Recess
Welcome to Parent Night! Thomas Elementary August 25, 2011
Grade-level Teachers
Sarah Clopton: [email protected] (469)752-3560
Michael Sheehan: [email protected] (469)752-3545 Laura Henry: [email protected]
(469)752-3587 Adan Rammos: [email protected] (469)752-3551 Anitha Reddy: [email protected] (469)752-3548 Susan Dobrow: [email protected] (469)752-3552
Arrival/Dismissal • First bell rings at 7:30 • Tardy bell rings at 7:45
– Excessive tardies are reported to the principal, and will be filed as a truancy. - 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence - Dismissal is at 2:45
Changes in Dismissal • If you plan on changing the way your child goes home please notify their teacher with a written note. It is important that we document any changes in order to ensure your child’s safety home.
Daily Schedule • • • • • • •
7:45-9:45 LA 9:45-11:10 Math 11:10-11:40 Lunch 11:40-12:35 Specials 12:35-1:05 Recess 1:05-2:35 IC 2:35-2:45 Dismissal
Curriculum •Core instruction in fifth grade includes Language Arts, Math and Science/Social Studies.
•Math texts include Connected Math (6 small books), Envisions (a textbook) and Investigations (a workbook). All of our math curriculum will emphasize critical thinking and problem solving. •LA curriculum is MacMillan/McGraw-Hill Texas Treasures •Science text is Science by Harcourt •Social Studies text is The United States by Scott Foresman
Curriculum Math Plano’s fifth grade math curriculum is designed to have all students college ready upon graduation. Research has shown that students enrolled in AP courses at the high school level have a much higher success rate in college. In order for students to reach AP mathematics in high school they must complete Algebra I by the end of the eighth grade. The TEKS from grades 6- Algebra are combined with the TEKS for grade 5 and distributed over Grades 5-8.
Homework • You can anticipate that your child will have homework Monday-Thursday. • Homework is a review of skills covered in class and should be something they can complete with minimal assistance. • Encourage your child to read at least 20 minutes each night and practice their multiplication facts/tables.
Grading Policies •Nine-week grading system •Progress Reports will be sent home during the fifth week. •Grades are weighted- 40% daily/60% major evaluations and projects. •Spelling and writing grades will be included with Language Arts grade. •Science, Social Studies, and Health are combined for an Integrated Curriculum grade.
Parent Viewer web site http://parentviewer.pisd.edu To register for this service, visit and set up your individual account. You will be able to view your child’s grades and attendance, daily assignments, quizzes, and tests as well as his/her average.
Diagnostics Diagnostics: CoGAT testing in September MAP testing in Reading, Language, Math, and Science
September, January, May With input and help from their teacher, students will be setting their own academic goals based upon MAP scores.
TAKS test will now be STAAR Formal reading running records given in September, January, and May All of your child’s scores on their beginning of the year assessments will be reported during your parent teacher conferences October 21st.
PACE Plano ISD offers programming for gifted students in grades K-12. Identification is conducted not to label students but to determine which students require program alterations because of their unique educational needs. Implementation of the PACE program varies by grade level, with cluster grouping in kindergarten and a pull-out program in grades 15.
PACE If you are considering whether the PACE program is appropriate for your child, please request a copy of “ What is a Gifted Learner?” from the PACE classroom teacher in your child’s grade (Sarah Clopton).
Assessment occurs once yearly for possible placement in the spring. Please contact the PACE classroom teacher to initiate the referral process and to check the deadline for the completion and return of referral packets. Deadline for referrals is February 18, 2011.
STAAR Expectations •Fifth graders are required to pass the math and reading STAAR tests in order to be promoted to middle school. •Fifth grade students take the Science STAAR.
•Visit the TEA web site for practice tests and more information. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
GREAT EXPECTATIONS! • Right Choice Lessons • Positive Behaviors • Right Choice Worksheets • Self-Managers
SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER Responsibility Citizenship Respect
Fairness Caring Trustworthiness
Appropriate dress • Length of shorts and skirts must be no more than 3 inches above the knee. • Width of shirt straps should at least a 3 finger width. • Shorts or pants should not “sag” at the waist. • If there is a problem with dress code, and instruction is suffering, your student may be asked to call home for a change of clothes or the nurse may provide something.
Checking in at the Office • Please leave plenty of time to check in at the office. We have a system called Raptor. You will need an ID and will have to complete a one time extensive check in for your first 2011-2012 visit. Shorter self check ins will occur each time you visit Thomas. Your child’s safety is very important to Thomas and PISD.
