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Parent Handbook
Mrs. Montgomery’s Class 2008-2009
Hopewell Elementary School 478-8802
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Brody Bishop Daniel Cartee Chloe Davis Corbin Davis Landon Fella Bradley Fiveash Brian Hartert Kins Hooper Ethan Jones Anna Krystyan Kallum Lowe Grace Maddox Harlie McCullough Anna Beth Muhonen Adam Reeves Gracie Stone Hadden Wright Haley Younce
18 students (8 girls & 10 boys)
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Homework Policy
The first six weeks usually deals with readiness (reviewing the basic skills of kindergarten,) therefore regular homework assignments will not begin until the second six weeks. (Except reading A.R. books.)
Homework Schedule: Mondays---- Study math facts and vocabulary words. Read A.R. book. Tuesdays---- Write spelling words and sentences in agenda. Read A.R. book. Wednesdays---- Read this week’s reading story to your parent(s). Parent(s) sign agenda to show you read your story to them. Thursdays---- Study for upcoming tests. Take a practice spelling test, turn in tomorrow, and get extra credit! Fridays---- No Homework J
(Class work not finished during the day will be completed for homework.)
*Additional homework may be assigned if extra practice is needed. **Completed homework will be expected the next school morning.
Homework Policy: - All assignments will be completed. - Students will do homework primarily on their own and to the best of their ability. - Student work will be neatly done. - Students will turn in homework on time. - Students are responsible for making up missed assignments due to absences.
Incomplete Assignments: - Student will not receive full credit for late assignments. - Student will not participate in recess/free time until work is completed. - Several missed or late assignments will lower the student’s overall grade.
**Homework missed for legitimate reasons must be explained in a signed note from the parent(s).**
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Agendas, Parent Folders, & Homework Binders
Agendas and Parent Folders are vital parts in our school to home communication. Students write a message in their agenda every day which has information about upcoming events and/or reminders. Remember it MUST come to school each day and should be signed by a parent every night! Parent Folders will be used to transport work to and from school. Work completed at school will go home on the “keep” side and work that needs to be finished or corrected will go home on the “return” side. If your child brings something home on the return side, please make sure they complete the assignment and send it back to school the next day. Parent Folders are used daily. Just remember, Agenda and Parent Folders… “don’t leave home without them!” Homework binders will be used to transport math facts and vocabulary words to and from school. Occasionally, I will send home short stories, poems, or “nonsense” words in these binders for your child to practice his/her reading fluency. These binders should come and go each day, just like the agenda and parent folder. *Math Facts -Stored in the zipper pouch -Should be studied and memorized (the goal is not to count with fingers) -Students will have a specific day on which they are tested. -If your child receives new math facts on Monday, he/she will have a week to study and will be tested the following Monday.
MONDAY = Blue Pouch TUESDAY = Green Pouch WEDNESDAY = Pink Pouch THURSDAY = Purple Pouch FRIDAY = Make-Up Testing **If we are out of school, students will be tested the next school day.
-Math facts memorized, will move to the back of the zipper pouch and ones not memorized stay in front with new math facts for the upcoming week. (The process continues…) **Please do not “mix” the facts** *Vocabulary Words -Stored in front binder pocket -Review from Kindergarten -Selection words from upcoming reading story **I will “spot check” vocabulary words on your child’s assigned day *Short Stories, Poems, Nonsense Words -Stored in binder pocket -Read at least 2-3 times to practice fluency -Should be practiced at home and returned to binder (only have one copy!)
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Other Information
Grading Policy: On your child’s report card for the first six weeks, it will simply say “readiness” since we review kindergarten skills. Grades will be issued during the second six weeks. Here is our grading scale:
93-100 = A 85-92 = B 75-84 = C 70-74 = D Below 70 = F *Spelling will begin the second six weeks. **A letter beside the number indicates the assignment went in my grade book.
Attendance Policy: Your child is allowed 5 absences without a doctor’s excuse. After that, a doctor’s excuse will be needed. For every day a student is absent, he or she will be given 2 days to complete the missed assignments. The teacher has discretion as to whether or not tests can be made up due to unexcused absences. I strongly suggest that you avoid appointments during school hours, especially on Fridays (“test days.”)
Arriving at School: The classroom doors will open at 7:35. If your child arrives at school before this time, he or she must go to the gym for bus duty (unless the cafeteria is open for breakfast.) If your child arrives after 7:45, he or she must enter through the front doors and go directly to the office. The secretary will issue a “tardy note,” and then your child may come on into our classroom.
Transportation: Please send a note anytime there is a change in afternoon transportation.
Field Trips: During first grade, your child will go on two field trips. The first will be in the fall/winter to the News Channel 9 Science Theater and Cici’s Pizza. The second trip will be in the spring to Mayfield Dairy and a park. Please note that chaperone attire should be that fitting the reputation of Hopewell Elementary. *All students must ride the bus, even if a parent chaperones.
