T.H. Rogers School
New Vanguard Elementary Orientation
1st/2nd Grades
August 15, 2015
Welcome to T.H. Rogers!
Building on Our Culture
This Year’s Theme: “Growing Beyond!”
Growing Beyond...with new students and families!
Growing Beyond...our previous success!
Growing Beyond...all limitations!
Welcome to T.H. Rogers!
Building on Our Culture
This Year’s Theme: “Growing Beyond!”
Culture of Communication
Teacher websites  Grade Speed  weekly communication folders
Culture of Thinking
Cross-curricular learning  Writing emphasized in all contents 
visible thinking
Culture of Respect
Character education program  bullying awareness 
Peer Mediation Program
Welcome to T.H. Rogers!
Administration, Mid-Management, Office Staff
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Dave Muzyka, Principal
Christian Winn, Assistant Principal/Elementary
Donald Lam, Assistant Principal/Secondary
Jessica Willie, Dean of Instruction
Kristen Trey Chen, Vanguard Coordinator
Ashley Pringle, Elementary Counselor
Mari Valdez, School Secretary
Libby Calkins, Receptionist
Ileana Cortes, Ms. Winn’s Asst.
Maria Hernandez, Finance Clerk
Bertha Roodi, Attendance Clerk
Sheila Foster, Student Information
Yaneth Montes, Main Office Clerk
Janice Jackson, VG Office Clerk
Linda Turpin, VG Office Clerk
Welcome to T.H. Rogers!
Vanguard Faculty
1st & 2nd Grade Teams
Donna Lambert
Samantha Ortiz
Elyse Prevot
Hamy Jabri
Team Leader, Math
Team Leader, Math
English, LA& Reading
English, LA& Reading
Mari Hilderman
Alexa Fontana
Science/Social Studies
Science/Social Studies
Core Enrichment Team
Jennifer Thelander-Art
Desmond Combs-PE
Daniel Fernandez -Computer
Norman Thomas-Music
Paula Friedman-French
Dulce Slack - Spanish
Stephanie Hatley-Library
Coach John - Chess
Paula Godinich-ASL
Welcome to T.H. Rogers!
School
Policies
and
Procedures
Arrival to the Campus
Arrival: 7:00 a.m. to 7:35 a.m.
All students report to the
Cafeteria
upon arrival.
Arrival and Dismissal
Parents may eat breakfast with
students on the first day of school.
Beginning August 25th, parents must
drop student off in the L-shape
carpool lane or park nearby and
walk them to the front entrance.
Parents are asked to refrain from
walking students to the classroom
after the first day of school.
Arrival and Dismissal
Carpool Drop-Off/Pick-Up
for Students
Use the L-shape loading zone located in front of the
school.
Turn in traveling south on Bering Drive.
Parents are asked to refrain from “conferencing” with
teacher while they are on duty as they are trying to
supervise all their students.
***Refer to Parent Drop-Off/Pick-Up Map***
Attendance
Policy and Procedures
Students are encouraged to attend school
daily!
Students must attend at least
72 days of school the first semester and
77 days the second semester according to
the Texas education Code 25.092.
Attendance
Policy and Procedures
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Call the school and e-mail your child’s
homeroom teacher by 8:00 a.m. on the
day of an absence.
Phone: 713-917-3595
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Within 3 days of an absence, a written
excuse must be submitted to Ms. Roodi in
the main office. Excuses may be
submitted via e-mail to broodi@houstonisd.org
Attendance
Policy and Procedures
Tardy Students
Promptness to school is an expectation.
If a student is not in class by 7:45 a.m., he
or she will be considered tardy. Students
will receive a lunch detention after the
3rd tardy.
The official daily attendance time is 9:30.
Attendance
Policy and Procedures
Excused Absences
Illness of student
 Death in the family
 Quarantine
 Weather or road conditions making travel
dangerous
 Participation in school activities,
approved by the Principal
 Religious holidays (24 hours prior to day)
 Emergencies or unusual circumstances,
approved by the Principal
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Leaving Campus During
the School Day
Parents must report to the main office to
check out their child.
 An appropriate form of identification must
be presented.
 A note from the parent(s) of a student
must be sent to Ms. Roodi stating the time
and reason for the early departure along
with a phone number.
 The latest a student may be released
early is 2:15 p.m.
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Dress Code
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Students should be neat and clean in
appearance.
Clothing must not be too tight, too loose, or
torn.
A belt must be worn with loose-fit shorts or
pants.
Skirts and dresses are to be no shorter than
two inches, front and back, from the top of
the knee in a standing position.
Label jackets/coats. Bring an extra layer!
See the Parent-Student Handbook for the full
dress code policy.
Birthdays
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Students will be given the opportunity to
celebrate birthdays during the school year
by parents sending store-bought cookies
(no cupcakes, please) for the homeroom
class. The teacher will pass out to the
students during their snack time. Please,
no treat bags.
If you plan to send cookies, please notify
the teacher for planning purposes. Deliver
the treats to the school by 8:00 a.m.
Field Trips
Field trips are planned throughout the year to enhance the curriculum,
and dedicated parent volunteers help make it possible.
Here are a few important reminders:
· Students and chaperones are to wear the school tie-dye field trip shirt.
· All school rules apply on the field trip.
· Actively supervise students.
· Notify the teacher(s) immediately of any medical emergency, lost
child, or serious breach of school rule.
