1. Duke University Mr. Valentine – Grade 6 – Room 20 Oxford Preparatory Academy Dear Duke Families, Welcome to sixth grade at Oxford Preparatory Academy, South Orange County! I am excited and privileged to be your child’s professor for the 2014-2015 school year, and I look forward to working closely with your child and your family this year. Our sixth grade classroom will be the home of the Duke University Blue Devils. At OPA we recognize that each and every child is unique and gifted. Our instruction utilizes the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and GATE icons, giving your child the opportunity to participate in a variety of engaging and challenging learning styles that will empower him or her to achieve academic success. In addition, class discussion will be a key component of our classroom this year, and I will foster the growth of a classroom community in which all students’ contributions are respected and valued. This will be accomplished by setting up guidelines for the students to follow so they can show responsibility for themselves and respect for others. Classroom Rules: 1.Raise your hand to speak. 2.Treat others with respect. 3.Clean up after yourself. 4.Sit in your assigned seat. When Students Make Good Choices: 1.Students earn “Duke Dollars,” which can be exchanged for various rewards. 2.Table groups earn table points. 3.Individual Rewards 4.Verbal recognition When Students Need to Make a Better Choice: 1.Verbal warning 2.Behavior Essay 3.Phone call home 4.Behavior contract 5.Office referral Behavior Grades : 1.Every trimester, each student starts with 100%. 2.Each warning lowers the student’s grade by 2%. 3.Behavior essays lower the grade by 3% and require your signature. 4.A playground demerit or office referral reduces the grade to 60%.

2. School Wide Discipline: The policy of OPA is designed to ensure that each student has the opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment. Our aim is to develop responsibility, citizenship, and respect. Students who follow the rules and show good sportsmanship on the playground may be rewarded with “scholarships,” which can be used to buy items at the Student Store (Blackwell’s). However, failure to follow the rules can result in a playground demerit, which will require both parent and student signatures. The student’s playground grade will be reduced to 60%. Likewise, if a child receives an office referral, his or her parents will be contacted and the student’s behavior grade will be reduced to 60%. Parent Communication: Parent-teacher communication Is very important to me because it will increase the academic success of the child. If you have any inquiries about homework or corrected work, please feel free to email me (ryan.valentine@oxfordchampions.com) between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, and I will be sure to respond to you within 48 hours. Homework: Your child should spend about 90 minutes on homework each school night. In addition, they will be required to read for at least 20 minutes. Every child is responsible for writing down their homework assignment in their agendas. Please check your child’s neatness and accuracy on all work. If homework seems to be taking longer than the time listed above, please contact me. Furthermore, homework is due when school starts, and homework deficiency notices will be given to students if their assignments are missing or do no demonstrate acceptable effort. Make-up Work: All absent students will be required to make up their work in all academic subjects. Students must communicate with the teacher to ensure that they obtain any classwork, homework, or tests that they did not complete during their absence. Grades will be lowered as a result of missing or incomplete assignments. Thank you so much for your support! I am confident that this is going to be a great year and we will all make a great team! I have read and discussed the classroom discipline plan with my child. Student Name: ______________________ Student Signature: _____________________ Parent Name: _______________________ Parent Signature: ______________________ Date: ________________________