1. 3 rd Grade Teachers Mrs. Whitney Mrs. Corn Mrs. Ozuna Mrs. Perez Mrs. Gledhill

2. General Information Monday Newsletters will be emailed home every week. Let your child’s teacher know if you need these to be sent home with your child in paper form. Monday Newsletters will be emailed home every week. Let your child’s teacher know if you need these to be sent home with your child in paper form. Students will go to the library every week to have lessons with Mrs. Arnold and/or to check out new books. Students will go to the library every week to have lessons with Mrs. Arnold and/or to check out new books. Chapter books are encouraged in the third grade. Chapter books are encouraged in the third grade. We will be using the AR reward system for reading this year. We will be using the AR reward system for reading this year.

3. Snack You can send a healthy, easily eaten snack to school, and reusable water bottle with your child each day. You can send a healthy, easily eaten snack to school, and reusable water bottle with your child each day. Please do not send peanuts or peanut butter due to students who may have food allergies. Please do not send peanuts or peanut butter due to students who may have food allergies. If your child has food allergies, please fill out a food allergy form and submit it to the nurse. If your child has food allergies, please fill out a food allergy form and submit it to the nurse.

4. Absences If your child is absent from school you must send a doctors note within 2 school days or the absence will be considered unexcused. Make sure the student’s first and last name is on the note, along with the date of absence. If your child is absent from school you must send a doctors note within 2 school days or the absence will be considered unexcused. Make sure the student’s first and last name is on the note, along with the date of absence.

5. To-Do List Volunteer background check sign-up available in the cafeteria. Computers are set up in the cafeteria to make signing up easy. You must do this every year! Volunteer background check sign-up available in the cafeteria. Computers are set up in the cafeteria to make signing up easy. You must do this every year! Free and Reduced lunch application - online Free and Reduced lunch application - online Pre-order yearbook Pre-order yearbook Order school t-shirts Order school t-shirts Join PTA Join PTA

6. Third Grade Schedule Reading/SS 7:45-9:10 Reading/SS 7:45-9:10 Recess 9:10-9:30 Recess 9:10-9:30 Math 9:35-11:15 Math 9:35-11:15 Lunch 11:15-11:45 Lunch 11:15-11:45 Specials 11:50- 12:40 Specials 11:50- 12:40 Writing/SS 12:45-1:15 Writing/SS 12:45-1:15 Science/Inter 1:15-2:40 Science/Inter 1:15-2:40

7. Grading Information We will be using Texas Gradebook. We will be using Texas Gradebook. Parents may access the grade book portal by: Parents may access the grade book portal by: Logging on to www.comalisd.org Logging on to www.comalisd.orgwww.comalisd.org Click on the “parent connect” link Click on the “parent connect” link Follow the directions to apply/register for access Follow the directions to apply/register for access Parents/guardians will receive student code/access information via USPS. Parents/guardians will receive student code/access information via USPS. In addition, progress reports are sent home at the midpoint of the grading period and report cards are sent home at the end of each six weeks. In addition, progress reports are sent home at the midpoint of the grading period and report cards are sent home at the end of each six weeks.

8. Assessments Assessments are given at the end of units. Assessments are given at the end of units. If a student receives a grade lower than a 70, please sign and return the assessment. If a student receives a grade lower than a 70, please sign and return the assessment. The student will be permitted to correct the assessment. The student will be permitted to correct the assessment. A final grade of 70 will then be recorded in the grade book. A final grade of 70 will then be recorded in the grade book. This is for assessment only. Students will not correct daily grades for a higher score. This is for assessment only. Students will not correct daily grades for a higher score.

9. Homework Spelling Tic-Tac-Think Spelling Tic-Tac-Think Math assignments are given as a review from previous material learned. Math assignments are given as a review from previous material learned. Reading every night for 20 minutes at a minimum. Reading every night for 20 minutes at a minimum. Reading homework will be added soon on the skills we are learning. (STAAR formatted material) Reading homework will be added soon on the skills we are learning. (STAAR formatted material) Student agendas need to be signed each school night and students must log their reading each evening after they read. Student agendas need to be signed each school night and students must log their reading each evening after they read. If homework is not turned in on Friday, the student will have the opportunity to complete it at recess. This counts as 5% of their grade. If homework is not turned in on Friday, the student will have the opportunity to complete it at recess. This counts as 5% of their grade.

10. STAAR Third Grade Students are required to take the Math and the Reading tests. Third Grade Students are required to take the Math and the Reading tests. Math STAAR is April 22, 2014 Math STAAR is April 22, 2014 Reading STAAR is April 23, 2014 Reading STAAR is April 23, 2014

11. What is the STAAR? The STAAR test is the new state standardized test. The STAAR test is the new state standardized test. The test is written with higher expectations and will address broader and deeper areas than TAKS. The test is written with higher expectations and will address broader and deeper areas than TAKS. These higher standards are important for success in the current grade level, preparedness for the next grade level, and to support college and career readiness. These higher standards are important for success in the current grade level, preparedness for the next grade level, and to support college and career readiness. These tests will be timed. (4 hours) These tests will be timed. (4 hours)

12. CA’s /Common Assessment The released TAKS tests/released STAAR tests will be given as common assessments. We will use these scores as data to help us drive instruction for the students that may need more tutoring in certain areas for both reading and math. The released TAKS tests/released STAAR tests will be given as common assessments. We will use these scores as data to help us drive instruction for the students that may need more tutoring in certain areas for both reading and math.

13. Other Information Drop off and pick up procedures Drop off and pick up procedures No cell phones in school parking lot, it is against the law! No cell phones in school parking lot, it is against the law! Locations Locations Like Specht PTA on Facebook Like Specht PTA on Facebook Birthdays: Birthdays: Friday Shining Star Celebration in gym- We are celebrating birthdays on Fridays, and for those being recognized, they need to be here by 7:30 so they don’t miss their recognition moment!

14. Contact Us Anytime!!! Our conference time is from 12:00-12:35 daily. Our conference time is from 12:00-12:35 daily. Our email addresses are: Our email addresses are: amanda.ozuna@comalisd.org amanda.ozuna@comalisd.org amanda.ozuna@comalisd.org melissa.gledhill@comalisd.org melissa.gledhill@comalisd.org melissa.gledhill@comalisd.org sheri.whitney@comalisd.org sheri.whitney@comalisd.org sheri.whitney@comalisd.org jessica.corn@comalisd.org jessica.corn@comalisd.org jessica.corn@comalisd.org amanda.perez@comalisd.org amanda.perez@comalisd.org amanda.perez@comalisd.org