1. September 5, 2013

2. Peace, Love, and Shadycrest!

3. The front doors open at 7:15 AM. Breakfast is served starting at 7:20 AM Staff on car duty starting at 7:30 AM A student entering the building anytime after 8:00 AM will be counted tardy. If tardy, parents are asked to escort students into the building and sign them in at the front reception desk. Please limit tardies as they interrupt instructional time.

4. Texas has a compulsory attendance law which requires students to be in attendance the full instructional time class is offered unless a valid excuse is presented. If your child has a doctor/dentist appointment and returns to school the same day, he/she will be counted present as long as an excuse from the doctor/dentist is provided. If your child is absent, you need to send a note to the school within three days of when he/she returns. Please include your child’s name, teacher’s name, date of absence, and the reason for the absence. Excessive absences/tardies means that your child will be missing our on important instructional time. 3 or more tardies will also prevent perfect attendance awards.

5. Anyone entering the building or picking up a child will need to present their Driver’s License to the front desk clerk. This is a district policy and is in place for the safety of the students and staff at Shadycrest. Anyone other than the parent/guardian must be indicated on the emergency card in order to pick up your child. This year we will have some 4 th grade Owl Patrol students that will help us in assisting our lower level students during arrival and dismissal periods. For their safety, while out at car rider duty we will ask these students not to step off the curb.

6. Tuesday Folders: A “Peek of the Week” will be sent home highlighting skills studied for the week as well as other important reminders. These are also posted online. 4 th grade students also use agendas. Conduct Folders: Conduct folders are sent home weekly to inform you of conduct and work habit grades as well as inform you of minor redirections noted throughout the week. Anything serious will be discussed personally at the time of the incident or through parent conferences. Emergency Communication Procedures: Blackboard Connect is a call notification system that will be utilized to provide information and inform you of emergency situations. Please keep your emergency contact numbers updated so the system can contact you about any situations. This system will also be used sparingly to notify you of upcoming campus events.

7. Work Habits 6- Completes assignments neatly within the allocated time frame. Ex: Homework 7- Bring appropriate supplies Ex.-being prepared for your class and not disturbing class. Conduct

8. Conference Time: 1:15-2:00 Monday – Friday Please call for an appointment (281)-412-1404 Homework Expectations: Students will have homework Monday-Thursday. Discipline Plan: Conduct and Work Habit grading scale 0-1 E 2-3S 4-6N 7-moreU

9. Grading Procedures:100-90A 89-80B 79-75C 74-70D Below 70F Progress Reports: Progress reports will be sent home two times in between each report card. Report Cards: Students will receive number grades in each subject. For conduct, work habits, music, PE, and art, students will receive a grade of E, S, N, or U.

10. Homework Late Assignments Projects Grades posted weekly Skyward Family Access provides secure, instantaneous information for 2 nd -4 th grade students on grades and attendance to parents/guardians. The same login and password that you used for online registration will obtain you access to this information.

11. In grades 2, promotion to the next grade level shall be based on an average of 70 or above on a scale of 100 based upon course- level, grade-level standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) in each of the following areas: mathematics, reading, and language arts. In grades 3-6, promotion to the next grade level shall be based on an overall average of 70 on a scale of 100 based upon course-level, grade-level standards (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) in each of the following areas: mathematics, reading, language arts, science, and social studies. In addition, students must have a grade of 70 or above in each of the following areas: mathematics, reading, and language arts.

12. For information on the general grade level skills your child will cover this year, please visit the following website: http://www.tea.state.tx.us.teks/ (then click on grade level) *A brief “spotlight” will be sent home tonight and with every report card. STAAR Release 2013 Math is on this site

13. Pearland ISD has established a standardized dress code for students. Please be advised that at each occurrence of dress code violation, the students will be issued a consequence. A copy of the dress code is available on page 92 of the Pearland ISD Student Code of Conduct handbook as well as on the district website. Additional copies can also be obtained from the front office as needed. Common Violations: cargo shorts, white pants, ripped jeans, light up shoes, etc… Please label sweaters, hoodies and jackets. Shadycrest spirit shirts as well as district spirit shirts from our feeder campuses (Alexander, East, Pearland High School) can be worn daily. College shirts may be worn on Fridays only. We appreciate you working with us to ensure your child is in compliance.

14. Your child will rotate through PE, Music, and Library each week. Your child will also rotate through art. They will attend library and music once a week and PE three times a week.

15. Children need healthy meals to learn. Pearland ISD offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.25 and lunch costs $2.25. Your children may qualify for free or significantly reduced priced meals. Applications are available online. Paper copies of this application can also be obtained upon request. Please note that you must re-apply for this each year and that you will need to cover the cost of meals until the application is approved.

16. Parents can eat at the table across from their child or choose to enjoy our outdoor picnic sitting area. We kindly ask that your child not bring a friend outside. When lunch is over, we ask that you refrain from walking down the hall with the class. Information on how to access student lunch accounts is located on the Pearland Food Service website. There is a link for Parent Online meal payments. Restrictions can also be set to limit snacks or indicate allergies, etc… There is no fee for this service. The Texas Department of Agriculture has created nutrition guidelines for Texas Public Schools. Schools may not provide foods of minimal nutritional value to students at any time during the school day. Therefore, birthday treats may not be given during lunch. Store bought cupcakes will be allowed for student birthdays and ½birthday celebrations. Please drop them off at the front desk with your child’s name and their teacher’s name. The teacher will distribute treats to the students the last fifteen minutes of the instructional day. **(No favors, paper products, or balloons please.)

