Growing Leaders in Third Grade
#iLead
Green Elementary 3rd Grade Handbook
2017-2018
Third Grade Team
Susan Frick – Math and Science
Room #120
Kathleen Holloway – ELA and Social Studies
Room #122
Kayla Bates- Math and Science
Room #118
Kara Knisley- ELA and Social Studies
Room #116
Jillianne Limbaugh- self contained
Room #113
COMMUNICATION
Parent-Teacher communication is essential to supporting a student effectively. With that in mind, third graders have a binder to keep all needed materials accessible to the child and the parent. Parents are expected to check the binder for notes, homework, the agenda book, and Green Elementary Summary Report, every school day. If a child has received a Signature on their Communication Report, a parent must sign/initial that day. Please remind your child to show the teacher any notes when they arrive at school so no information is overlooked.
Attached you will find your teacher’s phone and e-mail contact information. E-mails are returned regularly, but not necessarily before the end of the school day. If you have any urgent information for your child’s teacher, (for example, a change of plans for going home) please call the school office to leave a message.
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER will be emailed to parents. Parents will be sent a weekly classroom update. This will include important dates, educational topics and curriculum updates. **Please notify your teacher if you do not have access to email.
THURSDAY FOLDER (the GREEN one with advertisements on it):
Thursday Folders contain graded papers and most district and school notes. These are sent home on Thursdays and should return on Fridays. Review the graded papers with your child. Compliment them on their handwriting, grades, neatness, original ideas, or discuss areas of improvement. Please return the folder on Friday.
AGENDAS
All students are provided with an agenda (assignment book) to be used as an organizational tool to help them record all assignments and important dates. Students will be encouraged to use a few minutes each day to write in the agenda.
Hint to Parents: Instead of asking your student if they have homework, ask them to show you their Agenda.
ASSIGNMENTS
HOMEWORK:
Students in third grade should expect an average of 30 minutes of homework each school night. Homework is intended to practice skills already learned in class or to spark thinking related to the topic to be studied the following day. As all learners work at different speeds, some fluctuation of time will occur. However, if your child is unable to complete the tasks in a reasonable amount of time, please notify your teacher.
Students may have additional homework any evenings Monday through Thursday. This homework may include written work or studying for various tests. Other homework will occur throughout the year as we work on special projects or completion of unfinished class assignments.
LATE WORK:
Late work is accepted up to three days late. A penalty of 10 points will be subtracted from the final grade for each day that the assignment is late. This includes long term assignments such as projects.
MAKE-UP WORK:
Students will be allowed to turn in make-up work after absences according to the district’s guidelines in the student handbook. When a student has an excused absence, they will be allowed one day for each day of absence to make up the missed work. For example, a student absent on Monday who returns Tuesday will get their work the day they return and complete it by Wednesday.
*** Make-up work is ultimately the student’s responsibility. ***
GRADING:
The majority of the grades your child will receive are number grades.
90 - 100 A
80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
Your child’s grades reflect neatness, quality of work, ability to follow written and oral directions, ability to turn assignments in on time, and participation. Other ways may be used to assess your child’s progress in addition to a formal grade. Through observations, checklists, and self- evaluation forms, the teacher can get a clearer picture of your child’s strengths, weaknesses, and growths. If the student has not mastered a learning objective by scoring less than a 70 on any given assignment, the student has the opportunity to redo the activity or do alternate work for a maximum grade of a 70 by the due date given.
Conduct Grades are based on the number of signatures a child receives in a 9-week grading period. Your child will receive a signature on their Communication Card if they do not follow school expectations. This information will be communicated to parents on the Green Elementary Summary Report to be read daily. Grade guidelines are posted on the bottom of the communication report: Outstanding Conduct=0-2 signatures, Satisfactory=3-5 signatures, Needs Improvement=6-8, Unsatisfactory=9 or more signatures
If a child has Unsatisfactory conduct (9 or more signatures) they may not be allowed to participate in extra- curricular events.
DISMISSAL
Car Riders: There are 2 car pool lanes: one on Ann’s way in the Beacon Hill subdivision and the other along the Comanche side of the school, near the gym and bike racks. Grade 3 will be lined up near the sidewalk closest to the breezeway. Bus Riders: Students will exit the West side doors by bus #’s. Daycare Riders: Students will be organized by daycare and dismissed from the West side door. Walkers and Bike Riders: Students will be escorted and supervised out to Ann’s Way or to the Comanche exit staying with their grade level teacher. Youngest siblings will go to the oldest for pick up. For safety purposes, all students should go straight home and not stop to play on the playground equipment.
