Being absent requires makeup work which may be obtained by copying the missed assignments from the CLASS PLANNER. All homework is written in this and is accessible daily. Also the week's assignments are written on the planner bulletin board and are not erased until the following Monday. Daily assignments may be accessed through the homework hot-line. If there are questions about the work or anything else we may have done that day, please ask Mrs. Durham for further information. If a test or quiz is missed, speak to Mrs. Durham to arrange a makeup time. It is the responsibility of the student to get makeup work done. If you know you have been absent, remember to do the makeup work. You have five school days to do makeup work and give to Mrs. Durham. Do not ask for extra time, unless there is an emergency which requires a note from a parent/guardian. Some students wait until progress reports or report cards are due, and then they want to do extra credit to make up for not doing their previous assignments. Responsibility is one of the biggest lessons sixth graders need to learn.

Several avenues of communication are available to you related to interacting with the school environment. Assignments are written in planners, the class planner, on a planner calendar on the bulletin board, on the board itself, and reported on the homework hot-line. Included at the end of this page are various ways to contact Mrs. Durham regarding any questions or concerns you may have.

A reminder to everyone looking at progress reports and report cards--Students' grades are assessed using the following formula, which is system-wide. Classwork/Participation/Quizzes 65%
Major Tests/Projects 25%
Homework 10%

 In math, when students enter the classroom, they know to take out their planners immediately, copy the day's assignment, open their materials used to do the homework from the previous night, and have homework papers ready to check. We go over homework assignments and answer all questions. Please encourage your child to ask questions during homework discussions and new instruction. Although homework is only ten percent of each student's grade, the practice is essential for retaining concepts and skills taught. Students need 5" X 8" index cards to record their vocabulary terminology, definitions, examples, and non-examples. They need to study these cards throughout the current unit. Lesson notes are taken in a spiral notebook for math class. Students may use homework, notes, textbook, previous quizzes, ask for help, and do chapter reviews to prepare for major tests. The class also reviews for tests together.
Please sign your child's planner each school night. They are to have written each subject's assignment every school day. This helps them to be responsible for their work and helps us communicate to you expectations of your child.
Students are requested to make corrections to the incorrect answers on major/chapter tests. They are not to change anything on the test; they are to make the corrections on a separate sheet of paper. Please sign the sheet with the actual grade on it. For each problem solved correctly on the correction sheet, I will give half of the points back. However they MUST show steps! For instance, a grade of 80 could be increased to a 90, because 1/2 of the 20 points subtracted can be credited. The grade after corrections is the permanent test grade, so this is beneficial to the student. It helps students have one more chance to learn the material, as well as to improve their grades.
Thank you for all you do to support your child in their education! Feel free to contact me, when you need to communicate with me. You may contact me through this site, voice-mail (704) 633-9496: ext. 211, written notes, and using the planner. Assignments for each school day are on the homework hot-line: (704) 633-9561 ext.# 6400. Also conferences with students' teachers can be scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays during our planning time from 11:15-12:25. Other times are available as planned specifically.