Dear Parents,
Welcome to 5th grade! I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to those of you who may not yet know me. My name is Regina Everett. I am married to Paul Everett, and we have three wonderful children of our own. Our daughter, Morgan, is going into her senior year at the University of South Alabama where she is majoring in secondary history education. Our identical twin sons, Cole and Cody, are going into their senior year at Saraland High School. They are both on the high school tennis team and fishing team. My favorite things to do are deep sea fishing, fresh water fishing, reading, eating out, and spending weekends at our fishing camp on the river.
I have earned three degrees from the University of South Alabama. In addition, I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). I was Mobile County Public School System’s Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2006, and again for the 2008-2009 school year. I was also District 1 Teacher of the Year 2008-2009, and am honored to have won the title of Elementary Teacher of the Year for the state of Alabama, 2008-2009. In the 25 years I have been teaching, I have been trained in numerous areas, including Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI), and Alabama Math, Science, & Technology Initiative (AMSTI). I have also attended countless workshops and inservices to better my educational expertise.
I am very excited to be part of Saraland Middle School. I understand there may some worries about your child being at this campus. Let me put your mind at ease by saying your child will love it here! Your child does not need to worry about changing classes. The teachers will be there to walk them through what they will need to do and they will be comfortable in no time.Also, they will not be changing classes for all subjects. This partial changing of classes will help them with the transition they will face when they are promoted to 6th grade. All 5th grade classes are held on the 5th grade hall, so students will not be walking all over the school.
If your child is in my homeroom, this paragraph is for you. If your child is not in my homeroom, please skip to the Social Studies/History section below. If your child is in my homeroom, they will be receiving a Reading grade from me. Your child’s first daily grade each quarter will come from having this syllabus signed and returned. If your child (or you), lose this paper, you may print another one from our class website. Duplicates will not be given to students, since it is available on-line.
In the area of reading, a test will be given each Friday that covers the week’s reading story skills and vocabulary. It is important to note that each week’s reading test will mainly test the skills that are taught, not the content of the story. They will bring home workbook pages each week that contain these skills. In order for your child to do well on each week’s test, they will need to review these skill sheets. Your child will also bring the tested vocabulary words home each week to study (a workbook page). The first several questions on each week’s test will come from those vocabulary words.
This next section is for those students who have me for social studies/history.At the beginning of each quarter, your child will be given a syllabus. This syllabus will cover everything you will need to know for the quarter (Alabama Course of Study objectives, tests dates, nightly reading assignments, etc.). Your child will only be given one copy of this syllabus (it will be multiple pages). If you or your child lose this syllabus, it will be available on-line on our class website. If a student asks me for another copy, they will be directed to the website. Your child’s first daily grade each quarter will come from having parents sign and return this syllabus. Please keep in mind that dates can sometimes be tentative (situations do arise that can change test dates). On our class website, you will always find an up-to-date schedule of test dates (on our class calendar section of the site). Please visit this site frequently to check for changes. Your child will also be alerted in class to any changes, as well as scheduled test dates, nightly readings, etc. As 5th graders, your child will be responsible for note taking during class. These notes include reading assignments, tests dates, changes to the schedule, etc. Please work with your child on being responsible in this area. Students will also be given a study guide for each history test they take this year. They will only receive one copy of this study guide. Study guides are NOT posted on the web-site, so please put them in a safe place—students will only receive one copy!
I LOVE history and am excited to be teaching American history through the Civil War period. I have spent the entire summer planning ways to make this year fun for your child. We will be completing fun projects, and using Smart Board presentations nearly every day. I want history to “come alive” for your child! Unfortunately, many times history is pushed aside for other subjects. I want my students to understand how important history is to us, as Americans. I believe the history that is being taught, or not taught, to our children, is playing a role in shaping their values and beliefs.
As a general rule, students will not have written homework in my history class. Please do not let your child think this gets them out of studying. I take history very seriously. The tests will not be easy! If your child waits until the night before a test to study, they will not do well on the test. As explained, your child will be given a study guide for each test. They will be given these study guides several days in advance. DO NOT let your child wail until the last minute to begin studying! Most of the projects we complete will be “in class” projects. If an “out of class” project is given, it will be counted as a grade. Remember, your child will be given plenty of advance notice!
I very strongly encourage the support of parents in their child’s education. I encourage you to check your child’s grades regularly on the STI Home Portal. I try to post grades within 24 hours of your child taking a test, so you will always be able to “stay on top” of your child’s grades. You play a key role in helping your child form a healthy attitude toward learning. Let’s keep our lines of communication open at all times. If you ever have a question for me, please send me a note or an email through our class website (). I will contact you as soon as I possibly can. I will also contact you if I have any problems with a child’s behavior. I know all students can behave appropriately in our classroom. I will NOT tolerate any student stopping me from teaching and/or any student from learning.
As far as needed supplies are concerned, the only things your child needs for my class are listed at the bottom of this letter. It is extremely important for your child to have the necessary supplies for class each day. Please ask your child on a regularly basis if they are running low on anything.
As a parent myself, I know what kind of teachers I want my own children to have. I will work my hardest to become that same kind of teacher for each of your children. Thank you for trusting me with the most precious thing you have in this world—your child! I look forward to working with each of you!
Sincerely,
Regina Everett, NBCT
Supply List for all HISTORY classes
two – 3 prongplastic pocket folders (RED)
filler paper for your notebooks
mechanical pencils (we do not have pencil sharpeners in class)
small box of crayons (24 pack or smaller), or colored pencils
small bottle of glue
1 pair of scissors
The items below are “wish list” items, unless already purchased for our reading class!
1 ream of copy paper
band-aids
Supply and Wish List for HOMEROOM (Reading) class
one- 1 ½ inch binder with pockets (any color)
two – 3 prong plastic pocket folders (any color)
filler paper for your notebooks and binder
mechanical pencils (we do not have pencil sharpeners in class)
red pen
crayons, glue, scissors
______
The items below are “wish list” items, unless already purchased for our history class!
1 ream of copy paper
band-aids
Student Name: ______Period:______
Each student is required to have their parents initial each of the following statement and sign and return this page. This paper will count as your child’s first daily grade of the year. It MUST be returned by the end of the first week of school or your child’s grade will be a zero! Thank You!
______
_____Yes, I have read the section on Mrs. Everett’s homeroom (homeroom class only).
_____I understand if my child is in Mrs. Everett’s Reading class, they will have a reading test each Friday.
_____Yes, I have read the section on Mrs. Everett’s history classes (for my history classes only).
_____I understand a history syllabus will be given at the beginning of each quarter (history classes only).
_____I understand my child will only get one copy of this history syllabus (history classes only).
_____I understand I can find another copy of each quarter’s history syllabus on our class website (history classes
only).
_____I understand my child’s first daily grade each quarter will come from signing and returning this history syllabus (history classes only).
_____I understand I can find an up-to-date calendar on our class website.
_____I understand that study guides will be given for each history exam (history classes only).
_____I understand my child will only receive one copy of each history study guide (history classes only).
_____I understand the tests will be difficult, and my child does not need to wait until the last minute to study.
_____I understand that although my child may not have written homework, they will need to study nightly.
_____I understand I need to check my child’s grades regularly on the STI Home Portal.
_____I understand my child is expected to behave in class.
_____I understand if I have a question or concern, I may contact Mrs. Everett as stated above.
_____I will ensure my child has the needed supplies for class.
______
Student Signature/Date Parent Signature/Date