August 2009

Welcome to Fourth Grade!

We hope you had a relaxing and fun summer and are ready to get back into the school routine. We are excited about getting to know you and your child. We are looking forward to a great year! We want to take this opportunity to explain some of the 4th grade routines, activities, and expectations in my classroom.Please go over this letter with your child and return the bottom portion of the last page.

  • LUNCH- We do not eat lunch until noon. Due to this fact, there will be a snack break every morning. Students are permitted to bring in a snack. Try to make this snack a healthy choice…fruit, carrot/celery sticks, granola bars, pretzels, etc.
  • SUPPLIES- We will provide many classroom supplies such as art supplies, scissors, glue, etc. for your child. Students areresponsible for bringing pencils and his/her own 2” binder. Please check with your child often to make sure he/she still has enough pencils and erasers. You would be amazed how they seem to disappear! Your child’s binder MUST go home and come back with him/her each day.
  • HOMEWORK- Students will be filling out their homework assignments in their agendas. Assignments are posted daily in each room. The Homework Hotline may help if your child forgets to write down an assignment, but it should not be used as the only source for information. We view homework as a time to review and practice concepts learned in school.Your child will be responsible for bringing his/her homework and binder every day.

Please go over your child’s agenda and check their folders each night. Your support and reinforcement of this basic (but critical) organizational skill is very important. We really appreciate your support. In some cases, if necessary, we will ask that a parent signs a student’s agenda book each night when homework is completed.

If a student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to ask the teacher what he/she has missed. As per the handbook, parents who wish to request missed assignments and homework for their absent child should call the elementary office by 10:00 a.m. Parents may pick up the requested assignments between 3:15 and 4:15 p.m. at the elementary office. If another student is to bring those assignments home for your child, please ask the secretary to notify the teacher of this when you call in the morning.

When a student does not complete a homework assignment he/she will complete it during recess. Not completing homework will adversely affect your child’s grade. The completion of homework will ultimately benefit your child’s grade. Also, four missed homework assignments per teacher during each marking period will result in MARS room time (Missed Assignments Room for Students). (More information will follow.)

  • BIRTHDAYS- If your child would like to celebrate his/her birthday with the class and bring a treat, we would all enjoy the snack. If your child has a summer birthday, he/she can bring in a treat on his/her “half-birthday” (ex: if one’s birthday is 7 June, he/she can bring in a treat on 7 December.) We can celebrate together at snack time. If your family does not observe these types of celebrations or other holidays, please let me know. Arrangements can be made to provide your child with an alternative activity.
  • 25 BOOKS- We require that 4th grade students have a book to read with them everyday. They may borrow books from the school library, the town library, from our classroom collection, or read one from their personal collection. PA State standards suggest that 4th grade students read 25 books per school year (depending on the page count, some books count as more than 1 book selection).Having a book handy for SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) will help students meet their reading goal. Each student will keep a book log, and they will be required to take short quizzes or write book summaries on each book to demonstrate their comprehension. Although this may sound like a lot of books to some people, most students find this goal easily accomplished.
  • BOOK ORDERS- Each month Miss Bush will be sending home book order forms. Buying books from the Scholastic Book Club is totally optional. If you do place an order, it is easiest to work with a check made out to Scholastic Book Club. Miss Bush will accept cash, but checks work best. If you want to order books as gifts for your child, just let her know. She would be more than happy to keep those orders separate until you can pick them up.
  • COMMUNICATON – We highly value communication with parents. Therefore, we will send out regular newsletters via e-mail if at all possible. Please go to click on “Elementary Teacher Websites” and then “Bush, Lauren.” You’ll see a link to the “PARENT SURVEY.” Please fill this out before the start of school.
  • WEB SITE – Our web sites are a good source of information as well. Occasionally, we may post student work or surveys for you to fill out on it such as the one mentioned above. This is a neat way for the students to receive feedback on their work and to hear from their parents while they’re at school! Please keep an eye out for mentions of our web sites in your parent letter!

Please note: Students who have had repeated academic and/or behavioral issues may not be permitted to participate in extra-curricular activities such as band, chorus, honor’s art, class parties, field day, assemblies, field trips, etc. Also students who have accumulated excessive absences and/or persistent tardiness may be excluded from these activities as well. These are intended to be rewards for those students who work hard.

The reasons for removal of these privileges are listed below:

  • Two or more academic detentions per quarter
  • One or more behavior detentions per quarter
  • Repeated “time on the line” due to behavior/academics
  • Excessive absences or tardiness

In addition, we hope you will keep us up to date with any concerns at home. We want your child to have a successful school year…working together we can do it! If you have any questions or concerns anytime during the school year, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Thanks!

~ The Fourth Grade Team

Miss Bush: X1410

Mr. Sheptock: X1400

Mrs. Shull: X1350

Mr. Williams: X1190

Please sign and return this portion of the 4th grade expectations to your child’s teacher. Thanks for your support!

______

I have reviewed the fourth grade expectations with my child,

______.

(Child’s Name)

Parent Signature ______Date______

Student Signature______Date______