• Homeroom: Your child has been assigned a homeroom, where he or she will begin and end each school day.  Students are expected to come right to class, and homeroom time is a time for them to unpack, hand in necessary notes, complete their morning assignments and set themselves up for a successful day.  

• Homework: 

ELA: Nightly reading homework will be reading for enjoyment for at least 30 minutes each school night.  Chapter books, informational books, newspaper articles, magazine articles, etc., are  all great types of material  to use.  Reading aloud to a pet or family member is also a great  way to approach this assignment.  Frequently, students will complete a ¨Writing About Reading¨ assignment based on their independent reading in their reading journals.  These will be checked during our small group instruction.  Students will occasionally choose one of their entries to turn in for a feedback and to be graded.    If a child is falling behind with their Writing About Reading assignments, we ask that they take some focused time to work on them at home to help them catch up as needed.  

Students may also occasionally need to finish an assignment if it wasn´t finished in school.  

Math:  We ask student to consistently practice their math facts each night using Websites talked about in school, flash cards, or with games.   

• Planner/Communication Folders: Students will be given planner pages to help keep track of assignments, quiz and test dates, general due dates and activities or events.  Please sign the planner page each night and return the next day.  We will check them each day for signatures and notes you might want to add to them.  If there is no homework for a class, your child will be instructed to write the word “none” in that space.  Handouts and completed work will also be in these folders as needed.  Please note that keeping these going back and forth each night consistently not only fosters communication between school and home, but helps students learn and practice important organizational skills.  We thank you, in advance, for your help!

• Family Journals:  Each Friday, students will complete a page in their  Family Journal to bring home to share  their school week with you.  The journals have a part for your feedback, encouragement, or to  note any questions you may have.  Please write in that part and return the  journal the following school day.

• Absences: We encourage students to be present every day possible but understand that if they are not feeling well it is sometimes best for them to rest at home.  We strongly suggest that your child set up a buddy system with a friend with whom his or her work may be delivered home.  When absent, a reasonable length of time will be given to make up any missed assignments.  Students are also responsible for any work missed due to special instruction such as band or orchestra lessons.  Again, we strongly encourage students to make arrangements with a friend to help keep track of missed assignments.

• Signatures:  Frequently during the school year we will ask that you sign and return papers to acknowledge receipt.  We thank you, in advance, for your support.  All tests and quizzes, no matter the grade, must be signed and returned.  This is to help keep you informed of your child’s progress.  We also ask that you try to keep us informed of any situations that may affect your child’s ability to do his or her best in school.  In turn, we will do the same.  

• Communication:  E-mail and ClassDojo will be our primary  forms of general communications.  You may also call the main office (845-463-7322) and we will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner.  We will send out ClassDojo invitations soon if you are not already signed up for it. 

Please contact us when you have any questions or concerns.  We are here to help!  We are looking forward to getting to know your child and working together to help them have a successful and memorable 5th grade year!

Sincerely, 

Aleksandra Werb Kristi Cox

aleksandra.werba@wcsdny.org kristi.cox@wcsdny.org