Welcome to Parent Night 2011-2012 Carla Dudley and Carissa Blackerby’s Classroom Information

OMIS Mission Statement The mission of Oak Mountain Intermediate School is to transition fourth and fifth grade students from early childhood to early adolescence by promoting responsibility, independence, character development, and academic growth

Vision Statement The vision of Oak Mountain Intermediate School is to become an exemplary model amongst nationally recognized schools of excellence.

Classroom Goals for the Year Build a community of learners in the classroom involving parents, students, and teachers. Create life-long learners, readers, and writers among students. Relate all subject areas to real-life experiences. Help students to become responsible, independent, and cooperative learners.

Specials Lunch Dudley 11:36-12:02 Blackerby 11:40-12:06 Physical Education Daily 1:20-1:55 Science Lab (every other week) Dudley Thursday 9:15-10:00 Blackerby Thursday 10:20-11:05 Computer Lab (every other week) Dudley Thursday 10:20-11:05 Blackerby Thursday 9:15-10:00 Art Dudley Tuesday 10:10-10:50 Blackerby Wednesday 10:10-10:50 Music Dudley Wedneday 10:10-10:50 Blackerby Tuesday 10:10-10:50

Classroom Expectations The following is a list of the Classroom Expectations. We have already discussed these with the classes and they know our expectations and responsibilities in our classroom. We exercise courtesy and respect towards all students and expect the same from them. Your child should be able to explain this policy to you as well. Follow all directions Respect all property, teachers, students, and staff Listen when the teacher or another student has the floor Use the correct volume Use self-control in the classroom, hallway, restroom, lunchroom, and outdoors Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself

Consequences If a student chooses to act irresponsibly, he/she must pull a card on the Behavior Chart. The consequences increase in severity each time a student pulls a card. The consequences are as follows: Green – No reminders  Blue – First reminder (Official Warning) Yellow- Second reminder (Silent Lunch) Peach – Third reminder (Sit out at Recess, miss Fun Friday, and student will write a note home to parent to be signed) *Severe or chronic behavior may result in an office referral and the parents will be called (or note home).* *The above steps can be skipped if deemed necessary by teacher and/or administration.*

Conduct Grade Disciplinary action starts fresh at the beginning of each new day; however, conduct marks accumulated over the nine weeks will determine the final report card conduct grade. 0-3 Yellow or Peach Cards= Satisfactory (S) 4-6 Yellow or Peach Cards= Progressing (P) 7+ Yellow or Peach Cards= Not Progressing(N) Conduct Sheets will be sent home in the Blue Progress Folder each Friday. These should be signed and returned by Monday.

Anti-Harassment Policy If you or your child feel as though your child has been harassed or bullied, it should be reported via a specific form located on our website. You will also find this form on our blog.

Anti-Harassment Form Step One: Go to Shelby County Schools Website Step Two:  At the top left corner of the screen there are two options that will link you to the form 1)    Click on Parents then click on Harassment Reporting or 2)    Click on Students and in the listing provided look for Safety and to the right of that category click on Harassment Reporting

Behavior Sheet & Graded Paper Packets Weekly folders will be sent home most Fridays to keep you informed of your child’s progress academically as well as behaviorally. Please sign and return the folder WITH THE PAPERS by Monday of the following week. If you need verification of grades or current averages, please let us know.

Parent Communication The students have a red folder for daily communication. A newsletter is written regularly to communicate things that are happening in the classroom and around the school. The memo will be emailed or sent home in your child’s Red Daily Folder. We may also send emails, notes, or write in their assignment pad for communication purposes. You may email us at school anytime: Carissa Blackerby cblackerby@shelbyed.k12.al.us Carla Dudley cdudley@shelbyed.k12.al.us . Please understand that our response may not be immediate. You may also refer to the classroom blog for information. We post the weekly newsletter there, as well as announcements, comments, and study material, when applicable. http://podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/cblackerby

Birthdays We love to celebrate birthdays. You are welcome to send a healthy snack to school to celebrate your child’s birthday. The snack will be served at the end of lunch as a dessert. Please note that we do not allow floral deliveries, balloons, or limo rides.

Conferences We encourage parents to schedule conferences with us whenever they feel we need to discuss their child’s progress either academically or behaviorally. Please leave us a message with Julie Brane in the office at 682-5220, and we will contact you to set up a conference. You may also contact us via email to schedule a conference. Our conference time this year is 1:20-1:55 Tuesday-Thursday.

Absences Please send a written excuse of illness or verification of doctor/dentist visits for each absence. Please write your child’s full name on the excuse and sign with your full name. This helps the office tremendously. We must turn these in to the office so the absence can be counted as excused. It will be considered unexcused after THREE DAYS with no verification. Please refer to the Code of Conduct for specific details on make up work policies. Please give special attention to prior permission for family trips/travel and the emergency clause. **Make sure to read the Attendance Policy!

Absences For assignments that were due on the day in which the student was absent, provided that the due date was previously communicated prior to the students’ absence, the student should be prepared to turn in the assignment upon returning to school.

Cell Phone Use Cell phones brought to school must be stored in a backpack. Cell phones cannot be audible or visible during the school day. Please do not turn your child’s cell phone on and place it in the backpack before school. The phone may be turned on when the child gets off the bus in the afternoon. The school is not responsible for attempting to recover lost or stolen cell phones. 1st Violation (Warning Given) Cell phone held in office until end of school day and child may pick up 2nd Violation (In-school Detention) Cell phone held in office for parent to pick up 3rd Violation (In-School Suspension) Student will not be allowed to bring cell phone to school for the remainder of the year.

Field Trips Field trips are planned during the year. A permission slip will be sent home before each trip. Please send back the permission slip and money due as soon as possible.

Meal Charges Please make sure your child has money for meals daily. Funds are not allotted for “charges”. Please remember to WRITE YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND ACCOUNT NUMBER ON ALL CHECKS AND INCLUDE ALL MONEY IN AN ENVELOPE WITH THE CHILD’S NAME AND LUNCH NUMBER. Please do not bring in any outside food (such as McDonald’s) into the lunch room for your child to eat. You are invited to eat lunch with us any time during the school year.

Homework We assign homework in order to reinforce concepts that are discussed and practiced in class. We also want students to practice responsibility and time management when working at home. We do not feel like we give a lot of homework; however, there may be nights in which it is heavier than others. Please know that if your child does not finish his/her class work, it is also included in their homework load. Therefore, homework will essentially be doubled. “OMIS Late Work Grading Policy” will be enforced with homework assignments we collect.

Please Sign and Return the following Completed Paper Work : Parent and Student Acknowledgement Form Code of Conduct and Attendance Attendance Policy OMIS Answers to Questions OMIS Late Work Policy OMIS Emergency Dismissal Plan Mrs. Blackerby and Mrs. Dudley’s Discipline Plan