Welcome to 1 st Grade Parent Information Night

Welcome to 1 st Grade Parent Information Night Bentley Elementary “Home of the Blazers!”

Meet our Campus Principal Tom Thompson “Building Blocks of Learning” v. University of Houston Victoria v. Bloomsburg University (Pennsylvania) v. Coatesville High school (Pennsylvania) v. North Brandywine Junior High (Pennsylvania) v. Kings Highway Elementary (Pennsylvania)

Meet our Campus Assistant Principal Channon Almendarez “Building Blocks of Learning” v. University of St. Thomas v. Southwest Texas State University (San Marcos) v. Kempner High School v. Sugar Land Middle School v. Barrington Place Elementary

Meet our Campus Counselor Tamara Luna “Building Blocks of Learning” v. Houston Baptist University v. Harding University (Arkansas) v. Commerce High School v. Commerce Middle School v. Commerce Elementary

Meet our Campus Reading Facilitator Stephanie Kolacny “Building Blocks of Learning” v. University of Houston Victoria v. Wharton County Junior College v. Lamar Consolidated High School v. Lamar Junior High School v. Pine Shadows Elementary

Meet our Campus Math & Science Facilitator Clare Hoelzel “Building Blocks of Learning” v. University of North Texas v. Stephan Austin High School v. Holy Rosary School

Meet our Campus ESL Lead Teacher Rosemary Martinez “Building Blocks of Learning” v Sam Houston State University v Rice High School v Eagle Lake Middle School v Eagle Lake Primary School

Meet our Campus Front Office Team v. Secretary, Kim Pena v. Front Office Clerk, Charlisa Darthard v. Nurse, Michelle Camilli

PTA & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Don't forget to join the Bentley PTA - A well supported PTA allows for a better organized and successful school community. Working hand in hand for our children. Joining PTA doesn't mean you HAVE to volunteer, it means you are supporting the kids. If you want to volunteer, great! If you can't that's okay too! The cost to join the PTA is 10. 00 person. We would love to have 100% participation of parents and family members this year. Please take time after our meeting to sign up.

PARENT NIGHT 2016 -2017 Bentley Elementary st 1 Grade

Meet our 1 st Grade Team st 1 Grade Rocks! Cernosek Holtman Jones Pelletier Raley

Drop off/Pick up Map

Social Contract v. Students will help the teacher create a social contract for the way they would like to be treated by others and the teacher in the classroom. v. Students help the teacher manage the contract. v. Some things that might be on the contract are: v Listen and follow directions when given. v Be prepared for class with all materials. v Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself. v Raise your hand be recognized before talking. v Say and do only nice things to others.

Bentley’s School Wide Plan v. Treasure Tower: This is a school wide positive behavior system. Each team will designate how many individual dojo points need to be earned to receive a token. v. Classroom Dojo: This is a school wide technology based program where students earn points for making good choices. Students use these points to earn classroom incentives. v“Class Story” is also provided through Dojo. It is kind of like Facebook where you can share posts, pictures, videos, etc. This is where teachers will post class pictures, etc. for you to see. v. As a “Schools United” campus Bentley teachers are encouraged to pass out Husky bucks as well. If your class/child receives a husky buck that can be traded in for a classroom dojo point.

Bentley’s Discipline Plan § A calendar conduct chart will be placed in your child’s daily folder for each nine weeks. Please initial daily. § Conduct grades for individual categories for the nine weeks will be assigned as follows: § 0 - 4 Initials= S § 5 - 7 Initials = N § 8 + Initials= U § Homework is part of the conduct grade. § If a student receives a discipline referral to the office, their conduct grade can not be higher than N. § If a student receives more than one discipline referral to the office, their conduct grade will be an automatic U.

Communication School- 832 -223 -4900 Ms. Cernosek acernosek@lcisd. org Ms. Holtman jholtman@lcisd. org Ms. Jones shelby. jones@lcisd. org Ms. Pelletier dpelletier@lcisd. org Ms. Raley amy. raley@lcisd. org Newsletters will come home weekly. Please make sure your teacher has your contact information.

Daily Folders § Main form of daily communication. § Homework, conduct, transportation changes, notes, money, etc. will be in this folder. § Please place any money in an envelope or Ziploc baggie labeled with student name, id number and purpose for payment. § It is your child’s responsibility to return their folder daily. § Folders are checked on a daily basis.

Bentley Thursday Folders § Bentley folders will be sent home every Thursday. § These folders will contain graded papers and other important information. § Please empty folders each Thursday and return any papers that need to be signed the next day. Please place any papers that were in the Husky folder that need to be signed and returned in your child’s daily homework folder. This is the only folder that is checked by the teacher daily. § Bentley folders should be returned every Friday.