Website: Hopewell’s website is www.hopewellelementary.com. Our page can be found under “classroom pages” on which you will find information pertaining to our class as a whole. My webpage is updated weekly. You will also find lots of school-wide information on the Hopewell site.
Email: My email address is amontgomery@bradleyschools.org. This can be an easy way for us to communicate throughout the school day. I try to check my email during breaks and my planning period.
Birthdays: Birthdays are very important, and I want to make your child’s “big day” very special. You are welcome to send a treat (cupcakes, cookies, etc.) on birthdays, but please let me know a few days in advance so I can make arrangements. Generally, our birthday parties will take place the last 20-30 minutes of the day depending on the class schedule.
Cafeteria Accounts: School lunch costs $ 1.75 per day. School breakfast costs $1.05 per day, and milk costs $.35. Free and Reduced Lunch Applications are provided for parents interested. Whenever sending money to school, please remember to do the following: -Place the money in a small white envelope. -On the front of the envelope, write your child’s first and last name, teacher’s name (Mrs. Montgomery), and “Cafeteria Lunch Money.” -Place envelope inside the front agenda pocket.
*Suggestion: Try to pay for your child’s meals a week at a time so he/she does not have to carry money to school everyday.
Snacks: Each day we will have a morning snack. Children are to bring their own snacks from home. Some healthy suggestions are as follows: dry cereal, granola bars, goldfish, pretzels, etc. (No candy will be allowed for snack.) I will try to have a few extra snacks on-hand, so if children forget their snacks, I will gladly give them one of the extras. However, I cannot promise that I will always have extra, so if you would like to donate a box of “community” snacks that would be greatly appreciated! A pre-filled water bottle is strongly suggested for snack time, recess, and P.E. days.
Class Parties: We are allowed two class parties a year. Our class will have a Christmas party and an Easter party. I will ask parent volunteers to send food, drinks, etc. for these parties. Although we will not have actual parties, we will have special activities for other holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Halloween. I will send more detailed information as these holidays approach.
Parent Volunteers: I am so glad you are reading this section because that means you are probably interested in giving of yourself to help serve your child and his or her classmates. I will need parents to help with A.R. testing (usually done first thing in the morning), stapling graded work packets (every Monday), making copies, and creating workstation activities. Volunteers will work in the Parent Volunteer room when making copies, grading papers, or cutting out projects. I am always thrilled to have parent volunteers, and I know that your child gets very excited when someone he or she loves comes to school. However, we need to make sure that your presence is not a distraction to your child. If you volunteer, please make sure your child understands that the rules still apply even when you are there. If you are unable to volunteer during school hours due to scheduling conflicts but still have a desire to serve, please let me know and I will find some “work” that can be completed from your home. Once again, THANK YOU for volunteering!
Conferences: Conferences are held throughout the school year. If I feel your child is having trouble either academically or behaviorally I will request a conference. You also have the right to request a conference at any time. In order to protect valuable teaching time, all conferences must be scheduled (no “drop-ins.”) If you wish to schedule a conference, call the school or email me to set up a date and time.
Afternoon Dismissal Procedures: Car riders must remain quiet so they (and others) can hear their names called. Each grade group sits together, and students cannot move to sit with siblings. If your child talks or misbehaves, I will receive a bus duty referral. They will receive consequences the next school day for their misbehavior. If problems continue, he or she will be sent to Mr. Riggs. A reminder about afternoon pick-up---you must have a Hopewell bus duty sign to take your child. Even if the bus duty teacher knows you, he or she is not allowed to let your child go without the Hopewell bus duty sign.
PTO Meetings: We will have a PTO meeting every two months. These meetings are on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 and usually last 30-45 minutes. It is very important for parents to be involved and informed at Hopewell. As an incentive to attend, each child who has a family member present at the PTO meeting will receive a piece of candy the next day at school.
Friday Fun: On Fridays, before we pack up to go home, our class will have two very fun activities: Treasure Chest and Show- and-Tell. In order to pick a prize from the Treasure Chest, a student must have pulled 0-1 cards that week. If a child pulled 2 or more cards, then he/she will have to try again next week to earn Treasure Chest. **Every few months our Treasure Chest runs low…Please send in small toys, etc. to keep it full of fun!
After Treasure Chest, we will continue the fun with Show-and-Tell. This is a fun time for students to “be the teacher.” They stand in front of the class, show their item, and tell the class why it is special to them. A Show-and- Tell item must be brought from home.
One more thing…. If your child tells you he/she does not feel well, send me a note in his/her agenda. Please do not tell them the teacher will call home if they feel worse because they will be relentless until I call you. Sending this note is the best way to communicate this to me, otherwise you will probably receive a call by 8:00.
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Montgomery’s Monkeys