September 6, 2011

Dear Student/Parent:

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year.  I am very excited to be working with you this school year.  I have fun and challenging activities planned for you this year.  In compliance with the Chicago Public Schools Promotion Policy, you will be taught according to the Illinois Learning Standards for Language Arts and the Chicago Reading Initiative.  You must demonstrate mastery of these standards through classroom performance, attendance, and achievement tests. 

The letter grade you receive will include quality of work, individual achievement, understanding and application of learned principles, homework, and participation.  Other elements that will impact the grade are test results and performance on projects and demonstrations. 

Although effort, discipline, and attitude are not included in the grade, these attributes contribute to your overall academic performance.  You must show progress in work and social habits in order to receive the greatest benefits from Science instruction.   

If you are not meeting the standards, I will meet with you and your parents to develop a remediation plan, which may include recommendation to an after school or before school program, peer and/or teacher tutoring. 

 You are required to do a great deal of independent Study Island in Science.  Please carefully read the list of Science requirements to successfully complete this class.

• Each quarter you will be required to complete Science Study Island tests and obtain at least 80% to receive credit on the tests. You must go in order do not jump from the top to the bottom. 

We will keep track of your completed tests on a chart in class.

You will need to obtain blue ribbons from Study Island Science Core. I will provide opportunities to use computers during the school day.  You will need to work on Study Island on your own also in order to complete the assignments.

Incomplete class work assignments will result in your grade possibly being lowered.  Each day you come without the necessary supplies, ½ point will be deducted from your participation grade.  It takes away from instructional time when you have to stop and borrow items.

Study Island Science CORE Due Dates

                                      Core Science                                    

First Quarter           (8 Ribbons)      October 24, 2011                      

Second Quarter       (8 Ribbons)      January 10, 2012                      

Third Quarter          (8 Ribbons)      March 26, 2012                         

Fourth Quarter        (8 Ribbons)       May 21, 2012        

Test/Quizzes                                         50%

(Study Island)                                       10%

Assignments                                         40%

Total                                                  100%

** A package of self-stick notes; several blue or black pens; highlighters; a generous supply of loose-leaf notebook paper; 3 x 5 lined or unlined index cards;)

**These items are needed every day and will count as part of your grade.

Other supplies needed during the school year are glue sticks, scissors, markers, and colored pencils.  Keep these items in a zipped pencil pouch in your book bag or binder.  We will use these supplies 2-4x’s a week. 

Discipline:

You are expected to follow ALL the Durkin Park Rules.

Consequences for not following the rules are:

1^st Warning- Verbal

2^nd Warning-Your name posted on the board

3^rd Warning- Check next to name- Parent Conference and Discipline Referral

4^th Warning and Beyond- Discipline Referral (Detention/Suspension), Parent Conference, Essay Writing, Denied Extracurricular Opportunities

                    REMEMBER THE GOLDEN RULE...

    "ALWAYS TREATOTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED"!!!!

Happy Learning!

Ms. Esquibel