MS. DAMATO’S FIFTH GRADE CLASS OPEN HOUSE

AGENDA TITLE 1 ATTENDANCE UNIFORM POLICY LUNCH FIELD TRIPS SPIRIT/DRESS DOWN MONEY COMMUNICATION Common Core Curriculum Home Learning Volunteer Non-Negotiable Class Rules Reward System Behavior System Please write your questions on the index cards. I will address them at the end of the presentation. I will not be able to answer specific questions about your children due to confidentiality requirements.

DEPARTMENTALIZED CLASSROOM This year students will be working with: Ms. Damato- Reading, Language Arts, and Social Studies Ms. Toribio- math and science

WHAT IS TITLE 1? TITLE I IS THE LARGEST FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR OUR NATION’S SCHOOLS. THE GOAL OF TITLE I IS A HIGHER QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD. THE PROGRAM SERVES MILLIONS OF CHILDREN IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS EACH YEAR. SOMERSET MIRAMAR IS A TITLE I SCHOOL. “WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TITLE I” BROCHURES ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR FRONT OFFICE. FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TITLE I, PLEASE ATTEND OUR FIRST SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING IN THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER.

HOW TITLE I WORKS The federal government provides funding to states each year for Title I. The Florida Department of Education sends the money to the district. The school district identifies eligible schools (based on the number of students receiving free/reduced lunches)and allocates Title I funds. Somerset Miramar implements a school wide Title I program. This means that all students receive the benefits of our Title I funding.

SCHOOL STATUS AND TESTING As part of our Title I compliance, we are expected to reach certain achievement levels dictated by our School Improvement Plan. We utilize FCAT (grades 3-8), Primary Reading and Math tests (grades 1-2), and FAIR tests (grade K) to determine our achievement levels. Our elementary and middle school are both “A” rated schools!!

WORKING TOGETHER! Title I law requires meaningful involvement of parents in the decisions made at our school. How we work together is listed in our: School Level Parent Involvement Plan; District level Parent Involvement Plan Parent-School Compact Title I Plan (School Improvement Plan) All information is available on our school website, but the best way you can be involved is by participating in our School Advisory Council. (SAC) If you have any questions, please contact a member of our administration or our Title I liaison- Ms.Calvacca.

ATTENDANCE  Students should be dropped off by 7:45 am. School starts promptly at 8:00 am. After 8:00am the student will be marked as tardy and will a late slip to enter the classroom. Students who arrive late miss critical instruction.  They must be picked up between 2:45pm-3:00pm. (After 3pm they will be sent to the office. Late fees may apply.)  If you need to pick up your child early, they must be signed out first in the main office. students may not be picked up for early release between 2:15 p.m. and dismissal time without at least 24 hours notice, a doctor’s note, and/or notification of a family emergency.  If your child has been absent, you must send me a note to document the reason for the absence. If I don’t receive a note the absence will remain unexcused.

UNIFORM POLICY  Uniforms are mandatory and must be clean, in good condition, and have the correct embroidery on it.  Bottoms, skirts, jumpers and polos are required to have the Somerset Academy Miramar embroidery. Belts must be worn daily. (Underwear and socks must also be worn everyday, it is part of the uniform.)  Cover-ups jackets must be solid navy blue. No writing other that our school logo is permitted. They may be purchased from the uniform store or any retailer. The classrooms can get cold; therefore, we encourage you to purchase at least one sweater or jacket for your child.  Socks and closed shoes must always be worn. No Crocs, flip flops, or sandals are allowed. No sneakers with lights, wheels or sounds, please.  Jewelry: Girls should only wear small post earrings.  P.E. Shirts and Spirit Shirts are available to be purchased only at the school and must be preordered. Order forms were sent home the first week of school. Until P.E. Shirts come in, students should wear a plain gray t-shirt. P.E. Uniform bottoms must be plain navy blue sport shorts. They may be purchased at the uniform store.  Please make sure your child wears the correct uniform everyday and has their shirt tucked in. Starting next week of school uniform infractions will be given.

LUNCH  You may choose to send your child to school with lunch from home or they may purchase school lunch for $3.50. Please remember that we are not allowed to heat food for your child if they are bringing food from home.  Checks for lunch must be made in amounts of $20 or more and must be made out to “Somerset Food Service”. Elementary Lunch Reduced Regular Price $.40 $3.50  I strongly encourage that you apply for free or reduced lunch. (I distributed this form last week. Additionally, it can benefit the school in that if just over 50% of our students qualify for free or reduced lunch, our school is eligible for significant Title I funding that will allow us to purchase more instructional resources to help our students succeed!  Please pack the appropriate utensils for lunch!

FIELD TRIPS We will be having two or three field trips this year. Students must wear their Spirit Shirts on the trip. Chaperones will be needed. Chaperoning field trips will count towards your volunteer hours. In order to chaperone you must be an approved school volunteer.

SPIRIT AND DRESS DOWN DAYS  Fifth grade Spirit Shirts may be worn with jeans bottoms on Spirit Days.  Spirit Days: will be on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month; if there is a 5th Friday, it will be a Spirit Day. Children do not have to pay to wear their Spirit attire.  Dress Down days: will be on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month. It is not a requirement to dress down. The fee for dress down day is $2. (We may have extra dress down days until the Spirit Shirt order arrives.)  On dress down days children must also dress appropriately. No excessive jewelry should be worn or open shoes. Shirts may be worn untucked on these days and belts are not required. However, skirts and dresses should not be short and tops should be long enough to cover their stomachs.

