Miss Brown's Handbook

1. Welcome Letter
Greetings and welcome to an exciting year! My name is Kenya Brown and I am pleased to be your child’s teacher for the 2008 – 2009 school year. I am very excited to be a part of the RTCA family and look forward to learning more about you and your child. This is my nineth year teaching and my third year at  RTCA. Since my arrival I have been made to feel at home. My hope is to make you child feel the same way throughout the school year. My philosophy is that every child can learn. It is my job to find the best way for them to achieve. I also believe that you and I working together will make the greatest difference in your child’s learning experience. Our class theme is Going to Another Level. Academic success, responsibility, and student lead discussions are just some of the facets of excellence we will face this year. Going to another level is a continuous process in which all students will continue to demonstrate success. The children are our future and the future begins now. Whenever you have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to speak to me. I am here to help you and to help train up your child in the way that he or she needs to go. I am for you and will do my best to make this a pleasant year for all. Here’s to a fabulous year! Be blessed ~ Miss KBrownKB                                          

2. Expectations & Dress Code  

Expectations are standards that we should live up to everyday. Here are some expectations that are enforced in our classroom. Please review them with your child. All students are expected to:

·    Arrive to school on time

·    Follow all class and school rules & procedures 

Complete all class assignments to the best of their ability

·    Complete all homework assignments and turn them in on time. NO EXCUSES! Teachers and parents are also responsible for living up to standards everyday.

·    Arrive to school everyday on time.

·    Come to class well prepared to impart knowledge that will benefit all students.

·    Communicate with students and parents to provide information regarding the learning environment.  

Parents are expected to:

·    Ensure student’s timely arrival

·    Assure all homework completion and timely return (this does not mean you are to do their homework).

·    Continually instill the joy of learning in their child.

·    Contact the teacher with any questions and/or concerns regarding their child’s learning. 

Dress Code: Students are to wear navy bottoms and solid white collared tops everyday. The bottoms may be in the form of navy shorts or pants for boys and navy skorts, shorts, pants, skirts, or jumpers for girls. Navy or white sweaters should be worn in the class. Since we try maximize the time we have, we cannot help your child change shoes for recess or PE therefore it is best to send your child in shoes that are appropriate for daily recess.                       

3. Attendance & Dismissal                      

4. Community & Communication  

It takes a village to raise a child. Please remember that the teachers and staff at RTCA are a part of your village. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child please speak to your child’s teacher first.  You may call the classroom at any time. Please be aware that you will more than likely have to leave a message as I will be teaching your child. If it is an emergency, contact the office immediately. If you leave a message, please allow 48 hours (maximum) for my reply. I am available via email. I have 2 addresses. Please add both addresses to your address book.  You are welcome to come into the classroom. Please sign up to volunteer for one of many needs. Miss Kenya Brown 919 957 7108 

40.kbrown@heritageacademies.com

Kenyadiggitt72@yahoo.com

5. Daily Behavior Plan & Moral Focus 

Excellence is expected not only in academics but behavior as well.  When a rule is broken:

Student will receive a warning. 

Student will be removed from a group or activity.

Student will be sent to work quietly in a buddy class.

Student will be sent to Mr. Sharpe.

Parent will receive a phone call. 

All students are encouraged to be and do their best. All students have the opportunity to earn certificates and other incentives.  Good behavior plays a key role in your child’s learning. Please encourage your child to do his or her best.    

6. Lunch/ Snacks 

Students will have lunch every day except on early release days. If you choose to purchase school lunch, please fill out the form that goes home each month or send the payment for that day with your child. Place the form and exact money in an envelope with your child’s name on it. If your child is bringing lunch from home, please make sure you have packed necessary utensils. Please note, students are not allowed to heat lunches in the class or in the office. I do my best to make sure that at least half of your child’s lunch is consumed. I do encourage students to eat the main meal prior to eating the snacks. I ask that you do not send candy or soda as part of their lunch or snack. 

