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SJB
St. John the Beloved School
Parent Back to School Night
September 2015
School Theme – “Merciful Like the Father”
Teacher: Mrs. Ruth Chandlee
Homeroom: 8A
Voicemail: 304
Subjects: Science, Pre-Algebra, Algebra (website on SJB page)
Email: rchandlee@saintjohnthebeloved.org
Goal: Preparing students for 21st century learning is quite a privilege. I intend to incorporate STEM
(science, technology, engineering and math) lessons when ever appropriate and possible.
Technology: Smart Board use will continue for digital lessons, power points and virtual labs. The
classroom laptops will be used to do team virtual labs– quick research and word documents.
Remember, we share a common goal – educating your child.
St. John the Beloved has a school-wide approach to behavior based on 3R’s RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY,
AND REVERENCE. Faculty and staff strive to maintain and follow these fundamental principles and
encourage a three way partnership with students as well as parents. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME FIRST
WITH ANY CONCERNS… Every effort will be made return phone calls or emails within 24 hours. An
email is sometimes a quicker method for me to communicate. Short answers are not meant to be curt
answers – just short and to the point for fast return on communication. I will follow up with a phone call
when needed. Please indicate the reason for the phone call or email when leaving a message or note.
This helps me to better prepare for dialogue. Thank you in advance for cooperation in this matter.
SJB website Teacher Page: Go to middle school teachers – then find my name. General announcements
and homework will be posted by 4pm most days – other notes may be added as needed. Students are
still expected to write their assignments in their homework book each night. There are times when life
gets in the way or electronics do not cooperate. The supply list is on my teacher page. Replenish as
needed.
Power School – Please be vigilant about checking your child’s grades please. A small blue c next to a
grade indicates that there is a comment to read. No average should ever be a surprise. Students should
also be checking power school frequently. I do pride myself on a quick turnaround for most graded
assessments.
Homeroom Expectations:
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Uniforms are checked regularly - please follow student handbook guidelines
Microwave may be used at lunchtime when homeroom stays in the classroom for lunch- main
meal ONLY - Soda is allowed only on special occasions
Please make every effort to schedule appointments for lunchtime, Wednesday/Friday SSR or
after school whenever possible. Students are responsible for work they miss. Students meet
with their K buddies once a month usually Wednesday at 1:30 – students were given a calendar
– it is very disappointing for the Kindergartener when his or her buddy is not there.
Cell phones should never be seen or heard – per handbook.
Quiet tones or no tones during homeroom times.
Students are responsible for ordering lunch when they come to homeroom each am – no orders
are allowed after the bell rings.
Homeroom students may only be at their lockers in the am, snack time, before lunch and end of
day – students must be sure to pack for the correct classes since they are not allowed to return
for a forgotten book.
Subject Class Information:
All students are given the same opportunity to achieve success therefore:
Performance with best effort is expected – Preparation with supplies and completed assignments are
necessary.
It is the student’s responsibility to obtain assignments when absent – check website – student should
also have a homework buddy who will get any papers handed out.
Students need to be prepared to stay in at lunch the day they return to school to either make up notes
or a graded assessment they may have missed.
Each student receives a 100 test grade at the beginning of each trimester for ungraded hw
Science lecture/lab work and Pre-Algebra/Algebra homework must be completed on time – points will
be deducted for incomplete/missed ungraded homework.
Science notebooks are graded periodically for class notes.
Extra credit opportunities are offered to the entire class – not on an individual basis.
Reading is fundamental to mind development – students should have a book to read with them at all
times – there is SSR Fri for Gr. 8 and there is “down” at times for certain circumstances.
Courses: Science content follows the Diocesan guidelines. 8th grade science continues and /or adds
topics from other grades so that mandated areas are covered for high school.
The textbook serves as a springboard for class discussions and notes. Science Fusion serves grades 6th8th. The reading level and book content best serves a 6th grade reading level, therefore it is important to
supplement the material with additional topics and content from outside sources. Topics: The 8 th grade
year finishes up any Biology, Physics or Chemistry topics which may need reinforcement or introduction.
These topics usually include heredity, forces, motion, energy, skeletal, muscular System, atoms, and the
periodic table. Activities to include: 3D cell model, roller coaster building, scientific article analysis,
Punnett square labs to name a few.
Math content follows the state Common Core standards and may also include the Diocesan guidelines
when needed.
Pre-Algebra – skills will be reinforced as needed and introduced to guide students to a smooth
transition to high school algebra. Topics – operations with integers & rational numbers,
expressions/equations(one step – multi step), inequalities, proportions, percent, functions/graphing,
laws of exponent, triangles, angles, surface area/volume, statistics/probability.
Algebra – skills will be introduced/practiced/mastered with the goal of either passing the high school
Algebra I final and starting geometry next year or phasing into a higher phase of freshman year algebra.
Reinforcement (basic skills or spiral review) will be assigned to keep students sharp and fresh with
content that needs to be used for higher level thinking content that algebra presents. Course topics
include – expressions/equations/function, linear equations, relations, linear inequalities, systems,
polynomials, factoring/quadratic equation, exponential functions, radical functions/equations,
geometry, statistics and probability.
Please remember not all students will be ready to move to take geometry as a freshman – it is not a
reflection of teaching or learning style but is a measure of a student’s cognitive abilities indeveloped
in 8th grade. Those who do not pass the high school algebra final are usually placed in a high phase for
the next year.
PLEASE NOTE:
For information regarding Physical Education, please visit Mrs. Reice's website under the
Teachers Pages 'Specials' link on the school's website. Mrs. Reice can best be reached by email
at areice@saintjohnthebeloved.org. Also check Ms. Luce's technology website.
Please sign and return – I have read Mrs. Chandlee’s BTSN packet 2015
Student Name ___________________________
Parent Name ____________________________ email______________________