Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
How can I contact the teacher if I have a concern?
If you have a concern, please call the school office at 559-0189 between 8:00 and 3:30 to request a conference. I will call you back as soon as I can to set up the first available time and date for both of us.Back to Top
What can I do to help my child achieve, help in the classroom, or school?
Parents are the most important influence in a student's life at this stage. I know that you will show interest in and support your child's school work this year. The most important tasks are learning to read grade level text with ease and mastering basic math facts. Please, make sure your child reads at least 20 minutes each day and that you sign the reading log each evening. Your child needs to practices math facts daily, too. Please check to see that your child has completed all of the assigned homework. Do not ask, "Did you finish your homework?"; instead say, "Let me see your homework." Thank you. Parents are always welcome to help out in the classroom. I can always use volunteers to help in many different ways. If you would like to help out by working in the classroom, helping with a field trip, or doing work at home, please let me know in advance so I can plan for you. Wednesday Bobcat Folders will need to be filled each Wednesday morning, some students will need an adult to help with reading one-to-one, and students will need help taking AR tests every day. Another way you can help out is to be involved in Bishop's PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization). All parents and guardians are welcome. PTO will hold open meetings monthly to discuss current school and PTO events. They have a translator for Spanish speakers, child care available during meetings and sometimes have special guest speakers. They support teachers, administration, and students to enhance the environment of the school. You will have a voice in many areas of your child's school when involved in PTO. Lastly, be involved in school activities and fund raisers. Check the calendar page often for important dates. School spirit days and other activities will be held throughout the year. Our biggest fund raiser is our Walk-a-thon on October 31. All year fund raisers include: Boxtops for Education (see Links page), www.schoolpop.com for Internet-based shopping, Target, Office Depot, Escript, and others. Students that have parents actively involved in their school tend to better in school. Students and parents feel more connected. Please, get involved.Back to Top
Homework is assigned Monday through Friday. Monday: Spelling words in ABC order and three times each. Read Accelerated Reader (AR) books at least 20+ minutes each night and fill in the title(s) and minutes readon their reading log. Daily Math and study math facts. Tuesday: Math Assignment, Daily Math, and study math facts. Read Accelerated Reader (AR) books at least 20+ minutes each night and fill in the title(s) and minutes on their reading log. Study spelling words. Wednesday: Bobcat Folder, Parent signature, and appropriate papers returned. Reading comprehension questions from our weekly story, read Accelerated Reader (AR) books at least 20+ minutes each night, and fill in the title(s) on their reading log. Daily math and study math facts. Study spelling words. Thursday: Drops in the Bucket, read at least 20+ minutes each night, fill in the title(s) on their reading log, and have parents sign it. Daily Math and study math facts. Friday: Read Accelerated Reader (AR) books at least 20+ minutes each night and fill in the title(s) on their reading log, and study math facts. Students have 2 days to make up their work for every day they are absent. If your child is absent, please pick up their work each day so they won't fall behind. All work your child misses due to absence must be made up.Back to Top
When is the Reading Log due, and what do I do if my child looses the log?
Students will read Accelerated Reader (AR) books at least 20+ minutes EVERY night. Students must write the title of the book they read, the minutes they read, and have a parent sign the log. The reading log is due every other Friday. I have double sided them to save paper. If your child looses their reading log, please make a new one on blank or lined paper.Back to Top
What do I do if my child forgets their homework in the class?
The homework will be listed on my website. If you can access my website, you can print the list off at home. If you don't have access to the web at home, a friend may have the web, or Sunnyvale Public Library has access to the web for free. You can bring your child back to school, find the custodian, and ask to get their homework from their desk, too. Don't let "I forgot it at school" become an excuse for not doing homework. It is a bad habit.Back to Top
What do I do if my child is absent?
If your child is absent, please call the school at 522-8229 each day, or write a note explaining their absence upon their return. Parents or guardians should pick up the students missed work each day so students won't fall behind. Students will be given two extra days to finish all missed homework and tests. Please try to schedule all of your child's appointments after school! It is always hard to catch up.Back to Top
What fund raisers can we expect this year?