Changes in transportation need to
be sent in writing in the morning or
phoned in to the office during
the school day.
ATTENDANCE / TARDY PROCEDURES
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES:
We believe our students must attend school to be successful!
The majority of the learning takes place at school is through teacher instruction and classroom discussion. Therefore it is extremely important for your child to be at school and on time as much as possible. School begins promptly at 7:55 a.m.
**Supervision begins at 7:30 a.m. For safety purposes, students may not be dropped off prior to 7:30 a.m.
**Students arriving between 7:30 and 7:40 should go directly to the Gym and not their classrooms.
**Students arriving after 7:50 a.m. must sign in at the office before coming to class to obtain a tardy pass.
Absent Guidelines:
If your child is absent please contact the office to let them know and a signed note must be returned to the office within 3 days of the date of absence.
Tardy Guidelines:
Students are to be in their classrooms at 7:50 a.m. Any student arriving between 7:50 and 8:10 a.m. will be considered tardy. If a child arrives after 8:10 a.m. or is picked up before 2:40 p.m., the child receives a partial day absence.
When a student is late due to a doctor’s appointment, they should return to school with a note from the doctor. The note should state the date and time the student was at the doctor’s office. Then, the student will not be counted tardy or absent for that day.
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES: CHAMPS
Be Responsible Be Ready Be Respectful
- Follow directions the first time they are given.
- Be ready for class by having all necessary items ready for work.
- Keep hands, feet and other objects to yourself.
- Raise your hand to be called upon before speaking.
- If working in a group situation, follow the cooperative group rules from your teacher.
- Be respectful to self, school and others.
SUMMARY CARDS:
The summary card communicates your student’s behavior and academic expectations to the parent daily. This will be in your child’s Take Home Binder with their agenda. A parent must sign the summary card the evening the child receives a conduct mark on their summary card. If a child has a great day, there should be a smiley face in the box. Each child is responsible to document their daily behavior on the summary card.
Weekly Consequences for not following Green Elementary Expectations:
- One signature is a reminder to be proactive and make good choices.
- For two signatures in one week, students will create a plan to improve their behavior choices.
- **If a student receives 3 signature in one week, the child will receive “Dining for One” and the parent will be notified.
- **Some offenses will require an immediate referral to the office.
LUNCH:
Lunches delivered to school will be placed in the grade level bucket near the office. To minimize classroom disruptions, students can find their lunch upon entering the cafeteria at their lunch time. Lunch account payments can be made before school in the cafeteria or online. Please make sure to make arrangements for your child’s lunch each day prior to our scheduled lunch period. Please feel free to join your child for lunch on special days. A designated area on the stage is available for you and your child to eat. Adults are not allowed to sit or visit at the cafeteria tables. Due to the shortage of space on the stage we ask that other students not join you for lunch. Because of allergy issues and food regulations, please do not bring a lunch for a child who is not your own.
CLOTHING/Dress Code:
The Allen ISD Handbook outlines the district’s dress code policy. Please make sure your student is following these guidelines.
BIRTHDAYS:
To avoid hurt feelings among classmates, all party invitations should be mailed. Parents are encouraged to include their address in the PTA directory and/or provide your address for the class directory. Due to the food policy revisions put into place by the Texas Department of Agriculture and many food allergies, we recommend items other than food be brought to school if you wish to celebrate your child’s birthday with the other students in the class. Please coordinate with your child’s teacher.
WATER BOTTLES: Students may bring water bottles to school for classroom use. The bottles must have a re-closable sports top and their name on them.
SNACK: Students may bring a healthy snack to enjoy in the morning. Items such as pretzels, and gold fish, are excellent ideas. Please do not send extremely sticky, messy, or juicy snacks as we will be working while enjoying snack. Please ask your teacher about student food allergies.
*We have many students with nut allergies so therefore snacks to be eaten in our classrooms need to be nut free.
We acknowledge receipt of the 3rdGrade Procedure Manual from Green Elementary for the school year of 2017-2018.
(Student’s Printed Name)
______
(Student’s Signature)
______
(Parent’s Signature)
______
(Date)
Please return this sheet to your classroom teacher.