Fifth Grade Handbook

2017-2018

Fifth Grade
Dear Fifth Grade Parents,

Fifth grade is an exciting year as your child will grow as a learner and
become more independent. I am looking forward to our year ahead as
we grow and learn together.

Please take a few minutes to look over the Fifth Grade Handbook with
your child. I have prepared this packet to help you become aware of the
procedures I use in my classroom. Please read it carefully and keep it as
a reference. I hope you will find it helpful. Upon reading the packet,
please sign and return the last page by Friday, August 25th.

I am very excited to be starting the school year! I am thrilled to have

the privilege of sharing this year with your child. Thank you in advance
for your support in giving your child the best year, learning and growing
academically, in fifth grade. I am anticipating a fantastic school year.

If you should have any questions and/or concerns, I invite you to contact
me. I can be reached at school (605-794-1151) or through e-mail @
kim.ward@k12.sd.us

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kimberly Ward

Fifth Grade Information

 2017-2018
Absences and Make-Up Work
It is VERY important that your child is here every day. If your child misses a day of
school, they will have make-up work. Upon returning to school, your child will
receive a sheet that lists their make-up work. The make-up work needs to be
completed within 2 days after the absence. If your child will be out of school for a
period of time, you may want to pick up homework so they can begin working.
Please call or email me and I will make every attempt to get the work together that
day.

Accelerated Reading (A.R.)

READ, READ, & READ! This is how your child will become a better reader. Books,
magazines, and newspapers - they are all important. Please encourage your child to
read every night.

Your child will also participate in the Accelerated Reading (A.R.) program. For each 5,
10, or 25 point increment earned on A.R. quizzes, students will earn a reward for
their points. There are prizes given at the end of the year for the students who
achieve the top three totals in A.R. points in our classroom.

Students will have D.E.A.R.(Drop Everything And Read) time at school, three to four
times a week, for 25-30 minutes. A.R. quizzes may be taken before school or during
D.E.A.R. time.

Birthdays
Birthdays are special occasions for many students. If your child wishes, he/she may
bring a treat for the class. Please let me know ahead of time so I may plan
accordingly.

Book Club Orders

Scholastic Book Orders will be sent home once a month. You will have the option of
ordering online or by returning the book order form to school. Please place the
money/check and book order with your childs name printed on the book order form,
and into an envelope labeled Book Order so it is not sent to the office. Checks
should be made out to Kim Ward and I will submit the order with my credit card.

Changes in Going Home

When your childs plan is different at the end of the day, you will need to contact
the main office at 605-794-1151 or Rhonda.kruse@k12.sd.us. The main office will
then notify me of the change. There are days when I cannot see my e-mail until late
morning and sometimes not until the end of the day. It may be best to notify
Rhonda at the office, especially after 12:00 pm. As another option, you may print a
note in the daily planner and I should see it that morning when checking for your
signature. Thank you.

Communication
As your childs classroom teacher, I believe that parent communication is very
important. I will be communicating with you often about your childs progress,
school events, and other activities. Modes of communication may include: email,
phone call, your childs planner, and/or my weekly newsletter. Please feel free to
write any notes on your childs daily planner, as well, as I check these each day.

Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences are held in the classroom. For our first conference
(October) you will receive your childs report card and we will discuss your child's
accomplishments, areas of concern, and overall progress. The second conference
will be held in February and will be on an as need basis.

E-mail
You may contact me by email: Kim.Ward@k12.sd.us
I check my email in the morning. If you need to discuss something urgently, please
call me at school (794-1151) or contact Rhonda in the office and she will deliver a
message to me promptly. Thank you.

Friday Folder
All graded work and other information will come home at the end of each week, in
your childs Friday Folder. Feel free to communicate with me if you have any
concerns.

Homework
Homework is assigned to practice skills we are working on in class. All assignments
will be written in the daily planner (provided by the school). Time will always be
provided at the end of the day for students to write down daily assignments.

Students can expect a small amount of homework Monday through Thursday and
maybe from time to time over the weekend. Please encourage your child to visit
with me if they do not understand a concept or an assignment. I can be available
before 8:10 am if necessary.

