1. Welcome to the Voyager Team 2015- 2016 Mrs. Julie Fitzgerald jfitzgerald@umasd.org610-205-8894 Mrs. Traci Papst tpapst@umasd.org610-205-8900 Mrs. Mindy Wood mwood@umasd.org610-205-8896

2. Learning is our Voyage Knowledge is our Quest The world is our Classroom

3. Voyager Teacher Beliefs Kids should be kids Family time is important Homework is not busy work Learning should be meaningful/relevant Everyone makes mistakes and can learn from them Manners matter Good work habits (organization/study skills) will take your child far

4. Communication between Home & School Weekly Homework Sheet –Homework and due dates –Notes from teachers to parents or vice versa Home Folder –District, team, and office notices and fliers –Keep at home or bring back to school Sapphire Parent portal –Contact the office/technology department to sign up –Access your child ’ s grades & important information Schoology –Parent access code (sent home earlier in the year) –Homework calendar –Assignments for some classes

5. How can parents help? Pencils! Check every night that your child has 2 sharpened pencils! Review homework sheet with your child each night Folder clean out once a week and definitely monthly check ups. –Do it together, don ’ t discard anything recent, email me if you are unsure! Red HOME folder Bring back to school –Homework from each class –Report card envelopes –Permission slips –Important district papers Leave at home »tests, graded class work, Scholastic fliers, interims, etc. Organize home folder each Friday Ask your child to talk to about what happened in each subject!

6. Grades Differences between 4 th and 5 th grade report cards Must knows… –Beginning of the marking period –Interims Honor Roll & Distinguished Honor Roll Awards Grades 90-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C 65-69% D <65% F

7. Important Parent Information Student Handbook = Key Information –available online –read through with your child Arrival by 7:50 –It ’ s better for your child ’ s organization and sanity if arrival was by 7:40. By 8:00 students are expected to be in their seat ready to start the day.

8. Important Parent Information District early dismissals –90 minute – 1:25 dismissal –Half Days - 11:10 dismissal End of the day –2:55 – dismissal bell rings –Students are to leave the building unless they are signed up for an afterschool activity with a club or teacher –Afterschool activities Clubs, intramurals, music rehearsals Detentions held by principals in library 4:30 afterschool busses

9. Important Parent Information Absences –a handwritten note MUST be sent in to the school within 5 days. E-mail teachers or call the office in the morning with directions on how we can get your child ’ s missed work home to him/her! tpapst@umasd.org jfitzgerald@umasd.org mwood@umasd.org

10. Parties & Birthdays Team parties –Fliers will be emailed home for food sign ups –Book & Breakfast Fall Party –New Year’s Eve Party –End of the Year Luau Birthday treats –We are a peanut/nut free team –Email teacher with day of delivery –Approximately 25 students in homeroom –Send in treats with ingredients list

11. 5 th Grade Outdoor School Dates: May 9, 10, 11 Cost: $105 (payable in monthly payments or lump sum) Memories: Priceless Overnight camp in Horsham –Team building activities –Environmental and hands-on science and math lessons –Certified staff with clearances –Secure cabins with teacher chaperones –Family style meals –Scavenger hunts and campfire –Plenty of singing, dancing, and tomfoolery

12. Ipads Paperwork –sent home on 9/15 –due 9/22 Voyagers receive ipads on 10/6 Parent ipad training 10/7 –7:00-8:00pm in the MS auditorium Must knows… –need to have earbuds for class –charge ipad nightly for homework Safe, consistent location –bring to school everyday –keep away from pets and siblings –All online activities at home and school will be monitored when synced at school

13. Community of Caring Respect, Responsibility, Trust, Caring, and Family –These values will be emphasized and explored on a monthly basis throughout the building. Student of the month –Respect Words, actions, property, self, and others

14. Community of Caring –Responsibility!?! 5 th graders are expected to be more independent Agenda use will aid in organization Place to put papers or organize long term projects at home –Trust & Caring Safe zone to try our best, make mistakes, support one another, turn our failures into successes, and be positive role models to one another

15. Community of Caring –Family involvement is so important!!!! –There is a zero tolerance policy for bullying.

16. Tonight’s Schedule TimeLocation 6:30-7:00School FYI – Meet principals and counselors Auditorium 7:00-7:15Homeroom teacherC117 Fitzgerald C119 Wood C123 Papst 7:18-7:33Block 1 7:36-7:51Block 2 7:54-8:09Block 3 8:15-8:35One of the following: Unified Arts Gym (cafeteria) Curriculum Extension Gifted Services Library (portal sign up) School store (cafeteria) Your child’s locker Head home locations vary