WELCOME PARENTS

Tonight’s Schedule:6:30-6:40ish Welcome Message from Mr. Buccheit and Dr. Walts

6:40-7:00 Mrs. Steinard

7:00-7:10 Mr. Taylor

7:10-7:20 Mrs. Collins-Walker

7:20-7:30 Check-in with one of the teachers (if needed)

BEFORE YOU LEAVE TONIGHT…

Write a short note to your child and leave it inside their desk. You can include information such as:

What you think of their classroom What your expectations are for them this

year Explain how proud you are of them

Don’t forget to check my school fusion page for the link to the conference sign-up document. I will send out an email reminder when it is up and running.

I’m looking for a Room Parent. Please let me know if you are interested in being the go to for PTO and the one who helps with planning and organizing celebrations.

GETTING TO KNOW MRS. STEINARD I’m a native of the area, growing up in

Manassas and graduating from Osbourn High School. Mr. Taylor and I actually graduated high

school together and now we work together each day.

I’m a graduate of West Virginia University (Go Mountaineers!), where I completed my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.

This is my 7th year teaching 5th grade in the Prince William County Public School System.

I now reside in Warrenton with my husband Chris; my daughter, Avery; and my Chocolate Lab, Puddin.

PARENT/TEACHER COMMUNICATION I update my school page almost daily with important

announcements or assignment due dates (this is the best way to stay connected with what is going on in the classroom):My website can be found by accessing T.

Claywood’s home page, Click Classrooms, 5th grade, Steinard

Students should be filling out their agenda each day, listing any daily assignments or upcoming tests and quizzes for the particular week.

I do not individually check students agendas. I simply say, “You should be adding this to your agenda right now” when the time is appropriate.

TIMBERWOLF FOLDER/FRIDAY FOLDER Each Friday students will come home with their

Timberwolf Folder full of important materials from that week: Graded Assignments Important Information from T. Clay Wood (sometimes

including information that needs to be signed and returned by a parent).

Please get in the routine of checking your child’s folder some time during the weekend so that important information is returned ASAP.

Please make sure that your child’s Timberwolf Folder stays in their backpack just incase there are important papers that need to go home during the middle of the week. Many students also use this as a daily homework folder.

UPCOMING DATES… MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Conference Day: Tuesday, November 4th The Shared Doc Link will be on my school fusion

website shortly.On conference day, you will meet with the

homeroom teacher (me). I will be touching base with Mr. Taylor and Miss Collins about your child’s Math and Reading progress ahead of time so that I can give you feedback on how they are doing in those subject areas.

Field Trips: Fall Field Trip: Hemlock 10/27/14 (Info. Went

home Friday and all forms and money are due on Friday, Oct. 24th)

Hylton Planetarium: 3/27/15Smithsonian Environmental Research Center:

4/15/15

PARENT PORTAL: ONLINE GRADE BOOKReminder…ALL elementary grades will be displayed on Parent Portal similarly to the way it is seen for middle and high school students.

If you do not have your user name and password set up yet please check in with the ladies in the office to get the information on how to get things up and running.

GRADING POLICY

Graded Class Work/Home Work - Counted

as 1 grade

Projects/Labs - Counted as 2 grades

Quizzes- Counted as 2 grades

Unit Tests - Counted as 3 grades

LATE WORK If a graded activity is not turned in the day it is due,

it will receive a grade level lower for every day it is late.

On the third day it will receive a grade of “F”.

For example, if an “A” paper is late:

* 1st day late = B

* 2nd day late = C

* 3rd day late = F

*I always remind the students that turning in something and receiving partial credit is always

better than not turning in anything at all.

UNFINISHED CLASS WORK

Students are expected to complete all classroom assignments. Assignments are clearly written on the homework board, calendar, and Morning Message and time is given throughout the day to record these assignments in their agenda if they are not completed. Each day, at the end of class, the assignments are reviewed and reminders are announced of what should be going home for the day. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the assignments are correctly recorded and that they have all materials needed to complete each assignment at home.

We encourage parents to assist students, butthe work should be that of the student.

INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOKS

Students keep notes in their notebooks/binders for Math, Science, and Social Studies.

These notebooks should be used as a tool to help review/prepare for tests and quizzes.

Students are given the opportunity to check-in with a responsible classmate or teacher throughout the school day if needed to get caught up on days that they are absent.

WEEKLY VOCABULARY/SPELLING ASSIGNMENTS

Students will be given 5 academic vocabulary words and

25 spelling words each Monday. They will then have TWO WEEKS to complete the activities on

their Contract in their spelling notebook. Every other Friday the students will complete a quiz where they

will be tested on their understanding of the 5 academic vocabulary words (definition matching) and the spelling of the 25 spelling words.

Students should complete the activities at home or in class when time is allotted.

Just a heads up… if you are missing the words or need another copy of the activities list you can find them at the very bottom of my school fusion website.

SCIENCE/SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

•Science SOL covers 4th and 5th grade Concepts•We will be alternating Science and Social Studies units approx. every two weeks.

•With the exception of a few Science Units that may take additional weeks to cover.

•Students keep all of their important materials in their binder.

•The dividers help separate materials between units. •The students number their assignments so that they can keep track of all their materials.

•We have weekly labs or class projects the help reinforce the unit of study (each graded x2).•I like to integrate technology as much as possible…so BYOD and Flash Drive are helpful to have this year.•Additional materials or websites to explore for review can be found on my school fusion page.

Science Olympiad Team A select group of students who challenge

themselves with higher level STEM topics. They will train to compete in a competition in April. This will be an after school activity and an application process. Look for information to come your way from Mrs. VanGelder shortly.

Optional Science Fair In February, students will create a Science

Project which will be displayed on a Science Board. They will be judged here at T. Clay Wood first and if they qualify they will then move on to participation in the PWC Science Fair.

Science Opportunities

Make Way for Ducks… This Friday, October 3rd we will be using the

GPS devices to apply our understanding of locating coordinates using lines of latitude and longitude.

Students will be locating rubber ducks around the perimeter of the building using clues and coordinates given to them.

I am looking for 3-4 parent volunteers to help with monitoring the students as they navigate around the building. If you are available and interested…Please sign up to help during your child's SS time on the back table.CW’s Class: 9:30-10:40 Taylor’s Class 1:15-2:25 Steinard’s Class 2:25-3:35

T. CLAY WOOD PRIDE AWARD

We are encouraging our 5th graders to be true Quality Leaders and Learners each day to help us sustain the type of school community T. Clay Wood Elementary School strives to develop. Our 5th grade students are our role models for the rest of our school. We also hope to prepare our students for middle school and life beyond elementary school.

To celebrate and recognize the accomplishments and achievements of our 5th grade students, we highly encourage your child to participate in the T. Clay Wood Pride – “We Work, We Care, We Share” Award program. Students who meet all criteria will receive a special award at the end of the school year.

To be eligible for this very prestigious recognition each student must meet the following requirements: Academics: Maintain a B average or higher, making Honor Roll or

Principal’s Honor Roll each nine weeks. Character (We Care): Students need to earn the Wolf Pack TERRIFIC

Character Award each 9 weeks. Volunteering (We Share): Complete 20 volunteer hours both in and

out of school. *5 hours may be collected from SCA, Safety Patrol, or some other type of school helper.

The handout was sent home in your child Friday Folder this past week.

THANK YOU FOR COMING!

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