Absences: Please call the school at 233-4300 or email me if your child is going to be absent. When your child returns to school, he or she will need a written note explaining the absence. They will need to make up any work missed during the day(s) they missed.
Agendas: Each student will need to purchase an agenda at the beginning of the school year. They are responsible for recording homework, special events and other information in their agenda and bringing it to and from school daily. EACH NIGHT their agenda should be checked and signed. The agenda serves as a great tool for parent-teacher communication. Most importantly, they foster independence for students.
Allergies and Medication:If your child has any allergies, please let us know immediately. Also, let us know if there are any medications that need to be dispensed during school hours. These medicines MUST be given to the office along with the appropriate forms filled out by the physician. No medication can be kept in the classroom.
Arrival at Combs: Students may enter the classroom beginning at 8:00am. No students will be permitted in the classroom before this time. All children need a few minutes to unpack, watch the Combs Morning News and get prepared for the day. Instruction begins at 8:30. Please do your part to ensure that your child arrives on time for school!
Birthday Snacks: All birthday snacks must be store bought. This is a WCPSS policy. Birthday treats will be eaten during our daily snack time. If you plan on sending in a snack, please email me or send a note via agendas at least a few days prior to your child's birthday.
Birthday Party Invitations: Please do not send invitations to school unless the entire class is invited. We will try to send home a class directory in September.
Breakfast and Lunch Hours of Operation: Breakfast and lunch will be served daily in the dining room. Breakfast is available from 8:00 to 8:30 and costs $1.00. Our lunch will be from 12:30 - 1:00 and costs $2.00. You are welcome to join your child for lunch. Please make sure to sign in the front office before making way to the dining room. We will meet you there! There is a special visitor's table where you and your child may sit. They may also invite another friend to enjoy lunch with you!
Lunch Money: If your third grader's lunch account is low, the dining room staff will send home a slip of paper with the remaining balance. A child will never miss lunch due to a low account. You may send in cash or check made out to A.B. Combs Elementary. Students are responsible for taking their lunch money to the dining room.
Newsletters: Newsletters will go out through e-mail bi-weekly. Make sure you are on our e-mail list and read the newsletter for important information about curriculum, upcoming events, and student work!
Online Lunch Accounts: Check out the following link (http://www.mylunchmoney.com) and click "enroll now" and search for Combs/Wake County. This is a way for you to manage your child's lunch account online. Lunch menus will be sent home monthly in Friday folders.
Classroom Economy: Your students will be actively involved in a year-long economy unit. The children will have classroom jobs while earning credits and debits throughout the day. All students will have their own account books to manage. At the end of each pay period, I will issue checks to each student. Students will cash their checks at the Combs Classroom Bank (CCB). They will also have the opportunity to visit our class store monthly. Students will take turns serving as the class economist at our store. Throughout the year, the children will learn economic lessons that include decision making, opportunity cost, supply and demand, and inflation.
Conferences: We will hold conferences towards the end of the first quarter (mid-October). However, if you would like a conference sooner, please just let me know. Also, we will have student-led conferences later in the spring.
Covey Habits:We incorporate the Covey habits into all aspects of the school day. In third grade, we focus on one Covey habit each week. During the morning meeting, we share examples of how to use the Covey Habits throughout the day and highlight students who have shown a habit. It is exciting to see the children applying the habits first hand! You'll notice that once the children have a solid understanding of the habits, they become second nature at school and home!
Habit 1: Be Proactive--Stop, think & make a good choice. You are in control of you!
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind--Set a goal and work hard to achieve it.
Habit 3: Put First Things First--Do the most important thing first. Work before you play.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win--Do whats best for you and your friends. Everyone should be happy.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood--Listen to your friends first and care about what they are saying.
Habit 6: Synergize--Work together
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw--Have fun and take care of yourself!
Habit 8: Find Your Voice--Explore what you're good at and express yourself.
Visit the Leader in Me website at: http://www.theleaderinme.org
Read Sean Covey's book: The Seven Habits of Happy Kids
Dismissal: Walkers are dismissed at 3:00 with an announcement. They will leave through the media center. Bus riders will stay in the room until they are called by bus color via an announcement. The bus colors will also show up on the classroom TV. Bus riders should leave through the front door of the school. For the first 10 days, each bus rider will wear a sticker that shows their bus information. The YMCA is released at 3:10 with a bell. These students should report directly to the gym. Carpool students will go to the dining room and be dismissed when there carpool number is called. They will then leave through the dining room doors and head to the carpool circle. All carpool students are to be picked up by 3:20pm.
