Welcome to Fourth
Grade!
Parent Orientation
2012-2013
Monday Folders
Please sign every week!!!
 Folders will contain handouts, graded
work, and materials to be signed
 Each paper with a failing grade should
be signed and returned, to the teacher
of that subject, on Tuesday.
 Folders that are not returned within 5
days may result in the loss of recess.
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Absences/ Tardies
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School begins at 7:50
Students are tardy at 7:55 and should be signed
in by a parent in the office.
Please remember to send in a written excuse any
time your child is absent. If applicable, please
provide a doctor’s excuse. Excuses must be sent
within three days of the child’s return to school.
Please note the importance of having your child
to school on time.
Make-Up Work
When your child is absent, it is
most beneficial to him or her to
get the missed work. Please
remind your child to pick up this
work on the first day back to
school and return it within three
days.
Parent Portal
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PowerSchool is an excellent tool parents can use
to carefully monitor their children’s academic
performance in school.
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Log-ins and passwords are the same as last year.
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Please make sure you visit the office during
regular hours to obtain a log-in & password.
Conferences
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One or more conferences will be
scheduled with all parent/guardians this
year.
Should you have concerns or questions,
please contact the teacher to set up a time
to meet. You can do this by calling the
office, sending a note or emailing the
teacher.
Classroom Rules
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Follow all directions
Keep hands, feet, and all other
objects to self
Keep work area neat
Talk only with permission
Respect others and self
Consequences
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Name on board – Warning
Name + check – Recess Detention
Name + 2 checks – Time out in
another classroom
Name + 3 checks – After School
Detention
Severe disruptions – immediately
sent to office
Mid Term Deficiency Notice
If a student has an average of 70 or
below a notice will be sent home for
parent notification and signature.
(Will not receive if not applicable)
Parent/Student Handbooks
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If you have questions about school rules or
policies, please consult the Parent/Student
Handbook in the front of your child’s planner.
There is a tremendous amount of useful
information there.
The school website contains much of the same
information as well as other important things to
know such as the dress code.
http://meadows.ga.vce.schoolinsites.com/
Planners
Students have received planners. These
can be kept inside the binder and serve as
a means of daily communication
between home and school.
*Signing your child’s planner nightly will
help him/her be more responsible for
homework.
Conduct, Pride Blasts & Field Trips
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Students earning an E in conduct in all academic
classes will attend the blast.
Conduct Grades
*Students will receive conduct grades in each academic
class.
 Excellent:
0-2 Recess Detentions
 Satisfactory:
 Needs
3-5 Recess Detentions
Improvement: 6-8 Recess Detentions
 Unsatisfactory:
9 or more Recess Detentions
Other Information
 Lunchroom
Procedures
 Green,
yellow & red cups
 Class tickets
 Quiet
Zones
Language Arts
L.A. Class Times
AM - 7:50-10:45
or
PM - 10:45 - 2:40
Weekly Assignments to look for:
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Drops in the Bucket (replacing DLR)
Writing Warm-ups (on back of Drops,
completed in class)
Word Study (replacing spelling words)
Short Story Vocabulary Words
Grammar Skills (should be written in planner)
Weekly Quizzes (Counts Once)
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Not Necessarily on Fridays!
Drops in the Bucket
Word Study Quiz
Short Story Quiz (Multiple Choice and short
answer Extend Your Knowledge insert) These
will count as two separate grades.
Grammar Quizzes periodically
Extended Learning Week
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Extended Learning Assessment – blind read
with questions focusing on previous weeks’
skills.
Literary Terms Assessment
Intensive Writing
One of the changes with the CCGPS curriculum
is an increase in higher order thinking.
Therefore, all weekly assessments will contain
application…NOT recall.
Accelerated Reader
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Library will be closed on Wednesdays for both
students and parents.
Two daily grades will be given at the end of each
semester for AR points and AR average.
Individual AR guidelines will be sent home in
Monday folders prior to beginning date.
BRAG is no longer an AR celebration. It is now
determined by semester average and conduct
mark.
