McMurray Elementary School Welcome! McMurray Elementary School Mrs. Schinosi and Mrs. Vance 2014-2015

Mrs. Schinosi ELA/Social Studies Teacher Graduated from IUP-Elementary Education 20th year in Peters Township Resident of Peters Township

Mrs. Vance Math/Science Teacher Graduated from Penn State – Elementary Education 8th year teaching fourth grade Grew up in Peters Township

Website www.vanceschinosi.weebly.com

2 items come home EVERY evening Assignment Notebook (Student Planner) Take Home/VIP Folder Sometimes students will bring home the accordion as well.

Assignment Book/Planner All homework assignments are written from the assignment board/projector at the end of each day. Please check the assignment notebook daily. This has the most up to date information. Assignments, tests, quizzes and projects are also posted on our website. Every Friday the next school week is updated with tests, quizzes, projects and special events.

“VIP” or Take Home Folder Empty Keep at Home side EVERY night. Your child will complete homework assignments in the Return to School side. Please go through all papers carefully as we can’t guarantee all papers get in the correct pocket each day!

Accordion Each subject has its own pocket to keep your child organized. Folders will be emptied as needed at school. Please do not throw anything away or keep anything at home. This is like their desk away from school.

Homework Policy If your child has more than an hour of nightly homework, please ask your child… Why? Missed homework assignments are recorded in the back of the assignment notebook. Please check the missed assignment log daily and sign it if needed. After a 4th missed assignment, an after school detention will be assigned by your child’s teacher (3:30-4:15). All textbooks and workbooks are at the PT Public Library. Homework is your child’s responsibility, not your responsibility. 

Classroom Rules Respect Responsibility Honesty

Power School All graded assignments are posted on Power School. We enter a missing label or “0” if something is not turned in on time or missing. Access is available through the internet. You can have a weekly report emailed. If you do not have access codes or internet availability, please check with secretaries in the office.

Friday Newsletter Newsletters will be posted on our website and emailed only every Friday starting in October! Please email your child’s teacher if you are not already receiving it via email. Includes: A note from your teacher Weekly Spelling/Vocabulary words Curriculum Corner Important Dates/Announcements Specials Schedule

Our Schedule Copy is posted on the website We now work on a M-F Schedule Our schedule is ALWAYS subject to change!

Lunch and Recess Lunch is from 11:33-11:53 daily unless an alternate schedule is in effect. Students have approximately 20 minutes to eat. Recess is after lunch. (11:53-12:13)

Absent? If your child is absent, we must receive a request for work by noon if you would like to pick up work for your child. Work will be placed in the office by 3:30pm. The office is open until 4:00 for pick up. Work will not be sent home with a sibling or another student unless you make arrangements directly with them for them to pick it up in the office at the end of the day.

School Supplies Please replenish as needed throughout the school year Pencils, glue sticks, and dry erase markers are used most often.

Writing Grammar Language Arts Reading Spelling

ELA Usually one story from the reading book each 5-8 school days Novels are integrated throughout the year. Reading Quiz will be announced weekly English Quiz will be announced weekly Spelling Test usually every Friday Writing is integrated throughout the year. We will use the Accelerated Reader (AR) Program throughout the year. http://www.ptsd.k12.pa.us/ AR October-read one book within your ZPD AR 2nd, 3rd, and 4th nine weeks- goal based (25pts)

Math

Math Curriculum enVision Math Units of Study: Homework: Basic Facts: Operations and Algebraic Thinking Number and Operations in Base Ten Number and Operations – Fractions Measurement and Data Geometry Homework: Assignments will be given nightly based on Quick Check performance to be done as Reteach, Practice or Enrichment. Basic Facts: Basic facts should be practiced at home regularly. Students will be assessed on their basic facts beginning in the second nine weeks. Tests and Quizzes: Please look in the assignment book and on the website for upcoming test and quizzes. Quizzes are given at the midpoint of each Topic, and tests are given at the end of each Topic.

Science Mrs. Vance Safety Scientific Method Matter Plants and Ecology Water Weather Forces and Motion

Social Studies Mrs. Schinosi Pennsylvania History Geography Pennsylvania Government and Economics US Regions States and Capitals

Specials Art/Music/Physical Education/Spanish Daily from 1:42 to 2:16 Rotations throughout the year Physical Education always at least one day each rotation Listed on the Friday Newsletter/Website

Library Our librarian is Mrs. Owens. Our class visits once a week.

Computer Applications Ms. Hall is the computer applications teacher Meets in LAB 214 one day each week during the first 3 nine weeks only. Combination of keyboarding and computer skills

RTI/SWE Reinforcement/Enrichment for Reading Integrated into Reading twice each week during the EXPLORE time

Band and Orchestra Instrument demo was on Wednesday 30 minute lessons once each week Instruments must be brought on the day of the lesson. Students may NOT call home for forgotten instruments. Reminder notices are placed on student desks.

Chorus Mr. McGough Information was sent home to enroll your child Before/After School Concert in the spring

Parent /Teacher Conferences Sign ups for conferences will be at Open House in October. We look forward to discussing your child’s progress in 4th grade at our scheduled conference.

Thank You!!!