Welcome to Ms. DeMist's Schoolnotes



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Classroom Procedures and Policies

Classroom Management

The students will be divided into cooperative learning groups, or teams, which typically change every 3-4 weeks. These students will work together on various classroom activities, projects, science experiments, etc. Students will have the opportunity to earn stars for their team by following directions, completing projects, and participating in learning games and other activities. Likewise, stars may be deducted for failing to do so.

Cub Cash

Kids earn cub cash around the building as an incentive for working hard, or modeling appropriate behavior. At the end of each week, students will make choices for rewards!


Homework

I only give homework that is necessary to review or support the work that we are doing in class. Generally, your child can expect to have about 30 minutes of homework most evenings. If at any time your child is struggling with homework, please let me know. It is the student’s responsibility to record their homework in their assignment books each evening. I will give them time each day to do this.


Sneaky snacks

Students may bring a healthy snack (no candy, cookies, gum, etc.) and consume these at any time in class if they are discreet, others are not disturbed, and trash is disposed of properly. No sharing please!


Planners

Please sign your child's planner everyday! Pages should not be split, folded, or torn out. This is a great communication tool. Most children will store their planner/agenda in their binder.



Communication

Please know that your child's well being is genuinely important to me. Please don't hesitate to call, email, or send me a note if you have any questions, concerns, etc. Likewise, I will try to keep you posted of any changes or concerns that I may have. You can contact me before or after school at 951-5700 or email me at ademist@mail.mcps.org. At any time, you may log on to www.schoolnotes.com for classroom updates. I will send home a newsletter every week.



Brthdays

Students are welcome to bring a birthday treat to share with the class during lunch or at recess. Please let me know ahead of time, so that I can plan for this. We have 21 students in our class. Also, unless every student in the class is invited, our school policy is that party invitations can not be passed out at school in order to avoid hurt feelings and disruptions.



Tansportation changes

Please send a note to school with your child in the morning if there is a transportation change. This note has to be sent to the office and copied, so please try not to write it in the planner.



Reminders:

Electronic games, cell phones, and toys are not permitted at school unless we are traveling on a field trip and they have been pre-approved. These items will be taken away and only released to a parent.

Every night the children will be bringing home their Binders. Please check their planners/agendas for that night's assignment and initial at the bottom.


**Please return all important school papers promptly in your child's Return to School Section of their Binder.

Margaret Beeks has a zero tolerance policy for bullying. A person is bullied when: he or she has been exposed to repeated negative actions (physical or verbal) by one or more people, and he or she has difficulty defending him or herself. If students see bullying they are to report it to an adult at once. Please remind your child to take this policy seriously; it is a school policy that all students must follow!



Thanks for all of your support!



Respectfully,


April DeMist

ademist@mcps.org