Miss Hayss Classroom 3B ~ 2016-2017 Student/Parent Handbook

Homeroom Teacher
Miss Rachel Hays
rhays@viennaeagles.org

2016-2017 School Year

Maries R-1 Elementary
ABCs to 3rd Grade

Principal
Ms. Sherree Burkholder
sburkholder@viennaeagles.org

Switching Teacher
Mrs. Kacie James
kjames@viennaeagles.org
Office Secretary
Barbara Laughlin
blaughlin@viennaeagles.org
School Phone Number
573-422-3365

Arrival
Students who eat school breakfast should go to the cafeteria immediately upon arrival to eat.
Students who do not should wait in the hallway next to the classrooms until hallway monitors
release them. Students are allowed to enter the classroom at 8:00 a.m.

Attendance
Regular attendance is vital to the learning process. To report an absence simply call the office
or send in a note explaining the reason for the absence. Make-up work will be sent home after
an absence, or you may call the office in the morning to request homework to be picked up
following my plan hour (refer to the classroom schedule).

Backpacks
All backpacks should be labeled with the childs name for identification purposes. Backpacks
should be brought to school daily. Please do not send backpacks with wheels.

Bell Work
The students will participate in journal reflections before the bell rings 8:00-8:16. They will be
practicing their cursive handwriting as well as expressing themselves about the meanings
behind famous quotes. Thursdays we will have outside recess during our bell work time.

Birthdays
2nd

Birthdays will be celebrated on the

Friday of the month. I will send out reminders and put
the birthday parties in our newsletter. The party will begin at 2:30 p.m. You may send treats to
help your child celebrate. You are welcome to join in the celebration. If your childs birthday is
in the summer we will celebrate his or her birthday at the end of April.

Book Orders
The Scholastic Book Club offers fantastic deals and an order form will come home each
month. You may submit an order online at http://clubs.scholastic.com/ using the code P2BJ6
or send the order form to school and I will submit it. Checks should be made payable to
Rachel Hays so that I can pay for the whole order using my debit card. For every purchase, we
receive rewards from Scholastic that I can use to purchase classroom books, supplies, or gift
books for the holidays.

Miss Hayss Classroom 3B ~ 2016-2017 Student/Parent Handbook

Classroom Parties
We have 3 major parties a year: Halloween, Christmas, and Valentines Day. Halloween: Wear
costume, Christmas (Bring a wrapped new or lightly used book to participate in the book
exchange), and Valentines Day (Bring Valentines for ALL students). Participating in parties is
optional. Anyone wishing to participate in helping as a room parent with activities in the
classroom should sign up at open house or contact me via email. ALL help is appreciated.

Dismissal
Students will be dismissed at 3:04 p.m. Pick-ups, walkers, and tutoring students will be dismissed
to the teachers workroom (the room directly next to the elementary office), and then the bus
riders will exit the building at the west entrance to board buses. All parents/guardians must
wait at the elementary office. If you decide to pick up your child, you always must check the
student out at the office or from his or her bus driver. This is a safety protocol and we thank you
in advance for following it. Reasons to send a note are as follows:
1. Your child is riding a different bus.
2. Someone other than you is picking up your child.
3. Your child is following a different dismissal plan than usual.

Email Address
Email is my preferred method of communication due to the quick turn-around and
convenience throughout the day and night. If you have an email address you check
frequently please provide it to me to maximize our communication. rhays@viennaeagles.org

Field Trips
Field trips will depend on if there is funding available. Information and details will be sent in our
newsletter and Traveling Folder if we schedule a field trip. We will most likely schedule our field
trip for the last month of the school year.

Grading
Students will be assessed using letter grades this year based on their performance in math,
reading, writing, science, and social studies, as well as the special areas (Keyboarding, Library,
Music, Art, and P.E.). I will use a 4-point leveled scoring system for many homework
assignments and quizzes. There will be additional information sent out about this grading
format once we begin school.

Percentage Letter Grades

95% - up
90% - 94%
87% - 89%
83% - 86%
80% - 82%
77% - 79%
73% - 76%
70% - 72%
67% - 69%
63% -66%
60% - 62%

A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
D-

All tests will be worth 100 points. Quizzes and homework will be
worth varying amounts.

Handbook
The student handbook is located in front of the student planner.
Please read, sign, and return all the forms marked by August 26,
2016.

Miss Hayss Classroom 3B ~ 2016-2017 Student/Parent Handbook

Homework
1. Math Logs will be sent home each week just like reading logs. Students must complete the
math fact practice logs in order to succeed in passing facts quizzes by fluently memorizing
their facts in subtraction and multiplication.
2. Spelling: It is recommended that students study their weekly spelling pattern and words (a
list will be sent home every Friday and our test will be on the following Friday.) We complete
spelling practice assignments daily, but I suggest extra practice at home to excel each week.
3. Other Homework: The only other homework that is sent home is incomplete classwork, such
as math practice, reading assignments, spelling practice pages, and social studies/science
assignments. There is plenty of time allowed in class for all of these assignments to be
completed, but if students need extra time or do not use their time wisely they will be required
to complete these assignments at home.

Honor Time

On Fridays, from 1:55-2:45 we have Honor Time on the playground for students who have no
missing or incomplete assignments. During Honor Time, students may bring a beverage (soda,
juice, Gatorade, water) and a snack, if they prefer to not bring a beverage or snack that is
completely fine. This is a privilege that can be earned weekly. For students who did not earn
Honor Time because of missing or incomplete assignments, they will stay in either Mrs. James or
our classroom for study hall to complete these assignments. If a student has missing
assignments because of an absence he or she may go out to Honor Time as soon as he or she
has caught up on the work.

