parent information & policies
Transportation: Please make sure your child knows how he/she is getting home each day. If there is a change in your child's usual transportation routine you must email OR send a note to Mrs.Theune in the office. Without the email/note, your child will go home according to their usual routine. No exceptions.
Absence: if your child is going to be absent, please call or email the office (616-846-5503) to let us know.
Recess: Students will go outside daily, weather permitting. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather.
Snacks: We will have one snack break during the day (plus 1 additional snack during instructional time). Please have your child bring in a dry, healthy snack. Nothing wet or messy.
Home-School folder: Your child should bring their home-school folder each day. Anything you see on the "Keep at Home" side of the folder is exactly that....yours to keep at home & deal with at your discretion. The other side of the folder says "Return to School." That is the side of the folder where you should find things that will need to be returned to school. It is HIGHLY recommended you go through the folder WITH your child daily to prevent throwing out any items that might still be needed in class.
Planner: Every Jeffers third grader is given a daily planner. Your student will record the schedule in his/her planner & make sure all needed materials are taken home. I will assist in this process each day.
- Each evening, please review the planner & initial it for that day only. This gives you the opportunity to monitor your child’s work habits & peak into how their day was spent.
- Please avoid using the planner as a communication tool between parent & teacher. To contact me, email is preferred.
Homework: Current research shows that having homework is NOT beneficial to student success. However, spending social time playing creatively CAN improve a child's intellect. So, as long as your child is using their time in class well, they should have little to no daily homework (less than 30 minutes). If you find your child is spending upwards of 30 minutes on homework daily, contact me immediately. Seriously.
- Assignments must be finished when they are due. Unfinished work will be completed during recess.
- Assignments missed due to absences will be made up after returning to school. If requested, I will send absent work home with a sibling or friend, but contact me before noon so that I have time to prepare the items.
Baggie Books: Your child's reading of "just-right" books is critical to their success. My purpose for baggie books is to provide your child with just-right books they can read AT HOME as part of their homework (see above). Please know your child should have a baggie book to read at home EVERY DAY. No exceptions.
Reading Log: As I get to know your child as a reader (which I hope to do as quickly as possible), I require a daily reading log. Please help your child keep track of their book title, page numbers read, and amount of minutes read. I understand this is cumbersome, but the information provided is invaluable to me!
Grades - Not all work will receive formal grades. Work done together in class & practice papers that students complete on their own are used to determine future instruction or serve as examples of student work habits. These papers might receive a STAR or an OK, perhaps with a note on how to improve.
Formal grades will be given on tests & final writing pieces and are used to determine your child's grades on their report card (which is sent home every 9 weeks or so).
Formal grading scale:
3=Proficient 2=Progressing 1=Beginning *=Modified Curriculum
Rest assured that I will keep you abreast of your child's academic performance in as timely a manner as I would expect from my own children's teachers. But never hesitate to ask either!!!
Formal grades will be given on tests & final writing pieces and are used to determine your child's grades on their report card (which is sent home every 9 weeks or so).
Formal grading scale:
3=Proficient 2=Progressing 1=Beginning *=Modified Curriculum
Rest assured that I will keep you abreast of your child's academic performance in as timely a manner as I would expect from my own children's teachers. But never hesitate to ask either!!!
Blog: I will do my best to send you weekly class updates via Seesaw. You will be notified when an update is made. I promise not to be too long winded!
Birthdays: Your child is welcome to bring in a birthday treat for snack time. Summer birthdays can be celebrated at the “half birthday” or on another prearranged day.
Birthday party invitations ABSOLUTELY MAY NOT be delivered anywhere at school unless the whole class is invited. This helps eliminate hurt feelings. I take this policy very seriously. Thank you for understanding.
Birthday party invitations ABSOLUTELY MAY NOT be delivered anywhere at school unless the whole class is invited. This helps eliminate hurt feelings. I take this policy very seriously. Thank you for understanding.
Classroom Parties: An email will be sent home for those parents wanting to plan class parties. I appreciate your help!
Volunteers: An email will be sent home for those who would like to volunteer. I welcome your help in our classroom. I will begin scheduling volunteers after our first few weeks of school. Please note: You must be scheduled IN ADVANCE in order to spend time in the classroom. Surprise visits are a disruption to student learning.