Scholastic Book Orders
Book orders will be sent home on a monthly basis. Ordering the books is completely optional. The book club offers very good deals, and our class benefits by getting free books from the orders. When ordering, please do not send cash. Only cheques made out in the proper amount to "Scholastic Canada Inc." will be accepted. There is also a new online option for payment.
Library
The older grades, including our Grade 6 class, will no longer have a weekly library time scheduled. Instead, students who have books to return will be able to go to the library at certain times of the day, exchange their books, and sign out new ones. There will also be a Commons Area set up in the library and students will have the opportunity to work in this quiet space throughout the school day when sent there by their teacher. Students will still be allowed to borrow two books at a time, provided they are returned on time. If books have not been returned, no new books may be signed out.
Student Vote 2015
This year our school is taking part in Student Vote 2015! This program allows students under the voting age to actively participate in the federal election. Over the next four weeks, students will learn about government and the electoral process, conduct research on the different political parties, and cast ballots for official election candidates on Student Vote Day. The ballots will be organized nationally and students made aware of the results. The aim of this program is to create informed and engaged citizens. If you would like to learn more about Student Vote 2015, please visit the following link: www.studentvote.ca/about/.
Math Help Mondays
Every Monday I will be offering Math help after school from 3:00 - 4:00 pm. I highly encourage any students who are having difficulty understanding math concepts discussed in class or who are having trouble understanding the practice questions/homework to come to these sessions whenever possible so I can provide them with additional support.
Agendas
Each student will be responsible for using his/her agenda daily. All homework assignments are to be written down by the students. I will be checking the agendas every day before the students leave to make sure that everything has been recorded and initial the agenda. Please check the agendas so you can be aware of what your child is working on for their classes. If we find that homework assignments are not being completed, I may ask you for an initial as well, to encourage students to stay on top of their work. Students are expected to have all required materials with them to complete assignments. The homework will also be posted on the homework page of this website.
Homework Policy
Most work given in class can be completed, or nearly completed during class time. Assignments not completed during class time, or in the event of student absence will need to be completed at home. I will be tracking incomplete assignments, and students will have to complete unfinished homework during their recess times. Parents will be notified if completing homework is a problem. My hope is that if the student, parents and staff all work together, the student will be very successful.
Cell Phone/Device Policy
While I understand the need for parents to stay in touch with their children, cell phones and other personal electronic devices will not be permitted in the classroom. Please be assured that in the event of an emergency, our office staff can pass on an important message to your child. All students will be expected to drop off their devices in our "Device Drop Off" box upon entering the classroom. Students will not use their devices during class, recess, or lunch time unless directed to do so by myself or another teacher for educational purposes. It is the students' responsibility to bring their device to me. We cannot be responsible for any cell phones or other electronic devices that could go missing if these rules have not been followed.
Home Reading
Like anything else, students become better readers with practice. Students will be given credit for the number of minutes read each night at home. Students are expected to read 20 minutes every night. Each student will receive a Reading Log that will remain in their agenda for parents to initial to track the number of minutes read. I will be checking the Reading Logs every Monday to keep track of which students are reading the required amount of minutes. If students have read less than 60 minutes, they will spend Monday's lunch recess in Dragon's Den, and they may have to miss out on the Reading Party held every couple of months.