Frequently Asked Questions 

What time does school start/end?

The children may come into the classroom at 7:15 A.M. after The tardy bell rings at 7:40 and our day begins. School dismissal begins at 2:35.

What do I do if we are tardy?

Please come into the office to sign your child in if you arrive after 7:40 A.M. Your child must have a tardy slip from the office to be admitted to class. 

What do I do if I have a transportation change?

 Please send a note in with your child or send an email early if there are ANY transportation changes. Do NOT leave any transportation changes on my voice mail as I may not get them in time. If you have a last-minute change, you can call the office before 2:00 P.M. They will put any changes that were called into the office on our dismissal spreadsheet.

Do I need to send a note when my child is absent?

Yes. You need to send a note within 2 days that is dated, signed by a parent or guardian, and that gives an explanation of the absence. If no note is written, the absence is coded as unexcused. You can also email me and I will place it in your child's file to cover both of us. I can also print a Dojo message. 

How will I know that my child had a good day at school?

Please check your child's binder each day for any notes. You can check Class Dojo throughout the day. You can see if your child has gained points or lost points. If you have any questions; please message me on Class Dojo. 

What are interim reports?

Interim reports are progress reports that are sent home during the 4th week of a 9-week grading cycle. Since we do 4 weeks of Social Studies and 4 weeks of Science your child's interim report will have one or the other but the report card will have both.

Can I send a snack to school for my child?

Yes. We have a snack/recess break each day. Please send a small, healthy snack to school for your child. 

Can my child have a water bottle at school?

Yes, PLEASE send your child to school with their own water bottle. We have bottle fillers at some of our water fountains that come in real handy. Your child can refill their water bottle if needed at any point during the day. Please make sure you send a bottle with a cap for your child. Experience has proven that drinking water all day leads to frequent bathroom breaks. If they are spending time in the bathroom then they miss instruction. We will keep water bottles in the cubbies.

What are Dojo Points?

Dojo Points are points that are given on Class Dojo when students are "caught making good decisions". The student may be helping another in need, carefully maintaining social distancing, or letting someone borrow a pencil (AFTER using hand sanitizer). The students keep their Dojo points in their account and buy privileges in the classroom! You will have access to your child's points during the day.

What are privilege cards?

Privilege cards are given to students when they save enough points. Included are 20 minutes of free time on the computer, bringing a small stuffed animal for the day, reading a story to the class, writing in pen for the day, assist the teacher, etc. The students work hard for these privileges!

How can I keep up with current events in the classroom?

A newsletter is sent home each Monday (or Tuesday) informing you of all our weekly events. I will also email you the newsletter and post it on this site. This contains what we're doing in class, vocabulary words with definitions, dates to remember, friendly reminders, and any extra information needed for the week. 

I also post pictures on Class Dojo in the "Class Story" section of the app. You can feel as if you are in the classroom with us! 

PLEASE make sure I have your email address, I will also send an email attachment with the newsletter. Please call or email me with any questions or concerns.

What are the grading policies in 4th grade?

Letter grades are new to most third graders, and can be intimidating at first. The third-grade team will be grading assignments as a percentage out of 100. We use the 10-point grading scale (see below):

• 100-90 A (exceptional)

• 89-80 B (above average)

• 79-70 C (average)

• 69-60 D (below average)

• 59 or below (failing)

All graded work will be returned in Google Classroom or sent home in the communication folder. Most papers will go home on Mondays (or Tuesday if we have a short week) and Wednesdays. Please review the work carefully with your child.