AUGUST 14, 2013

Welcome to Fourth Grade! Hopefully, you have had a safe and enjoyable summer and are ready to be back to school! I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to my classroom. I am looking forward to a terrific year.

If you have any questions or concerns as the year progresses, please contact me by phone, email or through notes in the Student Agenda (agendas should be initialed each night by parents). You are an integral part of your child’s success. Together, we can make this year a wonderful experience for your child.

SPECIAL AREA CLASSES

Fourth Graders will be on a 4-week rotation for special classes (PE, Music, Art, and Library). A schedule of specials is either attached or will be sent home soon. Ourspecials time is 10:35-11:20 daily.

SNACKS/WATER

Students are allowed to bring in a HEALTHY snack each day. We do have a Wellness Policy at CRES so we ask that you follow healthy guidelines when sending in snacks. Our goal is to encourage healthy eating while keeping snacks as non-disruptive as possible. Please send in snacks that your child can open and eat without assistance as I will be teaching. Please send in single portions only. I know this may sound picky but keep in mind that in a classroom of 24 students, a large bag of Doritos will cause a problem. Snacks will be eaten after our morning Take Ten (around 9:45). Water Bottles are ENCOURAGED but please be sure they have a secure lid and contain water only. Spills do occasionally occur and water is both healthier and easier to clean up.

BEHAVIOR GUIDELINES

CRES and Camp Wachter follow the CRES Motto.

At Campbell Ridge we will…

C-Cooperate--This means being cooperative and considerate of others. Treat others as you would want to be treated.

R-Respect—This means being respectful to everyone. Paying attention to who is talking, eyes on speaker, listening quietly, waiting for your turn.

E-Engage—Be involved in your own learning. Ask questions, participate, make suggestions.

S-Be Safe—Making good decisions about behavior (both words and actions) so no one gets hurt either physically or emotionally.

…with everyone at school.

Students will earn “Comet Cash” for any day they move up on the COMETS chart.

C—$20 Comet Cash

O--$10 Comet Cash

M: This is where you begin the day.

E: Loss of 5 minutes of recess or $10 fine.

T: Note or phone call home

S: Office referral

On “Camp Store” days, students will have an opportunity to spend their Comet Cash. Check your child’s agenda daily for any notes on behavior. If there are no comments written or notes attached, then your child has turned in all work and demonstrated appropriate behavior for the day. Notes will also be written about positive behaviors deserving of extra praise.

Comet Cash and CampStore

Students can earn Comet Cash every day. They earn money for things such as not moving any levels, coming to school prepared, receiving a compliment from another teacher, or demonstrating good character. Students can also lose money if they are not following procedures. Students are responsible for their money.

Approximately every two weeks we will visit the CampStore. Students can use their money to purchase items from thestore. Various school supplies, coupons, toys, books and special treats will be available.

Store donations would be greatly appreciated. Items such as erasers, hair ties, key chains, pencils, grippers, stuffed animals, bookmarks, notebooks and any other child-desired items would be fantastic! Gently used items are also welcome!

FRIDAY FOLDERS

Every Friday, your child will bring home their “Friday Folder”. This folder will have all the graded papers from the week inside as well as any important papers from the office. I expect parents to review the papers and return the folder empty of student work on Monday. Please sign the COMMUNICATION SHEET and leave it in the Friday Folder so I know you received your child’s papers.

AGENDAS

Your child will have an Agenda again this year. They will be responsible for writing down their homework assignments daily. I will initial it each day to let you know their homework is written correctly. Once your child has completed his/her homework, please initial his/her agenda so I will know you have seen it that day. Students will earn Comet Cash for agendas being filled out correctly and signed daily. Please feel free to write notes in the agenda when necessary. Behavior notes will also be written in the agenda.

CAMP Binder

The CAMPBinder will hold papers from each subject area; this will be helpful for completing assignments. This binder will bebrought home daily and is expected to return to school daily with assignments completed. Please DO NOT clean out our child’s binder unless I send a note to do so. You may accidentally throw away papers they need. There will be a “Take Home” pocket…this is the one pocket to clean out every evening.

VOLUNTEERS/CHAPERONES

Any parent who wishes to help in the school, classroom or as a chaperone on a field trip must have a criminal background check on file in the office. This can be done at Central Office or in our front office. You will be given a card to carry with you when volunteering. If you know a day of the week that you would like to volunteer in our class, please let me know. I welcome help anytime! Just a reminder…visitor badges are needed and are provided in the office when you sign in. 

LUNCH/RECESS

Our lunch and recess is from 12:15-12:55. We encourage you to come have lunch with your child anytime. When you come for lunch, please sign in at the office and obtain a visitor’s pass.Because of our wellness policy, fast food is discouraged.

ACCELERATED READING TESTS

AR is a motivational tool used to encourage reading. Yourchild will be given the opportunity to take tests daily at school and can also take them at home. Students can take as many AR tests as they want. I require that students take one test a week on a book of their choice and on their reading level. As we read class books, students will be required to take AR tests on those as well.

TESTING

Your child’s knowledge will be assessed in many ways this year. The KCAS (formerly known as the KCCT) is in the spring and will address Science, Social Studies, Reading, Mechanics and Math. MAP Testing will take place 3 times this year and will address Reading, Math, Language Usage, and Science. The above assessments, Unit Assessments and formative daily assessments will give us a very clearpicture of the growth your child makes throughout this year.

Class Pet

We have a guinea pig named Donut. His cage requires bedding. He eats guinea pig food and alfalfa (hay). He sometimes likes carrots and apple slices as treats. He was a big hit last year and the students will take turns being responsible for his care.

COMMUNICATION

Good communication between home and school is key to your child’s success. We will be communicating regularly through a variety of forms such as agendas, phone contacts, newsletters and email. Please feel free to contact me whenever you have a concern. You may call and leave a voicemail during the day;however, email is efficient for me as I try tocheck it several times each day as my schedule allows. There are days that I do not get to check email until after the students have gone for the day, so urgent messages should be sent in with your child or call the office. My email is listed below; you may also access my email through the Campbell County Schools Web Page.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

Just in case a week goes by and I forget to say thanks for all that you do, here it is…Thanks for all that you do! Being a good parent takes a great deal of time and effort. I appreciate all that you do to help me and CRES and especially for all of the time you devote to your child’s education. It means the world to them and to me!

Rachael Wachter

448-4780

Ext 1250