September 2016,

Welcome to A7, Home of the Puma Thinker

September 2016

Important Dates
Friday, Sept. 16, 2016: Celebrating Constitution Day (Actual date September 17^th)

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016: Curriculum Night, 6:30- 8:00 PM

Dates to Remember

Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016: Patriot’s Day

Wednesday September 28, 2016: Picture Day

Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016: Retake and Candid group photos

Wednesday, Nov. 9- 11, 2016: Fifth Grade Camp, Howell Nature Center, Howell, MI

Hello! I am delighted to be your child’s fifth-grade teacher.  This year your child will learn and develop supported by a partnership between school and home. I will not be teaming with Mrs. Kimmey for Science Instruction due her enrollment in the doctoral program at the University of Michigan.  I will be teaching all core subjects to your child excluding reading: the entire fifth grade team share students and group students in order to create more fluid reading-leveled classes.  Students are assessed and promoted by reading levels within each class. You will be notified of your child’s reading teacher in the upcoming weeks.

I look forward to meeting you and outlining the learning goals for the upcoming year during our annual Curriculum Night.  Please bring any questions, or concerns you may have.  Also, you will be selecting a parent-teacher conference date. It will be helpful to bring your personal and family calendar.

Communication

Primarily, I use email and the student planner as primary methods of communication. I can be reached via work email, hubbarda@aaps.k12.mi.us or my personal email, averyhub@gmail.com  I can be reached via phone @ 994.1961 x27424 during normal business hours.

Homework

This year, your child will have approximately 4-5 nights of homework every week.  Usually, math is the primary subject completed as homework.  Homework is to be returned the following school day.  In addition to math homework, students are expected to read a minimum of 30-minutes, 5 nights a week, documented in his/her planner.   Students earn an immediate consequence for not completing homework, a loss of 15 minutes of either lunch or afternoon recess.  If your child cannot complete the assigned homework due to an extenuating incident, please write a brief note on the assignment or attach the note to the assignment.

Snacks

Students are allowed to eat snacks in the classroom within any 20-minute period while completing his or her assignments.  After 20 minutes have passed, students are asked to either finish eating the snack or place it into a lunch-container or backpack.  Students are allowed to chew gum in moderation as long as it is not heard or seen. There are several restrictions: large amounts of candy, glass containers, and microwavable foods.  Students are permitted to pop popcorn on predetermined days.  Please remember, Pattengill is a nut-free building. Please adhere to this restriction due to severe food allergies in our classroom.

Birthdays

Students are permitted to celebrate birthdays with a singing of Happy Birthday and a treat or a inedible item: pencils, erasers, or other trinkets.  Students must give a treat to everyone, and are responsible for any necessary eating utensils excluding knives or sharp objects.  The current class count is 28. Please try to inform me prior to bringing the birthday treat/gift into the classroom. The only permitted items are pre-packaged food items with a label. Please adhere to this restriction due to severe food allergies in our classroom. Accept my apology for not being able to bring in cupcakes or cake items.

Discipline

Within A-7, I use a fair and firm policy centered with respect and trust.  Students have clear expectations and guidelines.  When a child has not met or not followed a behavioral expectation, clear outlined steps are used to determine the consequence. Our school uses the PBIS, Positive Behavior Intervention System for Behavioral Expectations as determined in the PBIS matrix. A copy was given to you in the beginning of the year packet.

Specials Schedule

Lunch Recess is 11:25 - 11:49 AM, Lunch 11:49- 12:13 PM

Mondays                 World Language                                                          2:00 - 2:30 PM

                               Instrumental Music                                                      2:30 - 3:00 PM

                               Vocal Music                                                                 3:00 - 3:30 PM   
        

Tuesdays                 Art                                                                               8:55 - 9:41 AM

                               (PLTW) Project The Lead the Way in A7                  10:20 – 11:20 AM

Wednesdays             World Language                                                         2:00- 2:30 PM

                               Instrumental Music                                                      2:30- 3:00 PM

                               Vocal Music                                                                 3:00- 3:30 PM

Thursdays                (PLTW) Project The Lead the Way in A7                 10:20 – 11:20 AM

Physical Education (gym shoes required)                  2:00- 2:45 PM

Fridays                    ILT, Information Literacy and Technology                 1:35 – 2:20 PM

Useful items in A-7

It would be helpful if each child could donate to the classroom supply:

A box of Kleenex

Hand sanitizer

Hand Wipes (non-alcohol, used for hands)

Clorox Cleaning wipes (For Tables)

Daily, students will use:

A backpack

Pencil box  (Required)

Number 2 pencils or Mechanical Pencils with ‘lead’

An old sock used as an eraser or Dry erase board with a dry erase marker

Sincerely,

Avery Hubbard