Welcome to Parent Welcome to Parent Night 2012-2013 Night 2012-2013

Amy delaTorre’sAmy delaTorre’s

Classroom InformationClassroom Information

OMIS Mission StatementOMIS Mission Statement

The mission of Oak Mountain The mission of Oak Mountain Intermediate School is Intermediate School is to transition fourth and fifth to transition fourth and fifth grade students from early grade students from early childhood to early adolescence childhood to early adolescence by promoting responsibility, by promoting responsibility, independence, character independence, character development, and academic development, and academic growth growth

Vision StatementVision Statement

The vision of Oak Mountain The vision of Oak Mountain Intermediate School is to Intermediate School is to become an exemplary model become an exemplary model amongst nationally recognized amongst nationally recognized schools of excellence.schools of excellence.

Classroom Goals for the Classroom Goals for the YearYearThe Four C’sThe Four C’s

Collaboration – teams, partnersCollaboration – teams, partners

Communication – across the Communication – across the curriculum, Bucketscurriculum, Buckets

Critical Thinking- Bird and Frog Critical Thinking- Bird and Frog questionsquestions

Creativity - AMSTICreativity - AMSTI

ScheduleSchedule

Reading 7:50-9:15Reading 7:50-9:15 Math 9:15-10:15 and 11:05-11:30Math 9:15-10:15 and 11:05-11:30 Language 11:30-11:40 and 12:10-12:45Language 11:30-11:40 and 12:10-12:45 Social Studies 1:20-2:00Social Studies 1:20-2:00 Science 2:00-2:40Science 2:00-2:40

Specials: M/W Music and Art 10:20-11:05; Specials: M/W Music and Art 10:20-11:05; T-Computer Lab/Science Lab 10:15-11:00; T-Computer Lab/Science Lab 10:15-11:00; Th-Library 1:35-2:05; Lunch 11:40-12:06; Th-Library 1:35-2:05; Lunch 11:40-12:06; and PE 12:45-1:20and PE 12:45-1:20

Classroom ResponsibilitiesClassroom Responsibilities

The following is a list of the Classroom The following is a list of the Classroom Responsibilities. I have already discussed these Responsibilities. I have already discussed these with the classes and they know our expectations with the classes and they know our expectations and responsibilities in our classroom. I exercise and responsibilities in our classroom. I exercise courtesy and respect towards all students and courtesy and respect towards all students and expect the same from them. Your child should be expect the same from them. Your child should be able to explain this policy to you as well.able to explain this policy to you as well.

1.1. Be respectful of all people.Be respectful of all people.2.2. Always do your best work.Always do your best work.3.3. Be prepared for class at all times.Be prepared for class at all times.4.4. Keep work areas clean.Keep work areas clean.5.5. Talk at appropriate times and in appropriate voices.Talk at appropriate times and in appropriate voices.

ConsequencesConsequences

If a student chooses to act irresponsibly, he/she must If a student chooses to act irresponsibly, he/she must sign the Responsibility Notebook. The student signs sign the Responsibility Notebook. The student signs on the first offense. The first sign is considered a on the first offense. The first sign is considered a warning. If he or she signs a second time in the day, warning. If he or she signs a second time in the day, the student fills out a log report that is to be initialed the student fills out a log report that is to be initialed by a parent and returned the next day. If a student by a parent and returned the next day. If a student signs for missing homework, he or she has silent signs for missing homework, he or she has silent lunch that day and must work on homework. If a lunch that day and must work on homework. If a student signs three times in one day, I will contact student signs three times in one day, I will contact parents via email or phone.parents via email or phone.

*Severe or chronic behavior may result in an office *Severe or chronic behavior may result in an office referral and the parents will be called (or note referral and the parents will be called (or note home).*home).*

*The above steps can be skipped if deemed *The above steps can be skipped if deemed necessary by teacher and/or administration.*necessary by teacher and/or administration.*

Conduct Grade/Progress Conduct Grade/Progress ConductConduct

Conduct grades and progress conduct grades are Conduct grades and progress conduct grades are determined by the amount of times a student determined by the amount of times a student signs, as well as log reports. signs, as well as log reports.