Lunch • Please prepay using PAYPAMS. Students will no longer be allowed to carry negative balances. • This year there will be no envelopes to send lunch payment to school. • Cost is $2.25 • Some items are sold a la cart. If you choose to, you may block your child from purchasing a la cart. • Free and Reduced lunch forms were on your child’s desk at Thomas Kickoff or in their first day packet. Even if your child had free or reduced lunch last year, you have 30 days to fill out the form for this year.
Lunch Guest • Your child would enjoy having you as an occasional guest. • Please send a note or call the office so we can include you in our lunch count for the day you come. • Guest lunch price is $2.75 • Due to limited cafeteria space, you may eat with your child in the classroom.
Birthdays • Students may bring cookies, cupcakes, etc., to pass out on their birthdays at the end of the day. • Due to time, we are not able to cut and serve cakes. Please send items that are easy to distribute such as cookies or cupcakes.
Recess • We go outside everyday, weather permitting and ozone restrictions. • Please check the weather report and dress your child appropriately. • LABEL COATS AND JACKETS • Due to variations in the indoor and outdoor temperatures, we suggest that your child bring a jacket or sweatshirt to leave at school.
Important Dates Parent/Teacher Conference Day
October 21st
Camp
Sept. 21-23
Math STAAR
March 27
Reading STAAR
March 28
Science STAAR
April 26
Please look for more important dates (including Early Release Days) in our weekly YO Packet.
Communication •Student mail go home on Thursdays (YO Packet). •Grade-level and PTA newsletters go home once a month with grade and school-wide news.
•Feel free to e-mail teachers or leave a voicemail message (Calls and e-mail may not be returned until the end of the day.) •Visit the Thomas web site •Sign up for ENews
PTA • We encourage each family to join the PTA (Parent Teacher Association). • Many extra teaching materials have been purchased by our active PTA.
Ways to Volunteer •Camp Parent •Room Parent Coordinator or Volunteer •Go on Field Trips with your child’s class •Contact your child’s teacher for ways to help in the classroom or at home. •Volunteer Application and Agreement must be done and on file to help in school and with students. This must now be completed on line.
Thank you for coming tonight!
Grade-level Teachers
Sarah Clopton: [email protected] (469)752-3560
Michael Sheehan: [email protected] (469)752-3545 Laura Henry: [email protected]
(469)752-3587 Adan Rammos: [email protected] (469)752-3551 Anitha Reddy: [email protected] (469)752-3548 Susan Dobrow: [email protected] (469)752-3552
Arrival/Dismissal • First bell rings at 7:30 • Tardy bell rings at 7:45
– Excessive tardies are reported to the principal, and will be filed as a truancy. - 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence - Dismissal is at 2:45
Changes in Dismissal • If you plan on changing the way your child goes home please notify their teacher with a written note. It is important that we document any changes in order to ensure your child’s safety home.
Daily Schedule • • • • • • •
7:45-9:45 LA 9:45-11:10 Math 11:10-11:40 Lunch 11:40-12:35 Specials 12:35-1:05 Recess 1:05-2:35 IC 2:35-2:45 Dismissal
Curriculum •Core instruction in fifth grade includes Language Arts, Math and Science/Social Studies.
•Math texts include Connected Math (6 small books), Envisions (a textbook) and Investigations (a workbook). All of our math curriculum will emphasize critical thinking and problem solving. •LA curriculum is MacMillan/McGraw-Hill Texas Treasures •Science text is Science by Harcourt •Social Studies text is The United States by Scott Foresman
Curriculum Math Plano’s fifth grade math curriculum is designed to have all students college ready upon graduation. Research has shown that students enrolled in AP courses at the high school level have a much higher success rate in college. In order for students to reach AP mathematics in high school they must complete Algebra I by the end of the eighth grade. The TEKS from grades 6- Algebra are combined with the TEKS for grade 5 and distributed over Grades 5-8.
Homework • You can anticipate that your child will have homework Monday-Thursday. • Homework is a review of skills covered in class and should be something they can complete with minimal assistance. • Encourage your child to read at least 20 minutes each night and practice their multiplication facts/tables.
Grading Policies •Nine-week grading system •Progress Reports will be sent home during the fifth week. •Grades are weighted- 40% daily/60% major evaluations and projects. •Spelling and writing grades will be included with Language Arts grade. •Science, Social Studies, and Health are combined for an Integrated Curriculum grade.
