NEWSFLASH

Ms. Weston, Room 21: Language Arts, Social Studies, ASD (Read 180)

Email: westone@cambriansd.com (Best way to reach me!)

Phone number: 408-377-2532 ext. 5221 (Before/after school hours only)

Mr. Becker, Room 22: Math, Science, ASD

Email: beckerr@cambriansd.com (Best way to reach me!)

Phone number: 408-377-2532 ext. 5222 (Before/after school hours only)

Welcome sixth graders!  You are part of the 6th grade house with Mr. Becker and Ms. Weston as your teachers. We are really looking forward to an exciting school year with all of you. Our number one goal is to help you succeed, so please let us know how we can support you by communicating with us! 

Sixth grade is such an exciting year.  You are in a new school, have new classmates, and have many opportunities to get involved in sports, leadership, clubs, and other fun activities. 

With Ms. Weston, you will be writing informative, argumentative and narrative writing pieces, reading novels and informative articles, and participating in literature circles during Language Arts. In Social Studies you will be working on interesting projects, rapping facts and conducting research on Ancient Civilizations.

In Mr. Becker’s class, you will be learning new math skills, and deepening your understanding of Earth Science. You will also be working on interesting projects, researching, and using your acquired knowledge of technology to implement Common Core Standards and 21st century learning. 

In addition to these classes, all sixth graders will also have an ASD (Academic Skills Development) period every day.  During this class, you will get language arts and math support. This will also be a chance for you to get support with organization and goal setting. You may have Ms. Weston or Mr. Becker for ASD, or you may have another 6th grade teacher who will be supporting you in these two key academic subjects.

So let’s get started!  Your first assignment is to sit down with your parents/guardians, review this letter & familiarize yourself with your new agenda. 

(If you do not have an agenda, please let Mr. Becker or Ms. Weston know ASAP.) Take some time to read all of the information together. It will help ensure your success this school year!

Supplies:

Each student will need the following supplies. It is vital that all students are prepared with these materials by Monday of the second week of school. The Dollar Store, Target or Walmart are great places to purchase all of the needed items. If purchasing these items will cause a hardship to your family, please email us and we will be sure that you are covered.

• 2 single subject notebooks (Language Arts, Writing)

• 6 different colored folders (Language Arts/Writing, Social Studies, Math, Science, ASD, Elective)

• Highlighters in pink, blue, yellow and green

• 1 pack  of colored pencils

• 1 pack of #2 pencils or mechanical pencils

• Eraser

• Glue sticks (3 or 1 jumbo)

• Ruler

• Small pair of scissors

• Pencil pouch or box

• Basic function calculator

• Pencil sharpener with shaving collector attached

***Please no bags on wheels unless you have a medical reason! 

We simply do not have enough room!***

Appreciated classroom donations: 

• Kleenex

• Disinfectant wipes

• Individually wrapped candies 

• White photocopy paper

• College ruled binder paper

• #2 pencils

• Colored pencils

• Markers

• Glue sticks

• $5.00 Target or Amazon gift cards for classroom supplies 

**When donating supplies, please donate to your FIRST PERIOD teacher.

Thank you SO very much!

Citizenship

Price Panthers follow the three PROUD behavior expectations:

• Respectful

• Responsible

• Resourceful

Classroom Behavior:

We want to provide you and all of the other students in the class with the excellent and safe learning environment that you deserve.  Therefore, we will not tolerate behavior that hinders learning in the classroom or creates an unsafe space for anyone. There is a school wide behavior guideline as well as a more specific classroom rules policy.  We will be reviewing both of these policies in class.

Any student who chooses not to show respect for our classroom community will receive the following consequences:

First time-Warning

Second time-Meeting with teacher (How can we help support you?)

Third time-Wednesday detention

Fourth time-Parent contact

Severe Clause-Referral & parent/teacher/student meeting

Grading:

Your grades will be based on exams, quizzes, homework, projects, class work and participation.  Many classes will be weighted. Back to School Night will provide more specifics on how grading works. 

A: 90%-100%     B: 80%-89%      C: 70%-79%      D: 60%-69%      F: 0%-59%

Projects/Papers:

There will be long term projects and papers.  These will be assigned as they pertain to different units of study.

Homework: 

Regular homework will begin next week. Expect to have homework Monday-Thursday.  You might have homework on a Friday if you have a long-term project or paper that you are working on or if you have been absent and need to make up work, but this is not common.

If you have an excused absence, you will have as many days as you missed to make up the assignments.  It is your responsibility to get all homework assignments from the class absent folder if you are absent.

Agenda:

You must write all of your assignments in your agenda every day and have it signed by a parent/guardian.  This will be checked daily and is expected to be done by all Price Panthers. 

Participation/Work Habits:

Your participation and work habits grade is based on peer interaction, preparation, participation, organization, effort, and focus. 

Daily Schedule:

The school schedule is located in the front of your student agenda.  Please be aware of the early dismissal (1:41) on Wednesdays. Wednesdays and Thursdays are block days. Wednesdays are even periods only (order: 6, 4, 2) and Thursdays are set aside for odd periods (order: 7, 5, 3, 1).  Don’t worry if you get confused. All you need to do is pop in to Ms. Weston or Mr. Becker’s classroom and we will help you find your proper place. 

School Website:

*Please be advised that the school website is an excellent resource for all school related information.  The address is: https://www.cambriansd.org/price

IMPORTANT: RESPONSE NEEDED

Parents & Guardians, we now ask that you send both of us an email within the next couple of days, so that we can properly support your child.  (FYI: We will also be asking your child for similar information as we value what they’d like us to know, as well.) Please include the following information:

1. Your child’s full name

2. Your child’s elementary school

3. Your child’s strengths

4. Your child’s areas of struggle

5. Any other important information we should know

6. Any questions or concerns

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this letter & sending us a response! We look forward to meeting you at Back to School Night on August 31st!