0-3 Log Reports/signs = Satisfactory (S)0-3 Log Reports/signs = Satisfactory (S)4-5 Log Reports/signs = Progressing (P)4-5 Log Reports/signs = Progressing (P)6+Log Reports/signs = Not Progressing(N)6+Log Reports/signs = Not Progressing(N)

Conduct Sheets will be sent home in the Blue Conduct Sheets will be sent home in the Blue Progress Folder each Friday. These should be Progress Folder each Friday. These should be signed and returned by Monday.signed and returned by Monday.

Anti-Harassment PolicyAnti-Harassment Policy If you or your child feel as If you or your child feel as

though your child has been though your child has been harassed or bullied, it should be harassed or bullied, it should be reported via a specific form reported via a specific form located on our website.located on our website.

You will also find this form on You will also find this form on my blog.my blog.

My blog can be found at My blog can be found at http://podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/adelatorre/

Anti-Harassment FormAnti-Harassment Form

Step One:  Go to Shelby County Step One:  Go to Shelby County Schools WebsiteSchools Website

Step Two:  At the top left corner of Step Two:  At the top left corner of the screen there are two options that the screen there are two options that will link you to the formwill link you to the form

1)    Click on Parent Links then under 1)    Click on Parent Links then under Assistance click on Assistance click on Bully/Harassment Reporting orBully/Harassment Reporting or

2)    The form is under Harassment 2)    The form is under Harassment ReportingReporting

Behavior Sheet & Graded Behavior Sheet & Graded Paper PacketsPaper Packets

Weekly folders will be sent home Weekly folders will be sent home most Fridays to keep you most Fridays to keep you informed of your child’s progress informed of your child’s progress academically as well as academically as well as behaviorally. Please sign and behaviorally. Please sign and return the folder return the folder WITH THE WITH THE PAPERSPAPERS by Monday. by Monday.

Parent CommunicationParent Communication

The students have a red folder for daily communication. The students have a red folder for daily communication. Anything sent home on the left side can be left at Anything sent home on the left side can be left at home. If it is homework or items that must be brought home. If it is homework or items that must be brought back, it will be on the right side. If you are unsure if back, it will be on the right side. If you are unsure if something can stay at home, please play it safe and something can stay at home, please play it safe and send it back to school!send it back to school!

I can be reached by email at I can be reached by email at adelatorre@shelbyed.k12.al.us

Please understand that you may not get an immediate Please understand that you may not get an immediate response. However, if I have not gotten back to you response. However, if I have not gotten back to you before the next morning, please email me again or before the next morning, please email me again or call and leave a message with the office. My filter call and leave a message with the office. My filter may have gotten you!may have gotten you!

You may also refer to the classroom blog for You may also refer to the classroom blog for information. I’ll post the weekly newsletter there, as information. I’ll post the weekly newsletter there, as well as announcements, comments, and study well as announcements, comments, and study material, when applicable. material, when applicable. http://podcasts.shelbyed.k12.al.us/adelatorreadelatorre

BirthdaysBirthdays

We love to celebrate birthdays. We love to celebrate birthdays. You are welcome to send a You are welcome to send a healthy snack to school to healthy snack to school to celebrate your child’s birthday. celebrate your child’s birthday. The snack will be served at the The snack will be served at the end of lunch as a dessert. end of lunch as a dessert.

Please note that we do not allow Please note that we do not allow floral deliveries, balloons, or limo floral deliveries, balloons, or limo rides.rides.

ConferencesConferences

I encourage parents to schedule I encourage parents to schedule conferences with me whenever they conferences with me whenever they feel we need to discuss their child’s feel we need to discuss their child’s progress either academically or progress either academically or behaviorally. Please leave me a behaviorally. Please leave me a message with Julie Brane in the message with Julie Brane in the office at 682-5220, and I will contact office at 682-5220, and I will contact you to set up a conference. You may you to set up a conference. You may also contact me via email to also contact me via email to schedule a conference. My schedule a conference. My conference time this year is 12:45-conference time this year is 12:45-1:20 Tuesday-Thursday.1:20 Tuesday-Thursday.

