August 8, 2018

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to a new school year. My
name is Rachel Hill and I will be your child’s
teacher this year. I am so happy to welcome
you to our classroom! Fourth grade is a very
busy year filled with lots of fun and engaging
learning opportunities. I am thrilled about what
is in store for your child this year, and I look
forward to working with you as well.

Attached in this packet, you will find

information about the curriculum, how our
school day will run, field trips, and expectations.

I look forward to a school year overflowing

with learning. We have many exciting
experiences planned and can’t wait to get
started!

Sincerely,
Miss R. Hill

Expectations
Ask questions.
Be respectful in actions and in speech.
Follow directions the first time.
Find a way to make a difference.
Have fun!
 FIELD TRIPS

Location: Montgomery, AL
(Old Alabama Town, Capitol Museum, Civil Rights Museum, Dexter Avenue Baptist
Church and Parish where MLK, Jr. lived)
Departure: 6am on October 10, 2018
Return: 6pm on October 10, 2018
● $20 Non-refundable deposit per person (child or chaperone) needed by
August 22 at 3pm. This fee will be deducted from total cost of trip.
● Student Fee: $50 (Optional: $5 for lunch & souvenir money- Breakfast will
be provided on bus and sack lunch will be provided)
● Chaperone Fee: $55 (Eat Breakfast before arriving. Must pack lunch or
bring lunch money for Burger King or Wendy’s. Souvenir shopping money
is optional.)
● Last Date for payment of remaining balance: September 5 at 3pm
● Other Notes: Chaperones may ride the charter bus. Expect lots of
walking, be prepared to walk in rainy/ cold weather conditions. Bring
snacks for the bus ride.

Location: Native American Heritage Festival- Moundville, AL

Departure: TBA
Return: TBA
● $20 non-refundable deposit per child is needed by ... at 3pm. This fee will
be deducted from total cost of trip.
● Student Fee: TBA (Breakfast will be provided on bus and sack lunch will be
provided. Students may bring money to buy snacks or souvenirs.)
● Last Date for payment of remaining balance: $... at 3pm
● Chaperones are needed. You can follow the school bus or meet us at the
field trip location. Pay $... at the gate. Pack a lunch or bring money- expect
long lines. Consider carpooling as chaperones to conserve gas.
#GreenRibbonSchool
● Other Notes: Chaperones may not ride the school bus. Expect lots of
walking outside; be prepared to walk in all weather conditions.

Location: 4-H Science School- Columbiana, AL Overnight Trip

Departure: April 15, 2019, Return: April 17, 2019
● $20 non-refundable deposit per person (child or chaperone) needed by ...
at 3pm. This fee will be deducted from total cost of trip.
● Student Fee: $... (Optional: snack money)
● Chaperone Fee: $... (Optional: snack money)
● Last Date for payment of remaining balance: … at 3pm
● Other Notes: See packing list. Hot meals will be provided. Chaperones
may charter ride the bus. Expect lots of walking outside, be prepared for
hot/rainy weather conditions. Bring snacks for the bus ride. Snacks are
not allowed in dorms. We will sleep in form style rooms- 4 bunk beds and
 a restroom. Students and adults will sleep in separate rooms. Males and
females will sleep in separate floors.

SCHOOL & CLASSROOM POLICIES

SCHOOL DAY The school day begins at 8:00am and ends at 2:45pm. Your child is
expected to be in the classroom ready to learn no later than 8:00am, or they will
be considered tardy (aside from buses arriving late or inclement weather).

CLASS WEBSITE We have a classroom website! Be sure to check it out at

www.leadersgrowhere.weebly.com! Here you will find photos, important dates,
and much more! I do my best to keep it updated as often as possible. About
every week or two I will send out a newsletter. The newsletter will be uploaded
to the class website and I will send home a paper copy.

LUNCH & SNACK We eat lunch at 12:15 each day. If students bring in outside food,
then the food should come in an unmarked bag or container (e.g. McDonald's
should come in a bag without any logos). Lunch ends at 12:40. Feel free to come
join us for lunch! Students are encouraged to bring healthy snacks like fruits
and veggies. Students can bring a snack and a water bottle to school each day.
We do not have access to a refrigerator or microwave, so students are asked
to plan accordingly.

