Classroom Information

Absences

If your child is absent, please notify the office at 233-4300. You can also email me at eknight@wcpss.net. When your child returns, he or she will need a written note explaining their absence. 

Allergies and Medication

If your child has any allergies, please let me know immediately. Also, please let us know if there are any medications that need to be dispensed during school hours. These medications must be given to the school office (not the teacher) along with the appropriate forms filled out by your physician. Your child will go to the office at the appropriate times to receive his/her medication.

Communication

Please feel free to contact me anytime you have a question, concern or even good news! You can write in your child's agenda, send in a note with your child, email me (eknight@wcpss.net), or call the office (919-233-4300) and leave a message. It is very important to me to maintain open communication with parents. I will respond to your question, comment, or concern within 24 hours. 

Conferences

Conferences will be held towards the end of the first quarter.  However, if you would like a conference sooner, please just let me know some times that you are available, so that we can set up a time.  Also, we will have student-led conferences later in the spring.

Covey Habits 

We incorporate the Covey habits into all aspects of the school day (morning meeting, daily instruction, classroom management, class meeting, etc.) I especially encourage my students to explain how they use the Covey habits in their lives. It is so exciting to see the children applying the habits first hand! You'll notice that once the children have a solid understanding of the habits, they become second nature at school and at home! 

Habit 1: Be Proactive - Stop, think & make a good choice - You are in control of yourself! 

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind - Set a goal and work hard to achieve it.  

Habit 3: Put First Things First - Do the most important thing first - Work before you play.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win - This habit guides classroom collaboration. Students learn to find solutions that are mutually beneficial. 

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood - Listen to your friends and care about what they're saying . . . listen with your ears, eyes and heart!

Habit 6: Synergize - "Two heads are better than one."  Students learn to appreciate each other’s strengths and talents as they discover the impact of teamwork and open-mindedness. 

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw - Have fun and take care of yourself! (Mind, Body & Spirit)

Habit 8: Find Your Voice - Students explore their interests and talents as they learn to express themselves -- everyone is a unique leader.

Visit The Leader In Me website: http://www.theleaderinme.org  

Read Sean Covey's Book: The Seven Habits of Happy Kids

Emergencies 

In the event of an unexpected emergency, please make sure to keep all of your contact information updated. If you change your information, please let both the office and I know about it!

All students are required to have emergency contact (locator) cards on file in the front office. These cards are a part of the back-to-school paperwork. Please fill out both the front and back of the emergency card. Students will not be permitted to go home with another adult without written consent.

Ground Rules

At the beginning of the year, as we are setting up our classroom community, we will create a set of ground rules.  These are rules that we decide on together and we will follow throughout the year.  These rules are important in making our classroom run smoothly and allow everyone to be a leader.

Leadership Notebooks 

We collect data often at A.B. Combs and track our progress towards classroom and individual goals. Each child has their own leadership notebook. Inside, students track their academic progress. Students will begin with the end in mind by setting goals and working hard to achieve them throughout the year!  While leadership notebooks stay at school until the end of the year, you will have the opportunity to view and discuss your child's progress during conferences, etc. You will also be invited to a student-led conference!

Newsletters

Twice a month our classroom newsletter will be emailed out. Please make sure to read it carefully as it is filled with important information and upcoming dates.

Quality Tools 

Quality tools are graphic organizers that we use to collect, display, and use information. Quality tools help us to organize our thinking and put it in a user-friendly format. In third grade, we use these quality tools to chart our thinking and record what we've learned. You'll find lots of charts around the classroom! Some examples of quality tools: 

- Lotus Diagram 

- Affinity Diagram 

- Fishbone Diagram 

- Flowchart 

- Force Field Diagram (Drivers and Preventers)

- Bone Diagram 

- Bubble Map 

- Venn Diagram 

Report Cards 

Report Cards are sent home at the end of every quarter. Report cards showcase your child's progress in reading, writing, math, social studies, science, conduct and work habits. There is also a section with teacher comments discussing your child's strengths, areas for improvement and interventions that are being used. Report cards are sent home in an envelope that is used all year. Please return it, signed, after each of the first three quarters. Report card envelopes also have a box to check if you would like a conference.  

Wake County uses standards based grading. Students will receive a 1, 2, 3, or 4. Please do not confuse standards based grading with the A, B, C etc. system that many of us grew up with. A 4 is not equivalent to an A and so on. Instead please read the standards based grading descriptions below. 

 1 - Not meeting benchmarks for the quarter. Performing below grade level standards. 

 2 - Needs support to meet benchmarks for the quarter. Showing inconsistent performance. 

 3 - Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards. (Meeting benchmarks for the designated quarter) 

 4 - Demonstrating performance above grade level by extending targeted grade level standards

Snack 

Students may bring a snack to school everyday. Also please send your child with a labeled bottle of water each day! This helps to keep them energized and hydrated! Emergency snack donations are always welcome and appreciated!

Team 8 Specials

This year, we are fortunate to have one special everyday. We will rotate our specials every one or two days. For this reason, please make sure that you check your child's agenda for their special each day. Children must wear tennis shoes to PE.

Transportation 

Many students have complex transportation plans. They may attend the YMCA program two days a week, carpool one day, and ride the bus on Thursdays and Fridays. It is my job to ensure that your children get home safely. If I do not have an e-mail, phone call, or note from you, I cannot change your child's transportation plan at the last minute. I realize that plans change, but I must have prior consent. This ensures the safety of all students! You can call the office if plans change (919.233.4300); someone will notify me. I will also look for notes via folder.

I look forward to a fantastic year! Thank you for sending such wonderful students to our school! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.  :)