Important 4th Grade

Info to Know:
Dear Parents,
I am very excited to be your childs homeroom teacher this year! It will be a
fun and busy year, and you will see your child grow so much (physically,
emotionally, and academically). I hope you will find the following information
about our class helpful as the year progresses.

Communication
It is our belief that we must work together to create a positive learning
environment for your child. Im excited to get to know you all this year. There
are several ways for us to keep the lines of communication going this year:
1. Be sure to sign up for Remind by texting the message @98hcb2 to the
number 81010. This is a way for you to get text messages from all three of
us in the same place.
2. You can also go to our classroom website at http://sewelltigers.weebly.com
You will be able to find weekly newsletters, photos, and can even contact me
through the site.
3. Please e-mail asewell@frenship.us , or call (793-6686 ext. 518 ) anytime.
During the day I check my e-mail and phone often, but I may not be able to
get back to you right away. Please be patient and know that I will get with
you as soon as I am able. If you have an important message (about how your
child needs to get home that day, for example) please call and leave a
message with the office. They will make sure I get that information.
4. I am available during my conference from 9:00-9:55. Please be sure to
schedule an appointment as we often have meetings, etc. during our
conference period. If this time is not convenient, please call me to schedule
an appointment in the afternoon.

Birthdays
We know how exciting birthdays can be, and we are glad for you to bring a
treat for the class on your childs birthday. Please contact me ahead of time so
we can allow time in the schedule for those celebrations. We do birthdays the
last 15 minutes of the day. Please dont forget that we have students with peanut
and tree nut allergies to keep in mind.

Absences and Tardies

It is very important for your child to be at school, on time, everyday. We
begin to sign up for lunch choices, sharpen pencils, organize supplies, and get
ready at 7:40, so that at 7:45, we promptly start our first lesson. If your child
must miss a day, please make sure to send a note when they return so that they do
not have an unexcused absence. If you have any questions about that, please call
the front office at 793-6686. If your child misses some work that needs to be
completed at home, I will send that home with them when they return. Please try
to have the work returned within 2 days.

Schedule
I have included our daily schedule in this packet. This may help when making
appointments for your child. In the morning, doors will be unlocked at 7:15 a.m.
for your child to enter. If your child arrives earlier than the 7:40 a.m. bell, they
will need to go to the gym. If they are going to eat breakfast, they will go to the
cafeteria. Once they are finished eating breakfast, they will be directed to the
gym. They will be considered tardy if they arrive after 7:45 a.m.

Discipline
Our discipline program is a little bit different this year than it has been in
previous years. It was created to allow all students to learn without distractions.
Your child will receive write-ups in their responsibility folder if they break a
classroom rule. You will be notified if your child breaks a rule. Please sign that
sheet each Tuesday so we know you are aware of their conduct grade. They will
also have consequences if their behavior or responsibility problems continue.
Please talk to your child about problem behaviors so that no learning time is
interrupted at school.

Signing In and Out

North Ridge is such a great school because of parents like you. We
encourage you to visit but must ask that you enter at the main SE entrance, sign
in at the office, and wear the name-tag provided as a safety measure. This helps
other people in the building know that you are visiting and not just roaming around.
If your child is leaving school early, please sign them out in the office, and your
child will be called to the office for you to pick up.

Healthy Snacks
Your child may bring a healthy snack for themselves and a water bottle each
day. We do have some severe peanut and tree nut allergies in our class, so NO
NUTS!! We will have our snacks around 10:00 a.m. each day.

Grading Policy
Our goal is for all students to master all topics that are taught. We know
that some students may need some extra time in order to do that. For this
reason, if your child gets a grade below a 70 on any daily work, they will be given
the opportunity to be retaught and redo the assignment. The grade they receive
on their second attempt is what will be entered in the gradebook. We hope this
will help students to improve any low grades.
Grades that students earn on tests however, will not be changed. The grade
they get is what will go in the gradebook.

Lunch
Our lunch time is from 12:20-12:50. If you come to eat with your child,
there is a special table set up for you to sit with your child. Please know that you
may only sit with your child, not their friends. This is just a safety precaution.

Recess
We will have recess outside on each day that we can possibly make it
outside. Make sure your child is dressed for the weather. Our recess begins
right after lunch and lasts for 30 minutes. We do not keep kids inside during
recess because we believe they all need to move around.

Homework
Your child works VERY hard all day at school. We do not want them to come
home to even more work. That means that your child will NOT be bringing
homework home. The only work we ask you to do with them at home is to have
them reading AT LEAST 20 minutes a night and practicing flash cards each night.
This will really help them to be more successful with 4th grade curriculum.

Spelling Lists
We believe that students learn spelling through authentic writing activities.
They will not be bringing home a weekly list, but they will be learning spelling and
phonics skills through their writing as teachers see what they are struggling with.

Tuesday Folders / Responsibility Folders

Each Tuesday, your child will bring home two folders. Their Tuesday folder
will contain important notes and some of your childs graded assignments from the
week. The Responsibility Folder will show your childs conduct grade and any write
ups from the week. Please sign both folders on the appropriate week and return
them to school the next day.

P.E. Schedule

On P.E. days please make sure that your child comes to school in tennis shoes
and clothes that will allow them to get active in the gym or outside. They may
bring tennis shoes in their backpacks and change into them on PE days if needed.
The class schedule is attached to see what days they attend P.E.

Dismissal Procedure
The school doors will remain locked until 3:05 p.m. The fourth graders will
be dismissed on the South side of the building. We will be at the same location
where your child was dismissed in 3rd grade last year (look for the 4th grade flag).
If your child has a younger sibling, they will go to the younger sibling and you will
pick up at the younger siblings grade level dismissal spot. If your child is still
here at 3:15, you will need to pick them up and sign them out in the office.

STAAR
This year your child will take three of the state mandated STAAR tests.
The Reading and Math STAAR Tests will both be given in May, and the Writing
STAAR will be given at the end of March.

Math
Your child will have Mrs. Kennedy for Math instruction. Mrs. Kennedy just
got married at the end of the summer, so bear with us as her e-mail and other
things get switched over to her new name. If you see something from Ms. Banks,
that is now Mrs. Kennedy new name, same great teacher! Mrs. Kennedy
graduated from Lubbock Christian University with a Bachelors degree in

Elementary Education. This will be her third year to teach 4th grade Math here at
North Ridge. She has a passion for teaching students through hands-on learning
involving lots of movement to help reinforce the new math skills they will be
learning. There will be lots of new math concepts learned this year, but they will
have lots of fun doing it! Her e-mail is kbanks@frenship.us.

Reading and Science

Your child will have Mrs. Nelson for reading and science instruction. Mrs.
Nelson graduated from Angelo State University with a Bachelors and a Masters
degree in Elementary Education. We have a lot of fun things planned this year in
Reading. She has a passion for reading and cant wait to help your child become a
life long reader. She will also be teaching Science and cant wait to do
experiments and labs with you! Her e-mail is lnelson@frenship.us.

Writing and Social Studies

Your child will have Mrs. Sewell for Writing and Social Studies instruction.
Mrs. Sewell graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelors degree in
Elementary Education. There will be a lot of writing taking place in fourth grade,
and Mrs. Sewell has some fun things planned to help your child become a better
writer and truly enjoy doing it. Encourage them to write every chance they get
this year (making lists, journaling, writing letters, etc.). She will also be teaching
them about Texas history and is excited to share the events that made this great
state what it is today! Her e-mail is asewell@frenship.us.
Please call me if you ever have any questions or concerns were in this together!!
I am looking forward to a great year with your child!
Ashley
asewell@frenship.us
793-6686 (ext. 518)