1. Welcome to Fort Sam Houston Elementary 5th Grade Parent Orientation “ Engaging Student, Engaging Minds” August 28, 2014

2. FSHISD Belief Statement We exist to serve the military child. We are a family of lifelong learners who respect and honor individual differences, diversity and talents. We believe a safe and caring environment fosters the emotional and social well-being of students. We believe that every teacher is a leader; every leader is a teacher We inspire our students to their highest level of learning. We, the school community, provide engaging, challenging, and meaningful work for learners. We prepare students to be leaders by instilling character, competence, and creativity.

3. Monday - Friday 7:30 – 7:45 – Morning with a Purpose 7:45 – 7:55 – Morning Program (new format) 8:00 – 8:45- Morning Specials/Teacher Conference 8:45– 9:30 Science 9:30 – 11:00 English/Lang Arts/Reading 11:00 – 12:00 – Math 12:00 – 12:45 Afternoon specials 12:45 – 1:00 Math 1:00 – 1:30 Lunch/Recess 1:30 -2:15 Social Studies 2:15 – 2:50 – Enrichment and Intervention (Friday – Recess/Study Hall/Detention) 2:50 – 3:00 – Get ready for Dismissal 5th Grade Schedule

4. Teacher Emails and Phone Numbers Trisstin Jones 368-8800 ext. 8031 tdaniels@fshisd.net Juli WessiesVickie David 368-8800 ext. 8032 jwessies@fshisd.netvdavid@fshisd.net Betsy Menck 368-8800 ext. 8033 bmenck@fshisd.net Terri Bills 368-8800 ext. 8034 tbills@fshisd.net Vanessa Kennedy 368-8800 ext. 8035 vkennedy@fshisd.net District Website: www.fshisd.net Conference time (M-F) 12 – 12:45

5. Agendas The student agenda/planner will be used each and every day. The students will write their homework in it daily, the teachers will use it for discipline records, and the teachers and parents can use it as a means for communication. We ask that the students have their parents initial the agenda every day of the week. It is the student’s responsibility to get the parent to sign the agenda daily. It is the student’s responsibility to show the parent any comments from the teacher and vice versa. Since the agenda is our most significant means of communication, please check and initial it everyday.

6. Dress Code Our dress code policy is in the Student/Parent Handbook (page 28-29) and is set forth by the district. Please take the time to read it thoroughly. We want to emphasize the section describing appropriate LENGTH of shirts, shorts, skorts, and dresses. Also, SAGGY pants or shorts are prohibited. Students who are not in compliance with the dress code will be asked to call their parents to bring alternative clothing. If alternative clothing is not provided by the parent, alternative clothing will be provided here at school. Warnings were given the first week, and now the agendas will be signed for noncompliance. If you have questions or concerns about the district dress code, please call the administration at 368-8800.

7. Attendance If your child is absent, the absence will be marked as an UNEXCUSED absence. Parents or guardians have three days to provide a suitable excuse for the absence to be changed to EXCUSED. Therefore, please send in an excuse note signed by one parent or guardian the day you child returns to school. This note is required by the state and is extremely important to our attendance paperwork. The note can be written on any kind of paper, and it just needs to be one or two sentences in length stating the date of absence and the reason for the absence. Our policy on doctor's appointments is as follows: if your child is absent due to a doctor’s appointment, it is important to get a DR’s note. The absence will be removed if the student was in attendance for any portion of the day of the appointment. A note will not remove an absence if they are not in attendance at all on the day of the appointment. However, it will suffice for an excuse note on the day missed. All missed work must be made up. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain/complete all missed work from each teacher upon their return to school.

8. Student Conduct Daily conduct will be reflected on the report card. At the end of each nine weeks, the number of discipline signatures will be totaled for each student. 0 - 3 discipline marks = Excellent 4 -7 discipline marks = Satisfactory 8-10 discipline marks = Needs Improvement 11 or more discipline marks = Unsatisfactory If a student receives an office referral for a severe offense such as fighting, he/she will receive an automatic N for the nine weeks. Any student who is suspended will receive an automatic U for the nine weeks. Also, as stated in the handbook, citizenship grades of N or U can prevent a student from achieving Honor Roll.

9. Discipline Each fifth grade teacher has the classroom rules posted in her classroom. The rules are: “BEE” SAFE be safe by keeping hands, feet, and objects to yourself “BEE” RESPONSIBLE be responsible for your own behavior be in your seat and ready to work when the bell rings have all needed supplies each day follow directions at all times “BEE” RESPECTFUL no rude gestures, cruel teasing, bad language, or put-downs When a student chooses not to follow classroom rules, he/she will receive a discipline signature in the agenda.

