Dear Parents and Students in Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8,
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you back to school. I hope that you had an enjoyable and restful summer vacation. I will be the Homeroom Teacher of Grade 4 and teaching ELA/Reading to Grades 6,7, and 8, and Social Studies to Grades 5,7, and 8. Reminders, some general information, school rules and regulations are listed below. If you have any questions concerning any of these, I will be happy to address them at the Parent /Teacher Meeting on Wednesday, September 5, at 5:00 PM.
This year we will be using the My Perspectives Program for ELA/Reading in Grades 6-8. We will also be using the Voyages Program for extra practice in grammar and writing. There might be other changes to the different curriculums, so it is important to check the teachers’ blogs frequently. The school blog site address is http://olqmnyc.blogspot.com/. You must check all the teachers' blogs (any teacher that teaches your child) to keep updated about tests, assignments, and projects in each of the five subject areas. Your child is responsible for all work, tests, or projects, even when he/she is absent Remember, the blog is updated by each teacher every day, so it should be checked every evening. The following is a list of your child’s teachers and the subjects they teach:
Grade 4:
Homeroom-Ms. Toscano (Larios)
ELA/Reading- Ms. Serewko
Math and Social Studies- Ms. Wong
Science-Mr. Montas
Religion- Ms. Coello
Religion- Ms. Coello
Music- Ms. Alma
Gym- Mr. Bonilla
Grade 5:
Homeroom-Ms. Serewko
Religion and ELA/Reading- Ms. Serewko
Social Studies- Ms. Toscano (Larios)
Science-Mr. Montas
Math- Mr. Placido
Music- Ms. Alma
Gym- Mr. Bonilla
Grade 6:
Homeroom-Mr. Montas
Religion- Ms. Serewko
ELA/Reading- Ms. Toscano (Larios)
Science-Mr. Montas
Math- Mr. Placido
Music- Ms. Alma
Gym- Mr. Bonilla
Grades 7 and 8
Homeroom-Mr. Placido
Religion- Ms. Serewko
ELA/Reading and Social Studies- Ms. Toscano (Larios)
Science-Mr. Montas
Math- Mr. Placido
Music- Ms. Alma
Gym- Mr. Bonilla
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and I look forward to seeing you on September 5th.
Sincerely,
Donna Toscano
Reminders for Grade 4:
Wednesday, September 5th: Parent-Teacher Meeting at 5:00 PM in your child’s homeroom class. (You will be given a folder containing forms that need to be filled out, signed, and returned to the Homeroom teacher by Monday, 9/10- please send all forms back in the folder that you receive them in.
Thursday, September 6th- First Day of Classes 8:00-3:15 (line up in the backyard before 7:55AM). All students should have their school supplies, bookbag, and must be in full uniform. If your child would like to bring their own lunch box with lunch or a snack that is fine.
Friday, September 7th- Regular school day, 8:00-3:15.
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. You must list the name of someone that we can contact if there is an emergency or your child gets sick and needs to be picked up. There are also other forms that need your signature. Please complete all forms and return them no later than Monday, Sept.10 in the folder you received them in. Please do not return the forms that you do not need to sign or fill out. They are for you to keep.
2. All school supplies should be in by Thursday, 9/6. (If your child does not have the necessary materials, he/she cannot be expected to do the necessary work).
3. Please cover all soft covered books, and maybe add some cardboard, 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. For grades 6-8, the Reading Text which is soft-covered should be placed in a binder, so the pages don’t rip out (see the supply list on my blog).
4. Check your child’s notebooks, folder, and bookbag every day to see what is going on in class, or if there are any notes from teachers concerning homework or classwork. Please make sure that your c completes his/her homework each day and has all the necessary supplies each day.
5. Please send a note when your child is absent or when you need to pick he/she up early from school. If the school does not receive an absence note, your child will be marked illegally absent. If your child is sick for few days try to have someone come to school to pick up books needed to complete 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 the assignments once they return to school.
6. Please read the monthly and yearly calendar, the school blog and teachers’ blogs, and the Parent Handbook carefully. Also check your child’s grades on Cornerstone (EDUCATE), so that you know right away if your child is having any problems in school. Mr. Woods will let parents know when passwords are available.
7. Please make sure that your child is on time for school each day. If he/she is late, they must get a late pass before going to class.
8. All students should be in full uniform each day unless otherwise specified on the blog or IRIS alert. That means shoes, socks, school sweaters, vests (for girls), 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 at school on time, and being respectful to classmates and school staff are other criteria which are evaluated when determining your child’s character development grade.
9. Detention will be served during lunchtime and afterschool by any student who breaks school or class rules such as misbehaving in class, not completing homework or classwork, or not signing notes or test papers. Parents will be notified if their child must stay for afterschool detention.
10. My blog will list reminders/information/important events for my homeroom first (4th grade) and then list homework, tests, and projects for the classes that I teach.
