Welcome+Back


 * __ WELCOME TO GRADE 7! 2014/15 __**

Welcome back to school life! I am very pleased to have this group of grade 7’s who have earned their way to the top! We welcome Susan Hamersley to our team this year. She may be working with the grade 7’s during a creative writing block. Mr. Maynard and Ms. McFee will be teaching the music portion of Fine Arts 7 and I will teach all other subject areas Monday to Friday. I am looking forward to getting to know each of my new students!

Please take some time to read over these pages **with your child** and discuss these classroom guidelines for the year. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me before signing the last page. Once signed, please return the last page to me.

// Volunteers: // Over the years we have been able to have several field trips and events planned for our intermediate students. With your help we can continue to provide these types of activities. Please check off any events with which you may be available to help on the pink volunteer sheet attached. Our activities are successful because of the involvement of parents! I am currently seeking one or two parents to help co-ordinate classroom activities and field trips. Thank you so much!

// Vision check time: // As we welcome students back into classrooms, we’d like to remind parents that this is a great time for a vision check up. Vision tends to change during growth spurts. If it’s been a while since your child’s last vision check, consider helping your child attain a powerful tool – perfect vision!

// Communication: // I prefer to communicate with parents via e-mail. I can usually respond more quickly than by phoning (and at any time of day or night!). However, I do also have voice mail and I usually check my messages at the end of the day. Please make sure that you add your email address to the last page.

Shelley Ledingham ** sledingham@sd48.bc.ca tel: 604-932-5321 ext. 240 cell: 604-698-5631**

Our classroom website with current homework can be found at: **https://sledingham.wikispaces.com**
 * All students will be requested to join during our first I.T. class and can show you how to access the site. **** J **


 * __ CLASSROOM POLICIES __**

__ STUDENT TARDINESS: __ Being prepared and on time are valuable life skills. We work hard to teach the importance of these skills in school. The warning bell goes five minutes before school begins. This gives students time to take off their coats, get their materials and arrive in class ready to work. When students are late, teachers lose teaching time, and often, it is disruptive for the whole class. We understand that some lates cannot be avoided. Extenuating circumstances may excuse a student for tardiness (late school buses or medical appointments, etc). In the instance of a medical appointment, a student must present a note from a parent to be excused unless the teacher has already received an email. If a student arrives late in the morning, he/she must report to class immediately after signing in at the office. We strongly encourage our students to be punctual in order for them to be successful. If a student is tardy on a regular basis, the parent will be contacted to initiate a plan to remedy the situation.

__ ABSENCES __

// Absences: // Please appreciate that the preparation of alternate assignments, re-teaching material, marking, discussing assignments for understanding and presenting tests and quizzes for a student who will not be attending class is extremely time consuming for teachers. There are many class activities that cannot be duplicated for students who are absent. We ask that you try to schedule medical and dental appointments outside of school hours. If you are planning an extended vacation, if possible, please try to coincide with the time that school is not in session so as to minimize the disruption to your child’s learning.

There will be times when it is not possible to give students work ahead of time. Students are to utilize their **study buddies, web site, and homework boards immediately upon their return** (i.e. at lunch or before school).

// Sports Events, Medical Appointments, Other Short Absences: // If your child is competing in a sport or has any previously arranged commitments, the onus will be on the student to catch up on the missed work or do it ahead of time if possible. I fully support athletics and encourage athletes to manage their limited time appropriately.

__ STUDY BUDDIES: __ Students will choose a partner in their own homeroom to be a study buddy. It would be preferable for partners to live close to each other. When a student knows he or she will be absent, the study buddy should be contacted before the absence to remind him/her to pick up any missed work. If a child is away sick, the buddy is responsible for completing the “My Study Buddy’s Away Today” sheet, and recording work done, With the due dates, etc. The **absent buddy** is responsible for picking up the missed work from the study buddy and completing it prior to returning to class. Using the web site for missed homework or phoning to study buddy are also ways to get your missing assignments.

__ LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND HOMEWORK __

Each of the intermediate teachers will explain their policy regarding work that is handed in late. Generally, an assignment that is not handed in on time will be completed during lunch hour and recess until it is ready for submission. Intermediate teachers will assign approximately 30 minutes of homework per day. Incomplete homework can affect a student’s mark for Health and Careers 7, but most importantly will have a negative effect on learning!

__ STUDENT AGENDA USE __

Using the agenda well is an essential tool for success in grades 6 & 7. Students will be expected to maintain a current and accurate record of all tasks and due dates in their agendas. Lost agendas must be replaced immediately, either with a new one, or a suitable notebook or binder.

STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY: parents can check each assignment for completion (note: “math” is not enough! “math - p 23 #1-12, due Sept. 14th” is expected) checked for completion
 * record all assigned homework with each due date and enough detail that
 * complete the assigned work and have parent initial the agenda that homework has been
 * bring work and agenda to school ready to turn in

TEACHER’S RESPONSIBILITY:
 * review homework and check that homework is completed
 * agendas will not usually be signed by teacher unless there are concerns

PARENT’S RESPONSIBILITY: has been seen.
 * request to see agenda & homework daily
 * match up completed assignments & initial agenda only AFTER completed homework

This process will not succeed unless all involved parties follow it through. Excellent organization is a life long skill that will serve our students well in their school career and into the future.

September 22, 2014

Dear Parents of Grade Seven Students,

Thank you so much for being a part of our learning community! I look forward to working with you and your kids to make this a great year!

If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact either of your child’s teachers at the school. Please leave a message on our voice mail or e-mail. Keep an eye out for the upcoming information sheet on the teacher\parent night. If you wish to meet with one or all of the teachers privately, appointments can be arranged by contacting the teacher.

Please return this signed sheet to Ms. Ledingham. J


 * Parents and Students: **

We have read the “Welcome Back” letter on the Wiki together and understand the guidelines.

Student Name __Student Signature__

Parent Name ___ Parent Signature__

__** *It is very important that we have an email address that parents use in order to receive student updates and classroom and field trip information. **__

__**Parents’ e-mail address**__ **_ __**