Dear Eighth Grade Students and Parents,
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year! Like all years, this one holds in store many exciting changes, as students move from the end of middle school to the beginning of high school. There are many things we can do to make this a successful year, after more than 25 years in the classroom, I have found the single most important element in helping students grow as learners is a close relationship with you as parents. With that in mind I would like to take this opportunity to share my curriculum goals, classroom policies, and most importantly to ask for your help as partners.
CLASSROOM STANDARDS:
An important component to a successful classroom is an environment where everyone feels safe. The key to realizing this goal is a commitment on the part of those present to respect each other as individuals, realizing the rights of students to learn and instructors to teach. Disrespect and hurtful comments will not be tolerated as we work towards an environment where all individuals are honored for who and what they are. Here are they basic elements of my classroom standards:
HUMANITIES CORE:
Humanities Core is a three-period block that covers Language Arts and Social Studies. While only two grades on progress reports and report cards, they encompass quite a few topic areas. Language Arts is made up of the literature, grammar, writing, spelling, and vocabulary. Social Studies includes units beginning with Pre-Revolutionary America, and on through the Civil War. We will also look at the Constitution and the Court System, and its function in society today. In addition we will explore career options and educational requirements for those choices.
GRADING POLICY:
Grading is an important part of learning, and it is important for you to know how this will be determined. I use a variety of techniques to measure student achievement, but it always will result in a percentage grade: 90 to 100 = A, 80 to 89 = B, 70 to 79 =C, 60 to 69 = D, below 59= F, and work not completed is recorded as a zero. You will find grades posted on my website, and I would like to ask you to either check on your child’s grade regularly, or have them print a copy out for you. Grades are posted on LearningPoint. I recommend this to happen weekly for students who have a history of low grades or missed work.
DUE DATES and MISSED ASSIGNMENTS:
Missing work due to missed deadlines (or simply not doing it) is an important issue. Readying a student for high school is my most important task; many of the skills required there will later be required in the workforce. Accepting responsibility, juggling demands for time, deadlines and social distractions are all things that require skills to accomplish which have their root in sound study habits. With you as a partner, we will work towards sharpening those skills. When a due date arrives, credit is given for work handed in. If work is not received, a grade of zero will be recorded. Make up time is allowed if the student was not present when the assignment was given. However, assignments for the week are posted on Monday in class AND on the website, and students enter this information into their Binder Reminders. I would like to ask you to monitor your child’s work load by accessing my website at: http://powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/teachers/award
Long term projects and assignments with advanced notice are expected to be turned in the day the student returns from absence. (RSP students also will have arrangements made with their case manager in relation to missed assignments.) All together, these are used as a way for me to stay consistent about the no late work policy. I will share at Back to School Night (9/9/09) some safety valves built into this policy that make it more realistic.
Academic Honesty
It is vitally important that you and your child be aware of the impact of academic honesty issues when they occur. As an entire 8th grade team, we support and follow the Poway Academic Honesty Policy. Consequences for these events result in a zero on the assignment (with no make up available) and a “U” on the next report card. This can have a catastrophic effect on a student planning on extra curricular offerings such as the Washington D.C. trip and the Winter Snowboard trip. Recent years have seen an increase in these events happening, and it is important to be aware of the result, should it occur. That being said, I also want to assure you that Academic Honesty is not referred just “on a hunch”. Anytime it has been referred by me to the administration, it has always been with concrete evidence or witnessed directly by me. The day it happens, I contact parents- most of the time a call or email written by the student is sent describing the event in their own words, so you get the same story I have. Your support in this issue is critical to it being a learning experience for your child, and preventing a re-occurrence.
COMMUNICATION:
E-mail is a great tool that will allow us to be contact in the easiest and fastest way; I check it often as our school communicates in-house by email, and I can usually get back to you before the close of the day. PLEASE email me within the next few days to get you entered into my email Address Book (Thanks!), ALSO, please fill out the Rolodex contact card and send it in. If you do need to call, you can leave a voicemail at my extension: 858-538-5478 ext 3409.
Parent Questionnaire:
Finally, I would like to ask you to share with me some information that will truly help us function as a team. The Parent Questionnaire (attached) will allow me to get to know your child in a way that only you know. As you look over the questions you will see that your input will first help me see them from a perspective that only you have, and will secondly, help me work with you in supporting your aspirations for them. I greatly look forward to hearing from you, and getting to know you and your child through this document. Won’t you please set aside some time to fill out the profile for your child and return it in a sealed envelope? (This will protect the privacy of the contents, but please share it with them first if you wish.) Please also include the Rolodex file card as well.
This promises to be a tremendous year for our eighth graders. Many fond memories will come from this final year of middle school. I look forward to spending this year with your child and you as partners, during this 2009-2010 school year!
Your Partner in Education,
Aston Ward (Please remember to email me!)
Parent's Main E-mail address: ____________________
**CONFIDENTIAL: RETURN IN A SEALED ENVELOPE by: Sept.7th **
You can help move the process of my getting to know your child through responding to the questions below. I find this document a valuable insight to the dynamics of best working with your child. Skip any you feel uncomfortable with. Answer those that apply, skip those that don’t. You will find this letter and questionnaire on my website where you can copy the document and write your answers directly on to it, then print and send in. (powayusd.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/teachers/award)
Please provide contact information on the attached Rolodex card
Who is the primary person I should contact if something should arise regarding your child? Please fill in the “Main email address" for contacting you on the attached card.
Is a computer available at home for school work?
Please explain any weaknesses/problems I should be aware of:
Grades are posted frequently for the current grading period. You can count on at least once a week updates, if not more. Sometimes they are posted daily. How and when will your student share this information with you?
What are your academic goals for your child? Does your child share this goal?
Does your child wear glasses? Should I be seeing them at school?
**Please use the back to add any information you feel comfortable sharing that you think I should be aware of to further support you and your child this year. While many family issues are private; divorce, custody issues, significant family illnesses, loss of a pet can sometimes greatly impact a student’s school work. If I am aware of these issues when they occur, I can communicate changes I see at school and help come up with a plan to get your child back on track, as well as lend some emotional support and understanding.
(I DO have copies of IEP’s if your child has one)
**Please provide sample signatures for further reference- **
Parent/Guardian/Other): _______________________ ______________________ ` ___________________________