Policies & Procedures

5th Grade Policies and Procedures 2026-2027

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year at Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado. It is an honor to be your child’s fifth grade teacher and I look forward to partnering with you this year. 

Please read through the information below to learn about our classroom procedures and policies. Further communication regarding classwork, homework and activities can be found in weekly updates posted on the teacher website. The first time I post updates on the website, I will send out an email letting families know. I am available to discuss any questions or concerns. I aim to respond to emails within 24 hours during the school week, and can set up a conference if necessary.  Please note I am actively engaged with students during the day and not always able to check emails, so if you need to get a message to your child during the day, please call the front office.

Learning Expectations

Students should come to school prepared to learn. Please help your student be in their seat by 7:45 a.m., dressed in the school uniform and with materials needed for the day. This includes: lunch, homework and an independent reading book. This year 5th graders will have an opportunity to eat a snack both during morning recess and again in the afternoon, so please ensure they have something nutritious. Please try to avoid sugary snacks and drinks, as these negatively affect learning in a measurable way.  Students who bring nutritious snacks and water tend to do significantly better throughout the day.

Homework

Homework is an important opportunity for students to learn responsibility, and the work is meant to complement your child’s learning at school. It is intentional and necessary.  I expect homework to be done neatly and turned in on time. Per our policy, students can expect approximately fifty minutes of homework per evening. A planner, designed to help organize and keep track of assignments, has been provided to your student and part of our daily routine will include recording the night’s homework. Please plan on initialing your child’s planner each day to show me that homework assignments have been completed. Homework assignments that are tangible (work other than studying or reading) will also be turned in. Planners will be checked for initials in the morning. I update (link) homework on the class website weekly and make changes throughout the week as needed. 

Although timing can be difficult for student athletes, practices and games are not reasons for missing homework. The expectation for student work will only grow as they get older and students will need to learn how to balance their school work with athletics schedules. For athletes who need to leave early for competitions, students should check with me during morning bellwork, so that I can ensure they have the correct materials listed in their planner for homework. 

Note:  I understand that on occasion our lives get busy and we need a little grace. If your child has one of these days, or isn’t feeling well enough to complete the task, please communicate with me via email or by including a written note in their planner. Please let me know if your child is struggling with homework-- I value those conversations.

Absent Work 

Thank you for following our health guidelines and doing your part at home to help maintain a healthy classroom.

In the event of an excused absence, please refer to the website for assigned work.  Daily homework (typically math and unfinished classwork) are exempted and will not be collected, graded, or recorded.  Papers and tests will be made up as follows:  for each day of school missed with an excused absence, students will have one day to complete the missed work.  

Please note that  a zero will be entered in the gradebook for all non-exempt missing work even if it is because of an absence.  This acts as a ‘placeholder’ in the gradebook.  The score will be corrected after the student’s return and their completion of the test/quiz/paper/etc.  

Late Work

Classwork and homework that are turned in on time are eligible for full points. Larger assignments may be turned in the next day for partial credit.  Extenuating circumstances can be discussed on an individual basis.

Tutoring

Math content is quizzed most Fridays.  If your student earns a failing grade on a quiz, you can expect an invitation for your student to attend math tutoring the following week. Tutoring will cover the content of the quiz or other relevant skills. Tutoring is by appointment and scheduled on a weekly basis.  If you would like your child to attend tutoring, please put "Tutoring with Ms. Montoya" into SchoolPass.  Tutoring ends at 3:30 p.m.  

Student Grades 

I will endeavor to record grades in PowerSchool on a weekly basis. Please check the online system regularly to stay up to date on your child’s progress. ACANC does not send home or mail report cards.

Food and Water Bottles in Class

All food in class is banned for students, unless students have an IEP, 504, or doctor’s note. Fifth graders may eat before and after school, during morning recess, during lunch, and during the afternoon break. Water bottles may be kept at students' cubbies and may be utilized during breaks or independent work time. We will take several stretch breaks throughout the day to allow students to grab a sip from their bottles. Stanley-type cups are not allowed in the classroom this year, as they often cause issues with spilling. Please avoid sending sugary drinks or drinks with coloring in them, as these tend to create a mess when they spill.

I am asking students to wash their hands if the snacks they eat at recess right before coming in have tree nuts in them. Please also mention this to your child.

Birthday and Classroom Celebrations 

We love to celebrate your child’s birthday and they will be recognized in class. However, school policy does not permit treats of any kind to be sent in for the class - either during instructional time or at lunch.  If your child is having a party that does not include the entire class, please do not have your 5th grader deliver those invitations at school. If everyone is invited - by all means, your 5th grader may pass them out during lunch or recess.

Curriculum-based classroom parties will be scheduled throughout the year.   These “Wonder Days” are made possible by wonderful class parent volunteers!  Thank you! 

A few parents have already generously expressed interest in volunteering time to help with our learning this year. If you are interested in helping with copywork and the like, please do email me and let me know what your availability is like. Parent volunteers are wonderfully appreciated!

Communication with Ms. Montoya

I am Deaf, and use a cochlear implant on one ear and a hearing aid on the other. I can sometimes understand speech on the phone, but not reliably, and almost never on the classroom phone. For this reason, please do not leave messages that you want me to hear on the school phone. If it is not urgent please email me to schedule a time for us to talk. We may set up a video call, and in-person conference, or a phone call on my personal phone since it connects via Bluetooth to my hearing devices.  Even my personal phone is often hard for me to hear on, so most often I speak with families via video call or in-person meetings. At times I may use my personal phone to leave a message, and it will likely show up as an unknown number. You may still receive messages from the office and your child may call from the school phone if the occasion arises. Please do reach out if you have any questions!

I look forward to a great year with your student! Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns.

With Gratitude, 

Ms. Montoya

Fifth Grade Teacher and Upper Grammar Department Head

Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado

natalia.montoya@nc.ascentcolorado.org

Please discuss these Classroom Policies and Procedures with your 5th grader, then write and sign a (link)note of acknowledgement and submit it by the last school day of August.