Daily Instruction

LUNCH & SNACKS Lunch schedule: 10: 30 -11: 00 *Please feel free to come and have lunch with your child any day except during STAAR testing days. You will be informed when these days are. Please be aware that all students will be seated first before visitors will be able to be seated. *Snack time will be a set time every day in the Afternoon around 1 pm. *Please make sure your child is bringing a healthy snack. Please no utensils. The teacher will not provide snacks. *Water is the only drink allowed in the classrooms. *Children are not allowed to share food.

Reading v Children will be instructed on their level using a reader’s workshop format. v Reading comprehension activities will be given each week to practice reading strategies. v Rubrics will be used to assess student’s understanding of text. Readers and writers are always learning and growing, so to reflect this, many of the rubrics go up to 95% as the highest score.

Reading v. DRA 2 will be used to assess reading levels. This assesses the student’s reading accuracy, comprehension, and fluency. v. Lamar CISD has determined expected reading levels for the end of each nine week period. v. Running Records are used to assessed students throughout the year. v. Students will also be assessed every 4 weeks with a reading passage and 10 -12 questions.

DRA 16 DRA 3

Language Arts § Spelling –Spelling tests will be averaged each 9 weeks as one grade. § Listening and Speaking § Oral and Written Conventions § Writing § Research § This year we will be using the writer’s workshop format. § This format will guide student’s through a complete writing process. § District rubrics will be used to assess writing.

Math v Students will work in small groups using manipulatives while engaged in hands-on activities. v There will be an intensive focus on problem-solving and application of basic skills. v Students will be tested after each 4 week period on new skills taught as well as objectives learned in prior weeks. v Fast fact quizzes will be given each week. All quiz grades will be averaged for one daily grade at the end of the nine week period.

Science v Students will participate in a science lab every other week. This lab will occur in the classroom. This is a crucial portion of the exploration process. v Students will be required to study vocabulary terms from their science notebook for tests. v We will post information on the grade level website regarding upcoming tests and interesting websites.

Social Studies v Students will participate in the exploration of maps, communities, history, and economics.

Helping Your Child Read at Home Students are expected to read 20 minutes each night. This can be completed in a number of ways: Independent reading Reading to a family member or other adult Reading with a family member or other adult (the student and the adult take turns reading the same book) A family member or other adult reads to the student

Specials This year, your child will go to art, music or PE on a weekly rotation.

SPECIALS POLICIES Content Grades in PE, Music and Art Each student will receive two grades in art, music and physical education: academic performance and conduct. Performance - Mastery of the instructional objectives will be the determining factor in assigning performance grades. Three grades will be taken during each 9 -week period. At any point during the grading period that the student’s grade falls below an S, he/she will receive a progress report, or documentation on a specials conduct note, that should be signed by the parent and returned promptly. Please see page 50 of the LCISD student handbook for specific guidelines regarding specials assessment. Conduct - Behavior will be used to determine the conduct grade. A student’s specials conduct grade is separate from the classroom conduct grade. Specials teachers will communicate conduct marks with a written note that will be stapled in the student’s agenda. Each note should be signed and returned promptly. Conduct grades are aligned with the grade level policies. They are as follows: *Please note that specials grades are unique in that for both conduct and performance grades, students must participate actively and have a positive attitude to earn an S. Because these affect both conduct and performance, a conduct note may be used to communicate with parents when either grade may be lowered. (p. 50 of the handbook)

PE Procedures Medical Excuses - If a student needs to be excused from participation in physical education activities for medical reasons, a written excuse from the parent must be provided if the student is to be excused for 2 or less days (only one PE day). If a student is to be excused from physical education activities for more than 2 consecutive school days (more than one PE day), please provide a written excuse from the doctor. Appropriate Shoes – On days when your child has PE, it is extremely important that your child wears flat, rubber-soled, tennis shoes that are fixed firmly on their feet, cover the entire foot, and do not leave scuff marks on the floor. Your child will be running, jumping, and doing various other physical activities in their tennis shoes. Not only is this a huge safety precaution and a necessity to maintain the gym floor, but it is also part of your student’s PE performance grade. Each time your child does not wear the proper shoes to PE, he/she will receive a mark in the grade book. Three marks in a single 9 -weeks will constitute a drop in his/her PE performance grade. PE Website- please go to Bentleype. weebly. com to see the weekly schedule to ensure your child is wearing the appropriate shoes for PE. a. RT Supply Donations empty paper towel rolls newspaper magazines (please preview first) fabric yarn ribbon chenille stems cardboard posterboard fun foam cardstock plastic bottlecaps coke tabs old CDs wrapping paper bubblewrap unused sponges beads wax paper old calendars with visuals of animals, cars, etc. artificial foods such as fruits/vegetables markers pencils

