7th Grade Language Arts
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Welcome to a new year at Church Hill Middle School. I wanted to take the opportunity to let you know about my classroom policies. Please read this information, sign the bottom part, detach, and return it.
Thank you,
Rhonda Richards
Supply List
1 1/2 inch binder
Six binder tab dividers
Pencils
Hand-held pencil sharpener
Pens (for grading)
In the past I have had trouble keeping enough Kleenexes and hand sanitizer. This year, I am requesting that each student bring one of these items for the class to use.
Consequences
Other possible consequences: change of seat, phone call home, lunch detention
Failure to bring materials three times in a six weeks will result in a detention.
Severe Clause: Serious behavioral problems will result in the student being sent immediately to the office.
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Leaving During Class
It is important for each student to be present during class. However, I realize that occasionally students will need to leave to go to the restroom, clinic, or to make a phone call in the office. Each student will be allowed to leave the room once each nine weeks to use the restroom, go to the clinic (non-emergency), or make a phone call in the office. I keep up with this in my grade book. At the end of the nine weeks any student who has not left the room, other than being called for by the office or a teacher, will receive one extra point added to his or her grade. Any student who has a medical condition that makes it necessary for him or her to leave the room more often will need to turn in a doctor’s note.
A= 100-93
B=92-85
C=84-75
D=74-70
F=69-0
Sometimes I will give students a grade based on the amount of effort they put into an assignment rather than just the number missed.
ü + =100 (All done/good work)
ü = 90 (Most done/good work)
ü - =75 (Not all done/poor work)
ü - - =60 (Half or less done/very poor work)
NC =No Credit (Very little work done; appears student just guessed)
Quizzes will be given occasionally. At the end of each nine weeks, students will have a test covering everything that has been taught that nine weeks.
Homework
Students will be responsible for reading 10 minutes each night and keeping a reading log. They will also be reading 10 minutes a day in class. When students are absent, it is their responsibility to make this time up at home. The log needs to be signed by an adult each time that the student reads at home. Students who read more than the required 100 minutes a week will receive extra credit. Logs are due on Monday of each week.
Late Work
One day late= ten points deducted
Two days late= twenty points deducted
Work turned in more than two days late will not receive credit.
Makeup Work
It is the students’ responsibility to find out what assignments he or she has missed and complete them. I have a bulletin board in my room that lists the assignments and a basket that has makeup worksheets in it. Students who have been absent should check this
board and basket. Assignments are also posted on the classroom website.
Notebook
Students will have notebook checks periodically and I will be giving a grade for this. I will help students put their notebooks together at the beginning of the year.
Summer Reading
Students who did not complete the summer reading project will need to do so by Monday, August 29th.
Important Dates
These are some tentative dates for projects.
Fiction Book Review- Tuesday, September 27th
Poetry Slam- Wednesday, Dec. 14th
Book in a Box- Thursday, March 1st
Each teacher at Church Hill Middle has a website that lists homework, assignments, projects, and announcements. Parents and students can access the pages by going to the school’s website at http://www.hck12.net/chms and clicking on the “class websites” tab. I update my website daily so make sure to check it often.
If you need to talk to me or set up a conference, I can be reached at the school’s number, 357-3051. If I am unavailable, the secretary will take a message and I’ll call you back.
You can also contact me through e-mail, richardsr@hck12.net.
National Board Certification
In order to improve my teaching skills, I am pursuing national board certification. This process requires me to video myself teaching and to collect student work samples. These videos and work samples will not be used for any purpose other than to evaluate my teaching skills. I will need permission from each student’s parent or guardian. The permission form is on the back of this letter.
Please fill out the information below and back of this sheet and return to me. Thank you!
Contact Information
Student’s Name:________________________________________
Parent or Guardian’s Name:____________________________________
Parent or Guardian’s Phone Number:______________________________
Parent or Guardian’s Email Address:_____________________________
Anything that you would like for me to know about your student or any questions or comments: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________