Welcome Letter Information

August 17, 2017


Dear Students and Parents,


Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year and to Moreland Middle School! This letter highlights some of the expectations we have here at MMS for all students.


Class Website: https://sites.google.com/moreland.org/mrsurbancic

*Daily Agenda/Quickwrites/Homework/Assignments Due


Curriculum

Our curriculum in language arts, reading, and social studies follows the California Common Core State Standards. The standards outline may be found online at:


http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/finalelaccssstandards.pdf


Citizenship

MMS students follow the PBIS school wide expectations of


  • We are safe
  • We are respectful
  • We are responsible


Rewards, Incentives, and Consequences

  • Rewards and incentives may include Trailblazin’ Tickets, classroom raffle prizes, and classwide rewards
  • Consequences for breaking classroom expectations may include phone calls home, email communications, break and/or lunch detention. If a student receives three minor referrals in class it becomes a major referral and the student will be sent to Mr. Barelli.


Attendance

In order to be successful in middle school daily attendance is vital. Students are responsible for getting missed assignments out of the file and turning in within two days of returning. After following the daily routine work (copy homework, check agenda, quickwrite) the students needs to do the following:

  1. First check the online agenda from the missed day to see what needs to be made up.
  2. Then the student will need to complete the daily quick-write from the absent day(s) and check their file for hard copies of missed classwork assignments

*Then the student will have two days upon the return date to complete all work without having late work consequences.

*All assignments will be up on the agenda each day.

Grading Policy and Homework

  • Students will receive minimal homework, but everyday is required 20 minutes of reading. This can include reading textbooks for other classes if the homework load is heavy.
  • Students are expected to put forth their best effort at all times. Letter grades reflect the accumulation of points they receive from homework, classwork, projects, tests, quizzes, and participation. The grading scale can be found in the student planner.
  • School Loop should be checked once per week. If there is a question about a grade email is the best communication-please don’t be worried about emailing a questions, even teachers make mistakes 😄
    • Before emailing about a grade please:
      • Talk to your child, ask them why they have the grade they have-in most cases the student will have an answer.
      • If they don’t know check to see if the score is low because of lost points or if it is a missing assignment. In School Loop you can click on the “Progress Report” button on the page where you view student grades. If it is missing you will see the letter M instead of a score. In many cases the student may have turned the assignment in and forgot their name. If your child believes that the missing assignment was turned in have them check the no name wall before stressing out.
      • Late work is accepted until the day before the quarter ends. There will be 10% taken off for late assignments.
      • If there is still a question about an assignment encourage your child to speak/email me themselves. Independence growth is so important at this time and teaching them this responsibility is highly encouraged. That said, I do know there are times when it calls for parents to check in and I hope you feel comfortable contacting me.

Communication

The best way to contact me is through email: surbancic@moreland.org

You can also call the class phone outside the instructional day from 2:20-5:00 at 408.874.3364 Be sure to leave a message and I will respond within 24 hours (unless it’s the weekend, then good luck-just kidding I will call back on Monday).


Helpful Personal Supplies

These supplies are available in the classroom, but students sometime prefer to use their own supplies:

---A silent reading book (this is required daily, their homework the first night of school is to bring a book in for Wednesday)

---Pencils

---Highlighter

---Fine point flair pen

---Colored pencils/crayons

---Pencil sharpener

---Lined binder paper


Helpful Classroom Supplies

--Boxes of Kleenex

--Post-its

--Lined binder paper

--Glue sticks

--Paper towels


Please complete the Parent Contact Information sheet and return to Mrs. Urbancic by Friday, August 25th. I look forward to meeting and seeing all of you at Back to School Night on Thursday, August 31st.


Sincerely,

Mrs. Shanna Urbancic

6th Grade/ELD Core Teacher

408.874.3364