ATTENDANCE
We cover a lot of material in fifth grade, and it is crucial that your student is here each day to ensure their success in the classroom! Please try to schedule any appointments after school hours and be sure to arrive at school on time (7:40); we start right away! Students will be counted absent if they are not here by 7:40.
If your student is absent, please notify me or Mrs. Hayes with an email or note. If your student has a doctor’s appointment, please send in a doctor’s note to be excused.
When students have missed school, please have them here at 7:15 the following day(s) to help them catch up on missed material. Depending on how much school your student missed, this might mean getting to school early for multiple days. Since we have around 50 students in fifth grade, this chunk from 7:15-7:40 is the best time of day where Mrs. Hayes and I can work with your student and provide them with some direct instruction! Make-up work will be sent home and checked for completion.
COMMUNICATION
The best way to communicate with me is by email at lauren.white2@nhcs.net. With that being said, please contact the office if a message is urgent. Our main instructional time is in the morning, so it can be difficult to check emails during this morning block!
Fifth grade utilizes a take home folder to communicate with parents. Folders contain graded papers, some classwork, and school paperwork/announcements. Each student has their very own ✨ special mailbox ✨ where Mrs. Hayes and I place all paperwork that needs to go home in folders. Students check their mailbox each afternoon when we are packing up and should place whatever is in their mailbox directly into their folder. Students should be in the habit of taking their folder home and checking it every night. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure these papers are making their way home as well as bringing their take home folder to school every day.
Additionally, I have a newsletter tab on my website that is updated every Sunday with important information pertaining to math and science! A paper copy of my newsletter comes home in folders Monday.
GRADING
Grades are put into Infinite Campus weekly. The grading scale is as follows:
A = 90-100
B = 80-90
C = 70-80
D = 60-70
F = below 60
It is important for students to turn in their assignments on time to avoid deductions. Missing assignments will be entered in as a zero until turned in. We encourage parents to check Infinite Campus weekly. If you are unsure of how to access Infinite Campus, please email our data manager at charlotte.zurcher@nhcs.net. She will help you!
If you notice grades in Infinite Campus are not coming home in take home folders, please have a conversation with your student about where their papers are going!!! You may always reach out to us if the problem continues, but we really want each student responsible for staying organized and bringing home everything in their mailbox to prepare them for middle school.
HOMEWORK
Monday through Thursday, students will complete one lesson in their APPLY Eureka (math) book. The lesson they complete for homework correlates to the lesson we did that day in class. For example, if I taught lesson 12 in class, students would complete lesson 12 for homework.
Science content is a big jump from fourth to fifth grade. We spend about 45 minutes a day on science, and it is a state tested subject. I typically do not assign science homework outside of studying our science notebook for 15-20 minutes per day. In addition to our science notebook, there are practice test questions, quizlets, games, and other resources in GoogleClassroom for each science unit. This is another great way to study for upcoming quizzes or tests!
Please note that if students do not complete what is expected in class or are absent, this work will be sent home and checked for completion in addition to other required homework.
BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS
At WBS we S.U.R.F. (Show responsibility, Use safety, Respect self and others, and Focus and work hard). We go over classroom expectations during the first week of school that our fifth graders must comply with in order for us to have the most effective and beneficial classroom learning environment.
TRANSPORTATION
All transportation changes need to be in take home folders or go through the office. The latest we can accept transportation changes is 2:00 p.m. Parents should call our office at 910-256-3171 and MUST talk to a staff member (not leave a message or email) about all transportation changes. I cannot accept a child's verbal word. Please do not send me an email the day of about a transportation change since I am not always able to check my email during the school day.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays will be celebrated during recess on the last Friday of the month for all students who have a birthday in that particular month. For example, all students who have a birthday in April will be celebrated together during recess the last Friday in April. That means that all the yummy treats and snacks should be saved for this one day! Our classroom helpers will send out additional information pertaining to birthdays at a later date.