Welcome to Mrs. Perez and Ms. Jacobson’s Fifth
Grade Classes!
Dear Families,
We feel truly blessed this year to once again be part of the JAA staff. We look
forward to meeting and getting to know your families and your precious scholar
this year as we embark upon a great adventure. Please take a moment to review the
following information regarding your scholar’s Fifth Grade year.
Communication – We are partnering with you in your scholar’s education!
Communication is one of many important factors in a child’s academic and social
success here at JAA. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your scholar at any
time. Mrs. Perez is available at reece.perez@johnadamsacademy.com. Ms.
Jacobson is available at nicole.jacobson@johnadamsacademy.com. This is usually
the easiest way to reach us, however if you would like to visit with one or both of
us in person, please make an appointment via e-mail to meet before or after school.
All upcoming events and classroom information, including daily updates for
homework, will be posted to our webpages, which can be accessed through the JAA
webpage. Please click on your scholar’s teacher and hit the “subscribe” button.
That way, whenever there is updated information available, it will be emailed
directly to you!
Our Daily Schedule:
Monday – Thursday
8:00– 8:15
8:15 – 9:10
9:10 - 9:50
9:50 – 10:40
10:40 - 11:00
11:05 – 12:25
12:25 – 1:05
1:10 – 2:00
2:00 - 2:15
2:20 – 3:15
Flag Ceremony
Math (Ms. Jacobson)/ S.S.(Mrs. Perez)
Specials (Music, Latin, Art, P.E.)
Rotation 1
Recess
RIGGS and Grammar (Ms. Jacobson)/ Science (Mrs.
Perez) and Common Books
Lunch
Rotation 2
Recess
Novel Study and Pack-Up
Friday
8:00 - 8:15
8:15 – 9:1510:45-11:0011:00–12:0012:00
Flag Ceremony
Mentor
Recess
Class Instruction
Dismissal
“Specials” Activities
Physical Education: Our Fabulous P.E. teacher, Mr. Clemmer will meet with
each class once a week during our Specials time.
Chrome Cart: The chrome cart will travel to us in class on a weekly basis for
a one hour block. Scholars and parents will need to sign a consent agreement.
Art: Mrs. Dentzer is the art teacher, and she does a WONDERFUL job with
the scholars. Her rubric is available online on both Ms. Jacobson and Mrs.
Perez’s webpage. She will be incorporating art units that coincide with our
curriculum.
Library: A 30 minute block once a week with Ms. Katie, our librarian. This
year, she will be doing author studies with the scholars during their library
time. They may each choose two books, pending previous book returns. One
book MUST be either non-fiction or a classic, the other may be a “fun” read.
Music: Ms. Burton is our music teacher, and the scholars will be learning
everything from singing to recorders this year. Expect a concert in the late
spring.
Latin: Ms. Perez is our new Latin teacher this year. She will be fusing the
scholar’s curriculum and units of study with her Latin program in order to
further our Core Knowledge sequence.
Rotations
This year, the scholars get to experience what it’s like to have more than one
teacher! Ms. Jacobson and Mrs. Perez will be rotating between the 5th grade
classes for 2 subjects. Ms. Jacobson will be teaching RIGGS and grammar as well
as Math, and Mrs. Perez will be teaching Social Studies and Science. We are
ecstatic about rotations seeing as this year will challenge your scholar in new and
exciting ways, help them to remain organized, learn how to cope with various
personalities, and build a solid foundation for their transition to 6th grade.
Dress Code
Please follow the JAA uniform policy which can be found on the JAA website. If a
scholar comes to school in attire that does not follow the JAA uniform standard,
scholars will be sent to the office to call home for a change of clothes.
After School
The scholars will be seated in front of the Franklin Building, near the outside
amphitheater. Before arriving at school, please make sure your child knows who will
be picking them up in the afternoon. If your scholar will be taking a different mode
of transportation than usual, please send a note to school or call the office. This
knowledge will greatly expedite the dismissal process.
Classroom Organization
As we prepare our scholars for their 6th grade year, it is imperative that we build
organizational skills. We will spend LOTS of time in class going over how their
materials should be set up and organized, and we will regularly discuss steps to
keep things in place and how to respect our (and others) personal property.
Homework
John Adams Academy views homework as an important part of your child’s
development as a learner. Assignments that come home are reviewing skills or
concepts that have been covered in the classroom. Responsibility for homework
should be taken very seriously as next year they will be switching classes more
frequently. It is important to remember to complete homework and hand it in the
following day. At times we all make mistakes, something comes up, or we just plain
forget! If homework is forgotten, the expectation is that it will be brought in the
very next day for 10 points off and a $10 fine. Each additional day late will incur an
additional $10 fine and an additional 10 points off. Along the same lines, any work
that is completed with poor quality will be handed back, and they will be asked to
complete it again with their BEST work. We expect academic excellence in all
assignments.