End of Grade Testing: Your third grader will be taking the North Carolina End of Grade Tests this year in May. This is often a major area of stress for both students and parents. First and foremost...BREATHE! I work very hard to assure the children that this is nothing more than 2 days of showing what we have learned throughout the year. In fact, we hold an "I can't" funeral at the beginning of the school. We will have practice tests and problems throughout the year to prepare the students. There will also be parent information sessions and EOG power nights later in the year. If you are looking for more information, please visit the NC-DPI webiste.
Field Trips: We will be taking several field trips this year. You will hear more about them at Curriculum Night.
Here are a few things parents need to know to make sure we all have a great time on our field trips this year.
Third Graders should:
-Turn in signed permission slip
-Dress appropriately for the field trip (comfortable shoes/clothes)
-Bring a packed lunch or fill out a lunch form
-Arrive at school on time
Parents should:
-Sign permission slip and turn in money
-Make sure their child has a lunch from home or school
-Make sure their third grader arrives on time
-Notify teacher in advance if you want to chaperone. All chaperones MUST be cleared in advance.
Chaperones:
Thank you for volunteering your time and energy. Hare are some DO'S and DON'Ts...
DO:
-DO bring your child to school that day. They must be accounted for on the schools attendance.
-DO plan on following behind the buses or meeting us at our destination. By law, parents cannot ride with us on the bus nor do we have enough space for all students, teachers and chaperones.
-DO be prompt to specific meeting areas and times. Always bring a watch!
-DO have fun!
DON'T:
-DON'T bring younger or older siblings. We would love for your full attention, and responsibility as a chaperone, to be towards the students.
-DON'T forget to dress appropriately.
-DON'T forget to have volunteer clearance. You CANNOT go on a trip without this.
-DON'T plan on picking your child up after the trip without giving prior notice to the office and the teacher. This can be a hue safety issue.
On the day of the field trip, you will be given a group of students that will be under your care. In a chaperone packet, there will be driving directions, the day's schedule, a map and emergency supplies as needed. Get ready to have some fun!
Friday Folders:We will be sending home Friday folders each week. These folders need to be returned on Monday. Please make sure to go through the folder over the weekend with your child as it contains correspondences from the school, the class and some student work. Only papers or forms that require a response need to be returned.
Ground Rules:At the beginning of the year, as we are setting up our classroom community, we will create a set of ground rules. These are rules that we decide on together and we will follow throughout the year. These rules are important in making our classroom run smoothly and allow everyone to be a leader.
Homework: Students should plan on spending about 3o minutes a night on homework, Monday through Thursday.
Interims: Interims are sent home midway through each quarter. They are designed to periodically notify parents of a student's academic progress before a report card. The information on an interim mirrors what would be on the report card. Parents always have the option to request a conference to discuss the comments and suggestions on the interim. Only students who are demonstrating inconsistent performance (at or below a level 2) in any subject or conduct area will receive an interim after the first quarter. Please review and return the interim.
Jobs: During the first week of school, we will discuss jobs that we need in our classroom and how important it is complete your job daily and/or weekly. We have to synergize to make sure our classroom is efficient and effective!
Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS): In keeping with our Mission: "to develop leaders, one child at a time", our behavior management program is Positive Behavior Intervention Support. PBIS is a system of management developed to "support high student performance". It is a proactive and outcomes based system.
Quality Tools: Quality Tools are another part of our Leadership Model. The quality tools help us collect, display and use information. They also help us organize our thinking. You'll find lots of charts around our classroom and with your student's work. Some examples of quality tools are: lotus diagram, affinity diagram, fishbone diagram, flowchart, bone diagram (drivers & restrainers), and a bubble map.
Questions, Comments, Concerns...If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am here to partner with you in helping your child throughout the year! You can send a note with your child, write in the agenda, call the school & leave a message (919.233.4300) or email me ([email protected]). If you would like a conference, please let me know sometimes you are available so we can set up a time. I am not available for impromptu conferences. I will respond to your question, comment or concern within 24 hours.
Report Cards: Your child will receive four report cards this year. They will be sent home at the end of each quarter (early November, end of January, beginning of April, and the last day of school). Report cards showcase your child's progress in reading, writing, math, science and social studies as well as conduct and work habits. There is also a section for teacher comments. The report card will be sent home in an envelope that will be used the entire year. Please review the report card, sign and return it after the first three quarters.
Wake County uses the Standards Based Grading. Students may receive a 1, 2, 3, 3* or 4 on their report card for core subjects. These are not equivalent to an A, B, C...so please do not base it on what a majority of us had growing up.