17. A positive incentive plan is set up in the cafeteria to promote good behavior. We recognize that their social time at school is limited. While we want all children to be able to enjoy talking to their friends at lunch, we need the volume to be reasonable for student safety. A variety of different incentives are set in place to reward safe lunchtime conversation. In order to prevent the entire class from being penalized in anyway for the actions of a few, students will be redirected individually. Students are given an individual warning and then if they choose not to redirect, they will be asked to move to an assigned seat at the end of the table. If a student continues to not comply they will be moved to an isolated desk. Further non-compliance results in lunch detention in the office and parent contact.

18. Bus Riders If you have a kindergarten student that is a bus rider, an adult must be at the bus stop upon arrival. The driver will not leave these students unattended. Students are not allowed to ride the bus home with other students at any time. Concerns regarding transportation or changes to the bus registration paperwork should be directed to the transportation department directly at 281-485-3562. Cafeteria Walk Up If you are going to walk up to pick up your child, your child needs to be designated as a cafeteria walk up. These students will be dismissed out of the cafeteria. Please do not block driveways while parking. For safety reasons, please do not park in the school parking lot and walk in if your child is designated cafeteria walk up.

19. Car Riders Car riders are picked up at the front of the building. For safety reasons, we ask that parents do not walk up to pick up students designated as car riders. Please make certain that a dashboard placard is visible with student name and grade level. Students will be called to a column with a teacher on duty to be waiting for you to pull around. Without a placard, we will ask that you pull to the front for us to check driver’s license and ensure the driver is an approved emergency contact. Feel free to have multiple Shadycrest dashboard placards if you have different individuals picking up your child. Auction spots Your child’s safety is our #1 priority! Although slow in the beginning of the year, this process will improve drastically as we get into a routine. Your cooperation and patience with beginning of the year dismissal is appreciated.

20. Pearland ISD has an emphasis on the improvement of student achievement in academics with the use of technology in elementary and secondary schools through the integration of mobile learning. BYOD is one example of mobile learning that will allow students to bring their own device and utilize personal electronic communication devices at school and at school activities. The traditional model of school with the teacher choosing what to be learned and serving as the source of knowledge is not sufficient for the 21st Century Learner. The integration of mobile learning and BYOD will enable students to be active participants in the learning process and connect them to the world beyond school. It will also prepare them to be learners of the future with skills to be work force ready, to be critical and innovative thinkers, effective communicators, self- directed and motivated as well as engaged global citizens.

21. The vision for Pearland ISD’s Mobile Learning Initiative is the integration of technology-based activities into existing curriculum. It is not about students learning new programs and devices, but allowing students to use what they know, share what they know, and learn to discover what they don’t know. Personal technology devices will be used to enhance the curriculum, not change it. Mobile learning will give teachers the opportunity to deliver the curriculum using different methods of teaching to increase student engagement and student academic performance. The curriculum will drive the use of technology and allow teachers and students to work and learn in a technology-rich environment. Shadycrest has formed a committee and is in the process of developing a campus specific plan for implementation of BYOD. Once the plan is finalized we will provide parents with more information regarding implementation at Shadycrest.

22. We love parent volunteers! Volunteering can mean joining the PTA and assisting with a carnival booth shift on a Saturday, helping coordinate our classroom parties, assisting regularly in the cafeteria or library, taking off a day of work to attend the field trip, or cutting out things at home for a class project. This year our PTA is continuing the ‘Watch Dog’ program to encourage Dad’s to take a stand in supporting the school. There is not a standard mold for a volunteer here at Shadycrest. If you want to help—we want you! If you are interested in volunteering, please let us or the PTA know. Volunteers should also complete a criminal background check online. Tonight we also have a sign up sheet for you to be able to give your contact info to the room mom.

23. If you haven't yet joined the PTA, please do so. Membership is encouraged for both moms and dads and even grandparents. Joining the PTA does not mean you must volunteer or be actively involved. It is just a great way to support the school. Any money donated or fundraised by the PTA goes directly back to supporting your child's school. Spirit shirt orders that were turned in during teacher assignment stations or the first two days of school have already been sent off. If you didn't order in time you have another chance! A final order will be sent off tomorrow. You can place your orders in the PTA lock box near the front doors on your way out this evening.

24. Want additional reminders of deadlines or campus events? Like the Shadycrest PTA on Facebook. Search Shadycrest PTA and look for the owl! We recently kicked off our Fall Fundraiser. This has been a very successful fundraiser for Shadycrest for the past several years. We know fundraisers are not always fun, but appreciate your support and the incredible donations that the PTA has been able to provide to the campus due to its success.

25. Checks should have driver’s license and phone number on them. As teachers we are not to collect and hold money in our classrooms overnight. Therefore, it is safest to send picture money, PTA fundraiser money, etc. to school as close as possible to the collection date and not too far in advance. Please also place it in a sealed envelope in your child’s backpack with your child’s name, phone number and what the money is for. Students can then take the money to the PTA, café, etc.

26. Any questions I can help answer this evening?

27. Thank you for attending this evening. We look forward to teaching your child and working together to make this a truly successful year!