AbsencesAbsences

Please send a written excuse of illness or Please send a written excuse of illness or verification of doctor/dentist visits for each verification of doctor/dentist visits for each absence. Please write your child’s full absence. Please write your child’s full name on the excuse and sign with your full name on the excuse and sign with your full name. This helps the office tremendously. name. This helps the office tremendously. We must turn these in to the office so the We must turn these in to the office so the absence can be counted as excused. It will absence can be counted as excused. It will be considered unexcused after THREE be considered unexcused after THREE DAYS with no verification. Please refer to DAYS with no verification. Please refer to the Code of Conduct for specific details on the Code of Conduct for specific details on make up work policies. Please give special make up work policies. Please give special attention to prior permission for family attention to prior permission for family trips/travel and the emergency clause.trips/travel and the emergency clause.

**Make sure to read the Attendance Policy!**Make sure to read the Attendance Policy!

AbsencesAbsences

For assignments that were due on For assignments that were due on the day in which the student was the day in which the student was absent, provided that the due absent, provided that the due date was previously date was previously communicated prior to the communicated prior to the students’ absence, the student students’ absence, the student should be prepared to turn in the should be prepared to turn in the assignment upon returning to assignment upon returning to school. school.

Cell Phone UseCell Phone UseCell phones brought to school must be stored in a Cell phones brought to school must be stored in a

backpack. Cell phones MUST be turned off backpack. Cell phones MUST be turned off during the day. Please do not turn your child’s during the day. Please do not turn your child’s cell phone on and place it in the backpack cell phone on and place it in the backpack before school. The phone may be turned on before school. The phone may be turned on when the child gets off the bus in the afternoon. when the child gets off the bus in the afternoon. The school is not responsible for attempting to The school is not responsible for attempting to recover lost or stolen cell phones.recover lost or stolen cell phones.

Field TripsField Trips

Field trips are planned during the Field trips are planned during the year. A permission slip will be year. A permission slip will be sent home before each trip. sent home before each trip. Please send back the Please send back the permission slip and money due permission slip and money due as soon as possible. as soon as possible.

Meal ChargesMeal Charges

Please make sure your child has money for Please make sure your child has money for meals daily. Funds are not allotted for meals daily. Funds are not allotted for “charges”. Please remember to “charges”. Please remember to WRITE WRITE YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND ACCOUNT YOUR CHILD’S NAME AND ACCOUNT NUMBER ON ALL CHECKS AND NUMBER ON ALL CHECKS AND INCLUDE ALL MONEY IN AN INCLUDE ALL MONEY IN AN ENVELOPE WITH THE CHILD’S NAME ENVELOPE WITH THE CHILD’S NAME AND LUNCH NUMBER.AND LUNCH NUMBER. Please do not Please do not bring in any outside food (such as bring in any outside food (such as McDonald’s) into the lunch room for your McDonald’s) into the lunch room for your child to eat. You are invited to eat lunch child to eat. You are invited to eat lunch with us any time during the school year. with us any time during the school year.

HomeworkHomework

I assign homework in order to reinforce I assign homework in order to reinforce concepts that are discussed and practiced concepts that are discussed and practiced in class. I also want students to practice in class. I also want students to practice responsibility and time management when responsibility and time management when working at home. I do not feel like I give a working at home. I do not feel like I give a lot of homework; however, there may be lot of homework; however, there may be nights in which it is heavier than others. nights in which it is heavier than others. Please know that if your child does not Please know that if your child does not finish his/her class work, it is also included finish his/her class work, it is also included in their homework load. Therefore, in their homework load. Therefore, homework will essentially be doubled. homework will essentially be doubled. “OMIS Late Work Grading Policy” will be “OMIS Late Work Grading Policy” will be enforced with homework assignments we enforced with homework assignments we collect.collect.

Please Sign and Return the Please Sign and Return the following Completed Paper following Completed Paper

Work :Work : Dismissal Plan-pinkDismissal Plan-pink OMIS Special Services OMIS Special Services

Questionnaire-whiteQuestionnaire-white OMIS Late Work Policy-blueOMIS Late Work Policy-blue Code of Conduct Code of Conduct

Acknowledgement Form-whiteAcknowledgement Form-white Shelby County School Medical Shelby County School Medical

Form-greenForm-green