BIRTHDAYS - TOYS  If you wish to have a birthday party during the school day, you may do so during lunch. Our lunch is at 11:35am.  Toys: Toys are not permitted in school. If brought to school they will be held until the December or summer break whichever comes first.

$$MONEY$$ If you are sending any money in to school with your child make sure if is sealed in an envelope and labeled with your child’s name and what the money is for. Thank you! Remember, no checks under $20. I prefer that if you are sending your child to school with cash it be exact. If you are forced to send cash to school and need change I will not be able to provide you with change right away. So, please be patient.

Specials Schedule Quarter 1- Art- Monday through Thursday PE - Fridays (PE uniform and sneakers are required.) Library will be visited on Fridays. Every Friday, we will visit the media center. Students will be able to check out library books at that time. Books are due back prior to the next visit. Please make sure the books are kept in a safe place and remain in good condition. If a book is lost, parents will be responsible for the cost of the book.

PLANNERS, FOLDERS, WEBSITE AND School planners will be used as a daily form of communication. Any question or comment you may have may be addressed inside. Bi-Weekly Progress Report will be going home every other Wednesday unless it’s a short week. The report will note your child’s behavior and academic performance for the previous week. All signed packets must be signed and returned by Friday. is the best way to reach me: Schoolrack.com: The class website can be accessed by going to I have important class information posted. The website will be updated weekly.

CLASSROOM RULES Classroom Rules Follow directions quickly. Raise your hand for permission to speak. Raise your hand for permission to get out of your seat. Make smart choices. Make your teacher happy.

REWARDS Daily rewards: candy, points, coupons, tickets Weekly rewards: class store, student of the week, music on Friday. Monthly rewards: end of day party Students displaying the character traits from the School Board of Broward County are awarded Student of the Month of the class. Character Traits Cooperation (September), Responsibility (October), Citizenship (November), Kindness (December), Respect (January), Honesty (February), Self-control (March), Tolerance (April). “Do the Right Thing!” –Somerset Shark Oath

BEHAVIOR SYSTEM This year we will be using a behavioral “grading” clip chart. Every student starts the day on A. If incidences occur in school, the student will be moved down to B, C, D or F. If your student is on F, you will be contacted the same day the incident occurred. Consequences for poor choices: Loss of point Loss of recess Call home Lunch detention After school detention

COMMON CORE STANDARDS Beginning in the spring of 2009, Governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, 2 territories and the District of Columbia committed to developing a common core of state K-12 English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics standards. Created by teachers, parents, education experts, and others from across the country, the standards provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career. The CCSS demands that students do more research and evidence-based learning to prepare for the work that colleges and employers expect. Students will be writing more papers using many sources and reading more non- fiction than fiction. For example, the standards say that by 5 th grade, students should be reading at least 50% non- fiction texts;standards

THE STANDARDS  College and career readiness  Standards will build on each grade level  Increased rigor  Evidence based responses  Increased text complexity  Emphasis on writing in all subjects

CURRICULUM Social Studies- Social Studies Weekly  Hispanic Heritage  Black History  Multicultural Week  U.S. History

CURICULUM- CONTINUED

ELA- Journeys  Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently.  Compare and contrast text.  Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.  Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.  Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.  Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.

HOME LEARNING, TEXTBOOKS, AND CONFERENCES Homework: Students will receive daily math and reading/language arts homework. IXL and Reading Plus will be assigned on a weekly basis. Students are to read 20 minutes each day and complete reading journal. Students will receive a weekly grade for all assignments. Conferences: There are two mandatory parent/teacher conferences in a year. (Please sign up for your first one tonight). Textbooks: Textbooks should never be taken home. If a book happens to go home with your child by mistake please send it back.

GRADING Grades are based on percentages. – Class participation & homework (15%) – class work (25%) – projects (15%) – tests (30%) - quizzes (15%) Grades will be posted weekly in Pinnacle. » A »80-89 B »70-79 C »69-60 D »59 and below F

CURRICULUM ASSISTANCE This year your child will be taking the Math, Reading and Science FCAT. Students must receive a passing score in order to be promoted to 6 th grade. Free reading is offered by invitation from teacher. School sponsored FCAT tutoring will be offered in the fall. Information will follow.

VOLUNTEER Remember you need 30 hours!!! We need your help! Parents are needed to help with... A.being an overseer for small group work B.calling students back to do one on one skill practice C.donating/contributing items for classroom use: 1- books for literacy centers (specific titles) 2- electric pencil sharpener 3- gift cards to Ace Educational, Visa, Barnes and Noble, Walmart For each $4 spent, you will receive one volunteer hour.

NON NEGOTIABLES Don’t send in checks for amounts smaller than $20 Make sure if you are sending in money that it is in an envelope labeled with your child’s name Your child must wear the proper uniform everyday including their belt You must meet to conference with me at least 2 times this school year You must complete at least 30 volunteer hours this school year; Do not get out of your car during car pool. It backs up the carpool. Parents must sign bi- weekly report packet.

THANK YOU FOR COMING!!! You may write any questions the index card with your address and I will be sure to get back to you. Please make sure to sign in prior to leaving. I have placed notes on the board for volunteer opportunities. Please feel free to take one. Please remember to sign up for your first school conference.