Welcome Parents Please take a minute to Find

Welcome Parents! • Please take a minute to: – Find your child’s workspace and have a seat (yes, on the ball is fine) – Enjoy the handwritten letter from your child – Complete the information needed for your child’s T-shirt order (pens on the table closest to the door) – Complete Volunteer Interest Survey – Check out our Student/Teacher created Wishlist on the front board – Check out our first Leader in Me Family Challenge of the year (in your pile of papers) – Clipboards are along the back wall in the center if you do not have a surface to write on! Completed forms can go in the red bin on the table where you found the pens

Back To School Night Miss Johnson’s 5 th Grade Rm. 32

Required Online Forms • Complete all online forms in Parent. Vue If you have problems, please contact Mrs. Ferrer in the front office. angela. ferrer@lcps. org

The Leader in Me • Is a process designed to help teachers develop leadership skills in their students. • Helps students discover their unique strengths. • Gives all students an opportunity to shine—to become leaders. • Helps infuse the language of the 7 Habits into the entire curriculum. • The First 8 Days

The Habits at Home • A survey will be emailed at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. • Once a month, families will be able to complete an activity at home to reinforce the habits. The activity will then be displayed at school! • NLE website has information under the Our School tab named Leader in Me.

Homework • Homework is not graded. • Homework assignments will be posted on each fifth grade teacher’s webpage. • Each student is expected to use the agenda to legibly record homework. • Parent signatures are required in the agenda during the first 2 weeks of school. • On average, homework should not take more than an hour each night (including nightly reading).

Homework Responsibilities • Please help your child set aside a time and place every day for homework completion. • Your child is responsible for doing the work & for remembering to bring materials back to class. • A little support from you goes a long way toward ensuring your child’s future success. • Missing homework assignments will result in checkbook deductions. • Homework will include the use of technology, notify me if at home access is an issue.

Homework continued • Aargh… my child does not know how to complete the homework … What do we do? • Don’t cry! • Please write a note on the page or email me that you tried, but your child needs further instruction. • No checkbook deduction, I will work with him or her.

Checkbooks • The goal of the checkbook system is to promote good behavior and wise decision making. • Checkbooks relate to the study of economics in 5 th grade. Students will learn about credits, debits, the basics of taxation, and other real-life lessons. • Students are paid weekly for school attendance.

Checkbooks • Positive behaviors will be rewarded by adding money to checkbooks. • Classroom rules were discussed the first days of school. All rules have a monetary value. If a child should “break” a rule, he/she will deduct money from the checkbook. • Students will use money in their checkbooks to participate in end of year events and purchase items in the auction.

Math • Assessments are given during the first weeks of school. • Math class groupings will be determined once assessments are complete. • Math groups will change to meet the individual needs of your child. • Online assignments will be given each week.

Helping Your Child in Math • Reinforce the need to know basic math facts fluently. • Encourage reviewing of the math journal and/or book nightly and studying for assessments. • Review math work sent home in the Thursday folder. • Check school, 5 th grade, and teacher websites for additional online resources.

Reading • Readers’ Workshop Format • Independent Reading • Just Right Books with teacher guidance – Conferencing and Written Response – Opportunities to read in class daily • Nightly at home reading for 30 minutes.

SOLs • Math • Reading • Science – 4 th and 5 th grade cumulative • Review will begin in April • Writing Assessment from LCPS during the 3 rd Quarter • Interactive Notebooks will contain everything studied for the entire year and will serve as great study tools for the SOL tests.

BYOT • LCPS is a BYOT county. We encourage students to bring appropriate technology when needed. • Technology will be used throughout the year to support learning. • Office 365 is available to every LCPS student. • Students will also be using research database search engines, Google Classroom, and the Office 365 Suite software.

Flexible Seating • Research Supported • LCPS initiative new this year • My decision as to whether or not student is using appropriately

Birthdays “Per Loudoun County Guidelines only non-food items will be allowed for birthday treats. ” -LCPS Student Handbook

Phoenix/Parent. VUE • Parent Portal is available to view student progress. • Phoenix is a snapshot of student progress. • Assessments in Phoenix are not the sole factor in the grading process. Teacher observation, classroom participation, and other elements can influence the grade. • Progress reports are issued quarterly.

Fall Conferences • Please access Parent. Vue to sign up for an end of 1 st Quarter conference. • Additional conferences will be at parent or teacher request.

Miscellaneous Items • Let me know in advance of any known absences & please limit early dismissals. • Working snack-time (water & nutritious, nut-free, finger snacks) • Fifth Grade T-shirt • Support our DARE & 5 th grade t-shirt days

Field Trips • Fall – October 4 th for Extended Day – Hemlock Adventure Links – Ashburn Station with DARE • Winter – Middle School concert • Spring – Middle School visits – dependent on Middle School Principal choice

How Parents Can Help • PTO: please join and support • Donations – Thank you! • Volunteers – Class parent(s) – 5 th Grade Copy Team – Thursday Folders – Volunteer training will be held on 9/17 @ 8: 00 am and 6: 00 pm. – Please attend one session if you are a new volunteer to our school.

Contact Me • Email: elena. johnson@lcps. org • Webpage • Electronic Newsletters • Thursday folders • Written notes • Conferences • Remind

Contact Me • Email: elena. johnson@lcps. org • Webpage • Electronic Newsletters • Thursday folders • Written notes • Conferences • Remind

Thank you for coming!