Snacks

Our class will have a daily 10 minute snack time. Please provide a small, nutritious, self – serve snack for your child. The following are great snack suggestions: 

Animal crackers  

saltine crackers

Graham crackers 

cheese crackers

Fruit snacks 

granola bars (chewy bars)

Pretzels  

wheat thins

Dry cereal 

apples

Fruit roll ups 

 popcorn

Tortilla chips 

cheerios

Raisins 

 fruit cups

Trail mix  

small bags of chips 

We may have students who have allergies to nuts and dairy. Please note snack is never taken away as a punishment.                                  

7. Homework Policy & Monday Folder     

Homework is an extension of classroom learning. Any work sent home is to reinforce and provide additional practice on skills taught during the day. Students should be able to complete assignments with little or no help from parents.  Each Monday, an assignment sheet will go home in your child’s homework folder. Place it in your child’s homework space or on the refrigerator. The actual assignment will go home on the assigned day. You should expect 2 math sheets, 1 spelling assignment, and 1 reading sheet.

·    All assignments are due the next day unless noted.

·    With the exception of absence, late homework will NOT be accepted.

·    All assignments are to be done in the child’s own writing.

·    Students are responsible for turning in their homework daily.

Work left in the folder will not be taken out.  Reminder… you have already been to second grade, please let your child do his or her work.  Monday FoldersAll graded work will go home on Mondays in their Monday Folder. If you have any questions, please contact me as soon as possible.                                      

 8. Grading Key, Progress Reports, & Report Cards  

All class work will receive a score ranging from 0 – 100. All Homework will receive a check plus, check, or check minus. All tests will receive a score ranging from 0 – 100. All projects will receive a score as determined on the rubric given when project is assigned. The score will either be 4, 3, 2, 1 or 0 – 100. You will receive a progress report every other week in your child’s Monday Folder. You may view your child’s progress at any time on the At School Portal. Report cards will be sent home with each student at the end of each quarter.  

9. Read – a- thon, Projects, & Other Activities  Beginning September 1, 2008, Miss Brown’s class will participate in a Read- a – thon. Each child will read as many books as they can. They will write the date they read the book, title, and author of the book on the given sheet called a reading log. You will sign it. On the last day of the month, the reading log will be due. All students will receive a certificate. If we reach our reading goal (decided by the class) we will have a BIG celebration.  Stay tuned for more information. 

 10. Scholastic Book Orders Each month a Scholastic Book Order form(s) will be sent home in your child’s Monday Folder. All orders are due 2 weeks after being sent home. If you would like to order books, please do the following:

·       Help your child select appropriate books.

·       Check your choices on the form (include how many).

·       Write your child’s name on the form.

·       Send in a check or money order for the exact amount. DO NOT SEND CASH – IT WILL BE RETURNED!!

·       Place order in an envelope with your child’s name on it. Once the order is placed, books will arrive to the school in about 5-8 days. If at all possible, please order a book to donate to the class (please indicate donation on order form).Many Scholastic orders have clubs your child can join. If you select this, please, please, please fill out the information on the bottom of the form. (This is only necessary if you are joining a club).

11. Birthdays/ Conferences 

    In order ensure that the students are not missing valuable learning time, all birthday celebrations will be held on Friday afternoons during Special Week and Choice time.    You will receive a conference schedule sheet prior to conferences. Please make sure you arrive on time. Each conference is 15 minutes. A late arrival will result in a rescheduling of your appointment.  

12. Volunteering

Your presence and/ or assistance in any way is GREATLY appreciated. Here are some ideas of ways you can help…

·       Read a story

·       Teach a skill

·       Work with a small group

·       Play a game

·       Lunch guest

·       Chaperone

·       Copy master

·       Grade  & file papers

·       Seasonal project

·       Bulletin board/ wall decorator

·       Prepare centers, folders, projects

·       Reminder calls                 

13. Class Climate/ Health & Wellness

The climate in our class can be very cold. Please wear a sweater (must be blue or white) or a long sleeved shirt daily to adjust to the temperature.

6 folders with fasteners: 1 red (math), 1 blue (open court), 1 yellow (workshop), 1 green (science/social studies), 1 orange (morning work)