September 2, 2008
Dear Parent(s) or Guardian,
Welcome to 6th Grade at Knapp Elementary School!
This is my eighth year as a teacher in North Penn School District. After graduating from
Lansdale Catholic High School, I attended Shippensburg University and earned a
Bachelor of Science in Education. I then earned Instructional Technology certification
and a Master of Science from Saint Joseph’s University. I look forward to teaching your
child through the use of the technology in our multimedia classroom!
The delivery of instruction in 6th grade at Knapp will be teamed and presented in new
modular classrooms! Students will be grouped by achievement for Math and will have a
different teacher for either Social Studies or Science. I look forward to working together
with you and your child in his or her final year of elementary school.
Please review this packet carefully with your child, then sign and return the last
page to me. In addition, I have attached a Parent Information Record that I would
appreciate your completing and returning to school as soon as possible for ease
in communication during the school year.
My email address is swidermm@npenn.org. This is the best way to contact me
between 8am and 4pm. Please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns
you have throughout the year, and I will usually get right back to you. If email is not an
option, please call (215) 368-2054 to leave a message. In-person conferences will be
scheduled at the end of the first marking period and throughout the year as needed.
Thank you and I look forward to meeting you at Back-to-School Night!
Sincerely,
Michele Swider
Knapp Elementary School
Mrs. Swider – Sixth Grade
Welcome to Sixth Grade! In addition to learning a great deal, students
will be growing both physically and socially this year, continuing to develop
greater self-confidence and independent work habits as they mature into
young adults. By working together, holding high expectations, and keeping
the lines of communication open, this year will be a positive and
memorable experience for all.
Homework
Homework is an important part of a student's academic life. Not only does
it help to reinforce the skills and concepts taught during the day, but also it
serves to build his or her independence, organization, confidence, and time
management skills.
Determining what homework has been assigned for any given day is
done by checking the student’s assignment book in his/her binder.
The student is responsible for copying homework into this book during the
day and seeing to its successful completion at night.
The amount of time spent on homework varies from student to
student. Homework is designed to be completed independently, but
support from parents, siblings, and/or classmates is appropriate if difficulty
is encountered. If a student becomes frustrated by homework and has
exhausted all possible means for completing it, as a last resort, a parent
may sign the assignment, and it will be addressed in school the next day
with no penalty to the student.
Each homework assignment in any given subject will carry a certain
number of points which will be averaged into the student’s grade for the
current Marking Period. In order for the student to earn full credit, he or
she must complete the homework on time, as assigned, and with
evidence of effort. Homework answers do not have to be correct for a
student to receive full credit. However, if any of the former expectations
are not met, the student will receive no credit (there is no partial credit for
homework). If a student is absent on the day a homework assignment is
given, he or she will have one full cycle from the day of his or her return to
school to complete it for full credit.
Assessment
In addition to the Characteristics of a Successful Learner, students in 6th
grade are assessed in the academic areas of Reading, Writing, Health,
Math, Science, and Social Studies. Only Math, Science, and Social
Studies will be assessed using letter grades.
For those subject areas assessed using letter grades, an “F” is failing, a “D”
is below average, a “C” is average, a “B” is above average, and an “A” is
excellent. For subject areas not assessed using letter grades, performance
and skill level indicators will be used.
 Most assessments (tests and quizzes) will be announced at least one
week prior to their administration both in class and online.
 There are no re-tests or take-home tests.
 Students absent for a test will be expected to take it the day they
return to school (provided it was announced prior).
 Surprise assessments may occur at any time, but may not always
count toward a student’s grade.
 Major assessments (tests) will be sent home for parent signature(s),
returned to school, and kept in a “test folder.”
Organization of Materials
Organizational Binders
Students are required to use a binder that can be divided into
sections to keep subject materials separated. Dividers and pocket
folders will be supplied in school. The homework assignment book
will be in front of the binder.
The binder will be maintained in good order throughout the school
year or the student will spend time as needed at recess straightening
it up.
