Team Handbook 2011-2012

Welcome to a new school year and our 7th grade team!! We have prepared this handbook for you to use during the course of the year to answer any questions that may come up. Keep this handbook in a handy place to refer to at any time. If this handbook does not answer your question, please feel free to call one of us. Wed like to introduce ourselves and let you know what we will be teaching in our classrooms this year. Ms. M. Thompson: My name is Ms. Thompson and I am going be your math or advanced math teacher this year. I am going into my third year of teaching. This will be my second year teaching at Pathfinder. My first year, I taught 6th grade math as well as 7th grade math and science in North Carolina. I grew up in Rochester, Michigan and graduated from Oakland University in 2009 with my Education degree with a major in math and minor in integrated science. I started my Masters this past summer at Michigan State University in Educational Technology. In my free time I like to golf, ski, go up to the family cottage at Higgins Lake, and spend time with friends. I enjoy going to sporting events like Michigan State football games, Tigers games and Red Wing games. Mrs. Kathryn Sharon: I will be your childs science teacher this year. This will be my third year teaching at Pathfinder, but my eighth year in the Pinckney School system. Previously I have taught at Hamburg, Country and Farley Hill Elementary. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University and a Masters degree from Marygrove College. I currently reside in Brighton with my husband, Patrick and our infant son, Colin. I enjoy time with my family, sports (especially football), kickboxing, roller derby, cooking, gardening and bargain shopping. I am very excited to be here and to see some of my former students all grown up! I will be taking a maternity leave and returning to the classroom on December 5. In my absence, my substitute, Cathy Gaston, will be in contact with me, and using my teacher created materials and lesson plans. I will still be checking my e-mail, so if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to let me know. I look forward to meeting you at open house.

Mrs. Cathy Gaston: I will be substitute teaching for the first twelve weeks of school for Mrs. Sharon. I have a Bachelors of Science degree from Madonna University and credits toward a Masters degree from Eastern Michigan University. I reside in Pinckney with my husband of 21 years Eric and three sons. Clark is a sophomore at Michigan State, Andrew is a sophomore in Pinckney High School, and Steven is an 8th grader here at Pathfinder. I taught for several years then decided to stay home to raise our boys-but have always been involved in education. I have helped start up Math Pentathlon at Farley, volunteered for SMILE, and have been on the PTO at Farley Hill and the high school. Ever since our youngest was in the 2nd grade at Farley I decided to substitute teach and have enjoyed it. Rest assured I will be following the lesson plans, covering GLCEs, and working closely with the science staff here at Pathfinder. Please contact me with questions and/or concerns. I really look forward to working with your child in the 7th grade classroom! My email is: encgaston2@yahoo.com

Absent Work
We will follow Pathfinder handbook's policy on absent work. When coming back to school, it is the students responsibility to find details of what they missed. Each classroom has a designated area to pick up papers that were done or handed out while the student(s) were absent. Students and parents can also check our web pages for the daily agenda. Students are also responsible for turning in any work that was collected or due during their absence. Due dates previously announced in class still apply.

Being Prepared for Class

Every student is expected to bring everything needed for class to every class. This includes a pencil or pen (math class REQUIRES a pencil), planner, books, notebooks, and homework that is due. If a student does NOT bring something they need to class, they may be asked to return to their locker to retrieve it, and would then be marked tardy.

Blocking
We will be using a combination of block and regular scheduling. (Schedule is

at end of handbook)

Contacts
Best time to reach us is before school or during our prep period. We will do our best to return any phone calls or e-mails within 24 hours. Mrs. Kathryn Sharon, Science ksharon@pcs.k12.mi.us 810.225.5256 Ms. Melissa Thompson, Math mthompson@pcs.k12.mi.us 810-225-5262

Grading Scale
Our team uses the following grading scale:
100% + = A+ 93 99% = A 90 92% = A88 89% = B+ 83 87% = B 80 82% = B78 79% = C+ 73 77% = C 70 72% = C68 69% = D+ 63 67% = D 60 62% = D0 59% = E

Hall Passes
Students are expected to use the restroom during hall passing. Individual passes will be handed out in each class, and students are expected to use them sparingly.

