Ms. Benedick's Class & Relay Elementary School

School Contact Information

Address: 5885 Selford Road, Baltimore, MD 21227
School Phone: 410-887-1426 School Fax: 410-887-1434

Important People at Relay ES

Mrs. Miller, Principal
Mr. Williams, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Hawkins, School Secretary
Mrs. Campbell, School Secretary
Mrs. Preis, School Nurse
Mr. Rogers, Head Custodian
Mrs. Campbell, School Counselor

Grade Five Team

Mrs. Beall - Math, Science, Social Studies
Ms. Benedick - Math, Science, Social Studies
Mrs. Ripke - Reading, Language Arts
Mrs. Gross - Reading, Language Arts

Special Area Teachers

Art - Ms. Buchanan
Library - Mrs. Stevenson
Music (Instrumental) - Mrs. Kennedy
Music (Vocal) - Mrs. Cleland
Physical Education - Mrs. Leppert

School Hours, Arrival & Dismissal

The Arrival Bell rings at 8:25 for students to be admitted to the building. No supervision is provided prior to school hours and students should not be left to wait at school, for their own safety.

Students should form lines in their class's designated area to await the bell.
Students eating breakfast at school may be admitted at 8:20 and should proceed directly to the cafeteria.
In case of severe weather, the administration may decide to allow students to wait in the cafeteria. This decision will not be made until about 8:15 each day.
Upon the bell, the doors will be opened and students should proceed directly and quietly to their homeroom classes. We are stressing independence, and we ask that parents not accompany their children to classrooms after the first day. The annex building is especially narrow and congested during arrival and dismissal, and teachers are on duty to supervise classes and complete arrangements.

Children should exit vehicles on the non-street side.
Students must walk along the sidewalk to and from Selford Road. Crossing the bus loop is dangerous.
The Beginning of School Bell rings at 8:40, at which time students are expected to be seated in their classrooms.
Late arrivals (not in class at 8:40) need to obtain a late entry slip from a school secretary. These students must bring a signed parent note the following day.
The first Dismissal Bell rings at 3:00. Walkers and carpoolers are dismissed first, and bus riders are dismissed as their busses arrive.

If a child's usual dismissal routine will be changed for early dismissal or going home by alternate means, the student must bring a parent note to school in the morning.
For early dismissal, parents should report to the office to sign out the child from school. Students will be called to the office, so parents should not come to the classroom to collect the child.

Attendance

Attendance in school is crucial for consistency in the program. For this reason, only illness of the child or a death in the family constitute excused absences.

Students should bring a dated, signed parent note on the day of the return to school with the nature of the absence explained. This note can be placed in the agenda pouch for secure delivery.
Students will have two days to make up work for each day of excused absence.
For an absence anticipated to last three or more days, a parent should call and notify the school. If work is requested, please give a time that the work will be picked up and allow time for the teacher to assemble the work packet. My class is my first responsibility and I am sure it is understandable that I cannot neglect them.

Lunch Cards

Students use their lunch cards to purchase one of three lunch options. There will be two entrees and a salad plate offering each day. Lunches include a fruit and a vegetable choice and choice of white or chocolate milk.

To add money to a lunch card, bring the money in a sealed envelope. The envelope should be labeled with the child's name and homeroom and Lunch Account should be written clearly on the envelope.

Emergency Procedures

All students should be aware of the family plan for emergency dismissals from school. In the past, we have had closings due to inclement weather, loss of power or water, and national emergency.
Students have a form on file, but please review your plan with your child.
If you have a cell phone, please consider teaching the number to your child and providing it to the school for emergency use.
To be made aware of school closings as early as possible, you may want to sign up for alerts from http://www.schoolsout.com This free service sends an email to the designated address for system or individual school closings. I have found out about closings from School's Out before announcements were made on tv and radio. Alerts can be sent to phone numbers for a small annual fee.

Classroom Expectations - The "Be-Attitudes"

Be Prompt - report to class on time, take a seat, and be ready to begin
Be Prepared - bring materials to class: binder, textbook/s, supplies, due assignments
Be Respectful - of self, of others, of property, of facility; follow school and classroom rules and procedures
Be Organized - no loose papers, no lost papers, keep a clean locker and desk
Be Polite - say "Please", "Thank you", "Excuse me"; ask to be excused when appropriate without calling undue attention; wait turns patiently; use appropriate names and language
Be an Active Participant - volunteer, answer questions, ask questions, make comments, work cooperatively with groups

Class Rules

Raise your hand to be recognized before speaking unless otherwise directed.
Remain seated unless otherwise directed.
Keep hands, feet, and objects to self.
Follow directions the first time they are given.
Come to class prepared with materials and assignments.

Relay Code of Conduct & the Behavior Ladder

It is extremely important that our students feel safe at school and that an atmosphere conducive to learning is maintained at all times. I will be pleased to inform you of your child's good behavior during the year by a note in the agenda. I will also let you know about poor behavior choices via the agenda, and the behavior will be color coded on the calendar, also. Please note that if a pattern of infractions develops, parents will be contacted to discuss the situation.

Students are expected to follow the Relay Code of Conduct and to behave in accordance with the BCPS Student Behavior Handbook. The Code of Conduct states:
I am here to learn.

I am trustworthy and honest.
I am responsible.
I am respectful.
I am safe.
I am an important part of the Relay School Family.

The Behavior Ladder has six levels: Orange, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, and Red

Clips start each day on the blue card, which represents satisfactory behavior. Keep up the Good Work.
Clips may be moved up to the orange card, which represents student behavior that goes Above and Beyond!
Moving down to the green card represents a Teacher Reminder: Stop and Think.
The yellow card indicates continued infractions and results in a Time Out in the Classroom.
Moving down to the purple card will result in removal to another classroom for Time Out and a parent will be contacted.
The final step is the red card, which indicates the child's behavior resulted in an official referral to the office.

