August 15, 2012
Dear Parents and Students,
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you back to school. I hope that you had and enjoyable and restful summer vacation. I will be teaching Reading to grades 5-8, and Social Studies to grades 7 and 8. Reminders, some general information /school rules and regulations, and school supplies are listed below. If you have any questions concerning any of these, I will be happy to discuss them at the Parent Teacher Meeting on September 4th.
As you know, the core curriculum is being implemented this year, and the Reading/ELA curriculum will be different. The children will be responsible to buy the books that the state is requiring them to read in order to satisfy these new standards. I will list below the names of the books that we will be reading for the First Quarter and the estimated cost of these books. I can order these books for you or you can purchase them yourself. If you would like me to order books for your child, please send the money in an envelope with your child’s name and grade on it by September 6. I will be ordering the books on Thursday, 9/6. It is very important that your child has a copy of the book the class is reading, because he/she will be using it in class and at home.
Please check the blog frequently, so you can keep yourself updated on what your child is doing in each class in terms of homework assignments, tests, and projects. The school blog site address ishttp://olqmnyc.blogspot.com/. You must check all four teachers' blogs to keep updated about tests, assignments, and projects in each of the six subject areas.
Enjoy the remaining weeks of vacation and I will see you on September 4th.
Sincerely,
Donna Toscano Larios
Reminders:
September 4th- Parent-Teacher Meeting at 7:00 PM in your child’s homeroom. (You will be given a folder containing forms that need to be filled out, signed, and returned to the Homeroom teacher by Friday, 9/7- please send all forms back in the manila folder that they came in).
September 5th- First Day of Classes (line up in the backyard before 8:00AM).
September 6th- Money due if you wish to order books for the first quarter (in an envelope with your child’s name and grade).
General Information/School Rules and Regulations:
1. Please sign all papers distributed in the parent packet. You will receive two emergency cards to fill out. Fill out all parts including the mother and father’s name even if you are not living together. Include the following information: phone numbers- including cell #’s, whom to contact in case of an emergency, and remember to fill out the back of each card and sign the bottom. Also, in the parent’s packet is an academic contract, parent’s handbook, Internet usage form, Sept. calendar, photo release, textbook loan, technology usage, HW rubric, a general field trip consent form, and a parent signature sheet for the Handbook. Please complete all forms and return them to me no later than Friday, Sept.7 in the folder you received them in. Please do not return the September calendar, Parent Handbook, and the HW rubric. They are for your own information.
2. All school supplies should also be in by Thursday, 9/6.
3. Please cover all soft covered books, preferably with a transparent cover so the books do not rip. If they are broken and you can fix them, please feel free to do so. Please make sure your child’s name is on each book. It is very important to cover the books because the soft-covered books break very easily and pages start to fall out.
4. Check your child’s notebooks, folder and backpack everyday to see what is going on in class, and make sure that he/she has all the necessary supplies.
5. Please send me a note when your child is absent or when you need to pick him/her up early from school. If I do not receive an absence note, your child will be marked illegally absent. If your child is sick for few days try to send someone to pick books needed to make up the work your child has missed. All students are responsible to turn in any assignments missed while they are absent from school. They will be given one or two days to complete these assignments after they return to school.
6. Please read the monthly calendar, the school blog, and the Parent Handbook carefully.
7. Your child should lineup in the backyard in the morning before 8:00 AM. The class will be dismissed each day at 3:00 PM Monday-Friday. Please read the school calendar for any early dismissals.
8. Please make sure that your child is on time for school each day. If your child is late more than two times per quarter, he/she will not be able to receive Honors. In addition, he/she will not be allowed into class without getting a late pass.
9. All students should be in full uniform each day, unless otherwise specified on the blog or in the purple assignment book. That means shoes, socks, sweaters, having the proper haircut (boys), etc. This is all stated in the Parent's Handbook. Good conduct, effort, keeping belongings neat and organized, completing homework and classwork assignments, arriving to school on time, and being respectful to classmates and school staff are other criteria which are evaluated when determining whether a student will receive Honors.
10. Detention is given to any student that breaks school or class rules such as misbehaving in class, not completing homework or classwork, or not signing notes or test papers.
Supply List for Grades 8
Reading and Social Studies:
4 Marble Notebooks (should have 100 or more sheets). Spiral Notebooks will not be accepted!
3 2pocket folders- plastic is more durable (pockets should be on the bottom, not on the side). Two will stay in school for tests, and the other will be used for HW (Reading and Social Studies)
2 packages on 3x5 lined index cards (white) – You will need about six zip lock bags to keep your index cards in (one bag for each unit)
Lots of looseleaf
1 USB drive (can be shared with other classes)
Blue or Black pens
Red pens
Package of colored pencils
Sharpened pencils with erasers
Scissor
Ruler
Glue
Some type of case to keep pencils, pens, glue, colored pencils, etc. in.
