Policies & Expectations

Homework:

My goal is not to overload students with homework. Not including nightly reading, there will rarely be nightly homework unless your child has unfinished work from class. I will always try to give ample time to complete all work in class. 

Late work/missing work:

There will be a few regular weekly assignments that will be assigned each Monday morning. These assignments will be available online and will be expected to be completed each week by Thursday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. Completing these and other assignments will allow your child to attend our weekly Fun Friday activity.

Due dates are made clear throughout the week. Assignments turned in after the due date will be docked points.

The last day any work can be turned in for each term will be a few days before the term ends; Oct. 20, Jan. 19, March 21 and May 23. There will be few to no exceptions to this.

Lockers:

Lockers can only be accessed four times during the day: before 8:25 in the morning, at morning recess, lunchtime, and after school.  The lockers can be a disruption to the hallway and classes near them, so we try to streamline efficiency as much as possible. We ask that you please do not put stickers on any part of the locker. as your child will be responsible to remove ALL stickers, tape, etc. at the end of the year. Coats, backpacks, lunches, smart watches and cell phones will need to be kept in their lockers.

Cell Phones and Smart Watches:

Cell phones and smart watches are not permitted to be out during the school day – they should be turned off and in your child’s locker.  I understand the need to communicate with your child, but I ask that you reserve that to before and after school hours. If there is an emergency and you need to get in touch with your child, the best way to do that is to call the office directly. Phones and smart watches that are not in lockers are subject to confiscation. Repeated infractions of this rule will result in referral to the principal.

Specials:

Students have the opportunity for some special learning classes each week.  These will be held from 1:30-2:00. We will have the same Special for one week at a time. Starting Monday, August 28, we will go to PE, next is Library, then comes Music, and then Leader in Me (7+1 Habits).

Aspire/Google Classroom:

I always strive to update grades in Aspire every week. 5th grade is a good time to start allowing your child access to Aspire so they can keep tabs on their grades.  All grades will be recorded and accessed in Aspire. If you need a login, please contact the office. I will post assignments and homework for the week on Google Classroom. If you are not sure what your student should be working on for the week, check Google Classroom. Our class code is: 7xhj2rf.

Class Parties and Wellness Policy:

We will have four class parties this year. There is an opportunity for volunteer hours if you would like to donate items or time for these parties.  The dates and occasions for these parties are to be determined.

Per the ELA Wellness Policy, there will be no foods distributed in class unless preapproved and paired with healthy options. Unfortunately, this means that students and families may not bring in birthday treats to class. While fun, it will have to be saved for home.

Field Trips & Events:

Field Trips with dates will be announced as plans and times are confirmed, but we also have some great events and activities this year too!  Check them out…

1. Culture Fair – Nov. 16 - England

2. This Day in History – Jan 26 – 16th Century (Shakespeare)

3. History Fair – May 23 – Literature is a channel for change

4. Annual Great American Award Ceremony

Planners:

School planners can be used by your child in a way that works best for you & them. This will be a place for students to write what is assigned and when things are due. As a class, we will almost always end our day with the planners; I have found that this is a great way to close up the day. Students will summarize what they did in each subject throughout the day. I encourage all parents/guardians to review their students’ planners regularly as a way to be aware of what they are learning and what needs to be done.

Science & History:

We are splitting up Science and History in 5th grade by teacher expertise, so that your child gains a better understanding of the concepts taught in those subjects. I will be teaching History and Mrs. Leggett will be teaching Science. History has long been one of my favorite subjects and I am excited to bring it to life this year! If you’re interested in getting involved with History, please let me know.

Reading:

One of my goals is to instill an appreciation and love for reading. I believe that is hard to do when it is policed aggressively. Therefore, I will not be checking reading minutes every day. I will send home a reading log with 30 spaces. For each night that your student reads for 20 minutes, he/she may mark off that day on the log. When the sheet is filled, he/she may bring it into class and move his/her pin one continent closer to the goal. Students who reach the USA by the end of the year will earn a fun reward!

For each book that students read, they may also add a keychain to their reading rings. Reading is the best!

Volunteering:

If you are interested in helping in the classroom, there are several ways we can make that happen. I would love help during Math and Language Arts, chaperoning field trips, bringing history to life, and other tasks throughout the year. Once you are cleared with the mandatory background check, we can get the ball rolling. Thank you!

Homeroom Private Photo Sharing App:

I will be sharing pictures and videos of the students (unless they have photo restrictions, of course) on the Homeroom app. This is a secure app designed for classrooms, teachers, and parents. Only those who have the link and are members of the group on the app will see the pictures and videos posted there. I will email a link to all parents/guardians at the beginning of the year. Follow along to see the cool things our 5th graders do this year!

Contact Me:

I will be on campus daily from 8:00-4:00. Please let me know in advance if you would like to schedule a conference and meet with me; I want us to be a good team to best help your student. My email address is kreese@earlylightacademy.org.  I will always try to respond as quickly as I can.