Desks
Student desks are used to store books and academic materials.
Students may have only two regular sized standard issue wooden
pencils in their desks (supplied by the school).
The desk will be maintained in good order throughout the school year
or the student will spend time as needed at recess straightening it up.
Mechanical pencils, oversize/novelty pencils, lead, pens,
markers, sharpeners, highlighters, crayons, glue sticks, rulers,
pencil boxes, erasers, or any other office supplies are not
permitted. Necessary materials will be supplied by the teacher if and
when they are needed or earned by students as described in the
“Additional Classroom Guidelines” section.
Books
Students will be issued quite a number of books in 6th grade. These
materials are expensive and become the responsibility of the student
as soon as he or she gets them. As such, the student will be
responsible for paying for lost or damaged books at prices set by the
school district. All hardcover books are to be covered at all times.
Classroom Management System
In order to guarantee all students a quality and safe educational experience
in 6th grade, the Classroom Management System attached to this packet
will be used in all classrooms. It appears exactly as posted in the
classroom. Please review the expectations and consequences
carefully.
Dress Code
 No open-toed shoes, shoes that roll, or indoor
shoes (slippers)
 All shirts must have sleeves (cover the
shoulder) – NO straps or muscle shirts (tank
tops)
 Shorts/skirts must be at least fingertip length
(with arms extended fully at side)
 Appropriate undergarments should be worn and
not be visible
 Clothing may not have any kind of offensive or
inappropriate writing, sayings, pictures, symbols,
gestures, etc.
 Clothing must not be overly tight, revealing, or
suggestive
 Accessories, jewelry, watches, and/or makeup
(male or female) deemed to be a distraction or a
hazard will not be permitted
 Writing or drawing on skin or shoes/clothing is
never permitted
 Outerwear should be appropriate in accordance
with the weather conditions
Additional Classroom Guidelines
1.
Proper hygiene and cleanliness begins at home each and every
day and is expected of all 6th graders. As a courtesy to others and
to contribute to a healthy work environment, all students are strongly
advised to take daily showers, use deodorant, brush teeth, and wear
clean clothes. Counseling will be provided for students who have
difficulty fulfilling their hygiene and cleanliness obligations, especially
if they are distracting to the teacher or other students.
2.
Students are NOT permitted to possess or use any of the following
items in school:
 electronic devices (games, computers, pagers, PDAs,
cameras/camcorders, radios, CD players, iPods, MP3s, etc.)
 trading/playing cards, photographs, or any collectibles
 stuffed or live animals, puppets, masks, etc.
 laser pointers, flashlights, airhorns, pepper spray, pocket knives,
or other potentially dangerous objects
 any object deemed to be a “toy” or item leading to distraction
 craft projects, yarn, or any other craft supplies
 hygiene products and supplies (except if kept in a purse or bag for
use in the restroom or for use on gym day)
The above items and others deemed to be inappropriate for the
school environment will be confiscated and held for parent pickup or
until the school year ends, whichever comes first.
3.
Gum and candy are not permitted to be consumed during the school
day. Students violating this guideline will receive 2 checks on the
day of the violation.
4.
Snacks outside of the lunch period are permitted assuming the
following guidelines are met.
 No candy
 Does not require utensils
 Does not require handwashing afterwards
 Snacks must only be one serving
 There is to be no sharing
 No snacks are to remain in desks overnight
 To be enjoyed during times of independent work and not
direct instruction
Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in the loss of this
privilege temporarily and possibly permanently should repeated
incidents occur.
5.
All work both in class and at home will be completed in pencil – pens
may not be used except for editing, self-correcting, and scoring. In
addition, classwork and homework should be completed in whichever
form of writing is most legible.
6.
Recess equipment is provided by the school and is not permitted to
be brought from home. Also, there is no “inside recess” in 6th grade.
When recess cannot occur outside for any reason, instruction will
continue during that time.
7.
Coats, jackets, gloves, scarves, caps, hats, visors, hoods,
sweatbands, sunglasses, or other head coverings may not be worn
inside the school building during the instructional day except as
indicated by a student’s religious beliefs or special event.
8.
Watches, wristbands, bracelets, necklaces, beads, chains, or any
other jewelry (male or female) may only be worn with the
permission of the teacher and until they lead to distraction or create
a potentially dangerous situation. “Gel bracelets” are never permitted
in school.
9.
Relaxed language (i.e., “shut up,” “sucks,” etc.), profanity, slang,
street talk, potty talk, code words, TV/movie/video game character
imitations, baby talk, sound effects, animal noises, singing, humming,
clicking, poor attitude body language or sounds (eye rolls, sighs,
etc.), belching, or inappropriate gestures will not be tolerated and
“checks” issued accordingly.
10.
Writing on skin, books, desks, shoes, clothing, nametags, or anything
else that is not supposed to be written upon is not permitted.
Odds and Ends
1.
Birthday treats may be sent in for a student’s birthday on or around
his or her birth date. Per NPSD policy from 2007, all birthday treats
must be distributed and consumed in the cafeteria during lunch.
Please do not send in additional treats for building staff members as
distribution throughout the building will not be permitted in order to
preserve the instructional time of all classrooms.
2.
During the course of the year, students go through a large quantity of
tissues. While the school nurse provides a supply of tissues, it is
usually not of the quality to which many students have grown
accustomed at home. If possible, please send in a box of your
favorite tissues that can be shared with the class throughout the
year.
Thank you for your cooperation and support. I will be speaking at greater
length on many of the items in this packet, middle school preparedness and
transitioning, and special 6th grade activities on Back-to-School Night, so I
hope to see you there. Best wishes for a great 6th grade at Knapp
Elementary!
Classroom
Expectations
1.
Think positively
2.
Show respect
3.
Control behavior
4.
Act responsibly
5.
Be honest + kind
Classroom
Consequences
1. 1st check – warning
2. 2nd check – loss of next recess
Parent contact will automatically be made for
the following:
3. 3rd check
 1 hour detention
 possible removal from classroom
4. 4th check
 immediate meeting with Mr. Mazza for
further action which could include (but is not
limited to):
o exclusion from school-sponsored
activities
o additional detentions
o Saturday school
o suspension from school
Any combination of three checks in a week in the
same classroom will result in the issuance of a “Three
Check Letter” which must be signed and returned the
next school day or recess is lost.
Any combination of eight checks in a month will
result in a detention. Multiple detentions during the
school year will result in the loss of 6th grade
privileges and activities.
Whenever a detention is assigned, parents will be
notified in writing and asked to select a convenient
time for it to be served. Recess will be lost until the
detention is arranged.
All penalties for failure(s) to meet classroom
expectations will accrue consecutively until the time
is served. Lost recesses in multiples of four may be
served as detentions.
This system is designed to be progressive, but certain
serious offenses such as those listed below may
result in an acceleration of consequences (as
determined by the teacher):
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Hitting, fighting, or any inappropriate physical contact
Inappropriate or abusive language/gestures
Bullying or any kind of harassment
Vandalism or stealing
Lying or forgery
Writing and/or passing notes
Cheating, plagiarizing, or copying homework
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
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Shanking or any inappropriate body exposure
Serious classroom disruption
Throwing anything in the classroom
Insubordination or talking back/disrespect
Leaving the classroom without permission
Public displays of affection
Other serious offenses in the NPSD Student Discipline Code
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Knapp Elementary School
Sixth Grade – Mrs. Swider
2008 – 2009
Student’s name: _________________________________________
Date: _________________
The contents of this packet were reviewed with me in class by Mrs.
Swider. I understand the expectations for sixth grade and will do my
best to meet them.
Student signature:
_____________________
I have read and discussed the information contained in this packet
with my child. To the best of my knowledge, he/she understands this
information.
Parent(s) signature:
_____________________
______________________
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