Mrs. Demco’s Class

"The best way to predict the future is to design it."

-Buckminster Fuller

Lake Travis Elementary 2014-2015

1. Find your child’s desk.2. Make any changes or corrections on the

yellow form. Hand in the puzzle basket at each set of desks.

3. Sign the compact and put in puzzle basket.4. Write a quick note to your child on the green

paper. Put in inside their desk.5. Look over the red brochure.6. Sign up for a conference time on the desk by

the door.

What to do:

My husband and I were born and raised in Minnesota.

In 2005, we moved our family to Texas.

We have 4 children.Stephanie is a sophomore at Texas A & M – no booing pleaseBrad is a junior at Lake Travis High School. He is a baseball player.Belle is a sophomore at Lake Travis High School. She is a JV cheerleader.Gabby is a sophomore at Lake Travis High School. She is a

Cavalette.

We live in The Hills.

I have been teaching for over 20 years.

Who is Mrs. Demco?

What will my child learn this year in Reading?

● We will practice reading skills through self-selected reading, literature circles, mini lessons, and reading conferences.

● Reading response through journaling● Non-fiction texts/research skills● Literature Circles/Book Clubs

What will my child learn this year in Writing?

● How to incorporate daily journal writing into their lives

● How to live and think like writers● Narrative, Expository, Poetry, and Memoir● They CAN be successful in writing!

● Writing will be incorporated into all subjects.

What will my child learn this year in Social Studies?

American History and Geography:● Geography and Map Skills● Early Explorers● American Colonization● American Revolution● Constitution of the US● Bill of Rights● Manifest Destiny & Settling

the West● Civil War

We will use the History Alive and Mind Missions curriculums. In addition,

Social Studies will be integrated with Reading and Language Arts this

year.

What will my child learn this year in Science?

Lessons are hands-on and student-centered labs:

● Earth Science● Life Science● Physical Science● The Engineering Design

Process● STEM Career Connections● SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

What will my child learn this year in Math?

● Number Sense● Addition / Subtraction● Multiplication / Division● Personal Finance● Decimals

● Time● Fractions● Problem Solving● Graphing● Measurement● Hands on Equations

We will differentiate as needed for students that need a challenge or

extra practice in math.

7:55-8:55 Math 8:55-10:10 Science 10:10-11:10 Language Arts 11:10-12:10 Refine/Enrich – math and reading 12:10-12:25 Social Studies 12:20-12:50 Lunch 1:00-1:25 Social Studies 1:30-1:50 Recess 1:50-2:40 Specials *Library – Thursdays10:30-11:00

Our Schedule

ABCD schedule

●Don’t forget your sneakers on PE days!!!●A Days -PE: Blue and Yellow●B Days –PE: Red and Green●C Days- PE: Blue and Yellow●D Days – PE: Red and Green

●Calendar on Lake Travis Website

5th Grade End of the Year

Field Trip

How will my child be graded this year?

5th Grade Grading Policy● First and foremost, we want all students to

be successful, both now and in the future.

● Student grade below a 70:● Conference with teacher● Re-teach● Re-assess

The adjusted grade for the assignment or assessment

cannot be higher than a 75.

Report Cards

Report Cards will come home every nine weeks.

How will I be updated on my child’s progress?

● District Progress Reporto (average grades of 74 or below only)

● Teacher Feedback & Communication● Report Card● Grades on Portal (TxGradebook)

o Please contact Jennifer Griffin in the office if you don't know how to access the portal.

Behavior consequences1. Warning2. Warning; sign behavior book3. Parent contact4. Office referral

Persistent infractions If a third repeated offense of the same infraction occurs on the same day, a student will receive an office referral.

Note: Students may be sent to the office immediately in the case of a severe disruption. (Fighting, refusing to work, damaging property, extreme disrespect, or any behavior that keeps the classroom from functioning.)

5th grade classroom consequences

●Verbal praise!!!●Stamp in assignment book

●15 stamps saved and redeemed on Friday may be used for a trip to the treasure box

●20 stamps saved and redeemed may be exchanged for lunch in the room with a friend

●30 stamps saved and redeemed may be exchanged a

“no-homework” pass good on one assignment

●Class compliment party

Rewards

What about homework?

Self-Selected Reading/Book Clubs- nightly reading 20 minutes

Math activities/practice Spelling/Grammar Digital Learning Experiences (Math and Science) No more than 50 minutes each night (10 minutes

per grade level).

How will my child keep track of their daily work?

