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YOU ARE HERE: HOME --> CLASSROOMS --> MR. TRUONG --> LETTER TO 5TH GRADE PARENTS: CLASSROOM POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Dear Parents/Legal Guardians,
Here is an outline of information for your fifth grade child in Portable Excellence for the 2007-2008 year. Besides mastery of California State Standards in Language Arts, Math, Social Sciences, and Science, our goals for the year include learning to be honorable students and citizens by living up to the Seven Core Values of Portable Excellence: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
SUBJECTS TAUGHT
READING: Major emphasis
will be placed on learning to enjoy good literature and sharing
that enjoyment with others, while developing basic skills and
comprehension.
LANGUAGE ARTS: English grammar, mechanics, composition, speaking, listening, spelling, and handwriting (emphasis on good cursive form).
MATH: Review all basic operations. Learn problem-solving strategies, data representation and analysis, geometry, measurement, fractions, and mental math.
SOCIAL STUDIES: Study of United States Geography and Cultural-History.
SCIENCE: Life, Earth, and Physical Sciences are taught and assessed.
VOCAL MUSIC: Students have Vocal Music with Mrs. Maier on Mondays.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Students have P.E. with Mr. Youngblood on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Proper shoes and clothes are required when taking part in P.E. activities.
ENRICHMENT: Students have Art in the art room on Wednesdays with Ms. Miller.
TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE
8:20 Music (M), Physical
Education (T, TH), Art (W),
9:05 Opening/Physical Training/Language Arts
10:20 A.M. Recess
10:35 Read in Peace
10:50 BoardMath/Math
11:55 Lunch
12:40 Class Meeting/Sharing/Teacher Reading
1:00 Social Studies/Science
1:50 P.M. Recess
2:00 Instrumental Music/ELD Platooning/Science/Math Wheel
3:00 Dismissal (M,T,TH,F) - 1:50 Dismissal (W)
GRADING SYSTEM
Our grades are based
on a numerical system. The achievement scores used are 4 (100%
- 81%), 3 (80% - 61%), 2 (60% - 20%), and 1 (20% - 0%). Students
must do outstanding work to receive a high score of 4. A low
score, 2 or 1, is only given if work is consistently unsatisfactory. Students should be encouraged to always work to the best of their
abilities.
HOMEWORK
Homework will be assigned
Monday thru Friday. Students are instructed to take home unfinished
class work, study math facts if they need to, and read a book
for 30 minutes or more each night. As the year progresses, some
long term assignments will be given in social studies, science,
and literature. Homework is expected to be turned in on time,
in good condition, and checked. There is no excuse for missing
homework other than a family emergency. Students who miss more
than one assignment in a given week will be placed on a Homework
Contract.
READING LOG/BOOK REPORT PROJECTS
I expect that every night
your child will read for 30 minutes from a book of their choice
and record what they've read and the number of minutes read daily. This reading log must be signed by you every night. Please make
sure that your child reads daily at home and fills in the reading
log. Failure to complete the assignment or turn in the necessary
papers will be counted as four missed assignments in my homework
checklist. Book report projects will also be assigned during
the year. I will give the students complete instructions on how
to do each assignment.
BINDER ORGANIZATION
1. Children's work is to be kept in their binder, as explained
in my letter that went home on the first day of school.
2. Students keep track of their work to be done and check it
off as they complete it.
3. Binders should be kept neat and organized! I do occasional
binder checks in class!
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Classroom rules are necessary to promote a safe learning environment
for the students. The rules of this classroom are based on respect,
hard work, and responsibility. Students are responsible for their
own behavior. Children who follow the rules will be recognized
positively.
CONSEQUENCES FOR MISBEHAVIOR
1. Warning - Yellow Card
2. Recess Cleanup Duty - Red Card
3. Noon Recess Cleanup Duty/Wall - Orange Card
4. Note Home - Blue Card
Severe disruption may result in student being sent immediately
to the principal.
REWARD SYSTEM
Students who receive
"GOOD" in all three areas on their weekly progress reports
will be placed on the Honor Roll for the following
week. During that week, they will receive special privileges. Students will be able to earn Medals of Honor for their efforts
in getting on the Honor Roll. To foster group cohesiveness, students
are able to earn points for their groups when they all work well
together. There will also be class rewards as the year progresses
when the class as a whole is doing well.
EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS
School field trips are an excellent way of extending the
students' learning beyond the walls of the classroom and the pages
of their textbooks. It is in your child's best interest to attend
every field trip with her or his class. You will always receive
a parent permission slip one to two weeks prior to a field trip. The admission cost, if required, varies with each field trip
and will be specified on the permission slip. If funding for
a particular field trip is a hardship, please write a note explaining
the situation to me. As always, students are expected to be on
their best behavior on trips. Serious misbehavior may result
in a student being prohibited from attending future field trips. We usually need 2-3 parent chaperones for each field trip. I
will solicit chaperones on the permission slips.
OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMP
Fifth graders at McKinley School have the wonderful opportunity
to attend Outdoor Education Camp. We will attend Walker Creek
Ranch Outdoor School in Marin County run by the Marin County Office
of Education. Students will attend camp for four days and three
nights in January 22nd to 25th. The educational program is exceptional,
with trained naturalists leading small groups of students on hikes
and in activities in a variety of outdoor habitats. After hours,
students live in modern cabins heated and equipped with bunk beds. Outdoor Education meets and exceeds the requirements of many
state science standards.
The cost of the camp is about $245.00 per student, including
camp program fees and transportation costs. Students will be
given the opportunity to raise ALL of their money for camp through
a variety of fundraisers. Outdoor Education promises to be a
wonderful experience for all who attend! More information will
be coming soon!
SCHOOL-HOME COMMUNICATION
Every Friday I send home
a weekly progress report on your child's progress for that week. The progress report covers classwork, homework, and behavior. The rating in classwork includes work done in class, participation,
and use of class time. The rating in homework determines the
frequency of work turned in, not the quality. Your child's goal
is to receive "GOOD" in all three areas. Any work that
is missing may be turned in the following Monday for credit. After that, it will be considered an "F" in the grade
book. These reports are to be signed by you and returned the
following Monday. Please write down any comments or questions
that you may have so that we can keep communication open between
home and school.
I also attach a Friday Memo to the weekly progress report informing
you of what we are doing in Portable Excellence. Please expect
it and take the time to read it. Also, please feel free to write,
phone, or talk to me in person. The best time to reach me in
the classroom is before and after school everyday. You may also
reach me in the classroom during non-classtime at (510) 618-4320
(EXT. 2955) or via electronic mail at LTRUONG@SANLEANDRO.K12.CA.US (preferred).
SCHOLASTIC ARROW BOOK ORDERS
One of the best
ways to ensure that your child has good books to read AND to help our classroom is by ordering books from Arrow. By ordering
books for your child from Arrow, you also help the class by earning
free books for our classroom library! I will send home a new
Arrow book order form every month. To order books, simply follow
the directions in the order form and remit full payment. Make
personal checks payable to Scholastic Book Clubs. Although exact
cash amounts are accepted, personal checks are preferred so that
orders can be processed faster. Thank you!
SELFLESS SERVICE: RECYCLE FOR AMERICA:
This year , we are continuing a year-long Selfless Service Project
started four years ago called "Recycle for America." Students are asked to bring in empty aluminum cans and plastic
bottles (PETE #1). When the containers are full, I will take
them to the redemption center. Whenever we accumulate $10.00
worth of cans, we will send a check to a student-chosen
charity. This way, students can contribute to the cause that
they care most about! With everyone's selfless service, I know
we can help those in need!
ATTENDANCE
Everyone knows that children
benefit most from school when they are actually IN school and
are participating. Whenever your child is late or absent, he
or she must have a parent's note upon returning to school. You
may also call the school's attendance phone line at (510)
618-4321 to report absences!
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Thanks to all the families who've students have started wearing
uniforms. If you haven't done so, please provide uniforms for
your children as soon as possible. Our uniforms consist of white
or light blue tops and navy blue bottoms. Please ensure that
your child wears appropriate footwear for physical education and
other physical activities daily. No open toe shoes, please!
CLASSROOM WISH LIST
Due to the ever increasing
costs of supplies, I've made up a list of items I would like to
have in my classroom for all the students to enjoy and benefit
from. If you already have these items and would like to donate
them for the students, would like to purchase them or contribute,
any donation is truly appreciated and will be used for my class. Thank you!
1. 3rd-5th grade level chapter
books
2. Various small treats (i.e. lollipops, Tootsie Rolls, Fruit
Roll-ups, etc.) for rewards
3. Goldfish food (flakes or pellets) for aquarium
4. Decorative accessories for aquarium (i.e. decorative rocks,
fake plants, sunken ships, etc.)
5. Marineland Rite-Size™ Filter Cartridges for Penguin®
110 Power Filters for aquarium
6. Chlorine removal water conditioner for aquarium (Tetra AquaSafe
or similar)
7. Copier machine paper; various art supplies
8. Sports equipment (i.e. baseball gloves, softballs, bats, etc.)
9. Glade Plug-ins or AirWick refills (or similar)
10. Microwaveable popcorn for classroom rewards.
11. Classroom indoor plants
Your junk might be our treasure! Please ask if you are unsure if we can use something.
Thank you for taking the time to read this thoroughly. Your support of your child's learning and cooperation is greatly needed and appreciated.
Sincerely,
Mr. Luan Truong
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