Welcome to 5th Grade!
• Communication between all parties is essential to making
the partnership between student, teacher, and parent
successful.
• Email is best during the day: dfurman or
khenderson@shelbyed.k12.al.us
• Phone calls will be returned as soon as possible.
• Conferences may be scheduled by email or phone call. Our
conference days are Mon.–Thurs. from 9:00-9:25.
• Your child will also have a space near the teacher’s desk to
place notes.
• Correspondence through agendas is possible as well.
Goals
In addition to the OMIS Mission Statement to advance student
achievement through a comprehensive curriculum and the
OMIS Unique Purpose to provide a successful transition from
early childhood to early adolescence by encouraging
responsibility, independence, and character development, we
aim to
• Create a community of learners that include students,
teachers, and parents
• Create life-long learners, readers, writers and critical
thinkers.
• Relate subject areas to real-life experiences
Carpool
• You may drop off your children no earlier than 7:05.
There is no supervision available until after that time.
• Please don’t let your children out in the parking lot. If
you are not in carpool, please walk them to the door.
• Limos cannot come to the parking lot to pick up students
for any occasion unless they will be picking up the entire
class. No deliveries from the florist are allowed.
• One lane of traffic in the morning –or you may park in a
space and walk your child across the cross walk. Two
lanes for pick up.
• Students are not permitted to bring rolling backpacks to
school.
Tardiness/Absence
• School starts at 7:50 a.m. Your child will be tardy if not in
the classroom when the bell rings.
• Be sure to send a legible excuse from home or doctor with
your child’s first and last name within three days of
returning to school in order to receive make up work. It is
the student’s responsibility to complete that work and ask
questions or for help if needed. Another child may not
bring home those assignments.
• For planned absences (not vacations), there is a form that
should be filled our and submitted to Dr. LeQuier prior to
the absence.
• You will need to provide ID for checking out your child.
Handbook (now online)
• SCBOE recommends a minimum attendance standard of
168 days per year. A student who accumulates more than
12 absences during a school year is subject to loss of credit
and /or retention.
• Dress Code: skirts, shirts, and dresses must be mid-thigh or
longer in front and back. No spaghetti straps.
• Cell Phones: cannot be audible or visible during instruction
– First Violation: In School Suspension
– Second Violation: Out of School Suspension
• The Shelby County Reporting Form for bullying and the
Bullying Hotline Number are provided at the Shelby County
website under Parents, or go directly to:
www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/student_serv/bullying/index.html
Daily and Weekly Schedule
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P.E. – 8:55-9:30 Daily
Lunch – 11:28-11:54 Daily
Library – scheduled as needed by Mr. Henderson
Art – 1:15-2:00 on Monday
GRC – 11:45-2:45 Tuesday and 12:30-1:30 Thursday
Music – 1:15-2:00 on Wednesday
Science Lab – 1:40-2:30 Thursday (alternating weeks)
Computer Lab – 10:15-11:00 Thursday (alternating weeks)
Guidance – 12:30-1:30 Friday (once a month)
Trading Classes
• Mrs. Furman teaches math and science, including science
lab.
• Mr. Henderson teaches English language arts, plus
technology lab.
• Math and English language arts are taught to the Alabama
College and Career-Readiness standards, see the Alabama
Dept. of Ed. website (www.alsde.edu) for more information.
• Mrs. Furman and Mr. Henderson each teach social studies
to their respective homerooms.
• This is an opportunity that has been implemented in order to
provide your child with the experience of changing classes
before middle school. We are hopeful it will reinforce
organization and accountability.
Math
Mrs. Furman teaches math using the AMSTI program adopted
by OMIS last year. It is designed to support students in
making sense of mathematics and becoming mathematical
thinkers. The investigations give students time to develop a
strong conceptual foundation before moving into the more
abstract algorithms.
Resources available include:
• Math journals created in class
• Student resource pages available through Pearson
SuccessNet and posted on Mrs. Furman’s blog
• Ms. Champion’s blog link on Mrs. Furman’s blog
• “Parent Roadmap: Supporting Your Child in Grade Five
Mathematics” link under Students and Parents on OMIS site
Science
Mrs. Furman teaches science. Your child will visit the
science lab at least twice a month for hands-on
experiences and reinforcement of objectives. Fifth grade
objectives cover:
• Cells and Human Body Systems
• Plants and Ecosystems
• Water Cycle and Weather Patterns
• Earth’s Surface and Natural Resources
• Matter, Motion, and Forms of Energy
• Space and Technology
… and yes, we’ll dissect frogs in the spring!
CCSS in ELA/Literacy
“The Common Core State Standards were developed
through an unprecedented state-led initiative that drew
on the expertise of teachers, parents, administrators,
researchers and content experts from across the country.
The Standards define a staircase to college and career
readiness, building on the best of previous state
standards and evidence from international comparisons
and domestic reports and recommendations. Most states
have now adopted the Standards to replace previous
expectations in English language arts/literacy and
mathematics.”
By David Coleman, Susan Pimentel, and Jason Zimba
English Language Arts
Mr. Henderson teaches English language arts from the
newly adopted College and Career Readiness Standard in
ELA/Literacy which shift the focus to reading and writing
grounded in evidence from rich, complex texts.
• Building knowledge through content-rich nonfiction
• Reading and writing evidence from text, both literary and
informational
• Regular practice with complex texts, syntax and
vocabulary
Social Studies
Mrs. Furman and Mr. Henderson each teach social studies
for their respective homerooms. Fifth grade focus is on
Early American History:
• Native Americans of North America
• Eastern Hemisphere
• Explorers
• Colonies
• Revolutionary War
• Forming of our government
• Westward Expansion
• Civil War
Keeping You Informed
There are several routines in place to keep parents informed
about what is going on at school. Please take advantage of
these efforts:
• Daily homework/announcement board for agendas
• Weekly email updates (Sunday)
• Weekly graded paper packets with ongoing averages
(Tuesday)
• Furman Fifth Grade Blog
• Mr. Henderson’s Huddle Blog
• OMIS ListServe Announcements
Classroom Management Plan
Both teachers use a joint system for recognizing good
choices and addressing poor student choices:
• Students earn white/yellow tickets for good choices to be
used for privileges such as First Friday Market.
• Each student has four red amnesty tickets a nine weeks.
• Each homeroom has a Responsibility Book where
students sign and record poor choices in any area of the
school. Report card conduct grades are calculated from
this system.
0-5 signatures = S
11-15 signatures = N
6-10 signatures = P
15+ signatures = U
Class Involvement
• Our class still needs a room parent to coordinate
volunteers or a small group of parents to share the
responsibility please!
• Back to School Splash volunteers are still needed.
• Parties: Christmas and End of Year (Valentine’s party is
class only)
8 parents are permitted at each party
(Birthdays: snacks are welcome during lunch)
• OMIS Career Day –To Be Announced
• Field Trip Chaperones – 5 chaperones for each field trip
Thank you so much for everything so far!
Other Items For Discussion
• First Friday Market
• Challenge Board
• Screechr
• Dress-Up Occasions
Your child may mention one or more of the adults we have
with our class at any given time. We are very fortunate to
count these outstanding individuals as part of our team:
• Katie Kent, Special Education Teacher
• Wally Nicholson, Instructional Aide
Thank you for coming! It is going to be a great year!