Dear Parents,
I am looking forward to meeting all of you and working with you to ensure a successful year for all students. We had a busy day getting to know each other and learning the rules and routines of the classroom. I have a great deal of information about the coming year to share with you.
School Web Site
I keep an updated school website. You can access it through the Montesano School web site. Go to Simpson, teachers and find my name. You will find the daily assignment sheet, spelling words, monthly Accelerated Reading schedule and other information.
Homework Philosophy
Parents need to provide a helpful home atmosphere that can encourage their child to do his/her best. Homework consists of: spelling packets, spelling word practice, Reading logs, and any unfinished daily work. Spelling homework will be due every Thursday morning, Reading logs are due Friday mornings.
Assignment Sheet
Students will be required to fill out assignment sheets daily and have parent’s signature nightly. They will receive a daily and weekly score.
Reading logs
Students are required to read 125 minutes per week as part of their homework. Any reading material is accepted. Reading logs will go home on Fridays and are due the following Friday.
Redo Policy
Students are allowed to redo any assignment that received a 69% or less. The student’s paper will be re-graded and may receive up to 75%. Redo papers need to be turned in within a week of the paper being returned to the student. This only applies to daily assignments NOT tests or projects.
Late Work
Late work will be accepted; however students will only receive a maximum score of 60%. If a student is absent he/she will have two days for every day that he/she is absent to turn in any missing work.
The Grading Scale
The fifth grade students are evaluated on the A, B, C, D, F, grading scale. The following explains the scale:
A+ = 98% C+ = 77%
A = 93% C = 73%
B+ = 87% C- = 70%
B = 83% D- = 60%
B- = 80%
Boomerang
Students will bring home a Boomerang every Friday. This is a folder with your student’s corrected work, spelling homework, Reading log, progress reports and other information. Please review, sign folder, and have your child return it to school on Monday. This is a great time to help your child redo any assignment that was 69% or lower. I will be sending out progress reports every two weeks, please review it, sign the bottom and have your child return it on Monday.
Accelerated Reading
Students will need to read an Accelerated Reader book at their assigned level each month. They will also be required to earn eight Accelerated Reading points the first trimester, nine Accelerated Reading points the second trimester and ten Accelerated Reading points the third trimester. Each trimester all students must complete a book report from a fiction book they read that trimester.
Monthly book schedule:
Month Genre
September Student choice from the A.R. list
October Science Fiction/Horror, mystery
November Non Fiction
December No book required this month
January Historical Fiction
February Student choice from the A.R. list
March Fantasy
April Biography
May Student choice from the A.R. list
June No book required this month
Students may complete extra AR books for Extra Credit in Reading. This is strongly encouraged for all students.
Volunteers
People that would like to volunteer in the classroom on a weekly basis are greatly appreciated. Please let me know a day and time you are available. Weekly volunteers must have a Washington State Patrol check. If you would like to volunteer on a weekly basis, please ask at the Simpson office for the paperwork to complete the Washington State Patrol check
In closing, I firmly believe that communication between home and school is an extremely effective tool. Please feel free to call, send a note, or e-mail if you have any questions or concerns. There are no little questions or concerns. Please write your email address below and send it with your child this has been a very effective way for me to communicate with parents. I am looking forward to a fun and exciting year, and together as a team, your student will have a successful year.
Sincerely,
Dan Thomas
Email: dthomas@monteschools.org
Phone 249-4331
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