Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,
I am looking forward to a wonderful school year with you all! The next few months will be a learning experience for each and every one of us.
If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. I am available to meet with you before school, after school, or during my conference time from 12:15-1:00 pm daily. Please call the office at 769-4440 to make an appointment, or send a note with your child. I will contact you as soon as I am able to confirm our meeting.
As a team, we can build your child’s future by giving them the opportunities to grow and learn in a safe, nurturing environment. We can lift your student to new heights, and help them attain their dreams. Let’s work together to make that happen.
Please read the important information below:
Behavior & Consequences
Our classroom goal is a positive atmosphere where students feel like part of a family. This is maintained by making positive choices in the classroom and on the Cameo campus. We will discuss the ways to make positive choices, and what consequences are given for negative choices. Students will bring home a homework folder each day showing their choices for that day. These are signed by the parent/guardian and returned to class the next day. If a student continually has behavior problems, we will set up a meeting to discuss strategies to change the behavior. It could also result in that child not participating in special events such as field trips, free time activities, and assemblies, etc. You will be notified if this occurs. Please see the Expectations Page for more information about what is expected from your child. Students will receive consequences for the following: talking in class/hallway (at inappropriate times), playing in the restrooms, turning in unfinished assignments or not doing homework, not completing assigned class work, not returning their homework folder, being off-task, not following directions, and/or showing disrespect to students, teachers, staff members, or guests. Other behaviors not listed here will also be given appropriate consequences.
Positive Reinforcement
I firmly believe students should show good character in the following areas: Respect, Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Caring, Fairness, Citizenship, Manners, Honesty, Kindness, Discipline, Self-Control, Tolerance, and Work Habits. We will be talking about character throughout the year. Please encourage your child to display these traits at home as well. I promote positive behavior. Some reinforcements I might use are stickers, certificates, notes to parents, lunch with the teacher, etc. I also stress positive comments and do not allow “put-downs.”
Discipline/Consequences
I will be using the PBS model of discipline in my classroom this year. There are a set of expectations that students know about and practice. A student will receive check marks in a discipline book when he/she misbehaves. These come from the classroom teacher, specials teachers, or other teachers that observe inappropriate behavior. When he/she receives 3 check marks in the book, a recess detention will be assigned. If a student has a detention 3 times in a 5 day period, he/she will be sent to the office and the principal will address the behavior as he/she sees fit (which may include in school suspension).
Sometimes we have to change things slightly to keep the students interested and engaged in following procedures. Other methods of discipline may include “clip moves” or “individual behavior management plans.” All methods reward good behavior and bear a consequence for poor choices. These management procedures are in place to insure that learning takes place. They also compliment a school-wide discipline plan being implemented at Cameo called PBS (Positive Behavior Support).
The Triple A Way
All of Cameo follows the Triple A Way. Always Safe, Always Responsible, Always Respectful. We apply these guidelines to everything we do.
Homework Folders
Each student will have a homework folder that will come home each afternoon. This folder will contain a list of homework and behavior information on the student from the day. The folder will need a parent/guardian signature and should be returned every day. Please help each other remember and make reviewing the homework folder part of your daily routine. This folder will be used for students to bring home notes from school as well as homework. The students will be responsible for doing their homework and bringing it back the next day. There will be no homework on Friday or before a holiday. Please work together to check homework completion each night. Creating a special time to “look things over” will only help your student excel in his or her studies.
Homework
Homework is a very important part of learning. It gives students the opportunity to practice or prove their knowledge of what is being taught in class.
Homework is not given each day of the week, though the children will have a weekly Spelling List that they will need to study Monday-Thursday nights. I usually ask kids to leave this list in their homework folder and study it all week. On occasion, your student will be given specific homework lessons. These are separate assignments given to do especially at home. These may include practice pages on a concept gone over that day in class, reinforcement papers that give students extra practice on a skill they may need to work on, or special projects assigned to a unit of study. Homework will not be given on Friday, or before a holiday. If I am not sending homework for any reason, I will write you a note so that you know. If you do not get a note or verification from me, you can expect that your child does have homework.
I require that all homework is completed and returned the following day. If this does not happen, your child will be expected to make up the work during recess or on his/her own time. Please understand that if the assignment is still not completed or returned, you child will receive a zero on the assignment. I do not recopy homework papers more than once. I will let you know (with a note or phone call) if missing assignments are becoming a problem that will affect your child’s grades.
Missing Assignments
Student work will be monitored for completion. If a student has excessive missing work, the student will work during recess to complete what they can during school hours.
Assignment Grading Policy
100%-90% = A
89%-80% = B
79%-75% = C
74%- 70% = D
69% or below = F
Some student work will be graded and some will not. This does not mean that the work is not important or unnecessary. We all know that it takes practice to make perfect. The same applies to student work. I only take grades when the majority of students show a mastery of the skill being taught. Many assignments are for practice & reinforcement purposes only. These papers may/may not be assigned a number grade. Some papers may have stickers, stamps, check marks, stars, or comments from the teacher.
Testing, Projects, Reports
Tests will be administered in all subject areas as needed. Students will be given ample opportunity to study for them and will be responsible for doing so in class as well as at home. For some of the tests, study guides will be given to students ahead of time. Spelling lists will be handed out on Friday of the week before and tests will be given on the last day of the week. It will be your child’s responsibility to study fot his weekly test at home.
Extra Credit
Extra credit will be given to students who always try hard and still have some trouble. I will not provide extra credit opportunities to students who have been lazy or uncooperative when it comes to assignments. Providing and keeping up with extra credit assignments creates extra work for myself and I only offer it to those who appreciate it.
Progress Reports
Regular Progress Reports will be sent home. Official report cards will be sent home at the end of each grading period. You may request a progress report from me whenever you would like one and I will get one printed out for you. Starting August 31, you will be able to view your child’s grades online. Logging on to Skyward using your username and password helps you to keep up with your child’s progress and grades. If you do not yet have a username and password, please call our office to find out how to set one up.
Thursday Folders
A student folder will be sent home every Thursday evening. This folder will include weekly notes for upcoming events and graded papers.
Attendance
Regular attendance is essential for your child’s learning. If your child must be absent, call the office to inform us of his/her absence. If you are unable to phone, please send a note explaining the absence when your child returns to school. If your child is sick, a doctor’s note will result in an excused absence.
BREAKFAST IS SERVED in class from 7:45-8:00 each day. The tardy bell rings at 8:00. Please make sure your child is here on time!
Make-Up Work from Absences
Students will be given time to make up any missed work from absences. Your child will have the same number of days to finish the assignment as they were absent. They will be responsible for making up that work at home. I will give a quick overview of the assignment before the student brings it home. If your child just does not understand what he or she needs to do on the assignment, please have your child come see me the next morning for help. I do my best to keep up with make up work for students who are absent and get it written down for them. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to make sure he/she gets the assignments and has them turned in on time.
Parties/Friday Sales
As Parents and Guardians, you may be asked to donate treats and goodies for these celebrations and for class fundraisers. A note will go home with your student prior to the date of the event. Thank you in advance for your help.
If you would like to bring treats for your child’s birthday, please let me know in advance. We will celebrate birthdays the last 15 minutes of the day, so please do not bring treats until 2:30.
Thank you for all of your help this year! I am looking forward to all of the experiences we will have.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Sacane