MR. MCCORD’S CLASS ABC’s of Third Grade

A Agenda- Agendas will come home each night with homework written as well as any other reminders and announcements. Please review this with your child and help to teach them the responsibility of completing their homework each night. Parents should initial each night. Attendance – be sure to send a written note if your child is absent or tardy! Being at school on time is very important! Please be sure to read the Cobb County Attendance Policy.  3 Unexcused Absences = teacher makes contact  5 Unexcused Absences = letter from administration  7 Unexcused Absences = social worker referral  Excessive absences, either excused or unexcused, can lead to a social worker referral also.  Excessive tardies and early checkouts will also impact learning negatively. Appropriate Dress – Students should wear tennis shoes on PE days (__ and __). Also, please send a jacket if your child gets cold frequently!

B Birthdays- Please feel free to send in a special birthday treat for your child to share or join us for lunch that day. Please give me advance notice due to food allergies in the class. If you send invitations in to class, please include all students. (Lunch time is 11:48 – 12:18) Blog- My blog is updated twice a month. You can get to it via the Mtn. View home page and there is a link to sign-up for s. ** Please refer to the Blog regularly as this year most of our communication will be given this way! If you do not have access to internet, please let me know so that I can make sure you get paper copies throughout the year. Bus Lot – Please do not park or drive through the bus area for any reason! Public Safety officers will be ticketing! Buzz in System – Our school security system requires that all exterior doors be locked during the school day. Therefore, you must be buzzed in to enter the building and you must state your reason for visiting before they will allow you to enter. Bookmarks – Students are required to complete 5 bookmarks at home on books that they read each nine weeks. Students who turn in all 5 will receive a treat!

C Common Core Curriculum - If you have any questions about the third grade curriculum, The Cobb County website is a great resource. We will also be discussing third grade curriculum specifically during Curriculum Night next week. Conferences- Elementary school conferences will be held once a year, October 19th – 23rd for all students. If you have concerns and want to come in sooner, please send me an and I will be happy to schedule a conference with you. Check Out – If you are checking your child out early, please pick them up BEFORE 2:00pm so that it doesn’t interfere with our regular dismissal. Car Riders – Please get a car rider tag from the front office if you haven’t done so yet. For more information, please see Car Rider Procedures at

D Dismissal- Please send IN WRITING any changes to dismissal in your child’s green communication folder. ( s cannot be accepted for dismissal changes!) Discipline- Token system is a positive behavior system I use to reward good behavior. I will use this to allow students to earn rewards. Consequences include self-reflection in a focus chair, time-out in other classroom, or loss of privilege. Drop off time – 7:20 and no earlier! Daily 5 – R esearch based management program for small group instruction of reading. Many students are already familiar with this system from previous years.

E - My Cobb county address is as follows: Early Release Days – October 19 th – 23 rd for conference week. Envelopes – please be sure that all money and checks are placed in a labeled envelope specifically stating what it is for.

F Field Trips- The third grade team will plan field trips throughout the year. Please look for the permission slips in your child’s folder and send any money back in the attached envelope if necessary. Folders - There is a blue communication folder that should be checked nightly and returned to school the next day, and a red homework folder to be returned on Fridays. Fridays – wear your Mountain View Spirit Wear! Fire Lane – in front of the main office is the fire lane. You may not park there during the day where the curb is red or you will be ticketed. It is for drop off and pick up only in the morning and at dismissal. Any other time you MUST park and walk to the front door.

G Guests – Please register in the front office when you arrive to visit the school for any reason. Don’t forget your visitors sticker! Geology Rocks! - A phenomenal performance by our talented third graders is coming your way! Stay tuned for more info!  We need 1-2 volunteers to help w/the Geology Rocks musical. Fortunately, we have almost everything, but could use some help with hanging the backdrop, a few costumes, repairs, etc. Please contact Mrs. Mason or myself if you are interested.

H Holiday Parties- There are 2 celebrations throughout the year. One will be the week we dismiss for winter break and the other is the last week of school. Please be mindful of the many peanut allergies in our grade level! Homework – Your child will have a red homework folder with assignments each week. It should be kept in their backpacks at all times, and turned in on Fridays. Healthy Snack – Please send one daily! Cakes, chips, and candy are not appropriate snacks! Ideas might be a small box of cheerios, a bag of pretzels, fresh fruit, etc. Thank you in advance!

I Ice Cream- Please send any ice cream money in an envelope or container with your child’s name on it. Loose coins are vulnerable to getting misplaced. You may also use your lunch account to buy ice cream. Identify all belongings by labeling with your child’s name, especially COATS, lunchboxes, backpacks, and personal books! Independence! – 3 rd grade students are expected to take responsibility for their actions, their belongings, and their homework!