Late Work
Any work that is turned in late is worth 50% of the original score. Any assignment turned in more than 2 weeks overdue will NOT be accepted. Due dates previously announced still apply.

Progress Reports
Progress reports will be available to view on-line through TeacherEase. For more information or for help setting up a parent account please send an email to help@pinckneyschools.org.

Standards for Assignments

All work turned in by students may be graded for the following: content,

completeness, effort, neatness, written in dark ink or pencil, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Work that is NOT a students best effort may be returned. It will NOT be graded until it is redone. We expect the best possible work from all of our students.

Tardies
We follow the Pathfinder school tardy policy. The school handbook can be found on the Pathfinder School webpage under the About tab.

Classroom Expectations:
Respect Students should demonstrate respect to themselves and others at all times. They can show this by: Being on time for class Not interrupting others (staff and fellow students) Following the requests of adults the first time given Using time wisely Not handling property of others without permission Using appropriate language: Please keep in mind you are at school, not at the mall. Have a positive attitude: A positive attitude will take you far in class.

Responsibility Students should demonstrate personal responsibility in all of their actions. This includes: Coming to class prepared with all necessary materials (pencil, binder, book, calculator HW and red pen) Giving an honest effort to complete work Taking time to ask questions if you do not understand something Finding out what you missed if you are absent All papers must have the correct set-up with name, date and hour in the upper right-hand corner.

Cheating- Under no circumstances is cheating permitted. If caught, all

people involved will receive SEVERE consequences. Guest Teachers- If a substitute (guest) teacher is conducting class, you must remain in your assigned seat and treat him or her with respect. If your name is left in a negative way on the guest teachers report, you will receive a detention. Extra Help- If you feel like you need some extra help, please contact your teacher. Most mornings we are available from 7:40-8:10am. Parents can help by Checking class webpages for weekly agendas including assignment dates and upcoming assessments. Checking Teacher Ease once a week for updated grades and missing work. Encouraging your child to bring home their class materials twice a week and asking them to show you the work they are doing in class.

Team Block Schedule: K.Sharon/M. Thompson Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Friday

Advisory Fridays

8:159:07 1 Hour 9:1210:01 10:0610:55 11:0011:49 11:5412:24 12:291:18 1:232:12 2:173:09 3rd Hour 4th Hour 3rd Hour 4th Hour
st

1st Hour 2 Hour

nd

(Advisory)

8:15-8:42
(1st Hour)

1 Hour

st

2 Hour 2 Hour 3rd Hour 4th Hour B Lunch 5th Hour 6th Hour
nd

nd

8:47-9:32 (2 Hour) 9:3710:22

nd

(3rd Hour)

10:2711:12
(4th Hour)

B LUNCH TEACHER PLANNING HOUR

11:1712:02 Lunch 12:0712:37

(5th Hour)

12:421:27
(6th Hour)

1:32-2:17
(7th Hour)

7th Hour

6th Hour

7th Hour

6th Hour

7th Hour

2:22-3:09

The schedule that students will follow for core classes: -Monday: ODD Day (Which means that students will attend the ODD hour of a core class: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th) -Tuesday: EVEN Day (Which means that students will attend the EVEN hour of a core class: 2nd, 4th, 6th) -Wednesday: ODD Day (Which means that students will attend the ODD hour of a core class: 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th) -Thursday: EVEN Day (Which means that students will attend the EVEN hour of a core class: 2nd, 4th, 6th) - Friday: Students will attend Advisory from 8:15 to 8:42 and then hours 1st - 7th (All classes)

Supply List
We would like each student to have:

 LOTS of pencils

pencil bag for binder two 1, 3-ring binders two sets of 5 tabbed dividers for binders spiral-bound, regular ruled notebook (70 pg minimum) highlighter markers or colored pencils Fine point permanent marker Glue stick Scissors Several red pens Ruler Calculator (must have square root key) Protractor Donations of the following are always appreciated: 1 box of Kleenex 1 container antibacterial wipes 1 bottle hand sanitizer

---------------------------------------------------------------We have read and understand the classroom guidelines and expectations. Please return to school by 9-16-11. Student:_____________________________ Hour:______
(please print)

Student:________________________________________
(signature)

Parent:___________________ ___________ Date:______

Please check one of the following:

____ Access to Internet ____ No access to the Internet