· Follow the directions of docent/guide.
· Siblings and family members may not participate in a school-sponsored
field trip.
· Have fun!
Communication System
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Communication Folders
“Ram News” is available on our website and
will be sent home every Thursday.
Parent-Staff Communications
Contact the teacher via e-mail or phone.
Check the calendar of events each week.
WE NEED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Contact your child’s teacher with the
preferred day and time for the conference.
First Day of School
Monday, August 24, 2015
 Please complete and return ALL forms
included in the First Day Packet to your
child’s teacher.
 Follow all procedures for arrival. Please say
“goodbye” to your child and wish them
well on their first day.
 Traffic will be heavy. Be patient!
 Join other THR parents for coffee sponsored
by PTO in the orchestra room.
A Few Important
Dates...
•
Open House September 8th, 6:30PM
•
Parents Are Partners September 15th, 7:45AM
•
Early Dismissal September 22nd, 12:45PM
•
Donuts with Dad September 25th, 7:15AM
•
Fall Conferences week of October 11th, times TBA
You will receive a school calendar
in the 2015-2016 Parent-Student Handbook!
The
st
1 Grade
Learning
Journey
st
1
The
Grade
Learning Journey
Your child will grow exponentially this
year! You may notice...
• Your child transitioning to be more
responsible and self-sufficient.
• Your child moving beyond learning to
read and enjoying reading to learn.
• Your child developing relationships
through social/emotional awareness.
st
1
The
Grade
Learning Journey
English/Lang Arts/Reading–Ms. Prevot
Goals for the year include:
• Read with understanding and fluency in
various genres.
• Express ideas in complete sentences
while utilizing proper grammar and
spelling.
• Increase reading level by at least one
year’s growth.
st
1
The
Grade
Learning Journey
Math–Ms. Lambert
Goals for the year include:
• Demonstrate fluency of math facts.
• Utilize problem solving and reasoning
strategies.
• Apply knowledge of math in everyday
situations.
st
1
The
Grade
Learning Journey
Science & Social Studies–Ms. Hilderman
Goals for the year include:
• Using the scientific method to conduct
investigations and experiments to
learn about our natural world.
• Becoming a knowledgeable, global
citizen.
Communications
• Daily planner and homework
• Ram News on Thursdays
• Red folder with graded work and
behavior chart on Fridays
• Teacher e-mails
• Teacher websites
• Class newsletters
Home Learning
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Read for 30 minutes every day!
Practice math facts
Monday: ELAR homework
Tuesday: ELAR homework
Wednesday: Math
Thursday: Science/Social Studies
By Friday of each week, students need to
have logged onto Istation for 30 minutes
and to Moby Max for 30 minutes.
Welcome to Rogers!
The First Grade Team is looking
forward to meeting each of you!
We have an amazing year
planned for your children!
We can’t wait to get started!
The
nd
2 Grade
Learning
Journey
nd
2
The
Grade
Learning Journey
Some things you may notice about your
growing 2nd grader...
• Your child will be learning how to
handle more responsibility.
• Your child will be learning how to work
in a cooperative manner.
• Your child will continue to develop
relationships through social/emotional
awareness.
nd
2
The
Grade
Learning Journey
English/Lang Arts/Reading–Ms. Jabri
Goals for the year:
• Read and critically analyze chapter books both
individually and in groups.
• We will explore different types of fiction,
expository text structures, creative writing, folk
tales, fables, poetry, and purposeful writing.
• Istation will be used throughout the year to
monitor reading and language progress.
• Cursive writing will be introduced in January.
(Please be patient!)
nd
2
The
Grade
Learning Journey
Math–Ms. Ortiz
Goals for the year:
• Fluency in math facts
• Utilize problem solving skills
• Apply math skills and knowledge to
everyday life
nd
2
The
Grade
Learning Journey
Science & Social Studies–Ms. Fontana
• Becoming familiar with their
communities and developing
citizenship skills.
• Building global awareness
• Exploring new concepts through
experiments, labs, and projects.
Communications
• Daily planner and homework
• Ram News on Thursdays
• Red folder with graded work and
behavior chart on Fridays
• Teacher e-mails
• Teacher websites
Home Learning
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Weekly Home Learning
Monday: Spelling
Tuesday: Math
Wednesday: Science or Social Studies
Thursday: Reading Comprehension
By Friday of each week, students
need to have logged onto Istation for
30 minutes and to Moby Max for 30
minutes.
Again, welcome!
We are looking forward to starting the
year with you and your student! We
have a wonderful year planned and
can’t wait to start the year!
st
nd
1 /2
Grade
Community Norms
Be respectful to your
learning and
everyone else’s.
Parents-to-Parents
Tips for Success...
• Expect homework everyday in 1st grade. It is do-able in 15 minutes!
• Know that 1st grade is a big jump from Kindergarten. Be patient with
your child and his/her teachers.
• Trust the teachers! They know what they are doing!
• The school teaches kids to develop self-discipline. They know what
they have to do and they get their work done.
• As a parent, be organized.
• Develop a rapport with the teachers. It helps a lot to have a positive
rapport and be able to communicate when issues arise in your family.
• Encourage your child to focus on their learning and thinking, and
doing their personal best. Do not focus on letter grades!
• Pick 1-3 extra curricular activities that are important to your family and
your child. This involvement is important. It helps if some activities take
place on weekends.
WELCOME
to the
T.H. Rogers
Family!