TO PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT - MS. DOUGHERTY MRS. FRY MRS. TAYLOR MRS. TESTERMAN - MCKEEL ACADEMY CENTRAL

TO PARENT
       INFORMATION NIGHT

Ms. Dougherty
   Mrs. Fry
 Mrs. Taylor
Mrs. Testerman

ATTENDANCE

•   Students are tardy after 8:15 and need to get a
    tardy slip from the office.

•   Parents need to keep doctor’s excuses and
    document absences in agenda.

•   Once a student absent 10 times, tardy 10 times, or
    checks out early 10 times, administration will make
    contact.

GRADING
                          SYSTEM

•   We are standards based in grades K-6th. We will not
    have portfolios this year, but students will have a take
    home folder that will go home every 2 weeks. We will
    be using Teacher Ease as our grade book this year.

•   Please remember that a level of 4 does not mean a
    grade of A. The levels of 4,3,2,1 are a student’s level
    of performance for that 9 weeks

•   Report card celebrations will be based on levels of
    mastery.

CANVAS AND
                  SEESAW

•   We will be using Canvas this year for our online
    platform for classwork and formatives. This helps
    to reduce the amount of paper copies we use as
    well as prepare them for the upper grades.

•   We will also have students upload some activities
    and assignments to Seesaw.

•   Most summatives will still be given on paper.

HOMEWORK

•   Daily Homework: Read 20 minutes and study
    spelling words as needed

•   Math homework: Will be written in their agenda;
    please review the homework with your child to
    ensure their understanding

•   Other homework will be assigned as needed

BEHAVIOR SYSTEM

•   Grade Level Wide: Students will receive 2 warnings prior to receiving an
    infraction. We will write “W1” and “W2” in your child’s agenda along with the
    behavior (for example, talking or disruptive)

•   Additionally, each teacher will have their own positive behavior system that
    they use.

•   New This Year: Infractions and Office Referrals will be sent to you
    electronically. Also, you “Paw-sitive” Behavior Referrals will also be electronic.

•   Students will also have grade level rewards they can earn each 9 weeks.

•   1st Nine Weeks: Popcorn with a movie

•   2nd Nine Weeks: Lunch in the Park

•   3rd Nine Weeks: Free choice electronic time

•   4th Nine Weeks: Glow Party

COMMUNICATION TOOLS USED
IN 4TH GRADE
•   Agendas

•   Bloomz

•   Email

•   Phone Calls

•   Seesaw

•   Conferences

•   Take Home Folders: We will send all work home every 2
    weeks beginning August 27th. This and the online grade
    book will replace the bulky portfolios.

DRESS CODE
•   Students need to be in dress code each day, including
    wearing a belt if bottoms have belt loops.

•   Jackets must be solid navy blue, and please write their
    name on the tag.

•   Long sleeved shirts worn under polos must be solid
    white or gray

•   Legging colors are solid white, black, or gray.

•   Jeans must be plain and be free of rips.

•   Please refer to page 8 for the full dress code.

BIRTHDAYS

•   No birthday cupcakes, cookies, or other sweet
    treats are allowed.

•   Also, please do not send in birthday invitations for
    students to pass out.

READING

•   Reading with your child and asking questions about what
    they are reading will help your child grow in language arts.

•   Please refer to the website for the skills we are working on
    for that week. You may use the websites provided on our
    webpage for additional practice. We use Moby Max,
    Freckle, Read Theory, and Spelling City. Login information
    is in your child’s agenda.

•   AR goals and levels are inside the agendas. The deadline
    for AR is Oct. 12th.

WRITING

•   We are going to be doing more writing this year
    than your child has probably done in past years.

•   Writing will certainly challenge your child. Writing
    is a complex skill and takes time to develop.

•   As we send samples home, please talk to your
    child about their writing. Encourage them to grow
    and continue working, even when it gets difficult.

SOCIAL STUDIES

•   We will be diving into Florida history this year.

•   Students will be knowledgeable and excited to go
    to St. Augustine after they have learned about the
    rich history that occurred there.

MATH

•   The biggest thing you can do at home to help your
    child be successful in 4th grade math is to work
    with them on multiplication and division facts. The
    curriculum revolves are multiplication and division.

•   Some of the resources we will use this year
    include: XTra Math, Zearn, Moby Max, IXL, and
    Prodigy.

SCIENCE

•   Science involves many inquiry based hands-on
    activities.

•   Students will have to complete an independent
    science fair project this year. The project will begin
    in January, and students will have approximately 6
    weeks to complete it with weekly progress checks
    with the teacher.

AR GOALS

•   AR goals will be set by the language arts teacher
    (Mrs. Fry or Mrs. Testerman)

•   Students will be aware of their AR goal.

•   You can sign up for home connect to see emails
    when your child takes an AR test.

•   Students can earn a school-wide AR reward each 9
    weeks

MUSIC

•   Mrs. Cunningham will be offering several enrichment
    clubs this year including caracal as well as band. A
    form went home last week, but we have a few extra
    copies available for anyone who may need it.

•   Recorders are available for purchase from Mrs.
    Cunningham

•   Students will be playing ukulele every other week in
    music class.

FIELD TRIPS
•   Circle B Bar Reserve

October 11th for Dougherty and Fry

October 12th for Taylor and Testerman

Chaperones are not allowed per Circle B Guidelines

•   St. Augustine Save the Date

March 8th 7am-9pm

More details including 2 additional

field trips to come soon.

FUNDRAISER

•   Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough sale will be
    October 22nd-November 2nd. The delivery week
    will be December 3rd.

•   Additional Fundraiser may include Krispy Kreme
    gift cards.

VOLUNTEER AND PTO
•   Volunteer applications are online this year. You can complete
    multiple applications for all family members by logging out
    and back into the dashboard on McKeel Office. The deadline
    for completing the application is September 14th and will not
    be extended.

•   We have opportunities for you to volunteer including:
    changing bulletin boards, helping with rotation days, and
    junior achievement. Please email your child’s homeroom
    teacher if you are interested in helping.

•   Also, we encourage you to join the PTO. It is only $5 per family.
    The PTO does many wonderful things for our school and our
    classrooms. There are also opportunities to volunteer with PTO.