6th Grade Handbook
Dear 6th Grade Families:
Welcome to the Sixth Grade! All of the sixth grade teachers are excited about the
school year and anxious to get started. We want to get to know your child and family to
make this the best learning experience possible. This handbook will help your child
become acclimated to the sixth grade and will give you an idea of our expectations and
policies.
Character Counts Cards
Our expectations for our students are high. We have them for only six and a half hours a day, and
thus need to make the most of this valuable time. We want our students to be a community of
learners who respect and help each other. Activities will be done throughout the year which will foster
this in and out of class. To help ensure success, we will be using “Character Counts” cards to monitor
behavior. This card will be used to monitor each student’s behavior, based on the six pillars of
character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.
When students display one of these behaviors they will receive a positive, and if they do something
contrary to the pillars they will receive a negative. Any three negatives in one day will result in a lunch
detention. Lunch detention may also be assigned before three negatives at the teacher’s discretion
for more major offenses. At the end of each quarter, students will be able to participate in a quarterly
reward if they have twice as many positives as they do negatives. If the number of positives is not
double, individual students will not be able to participate.
Students are expected to have their Character Counts cards with them in every class that they travel
to. If they leave their Character Counts card in another class room they will receive a negative. If they
do not bring it back the next day, they will receive double the negatives. If the card is lost, lunch
detention will be served that day and the student will receive a new card with an automatic three
negatives.
Students are responsible for having their character counts cards signed by a parent twice per
quarter; first at the mid-point and again at the end of the quarter.
6th Grade Handbook
Voluntary Donations:
The following is a list of the materials we will be using in our classrooms this year. If you are able to
donate one or two of these items, we would appreciate it.
-Kleenex boxes
-highlighters (4 colors)
-Glue sticks
-Colored Pencils (ELA)
-3 ring binder 1 inch-Math and Science
-3 ring binder 1 inch-Reading and Writing
-baby wipes **no products that contain bleach
-paper towels
-white board markers
-hand sanitizer
-sticky notes
-scissors
-index cards
-black sharpie marker
*A flash drive is recommended but not required so that students may save class work and
then continue to work on it at home and vice-versa.
The experience of contributing to the creation of the classroom learning helps the children realize
they are a valued member of class. Sharing one’s materials with others, and having others share their
materials in return, help students appreciate the cooperative effort that is necessary to build a
learning environment.
**”Arizona law requires that public schools provide supplies required for academic success. This list represents optional, supplementary
items which you may supply at your discretion. If you have questions please feel free to contact the school.”
6th Grade Policies
Absences
We understand that absences are sometimes unavoidable but also realize the importance of keeping
up with classwork. According to district guidelines, students will have one day for every day absent to
make-up work for full credit. (For example: If absent on Monday and Tuesday the student would have
Wednesday and Thursday to make-up work to be handed in on Friday). Class assignments will be
located on each teacher’s webpage for students to access. It is the student’s responsibility to check
with the teachers and the 6th grade website, to find out what he or she missed.
Class Work/Homework
All assigned work, simply put, is due the day it is due. The student will get a negative if it is not turned
in the day that it is due.
6th Grade Handbook
Note
Obviously from time to time exceptions will need to be made. Things like family emergencies will be
taken into account and handled on a case by case basis.
Retake Policy
Retakes are offered in each class. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for a retake. The higher
score will be entered as the final grade. If students choose to do the retake they will need to be
completed no more than two weeks from the date of the original test date is. However, this timeline
will need to be adjusted for the end of the grading period. District benchmark assessments do not
allow for retakes.
LAS BRISAS ADOPTS NEW PROCEDURES
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FOOD AND CELEBRATIONS!!!!
Food at School
We value the health and well-being of all Las Brisas students and staff and we will do everything in
our power to safeguard your children. Even a brief exposure to some of these foods could render a
susceptible child or adult unable to breathe in minutes, which is the reason for instituting this new
policy and we appreciate your support and understanding.
Students without nut allergies may bring peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or snacks with nuts, such
as granola bars, etc with them for their lunches, but not to eat in the classrooms. There is a
designated table in the cafeteria available for students with nut allergies. Friends who have
purchased a school prepared lunch may sit at that table also.
Birthdays
We love to celebrate them! Due to the increased numbers of students with severe allergies to various
food and nut products and other health conditions, Las Brisas Elementary School has instituted a new
policy regarding student birthdays and celebrations. There will no longer be any edible treats of any
kind permitted in the classroom as part of birthday celebrations. Students will be recognized on their
birthday by having their name read on the morning announcements and special recognition in the
classroom. Balloons, balloon bouquets, flower bouquets, stuffed animals and the like will not be
delivered to the classrooms.
Classroom Parties
The following parties are scheduled during the school year: Fall Party, Holiday Party, Valentine’s
Day and End of the Year Celebration. All classrooms are designated as NUT FREE and will follow
the “NUT FREE” guidelines listed on the school website: lasbrisas.dvusd.org (under school links).
6th Grade Handbook
Due to our schedule, class parties will be held during the student’s last hour of the day with the
homeroom class. Please contact your child’s 7th hour teacher if you have questions or need more
information.
Student Snacks for Classrooms
All classrooms are designated as “NUT FREE”. This means that any snacks a student brings to the
classroom to be eaten during a “snack time” must be NUT FREE. Suggested snacks are: pretzels,
popcorn, rice snacks, chips, crackers, goldfish, graham crackers, fruit snacks, rice krispie treats, but
always check the label. Please refrain from bringing snacks that require utensils.
We do encourage students to bring a healthy snack and a water bottle to school daily. We know how
difficult it is to concentrate on an empty stomach.
No Gum is allowed on the Las Brisas campus.
In Closing
While we want the students to be a community of learners, we also believe in the importance of high
academic standards. It is imperative that students know that hard work will reap great rewards, and
for them to learn that responsibility is one of the most important keys to success. Sixth grade is a
unique year. Boys and girls enter our rooms as elementary students and leave as middle school
students.
We believe that constant communication between parents and teachers is crucial to the well-being of
students. The 6th grade teachers can be reached by email and pertinent information is also contained
on our websites. Please allow 24 hours for a response from a teacher.
We are very fortunate and privileged to have your child in our classrooms this year. We truly learn as
much from them as they do from us. We are looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
The Sixth Grade Team
6th Grade Handbook
The Sixth Grade Team
Teacher
Name
Mrs. Biller
Email
Subjects
courtney.biller@dvusd.org
Math and
Technology
Reading
Mrs. Pelton amanda.pelton@dvusd.org
Mr. Fasula
gary.fasula@dvusd.org
Miss
Rauscher
Mr. Thirsk
jeanette.rauscher@dvusd.org
Social
Studies
Writing
trevor.thirsk@dvusd.org
Science
Mrs. West
joyce.west@dvusd.org
Sage
Math
Sage
Reading
Support Staff
Mr. Shelton mike.shelton@dvusd.org
6th Grade Handbook
**Please read and review the 6th Grade Handbook with
your child and sign and return this last sheet to your
child’s homeroom teacher.
Student Name
____
I have read and reviewed the information in the 6th Grade
Handbook with my child.
Parent signature
Date
Student signature
Date