1. Each Day Brings a Chance to do Better How often we wish for another chance to make a fresh beginning, A chance to blot out our mistakes and change failure into winning. And it does not take a special time to make a brand-new start, it only takes the deep desire to try with all our heart to live a little better and to always be forgiving and to add a little “sunshine” to the world in which we’re living. So never give up in despair and think that you are through, for there’s always a tomorrow and a chance to start anew.

3. Language Arts/Reading in 4 th and 5 th grade  Common Core State Standards Our goal is to have all students writing and reading independently on or above grade level through the use of a variety of research based strategies such as:  Guided Reading/Reading Workshop  Interactive Read Aloud  Accountable Independent Reading  Vocabulary study of Greek & Latin prefixes  Grammar  Writing program

4. Math Units of Study 4 th and 5 th Grade  Place Value  Fractions, Decimals and Percents (5 th only)  Multiplication and Division  Order of Operations  Fractions: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplying, Dividing – 5 th only)  Volume (5 th only)  Geometry  Measurement: Standard and Metric

5. Expectations How can students help themselves be successful in math? Be ORGANIZED!!!! This is the number one reason students fall behind. Review and utilize notes during practice in class and at home. BE POSITIVE!!! All tasks are better completed with a good attitude. Turn all assignments in on time – make an effort not an excuse. ASK QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS! Do your practice, take notes, and participate in class discussions and activities… Practice + Participation = SUCCESS!!

6. Science and Social Studies  We will continue to use “The North Carolina Essential Standards”  http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/acre/standard s/new-standards/ http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/acre/standard s/new-standards/

7. Science Units of Study 4 th Grade  Earth in the Universe  Earth History  Scientific Method  Forces and Motion  Matter: Properties and Change  Energy: Conservation and Transfer  Ecosystems  Molecular Biology

8. Science Units of Study 5 th Grade  Structures and Functions of Living Organisms  Genetics  Forces and Motion  Matter: Properties and Change  Energy: Conservation and Transfer  Ecosystems  Earth Systems, Structures and Processes

9. Social Studies Focus Fourth Grade  North Carolina:  History  Geography  Environmental Literacy  Economics and Financial Literacy  Civics and Government  Culture

10. Social Studies Focus Fifth Grade  US History  Native Americans - Reconstruction  Taking notes, projects, study guides, chapter tests  USA Weekly Magazine

11. 4 th and 5 th Grade Projects  Each project will have directions and rubrics to go with them  Parents and students will be given at least 3 weeks to complete the project.  Counts as a formal assessment grade  Fourth Grade: “Boook Report”, Poetry Cafe

12. Stock Market Project  I will introduce the stock market project by October 1 st.  Year long – students receive a set of rules, how to track buying, selling, etc.  We will see who makes the most money by the end of May!  There will be a lot of Excel work in this project!

13. Testing in 4 th and 5th grade: CMS, NC & EOG  MAP testing 3 times a year on Chrome Books. This is a diagnostic tool to help teach to specific needs of children.  EOG Testing mid May (Please don’t schedule vacations/appointments during this time)

14. Classroom Rewards 5 th Grade  Courtyard Lunch  Do we have a volunteer Courtyard Lunch Coordinator?

15. Mega and Mini Shields Positive Incentive Program  Blue MEGA Shields are used to reward whole classes for showing great character!  The class with the MOST MEGA Shields is announced on Friday PM (Sept: class lunch in the courtyard with the Leadership team)  Be sure to visit our K-2 & 3-5 Mega Shield bulletin boards on the 5 th grade hall (near the cafeteria)!  White MINI Shields are used to reward individual students for making great choices!  One student from each class will be chosen every Monday morning for a special meeting with the Principal & a prize from her Principal Prize Cart! I earned a MINI SHIELD because I’m an amazing student at OP!! *Please write your name on the back to enter the weekly drawing*

16. Behavior Matrix  Blue MEGA Shields are used to reward whole classes for showing great character!  The class with the MOST MEGA Shields is announced on Friday PM (Sept: class lunch in the courtyard with the Leadership team)  Be sure to visit our K-2 & 3-5 Mega Shield bulletin boards on the 5 th grade hall (near the cafeteria)!  White MINI Shields are used to reward individual students for making great choices!  One student from each class will be chosen every Monday morning for a special meeting with the Principal & a prize from her Principal Prize Cart! I earned a MINI SHIELD because I’m an amazing student at OP!! *Please write your name on the back to enter the weekly drawing*

17. Classroom Rewards Individual: Mini-shields Small Group: Group of the Week points Large Group: Mega shields, marble jar Large group reward is extra recess or kickball game to be held the Friday following earning the reward.

18. Grade Level Discipline Individual: Pulling Cards. Task Tallies: During assignments, if a child is off task, they receive task tallies. For every 1 tally, they get between 3 points taken off their percentage score. For example, if they get a 94% on an assignment, but they have 2 task tallies, they will earn an 88%. One task tally = card pull. **I will write the offense and color card pulled in their agenda on that day. Marble Jar – Lose marbles as a whole group.

19. Character Education Students will participate in Olweus, a school wide character development program. Classes will have weekly class meetings focusing on social skills, conflict resolution, social media, friendship skills. I always work on collaboration and cooperation in our class. Please talk with your child about how they approach their group members and how they treat them.

20. CMS Elementary Grading Procedures  Class work/informal assessments (homework, warm-ups, notebook checks, group work, in-class tasks, and class participation )= 40% of quarter grade  Formal assessments (tests, major quizzes, comprehensive writing assignments, and projects) = 60% quarter grade

21. New NC Grading Scale A = 90 – 100 B = 80 – 89 C = 70 – 79 D = 60 – 69 F = 59 and below

22. Power School  New NC system for attendance and grades  https://cms.powerschool.com/public/ https://cms.powerschool.com/public/  You can access it from the CMS Website under the Parent Tab  You should have received your login information last week in the Home/School folder  Help Desk: 980-343-9420

23. Volunteer and Visitor Policy  You must register as a CMS volunteer at:  https://www.cmsvolunteers.com/ https://www.cmsvolunteers.com/  You will receive an email that confirms you as a volunteer.  If you are from out of state it will take longer to run a background check.  Go ahead and register any family member that may come to the school. Even lunch visitors must be approved.  This is for the safety of your children. We appreciate your support!

24. Change of transportation  Please send in a note or write transportation changes in the planner or on a sticky note.  Please send a note or email your child’s teacher or directly to Adrianna Hall, the school secretary.

25. 4 th Grade Field trips – Students will go with their coordinating classrooms.  Sound to Sea  January 18 th – 20 th  January 25 th – 27 th  http://www.trinityctr.com/soundtosea/ http://www.trinityctr.com/soundtosea/  Reed Gold Mine

26. 5 th Grade Field trips – Students will go with coordinating classrooms.  JCC (Jewish Community Center) October 27 and 29  Latta Plantation: Date to be determined  Blumenthal Performing Arts

27. Communication  Be sure to give me your email address. This year we will be using Sign Up Genius for parent teacher conferences.

28. Specials  Monday: Art with Mrs. Allen  Tuesday: Computer with Mrs. Tatsis  Wednesday: Media with Ms. Parrish  Thursday: Music with Ms. Skala  Friday: PE with Mr. Soler

29. It’s going to be a great year in 4 th and 5 th Grade!  Thank you for coming tonight and being a part of your child’s education.