Saint Boniface Catholic School
Welcome to Fifth Grade!

I want this year to be fun, exciting, and successful for your child. One area we will work on is organization and self-discipline.
Parents are the foundation of all education. I strongly believe open communication between parents, students, and teacher is of utmost importance. Feel free to leave a message in the office during school hours and I will do my best to call back during my planning period. The school phone number is 479-783-6601.

The following are some of the policies we will be following this year:

ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOK As assignment spiral is a required supply for your student. Students are required to write all assignments down. I will check the notebook everyday for a parent signature. 
HOMEWORK: Students will have homework. The amount of homework depends on how quickly one does his/her work in class, the effort put forth during the day, and if there are any tests to study for that night. Students should read 20-30 minutes each evening.

ASSIGNMENTS All assignments are due on time. An unfinished assignment or lost assignment will receive a zero. It is important that all students be organized. All work and books taken home need to be placed in a location where they will not be forgotten the next morning. Parents need to supervise and help students with this organizational skill.

STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CALL HOME FOR FORGOTTEN BOOKS, PAPERS, FRIDAY FOLDERS, LIBRARY BOOKS, etc.
ABSENCE In case of a medical absence, students will have three days to make up missed assignments. You may pick up the student’s assignments at the end of each day.

FIELD TRIPS All field trips are a privilege. Students with low grades, poor behavior, and/or poor attitude will not be allowed to participate.

FRIDAY FOLDER On Friday, or the last day of the week, your child’s papers and any notices from the office will be sent home in the Friday Folder. Please be sure to look at every paper. Students will be bringing home graded papers and tests each week. Be sure to check their subject spirals also for graded work weekly.

PARTIES There are two scheduled class parties. These are Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Homeroom mothers are responsible for organizing the treats and bringing it to the classroom the morning of the party.

BIRTHDAYS Students are welcome to bring treats on their birthdays. Please bring individual treats that we will eat in the cafeteria. Please check with me beforehand to see if any students have special dietary needs.

GRADES The grades in each subject are a combination of daily work, quizzes, tests, and completing homework on time.
ST. BONIFACE GRADING SCALE
93-100 A
85-92 B
77-84 C
70-76 D
Below 70 F

DISCIPLINE
Each fifth grade student has certain rights and responsibilities.
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Everyone has:
1. The right to live safely
2. The right to learn
3. The responsibility to be polite
4. The responsibility to be honest
5. The responsibility to use time wisely

The basic rules for fifth grade are:
1. Respect yourself and others
2. Be courteous and quiet
3. Contribute to the learning environment
4. Follow classroom procedures
5. Practice self-discipline skills

The visual tool used to reinforce positive behavior is filling in “The Book” with their name and what their behavior was after a verbal warning. By placing their name in the book it means they will be standing on the fence at recess for 5 minutes. Parents are welcome to view “The Book” with their child’s name at any time.

FIFTEEN SELF-DISCIPLINE SKILLS
1. Listen
2. Follow instructions
3. Ask appropriate questions
4. Share: time, space, people, and items
5. Use Social skills
6. Cooperate with others
7. Understand rules and reasons for rules
8. Complete a task
9. Leadership
10. Communication
11. Organize time
12. Resolve problems
13. Initiate solutions
14. Separate fact from feelings
15. Sacrifice for others

Classroom Procedures

Be Prompt
You need to be in your seat and ready to go to work at 8:00. This means you need to arrive in plenty of time to turn in your work, sharpen your pencils, and have your books and supplies in order.
Roll call and lunch count will begin immediately following the second bell.
Morning devotion will begin over the intercom. Anytime a message comes over the intercom, stop what you are doing and listen to the entire message.

Morning checklist:
1. Turn in assignments: Assignments should be turned into the appropriate tray in number order. Assignments are due the next morning unless stated otherwise.
2. Make sure everything I need is at my desk:
3. Supplies I should have at my desk at all times are sharpened pencils, red ink pen, handwriting paper, assignment pad, loose-leaf paper, morning books, and spirals in the morning; afternoon books and spirals in the afternoon; and something to read.
If you come to school late (after 8:00 a.m.), stop and get a tardy slip in the office. Come in the classroom as quietly as possible, hand me the slip, and continue to follow the classroom procedures.

