Welcome to Back- to -School Night at Lynnewood Elementary School

1. Welcome to Back- to -School Night at Lynnewood Elementary School

2. Homeroom • Mrs.Garagozzo’s Classroom (3G) • Room 110, Ext. 4110 • Our Instructional Day: 8:35 AM – 3:30 PM • Please be prompt. Starting on time gets all of us off to a good start!

3. General Information • Absences – please send in an absence note. • Book Clubs – Scholastic Book orders will be done online  • Report Cards: 12/06, 03/28, 06/17 • Conferences – Semester I: 12/12 & 12/13 Semester II: 4/3 & 4/4 • Field Trips – chaperones will be contacted by the teacher on a first-come first-served basis. • Lunch tickets – bulk purchases may be made by sending in a check to the homeroom teacher. Checks should be made payable to the school district. • Medication – all medications must be dropped off at the nurse’s office for dispensing.

4. Goals for Our Classroom Community • Active, engaged, fun learning • Respect for self and others • Self-reliance and motivation • Improved organizational skills • Independence as a learner and thinker • Create a classroom community emphasizing caring, cooperation and compassion for each other • Develop strategies to strengthen individual weakness and promote individual gifts • Prepare the students for a smooth transition between third and fourth grades

5. Classroom Rules and Discipline • The Responsive Classroom program will be used to resolve conflicts, teach social skills; and to stimulate reflection and discussion while creating a community of cooperative learners. • Stages of discipline – verbal redirection, time out, student writes a note home to parents/guardian along with a strategy of their choice to remediate the behavior (parents sign note and return it to school), and phone call home.

6. Behavior • School-wide code • Cooperation • Responsibility • Appropriate situational behavior • Follow multi-step directions

7. Homework • Extensions of school activities • Homework assignment book • Time 30 minutes total • Responsibility • Schedule • The children will have homework Monday – Thursday evenings except during religious observances.

8. Family Communication • Homework assignment book • Phone calls 610-853-5900 Ext.4110 • I will try to check my messages throughout the day, but please keep in mind we sometimes have meetings at lunchtime and after school, so there may be a delay but I will get back to you. • For emergencies please call 610-853-5900 Ext.4000

9. Transportation • If there is a change in transportation the teacher must be notified in writing or a call may be made to the office. • Please do not leave messages of this nature on my voice mail since meetings and glitches in the system may prohibit me from getting the information in time. • At no time will a child be allowed to go home on another bus with a friend without written permission from the parent.

10. Celebrations • Birthday Celebrations – We love to party outside for Birthday Recess  • Seasonal Parties – Halloween, Winter and Valentine’s Day • Student committees will plan and bring in snacks and drinks for the parties. Each child will be assigned to a committee. Written notices will be sent home the week before, so parents can assist students with the preparations. Because you are part of our family, you are always welcome to stop by and visit on these days. • Homeroom parents – are responsible for planning and implementing the End-of-the-Year-Party. • ONLY SNACKS FROM THE SAFE FOOD LIST WILL BE SERVED – THANK YOU 

11. Grading & Report Cards • Report cards issued: 12/6 3/28, 6/17 (may be subject to change) • Please sign and return all graded tests that are sent home • “Test Alert” notices may be sent home prior to test dates.

12. PSSA – Pennsylvania System of School Assessment • PSSA Language Arts and Math Testing: March 17-28 • Open-ended test questions • Ongoing practice • Problem Solvers

13. Handwriting • Handwriting Without Tears program • Focuses on correct pencil grip, letter formation and neatness in written work

14. Science & Social Studies • Taught on alternating six week cycles.

15. Science • National Science Resource Center (NRSC): Science & Technology for Children (STC) • Rocks and Minerals • Plant Growth and Development • Animal Habitats • Assessment: observations, performance assessments and quizzes • Homework: assigned periodically

16. Social Studies • McGraw-Hill and The National Geographic Society Text • Communities • History • Geography • Civics • Assessment: observations, in-class projects and quizzes • Homework: assigned periodically

17. Language Arts

18. Language arts – Four Blocks balanced literacy format: • Whole Group Instruction • Small Group Differentiated Instruction • Spelling/Grammar • Writing • Independent Reading and Writing

19. Language Arts • Program - Houghton Mifflin Reading anthology collections • Leveled readers go with each anthology selection for guided reading instruction to reinforce skills and strategies at each student’s instructional level • Assessments: Formative and Summative assessments, Roe Burns, Aimsweb Fluency, Writing assignments, observations, and running records.

20. Spelling • Houghton Mifflin Reading Spelling program • Required District Spelling List • Graded in Writing: Apply proper spelling to written work

21. Mathematics Please see the Math in Focus Power Point for information 

22. Welcome to Third Grade!!!I’m Looking Forward To A Great Year!