what was accomplished in class that day. Any student who misplaces their planner will need to purchase a new one from the office.
Each week, students will bring home a blue Data/Communication Folder. This folder will have all returned assignments, graded assessments,and test data in the format of bar graphs, as well as any other pertinent school information. Please acknowledge that you have reviewed the Data Folder by signing the Parent Communication form and return any communication requiring signatures in the folder to school with your student by Monday of each week.
Class Discipline:
In fifth grade, we follow all school rules all the time. Please refer to the Paseo Hills Handbook and Students Rights and Responsibilities for a complete over-view of school procedures. All students at Paseo Hills will adhere to PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Systems and Support). We have a philosophy at Paseo Hills: Rattlers R.O.C.K.!All students are expected todemonstrate ROCK expectations in all areas of the school.
ROCK! stands for:
1.Respect: Treating others the wayyou would want to be treated.
2.Own responsibility: Being dependable and making goodchoices.
3.Show Caring through Kindness: Being kind and thoughtfulto others.
Explanations of the ROCK! expectations and how touse them at school will be discussed during the first week of school and throughout the year. Fifth graders will use this philosophy when making all decisions as it is designed to eliminate most discipline issues. All fifth graders will partake in class meetings with their homeroom to discuss the current school events and class issues.
As a positive aspect to this behavior system, students will be recognized for making good choices. Rattlers ROCK tickets may be given by any staff member to students meeting or exceeding our ROCK! expectations. These tickets will be entered into school wide drawings for prizes.
In the event that a student’s issue regarding their behavior choices needs intervention,progressive disciplinary action and natural consequences will take place. This will follow steps of the Rattlers ROCK positive behavior plan. For major discipline issues, students may be referred to Administration as needed.
1st Intervention is a verbal redirection and natural consequence and teacher documentation.
2nd Intervention includes a verbal redirection, natural consequence, re-teach of the ROCK expectation not being met by student choice, as well as written reflection, documentation and communication with the parent/guardian.
3rd Intervention is a teacher assigned intervention form completed, natural consequences,behavior solution form completed in intervention, and parent/guardian notification of the decisions made during our learning time.
4th Intervention shows that the same choices are continuously being made with no effort to change by the student so he/she will be referred to Administration.
Thank you for helping your student succeed in 5th grade by encouraging him or her to do their best! Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or concerns.
Yours in education,
The Fifth Grade Team
Mrs. Sue Piotrowski, (623) 445-4560
Mr. Corey Hawkins, Social (623) 445-4540
Mr. Nick Helmick, (623) 445-4565
Mrs. Deb Bleikamp, (623)-445-4566
PARENT/STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM
Please detach, sign,and return this page indicating that youand your child understand and have discussedthe 5th grade guidelines and expectations for students in our classrooms. This form must be returned to school by Friday, August 12th. Thank you for entrusting your student to us. We will have a fantastic year learning and growing together as a community.
I have read and discussed all the information in the Fifth Grade Welcome Letter:
Parent/ Guardian Signature
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Student Signature
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Student Printed Name
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In the event the Fifth Grade Team needs to get a hold of me, I prefer communication via:
Email (clearly print address(es) below) Phone (list below)
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