Standards Based Grading Description:
1--Not meeting benchmark for the quarter. Performing below grade level standards.
2--Needs support to meet benchmarks for the quarter. Showing inconsistent performance.
3--Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards. Meeting benchmark for the designated quarter.
3*--Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards with evidence of application.
4--Demonstrating performance above grade level by extending targeted grade level standards.
Scholastic Book Orders: I will send home Scholastic Book Order fliers in Friday Folders monthly. You will have the chance to order online or use the forms and send a check in a sealed envelope. All checks should be made out to Scholatic Book Orders. Please take advantage of these book orders because there are great books at great prices and our class earns free books to add to our library collection. If you would like to order some books as a present for your child, please just let me know!
Snack:We will have snack daily around 10am. Please send your child with a healthy snack (no candy) and a water bottle. We will try to have emergency snack in case anyone forgets theirs as well. If you would like to donate snack, that would be appreciated!
Technology in the Classroom:We will be using a lot of technology in our classroom this year. Please know that your children are supervised at all times and that our Wake County system blocks inappropriate sites. At the beginning of the year parents are required to sign a lot of paperwork for their students. One of the forms is the Internet Parent Request to DENY access. Please do not sign this unless you don't want your child to have internet access. If you are considering this option, please contact me. Technology is very important and incorporated into our daily routine.
Transportation: Please make sure your child knows how he or she will be getting home daily. It is important for your child to be responsible for his/her carpool number, bus color or after-school taxi. If you have a transportation change, please write a note in your child's agenda and send it with your child in the morning. Please also send a note if your child is leaving early for a doctor's appointment, etc. If the change takes place during the day, please email me or call the school and leave a message in the office (919.233.4300). They will pass on the information to me. IMPORTANT: If I do not have a note, your child must go home by their normal means of transportation.
Volunteers: We love our volunteers! We can always use an extra hand. The PTA always needs your support as well! You can help in the classroom with students or by sending in supplies for projects or completing a project at home. All volunteers in our classroom MUST have clearance with Wake County. You can use a computer at school to fill out the application. It takes a few weeks for the process, so please be proactive and get it completed early. If you completed the volunteer clearance last year, please remember that it needs to be updated yearly. I will send home more information about volunteering after the first few weeks of school. Please understand that the first few weeks are important as we establish routines and procedures.
Agendas: Each student will need to purchase an agenda at the beginning of the school year. They are responsible for recording homework, special events and other information in their agenda and bringing it to and from school daily. EACH NIGHT their agenda should be checked and signed. The agenda serves as a great tool for parent-teacher communication. Most importantly, they foster independence for students.
Allergies and Medication:If your child has any allergies, please let us know immediately. Also, let us know if there are any medications that need to be dispensed during school hours. These medicines MUST be given to the office along with the appropriate forms filled out by the physician. No medication can be kept in the classroom.
Arrival at Combs: Students may enter the classroom beginning at 8:00am. No students will be permitted in the classroom before this time. All children need a few minutes to unpack, watch the Combs Morning News and get prepared for the day. Instruction begins at 8:30. Please do your part to ensure that your child arrives on time for school!
Birthday Snacks: All birthday snacks must be store bought. This is a WCPSS policy. Birthday treats will be eaten during our daily snack time. If you plan on sending in a snack, please email me or send a note via agendas at least a few days prior to your child's birthday.
Birthday Party Invitations: Please do not send invitations to school unless the entire class is invited. We will try to send home a class directory in September.
Breakfast and Lunch Hours of Operation: Breakfast and lunch will be served daily in the dining room. Breakfast is available from 8:00 to 8:30 and costs $1.00. Our lunch will be from 12:30 - 1:00 and costs $2.00. You are welcome to join your child for lunch. Please make sure to sign in the front office before making way to the dining room. We will meet you there! There is a special visitor's table where you and your child may sit. They may also invite another friend to enjoy lunch with you!
Lunch Money: If your third grader's lunch account is low, the dining room staff will send home a slip of paper with the remaining balance. A child will never miss lunch due to a low account. You may send in cash or check made out to A.B. Combs Elementary. Students are responsible for taking their lunch money to the dining room.
Newsletters: Newsletters will go out through e-mail bi-weekly. Make sure you are on our e-mail list and read the newsletter for important information about curriculum, upcoming events, and student work!
Online Lunch Accounts: Check out the following link (http://www.mylunchmoney.com) and click "enroll now" and search for Combs/Wake County. This is a way for you to manage your child's lunch account online. Lunch menus will be sent home monthly in Friday folders.
