Mrs. Davis‘s
Class Handbook
All You Need to Know From A-Z
Welcome to third grade! I am very excited to have your child in my class.
Our theme for this year is to reach for the stars. We will be building a community
within our classroom and experiencing what it feels like to try our best everyday.
Your child will be building upon knowledge from previous grades and learning
many new skills that will encourage your child to take steps and reach for those
stars. I look forward to being a part of your child’s educational journey and to our
partnership.
Communication between parent, teacher, and student is very important
and this handbook will help answer many questions you may have throughout the
coming year.
Agenda
 Your child will write daily homework assignments and reminders in their
agenda, which is provided by the school.
 Any notices of dismissal changes need to be written on a separate piece of
paper since these notes need to be sent to the office.
Assessments
 DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) is given up to three times a year
(fall, winter, spring). This assessment gives valuable information regarding
the reading comprehension and fluency skill levels of your child. It also is
used as a factor in determining your child’s reading level.
 PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) can also be given up to
three times a year. This screening gives insight to your child’s knowledge of
important literacy fundamentals.
 SOL (Standard of Learning Test) is given in May. Students are tested in
reading, and math. This is an untimed test and reviews concepts learned
since Kindergarten in these areas.
 Student will be assessed throughout each unit, however, the final
assessment will be a unit test. Students can use their interactive notebooks
as a study tool. Students will graph their grades and store their unit tests in
the data notebook. Grades will be sent home in a timely manner, in their
data notebooks. Students who receive a 2 or below need to have their
tests signed by a parent. Notebooks need to return to school the following
day.
Birthdays
 Your child’s birthday is a very special time for them. You are invited to
donate a book to the classroom library or come into the classroom to read
a special story to the class. The Liberty handbook states that parents may
not bring in treats for the class. I appreciate you respecting this request.
Benchmarks
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Benchmarks are core content assessments given twice a year throughout
Loudoun County. The tests will not be sent home, however scores may be
discussed at conferences.
Contact
The best way to contact me is through e-mail. My e-mail address is
michelle.davis@lcps.org. I typically respond to any questions or concerns
within 24 hours. If it is an urgent matter please contact the office.
Data
 This year third graders will be keeping data notebooks as part of our math
curriculum. Students will keep track of important test grades as well as
charting growth throughout the year. Data notebooks and graded tests will
be kept in the binders in the classroom throughout the school year. These
notebooks come home after unit tests and need to be returned the
following day.
Field trips
 Field trip information will be sent home at a later date.
Fun Friday
 Every Friday from 2:00-2:25, students have the opportunity to participate in
Fun Friday. In order for a student to attend, all work for the week has to be
completed and turned in. Also, the student must have four dollars for the
week. Students not meeting these requirements will have a study hall to
complete assignments or reflect on their behavior.
Grading
This year numbers will be given on all assessments. Letter graders will only be
given on report cards. The breakdown for grading is below.
4- Exceeds standard
3- Meets standard
2- Progressing Towards Standard
1- Below standard
A- Outstanding
B- Very Good
C- Satisfactory
D- Needs Improvement
F- Not performing
Please note: Students meeting expectations will receive a 3 and therefore a B on
their report card. Students must exceed standards to earn an A.
Homework
 Homework will be given most nights and should take the child no longer
than thirty minutes to complete. If your child has been diligently working
on the assignments for over thirty minutes, feel free to use your judgment
and stop their work. Please make a note on the paper alerting the teacher
to this decision.
Interactive Notebooks
 In the content areas students will keep an interactive notebook. The
purpose of the Interactive Notebook is to help students learn and
remember important concepts. The Interactive Notebook uses the right
and left brain hemispheres to help students sort, categorize and be creative
with the content they are learning. Notebooks will often be sent home as a
study guide to review material or prepare for tests.
Interims
 Interims will be sent if your child is in jeopardy of receiving below a 2 or a D
in one or more areas for the upcoming report card. If no interim is received
you can assume your child is performing at or above grade level
expectations.
Lunch
 Lunch is every day from 12:00 – 1:00
 Parents are welcome to come for lunch please sign in the office to obtain a
visitor’s pass.
Money
 Please send all money to school in an envelope.
 Mark the envelope with:
o Your child’s name
o The amount of money
o Purpose of money (lunch, field trip, book order)
o My name
o If writing a check, make sure your student’s id number is written on
the memo line
 This helps me and reduces the likelihood of errors.
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PBS- Positive Behavior Support
Liberty Elementary School is one of Loudoun County’s schools participating
in PBS (positive behavior support). Liberty has chosen the theme of
respect. The three pillars of respect are, respect self, respect others and
respect property. Students exemplifying this behavior can be rewarded
with a blue eagle ticket. Classes demonstrating this behavior can be
recognized by another staff member with a white eagle. Please ask your
child about these eagles at home.
Quarter sheet
 Each student will have a weekly quarter sheet glued into their agenda.
Students will lose or gain quarters based on behavior. Parents should
review the agenda and initial the quarter sheet each night.
Scholastic
 Scholastic book orders are a great way to add to both your child’s home
library and the classroom library. Book orders are sent home monthly and
will be marked with the due date for that month. Only checks made out to
Scholastic will be accepted. I will also include information for October on
how to order online as well.
Snack
 Students are responsible for bringing their own daily snack. Extras will not
be provided.
 Snacks should by healthy like fruit, vegetables, crackers, etc. We will have a
snack time around 10:00 daily.
 Please do not send any snacks that include nuts or have been processed
on machines that could have come in contact with nuts!
Specials Schedule
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Monday: Music and PE
Tuesday: Computer Lab and PE
Wednesday: Music, and PE
Thursday: Art and Guidance on “A” weeks
Friday: Library
Thursday Folders
 Each Thursday your child will bring home a Thursday folder.
 This folder will contain important school papers from: PTA, along with any
notes or newsletters from myself or the third grade team, community
papers, and student work.
 Please return the folder on Friday.
Website
 Please check the third grade Liberty website for upcoming events, nine
week plans, and educational resources. To reach the third grade section of
the Liberty website go to the homepage at
http://cmsweb2.loudoun.k12.va.us/liberty/site/default.asp , highlight the
tab labeled classrooms and select third grade. Additional learning links and
SOL resources can be found by highlighting the tab labeled for students and
selected either 3-5 learning links or SOL Preparation.
Weekly Updates
 Weekly Updates will be e-mailed in the beginning of each week. Please
inform me if you need a paper copy. The memo contains the units for the
week, along with other important information and dates.
Word Study
 Students will have ten words they are responsible to learn each week. They are
also responsible for learning the patterns. Students will work with their words
and patterns in class, as well as at home. In order to receive a 3 on the word
study quiz they must be able to spell and sort their words. Students who wish to
receive a 4 on their quiz must create three meaningful sentences using three
word study words of their choosing.