Fifth Grade Information 2013-2014

We want to take this opportunity to inform you about all the things to expect while you have a fifth grader at Liberty. We are eager to get off on the right foot and we think the first step in the right direction is to establish open communication with YOU. There are many important items in this packet so please read through it carefully.

Student Arrival Students will be supervised in the gym from 8:30am 8:40am.
There is no supervision for students before that time. The students are expected to have something to read while waiting for Rise and Shine to begin. We encourage students to arrive by 8:40am so they will be on time for Rise and Shine.

Departure from School If your child needs to change the usual way he/she goes
home from school, please contact the office with the information as to how they will be going home. We want to make sure your child arrives home safely.

School Lunches Lunch is $1.90 per day, and breakfast is $.95 per day. This may be
paid up to 40 days in advance which prevents your child from bringing cash each day. A charge notice will be sent home if it is necessary for your child to charge lunch. Adult lunches cost $3.00 and adult breakfast is $1.50. You may now pay for lunch on-line or by phone. Please call or see the cafeteria manager for more information. Fifth Grade lunch begins at 12:10 and recess ends at 12:50.

Water and Snack All students are allowed to bring a bottle of water. Please make
sure it is a clear bottle and has a pop top. Students will be required to take their water bottle home each Friday. Water bottles left over the weekend will be thrown out. Snack time is approximately 10:30 am; please make sure your child brings a healthy snack.

Book Orders - Your child will bring home book orders usually once a month. These are
inexpensive books appropriate for your childs reading level. Many of our classroom books come from these book clubs: Lucky or Arrow. If you wish to order books, please return the order form and money to me by the date indicated. We will include a letter on how to order books online and the access code.

School Supplies - Every child will need the supplies listed on the Liberty Fifth Grade
Supply List. These supplies will need to be replenished at times during the school year. We will communicate these needs through our monthly newsletter.

Planners Students will copy the assignments in their planner every day. They will
circle or highlight assignments they did not finish. Students get their planner initialed by planner assistant every day before they leave. They should show you their planner every night and get you to sign it (no initials please). Students are highly encouraged to get their planner signed every night, but at least once during the week. If they do not then they will get a reminder. If they get their planner signed every day of the week, they will receive a small piece of candy (starburst, jolly rancher).

Take Home Folder (Thursday Folder) All graded papers will come home on
Thursday along with any information from the teacher or school. Please review the graded papers, and RETURN them to school by Monday. Students will be able to redo any paper below an A for full credit. These papers need a parent signature to be re-graded. We will not accept redo papers if they are not signed and will need to be completed and turned in by the next Friday. All papers will be kept in a portfolio until the end of each nine weeks so the students can reflect on their progress.

Homework If your child chooses to use their time wisely in class, they should be able
to complete their daily work during the school day. However, any work not completed in class should be taken home to finish on that day. It must be returned on Friday by 10:00am to qualify for Friday Celebration. Fifth grade is required to read 100 minutes per week from Monday to Sunday, and parents will need to help student keep track of minutes and sign the log each time they read.

Grades - Fifth graders bring home a report card every nine weeks. They are given
letter grades in Reading, Language Arts (Writing and Grammar), Math, Science, and Social Studies. The grading scale is as follows: 100 -90 = A 79 70 = C 89 80 = B 69 - 60 = D 59 and Below = F They receive an S (Satisfactory), P (Progressing), N (Needs Improvement), or BL (Below Grade Level) for objectives in reading, language arts, handwriting, science, social studies, math, specials, and behavior/work habits. Students have the opportunity to redo any assignment below a 90%. In order for the student to get credit for redoing the assignment the redo paper must be signed by a parent/guardian. Please reinforce at home the importance of completing quality work on time. If your child is absent, he/she has 2 days for each day missed to turn in the make-up work. If a student has missing assignments or redo assignments not turned in they will have a final opportunity to get these assignments done on Friday, while the other students are participating in Friday celebrations.

