Dear Parents,
August 24, 2015
We are extremely excited and looking forward to working with you and your student this year. The
information that we’ve included below will provide you with things you “need to know” as you begin fifth grade. Read
through it together . . . and as you read make a note of any questions that you may have for us. We know that you
have many forms to fill out, but please take a minute to fill out the attached form for our records. Together we will
have a successful and wonderful year!
Janet Bevis and Madison Gregory
Arrival: Students may arrive at school as early as 7:45. There will be a bell that rings notifying that students may
enter the building. Students will need to go to their homeroom or to the cafeteria for universal breakfast. (Remember,
everyone gets FREE breakfast again this year – what a great way to start the day!) We begin instruction each day
at 8:15. If your child is just entering the classroom at 8:15, he or she is already behind because they will still need to
unpack, turn in homework, copy assignments in the planner, and take care of any other errands.
Planners and Communication: Fifth graders are expected to write down assignments daily in their planners. Your
child’s planner needs to be at school every day; it should travel home each evening and return again to school in the
morning.
If you have questions or concerns about anything that involves your child at school, please let either of us know. We
can be reached at school in the afternoons from 3:40 to 4:15 p.m. at 980.343.6915, or you can e-mail either of us at
janet.bevis@cms.k12.nc.us or madisonn.horeth@cms.k12.nc.us. We generally check email when we arrive in the
morning and after the children leave in the afternoon. If you have something important to tell either of us that will
need attention during the school day, send us a note. We do check and sign planners every day, and we ask that you
do the same. Either of us are available for conferences if you request one, but please understand that we will need to
schedule these before or after school.
Graded work from both teachers will come home in a communication folder on Tuesdays. Please make sure that you
look through your child’s folder. Please review and discuss the enclosed work with your child. Anything that is
stamped “sign and return,” please review, sign, and return in the folder on Wednesday. It is the responsibility of you
and your child that signed work is returned to school to be part of your child’s portfolio. Any grades that are visible on
Power School will come home in communication folders, so please look for assignments you have questions about
before contacting the content specific teacher. We will post monthly newsletters on this wiki site. We include
curriculum information and important dates (project due dates, test dates, school activities, etc.) in our newsletter.
Please watch for this monthly. We will also provide updates via e-mail and the wiki as needed.
All transportation changes must be in writing; they can be emailed, but we will need them before 8 a.m. If you have
a change after 8 a.m., you will need to contact the front office with a phone call. All absences must be excused in
writing via email or a note. Please do not write excuses in the planner. We keep them in your student’s attendance
file in the main office.
Reading at Home: Fifth graders are required to read 150 minutes every week outside of class and are expected to
always have a book to read. You will be asked to sign the planner each Friday for your child’s weekly total of 150
minutes. You and your child can decide how to schedule those 150 minutes. Your child's book selections and progress
in completing books will be closely monitored. If we are reading a novel as a class, reading to be completed at home
will be assigned each evening and will count towards the weekly total. If your child has a reading assignment in
science or social studies this also counts as “reading time.”
Homework: Your student will have homework every night. Homework is important as it gives the children an
opportunity to practice and review skills taught at school. We go over homework together in class, and make it a point
to review any problem areas. Although we do not generally grade homework assignments, we do keep a record of
whether it has been completed. This overall homework grade averages in for all subject areas each quarter.
Occasionally, homework will be graded, but students will be made aware if this is the case. You can expect up to one
hour of homework Monday through Thursday, not including studying or assignments that are overdue or incomplete
after additional classroom time has already been provided. If your child is spending more than a daily average of one
hour on homework each night, please contact us. Homework assignments will be posted on the wiki and updated
daily.
Tests/Projects/Grades: Tests and projects are always announced at least a week ahead of time. We have the
students write this information in their planners and we will also post it on the wiki. Projects or book reports loose 5
points for every day they are late. Not all quizzes are announced. We keep test papers and some quizzes in your
child’s work portfolio, so we will need you to sign and return them to school in the work folder after reviewing.
Absences: We must have a note or an email from you when your child is absent. Please do not write the excuse in
the planner. Missed assignments are recorded on a form and sent home with your student on their return to school.