10. Friday Detention If a student has three or more discipline signatures from faculty/staff for the week, he/she will attend Friday Detention. If a student has no parent initials for the week, he/she will attend Friday Detention. If a student has no agenda on Friday, he/she will attend Friday Detention. Friday Recess When a student chooses to follow all classroom rules, he/she will receive extra social time with other students for a 15 minute Friday Recess. Friday Study Hall If for the week, a student has any “Missing” stamps in the agenda that are not signed off by a teacher, the student must attend Friday Tutorial and complete the assignment(s) that were not turned in.

11. Grading Policy Our grading policy is stated in the Student/Parent Handbook. It is as follows: 69 or below - F 70 - 74 - D 75 - 79 - C 80 - 89 – B 90 - 100 - A Reports Cards go home four times a year at the end of each quarter and progress reports are sent home during each quarter. Please also be an advocate for your child and check their grades as often as possible online. You can set the program up to receive an email every time your child’s average drops below a certain percentage. Please sign all progress reports and return them to the teacher the next school day.

12. Morning with a Purpose Within the classroom, meaningful activities begin taking place at 7:30. After School Detention Please refer the Student/Parent Handbook. After school detention may result when a student has been tardy three times in a four-week period. Parents must provide transportation home for after school detention. Surf’in on the Web Important information will be posted on teacher websites throughout the year. To access our websites you must first type in our school website: www.fshisd.net You can now access your child’s grades on-line.

13. 5th Grade Curriculum Math Major Focus: We focus on the application of skills and strategies in problem solving. Students learn how to analyze a problem, determine appropriate strategies for solving it, apply computational skills, use thinking skills with problem solving strategies, and justify their use of a particular strategy. Skills Covered: Place value through the hundred billions; multiplication up to 2 digits x 3 digits; division with up to 2 digit divisors; fractions, decimals through the thousandths; measurement skills in both standard and metric; graphs/grids; probability/statistics; and geometry. Critical thinking will also be emphasized. Science Major Focus: 5th Grade Science encompasses three major components: Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science. As soon as the students finish the unit on lab safety, we will begin experiments and demonstration to help us explore the world of science. Additionally, The fifth grade year is the first year the students are tested (STAAR) in the area of Science. The students receive Science instruction from all teachers in the 5 th grade. In order to better prepare them for the upcoming middle school challenges they will face, we believe it’s important for the children to experience different teachers and different teaching styles.

14. Language Arts Spelling: Students receive spelling lists on Monday and tests are on Friday. Students utilize a spelling menu for homework and are responsible for 3 different menu choices each week to be turned in on Thursday. Grammar: The grammar skills we will cover are nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, types of sentences, recognizing sentence fragments, and all forms of punctuation and capitalization. Attention will be given to combining sentences, nouns, verbs, and clauses. Writing: Fifth graders will address the traits of writing including planning, organizing, presentation, word choice, correct technical details, focus, editing and point of view. We will write persuasive, expository, personal narrative (including letters), descriptive, imaginary, propaganda, journal, instructional, and poetic passages. We will use simile, metaphor, alliteration, and hyperbole. All students use available technology to publish their work. Reading Major Focus: Students will work on reading comprehension, context clues, setting, details, fact & non-fact, drawing conclusions, making generalizations, making inferences, identifying main idea & summary, prediction and outcomes, cause and effect, and taking notes using graphic sources to organize information. We will also try to understand the author’s main purpose and the organization of the reading selections. Students will study different literature genres, with a wide range of cultural diversity. We will also be benchmark testing throughout the year to identify student strengths and weaknesses to better meet their academic needs.

15. Social Studies Major Focus: Students learn about the American History from the Age of Exploration in the 1400’s to present times. With an effort to make history “come alive” classes participate in Leadership Symposiums and in a Living History Museum. Field Trips, Fun, and More Field Trips (typical): 1 or more Fine Arts field trips, Science field trip to Eisenhower Park Special Days: Science in Action Day, Living History, Leadership Symposium, DARE graduation Fun: Field Day at Cole High School, 5 th grade pool party

16. Please remember …. 5 th grade is a SSI year. SSI stands for Student Success Initiative. This initiative states that all 5 th graders MUST pass the *Reading STAAR test by the end of their fifth grade year in order to be promoted to the 6 th grade. They have three chances to pass the test in reading. *Due to the implementation of new math standards, it is not a SSI year for math. We are partners in the education of your child, and will ask for your help. Whether it’s over a behavioral or an academic issue we need to always work together to put the needs of your child first. We will be glad to discuss any questions you have regarding the STAAR test at your parent/teacher conference.