WELCOME to 5th grade at South Davis-the best school in Arlington. We hope that this will be a year of academic and emotional growth for your child. We want this to be the best year your child has had, and this can be accomplished by working together as parents and teachers. Please refer to the following notes if you have any questions during the year. We are looking forward to a wonderful educational experience for your child-as a FANTASTIC Fifth Grader!

CONFERENCE TIME for the fifth grade teachers is 9:25-10:15 a.m. If you need a conference with us, please notify us with a note or call the school office. The phone number is (682) 867-3800.

THE HOME/SCHOOL CONTRACT continues for this year, as our entire school is a Title 1 school. Parents, teachers and students each have responsibilities. We will be making many efforts to keep you informed about all the positive strides your child is making this year.

MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS may be picked up in the office area when a student is absent for two or more days. If a student is absent only one day, he/she may get assignments upon returning to class the following day. Each day's absence earns one day to complete make-up work. Please help your child to see that the work is done promptly. If your child is too ill to do make-up work at home, please wait until he/she is feeling better to request the assignments. Tests missed will be given when the student returns to school. To obtain make-up work, please notify the office no later than 10:00 a.m. Assignments will be ready to be picked up in the office by 3:20 that afternoon. A PHONE CALL (preferred method) OR A NOT FROM PARENTS MUST BE SENT EXPLAINING THE CHILD'S ABSENCE. NO WORK IS GRADED FOR AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE. No work in advance will be given for trips or vacations. Make-up work will be ready when the child returns to school.

FIFTH GRADE USES A NOTEBOOK AND/OR A TAKE-HOME FOLDER for papers and assignments. An assignment sheet should always be available. Check this sheet for homework that should be completed that night. Look in the folder for parent information, notes and the PAW packet. Each teacher will require that the assignment sheet is signed and returned to us. Your signature tells us that you have looked at the graded papers and know about your child's behavior and study habits. Students will be required to keep their papers in their notebook for the entire six weeks. Each teacher will tell the students when to take the papers out of the notebook. You may have your child bring home his notebook and books at any time. Please look through your child's backpack and make sure that there are no loose papers. All papers are to be put in the rings in the notebook.

THREE-WEEK PROGRESS REPORTS will be sent home with your child mid-way through the six weeks period. Every child will receive a progress report, detailing the current averages. The reports are usually sent home on a Wednesday. This will allow your child time to improve before report cards are sent home. Please sign the progress report and return it to school the next day.

PARENTS WILL BE MADE AWARE OF DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS occurring during school. We all must work together to correct the problem. Our school uses a combination of Boy's Town Skills and Character Counts. Each teacher has a Class Link phone to make parental contact easier. The office number is (682) 867-3800. If your phone has call block, we will be unable to reach you. We use the phones for many reasons, such as a forgotten lunch.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES are essential in order for your child to do his/her schoolwork. Be sure your child has an adequate supply of notebook paper, pencils, pens and red checking pens. Please check to see that your child has these essentials, plus scissors, crayons and glue.

THE LANGUAGE ARTS curriculum includes an anthology of children's literature. We will also be reading many novels. Spelling tests are given every week. We also write a variety of compositions, and we use the language book for grammar. Students will also be making use of a computerized reading system in the computer lab. Each teacher has certain requirements for the number of books that must be read and tested on successfully each six weeks.

IN MATH, we are using the Silver Burdett Ginn or Saxon book. Students keep all their papers in their notebook. We use a variety of methods to teach the concepts. If your child does not have mastery of the addition and subtraction facts, it is imperative that the facts be learned. Your child should be gaining mastery of the multiplication and division facts by now. If not, please help them master them quickly. There will be modification and enrichment activities for every ability level.

IN SOCIAL STUDIES, the main emphasis is on the United States. We will study the history of the US, including the regions. We will be learning the 50 states and capitals and where they are located. The emphasis will be on geography, history, government, culture, economy and civics. There will be group and individual projects, such as making a state flag and doing a state report.

IN SCIENCE, the main focus is on earth science. We use a science book in class. We are starting a new kit this year, called the FOSS kit. Science will be a fifth grade TAKS tested subject in two years. We alternate science and social studies each three weeks. We will do many science experiments.

COMPUTERS are an integral part of our curriculum. Each classroom has computers available. We have one lab with G3 Power Macintosh computers that are really fantastic, and we will have an iMAC lab in the spring. The Internet is available on lab computers and some in the classroom, but we do not allow unsupervised use of the net. We use the computer lab for many word processing activities, such as research, book reports, slide shows, or special projects. Each class will go to the computer lab at least once a week for an hour.

SCHOOL HOURS are from 8:10-3:20. The front doors are not unlocked until 7:45 a.m. Your children will not be supervised outside if you choose to leave them before that time. All children should be picked up as soon after 3:20 p.m. as the traffic will allow. At 3:40 p.m. all children are brought into the front hall, and you will need to come in and sign out your child. For security reasons, all outside doors are kept locked, except for the front door. You also need to go to the office, sign in and receive a visitor's badge any time you are in the building. Also, please do not enter or park in the faculty parking lot before or after school to drop off or pick up your child.

MEDICATIONS can only be given in the nurse's office if we have a permission form from the Doctor. This includes cough drops and aspirin. Any medication must be in the original bottle. Please inform teachers of any medical problems and keep your phone number current.

PTA is a vital part of our school. PTA dues are only $4 per person. VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS are available in the office and from the classroom teacher. These need to be filled out and returned in order for you to volunteer anywhere at school. This includes going on field trips, helping at parties, working at Heyday or working in the classroom or the workroom. We would love to have the entire parent group available to volunteer.

THE PAW PACKET usually goes home every Thursday. Please ask your child for the packet. It contains information for the whole school and some grade level specific information, also.

THE CAFETERIA serves breakfast and lunch. Your child has a number to key into a machine. This means no lost lunch tickets or other people using the number. Please remember to keep money in your child's account.

BE SURE TO CONTACT US ANY TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM OR QUESTION. WE WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.