Students have up to 5 school days to complete missed work. Your 5th grader needs to return the work stapled to the
assignment form. This helps us make certain that your child gets credit for the work. Attendance at school is vital to
your child’s success. Making up a day’s instruction (even with completing assignments) is difficult for your student, so
please make sure your child comes to school. We begin instruction each day at 8:15, so if your child is just entering
the classroom at 8:15, still needing to unpack, turn in homework, copy assignments in the planner, and run errands,
he/she is already behind.
Class Rules: Students are expected to listen and follow directions, and to be respectful of other class members. Bain
has a school-wide discipline plan that is described in detail in your child’s planner. You will be notified of issues or
concerns, or repeated offenses. Not turning in homework is considered “not following directions,” and each missing
assignment is considered an infraction.
Physical Activity: Physical activity is an important part of our school day. All of us need some time to relax, unwind,
move about and clear our heads, and get some fresh air. Weather permitting, we’ll go outside every day. Students
need to wear appropriate shoes for outside play every day. No flip flops are allowed on the playground. When the
weather turns colder, students who do not have proper outerwear will not be going outside. I will ask them to read
quietly in another classroom while we are outside.
Technology: This year each student will have access to their own brand new Chrome Book for classroom use. We will
use these in addition to the 10 classroom iPads. Bain is a BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) campus and students
are allowed to bring their own electronic devices to be used in addition to the technology already provided. All
students participating in BYOT must have a parent signature on the permission slip before devices can be brought to
school.
Classroom Economy: We use a classroom economy to promote a community atmosphere of collaboration and
responsibility, and to provide a real world economic experience. Students apply for jobs quarterly and are expected to
carry out those jobs to earn Bobcat Bucks each week. Bonuses are earned throughout the school year as incentives
and rewards. Students also earn Bobcat Bucks for completing and turning in homework and meeting individual goals.
Students are fined for demerits earned in and outside the classroom. A trade day occurs at the end of each quarter
where students can bring in items to "sell" for Bobcat Bucks.
Taking Notes: Students will be taking notes this year because of a variety of resources will be used other than the
textbook. All information for tests will not necessarily be in the textbook, but students will have notes and/or
handouts with the information.
Other Important Things to Know . . .
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Students are allowed to keep a WATER (no flavored water, please) bottle at their desk.
Students may bring a HEALTHY snack each day.
Our school is COOL – literally and figuratively! Please send a sweater, sweatshirt, or a light jacket with your
5th grader. They may keep one at school in the classroom if they wish not to carry it back and forth. I do
require students to wear sleeves and layers in cold weather.
Students need tennis shoes for outside play (and on PE day!). If your child wears sandals to school, please
send some tennis shoes in their book bag.
Please support and join our PTA! We are asking all students to bring in $5 to cover the cost of the planner.
If your child is one who has to come back to school every day to pick up forgotten assignments, we will be
working on removing that stress from your day this year. They will not be allowed to do that in middle school.
Students should only come back if it is absolutely necessary. Fear of getting a discipline warning is not a good
reason to come back. It is a consequence for an action. If your child comes back after school to pick up
assignments, you must accompany them and sign in at the office. Any child returning to the classroom after
school without a parent will be sent back to the office.
Please return by Friday, August 28. You can also access this on the wiki and submit it electronically.
NAME _______________________
We have read the information in the Back-to-School letter and understand the expectations for this year. Please
complete the short questionnaire below.
__________________________
student’s signature
_______________________
parent’s signature
Does your child have any medical conditions that I need to be aware of? If so, what are they?
Email is a wonderful way for us to communicate. Please let me have an email address that you check daily if I don’t
already have it:
Names of brothers/sisters at Bain, their grade and teacher
What does your child enjoy most about school?
What seems to challenge your child at school?
Does your 5th grader get nervous and apprehensive about tests? If so, have you noticed any strategies that help?
Are there other things that I should know about your child as we begin the year (For example, feelings about reading,
math, or other subjects; how they relate to other children and adults; home situations that may influence learning) ?
Questions/concerns that you might have for me: