Mr. Griswold teaches Social Studies/History and Writing. Mrs. Greene teaches Science and Writing. Mrs. Wendt teaches Reading for Grades 5-8. Mrs. Brinkman teaches Math and Writing. Ms. Amenta teaches all subjects. Mrs. Mills teaches Reading and Writing.

Events Calendar Reminders Grading Policies Class Expectations Teacher’s Homework Assignments School Hours Team Schedule ACCESSING THE TEACHERS’ WEB PAGES Regional School District No. 17

Use Mr. English’s Weblog regularly: nenglish.edublogs.org

Students must become self-advocates. The following situations require the STUDENT to contact his/her teacher(s). 1. Understanding/clarifying progress reports 2. Clarifying/understanding a grade, class work, or assignment 3. Seating issues 4. Obtaining materials and/or missed assignments, especially after an absence 5. Altercations in or outside classes 6. Difficulties with the schedule, locker, or other problem Students are expected to speak to teachers directly or use to communicate with their teachers. Students are expected to accurately report to parents. Dear Mrs. Greene, I need HELP!!! Love, Your Student MOM! Mr. Griswold said I could keep him!

*Be the Guide on the Side, not the Sage on the Stage. *Homework time is for CHILDREN, not children AND PARENTS. There is a difference between offering guidance and doing the work. *Follow the “CHAIN of COMMUNICATION”: Student to Teacher Student to Guidance Parent to Teacher Parent to Guidance Parent to Administration *Be an informant. *Make good breakfasts and enforce bed time rules. *Beware of over scheduling, especially for sports activities. *Cheating is not tolerated. The school handbook, page 19, states the district policy about cheating. Students may not copy the homework of other students for any reason. *Enforce the school’s dress code.

*Math homework, the math notebook, the math workbook, and a pencil are required DAILY for class. *A pen is used for correcting only and is NOT an acceptable writing implement for math class work or homework. *Homework completion and class preparation are tallied and included in each student’s average. Every student begins every marking period with 100 points. Five points are deducted each time a student is not prepared with homework or class required items. *STUDENTS are strongly encouraged to ask questions in class and seek extra help in math if they do not understand the concepts taught. Class participation is extremely important. *Tests are announced ONE WEEK in advance. Quizzes are announced at least three days in advance. *EXTRA HELP SESSIONS are offered DURING SCHOOL TIME prior to all tests and quizzes. *Please view the test re-take and class grading policies on Mrs. Brinkman’s web page.

*Class preparation is essential. Students need the textbook, history notebook, pencil, pen, and homework. *All parts of homework assignments must be completed neatly and submitted on time. Homework completion is part of the history grade. *CLASS PARTICIPATION is extremely important. There is a lot of reading and subsequent classroom discussion. Students should be ready to present opinions, positions, and interpretations of the topics covered in class. Class participation is an important classroom dynamic. Class participation is also part of the history grade. *Tests are announced a week prior to the testing date. Tests are a major portion of the history grade. If a student is absent the day of the test, they are required to take the test UPON THEIR RETURN TO SCHOOL. Students who do poorly on tests may improve their grade by completing an extra credit project approved by the teacher. *Homework completion and class preparation are tallied and included in each student’s average. Every student begins every marking period with 100 points. Five points are deducted each time a student is not prepared with homework or class required items.

*All students have a science notebook. It must be IN CLASS DAILY. *A Science Safety Contract is signed by the student and a parent. *Even though students work in a lab group to collect data, they are graded on THEIR OWN notes and final projects. *There is a rubric for every science project. All rubrics may be accessed from the Rubric link on Mrs. Greene’s web site. Students know what is expected for each assignment. *Unit vocabulary is posted in the Science Homework Section on Mrs. Greene’s web site. *Tests are announced ONE WEEK in advance. Quizzes are announced at least two days in advance. There are NO POP ASSESSMENTS. If a student is absent, they are expected to take the test UPON THEIR RETURN to school. *Please review Mrs. Greene’s web page for classroom expectations, grading policy, and homework assignments. *Please use exclusively when contacting Mrs. Greene.

*Students must have a pleasure reading book AT ALL TIMES. *Class preparation is counted in the reading grade. *Please view Mrs. Mills’s web site for information about classroom expectations and grading policies. *The more a student reads, the more a student achieves in reading. There is a direct correlation between reading volume and reading achievement. *Reading for meaning involves actively thinking about what is read. *Written responses to reading reflect the students’ understanding and experiences. *The reading grade includes fluency, vocabulary acquisition, reading using comprehension strategies, and elaborated written responses.

*Class preparation is a part of the writing grade. *Students use a writing journal. *Spelling and grammar are part of the writing program. *Students are expected to apply grammar and spelling rules in their written work IN ALL CLASSES. *Students use the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing, and reflecting) to develop written pieces. *Expository (informational) writing is a primary focus. *Grammar quizzes are given periodically.

1.Access Classroll.com using your password. Classroll.com 2. Find your child’s class average. 3. Find any assignments your child missed. 4. Missing assignments appear as a “50%” until the assignment is submitted. If the assignment is not submitted, the grade remains 50%. 5. Categories in Classroll are WEIGHTED. Calculating a simple average of all the grades is not possible. 6. All assignments have a category number. These categories are visible in the teachers’ grading policies. 7. CHECK CLASSROLL.COM OFTEN. your child’s teacher(s) if you have questions. 8.Hold your CHILD accountable for his/her work. 9.If you do not have a user name/password, please complete the “No User Name/Password” sheet on the back table and give it to Mrs. Wendt.

*Illness: An extra day for homework submission for each day of absence is allowed. *Tardy: STUDENTS are responsible for work missed in classes. Parents must sign the “Tardy Book”, or the late entrance to school is NOT excused. A student is TARDY after 8:05 AM. *Vacations (other than school vacations): Homework is not issued in advance of the vacation. Students are required to obtain and complete missed work upon their return to school. Students are allowed a one day grace period for each day absent to complete and submit missed work. Vacation “homework” includes reading a book and journal writing or practicing skills such as multiplication and division facts. ATTENDANCE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL PREPARED AND ON TIME.

Please do not schedule doctor, dentist, or orthodontist appointments during the mornings in March. Please do not plan vacations during the month of March. Please encourage you child to DO THEIR BEST WORK. The tests are extremely important. They reflect your child’s achievement and show areas of weakness. They are valuable tools.

CELL PHONE POLICY The use of CELL PHONES is strictly prohibited during school hours. NO cell phones are allowed in the classroom at any time. Students must have a Cell Phone Permission Form on file at the office to carry a cell phone to school. The phone must be OFF and in the student’s LOCKER during school hours. Please review the District’s Cell Phone Policy and direct any questions to Mr. English. Improperly stowed cell phones or cell phones in use during school hours are immediately confiscated.