Classroom Economy: Your students will be actively involved in a year-long economy unit. The children will have classroom jobs while earning credits and debits throughout the day. All students will have their own account books to manage. At the end of each pay period, I will issue checks to each student. Students will cash their checks at the Combs Classroom Bank (CCB). They will also have the opportunity to visit our class store monthly. Students will take turns serving as the class economist at our store. Throughout the year, the children will learn economic lessons that include decision making, opportunity cost, supply and demand, and inflation.
Conferences: We will hold conferences towards the end of the first quarter (mid-October). However, if you would like a conference sooner, please just let me know. Also, we will have student-led conferences later in the spring.
Covey Habits:We incorporate the Covey habits into all aspects of the school day. In third grade, we focus on one Covey habit each week. During the morning meeting, we share examples of how to use the Covey Habits throughout the day and highlight students who have shown a habit. It is exciting to see the children applying the habits first hand! You'll notice that once the children have a solid understanding of the habits, they become second nature at school and home!
Habit 1: Be Proactive--Stop, think & make a good choice. You are in control of you!
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind--Set a goal and work hard to achieve it.
Habit 3: Put First Things First--Do the most important thing first. Work before you play.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win--Do whats best for you and your friends. Everyone should be happy.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood--Listen to your friends first and care about what they are saying.
Habit 6: Synergize--Work together
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw--Have fun and take care of yourself!
Habit 8: Find Your Voice--Explore what you're good at and express yourself.
Visit the Leader in Me website at: http://www.theleaderinme.org
Read Sean Covey's book: The Seven Habits of Happy Kids
Dismissal: Walkers are dismissed at 3:00 with an announcement. They will leave through the media center. Bus riders will stay in the room until they are called by bus color via an announcement. The bus colors will also show up on the classroom TV. Bus riders should leave through the front door of the school. For the first 10 days, each bus rider will wear a sticker that shows their bus information. The YMCA is released at 3:10 with a bell. These students should report directly to the gym. Carpool students will go to the dining room and be dismissed when there carpool number is called. They will then leave through the dining room doors and head to the carpool circle. All carpool students are to be picked up by 3:20pm.
End of Grade Testing: Your third grader will be taking the North Carolina End of Grade Tests this year in May. This is often a major area of stress for both students and parents. First and foremost...BREATHE! I work very hard to assure the children that this is nothing more than 2 days of showing what we have learned throughout the year. In fact, we hold an "I can't" funeral at the beginning of the school. We will have practice tests and problems throughout the year to prepare the students. There will also be parent information sessions and EOG power nights later in the year. If you are looking for more information, please visit the NC-DPI webiste.
Field Trips: We will be taking several field trips this year. You will hear more about them at Curriculum Night.
Here are a few things parents need to know to make sure we all have a great time on our field trips this year.
Third Graders should:
-Turn in signed permission slip
-Dress appropriately for the field trip (comfortable shoes/clothes)
-Bring a packed lunch or fill out a lunch form
-Arrive at school on time
Parents should:
-Sign permission slip and turn in money
-Make sure their child has a lunch from home or school
-Make sure their third grader arrives on time
-Notify teacher in advance if you want to chaperone. All chaperones MUST be cleared in advance.
Chaperones:
Thank you for volunteering your time and energy. Hare are some DO'S and DON'Ts...
DO:
-DO bring your child to school that day. They must be accounted for on the schools attendance.
-DO plan on following behind the buses or meeting us at our destination. By law, parents cannot ride with us on the bus nor do we have enough space for all students, teachers and chaperones.
-DO be prompt to specific meeting areas and times. Always bring a watch!
-DO have fun!
DON'T:
-DON'T bring younger or older siblings. We would love for your full attention, and responsibility as a chaperone, to be towards the students.
-DON'T forget to dress appropriately.
-DON'T forget to have volunteer clearance. You CANNOT go on a trip without this.
-DON'T plan on picking your child up after the trip without giving prior notice to the office and the teacher. This can be a hue safety issue.
On the day of the field trip, you will be given a group of students that will be under your care. In a chaperone packet, there will be driving directions, the day's schedule, a map and emergency supplies as needed. Get ready to have some fun!
Friday Folders:We will be sending home Friday folders each week. These folders need to be returned on Monday. Please make sure to go through the folder over the weekend with your child as it contains correspondences from the school, the class and some student work. Only papers or forms that require a response need to be returned.
Ground Rules:At the beginning of the year, as we are setting up our classroom community, we will create a set of ground rules. These are rules that we decide on together and we will follow throughout the year. These rules are important in making our classroom run smoothly and allow everyone to be a leader.
