Dear Parents and Students in Grades 4, 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 teaching Reading to Grades 6-8 and Social Studies to Grade 8. I will be the Homeroom teacher for Grade 4, but not actually teaching any of their classes. 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 6, at 5:30 PM.
This year we will be starting a new ELA program known as Ready Gen for Grades K-5 and My Perspectives for Grades 6-8. Reading and ELA will be taught together this year. There will 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 six 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 and 5 ELA, Reading, and Religion- Ms. Serewko
Grades 6-8 ELA and Reading- Ms. Toscano Larios
Grade 4 Math and Science- Mr. Badia
Grades 5-8 Math- Mr. Placido
Grades 5-8 Science- Mrs. Ramsey
Grades 4-7 Social Studies- Mrs. Ramsey
Grade 8 Social Studies- Ms. Toscano Larios
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and I look forward to seeing you on September 6th.
Sincerely,
Donna Toscano Larios
Reminders:
Wednesday, September 6th: Parent-Teacher Meeting at 5:30 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 before Monday,9/11- please send all forms back in the folder that you receive them in.
Thursday, September 7th- First Day of Classes 8:00-3:15 (line up in the backyard before 7:55 AM). All students should have their school supplies, bookbag, and must be in full uniform.
Friday, September 8th- 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. Also in the parent’s packet is an academic contract, parent’s handbook, Internet usage form, a yearly calendar, photo release form, textbook loan form, technology usage form, 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 Monday, Sept.11 in the folder you received them in. Please do not return the calendar or Parent Handbook. They are for you to keep.
2. All school supplies should be in by Thursday, 9/7. (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 in 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.
4. Check your child’s notebooks, folder, and book bag every day to see what is going on in class, or if there are any notes from teachers concerning homework or classwork, and make sure that he/she has all the necessary supplies every 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 calendar, the school blog, and the Parent Handbook carefully. Also, check your child’s grades on Cornerstone (EDUCATE), so you know right away if your child is having any problems in school. There is a new URL for Cornerstone (EDUCATE), and you will need to get a password to have access to your child’s grades.
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 after school 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.
10. Gym for Grade 4 is on Tuesdays and Fridays. If there are any changes, I will post it on the blog.