Students are expected to do their best work on homework. All written work should
be completed in pencil and turned in at the beginning of school the following
morning (unless otherwise stated). Homework will be checked every morning and if
it is not turned in or complete, students will have a late grade and may need to stay
in at recess to complete it. If work is not completed by Friday, the student will miss
their free time in the afternoon.

Labeling Papers
All school work will be labeled with:
Student Name and student # and the date the assignment is due to be handed in.

Library
Every week your child will be able to choose a book or two from the library to bring
home. Library is scheduled on Wednesday. Please have your child return their library
book(s) back to the library by the following Monday, if possible (or when they finish
the book) so they may check out a new book.

Newsletter
The weekly newsletter will be emailed before Monday of the upcoming week. This
will keep you informed about what is happening in our class, the skills we are
learning, special activities and upcoming events. If you need a paper copy of the
newsletter, please let me know.

Schedule
The classroom schedule is tentative (8/22) and is subject to change. If it does
change, I will send out a new schedule. Students who do not join band will have a
study hall in the classroom at band time, and are expected to find work to do or
read for this time the other students are away. (T, W, Th)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

Planners
Each day, all students are required to write their homework assignments that are
unfinished in their planner. I check planners each morning, to see that they are
 signed by their parents/guardians. It is the students responsibility to ask parents to
sign the planner. If the planner is not signed, it is an indication to me that the
homework is not completed.
Please go over your childs planner every night and sign at the bottom when
homework is completed (even when there is no homework indicated by NA, sign the
planner).
Students should make a habit of turning in their planner to me, immediately the
next morning. These daily habits will be helpful when students begin Jr. High/High
School and will have several different teachers with possible homework from each
class.
Some abbreviations we use are:
WB- workbook
WS worksheet
PG page
NA no assignment
Students are rewarded with a Free 100% certificate monthly, for consistently turning
their planner in each day, having it filled out, and a parents signature. As I check
planners each morning, your signature indicates that homework is completed for
the day.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

Report Cards
Students will receive a report card four times during the school year.

End of Grading Period

Q1: October 20th 2:40 pm dismissal
Q2: December *20th or 21st (*if attendance percentage met) 2:40 pm

dismissal
Q3: March 9th 2:40 pm dismissal
Q4: May *17th or 18th (* if attendance percentage met) 11:30 am dismissal

Classroom Parties and Party Committees, 2016-7

Lunch committees must bring at least one healthy option/avoid sugary treats/drinks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

LUNCH Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

GAMES Group 3 Group 1 Group 2

DECORATIONS Group 2 Group 3 Group 1

COMMITTEES Halloween Christmas Valentines

Group 1: Connor, Wyatt, Riley, Charlie, Ella

Group 2: Colton, Olivia, Lance, Zoey, Jozie
Group 3: Easten, Rhiley, Miriam, Sam, Alexis
(Please keep this chart as a reminder of upcoming group activities if your child can not participate
this year, please inform me as soon as possible and we will make other arrangements. Thank you.)
 Classroom Expectations, 2017-2018

Students will follow the directions given by the teacher.

Students will be respectful to themselves, each other, and respect
personal space and property.
Students will be respectful of the classroom and school rules.
Students will use appropriate language.
Students will apply their best effort academically.
Students will focus on the work to be done.
Students will be ready for class.
Students will be respectful of quiet work time.
Students will be automatically sent to the office for bullying of any
kind, profanity, stealing, or noncompliance with a teacher request.

Infractions
1st Infraction - 1 OWL Card
2nd Infraction -1 OWL Card

3rd Infraction- Infractions written in planner for Parent Signature

1 OWL Card

4th Infraction Detention or loss of recess

1 OWL Card

5th Infraction
Principals Office
OWL cards spend like money, twice a quarter, on fun toys and prizes!

Please keep this packet and everything attached, for future reference.
Sign and return the last page. Thank you.
I have read and understand the information presented in this packet. I also understand
the information presented within the packet could be subject to change.

____________________________________ ______________________
Parent Signature Date
_______________________________ ____________________
Student Signature Date