Homework: Students should plan on spending about 3o minutes a night on homework, Monday through Thursday.
Interims: Interims are sent home midway through each quarter. They are designed to periodically notify parents of a student's academic progress before a report card. The information on an interim mirrors what would be on the report card. Parents always have the option to request a conference to discuss the comments and suggestions on the interim. Only students who are demonstrating inconsistent performance (at or below a level 2) in any subject or conduct area will receive an interim after the first quarter. Please review and return the interim.
Jobs: During the first week of school, we will discuss jobs that we need in our classroom and how important it is complete your job daily and/or weekly. We have to synergize to make sure our classroom is efficient and effective!
Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS): In keeping with our Mission: "to develop leaders, one child at a time", our behavior management program is Positive Behavior Intervention Support. PBIS is a system of management developed to "support high student performance". It is a proactive and outcomes based system.
Quality Tools: Quality Tools are another part of our Leadership Model. The quality tools help us collect, display and use information. They also help us organize our thinking. You'll find lots of charts around our classroom and with your student's work. Some examples of quality tools are: lotus diagram, affinity diagram, fishbone diagram, flowchart, bone diagram (drivers & restrainers), and a bubble map.
Questions, Comments, Concerns...If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am here to partner with you in helping your child throughout the year! You can send a note with your child, write in the agenda, call the school & leave a message (919.233.4300) or email me ([email protected]). If you would like a conference, please let me know sometimes you are available so we can set up a time. I am not available for impromptu conferences. I will respond to your question, comment or concern within 24 hours.
Report Cards: Your child will receive four report cards this year. They will be sent home at the end of each quarter (early November, end of January, beginning of April, and the last day of school). Report cards showcase your child's progress in reading, writing, math, science and social studies as well as conduct and work habits. There is also a section for teacher comments. The report card will be sent home in an envelope that will be used the entire year. Please review the report card, sign and return it after the first three quarters.
Wake County uses the Standards Based Grading. Students may receive a 1, 2, 3, 3* or 4 on their report card for core subjects. These are not equivalent to an A, B, C...so please do not base it on what a majority of us had growing up.
Standards Based Grading Description:
1--Not meeting benchmark for the quarter. Performing below grade level standards.
2--Needs support to meet benchmarks for the quarter. Showing inconsistent performance.
3--Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards. Meeting benchmark for the designated quarter.
3*--Demonstrates proficiency of targeted grade level standards with evidence of application.
4--Demonstrating performance above grade level by extending targeted grade level standards.
Scholastic Book Orders: I will send home Scholastic Book Order fliers in Friday Folders monthly. You will have the chance to order online or use the forms and send a check in a sealed envelope. All checks should be made out to Scholatic Book Orders. Please take advantage of these book orders because there are great books at great prices and our class earns free books to add to our library collection. If you would like to order some books as a present for your child, please just let me know!
Snack:We will have snack daily around 10am. Please send your child with a healthy snack (no candy) and a water bottle. We will try to have emergency snack in case anyone forgets theirs as well. If you would like to donate snack, that would be appreciated!
Technology in the Classroom:We will be using a lot of technology in our classroom this year. Please know that your children are supervised at all times and that our Wake County system blocks inappropriate sites. At the beginning of the year parents are required to sign a lot of paperwork for their students. One of the forms is the Internet Parent Request to DENY access. Please do not sign this unless you don't want your child to have internet access. If you are considering this option, please contact me. Technology is very important and incorporated into our daily routine.
Transportation: Please make sure your child knows how he or she will be getting home daily. It is important for your child to be responsible for his/her carpool number, bus color or after-school taxi. If you have a transportation change, please write a note in your child's agenda and send it with your child in the morning. Please also send a note if your child is leaving early for a doctor's appointment, etc. If the change takes place during the day, please email me or call the school and leave a message in the office (919.233.4300). They will pass on the information to me. IMPORTANT: If I do not have a note, your child must go home by their normal means of transportation.
Volunteers: We love our volunteers! We can always use an extra hand. The PTA always needs your support as well! You can help in the classroom with students or by sending in supplies for projects or completing a project at home. All volunteers in our classroom MUST have clearance with Wake County. You can use a computer at school to fill out the application. It takes a few weeks for the process, so please be proactive and get it completed early. If you completed the volunteer clearance last year, please remember that it needs to be updated yearly. I will send home more information about volunteering after the first few weeks of school. Please understand that the first few weeks are important as we establish routines and procedures.