FLEXIBLE SEATING Students will be able to choose where they work in our
classroom each day. I have found that when students have choices, they tend to
be more motivated, engaged, and excited to learn. (Students should remember
that the teacher can move anyone at anytime.)

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Due to district policy, we will not have class birthday
celebrations at school. Please do not send cupcakes or other sweet treats. Our
school news team announces birthdays each morning and birthday singers
come around to celebrate students too. Thank you for your support!

HOMEWORK At the end of each day we will fill out planners as a class to review
homework assignments, expectations for the following day, and other
reminders. Students should leave school knowing what is due in the upcoming
days and make sure they have all supplies needed for assignments. If students
are unsure, then they should ask for help.

GRADES The purpose of grades is to communicate progress. For this reason,

students are allowed to redo any assignment (as time permits). The Redo
Deadline, Progress Report, and Report Card dates are listed below. This year
we will use a Student Portfolio Binder to keep up with assignments. Graded work
will come home in this binder, so that assignments will not go missing.
 Progress Reports Redo Deadline Report Cards

1st Nine Weeks 9/7/2018 9/28/2018 10/12/2018

2nd Nine Weeks 11/9/2018 12/14/2018 1/11/2019

3rd Nine Weeks 2/8/2019 3/1/2019 3/22/2019

4th Nine Weeks 4/18/2019 5/10/2019 5/31/2019

COMMUNICATION We are a team, so communication is a must!

We need to schedule our Beginning of the Year conference as soon as possible.

Please complete the attached Conference Form and confirm a meeting time
through Class Tag. This initial meeting will give me an opportunity to hear from
you about your child. And you will have a chance to ask any questions you have
about our classroom or school programs.

Please do not hesitate to email or call me with any questions you may have. I
can be reached at my school email, rhill@tusc.k12.al.us or through the school at
205-759-3675. Typically I respond to emails within a few hours or less, give or
take depending on the day or time it was sent. Also, we will use Class Tag App
and Class Dojo.
 QUARTER 1 HIGHLIGHTS
● Beginning of Year Conference
● Set academic and personal goals and begin monitoring progress.
● Build learning community and exemplify the 7 Habits daily- at home and
school.
● Learn comprehension strategies and skills with increased focus on
reading nonfiction texts.
● Write personal narratives and other stories.
● Investigate multiplication and division, and learn more about data
representations.
● Study energy and waves to identify energy sources and begin building
electrical circuits.
● Learn more about Alabama’s history with a focus on Native Americans of
the Southeast.
QUARTER 2 HIGHLIGHTS
● Update academic and personal goals and continue monitoring progress.
● Enhance learning community and exemplify the 7 Habits daily- at home
and school.
● Continue to study comprehension strategies and skills with increased
focus on reading nonfiction texts.
● Write informational pieces and letters for specific reasons.
● Continue to investigate multiplication and division, and learn more about
measurement and geometry through studying the traits of polygons
(shapes).
● Continue to study Energy and Waves to design a room wired with
electricity.
● Learn more about Alabama’s history with a focus on how Alabama
became a state, its physical and economical traits, and Alabama’s role in
the Civil War.
● Mid-Year Conference
QUARTER 3 HIGHLIGHTS
● Revise academic and personal goals and begin monitoring progress.
● Reestablish learning community and exemplify the 7 Habits daily- at home
and school.
● Learn more comprehension strategies and skills with increased focus on
reading nonfiction texts.
● Write opionion and descriptive essays on various topics.
● Investigate addition and subtraction.
● Study Energy and Waves to identify energy sources and begin building
electrical circuits.
● Learn more about Alabama’s history with a focus on WWII and the Great
Depression.
QUARTER 4 HIGHLIGHTS
● Update academic and personal goals and continue monitoring progress.
● Enhance learning community and exemplify the 7 Habits daily- at home
and school.
● Continue to study comprehension strategies and skills with increased
focus on reading nonfiction texts.
● Write poetry and host a poetry cafe.
● Investigate multiplication and division, and learn more about number
patterns.
● Continue to study Energy and Waves to design a room wired with
electricity.
● Learn more about Alabama’s history with a focus on the Civil Rights
Movement and recent conflicts.
● Final Conference