Fourth Grade Handbook
Assignment Notebooks
Students will write all assignments in their notebook daily. At the end of each day the students will review the list of assignments and gather necessary materials/texts to complete the homework. It is a student’s responsibility to record and complete assignments.
Birthdays
Because of allergies and other restrictions, we ask that no birthday treats be brought to school. We will honor the birthday child and make the day memorable with a song and a few other special birthday privileges. The student will also receive a dress-down day coupon from Mr. Ridder. Thank you for your support of this new policy to ensure the health of our students.
Book Orders
Book orders will be sent home throughout the year. Sometimes your child’s classroom teacher will make online ordering available as an option. If you choose to order with the paper order form, please send it back promptly with your payment in the form of a check (no cash, please.) All checks should be made out to Scholastic Book Clubs.
Classroom Responsibilities
Students will be assigned classroom jobs on a rotating basis to help develop responsibility.
Discipline
Discipline With Purpose will be used. A parent workshop is available. Please contact St. Patrick's School Office for information. The 4th grade discipline cycle (procedure) is below. In most cases the student will go through each of the steps before being referred to the office. For serious issues, office referral may happen immediately.
Discipline Cycle
Grade 4
- Teacher Acknowledgement/ Non-Verbal Warning
- Walking closer to student
- Touching student on shoulder
- Giving student “the look”
- Redirect student behavior
- Student stays at “green”
- Teacher Gives Verbal Warning
- Teacher and student will talk face-to-face
- Behavior will be discussed
- Student will be given an opportunity to self-correct
- Student stays at “green”
- Student Will Create a Plan
- Student may be asked to move seats/location
- Student will be asked to create plan in his/her mind for joining group again
- Teacher and student will discuss plan
- Student will rejoin group
- Student will sit out for five minutes of recess
- Student moves to “yellow”
- Student Will Create a Written Plan
- Student will complete Stop Think and Plan form
- Plan will be discussed with teacher
- Parents discuss with child and sign the form at home that evening to be returned the next day
- Student will miss recess that day, or the next
- Student moves to “red”
- Office Referral
E-Mail
Miss Boever, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Menning can be reached by clicking on the links to email them on the 4th grade home page. Email addresses are as follows:
Field Trips
The fourth grade will be going on field trips this school year. You will be notified of these trips in writing and will be asked to fill out a permission slip. Students are not permitted to attend without parental permission. Parents may attend some trips as chaperones, but are asked not to bring siblings along.
Grading Scale
Most papers will show the number of points earned over the number of points possible. This will be written as a fraction (Ex: 5/10 meaning that 5 points were earned out of 10 possible points). These will be averaged for each grade report, progress report, and report card and reported as a percent. You are encouraged to check Edline frequently to keep updated on your child's progress. Students may re-do daily work scoring 80% or lower for additional credit. Papers redone/corrected must be handed back in within one week of being sent home. The corrected work will be marked with an average of the original and new scores.
The grading scale is:
93-100% A
86-92% B
78-85% C
70-77% D
Below 70% F
Homework
Homework is an important part of our curriculum. Not only does it reinforce material covered in class; it helps the fourth graders learn responsibility. Homework may consist of work that was not completed during the day, work that was assigned specifically for home, or a combination of both.
Homework should take your child approximately 45 minutes each night. If your child is spending considerably more time than that, please contact your child's homeroom teacher.
Late Work is not acceptable because it impedes student learning and results in extra work for teachers and teacher assistants. Late assignments will result in quarterly consequences as described below:
1st-4th late assignment = no recess, note home
5th-7th late assignment = no recess, note home, 30 min. detention
8th late assignment = no recess, note home, visit principal
9 or more late assignments = consequences decided on an individual basis
Students will complete unfinished homework during their missed recess. If not completed, it will be due the following morning. Assignments that were completed but left at home can be returned the following day, but student will still miss recess.
Mass
The fourth grade will attend Mass each Tuesday and Thursday. Please watch the classroom note to see when the Mass will be planned by your child's classroom. You are invited to attend all Masses.
Medication
As you know, medication cannot be distributed by teachers in the classroom, nor can students self-administer medication of any kind. Please contact the school nurse or school office for the proper forms so that medication can be stored here and given to your child.
Office Communication
The most reliable form of communication is the website. (www.stpatselkhorn.org) An email with a link to each Thursday's Principal's Notes will be sent. Parents are encouraged to provide the office with one or more email addresses.
Parent Communication
Please send notes to school for: Student absences, change in dismissal procedures, and any concerns. You may call the office if you need to reach us by phone and we will return your call. You may also reach us by e-mail.
Recess
We will have outdoor recess daily, as long as weather permits. Please dress your children appropriately for the weather--hat, gloves, boots, etc. Please label all clothing with your child’s name. During cold and snowy weather, we will go outside as much as possible. Girls should bring pants to wear under their skirts on cold days.
Supplies
Please mark all of your child’s supplies with his/her name. School sweatshirts and sweaters must also be labeled.
Sweaters
Students are encouraged to leave their uniform sweater at school so it is available for Mass. Please be sure that your child’s sweater is labeled.
Teacher Communication
You will be informed of the weekly activities by class newsletter. We will send a link to the fourth grade newsletter each weekend.
Website
Parents and students are encouraged to visit our website at: www.stpatselkhornschool.org/4thgrade This site will have weekly classroom notes, vocabulary lists, class projects, pictures, events, forms and much more! It is a helpful tool that will help you stay informed about your 4th grader’s school happenings.
