I.  Working Together

 All children want to do what is right and want to do things that please their parents and teachers. In order for this to occur, it is necessary for the children to understand what is expected of them and what is considered acceptable behavior in school.

Part of a teacher’s job is to help the student understand and meet these expectations. It is equally important for the teacher to be consistent in dealing with any behavior that is not acceptable in school.

During the first days in September, I will hold several discussions which will include the expectations, rules, and standards necessary for the class to function successfully, both academically and socially. After these expectations are explained, a student becomes responsible for his/her behavior and actions inside and outside of the classroom.

A student’s success in school depends on the cooperation and support among the student, parents and teachers. Maintaining communication throughout the year to meet the needs of each student is important. Encourage your child to talk about his/her school successes and concerns as they arise. Please feel free to contact me at school regarding any concerns or questions you might have. (A note in the homework pad is effective as well.)

By working together, we can make this year an enriching and rewarding experience for everyone.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Altomer

• All students are expected to do all work in cursive writing and in pencil, unless specifically told otherwise by the teacher.

• All students are expected to come to school prepared.

• All students are expected to come to school dressed appropriately. Hats will not be worn except for special occasions, so please leave them home.

• Upon entering fourth grade, all students are expected to have mastered their addition/subtraction facts for speed and accuracy. By the end of fourth grade, multiplication/division facts are to be mastered.

• All students are expected to take home any marked papers and show them to their parents. This is one way of keeping parents informed of a student’s progress.

• All students are expected to keep track of their class and homework assignments by regular use of the required assignment pad.

• All students are expected to come to school prepared to go outside for recess everyday. Be sure to wear warm clothing: a hat, gloves; and during snowy weather, extra pants or snow pants. A student will stay in for recess only by written parental request or by teacher decision.

• All students are expected to eat lunch daily, and should be prepared with either a bag lunch or money to buy lunch.

III.  Going Beyond the Three R’s

The following is a brief description of programs in your child’s fourth grade class. Several activities occur throughout the year while others are shorter in duration. Additional information will be coming as the programs begin.

• Cooperative Learning: This is a style of learning used in our classroom that focuses on social skills, group sharing and cooperation to accomplish tasks or goals. Students learn how to work together successfully using positive interaction and behavior throughout the year.
  
  Adventures of…: This project will be sent home and has to come back to school within two days. Inside the bag will be a character and a journal. All students will be responsible for completing a journal entry in the journal with their family. It could be a story, poem, song, mystery etc. Let your imaginations run wild!! Students will be responsible for writing in the journal and bringing it back to school promptly so the next person can have a turn. It is awesome to see the different styles of writing at the end of the year.  You are encouraged to be very creative!
  
  Science Labs: New York State’s syllabus emphasizes "hands-on science programs." Our fourth grade curriculum provides many activities and experiments that enable a student to explore the world of science. Many times an experiment will include a Science Write-up sheet that allows students to predict, show understanding, and draw conclusions about what was discovered during a science lab. Science units will include instruction in Light Energy, Sound Energy, Plant and Animal Communities, Machines and Energy, and States of Matter. The NYS science test will be administered in May.
  
  Computer Lab: Computers are the future of the 21^st century! In order to provide students with a knowledge base of this technology, one computer lab time per week is provided. This computer time will supplement any instruction during the course of that week and may apply to any subject. (Science, Reading, Social Studies, etc.)
  
  Assignment Planner: Each student is expected to use a homework planer to record all assignments daily. Its purpose is twofold: to build the student’s responsibility toward work completion and to open the lines of communication between parent and teacher. By parent-signing and teacher-stamping daily, both parent and teacher are immediately aware of any concern or needs that may occur. However, if students show that they can complete homework consistently then they may earn the privilege of not having the parent or teacher sign.
  
  Home Folders: Everyday a home folder will be sent back and forth between home and school containing your students work. You are able to write any comments in your child’s assignment planner and your child is responsible for bringing this folder home and toschool for me to check.

IV. Student Supplies Required for Mrs. Altomer’s Homeroom Class

The following supplies will be needed throughout the year. Please replace items as needed.

• $3.00 for bag to carry books from class to class  (In place of trapper keeper)
• $3.75 for Scholastic News
• $3.50 for assignment planner
• small scissors
• 4 two-pocket folders
• 2 one-subject notebooks
• 2 glue sticks
• 1 small paperback dictionary/thesaurus
• 24 #2 yellow pencils already sharpened
• 1 box of tissues
• Wide-ruled looseleaf paper
• Crayons/Washable markers (small box only)
• Ruler with metric measurement

V. Homework Policy

        Homework is a significant part of the educational development of every child in the elementary school. Homework is a learning responsibility that extends beyond the instructional day. Homework must:

• Be handed in promptly by due dates.
• Show evidence of thought and learning.
• Be neat and eligible with proper headings.
• Be orderly and completed.

If a student does not complete a homework assignment (without a valid written excuse from the parent/guardian), a note will be sent home for the parent/guardian to sign. The student is responsible for returning that note signed with the assignment in hand the next day. Students who complete all of the homework assignments with no written notes home will be awarded with a celebration every three weeks. This will be a treat chosen by the children.

*Blue slips go home every Thursday with a report on your child's progress throughout the week. If they miss homework they may miss Fun Friday.  

VI. Homework Requests

• Please do not request homework for a one-day absence. Most children can be caught up the next day. If your child is absent for more than one day, please call the school in the morning to let me know. If you request, I can send work home with another student or you can plan on picking it up after school in the office.  For planned absences, such as vacations, I WILL SAVE WORK FOR AFTER THE STUDENT’S RETURN and we can decide then what will be necessary to complete. Thank you for your understanding.

VII. Papers

• All work is to be done in PENCIL and in CURSIVE. Only special assignments may be written in pen when permission is given by the teacher. No writing may be done in crayon. Writing is to be done neatly. Papers will not be wrinkled or ripped and any fuzzy edges trimmed off. Correct headings are to be used on all papers in every class. The heading used by grade four is as follows: 

             VIII.  Dress Code

• Students will take pride in their appearance. Appropriate attire would include clothing that: sufficiently covers the body, is weather related, is sanitary, does not display offensive language or promote a negative attitude toward school, and does not jeopardize student safety. Hats will not be worn except for special occasions, so please leave them home.

*****Reminders*****

*When picking up your child, you must report to the office and sign your child out. The office will contact the teacher to release your child. No students will be released otherwise. This is for your child’s safety!

*When your child is absent, please send in an excuse on the following day.

To Contact Mrs. Altomer, Click on the Mailbox!