September 2009

Term 1, Issue 1 What’s happening in our 5/6 classroom…

Greetings from Mrs. Bolt

I hope everyone had a Parents Please Read:
wonderful summer; I sure
enjoyed the break! The • Our Classroom Website:
weather wasn’t the best in Keeping Connected
Thunder Bay but we did get
a few really nice days. I spent • School Supply Checklist
quite a bit of time out at my the summer. This is going to be a
parents’ camp swimming and great communication tool between • All about… &
relaxing. I even learned some new home and school. Check out the Connection Card
carpentry skills helping my dad build article Our Classroom Website:
a deck on the front of the cottage. Keeping Connected to learn more • High Expectation Policy
Do you know what else I did this about this awesome development.
• Homework Policy
summer? I went to school! Well, not To help us stay organized this year
really. I took an online AQ course in we are going to get into the habit of
July to learn how to teach Literacy using agendas on a daily basis.
better. So I have a bunch of new Being organized and staying on top
ideas for this year that I hope you of your assignments is integral to you
will enjoy. I am super excited to be doing well this year. I have high What’s Inside:
back and want to have a really expectations of my students and
great year where everyone learns a expect all of you to work hard and School Supply
lot, while having a ton of fun! do your best in everything you do. Checklist……....….….2
There are going to be some new This is going to be a great year,
things happening in our classroom welcome back! All About…
this year. One is this newsletter, Survey….……………..2
Classroom Flash. The idea of
Classroom Flash is a way to keep Connection Card…...2
your parents in tune with what is
going on in our classroom. After this
“High achievement Our Classroom
Website…………..…..3
first issue, you the students will be in
charge of creating the newsletter,
always takes place in
High Expectation
with my guidance of course. So start
thinking of some things that you
the framework of Policy…………………3
would like to contribute to our next
issue.
high expectation.” Mrs. Bolt’s
Another really awesome addition to ~Charles F. Kettering Homework Policy…..4
our class is a classroom website that
I have been busy developing over

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September 2009
School Supply Checklist
Here is a list of
supplies you will need
for the school year. We
are going to be organizing
most of our papers in a
binder using dividers to
separate subjects. Be
sure to put your name
on all your supplies!
School Supplies
Indoor Runners
(non-marking soles)
Backpack
Pencil Case
Pencils
Erasers
Ruler
Pencil Crayons
Highlighter
Calculator
3 Ring Binder,
approx. 1”
Lined Paper
Dividers
If there is anything on
this list that you are
unable to supply, please
fill in the Supply card
and give it to Mrs. Bolt
so she can arrange the
supplies for you.
Supply Card - Return no later than Wed. September 8, 2009.
Student Name: _______________________________________________
Item(s) Needed: ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Parent Signature: _____________________________________________
Parents, please take a moment to fill out the cards below. The top
card is designed to tell me a bit about your child from your
perspective. Your child will be filling out his or her own version so
please fill this out from your standpoint. The bottom card is a quick
reference connection card that I will keep on file to let me know
the best way to keep in contact with you. Please cut them out
and have your child return them to me at your earliest
convenience.
Student Name: ______________________________________ Age: __________
Birthday: ________________________ Allergies: __________________________
Interests/Hobbies: ___________________________________________________
Favorite Subject(s): ________________ Strongest Subject(s): _____________
Least Fav. Subject(s): _______________ Weakest Subject(s): _____________
Enjoys Reading: Yes No Fav. Book: __________________________
Greatest area of need: _____________________________________________
Greatest area of strength: ___________________________________________
Any Behavioural Concerns: __________________________________________
What you would like to see this year: _________________________________
Anything else I should know: _________________________________________
Student Name: ________________________________ Connection Card
Parent/Guardian Name: ____________________________________________
Relation to Student: _________________________________________________
Phone #s: (H) _________________________ (W) _________________________
If possible, I would like to communicate and send out our newsletter
via email, do you use email? Yes No
If Yes, may I communicate via email with you? Yes No
If Yes, how often do you check your email? (Please circle)
Many times/day once/day 2-4 times/wk once/wk less than once/wk
Email: ________________________________________________________
Will you have regular access to view the Homework Assignments link on
our Classroom Website? Yes No
Would you be available and interested in doing some volunteering in
the classroom or school? (Please don’t feel obligated) Yes No
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 Classroom Flash

Our Classroom Website: Keeping

Connected
I was trying to think of a way
to keep parents more in-the-
loop with what is happening
in the classroom. After much
thought I decided I would
try my hand at creating a
website for our classroom
that parents could log onto
to keep connected. I put in
many hours this summer
creating a website through
Weebly, a really awesome
website that helps you
create your own website.
Some features of our
classroom site are: a Class
Pics page where we will post
pictures of all the cool things
we do during the year; a
Homework Assignments
page where we will post all
our assignments and due
dates to keep students and
parents on top of
homework; a Discussion
Area where students can
discuss any questions they
might have about
assignments; a Contact Mrs.
Bolt page where students or
parents can email me any
questions or messages they
may have for me; student
and parent resource
sections; and more!
Please take some time to
get familiar with the website.
Parents, please, please,
please take a look at the
Resources for Parents link.
I’ve compiled some
awesome information here
to help you help your child
reach his or her full potential.
Be sure to bookmark the
website to your favourites
and check the Homework
Assignments page daily to
ensure your child is caught
up on all his or her work. The
website is
www.mmpsbolt.weebly.com
The students and I will be
updating the site often so
there will new things to
check out regularly. Soon
you will even be able to link
to sites created by our class
as part of media literacy, so
keep this site tabbed!

