1. Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year!
Mrs. Silk’s Class
Grade 5

2. What we will review tonight…
School Lunch/Policy
Volunteer hours
Lunch procedures
Classroom Expectations
Homework
Classroom Economy
Odds and Ends
Websites
Class blog:
Engrade
Edmodo
Spelling City
Think Central
Class Blog
Clubs
How to contact me 
How students get home
Dress code

3. School Policies Absences Must have excuse note within 48 hours
10 absences are allowed per year. After that, referrals well be given
3 referrals may stop your child from being reenrolled and/or going on class field trips
Volunteer Hours
15 volunteer hours MUST BE DONE by DECEMBER!
You have until the last student day for students to complete your remaining hours.
Lunch
Students must preorder lunch or they will not be able to get hot lunch!
PB&J for those who do not preorder- no excuses

4. Classroom Expectations
Respect!
Respect is my number 1 rule in the class! I expect all students to respect each and every person in this building, their environment, and themselves. Without feeling respected, no one can learn to their highest potential because a lack of respect leads to a fear of being wrong.
We are all wrong every now and then… even adults… its called learning!!!
We have a lot to learn and a lot of questions will need to be asked and explored. To be a TOP PERFORMING class, we MUST be a team and support one another!

5. Homework Policy 5th Grade will have 50 minutes of homework per night
30 minutes of reading
________________________
The breakdown is as follows:
Approximately…
25 minutes of language arts or
social studies
15 minutes of math
10 minutes of science
Homework Policy

6. PLEASE let me know if you have any homework concerns.
Homework Policy
Homework is assigned MONDAY through THURSDAY!!!
Incomplete is considered undone… (Even 2 problems is unfinished homework… you cannot succeed without trying!)
Homework is NOT graded for as an A, B, C, etc. It is graded in that your child has attempted to practice the material.
For Absences: Your child has one day for each day missed to complete missed assignments.
For Projects: Each day the project is late, 10 points will be deducted. (For example, if your child’s project is 2 days late, the highest percentage they can receive is 80%)
On En-Grade, “M” indicates a missing homework assignment. Please watch for this!
Your child’s agenda will be your best friend! Please make sure you check it and initial it every day. Any notes can be written directly into the agendas as we check them daily. Also, any missing homework assignments will be brought to your attention through a form stapled into the agenda for the day. Please sign and return this with your child on the next school day.
NOTE: Homework is intended to cement the knowledge taught to your child throughout the school day! We NEED YOUR HELP in making this the BEST year possible for your child!
PLEASE let me know if you have any homework concerns.

7. Classroom Economy system
To be an active, participating member of society, students must learn the value of money. They must also learn how to spend their own money and manage checks.
Each day students will receive credits and debits in their credit/debit logs.
Credits are given for completing classroom jobs, assisting others, completing homework, and any other reward I feel they deserve.
A debit will be deducted if a child is disrespectful, does not have homework, or in some other manner misbehaves.
At the end of each week, students will fill out a check for their logs (I will check the accuracy) and at the end of the month, I will open the store where students can spend their hard-earned cash! This is a strong volunteer opportunity for parents as I will need help running the store and purchasing supplies.
RULES:
THESE LOGS DO NOT EVER LEAVE THE CLASSROOM!!!
IF THEY DO, ALL MONEY IS DEDUCTED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONTH!
STUDENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO HAVE RED PENS IN CLASS.
IF I SEE A RED PEN, ALL WEEKLY CREDITS ARE TAKEN AWAY AND
THE PEN BECOMES THE POSSESSION OF THE TEACHER!

8. Room Parent Procedures
Odds and Ends
Agendas & Field Trip/Class picture shirts are MANDATORY. Both can be purchased downstairs tonight. Shirts are $6. Agendas are $9.
Room Parent Procedures
Configure class , make a class contact list
Plan parties/collect items
Class fundraisers
Act as liason between the teacher and parents

9. Websites Engrade Edmodo Spelling City Think Central Class Blog
This class uses multiple websites that can all be found on the class website (linked through the school).
These websites are:
Engrade
Edmodo
Spelling City
Think Central
Class Blog

10. Class Blog

11. Clubs
Math Club
Ms. Lord
Science Club
Mrs. Silk
This math club has a specific number of openings for the year. It is first come first serve. $10 for the year.
Science Club is open to a maximum of 46 students. There will be a Monday and Wednesday class; each class is identical. Do not wait to sign up! Classes fill up FAST! Students MUST COME TO THE CLASS DAY TO WHICH THEY WERE ASSIGNED. You may sign up for science club in the first 2 weeks of school. The cost is $15 for the year (15 classes) and the information for the club is 100% FCAT based. September 23 will be the first Monday date and September 25 will be the first Wednesday date of class. There are 15 classes throughout the year and class dates/topics listed on Mrs. Silk’s class website are tentative, but we will try to keep them as solid as possible 

12. There are several ways to communicate with me.
Communication
There are several ways to communicate with me.
You may call the school to leave us a message. We will get back to you by the end of the school day.
Use the magnet and check the class blog.
You may write to me at any time in the student agenda. I check the agendas daily. Make sure you are checking it daily as well as we may be writing notes to you 
Wednesday Folders will be sent home weekly with your child. Please review the papers inside, sign, and return the folders by Thursday.

13. Behavior, Facebook, and Cell Phones… oh my!
Behavior: Your child is expected to follow Ben Gamla’s 3 Building Expectations (Respect, Responsibility, and Safety) as well as classroom expectations. Detentions will be given for extreme behavior.
Facebook: Facebook is NOT appropriate for students in grade 5! If you choose to allow your child to be on Facebook, understand that any consequence of Facebook activities will be your responsibility. The school in no way, shape, or form endorses student use of Facebook.
Cell Phones: We understand safety and cell phones are connected and want your child to be as safe as possible at all times. With that being said, however, cell phones are prohibited to be used in the school building! Cell phones must be turned off and placed in backpacks while your child is in the building or on the playground. Any child caught using a cell phone on campus will have the cell phone confiscated and the phone will be handed over to administration. The student using the cell phone will also be given a written referral as stated by Broward County. This is NOT a Ben Gamla rule and is out of our hands. Cell phones can only be retrieved from administration by a parent and/or guardian.

14. Car Riders/Dismissal
NO SMOKING IN THE CAR POOL AREA… even in your car!
NO CELL PHONE USAGE in the car pool area! This is simply for the safety of our students, staff, and other drivers.
You must remain in your vehicle at all times. Please do not get out to walk your child across the road.

15. Dress Code
Uniforms must be worn Monday through Friday unless you have paid for a “Dress Down day.”
If you would like to participate in Dress Down days, students must pay $1 for the tops and $1 for the bottoms (total of $2 for the whole outfit).
Payments must be received by Thursday of the week you wish for your child to dress down to participate… no exceptions.

16. Field Trips/Parties Parties Field Trips
Parties will be held during lunch and must be cleared with the classroom teacher in advance!
No holidays will be celebrated at Ben Gamla Charter school. Example: No Valentine’s Day, Halloween, etc.
Field Trips
You MUST be on time to attend a field trip… busses will NOT wait for you!
You may NOT SMOKE while chaperoning on a field trip. If you have volunteered for a whole-day trip and are a smoker, please plan accordingly as you will NOT be permitted to smoke in front of students or leave the group.
Volunteer hours can be accumulated by volunteering for class parties and/or field trips!

17. Questions and/or Concerns???