All year long we will collect Boxtops For Education. Simply clip the Box Top logos from participationg General Mills products and send them to our class with your child. Our school gets 10 cents for each Box Top we collect. The more boxtops we collect, the more cash we earn. I have included the link to Boxtops 4 Education on my "Links" page for coupons and other important information about this fund raiser. Thank you for your support. If you shop on-line and go to http://www/schoolpop.com, select Bishop School, and then begin shopping from more than 100 online retailers, a portion of all purchases is rebated to Bishop. If you shop at Target, Office Depot, and many other stores, a percentage of your purchase will be donated to Bishop if you tell them you support Bishop School. Our Walk-a-thon is traditionally held in October. It is important for all of our students to get sponsors. The PTO usually sponsers some activities for raising funds. Look for those on the calendar later. We usually have an Avon Fund Raiser in February.Back to Top
We always need donations. Here are some helpful suggestions: family sized boxes of Kleenex, Accelerated Reader books from level 1.0 through 3.0, large bottles of hand sanitizer, bandaides, age appropriate board games or puzzles... Thank you in advance.Back to Top
What field trips can I expect this year?
October - Lucky's Grocery Store Others will be announced at a later date.Back to Top
What is www.bishop.mathscore.com and how can my child access it?
Mathscore is a motivating, fun way for students to practice their math facts. I have put the link on my Links page. Your child can go on the internet where ever they have access to the internet and log on at bishop.mathscore.com Each child has their own user name and password. Only the child assigned to the account should access it. Parents can check their child's progress by accessing the account too. Please go to www.bishop.mathscore.com to find more information about this program.Back to Top
Why are we using Renaissance Learning, Inc.'s Accelerated Math?
We, at Bishop, have been searching for an academic impovement program that is proven by scientifically based research and meets the requirements of No Child Left Behind. The following information is taken from a letter from Judi Paul, Chairman and Co-Founder of Renaissance Learning, Inc. dated July 16, 2003. ...RENAISSANCE SOLUTIONS MEET FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS Renaissance solutions for reading, math, ...and standards mastery are proven by scientifically based research to improve student achievement. What's more, the research supporting Renaissance meets the most stringent, federal criteria and includes eight studies published in peer-reviewed journals. STUDENTS USING ACCELERATED MATH ACHIEVE MORE-PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH PROVES IT Considered top-rate research, studies that appear in peer- reviewed journals are rigorous, objective, and reviewed by a panel of experts. A study recently published in the peer- reviewed JOURNAL OF EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS PLACED AT RISK is an example of this prestigious research. Involving nearly 400 students from a large, urban, Midwestern school district, the study concluded that Accelerated Math math management software enhances student math performance and brings postitive outcomes to classrooms. Results show that students using Accelerated Math in conjunction with Everyday Mathematics consistenly outperformed students using only Everyday Mathematices. Northwest Acheivement Levels Test (NALT) scores revealed that students at ALL ability levels demonstrated accelerated rates of learning between pre- and post-test: low performers gained 3.36 NCEs; middle performers gained 3.7 NCEs; and high performers gained 10.78 NCEs. Also impressive is that students at all ability levels who scored below NALT national norms prior to Accelerated Math, surpassed the norms after using the software for just one year. MORE RESEARCH SUPPORTS RENAISSANCE THAN ANY OTHER SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM This peer-reviewd study is just one example of the research that has been conducted on Renaissance solutions. Currently, 142 research studies support Renaissance solutions, making Renaissance the most research-proven academic improvement program available to educators....Back to Top
What is the dress code this year?
The following dress code policy will replace the uniform policy section of the student handbook published for the 2008-2009 school year. - Large items of jewelry, such as earrings, may not be worn for safety reasons. - Hats or sunglasses may not be worn inside any school buildings. -Shoes must be worn at all times. For safety reasons, flip-flops, heelys, and open toed shoes should not be worn at school, and will not be allowed in PE classes. - Skirts, dresses, and shorts, should be mid-thight or longer. - Shirts or other tops must cover the stomach and back. Halter tops, spaghetti straps, or low-cut shirts should not be worn. -Pants and shorts must not "sag" below the hips or expose underwear. - Clothing with bad language, inappropriate pictures, alcohol or tobacco products or violent images may not be worn. - Students may not wear or bring makeup to school.Back to Top