Parent Volunteers With Liberty growing more and more each day, we need your help.
If you would like to volunteer up at the school please let us know and we will give PTA your info. There are many things you can do if you would like to volunteer. We encourage you and every member of your family to join PTA. It is a great organization that helps our school in many ways.

Discipline- We feel that by establishing procedures and by letting children know what is
and is not acceptable in our classroom, we are able to spend much more time learning and sharing our ideas. It is important that each child be able to contribute to our classroom in his or her own way.

GROUP DISCIPLINE POLICY: Our classes have the word appreciation up on the
wall. If they do not follow procedures then they will lose one of the letters. If they get a compliment from a staff member in the building they will earn a letter back. If they even have one letter left at the end of the nine weeks, they will have a small celebration to be determined by us. If they have all of their letters then they will have a huge celebration in our room (pizza, etc).

INDIVIDUAL DISCIPLINE POLICY:

Our classroom expectations are as follows: 1. We will not laugh at or make fun of a persons mistakes nor use sarcasm or putdowns! 2. We will help one another whenever possible. 3. We will use good manners, saying please, thank you, and excuse me and allow other to go first. 4. We will value one another as unique and special individuals. 5. We will recognize every effort and applaud it. 6. We will cheer each other to success! 7. We will practice virtuous living using the LIFE PRINCIPLES. 8. We will encourage each other to do our BEST!

Consequences:

1st and 2nd reminder no consequence, possible conference with teacher 3rd reminder walk track during recess 4th reminder complete behavior plan and get signed by parents 5th reminder student calls home to discuss behavior with parent 6th reminder referral to principal

Rewards: If a student does not get any reminders all week they will get a small piece of
candy (starburst, jolly rancher, etc). If a student does not get any reminders all month they will get to have lunch with their teacher and they will supply the dessert (cookies, ice cream, etc). Students can choose to work off 4 reminders to qualify for the No Reminders Party every month.

WISH LIST- If you would like to donate something to your childs classroom we have
made a list of things that are used often and things that we are in need of all the time. Please look over this list and send anything youd like. BOOKS GAMES Clorox Wipes Plastic Tubs (all sizes) Paper Towels Ziploc Baggies (all sizes) Puzzles Art Supplies Paper Plates Stickers Small Paper Bags Hand Sanitizer Lined Paper Erasers Clip Boards Pencils Dry Erase Markers Card Stock Popsicle Sticks Printer paper (white and colored) (small and large) (white and colored) Index cards Small bags of popcorn CANDY - individually wrapped (soft/chewy) (candy bars, skittles, etc)

In conclusion
We hope to have many wonderful experiences of learning and discovery with your child this year. We know that we cannot do our job without the support and encouragement of parents. We cannot stress the importance of your role in the success of your childs education. The time you spend with your child and the interest you show in his or her learning and progress is so important. If your child is having a problem concerning school or if there is anything you need to discuss, please contact their teacher. We want school to be a happy place for your child. You may reach us at school 259-4470 Mrs. Hammond ext. 400 or by email: mkhammond@baschools.org Mrs. McFarland ext. 402 or by email: cmcfarland@baschools.org Miss Schmitt ext. 405 or by email: aschmitt@baschools.org Mrs. Terry ext. 403 or by email: dterry@baschools.org Mrs. Walls ext. 401 or by email: mwalls@baschools.org Please visit our 5th grade website: www.libertystars5thgrade.weebly.com WELCOME TO LIBERTY AND TO FIFTH GRADE!!! Thank you for sharing a year to remember with us.

Sincerely, The Fifth Grade Team

Broken Arrow Public Schools (BAPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following people at BAPS have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: The Executive Director of Human Resources should be contacted for all non-student and/or employment related issues at 918259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012; The Executive Director of Administrative Services should be contacted for all student issues except those related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-4301 or at 601 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012; and the Compliance Support Coordinator should be contacted for all student issues related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-4301 or at 601 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. Inquiries concerning non-discrimination can also be made to the United States Department of Education's Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.