Embedded Files
Sixth Grade Information Packet
Val Vista Lakes Elementary
2025-2026
Mrs. Hardy: Room 209 (ELA)
Mr. Shipley: Room 210 (Math)
Mr. Hardy: Room 211 (Science and Social Studies)
We hope you are ready for a fantastic year at Val Vista Lakes Elementary. We look forward to providing your child with a memorable year that will be fondly remembered for years to come! As partners in your child’s education, we are excited about the opportunity to work with you and your child, and also invite you to contact us at any time.
In sixth grade, we work as a team. We departmentalize the curriculum. Your child will have a homeroom teacher; however, each teacher will work with every student in their subject area. We consider every student to be our student.
This is a significant year for your child. Students will be given a great deal of responsibility this year, not only for academics, but also for attitude, behavior, and work ethic. We will be studying several fascinating topics this year and also have many special activities planned.
Homerooms: Your child’s homeroom teacher will take lunch count and attendance daily. We will have class parties (Halloween, and Christmas) with our homerooms. We each need a room parent. Please let us know if you are willing to be our room parent. Please sign up on this link Room Parent Sign-up
Classroom Dojo: This is an online classroom management tool. It can be viewed on your phone or computer. It will give you feedback on how your child’s behavior is in class. You may also contact each teacher via the message feature. Remember, Dojo is not the location of your child’s grades it is just a way to communicate behavior. Grades can be found on Infinite Campus. Link to Sign up for Dojo
Email: tami.richeson@gilbertschools.net
cody.shipley@gilbertschools.net
william.hardy@gilbertschools.net
Assignments: Students may or may not have homework every night. They will be expected to look at Google Classroom to see if they have any homework when they are absent. The students will have three Google classrooms that will communicate all homework for the day in that subject area. This is where they will know what their homework is and will turn in some assignments as well.
Math Support: Follow the instructions on this link for additional math support:
Grades: Infinite Campus is used to post grades on assignments and report cards. If you already have an account, great! We encourage you to log in at any time to monitor your child’s success since midterms and report cards are sent electronically. Missing assignments are displayed as well. If you have any questions regarding logging into Infinite Campus please speak with your child’s homeroom teacher.
Instructions for Parent Portal
Cell-Phones/BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology): The use of that technology will be in the classroom only. Your teacher will let you know when and how your cell phone may be used. These must be used for educational purposes only. NO CELL phones will be out of their backpacks during the school day. They are not to get them out until the final bell rings.
Junior High School: Your child will be registered for junior high in early Spring. It is important that if you will be on open enrollment you submit that request to the junior high before January. Additional information will be provided later in the year. Please feel free to contact your homeroom teacher for information regarding junior high.
District page for open enrollment
Science Camp: Science Camp is our sixth-grade field trip. We will spend three days and two nights at Camp CampWay in Prescott. The dates of the field trip are Dec.10-12. The cost for the students and chaperones will be $215 each. If you are interested in being a chaperone please use this sign-up genius link Science Camp to let us know. We will then see how many chaperones have expressed interest and respond to you by Sept 5 to confirm that you are attending camp. We will have a limited space for male and female chaperones so please get your request in by August 29 if you want to be a chaperone. We will let you know by Sept. 5 if you will be one of our chaperones so you can budget for it.
Art Masterpiece: This program will be taught during the student's Science and Social Studies rotation. Interested in volunteering? Please click the link to sign up. Art Masterpiece Sign-up
Birthdays: Treats for birthdays are always welcome. Birthdays will be celebrated in the child’s homeroom. Please have enough for all students in your child’s homeroom class. Treats must be store-bought.
Snacks: We encourage your child to bring a healthy snack. Students will be allowed to have a QUICK snack during their block 2 rotation. (snack time 10-10:30)
Early Release: The schedule will be modified to allow equal time allotments per subject. There will still be lunch and specials. Students will be released at 1:55 p.m. on early release days.
WED Specials Schedule 6th Grade schedule with important early release dates
6th-grade walk/ C-Ya Later Party: After-school event hosted by parents to celebrate the promotion. Parent volunteers are needed. If you are interested in being on this committee please sign-up on the link. Mrs. Hardy will put together a list of volunteers and then from that point, this event will be strictly parent-organized. 6th grade End of year party
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