Team Dotson/Schepers
Information Packet
2011-2012
West Intermediate
“Jenks West Intermediate is committed to a student-centered learning environment that promotes open communication and character habits in order to prepare students for success.”
Jenks West Intermediate
Dotson/Schepers
Contact Information
Jenks Public Schools Website: jenksps.org
All Jenks Public Schools staff members may be reached via e-mail by using this format: first name.last .
Lisa Dotson, Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher
299-4415, ext. 2933 (voicemail)
Staci Schepers, Math and Science Teacher
299-4415, ext. 2932 (voicemail)
Michelle Sumner, Principal
299-4415, ext. 2900
Specials Teachers
D’Ann Hargrove, Music
Ed Skotarek, P.E.
Carol Lehman, Orchestra
Troy Snow, Julie Arnold, Kale White, Band
Kari Purdie, Counselor
299-4415, ext. 2909
Resource Team:
Lynette Miller, ext. 2936
Exploration Classes:
Romney Nesbitt, Art
Angie Salamat, Spanish
Ester Fu, Chinese
Attendance:
Bonnie Rosebrook
299-4415, ext. 2900
Nurse’s Office:
Diane Frie, R.N.
299-4415, ext. 2914
Welcome to the 6th Grade!
We are looking forward to working with you and your child this year! We hope this packet of information will help give you a better understanding of procedures, curriculum, and upcoming activities. We will continue to update you with e-mail messages and newsletters throughout the school year. Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns or comments. By establishing a good working relationship between parents, school staff and students, 6th grade should prove to be a very successful year.
Our qualifications:
Your children are in very good hands this year! Between the two of us, we have 49 years of teaching experience. Mrs. Dotson is a graduate of Jenks High School, having attended Jenks Public Schools from kindergarten on. Mrs. Schepers graduated from Memorial High School in Tulsa. We are both graduates of Oklahoma State University with degrees in Elementary Education. Mrs. Dotson has an endorsement in Social Studies and Mrs. Schepers also earned a master’s degree in School Guidance and Counseling from OSU. We have worked together for the past 18 years in the Jenks school system and have found that our methods and philosophies concerning the education of children are very compatible. We believe in your children and will fully support them as they gain more knowledge and confidence in themselves as students, citizens and young adults.
Agendas:
Each student must have an agenda or organizer to keep track of daily assignments, homework, upcoming tests, projects and events.
Homework:
We believe that establishing time to study and read each evening will help prepare your child for the rigors of the high school workload that he or she will be facing and will develop the responsibility that is essential for success. Please support us in making sure your child treats homework as a priority. Homework should take no more than 60 to 90 minutes to complete (reading included). There will be occasional projects or reports to be completed at home. Please continue to check agendas, newsletters and e-mails for these upcoming dates.
Discipline plan:
West Intermediate continues to expect responsible, reliable and respectful behavior from our students and staff. Students are encouraged to work toward building positive character habits which will help them be successful in all areas of their lives. We believe that your child has the right to a productive learning setting and a safe environment while in our care. Behavior that is disruptive, disrespectful or interferes with the safety of students and staff will be dealt with according to school policy. Please see the student handbook for discipline procedures.
Math:
Our Math curriculum will focus on the five standards provided by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Those standards include Algebraic Reasoning, Number Sense and Operation, Geometry, Measurement, and Data Analysis. We will use a number of resources to build and expand Math skills. The students will learn to utilize various resource tools to assist them when they are unsure about ways to proceed with assignments. Special emphasis will be placed on building self-reliant, confident learners.
Science:
Sixth graders take a more advanced approach to the science areas of study by working with different variables, testing their hypothesis through student-planned experiments and recording observations and results. Our first unit focuses on Catastrophic Events; however, much of our explorations are student-driven and/or a direct response to real world events. Students are encouraged to bring resources (newspaper articles, web site information, etc. to share. Extra credit points can be earned by doing so. All students and parents will be required to sign a safety contract before any student will be allowed to participate in class experiments.
Language Arts:
Reading:
We will be reading various novel studies throughout this year. Our emphasis will be placed on realistic fiction, diaries, and myths. Periodically students will take a reading inventory which will help us track their growth. Students need to read 100 minutes each week. Throughout the year they will be required to reflect on their reading by writing an entry in their Reading notebook weekly.
Writing / English:
We will focus on writing personal narrative, persuasive, essay, letter writing (friendly and business), descriptive, expository, and poetry. All students will be taking a pre and post writing assessment this year. Students will review mechanics, usage, and grammar rules through the use of novel units and writing samples.
Social Studies:
Students will be learning about Ancient Civilizations this year. The units included are: Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. Students will mummify chickens, wear togas, participate in the Greek Olympics, and present artifacts for our sixth grade Museum Day.
Current Contact Information:
It is imperative that we have your current phone numbers, emergency contacts and email addresses throughout the school year. If you have legal custody paperwork, please make sure that it is on file in the office!
As you can see, we have a lot to cover this year. Sixth grade is such an exciting time with lots of expectations for growth. We look forward to working with you and your child!
Important Information from August 16th Parent Meeting:
· Attendance / Tardies - see online handbook pages 6-7
· Car Riders - procedure
· Phone messages
· Free / Reduced lunch
· Water Bottles / Snacks
· Fundraiser Dates – Sept. 1 – 14
· Birthday Bashes - Oct. 28 (summer, Sept., and Oct.)
Jan. 27 (Nov., Dec., and Jan.)
April 27 (Feb., March, April, May)
· Collaboration Dates - school begins at 9:40
Sept. 29
Oct. 27
Dec. 1
Jan. 26
Feb. 23
March 29
· Jenks Wild - Sept. 19-21st (more info coming in emails)