Be Prepared
You will find the turn in trays, pencil sharpener, stapler, and extra school supplies in the assignment work area.
There will be a five-minute break after recess, after lunch, and in the afternoon. Use this time to sharpen pencils, and trade out books. In addition, restock supplies (as you need them) from the assignment work area. Remember; restock before you run out.

Be Prudent
Do not bring anything to school that is not an approved school supply. If you have anything in your locker, backpack, or desk, the teacher will collect it and a parent will need to pick it up. The only exception would be a cell phone, which must be OFF until after school.

Restroom Breaks
Restroom breaks are in the morning, after lunch, and in the afternoon. We go together as a class. Students should not plan to leave the room unless there is a medical emergency.

Daily and Homework Assignments
Daily assignments will be written on the board. There will always be an independent work assignment for you each morning. Additional assignments are added as we learn throughout the day. As you finish each assignment, you may turn it into the tray in numbered order.

Homework assignments will also be posted on the board and reviewed each day before we dismiss. Homework assignments must be written in the assignment pad. Homework will be turned into the tray the following morning. (See morning checklist.)

Make-up Work
If you are absent, your assignments will be ready for pick up at the end of the day. You have three days to make up any work assigned during an excused absence. Turn any make-up work to the appropriate folder on my desk.

Respectful Attitude
Students are to maintain a respectful attitude at all times. Respect yourself and others.

Do not interrupt when someone else is speaking. I use name cards to call on students to respond to questions and make comments. That way, each person gets a turn to speak and there is not the distraction of waving hands. When you raise your hand while someone else is speaking, that is interrupting.

Be respectful during cooperative teamwork. The three procedures for cooperative teamwork are as follows: Do not leave your group. Do not interrupt someone who is speaking. Everyone gets a turn to speak. When you work together in a group, the results of the learning should be greater and higher quality than if you work alone.

Be respectful of other students and adults when we are outside of the classroom. In the hallways, to and from church, from any assemblies, and in the restrooms we should be silent.

In the lunchroom, we will be silent with our trays and only talk quietly to the person on each side of us AFTER we take our trays.

Always be gracious in your response to adults. Say, “Yes, Ma’am” or Yes, Sir”, “Please, and “Thank you.” Another wonderful way to respond to your parents, teacher, and other adults who may ask for your help is to say, “I will be glad to help!” Wow! Look out when you say that! It is like magic.

Be Responsible
Fifth grade will have several additional responsibilities throughout the school year. If you have any type of job that requires you to leave the room, you should take care of your business in a timely manner while setting a good example for the other students you may encounter.

Several jobs will be performed by students throughout the day.
1. Lights- Turns off lights and make sure air is turned up at night.
2. Messenger- Delivers papers to the office and brings the books back to the library.
3. Board Eraser
4. Paper Distributor
5. Ball Bucket
6. Monitor


Be responsible during routine school wide drills. Line up and walk to assigned area
without running or talking. We are preparing for a situation that one day may not be a drill.
Be respectful walking to and from recess. Students should be quiet walking to recess,
Recess is twenty minutes. When you hear the whistle, stop what you are doing. Line up without talking. Walk in and get a drink without talking.
Be respectful when using the computers. Computers will be used for assignments and research. They are off-limits until you have my permission to work on an assignment.
Be respectful while others are working. If you finish your work and others are still working, you may free choice read or work on your journal. You may also work in the publishing area if you have a writing project that you are ready to publish.
Be respectful to the teacher. I do not like to have students crowded around my desk. If you need me during a silent work time, raise your hand and I will come to you. If I am working or in a conference with another student, do as much as you can on your own and I will come to you as soon as I can. Brainstorm solutions while you wait.
Be respectful to yourself.
Ask for His help.
You will be successful this year.
There is nothing in this world that can hold us down!
We have God, all the Angels, and the Saints ready and willing to lift
us up and show us the way!
HANDBOOK CONTRACT
I have reviewed the St. Boniface Catholic School Fifth grade handbook. I understand its contents and agree to adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the handbook.
Signatures:
Teacher: _____________________________________________________
Student: _____________________________________________________
Parents or Guardian: ___________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________