J Journals – we will have a Language Arts, Math, and Writing journal this year to be done on weekly or sometimes daily basis. We will also have a Reader’s Notebook.

K Kindness – our classroom is a safe and kind place where everyone is respected and cherished!

L Lunch - Our lunch time is 11:48-12:18. Please feel free to join us for lunch anytime. Lunch Money- Please send lunch money in your child’s folder in a sealed envelope with their name and teacher. Regular lunch: $2.15 Milk: $0.60 * We encourage you to use Meal Pay accessed through the county website!

M Media Center- Two books may be checked out at a time in third grade. Our class will occasionally take scheduled trips to the library, however if your child needs to get a new book they can do so at any time before announcements, or other designated times throughout the school day. Medicines – If your child needs medication, paperwork must be filled out through the clinic and the medication must remain there. Students may not have medication in their backpacks, and I cannot administer any medication unless instructed to do so by the school nurse. Mandated Reporter Law – By law, volunteers are now mandated reporters in child abuse. Please review the flyer on the Mountain View website or in the front office. Mission and Vision Statement – Next Slide

Vision Statement Our vision is for all children to appreciate life-long learning and become productive citizens in society. Mission Statement Our mission is to provide a learning environment that ensures every student is provided with the necessary tools to perform to their maximum potential academically, socially, physically and emotionally throughout their educational experience. Mountain View Elementary School

Mountain View Elementary School Strategic Goals Students will demonstrate proficiency at or above grade level in math. Students will demonstrate proficiency at or above grade level in writing. Teachers will increase the degree to which they work in teams through structures and opportunities for collaborative planning.

P Playground- Donations for playground equipment such as kickballs, jump ropes, and sidewalk chalk are very much appreciated. PTA – Please join! We need 100% participation from our class! Performing Arts – This year students will participate in many performing arts programs that will be brought to our school for everyone to enjoy. It is extremely important that we have the permission slip returned in order for your child to participate in these events. Donations are optional.

Q Questions? Please ALWAYS feel free to ask! The best way to reach me is through , but I am also available to talk over the phone, through a note in your child’s folder, or in person if you would like to set an appointment.

R Report cards- Third grade has a standards based report card similar to the second grade reporting system. It will be sent home every nine weeks. Room Mom- Our class room mom(s) will be sending e- mails throughout the year with important information and opportunities to participate in different events. Reading! – Please make it a point to read with your child EVERY night! We require 20 minutes of reading each night, and there will be a reading log to record each night. Reading logs will be checked on Fridays with their homework folder.

S SmartBoard – We will be taking advantage of the many possibilities awaiting us this year on our interactive SmartBoard! Specials Schedule -  Monday – PE  Tuesday – ART  Wednesday –MUSIC  Thursday – PE  Friday – COMPUTER

T Tests- Third graders will be taking the CoGat and IOWA tests in the fall, and the Georgia Milestones in the spring. T-Shirts – I have no information yet on T-shirts for this year, but I assume we will be getting class t-shirts along with Mad Dash again this year. I will pass along information to you as soon as I have it!

U,V,W Volunteers – always welcome! Let the room mom know what you would like to help with if you haven’t already expressed that to me. Wish List – Please donate to our classroom if you are able! We are in need of a lot of items to help make our year a successful one! Thank you so much for your support! Water- Students can have water bottles. Please send ONLY reusable bottles with a pop-top, no-spill lid. Disposable bottles are more frequently spilled because the lids don’t stay on tight, and make more messes!  Also, students may not bring any drink other than water to have in the classroom. They may bring juice or something else for lunch, but in the classroom we only allow water in order to prevent sticky spills and stains.

Wellness Wednesdays Fresh Fruit/Veggie Snacks

Wellness Wednesdays ➢ Students are encouraged to bring fresh fruit or veggies for snack each Wednesday. ➢ Fruit donations are provided to one grade level each week. ➢ Our Partners in Education and other local businesses in our community are sponsoring this program. Please visit them. ➢ Parents: The cost is $30 to sponsor a grade level. Please consider sponsoring a week for this great program. Visit for more info or

X, Y,Z YOU! Are very important to your child’s success in second grade, be sure to support them in any way you can! Yes, your child will have a great year in third grade!!!

Information from Administration CAR RIDER PROCEDURES AT MORNING DROP OFF/CAR POOL LINE BEGINS AT 7:20. LATE AFTERNOON CHECK OUT NEEDS TO OCCUR PRIOR TO 2:00. FROM 2:00-2:30, OUR FRONT OFFICE IS VERY BUSY WITH DISMISSAL. ATTENDANCE POLICY BUS LOT/FIRE LANE TRANSPORTATION CHANGES MANDATED REPORTER LAW BUZZ IN SYSTEM

Computer Class request In need of tissues!!! PLEASE!