Parent Viewer web site http://parentviewer.pisd.edu To register for this service, visit and set up your individual account. You will be able to view your child’s grades and attendance, daily assignments, quizzes, and tests as well as his/her average.
Diagnostics Diagnostics: CoGAT testing in September MAP testing in Reading, Language, Math, and Science
September, January, May With input and help from their teacher, students will be setting their own academic goals based upon MAP scores.
TAKS test will now be STAAR Formal reading running records given in September, January, and May All of your child’s scores on their beginning of the year assessments will be reported during your parent teacher conferences October 21st.
PACE Plano ISD offers programming for gifted students in grades K-12. Identification is conducted not to label students but to determine which students require program alterations because of their unique educational needs. Implementation of the PACE program varies by grade level, with cluster grouping in kindergarten and a pull-out program in grades 15.
PACE If you are considering whether the PACE program is appropriate for your child, please request a copy of “ What is a Gifted Learner?” from the PACE classroom teacher in your child’s grade (Sarah Clopton).
Assessment occurs once yearly for possible placement in the spring. Please contact the PACE classroom teacher to initiate the referral process and to check the deadline for the completion and return of referral packets. Deadline for referrals is February 18, 2011.
STAAR Expectations •Fifth graders are required to pass the math and reading STAAR tests in order to be promoted to middle school. •Fifth grade students take the Science STAAR.
•Visit the TEA web site for practice tests and more information. http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
GREAT EXPECTATIONS! • Right Choice Lessons • Positive Behaviors • Right Choice Worksheets • Self-Managers
SIX PILLARS OF CHARACTER Responsibility Citizenship Respect
Fairness Caring Trustworthiness
Appropriate dress • Length of shorts and skirts must be no more than 3 inches above the knee. • Width of shirt straps should at least a 3 finger width. • Shorts or pants should not “sag” at the waist. • If there is a problem with dress code, and instruction is suffering, your student may be asked to call home for a change of clothes or the nurse may provide something.
Checking in at the Office • Please leave plenty of time to check in at the office. We have a system called Raptor. You will need an ID and will have to complete a one time extensive check in for your first 2011-2012 visit. Shorter self check ins will occur each time you visit Thomas. Your child’s safety is very important to Thomas and PISD.
Lunch • Please prepay using PAYPAMS. Students will no longer be allowed to carry negative balances. • This year there will be no envelopes to send lunch payment to school. • Cost is $2.25 • Some items are sold a la cart. If you choose to, you may block your child from purchasing a la cart. • Free and Reduced lunch forms were on your child’s desk at Thomas Kickoff or in their first day packet. Even if your child had free or reduced lunch last year, you have 30 days to fill out the form for this year.
Lunch Guest • Your child would enjoy having you as an occasional guest. • Please send a note or call the office so we can include you in our lunch count for the day you come. • Guest lunch price is $2.75 • Due to limited cafeteria space, you may eat with your child in the classroom.
Birthdays • Students may bring cookies, cupcakes, etc., to pass out on their birthdays at the end of the day. • Due to time, we are not able to cut and serve cakes. Please send items that are easy to distribute such as cookies or cupcakes.
Recess • We go outside everyday, weather permitting and ozone restrictions. • Please check the weather report and dress your child appropriately. • LABEL COATS AND JACKETS • Due to variations in the indoor and outdoor temperatures, we suggest that your child bring a jacket or sweatshirt to leave at school.
Important Dates Parent/Teacher Conference Day
October 21st
Camp
Sept. 21-23
Math STAAR
March 27
Reading STAAR
March 28
Science STAAR
April 26
Please look for more important dates (including Early Release Days) in our weekly YO Packet.
Communication •Student mail go home on Thursdays (YO Packet). •Grade-level and PTA newsletters go home once a month with grade and school-wide news.
•Feel free to e-mail teachers or leave a voicemail message (Calls and e-mail may not be returned until the end of the day.) •Visit the Thomas web site •Sign up for ENews
PTA • We encourage each family to join the PTA (Parent Teacher Association). • Many extra teaching materials have been purchased by our active PTA.
Ways to Volunteer •Camp Parent •Room Parent Coordinator or Volunteer •Go on Field Trips with your child’s class •Contact your child’s teacher for ways to help in the classroom or at home. •Volunteer Application and Agreement must be done and on file to help in school and with students. This must now be completed on line.
Thank you for coming tonight!