There is a hierarchy of consequences for infractions of the rules:

First offense - Verbal Warning
Second offense - Time out in classroom
Third offense - Time out in another classroom, and parent will be advised
Fourth offense - Student referral to office

It will be possible for students to move back up the ladder by improving behavior.
Severe offenses may result in dropping down to the Fourth Offense consequence. These offenses would include fighting, abusive verbal or physical behavior and bullying, and use of extremely vulgar language.
The ladder will travel with the class when they are in other locations of the school.
Students will code their daily behavior on their Behavior Log calendar.

Class Procedures

Related to Work

Homework assignments should be copied into the agenda book upon arrival in class.
Work should be turned in to assigned hanging file.
All work must be labeled. After the second week of school, work turned in by "Anonymous Student" will be recycled and the work will have to be repeated.
Missed or largely incomplete work will be noted on the Missed Work Log.

The assignment/s must be made up as Weekend Homework and may suffer a ten point loss of score.
This work will be stamped to identify it as Weekend Homework.
The student must state the reason at the top of the paper and have the page signed by a parent.
All Weekend Homework MUST be turned in the first morning after the weekend, or the assignment will be logged as a 0 in the grade book.

Related to Preparedness

Locker trips are permitted before and after school, before and after lunch, and after special area classes only. Exceptions must be discussed with the teacher or a note must be sent from a parent.
Students should keep an extra clothing layer (like a sweater or shirt or sweatshirt) in lockers in case of need.

We will go outdoors daily, unless it is raining, therefore students should dress appropriately.

Outerwear should be appropriate to the weather - warm jacket or coat, hood or hat, mittens or gloves in cold weather; jacket, warm vest,sweatshirt or sweater in cool weather
Closed shoes all year - students wearing sandals or flip flops or 'heels' may not participate in gym or play outdoors due to safety concerns.

Students should begin class with 3-4 sharpened pencils. Pencils may not be sharpened during lessons -- in case of need, take a pencil from the Lost Pencils cup.
Students should be aware of the Special Area Class Schedule, and have appropriate materials such as gym shoes, library book, recorder and music folder, art sketch pad and supplies, and technology folder.

Related to Personal Needs

Lavatory trips are permitted at student's discretion. Do not interrupt a lesson to ask permission -- just go.

Place magnetic tag beneath appropriate label on board and quietly exit and enter classroom.
Only one boy and/or one girl may leave the room, except in case of extreme urgency.
Students are to use the lavatories closest to the classroom or school location.
Abuse of this policy will result in more stringent control.

Water fountain may be used during seat work time. Please do not disrupt a lesson for a drink of water.
Cell phones and electronic equipment (games, iPods, etc) have no place in school and are not permitted in the classroom. As per the county policy, students' cell phones and electronic equipment must be stored in lockers and turned off at all times. Offenses against this policy will result in the item being taken by the teacher to be returned to the parent.

Students should use discretion about bringing this equipment to school. There are no locks on the lockers.

Related to Instrumental Music

Instrumental Music is an elective class. As such, participation is voluntary and is a decision to be made by parent and child.

Instruction takes place as a pull-out from regular class.

Classroom instruction and/or classwork will be missed.
It is the student's responsibility to make up work missed while out of the room for instrumental music lessons.
Students should have Band Buddies, not in the same instrument group, to contact in case they need clarifications after leaving school. With busy fifth graders' schedules, it is advisable to have at least three classmates' phone numbers.

Lessons last about 40 minutes and are scheduled on a 'rolling' basis so that the same class will not be missed again for a while.

Student Dress

Students should dress appropriately for school, which contributes to a serious attitude about the work we do. Please respect the request that students not arrive at school dressed inappropriately as this causes disruption to learning. This request also includes make-up and color-sprayed hair.

Shirts without sleeves must cover the shoulder - no muscle tees, no strappy or spaghetti strap tops
Shirts should cover the torso - no belly shirts, no cut-outs, no low-cut tops
Clothing should be free of material that would be regarded as questionable in an elementary school setting - no vulgarities, nor alcohol or tobacco advertising is allowed

Students will be asked to turn questionable shirts inside out for the day.

Skirts, dresses, and shorts should be at least long enough to tuck under when the student is seated.
Jewelry may not be worn in Physical Education classes, for safety reasons.
Pants and shorts must be worn close to the natural waist - no droopy drawers (Students have actually walked out of their pants in school!)
Shoes should allow students to move safely indoors and outdoors. Tennis shoes/athletic shoes are great! Heelies are not permitted in school.

Home School Communication

Very brief notes may be written in the student's agenda book. Other notes should be sent via the pocket in the front of the agenda. Please check these pages for notes from me, and initial notes when you receive them. Look for my initials by your notes to be sure I received them.
The best way to contact me is by note or email (preferred) at kbenedick@bcps.org I check my email regularly and will respond as soon as possible.
As there are only two phone lines at school for the use of the entire faculty and staff, access to the phone is difficult. I will make every effort to return calls on the same day, but it may be necessary to call on the day following the message.
My conference hours are: 8:00-8:20 a.m. on Monday through Friday and 3:15-3:40 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Please send a note, email, or make a call to let me know when you would like to schedule a conference.

When requesting a conference, please indicate two possible days and the time block that you are available, and the topic that you wish to discuss. I will send a confirmation home in the TRAIN.
My duties as a homeroom teacher begin at 8:25 and I must prepare to meet with my students, so I need to know two days in advance for morning conferences.

Handbook