Mathematics
• Place Value
• Rounding
• 2, 3, & 4-Digit Multiplication
• Prime/Factors
• Long Division
• Fractions- Including Addition, Subtraction, & Multiplication
• Decimals
• Geometry
• Measurement
• Line Plot Graphs
¾
Skills Covered In
st
1
9 Weeks
This unit includes place value, rounding, multiplication (two, three, and four digits),
prime/factors, and long division (one and two digit divisors by up to four digit
dividends).
Skills students have the most
difficulty with…
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Long Multiplication
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Long Division
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Ex. 236 x 45
Ex. 597 ÷ 71
Rounding
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“About” & Estimate are signals to round
Basic Math Facts
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At this point, Students should know all basic
multiplication and division facts 0-12.
Students should review math facts daily!
If the student does not know the facts to
automaticity then they should continue practicing
daily until they do.
Students should practice +, -, x, and ÷.
What is the Big 4?
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Everyday we start with a Big 4
Everyday students should review correct
answers
Covers different topics in math
At least once every 2 weeks we will give a
daily grade on Big 4
Questions on the quiz are almost word for word
from the packet.
What place value is the digit 4
in the following number?
8432
If a paper clip is two inches
long, about how long is the
pencil?
Tyrone bought 2 apples, 7
oranges, 2 boxes of cereal, and 3
plums. How many pieces of fruit
did he buy?
What is the name of a
triangle with three equal
sides?
Grading Policy for Math
There are 2 categories for grades:
Tests & Daily Grades
Daily Grades : Big 4 Quiz, Homework,
In-class assignments, Quick checks
Test Grades: Unit & Chapter Tests count twice
Math Homework
•Assigned most nights M-Th
•May be taken up or checked in class
Every night students should review
math facts and the Big 4.
Math Homework Grade:
Your child will begin each nine
weeks with a 100 for homework.
Each time homework is not
completed 5 points are deducted
from that 100.
Science & Social
Studies
Instructional Materials
 Science/Social
 Binder
 Active
Board
Studies books
Social Studies/Science Units
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Geography
Native Americans
Explorers
Early Colonization
American Revolution
A New Nation
Westward Expansion
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The Night Sky
Solar System
Water Cycle
Weather
Light
Sound
Simple Machines
Web of Life
Science/Social Studies
Homework
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Homework is very light.
Study guides- Students
will always have a study
guide before each unit
test.
Vocabulary sheetsStudents that keep up
with their vocabulary
sheet will be rewarded
with an “extra” 100 on
the day of the vocabulary
test.
Science/Social Studies Grading
Policy
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Test grades: 2xs
Quizzes and daily grades: 1x
Sound Project:2xs
We encourage parents to contact us by email
but you can also call the office and leave a
message or write a note in your child’s
planner.
mdixon@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
swilliamson@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
mwiggins@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
apurvis@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
acarney@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
mhaygood@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
nrussell@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
kgarvin@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
kmatthews@vidalia-city.k12.ga.us
Pastries for Parents–
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Parents are invited to eat with their child in the
cafeteria from 7:50-8:20 on the days specified
for their homeroom class.
Breakfast cost $2.25 per person.
Russell – Sept. 25
 Matthews & Haygood – Oct. 2
 Wiggins & Williamson – Oct. 9
 Purvis & Dixon – Oct. 16
 Garvin & Carney – Oct. 23
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Be sure to join PTO!
Our school’s success is greatly impacted by the level
of support demonstrated by our parents and
teachers.
PTO Officers:
Katherine McDonald, President
Amy Roberson, Secretary
Amanda Moye, Fundraising Chair
Lisa Truxel, Fundraising Committee
Sheena McKinnis, 2nd Grade Rep.
Amy Maddox, 4th Grade Rep.
Brandy Messex, Arts & Crafts
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Jennifer Clark, Vice President
Leann Creamer, Treasurer
Jenny Manning, Fundraising Co-Chair
Angie Fortner, Fundraising Committee
Shannon Brinson, 3rd Grade Rep.
Wendy Phillips, 5th Grade Rep.
Please feel free to greet
your child’s teachers briefly
as we dismiss.
Fifth grade’s Orientation
will begin very soon.
Thank you for attending and
for supporting your child in
fourth grade!