Back to School Night Tuesday September 29, 2015 Rebecca Wisnieski aka Ms. W

Getting to know me  This is my 11 th year here at Ellis.  I have been teaching for 15 years.  I taught pre k for 3 years and autistic adults for 2 years in New York.  This is my first year teaching 3 rd grade  I have my Masters in Elementary Education.  I am from New York.  My favorite thing to do in my free time is to read.  My favorite books are Harry Potter!

How to get in touch with your teacher  Send a note in your child’s folder.  Check out our class webpage on the Ellis page  Call in the am before 8:30 and after  is the easiest and fastest way to get in touch with me.   Sign up for Bloomz! Bloomz is the easy to use, secure app that connects parents, teachers, and school administrators to build stronger communities around children. Bloomz helps teachers save time in their communication with Parents. Parents stay engaged with their school community, and on top of their child's world. And, schools can deeply connect and coordinate with their community, effectively increasing engagement, satisfaction and retention. The Sign up info is below in the file section. Our class code: ​ MGZR6A

Daily Schedule  9:00-10:15 Math  10:15-11:00 Inquiry  11:00-11:35 Core extension  11:40-12:10 Lunch  12:10-12:25 Recess  12:30-1:15 Encore  1:15-3:40 Language Arts

homework  Read for 20 minutes every night with your child  Journal entry about what was read.

Math Rubric

Explanation of S.T.A.R. Documents “Startastic” Report A “Startastic” Report is included at the back of this booklet. Teachers and staff will send home a “Startastic” certificate with your child when they do something at school that goes above and beyond expectations. In addition, students will be recognized on the morning announcements and a copy of the “Startastic” report will be displayed. We welcome you to stop in and visit our success. Behavior Communicator A Behavior Communicator is used to notify parents of negative behaviors. A Communicator is just as the name says; it is to inform parents of their student’s behavior. It will tell a parent when their child needs extra support from home with behaviors they need to “Think” about. Attitude Check Punch Cards This is a blue card with the 12 Attitudes on it. The entire Ellis staff will be working together to acknowledge students who are practicing the 12 Attitudes. When a student is observed exhibiting one of the 12 Attitudes, any staff member will have the opportunity to reward the child with Attitude Check Punches. The student will receive an Attitude Check Punch Card and every time they are caught going above and beyond they can receive a punch on their card. When a student has received 10 punches they will receive a reward pencil or eraser. Manner Reminder This is a red card that students will receive in the cafeteria for making poor choices. The card will be given to the teacher and she will assign appropriate consequences. If a student has several “Manner Reminders” it could result in a Behavior Communicator to make parents aware of problems in the cafeteria.

Appreciationappreciating the wonder and beauty of the world and its people Commitmentbeing committed to their learning, persevering and showing self-discipline and responsibility Confidence feeling confident in their ability as learners, having the courage to take risks, applying what they have learned and making appropriate decisions and choices Cooperationcooperating, collaborating and leading or following as the situation demands Creativity being creative and imaginative in their thinking and in their approach to problems and dilemmas Curiositybeing curious about the nature of learning and of the world, its people and cultures Empathy imaginatively projecting themselves into another's situation, in order to understand his/her thoughts, reasoning and emotions Enthusiasmenjoying learning Independence thinking and acting independently, making their own judgments based on reasoned principles and being able to defend their judgments. Integrityhaving integrity and a firm sense of fairness and honesty Respectrespecting themselves, others and the world around them Tolerance feeling sensitivity towards differences and diversity in the world and being responsive to the needs of others 12 Attitudes A change in my attitude has the power to change my day.

Balanced They understand the importance of intellectual, physical, and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others. Caring They show empathy, compassion, and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment. Communicator They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and in collaboration with others. Inquirer They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning can be sustained throughout their lives. Knowledgeable They explore concepts, ideas, and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in- depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines. Open-minded They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values, and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience. Principled They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice, and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups, and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them. Reflective They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development. Risk-taker They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas, and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs. Thinker They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions. Learner Profile Reflection Student * Teacher * Parent International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The learner profile consists of the learner outcomes for the program. They are a set of ideals to define the type of learner we hope to develop.

Testing  Students will be expected to take the following tests: CogAts, Naglieri, MAP test in reading and math 3 times a year, end of unit tests, Alternative assessments for Social Studies and Science, SOL’s in Math and Reading. PALS testing 3 times a year.

Behavior Plan  Students receive a weekly behavior calendar.  Students record their behavior in the calendar.  This calendar serves as a communication tool for parents and teachers.  Goal for the day is to earn quality student behavior.  The students reflect on their day and marks it in the correct box.  Reward for quality student behavior star punch in blue card.  Please be sure to discuss your child’s behavior and sign the calendar.

Book borrowing  Students pick books to borrow.  Needs to be returned.  Needs to be treated with respect.  Create good book habits.

Absent  If your child is absent you must call or that day- or send in a note the day your child returns.  We must report attendance every day.  If your child is out with a lot of unexcused absences this is what we have to do-  At 3 absences the teacher will call you.  At 5 absences we will contact the attendance officer and a meeting will be held with the assistant principal to discuss attendance.  Your child can be retained for excessive absences.

Plan on visiting?  The best time to visit with your child is at lunch time.  We have lunch at 11:40  You are more than welcome to come have lunch with your child.

Conference Night  November 3 rd 12pm-7pm (last conference is at 6:30pm)  Each conference will be no longer than 15 minutes due to the number of conferences being held  We will discuss academic and behavior issues at this meeting  I must meet with ALL parents  You MUST be on time

Thank you for coming tonight! Have a great evening! Together we can make this a successful year for your child!