Welcome to 5th Grade!

• Communication between all parties is essential to making the partnership between student, teacher, and parent successful.

• Email is best during the day: dfurman or khenderson@shelbyed.k12.al.us

• Phone calls will be returned as soon as possible.

• Conferences may be scheduled by email or phone call. Our conference days are Mon.–Thurs. from 9:00-9:25.

• Your child will also have a space near the teacher’s desk to place notes.

• Correspondence through agendas is possible as well.

Goals

In addition to the OMIS Mission Statement to advance student achievement through a comprehensive curriculum and the OMIS Unique Purpose to provide a successful transition from early childhood to early adolescence by encouraging responsibility, independence, and character development, we aim to

• Create a community of learners that include students, teachers, and parents

• Create life-long learners, readers, writers and critical thinkers.

• Relate subject areas to real-life experiences

• You may drop off your children no earlier than 7:05. There is no supervision available until after that time.

• Please don’t let your children out in the parking lot. If you are not in carpool, please walk them to the door.

• Limos cannot come to the parking lot to pick up students for any occasion unless they will be picking up the entire class. No deliveries from the florist are allowed.

• One lane of traffic in the morning –or you may park in a space and walk your child across the cross walk. Two lanes for pick up.

• Students are not permitted to bring rolling backpacks to school.

Carpool

Tardiness/Absence

• School starts at 7:50 a.m. Your child will be tardy if not in the classroom when the bell rings.

• Be sure to send a legible excuse from home or doctor with your child’s first and last name within three days of returning to school in order to receive make up work. It is the student’s responsibility to complete that work and ask questions or for help if needed. Another child may not bring home those assignments.

• For planned absences (not vacations), there is a form that should be filled our and submitted to Dr. LeQuier prior to the absence.

• You will need to provide ID for checking out your child.

Handbook (now online)

• SCBOE recommends a minimum attendance standard of 168 days per year. A student who accumulates more than 12 absences during a school year is subject to loss of credit and /or retention.

• Dress Code: skirts, shirts, and dresses must be mid-thigh or longer in front and back. No spaghetti straps.

• Cell Phones: cannot be audible or visible during instruction– First Violation: In School Suspension– Second Violation: Out of School Suspension

• The Shelby County Reporting Form for bullying and the Bullying Hotline Number are provided at the Shelby County website under Parents, or go directly to: www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/student_serv/bullying/index.html

• P.E. – 8:55-9:30 Daily• Lunch – 11:28-11:54 Daily• Library – scheduled as needed by Mr. Henderson• Art – 1:15-2:00 on Monday• GRC – 11:45-2:45 Tuesday and 12:30-1:30 Thursday• Music – 1:15-2:00 on Wednesday• Science Lab – 1:40-2:30 Thursday (alternating

weeks)• Computer Lab – 10:15-11:00 Thursday (alternating

weeks)• Guidance – 12:30-1:30 Friday (once a month)

Daily and Weekly Schedule

Trading Classes

• Mrs. Furman teaches math and science, including science lab.

• Mr. Henderson teaches English language arts, plus technology lab.

• Math and English language arts are taught to the Alabama College and Career-Readiness standards, see the Alabama Dept. of Ed. website (www.alsde.edu) for more information.

• Mrs. Furman and Mr. Henderson each teach social studies to their respective homerooms.

• This is an opportunity that has been implemented in order to provide your child with the experience of changing classes before middle school. We are hopeful it will reinforce organization and accountability.

Math

Mrs. Furman teaches math using the AMSTI program adopted by OMIS last year. It is designed to support students in making sense of mathematics and becoming mathematical thinkers. The investigations give students time to develop a strong conceptual foundation before moving into the more abstract algorithms. Resources available include:•Math journals created in class•Student resource pages available through Pearson SuccessNet and posted on Mrs. Furman’s blog•Ms. Champion’s blog link on Mrs. Furman’s blog•“Parent Roadmap: Supporting Your Child in Grade Five Mathematics” link under Students and Parents on OMIS site

Science

Mrs. Furman teaches science. Your child will visit the science lab at least twice a month for hands-on experiences and reinforcement of objectives. Fifth grade objectives cover:• Cells and Human Body Systems• Plants and Ecosystems• Water Cycle and Weather Patterns• Earth’s Surface and Natural Resources• Matter, Motion, and Forms of Energy• Space and Technology

… and yes, we’ll dissect frogs in the spring!

“The Common Core State Standards were developed through an unprecedented state-led initiative that drew on the expertise of teachers, parents, administrators, researchers and content experts from across the country. The Standards define a staircase to college and career readiness, building on the best of previous state standards and evidence from international comparisons and domestic reports and recommendations. Most states have now adopted the Standards to replace previous expectations in English language arts/literacy and mathematics.”

By David Coleman, Susan Pimentel, and Jason Zimba

CCSS in ELA/Literacy

English Language Arts

Mr. Henderson teaches English language arts from the newly adopted College and Career Readiness Standard in ELA/Literacy which shift the focus to reading and writing grounded in evidence from rich, complex texts.

• Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction

• Reading and writing evidence from text, both literary and informational

• Regular practice with complex texts, syntax and vocabulary

Social Studies

Mrs. Furman and Mr. Henderson each teach social studies for their respective homerooms. Fifth grade focus is on Early American History:

• Native Americans of North America

• Eastern Hemisphere

• Explorers

• Colonies

• Revolutionary War

• Forming of our government

• Westward Expansion

• Civil War

There are several routines in place to keep parents informed about what is going on at school. Please take advantage of these efforts:

• Daily homework/announcement board for agendas

• Weekly email updates (Sunday)

• Weekly graded paper packets with ongoing averages (Tuesday)

• Furman Fifth Grade Blog

• Mr. Henderson’s Huddle Blog

• OMIS ListServe Announcements

Keeping You Informed

Both teachers use a joint system for recognizing good choices and addressing poor student choices:

• Students earn white/yellow tickets for good choices to be used for privileges such as First Friday Market.

• Each student has four red amnesty tickets a nine weeks.

• Each homeroom has a Responsibility Book where students sign and record poor choices in any area of the school. Report card conduct grades are calculated from this system.

0-5 signatures = S 11-15 signatures = N

6-10 signatures = P 15+ signatures = U

Classroom Management Plan

• Our class still needs a room parent to coordinate volunteers or a small group of parents to share the responsibility please!

• Back to School Splash volunteers are still needed.

• Parties: Christmas and End of Year (Valentine’s party is class only)

8 parents are permitted at each party

(Birthdays: snacks are welcome during lunch)

• OMIS Career Day –To Be Announced

• Field Trip Chaperones – 5 chaperones for each field trip

Thank you so much for everything so far!

Class Involvement

• First Friday Market• Challenge Board• Screechr• Dress-Up Occasions

Your child may mention one or more of the adults we have with our class at any given time. We are very fortunate to count these outstanding individuals as part of our team:

• Katie Kent, Special Education Teacher

• Wally Nicholson, Instructional Aide

Thank you for coming! It is going to be a great year!

Other Items For Discussion