Back to School Night
July 23, 2009
Nathan Wandell
Sixth Grade
Room G 5
How to contact Mr. Wandell
• NWandell@egusd.net
• School’s phone number, 683-7445
• Send a note with your child
Ways is which I’ll communicate with you
• Newsletter (every two weeks)
• E-mail
• Phone calls
• Website www.TeacherWeb.com/CA/josephsimselementary/Wandell
• Parent/Teacher conference
• Agenda/Planner
Homework Policy
• Classwork that is not completed will become homework
• Homework assignments are posted on our class website on a daily basis
• Homework is assigned four days a week, unless we’re working on a
long term project
• Homework is due the next morning at 8:00 a.m.
• Late homework is not accepted
• Missing or incomplete homework assignments will be highlighted in
your child’s planner/agenda
• Your child’s grade for homework assignments will be written in your
child’s agenda with a red pen
• Parents need to review and sign the P.S. box of the agenda for the
first four weeks of school
• If your child is absent, they have two days to turn in missed
assignments
• Two missing homework assignments in a week will result in the loss
of a recess
• Each additional missed assignment will result in the loss of a recess
• If a student receives a score of sixty nine percent (69 %) or lower
on a homework assignment, they will loose a recess
Bathroom Policy
• Students are allowed one (1) free trip per week during instructional
time
• Students will loose a recess on their second (2nd) trip to the
bathroom during instructional time.
• Students are encouraged to use the bathroom prior to school, at
morning and lunch recess, and after school
Behavior Management Plan
• Students are recognized and praised when they are following
directions
• Group points are given. Winning groups will receive additional PAT
(preferred activity time) and prizes
• Students may be asked to pull a discipline card for talking or not
following directions
• A verbal warning is always given first
• One (1) card pull = warning
• Two (2) card pulls = phone call home, loss of recess, and Oops slip
(must be returned the following day or the student will loose another recess)
• Further issues will be dealt with by the Vice Principal or by asking
your child to take a “time out” in another classroom
Field Trips
• Mission Springs Outdoor Education (MSOE) in Scotts Valley (near
Santa Cruz) is from October 26- October 30.
• Challenger Simulated Space Mission is on June 16
• End of the year celebration (King’s Skate or Strikes Bowling) in July
Daily Agenda
8:00 - 8:15 Opening Procedures
*8:15 – 8:45 P.E
*8:45 - 10:00 Language Arts (Reading, Writing, and Grammar)
10:00 – 10:35 Social Studies or Science (two week rotation)
10:35 -10:50 Recess/Snack
11:20 - 12:40 Math
12:40 - 1:25 Lunch
1:25 – 1:45 Agenda and Pack Up
**1:45 – 2:20 Community Circle/Lifeskills/SSR/Homework Help
* We go to the Computer Lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:10 until 9:40.
**We go to the Library on Wednesdays from 1:55 until 2:15 and have Buddies
with Miss. Buchberger’s class the last Wednesday of the month.
TRACK CHANGE/MINIMUM DAYS: 8:00 – 12:30
Curriculum
Reading: A weekly selection will be read out of our Open Court Anthology
books. There are 5 unit themes (Perseverance, Ancient Civilizations, Taking
a Stand, Beyond the Notes, and Ecology). Within each unit theme there are
approximately six to seven short stories. Weekly reading and spelling
quizzes are given on Fridays.
Writing: Sixth grade standards emphasize response to literature, persuasive
essays, compare and contrast essays, and the process of report writing.
Each student will have a Writing notebook for Journal writes, notes, and
rough drafts. In addition, students will be provided with Writing packets.
We currently use the Step Up to Writing program. Formal writing assignments
are given at the completion of a packet, which covers a direct set of
writing skills.
Math: We use Scott Foresman’s California Mathematics. We typically do one
lesson a day and will cover twelve chapters by the end of the school year.
Quizzes are given half way through each Chapter and tests are given at the
end of each Chapter. Students have Math notebooks to write down Math terms
and the steps needed to solve problems.
Social Studies: The district adopted a new Social Studies text, Holt’s
Ancient Civilizations. Students will have a notebook for note taking,
outlining, and test preparation. Students will be provided with an
Interactive Reader and Study Guide book to aid in comprehension and test
preparation.
Science: We’ll be using Holt’s Science and Technology, Earth Science,
textbook. The text focuses on Earth Science and is separated into six
different units. Students will have a notebook for note taking, outlining,
and test preparation. Students will be provided with an Interactive Reader
and Study Guide book to aid in comprehension and test preparation.
Grades and Progress Reports
90% - 100% A (4.0 pts.) Outstanding Achievement
80% - 89% B (3.0 pts) Above Average Achievement
70% - 79% C (2.0 pts) Average Achievement
60%-69% D (1.0 pts) Below Average Achievement
0 – 59% F (0 pts) Little To No Achievement
• District Honor Roll is achieved by earning a 3.5 or better GPA
• Progress Reports will be sent out on the sixth week of the trimester
• Report Cards will be sent home every twelve weeks (the end of each
trimester)
• Grades are weighted as follows:
50% tests
40% classwork (notes, study packets, projects, etc)
10% homework
• Students may re-take Math tests if they receive an original score of
69% or lower.
• Tests and quizzes will be sent home in your child’s Friday Folder.
Please read the newsletter as to when we will have a test/quiz and whether
or not a test/quiz was sent home.
• Tests/quizzes receiving a score of 69% or lower will require a
parent signature