Mrs. Lawrence 5th Grade Disclosure Statement 2014-2015 It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to our fifth grade classroom! I am looking forward to an exciting school year. My sincere desire is to provide the best possible education for each child. My classroom can be described as organized, structured, warm, and inviting. I EXPECT students to fulfill their responsibilities and be accountable for what they do. I also have high expectations for myself. I am always open to comments and suggestions that would help me to be a better facilitator for your student’s education. Please feel free to contact me if the need arises. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to better meet the needs of your child. My goal is to promote a positive attitude and high self-esteem in your student as well as superior understanding of the fifth grade curriculum. I hope that students and parents will look back on the school year and feel it was a great experience.
SAA Mission Statement: Syracuse Arts Academy develops respectful, confident citizens in a solid educational environment enriched by artistic expression.
Contact Information: You may contact me during school hours by phone: (801) 784-5211, or anytime by e-mail:
[email protected]. *Please note: if you call during school hours you will most likely need to leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible after school. School Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:15-3:15 Friday: 8:25-1:00
Curriculum Covered: In an ever-changing world where tomorrow’s technologies often outpace today’s best thinkers, we are faced with preparing our children for their future. We are excited to implement the new common core. SAA will be sending home information to educate parents on how this affects their child’s education. We will be covering all core subject areas required by the State of Utah, including Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Health, and the Arts. It is our mission to integrate the arts through all of these subjects. The arts include music, visual art, movement, dance, drama, and technology arts. If you would like to see the standards established by the state please visit http://www.uen.org/core/.
Daily Schedule: 08:15-09:45 Lang. Arts 09:45-10:30: Science 10:35-10:55: Recess 10:55-12:00: Math 12:00-12:40: Lunch/Recess 12:40-12:50: Seat Work 12:50-1:35: Specials 01:35-02:20: Writing/Library/Health 02:20-03:05: Social Studies 03:05-03:15: Praise/Clean-up
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Classroom Rules: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Follow instructions Participate and be prepared Use kind and appropriate words Appropriate use of hands, feet, and mouth Signal and be recognized to speak
Consequences: Syracuse Arts Academy has a school-wide discipline plan which includes the following:
1. Verbal warning 1. Time-out/loss of privileges 2. Parent contacted/note sent home 3. Referral to administration ** Any serious behavior/problem will result in the student being immediately sent to office for principal intervention.
Grading: Each term your student will receive a grade in both academics and citizenship (behavior and participation). Those grades will be given as follows:
Academic grades will be given as a percentage associated with a letter grade: A AB+ B BC+
>93% 90-93% 87-90% 83-87% 80-83% 77-80%
C CD+ D DF
73-77% 70-73% 67-70% 63-67% 60-63% <60%
Citizenship grades will be given as letters: H S N
Honors Satisfactory Needs Improvement
Accessing Grades: Grades will be available online at https://syracuse.usoe-dcs.org/login/default.aspx. These grades should be updated on a weekly basis. Please keep an eye on the grade book to follow your student’s assignments and progress. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Homework & Late Work
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My homework policy states that 5 grade students will complete nightly homework.
Language Arts: Students are expected to read nightly for 20 minutes (this includes fluency). Study weekly spelling lists as per the Journeys spelling program and be prepared for their spelling test. Any unfinished class work is considered home work. Writing: Students are expected to work on the Utah Write program from home a certain number of minutes each week. This assignment will begin as soon as usernames and passwords have been assigned. This score will be reflected on their end of levels.
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Mathematics: ALEKS and Reflex Math are an online math program that is purchased by our school as a way for students to get extra practice. I will require that students work on ALEKS from home a certain number of minutes each week. More information will follow regarding this program along with usernames and passwords. Social Studies/Science/Writing: The major projects include: Wax Museum/State Report/Science Fair, and learning the States and Capitals. Late Work Policy: o For excused absences, students will have the same amount of days they were absent to make up missing work. o Any homework given will be due the following day, unless specified otherwise. o Late work will have a grade deduction of 10% per day for each day the work is late. Homework later than one week old will not be accepted. Home Reading: Fifth grade students are expected to read 20 minutes a day. I will require 4 book reports throughout the year and I will list on my blog when they are due and how to compile them. It is acceptable if the student happens to have a busy week and needs to do the majority of the reading in fewer nights. The minimum requirement will be 100 minutes per week. Home reading grades are recorded on each student’s report card, so I encourage you to start and/or continue your reading routines early in the school year.
Electronics Policy: Portable electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, game systems, etc.) are not allowed in the classroom at any time. If it is necessary for the student to bring a cell phone to school, it must remain in their backpack (in the locker) in silent mode or off. If a portable device appears in the classroom, the following steps will be taken: 1st Offense: Teacher will take device and return it to the student at the end of the day. 2nd Offense: Teacher will take device and a parent will need to pick up it up. 3rd Offense: Teacher will take device and send to principal for parent pick up. Students are also not allowed to use electronic devices on campus before/after school. If it is necessary for your child to use a cell phone (for example during carpool pick-up) they MUST talk to a teacher for permission first.
School Dress Code: Please see the dress code posted online or in your student handbook. If students choose to wear a shirt under their collared shirt (undershirt) it must be a school approved collar. Also, if students choose to wear a sweater, sweatshirt, or hoodie, it must be school approved. I will not allow students to wear non-school approved sweatshirts in the classroom. School Motto I express myself with Courage. I express myself with the Arts. I express myself with Respect. I express myself with Enthusiasm! “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” ~Chinese Proverb Syracuse Arts Academy | Lawrence Disclosure 2014/2015
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