High Expectation Policy

I’ve upped my expectations this
year for not only myself, but for my
students, and their parents. Don’t
worry… this is a good thing! With
high expectations comes higher
achievement, therefore you should
up your expectations too!
This year I really want to focus on
character education, which is
basically the building of moral
character. Today’s media portrays
role models who cheat and steal
their way to fortune, lie rather than
face the consequences of their
choices, and think only of
themselves rather than others.
Pop culture all to often portrays
famous youth who believe they
deserve everything but are willing
to work for nothing. This air of
entitlement, although entertaining
on television, does not teach our
children the characteristics
required to survive in the real world.
In addition, it does not teach our
children the richness of living a life
of honour, truth, and kindness.
As such, opportunity for students to
learn and practice responsibility,
integrity, and compassion in school
and at home are critical for the
development of moral character.
Students will be expected to treat
others in the school and
community with respect and
kindness. We will practice the
concept of “paying it forward” to
learn the richness of giving, and will
exercise using our manners and
showing courtesy to others by
holding doors and helping those in
need.
Please encourage your child to
practice these behaviours at home
and discuss with them the
importance of treating others with
compassion and kindness.
To help instill responsibility, it is
critical that students are held
accountable. The Homework
Assignment link on our classroom
website was created to make
parents aware of students’
homework so they can help ensure
students are keeping on top of their
work and balancing their time
appropriately.
I have created a Homework Policy
to establish guidelines for
completing assignments. This way
everyone knows what is expected.
My policy is on the follow page in
addition to the Homework Policy
link located on our classroom
website.

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Classroom Flash September 2009

Dear Students and Parents,

Please read through the policy, sign in the space provided, and return the bottom
section. Feel free to call me at the school or use the Contact Mrs. Bolt link on our website
with any questions or concerns you may have.

Homework contributes toward building responsibility, self-discipline and lifelong learning habits. It is my intention
as the teacher to assign relevant, challenging and meaningful homework assignments that reinforce classroom
learning objectives. Homework will provide students with the opportunity to apply information they have
learned, complete unfinished class assignments, and develop independence. School Agendas will be used on
a daily basis to help students develop time managements and organizational skills. Parents are asked to check
School Agendas daily to stay informed of assignments and to help support their children's homework habits.
Parents can also check the Homework Assignments link on the classroom website to keep up to date on
assigned tasks.
Missed Assignments Due to Absence
Students who miss assignments because of an absence will receive the opportunity to make up missed
work. Students are given one school day for each day absent plus one extra day to turn in their work.  It’s the
students’ responsibility to get work missed due to illness or absence.
Late Assignment Policy
Students will be made known of any homework or assignments and their due dates in class. This information will
be posted in the classroom as well as on the classroom website for parents to see. Assignments are due on the
stated due date unless other arrangements have been agreed upon prior. One level will be deducted for each
school day an assignment is handed in late, up to 3 school days, after which the assignment will receive a mark
of incomplete. For example, if the student produces a level 3 assignment but hands it in on Tuesday instead of
the due date, Monday, the student will receive a mark of 3-. If an assignment is due on Monday but is not
received before Friday the student will receive a mark of incomplete. In the case where an assignment is due
at the end of the week but the student hands in the assignment the beginning of the following week, the
student will not be penalized for the days of the weekend, as these are not “school days.”

Responsibility of Parents
- Set a regular, uninterrupted study time each day
- Establish a quiet, well-lit study area
- Monitor student’s organization daily by checking assignments in agenda and classroom website
- Help student work to find the answer, not just get it done
- Be supportive when the student gets frustrated with difficult assignments
- Contact teacher to stay well informed about the student’s learning process
Responsibilities of Students
- Write down assignments in School Agenda
- Be sure all assignments are clear; don’t be afraid to ask questions if necessary
- Set aside a regular time for studying
- Find a quiet, well-lit study area
- Work on homework independently but seek help from parents, peers, and teachers when needed
- Make sure assignments are done according to the given instructions and completed on time
- Produce quality work

I have read the Homework Policy and agree to its terms and conditions.
Student Name: _______________________ Date: _______________________ Signature: __________________
Parent Name: ________________________ Date: _______________________ Signature: __________________
Please return to Mrs. Bolt. Keep a copy of the Homework Policy for your reference.

written and designed by Mrs. Bolt