The Bentley Elementary Ø Our library will be utilizing the books housed at the Hubenak Library until our school is ready. Mrs. Bromonsky is our librarian and is looking for volunteers to help in the library and to head up our Birthday Book Club. Ø Students in Kindergarten – 2 nd Grade will come to the library with their teacher each week. Each session will include book checkout. Ø Students in Kindergarten can check out one book per week. Ø Students in 1 st and 2 nd Grades can check out two books per week. Ø Special events happening in the library – Book Fairs, Presentations, Birthday Book Club and more to come! Bentley Blazers love to READ!

Grading Reading: On grade level work will consist of any work that the student is able to complete independently. A minimum of eight(8 eight ) daily grades and/or quizzes will be taken each nine weeks. A minimum of two (2) major grades will be taken each nine weeks, as well. Language Arts, Math, Science, & Social Studies: A minimum of eight(8 eight ) daily grades and/or quizzes will be taken each nine weeks. A minimum of two (2) major grades will be taken each nine weeks, as well. Numerical grades are required in Reading, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science/Health, and Social Studies. A Excellent progress. Work is consistently of above average quality. (90 – 100 %) B Good progress. Work is above average. (80 – 89 %) C Work is of average quality. (75 – 79%) D Work is of poor quality; in need of improvement. (70 – 74%) F Work is unacceptable ( Below 70 %)

Reassessment v A teacher shall provide corrective instruction and one reasonable opportunity to reassess failure to master the TEK/curriculum in each grade (daily and major). The highest possible grade that can be earned and recorded on the reassessment is a 70%. v The teacher will make a note in the electronic gradebook of the dates and grades of the reassessment. v Students whose rate of learning will not meet successful mastery of grade level material will have interventions monitored through the RTI process. EXCEPTIONS: The following assessments are not subject to the reassessment guidelines: DRA, TPRI, and Running Records, student projects, and Elementary Common Assessments.

Success Assemblies v At the end of each nine weeks a Success Assembly is held. v Awards are given for Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance, and for Character Achievement as well. v Parents will be invited to these assemblies. Stay tuned for dates and times that will be shared via our weekly newsletter.

Morning Procedures v Students may begin to arrive at 7: 00 am. Student supervision is not provided prior to 7: 00 a. m. Please do not bring your child to their classroom in the morning or drop them off in back of the building. v 1 st grade students may sit and read quietly in the hallway by their classrooms. v 2 1 st grade teachers are on duty from 7: 00 -7: 15 am to monitor students.

Dismissal v Dismissal Time is 2: 35 p. m. All changes in transportation must be made before 2: 00 pm. Please contact the front office with any transportation changes. v Parents are to pick up students in the car line. You must have your green sign. Please hang it or hold it up so Coach Wheeler can read your child's name easily. v Please do not come to the classroom, or bus ramp to pick up students.

Attendance and Tardy Policy Bentley Elementary

Students go to class at 7: 15 am v. Students have the opportunity to unpack their backpack, get prepared for the day, and write down their homework. v. Allows them time to get focused for the day and be ready to begin learning.

Absences from School v. If your child is absent from Bentley, please send a note to the teacher about the absence. v. Be sure to include: the first and last name of your child, date, grade level, teachers name and reason your child was absent. A doctor’s note is always preferred.

Excused or Unexcused Absences? v When your child is absent it will be listed on their report card as an unexcused absence until they reach 8 -9 absences. The Attendance Review Committee will then invite you in for a meeting so you may discuss the absences with them. After the meeting, the committee will decide if the absences are excused or unexcused. Exception—Doctor’s notes are considered an excused absence.

Tardy Policy v. First Tardy- Warning v. Second Tardy- A teacher will write a note to go home. v. Third Tardy- Recess: Teacher choice recess activity. v. Fourth Tardy- Administration will call you. v. Tardies start over every 9 week period.

How can you make sure your child is not tardy? If you have any Bus concerns, please contact Transportation at 832 -223 -0550.

Perfect Attendance v Students have the opportunity to earn a perfect attendance award each 9 weeks. v We understand that a student may be late occasionally. Students, therefore, may receive perfect attendance for being at school daily and having only had 1 tardy each nine week period.

THANK YOU FOR COMING!