Last Updated on: March 2, 2009
Class Events!
Welcome to Team 6-5!
REMEMBER THIS LIST IS NOT ALL INCLUSIVE SO YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS TO FIND OUT ALL OF THE CLASS HAPPENINGS!
The Team 6-5 Times for February was distributed. Moran is now going to an electronic version which will be emailed directly to all parents. If you did not receive the electronic version of the Triad, please call 741-2900. A paper version is available for parents without email options. Parents and students are advised to read the team newsletter and the Moran Triad to be informed of team and school events. The Moran Triad is also available on the web at "The Moran Triad."
If a parent wants a report about their child's progress they should feel free to call 741-2900, and tell the secretary they want an update about their child. Parents may also email either Mrs. Maley at [email protected] or Mr. Schweighoffer at [email protected] or Mrs. Ballard at [email protected] for an update or to answer any questions or concerns. The team teachers will usually contact the parents by the end of the next school day. If however, on a rare occasion, a parent does not receive a reply in 24 hours they are asked to try again as their may have been a communication breakdown such as the original message not being forwarded from the office, email down etc...
Parents should receive a progress report or report card about every four weeks. The next progress report for the third marking period will be mailed home around February 27th. The next report card for the third marking period will be mailed home around April 10th. These reports, which are computer generated and mailed home, do not have to be signed and returned. If parents would like a more detailed analysis of their child's academic progress, they are asked to request the information by using the contact information in the paragraph above. Parents are always welcome to contact a team teacher for an update.
If any parent wants to join the Team 6-5 email list please email Mr. Schweighoffer and he will add you to the team list. Batch emails are sent approximately twice a month and are another avenue to maintain home and school contact. The emails highlight key team and school events and information.
There are no days off in March. The next days off are April 10th and April 20th to the 24th (Spring Recess). A note, signed by a parent or guardian, must be sent to the school if a student is late, leaving early or changing their method of going home (for example, taking a different bus or walking home.) If a child is absent, parents are asked to please call the school. If a student is absent from school for two or more days parents can make a request for homework when they call the school about the absence.
Evening conference nights are scheduled for March 18th and March 26th. Parents are strongly encouraged not to wait until a conference to bring questions or concerns to teachers; instead, parents should contact the teachers via a note, email or phone call as soon as something comes up. The conferences are not mandatory and were meant for parents who are not able to come to Moran during the day and have questions or concerns that a phone call or email are not sufficient to answer. If parents do not have any questions or concerns they are not "bad parents" for not scheduling a conference. Again, parents are strongly encouraged to contact the team when a question or concern arises and not wait for an "official" conference night. Therefore, hopefully, all questions will be answered before the "official" conference time.
Mrs. Maley, Mrs. Ballard and Mr. Schweighoffer are available to students for extra help after school on a "requested" basis. Students should ask to schedule extra help at least 24 hours in advance and must bring in a signed note from a parent or guardian giving them pemission to stay. If your student's grades are not where you think they should be, you may want to ask your student if they have been staying for these free, extra help tutorial sessions!
All parents are asked to assist their student to turn in various school and team forms as quickly as possible. The team thanks you for your efforts.
*****Parents and students are reminded of the homework policy.**** If a student does not have their work in class the day it is due, then the student must turn the work into the "Late Bin" which is located in each classroom by the end of the next school day. Students turning in work late will receive a grade reduction. Students only have one day to turn in work late and after the one extra day the assignment will automatically be graded at zero percent. While the homework policy may seem harsh, it is designed to prepare students for the "real world." Students will not be able to turn in their college applications, financial aid forms, job applications etc past a due date so they need to learn the importance of timely work now and begin or further develop a strong work ethic.*****
Parents are asked to please check to see if your student is completing their homework each night. Teachers can give credit only for work that is actually turned in, and sometimes students miss assignments. Please check with your student, and review their assignment book and homework to ensure accurate completion.
Parents are asked to check with their student about current projects and due dates and for project instruction sheets and additional information. Often projects are inter-disciplinary in nature, meaning the project will be graded in many subjects, so if a student does not turn in a project their grades will suffer in several subject areas.
In Social Studies, students are working on an Ancient Rome unit and will have a test on around March 12th followed by a Roman project. Parents and students should check for more upcoming details about the test and project. Students are also keeping a journal for Social Studies, where they should be writing twice a week about any topic of their choosing, which is due on March 26, 2009.
In Language Arts all students are starting a grammar unit on adjectives and adverbs. Students should also be reading a book at all times. The book may be read at home and at school and can be any book of their choosing. A book project, which students should have been working on all marking period, is due on March 27, 2009. Check with your student for what they are reading and what work, and due dates, are required.
In Science, students are learning about weather patterns.
In Math, students are working on a new unit on geometry. Students are participating in a cutting edge Math program, endorsed by the National Science Foundation, which incorporates language skills with mathematics. It is critical that students practice their Math facts at home and know them by heart.
Parents are asked to ask their student for information and grading rubrics for these and all future projects. For updates on academic and additional team information please review information from your student, team emails or the Team 6-5 newsletter.
Team 6-5 students have a scheduled 10 minute break each day. During the break, students may go to their lockers or restroom. Students may also use water bottles during the school day. The bottles cannot be glass and must only be filled with water--no juice, soda, etc. Students are also allowed to eat a small snack. Students are strongly encouraged to eat a healthy, (fruit, yogurt etc) snack instead of food which is high in sugar which makes it difficult for students to focus. We have had students eat Pixie Sticks and other candy as a snack and then have trouble paying attention. Such obvious junk food is not good for the child or the team. Also, the team teachers request that students use the break to go to the bathroom. Teachers don't want students to miss valuable class time by going to the bathroom repeatedly throughout the day.
Students will complete the Connecticut Mastery Test from March 2nd to the 13th. Test results are suppossed to be sent to homes by the state in August.
Parents are encouraged to check out the "Parent" section on Mr. Schweighoffer's webpage (just click on the "Parent Section" from the main page of the Schweighoffer Digital Library) to learn about the latest educational and health news for parents. Also, check out the new Journey and Inspiration sections.
Parents are asked to review the dress code policy with their student. If students wear inappropriate outfits they will have to change their clothes which disrupts class time. Suggestions of appropriate student dress can be found in every student assignment book. Jackets and hats are not allowed to be worn in school.
If sending money for their child to purchase books from a Scholastic Book flyer, parents are asked to please include the check or cash amount seperately for each book flyer. So, if a student wants to buy books or computer software from two different flyers, please send in two different checks or cash totals. Totals must be calculated for each flyer seperately, and when amounts are combined, the accountant gets a headache! Thanks for your understanding. The next book order is due on December 2nd.
Team 6-5 teachers are asking for any donation of facial tissues to defray the cost of purchasing tissues during the "allergy/sick season." While a single box of tissues doesn't seem that expensive, the fact that over four boxes per week are used by the team, does show that the cost adds up quickly! So please, if possible, donate a box of facial tissues today! Also, students do not have an opportunity to wash their hands before they eat so the hand sanitizer is the next best thing however, the bottles empty out very quickly. Any donation of hand sanitizer would be greatly appreciated!
For more information about team or school events, please consult The Team Newsletter and The Moran Triad.
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