Welcome to Ms. Dye’s Room for…

Parents Night 2013-2014

Third Grade

Classroom and Curriculum Information

Parents’ Night Agenda

I. Our Vision and Purpose

II. A Little About Me

III. School Handbook Highlights

IV. Classroom and Curriculum

VI. Question and Answer Period

PurposeThe purpose of Cornerstone Christian

Academy, as a custodian of parental trust, is to provide students with a superior education by intentionally fusing the Christian world-view with

the total learning experience.

VisionThe vision of Cornerstone Christian

Academy is to graduate boys and girls whose elementary experience lays the

foundation for Christian leadership in the world.

About Me.…

My name is Kelly Dye and I graduated from University of Georgia with my degree in

Early Childhood Education .

(Go Dawgs, Beat Clemson )!

I am thrilled to be a part of the Cornerstone Family! In my spare time, I love running,

cooking, traveling, and spending time with my friends and family

Handbook Highlights

AttendanceLate Arrivals/Early Departure

Excused/Unexcused Absences

Emergency Procedures

Grading SystemHealth Policy

Snack

Dress Code

Attendance, Late Arrival/Early DismissalStudents cannot miss more than eight days

during a semester without putting promotion to the next grade level in jeopardy.

Carpool begins at 7:50. Students are expected to be at school before 8:15 when the school

day starts. We begin the day right at 8:15.

Early dismissals must take place before 2:30.

Afternoon carpool begins loading at 3:00.

Excused/Unexcused Absences

Excused absences include:

IllnessFuneral/death in the familyWedding/graduation of a family memberEmergency family matterCommunity service project approved by principalDoctor/dentist appointmentOnce-in-a-lifetime opportunity that has been pre-approved by principal

Excused/Unexcused Absences

Please notify me if a future absence is known. We can work together to ensure your child keeps up with the rest of the

class.

When your child returns, send a note confirming the absence or else it will be

considered unexcused.Your child is allowed the same number of

days absent to complete missed work.

Grading System

A 90-100B 80-89C 74-79D 70-73F 60-

Below

This is a first for your child: letter grades. Each week, there will be at least one graded entry for most subjects (you will be made aware of your child‘s grades through a quarterly Report Card). You will find your child’s graded work in his/her Friday Folder each week or in his/her orange folder in the side labeled “Keep at Home.”

Health PolicyWith the weather change, colds are

unavoidable!

Children need to be fever free and on an antibiotic for twenty-four hours before returning to school. This is for the health

and safety of the rest of the students.

No antibiotics can be given from office.

Dress Code

Students are expected to be in uniform daily with the exception of birthdays and

Spirit wear Fridays.

Spirit Wear: Uniform top with jeansSpirit wear will be available soon !

Classroom Procedures Classroom Management Plan

Our classroom management is guided by the school’s acrostic, H.O.P.E. In addition, we sponsor a child from Uganda.

Positive and Negative ConsequencesWith exemplary behavior a student can receive coins to go towards the sponsor child. A “Student of the Day” is also

chosen and earns a trip to the treasure box at the end of the day.

Undesirable behavior will be given a verbal warning. This first

warning will not hold any consequence. Any continued negative behavior will be given minutes to walk at recess and may result in completing a “Think Sheet.” The consequences

vary at each level to allow for a good match between the student and his/her action .

CommunicationBest way to contact me is by school e-mail

kdye@cornerstonecougars.net

Student Agenda and Orange FolderAn agenda will be used in 3rd grade .

Please make it a nightly habit to go through your child’s Orange Folder and agenda. Initial on the reading calendar

to let me know that your child is completing nightly reading.

Weebly:Each week our Weebly site will be updated with new

information including our newsletter, weekly verse and vocabulary words. Homework resources, photos and other

announcements will be posted as well .

HomeworkHomework is given most days except

Wednesdays.Reading for at least 20 minutes should

happen every day.Long-term projects may require weekend work.

No assignments are given over school vacations .

On average, a third grade student should expect to spend30-45 minutes on homework assignments per school night.

This does not necessarily include nightly reading.

Please keep in mind that children work at different paces.

Homework Pointers

Help your child find the right place to do his/her homework.

Have your child gather all the necessary materials to avoid wasting time …the 30-

45 minutes of homework time is the actual time on task.

You are the best judge of how much help your child needs when completing homework.

Curriculum: Bible

Primary Academic Focus: Life of Christ

Primary Spiritual Focus: Development of Personal

Relationship with Christ

Memory Verses:One verse is given weekly.

The students should be able to write the verse by memory and write a brief explanation of the verse.

Ministry: Norcross Cooperative Ministry

Curriculum: Math

Third grade math will cover…

Number SensePatterns, Functions, and Algebra

Data AnalysisGeometry

MeasurementComputation

It is extremely important that all students memorize their math facts (addition, subtraction,

multiplication, and division).

Curriculum: Language Arts

Formal grammar work begins in third grade .

Vocabulary instruction is incorporated in our reading time.

Reading = Literature Circles/Reading Groups with Ms. Bennett

Reading Logs should be signed nightly by a parent & are due by the end of the month .

Some thoughts on ReadingReading is more than just saying the right word on the page .

Reading is thinking

Good Readers will…

Preview Ask Questions Predict and Revise Prediction Infer Visualize Connect Summarize Evaluate

Encourage reading at home!

Curriculum: Social Studies and Science

Study of the Origins of American Democracy

Historical American Figures are Highlighted Basics of Economic Concepts are Introduced

Geography

Science …Hands-On LearningLife Science

Physical ScienceHuman Body

Earth and Space

Writing

Writing will occur throughout the entire day in a variety of contexts.

Writer’s NotebooksJournals

Writing PromptsPoetry

We have dedicated writing blocks on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

morningswith Mrs. Rogers.

Spelling

Spelling will look different this year.We are going to focus on one

spelling/syllable rule per week and spelling words will always match

highlighted rule.

Weekly words in the Newsletter will

NOT be the exact list tested on Friday.

How Can I Minister toYOUR Family?

I Peter 3:8--Finally, all of you, live in harmony with

one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns!

Questions?