● Take Home Expandable Folder/Daily Agenda●Please encourage your 5th grader to take responsibility for keeping their take home folder organized.

● Designated place for turning in work ● Journals (Students may bring these home at any time if

you'd like to view them.)

● Teacher's Online Agenda (posted weekly)

What if my child is absent or tardy?

* Students have one day for every day absent to complete their missed work.* Please notify the teacher by 9:00 a.m. if you want work sent home. * Absence and tardy policies were sent home during the first week of school.* All students are required to bring a note to school after an absence in order for it to be excused.* Please have your child at school by 7:45.

Absences/Make Up Work

If your son or daughter is absent:● Missed assignments will be provided

to the student upon their return.● Student should check the online

agenda to see what was covered that day.

● I will try to honor absent work emails as best I can.

What if I want to volunteer in the class?

● Please sign in at the office.

● Please get a visitors pass from the office and wear it on your shirt.

● The room moms will coordinate a schedule for class volunteers.

How will my child celebrate his or her birthday?

* Birthday Celebrations are held on the last Friday of the month. We will celebrate in class/outside at approx. 1:20pm. We have recess beginning at 1:30. * Students may ONLY distribute invitations at school if every student in the class is invited.* No flowers or balloons please. * Please note allergy restrictions.

How will my child be accountable for their behavior?

● Campus Expectations-PBIS● Stop & Think Reflection (Campus

Wide)● Conduct Folder/Tuesday

Folder/Citizenship grade on report card

● Behavior Feedback

Lake TravisCampus Expectations

Campus Rules● I am Respectful● I am Responsible● I am Safe

● Implementing PBS this year on our campus-Positive Behavior Support. ● Clear expectations for every student (LTE Behavior Matrix). ● We are also implementing Character Counts- 6 pillards of Character-

Trustworthiness,

And to always live by the golden rule, “Treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

How will I know what is going on in my child’s classroom?

●Weekly Newsletter●Digital Agenda on Teacher

Website●Daily Agenda/Student Planner

Campus Information

Drop off time: Begins at 7:20amSchool doors do not open until 7:20.

Morning Arrival

School time: Begins at 7:45am Students will report directly to their classrooms in the morning unless they are purchasing breakfast. They should report to the classroom after breakfast.

Tardy: Anytime after 7:45am Students will need to go in and get a tardy slip from the office.

Please do not walk your child down to the room if they are tardy. They need to go to the office and get their slip and then they can walk to their classroom. We value instruction time, and we start each day of learning at 7:50am.

Safety and Security

We strive to keep everyone at LTE safe each day.

In order to protect all students and keep a safe environment at all times, you must sign in with your driver’s license and have a printed name badge.

Please make sure that the badge is attached to the top left/right of your clothing. We ask that you check out as well by scanning the tag in the office.

If you are in the building and do not have a badge on, you will be asked to go and sign in at the office.

Please do not be offended and understand that this is a district-wide policy and is put in place to protect the safety of everyone at LTE.

Parent VolunteersWe are so blessed to have amazing parent volunteers who help to support us at Lake Travis Elementary. We would ask that if you are coming to volunteer that you help us maintain a superior learning environment in which you are able to focus on either our students or staff. We ask that you please do not bring younger siblings up during your volunteer time. This is also a policy for field trips during the school year.

Lunch With Your Child

As you know, your child loves getting to eat lunch with you at school. This is a special opportunity for you to have some one-on-one time with your child. We ask that you please do not invite other students to sit with you and your child.

Pick up time is 2:45pmTeachers will bring students back into the office by 3:15pm if not picked up. You will then need to walk into the office to pick up your student and sign your student out using the laptop on the counter.Please remember that teachers on dismissal duty are

watching for the safety of our students to ensure that they all get home safely. They will not be able to speak with you in detail about your child during this time. They will be happy to meet with you during a scheduled conference time or via phone/email to discuss your child’s needs.

Dismissal

Bus RidersCar RidersRainbow RoomWalk/Daycare/PreK Siblings Extended Care

Watch Your Speed and No Cell Phone Usage

Please remember to drive slowly as you go through our front and back loops. We have many students and parents walking and crossing and want to make sure you are always watching for their safety. Also, it is a law in Texas that no cell phones should be used when driving in a school zone as well as when picking up or dropping off your children. We ask that you focus all of your attention on driving safely during drop off and dismissal times.

Current Phone Numbers and Emergency Numbers

Please make sure that you have updated numbers in the portal for your child. We want to be sure that should we need to reach you during the day that we have the current numbers on file.