Scholars will have a daily homework log in their Student Planners. Each day
we will record assignments as a class, and a neighboring scholar will be required to
“sign-off” on their neighbors log. Homework will be due the following day unless
otherwise noted. All homework items will be posted on the “Homework” tab of our
webpages on the JAA website daily.
During the year, scholars will also be working on large projects that will
require more time. We will do our best to give scholars as much class time as
possible, however, it will likely be necessary to put in extra time at home. Late
projects will receive a GRADE OF ZERO.
Reading Log
Four days a week, scholars are expected to read 30 minutes a night and then write
a two or three sentence summary in their Reading Log. The Reading Log should
always be stored in their Homework Folder, which will go back and forth between
school and home each night. Please sign the Reading Log at the end of each week
signifying that your child has completed the assignment. We will be checking the
log weekly. We understand some weeknights may be full of extracurricular
activities, therefore the due date of the Reading Logs will be each Monday, giving
the scholar two days on the weekend to make up any missed 30 minute block of
reading.
Friday Take Home Items
Instead of sending home class papers daily, they will accumulate throughout the
week in their mailboxes. At the end of the day on Friday, scholars will take these
items home in order for you to look at and talk about the work they have done. Of
course, if there are date sensitive materials that need to be sent home sooner
than Friday, I will send them home the day I receive them. Over the weekend,
please take these items out of their homework folder and return the folder to
school with their signed Reading Log. IT MAY BE WISE TO KEEP ALL PAPERS
UNTIL THE END OF A QUARTER.
Behavior Expectations
Throughout the year we will spend a lot of time and effort learning, reviewing, and
practicing how to follow John Adams Academy’s vision of restoring America’s
heritage and developing servant leaders. Within the classroom, scholars will be
held accountable for these expectations. Our classroom expectations are simple:
follow JAA’s 10 Core Values.
Overall, the behavior of our scholars at JAA is outstanding, but occasionally we all
are human. We will be using the classroom economy system* for most of the
everyday discipline (good or bad), however should further action be required, they
will move down our clip chart according to the following scale:
First offense: verbal warning
Second Offense: Fine
Third Offense: Teacher’s Choice
Fourth offense: Referral to office
We will be using a Behavior Reflection Form in my class, as well as school wide. If
your scholar receives a 3rd offense, a Behavior Reflection form will be sent home
for parent signature. They must bring it back to school signed the next day, or
they will receive a second Behavior Reflection Form. The forms will stay on record
in the classroom, and after the 3rd form, the scholar will be sent to the office to
speak with the Dean.
*Please see attached parent note for detailed information regarding our classroom
economy system.
Grading System Breakdown
Math:
40% Daily Assignments/ Homework
60% Quizzes/Tests/Major Projects
Science and Social Studies:
40% Daily Assignments and homework
60% Quizzes/Tests/Major Projects
Language Arts/ RIGGS:
20% Class Assignments/Homework
40% Quizzes/Tests
40% Essays/Writing Projects
Reading:
20% Class Participation:
30% Homework:
50% Tests/ Quizzes
School Wide Grading Scale: (%)
A+
98-100
B+
88-89
A
93-97
B
83-87
A90-92
B80-82
C+
C
C-
78-79
73-77
70-72
D+
D
DF
68-69
63-67
60-62
00-59
Volunteer Hours
As part of our school’s desire to develop servant leaders, we are reminded of the
John Adams volunteer hour recommendation. Each family is asked to donate 40
hours over the entire school year. Providing these service hours assists teachers
and staff in a number of different ways and your help is greatly appreciated!
Opportunities will be emailed regularly, and will also be posted on the school’s
facebook page. Please let us know if there is an area that you would be willing to
serve in the classroom. There will be many different opportunities to volunteer
both in the classroom and school wide. We will do our best to honor your
preferences for days and times.
Cell Phones
We recognize that a cell phone is often a necessary means of communication after
school between parent and child. If a cell phone is brought to school, it must
remain turned off and within the scholar’s backpack until they have exited the
building after school. All phone correspondence between scholars and parents
during the school day must be made via the office or classroom phone. Failure to
follow this rule will result in confiscation, at which point it will ONLY be released
to a parent.
Birthdays
Birthdays are very special for our scholars! We recognize each child’s birthday
with a small token. If this is a problem, please let us know. If you would like to
bring treats to celebrate your child’s birthday please e-mail to set up a time. If
possible, please do not send party invitations to school! Feelings get hurt when not
everyone is included. FYI, we do have a few peanut allergies school wide, and we will
notify you further if there are any allergy concerns in the classroom.
Water Bottles/Snacks
Scholars will be permitted (encouraged) to have a water bottle at their desk.
Please do not send flavored water, and remind your child to bring their wattle
bottle home frequently to be washed. They will be given the opportunity to get a
drink at the water fountain, unless the privilege is being misused. It is
ESPECIALLY important that they have a water bottle on P.E. days.
Thank you for all of your support, and we look forward to an adventure filled year!
With Warmest Regards,
Ms. Jacobson and Mrs. Perez