Altamaha Elementary School PTO/Title I/Parent Night

Altamaha Elementary School2011-2012

Kindergarten to Fifth Grade Curriculum

• Based on Georgia Performance Standards

• Grade Level Expectations in Reading and Math

ReadingBy the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following:•Identify elements of a story: plot, character & setting•Locate facts that answer questions•Use comprehension strategies: predict, visualize, question, reread, and summarize.•Identify and use knowledge of common textual features (e.g., paragraphs, topic sentences, concluding sentences, glossary).•Identify and uses knowledge of common organizational structures (e.g., chronological order, cause and effect). •Distinguish cause from effect in context. •Summarize main ideas and supporting details.

A.R. Expectations

The following is a tentative schedule for student A.R. points achievement:

•First 8 weeks: 18 points•Second 8 weeks: 18 points•Third 8 weeks: 18 points•Fourth 8 weeks: 6 points

Total: 60 points

Students are also expected to maintain an 85 average.

Language ArtsBy the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following:

•Simple and complete subjects and predicates • Subject-verb agreement

•Parts of speech • Adjectives, verbs, nouns. adverbs, pronouns, and

prepositions•Punctuation

• End marks, commas, periods for abbreviations, etc.•Capitalization

• Proper nouns, titles, proper adjective•Homophones (correct spelling)•Eliminating sentence fragments•Sentence structures

• Simple, compound, imperative, declarative, exclamatory, interrogative, functional fragments

Language ArtsBy the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following:Writing

• Use the 6 Writing Traits: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions

• Write for various audiences and purposes• Support opinions and solutions to problems• Use reference materials: Internet, atlas, encyclopedia,

magazines, thesaurus, newspaper, dictionary, almanac, key words

MATHBy the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following:

Multiplication•Multiply two and three-digit numbers by one and two-digit numbers

Division•Divide by one and two-digit numbers (including those with remainders)

Fractions•Add and subtract fraction with like denominators•Know equivalencies of fractions •Use mixed numbers and improper fractions interchangeably

Decimals•Add and subtract decimals•Multiply and divide decimals by whole numbers

SOCIAL STUDIESBy the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following:Native Americans •Describe how Native Americans used their environment to obtain food, clothing, and shelter. •Locate where Native Americans settled North American Exploration•John Cabot, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Juan Ponce de León, Christopher Columbus, Henry Hudson, and Jacques Cartier. American RevolutionWestward Expansion•Louisiana Purchase •Louis & Clark ExpeditionAbolitionist and suffrage movements. •Harriet Tubman•Elizabeth Cady Stanton •Sojourner Truth

SCIENCEBy the end of 4th grade, students will demonstrate mastery of many concepts and skills, including the following:

•Stars and Solar System•Light

• Mirrors, lenses, and prisms

•Sound •Forces and Motion

• Simple machines

•Ecosystems•Water Cycle and Weather

School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools)

Mission Statement

The Appling County School System is committed to providing a quality education that promotes maximum individual achievement and social responsibility.

School Responsibilities

As an administrator, I will:

•Provide a safe and orderly environment conducive to learning.

•Provide an environment that allows for positive communication among the teacher, parents, and student.

•Support teachers in providing high quality instruction.

•Provide an open door policy for parents.

School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools) continued

Teacher ResponsibilitiesAs a teacher, I will:• Believe that each child can learn.• Show respect for each student and his/her family.• Provide a safe, positive, caring environment, conducive to learning.• Help each child grow to his/her fullest potential.• Provide meaningful and appropriate homework activities.• Enforce rules fairly and consistently.• Demonstrate professional behavior and a positive attitude.• Seek ways to involve parents in school activities.• Come to class well prepared to teach.• Communicate regularly with families about students’ progress.

School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools) continued

Parent/Guardian ResponsibilitiesAs a parent/guardian, I will:• See that my child attends school everyday and is on time.• Show respect and support for my child, the teachers, and the school.• Communicate with my child’s teachers on a regular basis.• Insist that all homework assignments be completed.• Read with my child and let my child read to me.• Talk with my child about his/her daily school experiences.• Regularly monitor my child’s progress (report cards, student planner,

progress reports, weekly signed papers).• Participate at school in activities such as parent-teacher conferences,

PTO meetings, Open House, and other special events.

School-Parent Compact(Title I Schools) continued

Student ResponsibilitiesAs a student, I will:• Come to school everyday, prepared to do my best.• Show respect for myself, my classmates, my teachers, my

school, and my community.• Let my teacher and my family know if I need help.• Obey all school and bus rules.• Read on my own and with my family every day.• Write down assignments, do my homework every day,

and turn it in when it’s due.

Progress Reports and Report Cards

Progress Reports • Issued about 4 weeks of each grading period.• The first Progress Report is scheduled to go home

September 7th. Report Cards• Issued every 8 weeks at the end of each grading

period• The first report cards should go home on October

17th.

Grades Three, Four, and Five Criteria for Promotion

1. Earn a yearly average of 70% or higher in Reading and in Math AND in grades 4 and 5 must earn a yearly average of 70% or higher in at least two of the following subjects: Language, Science, and Social Studies.

2. Be recommended for promotion by the classroom teacher. The teacher’s recommendation should be based on documentable data and might include sources such as: class performance, norm reference test results, Light’s Retention Scale Indicator, and work habits.

3. As part of fourth grade promotion/retention criteria, the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test results will be utilized to determine placement.

4. No fifth grade student shall be promoted to the sixth grade if the student does not achieve grade level on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test in reading and mathematics and meet promotion standards and criteria established in this policy for the school that the student attends.

Assessments

• Classroom Assessments• Benchmarks

– Every eight weeks

• Writing• CRCT

WHAT CAN YOU DO BEFORE A TEST?

Please make sure that your child:

•Gets plenty of rest

•Eats a well-balanced breakfast

•Does not get upset or stressed

• Be sure to check your child’s homework sheet. It contains important information for assignments and upcoming assessments.

• Ask questions when reading a story.• Use flash cards with math, spelling, etc.

HOW CAN YOU INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT?

RESOURCES FOR HELP•Teacher

•Administrator

•Discovery Place Parent

Resource Center

ATTENDANCE POLICY• When a student is absent, he/she must provide a

written excuse to the teacher within three days after returning to school. A student is tardy if he/she arrives at school or class after the tardy bell has rung, or 7:50 A.M. In order to be counted present, a student must be at school one-half day or until 11:30 A.M. If a student is tardy, the student will not be eligible for a superior perfect attendance certification. Early sign out will also be documented as a tardy.

Exemption Policy

• It has been determined that students who meet certain criteria will be allowed to exempt half a day (sign out at 11:30 and be counted present for the full day) on the last day before Christmas Holidays begin and the last day of school.

• Criteria for Exemption:– Completed all assignments and requirements– Have no fines – Earn recommendation from the teacher

HOW CAN YOU PARTICIPATE IN DECISIONS REGARDING YOUR CHILD?

• Consult with administrator• Conference with teacher• Be a parent volunteer• School Council• PTO• Parental Involvement Committee

Extra Activities offered at Altamaha Elementary School

Red Ribbon WeekField DayScience Projects

Spelling BeePoetry ContestsArt Poster

Contests

School Meetings• All parents/guardians are invited to attend the PTO

meetings and become involved in your child’s education.

• The next PTO meeting is scheduled forSeptember 13, 2011

at 6:00 PM in the gym

Thank you!!!When we work together as a team, it helps your

child to have a successful and

rewarding school year.