Book covers (transparent if possible)
1 large box of tissues
Hand sanitizer for them (to be kept in the bookbag)
Books to purchase for Unit 1 (September- Mid-October):
1. The Great Fire by Jim Murphy
*If you would like me to order for you, please bring in $9.00 in an envelope with your name and grade by Thursday, September 6.
All supplies must be in by Thursday, September 6 or if you can purchase them by the first day of school (Weds. 9/5) that would be great since there is a full day of school!
Supply List for Grades 7
Reading and Social Studies:
4 Marble Notebooks (should have 100 or more sheets). Spiral Notebooks will not be accepted!
3 2pocket folders- plastic is more durable (pockets should be on the bottom, not on the side). Two will stay in school for tests, and the other will be used for HW (Reading and Social Studies)
2 packages on 3x5 lined index cards (white) – You will need about six zip lock bags to keep your index cards in (one bag for each unit)
Lots of looseleaf
1 USB drive (can be shared with other classes)
Blue or Black pens
Red pens
Package of colored pencils
Sharpened pencils with erasers
Scissor
Ruler
Glue
Some type of case to keep pencils, pens, glue, colored pencils, etc. in.
Book covers (transparent if possible)
1 large box of tissues
Hand sanitizer for them (to be kept in the bookbag)
Books to purchase for Unit 1 (September -Mid October):
1. Crispin: The Cross of Lead by AVI
2. Anna of Byzantium by Tracy Barrett
*If you would like me to order for you, please bring in $14.00 in an envelope with your name and grade by Thursday, September 6.
All supplies must be in by Thursday, September 6 or if you can purchase them by the first day of school (Weds. 9/5) that would be great since there is a full day of school!
Supply List for Grades 6
Reading:
2 Marble Notebooks (should have 100 or more sheets). Spiral Notebooks will not be accepted!
2 2pocket folders- plastic is more durable (pockets should be on the bottom, not on the side). Two will stay in school for tests, and the other will be used for HW (Reading and Social Studies)
2 packages on 3x5 lined index cards (white) – You will need about six zip lock bags to keep your index cards in (one bag for each unit)
Lots of looseleaf
1 USB drive (can be shared with other classes)
Blue or Black pens
Red pens
Package of colored pencils
Sharpened pencils with erasers
Scissor
Ruler
Glue
Some type of case to keep pencils, pens, glue, colored pencils, etc. in.
Book covers (transparent if possible)
1 large box of tissues
Hand sanitizer for them (to be kept in the bookbag)
Books to purchase for Unit 1 (September- Mid-October):
1. Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
*If you would like me to order for you, please bring in $12.00 in an envelope with your name and grade by Thursday, September 6.
All supplies must be in by Thursday, September 6 or if you can purchase them by the first day of school (Weds. 9/5) that would be great since there is a full day of school!
Supply List for Grades 5
Reading:
2 Marble Notebooks (should have 100 or more sheets). Spiral Notebooks will not be accepted!
2 2pocket folders- plastic is more durable (pockets should be on the bottom, not on the side). Two will stay in school for tests, and the other will be used for HW (Reading and Social Studies)
2 packages on 3x5 lined index cards (white) – You will need about six zip lock bags to keep your index cards in (one bag for each unit)
Lots of looseleaf
1 USB drive (can be shared with other classes)
Blue or Black pens
Red pens
Package of colored pencils
Sharpened pencils with erasers
Scissor
Ruler
Glue
Some type of case to keep pencils, pens, glue, colored pencils, etc. in.
Book covers (transparent if possible)
1 large box of tissues
1 roll of paper towel
1 container of Lysol or Clorox disinfectant wipes
Hand sanitizer for them (to be kept in the bookbag)
Books to purchase for Unit 1 (September- Mid- October):
1. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer
2. Who Was Jackie Robinson? by Gail Herman, Nancy Harrison, and John O'Brien
3. Who Was Thomas Alva Edison? by Margaret Frith, John O'Brien, and Nancy Harrison
*If you would like me to order for you, please bring in $18.00 in an envelope with your name and grade by Thursday, September 6.
All supplies must be in by Thursday, September 6 or if you can purchase them by the first day of school (Weds. 9/5) that would be great since there is a full day of school!
