Mrs. Lipskey's Class Webpage

Grade 5/6

2007-2008

Welcome:

Welcome to another school year. I am really looking forward to a great year of learning and having fun together.

Notices:

Please watch for the "Super September" newsletter and calendar that will be coming home on the first day of school. A copy of the newsletter is posted below.

There will be many forms to fill out and return as soon as possible.

Routines:

Your child will have a homework folder to carry their work to and from school. All homework will be posted on this site daily.

Please sign your child's planner every evening.

SUPER SEPTEMBER!

            Dear grade five/six students and parents,

Welcome back. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable summer and that now you are ready to begin a new year of learning together. I am looking forward to having lots of fun and to working hard together.

          The supplies that you need this year are a pencil case with pencils, highlighters, pens, erasers, and pencil crayons. You should also have a small supply of lined paper. You will not need a binder because we will be using duotangs that I will supply. A binder is not the easiest way for you to organize your materials and they do not fit easily into the desks, so please don’t bring them to school. I will also be giving out rulers and planners.

          Parents, I require that planners be signed every evening (even if there isn’t homework).  Any homework that your child has will be written in the planner. If your child does not have homework then they will write “No homework tonight.” After we fill out our planners each day I will check to be sure that the students have filled their planner out correctly. You will know that I have checked your child’s planner because you will see my initials or a special sticker or stamp. Parents, please feel free to communicate with me in the planner. Please watch for any notes that I might write in the planner to you.

          Our class has a website that I will update daily. On this website you will see a list of homework for each day. As well, I will include information about dates that are important, project details and deadlines, quiz information and dates, etc. I also include information about our daily classroom life and activities that we are completing. I often post photos of the students doing various activities as well. The address is http://teacherweb.com/on/tvdsb/bishoptownsend/ap9.stm.

          This year I have decided to give each student a homework folder. Each student is responsible for taking this folder to and from school each evening with their planner. I want to use this folder so that homework papers will not become lost or eaten by the dog (?). There will be homework in this folder most evenings for your child to complete. These pages will usually review lessons that we have completed that day at school or be about a topic that as a class we require more practice with. If there is no homework that evening then your child will have written that they have no homework in their planner and they will leave their folder at school. Sometimes your child will be bringing their math text book and work book home to complete homework. It is crucial that these materials be returned to school the following day. Please encourage your child to have a regular homework and re-packing of their back routine!

A subject timetable will be given to you during the first week of school. I want to be sure that the timetable doesn’t change before I give it out. Please be aware that the class will be having physical education with Mr. Nixon everyday. So, please be prepared with gym shoes everyday. Also, a monthly calendar will be sent home to let you know about any special days. I also include topics that we will be focusing on each month on the bottom of the calendar. Please post each monthly calendar on your fridge so that you can refer to it daily.

Several years ago I received TRIBES training from the school board. Our classroom is a TRIBES classroom. In our classroom four agreements are honoured: 1. attentive listening; 2. appreciation/no put-downs; 3. mutual respect; 4. the right to participate/the right to pass. Students will learn a set of collaborative skills so that they can work well together in groups. The focus is on how to: help each other work on tasks, set goals and solve problems, and celebrate achievements.  Your child will be participating in many fun activities that are designed to build a sense of classroom community. These activities are called “energizers.” We will also be conducting something called community circle, where your child will listen to and share stories, feelings, etc. with their classroom community. This helps to develop a sense of belonging as well as empathy for and understanding of others. So, when your child comes home talking about energizers or community circle you will know what we are doing within our classroom.

I welcome and truly appreciate parent volunteers. There are always extra jobs that I would love assistance for. Some of these include photocopying, organizing literacy materials, assembling science materials, field trip volunteers, etc. If you would like to volunteer in your child’s classroom please contact me at anytime. Any amount of time that you can offer is appreciated. You do not have to make a continued commitment, if you know that you have some extra time coming up than just write me a note or give me a call and we can set something up. Thanks.  “Any parent, any lesson, anytime!” I really encourage you to get involved at Bishop Townshend and within your child’s classroom.

Please feel free to call me anytime you have any questions or concerns. I will contact you if I have any academic or social concerns about your child. I also make “sunshine calls” to let you know that your child is working well with others, always completing their homework, working hard in class, etc. I love to make these phone calls and I am hoping to complete as many as possible. I may also include a special sunshine note in with your child’s planner if they are being a wonderful member of our classroom community. Thank you for your time and I look forward to working closely with you throughout the school year.

Yours truly,

Mrs. E. Lipskey

452-8050