Welcome to fifth level at Smith Elementary School. We are eager to work with you and your child this year. The information included here should help answer questions concerning procedures and expectations. If we can be of help at any time, please send a note with your child or contact us through email and we will respond promptly. You may call the school office at 281-891-8420 to set up a conference, or leave a message so we can return your call. Our conference time is 1:55PM - 2:45PM or after school from 3:10 – 3:40 P. M

The fifth level schedule is:
7:40 – 8:00 Homeroom
8:00 - 1:00 Academic Classes
1:00 - 1:30 Lunch
1:30 - 1:50 Recess
1:50 - 2:45 Enrichment
2:50 - 3:00 Bus Room-Dismissal



Communication

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to review your child’s Tuesday folder each week and to return it signed each Wednesday. The Tuesday folder is our means of communicating with you on a regular basis. Not only will you find your child’s work in this folder, but also comments on his/her progress, reminders of upcoming assignments and projects, updates on averages, and a wealth of other information. The Tuesday folder also offers a regular opportunity for you to correspond with us, if you have any questions or comments.
Please set aside time each Tuesday to review your child’s folder with him/her, sign the appropriate place on the conduct sheet, and return it the next day. If the student does not return to school the next day with his/her Tuesday folder signed, his/her Homework Express Card with be taken up. If the card has already been removed for not having homework, the student will sit at the quiet table each day until it is brought back. If for any reason you cannot return it on Wednesday, please send a note of explanation to the teacher. If your child doesn’t volunteer his/her Tuesday folder…PLEASE ASK FOR IT.
An additional way to communicate with your child’s teacher is through their individual email accounts. This communication can be used to quickly convey questions about your child’s academic career, but should not be used to replace a conference. These messages will be responded to in a timely matter. Transportation changes, clinic medical information, or any correspondence cannot be accepted though email, and will still need to be delivered to the front office by the parent or student.

Grading

Work assigned, but not completed during class time is due the following day. If work is not turned in the day it is due, eleven points will be deducted from the grade earned. If students do not return the work the following day, twenty-two points will be deducted from the grade earned. On the third day, if the work has not been turned in, the student will earn a zero for that assignment. A graded assignment turned in without a name, will have ten points deducted from the grade earned.

Discipline Management

Fifth level students are expected to follow rules of Smith Elementary School.
1. Treat everyone with courtesy and respect
2. Treat personal and school property with respect
3. Come to school prepared for learning
4. Act responsibly and accept consequences for their actions
5. Take pride in themselves and their school
6. Create and maintain a positive and safe environment

Positive reinforcement plays a major part in our plan. The use of verbal praise, happy notes and calls, stickers, good citizenship parties, and other special activities brings out the best in our fifth grade “Scotties.”
Individual student behavior is recorded in the classroom using clips. All students will begin the day on “S” for satisfactory. If reminders are needed for breaking rules, the student will receive a verbal warning. If further incidences occur, the student will move their clip to “N” for needs improvement, and sit at the quiet table at lunch. If inappropriate behavior persists, their clip is moved to “U” for unsatisfactory, and will miss recess that day. In the event your child continues to make poor behavior choices, the teacher may make a phone call to the parent, send home an orange discipline note, assign after school detention, or make an office referral. Two orange discipline notes per class and in one week will result in a one hour detention. There is always the opportunity to move a clip up for good behavior, which would be how your child could earn an “E” for excellent.
The final conduct grade is determined by an average of the week’s conduct.

__Attendance and Tardies

Attendance
The state attendance policy mandates that students must be present 90% of the school year. The parent/guardian must contact the office or send in a note for the absence to be excused. Should you need to pick up your child early from school for any reason, then the student will be considered absent for that class period or subject. If the early releases exceed the state mandate for that subject, retention may be considered.
Tardies
When a student is tardy for more than three days during a nine-week period, the following will occur:
4th tardy – warning/information note will be sent home
5th tardy – miss recess will be assigned and an orange note will be sent home
6th tardy – detention for one hour will be assigned after school
7th tardy – office referral

Supplies

It is each student’s responsibility to be prepared with pencils, notebook paper, crayons, binder, and any other supplies needed for class. It is possible that some of the supplies you purchased for the beginning of the school year may be depleted or misplaced throughout the year. Please check occasionally with your child about their supplies and
help him/her replace them in a timely way.


Textbooks

State law requires that textbooks be covered at all times. We will ask your child to do so in school or to bring books home when covers need replacing. We provide book covers. Students will be expected to take care of their textbooks. If a book should become lost or damaged, it is the responsibility of the child. We appreciate your helping your student to understand this rule.

Cafeteria

Parents are always welcome to have lunch in our cafeteria. Please make sure that you sign in with the front office before coming down to the cafeteria. Since having guests is special to your child, we have set up a visitor’s table for parents to sit with their child. We hope this arrangement will give you a comfortable place to eat with your child. A parent may never take the child out of the cafeteria without teacher or principal permission. When the class has been dismissed, your child must exit with the rest of the students.

Retention and Promotion

A student shall be promoted from grade 5 to grade 6 in the school year 2009 – 2010 only if:
1. A final grade of 70 or above has been earned in both language arts and mathematics; and
2. An overall average of 70 or above has been earned as determined by averaging the final grades for language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science; and
3. The TAKS Reading and Math Test are passed; and
4. The state attendance requirement has been met.
5. If a student does not pass the Fifth Level TAKS Reading or Math Test, they are required to attend Summer School where they will be given the opportunity to retake and pass an alternative TAKS Test.