Illegal Classroom Items

Mechanical pencils and pens
Toys including Pokmon or collector/trading cards and electronic games
Gum
Soda
These illegal classroom items will be confiscated and then sent home the first time.
The second time they will be kept until the end of the week and sent home.
The third time, they will be sent to the office with the illegal items to call home about the
continuous broken rule.

Incomplete Work

Incomplete work will be completed after other assignments are finished or at home. If
assignments from the week are not turned in by Friday they will not receive honor time (a 30
minute extra recess where students can bring snacks). Each child will be responsible for turning
in all work. I will not make an additional copy of lost/missing work so students should use the
folders and other organizational tools that we provide to keep track of their work. Each
student will have an accountability folder. This folder should be brought home along with their
planner each night. Be sure to check this and sign the planner to check that your student is
not missing any work.

Lunch

Time: 10:55 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Lunch Options:
1. Main lunch menu choice
2. Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
3. Home lunch

(NO SODAsoda is not allowed in the

lunchroom and will be taken to the classroom
to be taken home at the end of the day)

Miss Hayss Classroom 3B ~ 2016-2017 Student/Parent Handbook

Newsletter
A newsletter will be sent home with your child each week on Friday explaining what we will be
studying and any other information that you might need to know. Some information that will
be included: lunch menu, spelling word lists, subject highlights, and important upcoming
events. Please look for these newsletters on Friday in the Traveling Folders, on the website, or
through e-mail.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a school year (October & March). Please sign up
for October conferences at open house and I will contact you closer to conferences to make
sure that the scheduled time still works for you.

Planner
Students will fill out their planner daily. If the student completes an assignment I will stamp the
assignment in the planner. Those not completed must be completed at home. I will also
occasionally make comments, notes, and reminders within the planner. Parent(s)/Guardian(s)
must sign the planner and the student must bring it back the next day. Of course there are
days that we forget once in a while, but please make it a habit of checking that your childs
homework is completed and if not please inquire into the reason for the incomplete
homework.

Rules, Rewards, and Consequences

Rules
1. Show Respect.
2. Follow directions the first time.
3. Be Honest- Use your own brain.
4. Be Responsible - Take care of yourself, our materials, and our school.
5. Keep your body and materials to yourself.
6. Be the best YOU, you can be!

Rewards
We will set class goals as well as individual goals through Class Dojo for the classroom
expectations. At the end of each week, students may pick one reward from category
that matches with the cumulative amount of points earned throughout the week. The
rewards list is posted on the classroom website.
Consequences
Students will lose points on ClassDojo if they are continually off task, getting a bad
report from other teachers, not following expectations in specials or the cafeteria,
talking out of turn, or being unable to prepare themselves for learning.
Our classroom goal is to have a fun and safe learning environment. If each child can
follow the above expectations then we will have a successful learning experience. It is
important to note that there is a Zero Tolerance Policy for bullying and violence. These
behaviors may require me to bypass all warnings and refer the student to the principal.

Miss Hayss Classroom 3B ~ 2016-2017 Student/Parent Handbook

Schedule
Mon. & Tues.
8:00-8:16 Prepare for Day/Journaling
8:16-9:40 Math 3B/Reading 3A
9:40-10:55 Math 3A/Reading 3B
10:55-11:15 Lunch
11:15-12:10 Writing/Grammar
12:10-1:00 Specials
1:00-1:50 Science
1:50-2:20 Recess
2:20-2:55 Social Studies

Wed., Thurs., & Fri.

8:00-8:16 Prepare for Day/Journaling
8:16-9:40 Math 3B/Reading 3A
9:40-10:55 Math 3A/Reading 3B
10:55-11:15 Lunch
11:17-12:07 Specials
12:07-1:10 Writing/Grammar
1:10-1:50 Science
1:50-2:20 Recess
2:20-2:55 Social Studies

On Wednesdays, we will dismiss at 1:53 p.m.

Specials
Mon. Keyboarding, Tues. Library, Wed. Music, Thurs. PE, Fri. Art
Refer to the weekly newsletter for our specials schedule and wear tennis shoes on Thursday!

Staying Informed
Stay informed about our classroom by reading our newsletter every week, checking our class
website (www.grade3isahoot.weebly.com), reading papers in the Traveling Folder weekly,
viewing our school website (www.mariesr1.k12.mo.us), or signing up for textcaster alerts. Please
provide your email on the student information page so that I can send you our weekly
newsletter, spelling words, and other important forms in digital form for easy reference.

Supplies

A supply list is available at Wal-Mart or online at www.mariesr1.k12.mo.us.

Switching Teacher
This year the third graders will switch teachers between two subjects. I will be teaching
mathematics and Mrs. James will teach reading. Research shows that this is best practice for
teachers as well as students because each teacher can focus their teaching on fewer
subjects and in return teach each subject with more confidence and expertise.

Traveling Folders
The folder is a black and gold Vienna Eagles folder and will be sent home every Friday. The
folder will contain our weekly newsletter, spelling list, math log, and other important
information that assists with communication between home and school. The folder must be
returned on Monday.

Water Bottles

Please feel free to have your child bring a water bottle to class. I prefer the reusable water
bottles with tight fitting lids (fewer spills). Please encourage your child to bring their water bottle
home regularly and wash it. Students should bring plain water without flavoring. No other drinks
are allowedWATER ONLY.

XYZ

It is eXtremely important for your child to have a successful third grade Year. I will do my best
to make learning fun and exciting ---you can expect a lot of growth in so many different areas.
It will seem as if the 2016-2017 school year will Zoom by because we are going to make it a
fantastic year!