Beginning fifth-grade is one of the most exciting times in your child’s elementary years. We are sure this transition came with much excitement, and maybe even a bit of apprehension. We assure you we will do our best to make this a smooth transition year for you and your child, as they grow and head to middle school. Our goal is to provide your child with an education that is both academically and socially appropriate. Please familiarize yourself with items in this packet. This should answer most of your questions about the daily routines and procedures in our classrooms.
Family/Teacher Relationship–Communication
We believe that a good family–teacher relationship is essential to your child's school success. Throughout the year we will communicate with you through our class websites, notes, and telephone calls. Please check the class website weekly for important information and announcements. We encourage you to contact us if you have any questions or concerns at any time. You may call the school at (919)-773-9555, email your teacher, or send in a note. Emails and notes are generally easiest as there is no direct line to our classroom.
Sending money
Please send checks or cash in a marked envelope. Many times we are collecting field trip money, fundraiser money, and picture money at the same time and the children and teachers have a hard time remembering what the money is for. You can also pay using the MCES app.
Lunch
Student lunches are $3.00. If you plan on having a child buy lunch daily, we recommend putting the money into your child's lunch account so that your child doesn't have to keep up with their money every day. Please refer to the school handbook for lunch account information. You're welcome to come and eat with us in the cafeteria. Adult lunches do not have fixed costs; you are charged for each item you order individually.
Recess
As you know, this is the fifth graders favorite part of the day! We will go outside every day, weather permitting, for 30 minutes. Please send in a light jacket or sweater on cool days. Please have your child wear appropriate footwear for outdoor play.
Snack
We have a snack time each day. Please send a small, healthy snack that can be consumed in 10-15 minutes. Great snacks to send in are fruit, granola bars, cheese and crackers, carrots, etc. If your child needs a utensil to eat his/her snack, please make sure that you send one in with the snack. Children are encouraged to bring water bottles and will have access to the classroom water fountain throughout the day. However, juice and other drinks are not permitted with snack as they cause stains and attract bugs.
Backpacks
All of your child's personal belongings must be inside his/her backpack during dismissal and arrival times. Please check your child's backpack daily, and empty out unnecessary items.
Tuesday folders
We use Tuesday folders for sending home student work. We also ask that all graded school assignments and assessments are signed and returned each week. These folders are used for the entire year, and should be sent back to school the following day. Please treat these folders with care.
Parent/Teacher Communication Form
You will find a weekly progress report in the outside pocket of your child's folder, please sign and return this sheet every Wednesday. This sheet will let you see how your child is doing in class. When your child’s chart indicates that there was a problem, please talk with him/her about why they were having trouble and what they can do to prepare for a better day tomorrow.
Medicine
All medicine including over-the-counter drugs (cough drops) must be administered through the office. Please do NOT let your child bring medicine in his/her lunch box or backpack. Parents need to bring the medicine to school. Only the office staff can give medicine. Form will be filled out in the office in order to administer medications.
Transportation
At the beginning of the year, you'll need to let us know your child usual mode of transportation from school to home. Anytime that the transportation plan changes, you must send a note with a date, how your child is getting home, and a contact number in case there are any questions. We cannot send a child home by a different mode of transportation without a written note or phone call to the office. A verbal change in the transportation from your child will not be accepted. Last-minute phone calls to the office for a change of transportation should only be use for emergencies. Please try to plan ahead. It is difficult for the office to communicate transportation changes at the end of the day.
Bus Riders: All students riding a WCPSS bus have been issued a bus tag which is a new initiative from the WCPSS Transportation Department. Fifth grade students have a yellow tag. Information on the tag includes the student name, parent contact number, address, bus stop, bus route, and school. The bus tag will be attached to your student’s back pack on the first day of school. Students who wish to ride a bus and have not yet registered for a bus can do so at Bus Rider Registration.
Toys and other special things
Please do not allow your child to bring toys or other personal items to school. Items tend to go missing, and we are unable to investigate to find out where the items have gone.
Homework
Homework should take no more than 30 minutes per subject a night for total of 60 minutes. If your child is working longer than that, please stop them write a note and we will review the skills that gave them trouble.
Morning arrival
Please help your child ease in to his/her day by making every effort to get him/her here on time! If your child is tardy, an adult must check him in through the office. Tardy students must present a tardy slip to the teacher to be admitted to the classroom.
Absences
If your child is absent, please send a note letting us know the reason for the absence or send a message through the MCES app. All absences must be marked unexcused unless we receive a note from home validating and excusable absence. Please refer to the school handbook for more information.
Volunteering in the classroom
We would LOVE your participation during the year. We know that many people work and are not able to come in during the school day, but we still invite your involvement from work. If you would like to be an in-school volunteer, you must register and he cleared as a volunteer. You can register in the front office or in the media center. This needs to be done as soon as possible because sometimes takes several weeks to be approved.
Birthdays
Wake County Board of Education policy states that all activities that take place within the school during the school day should be based on learning experiences for the students and cannot be approved if they are purely for entertainment or for birthday recognition. Food (cupcakes, cookies, cake, popsicles, candy, etc.) and balloons should not be sent in to recognize birthdays. You may send in non-food items to recognize your child’s birthday. These items could include a book donation to the classroom library, pencils, stickers, etc. Any food items sent to school for birthday celebrations will not be distributed and sent back home with the student.
Grading
Wake County policy has done away with the 3* in the standards-based grading. If your child desires a 4, they will need to consistently demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the standards, Concepts and skills taught during this reporting period. There will be many opportunities for your child to demonstrate an in-depth understanding.
Please take time to familiarize yourself with the 2017-2018 MCES Student Parent Handbook Changes to carpool/walker dismissal, bus rider tags, and birthday celebrations have been updated in the handbook
Thank you for your support you have offered thus far, as well as your continued support. We look forward to working with you and your child this year!