Classroom Rules and Procedures SJB 4th Grade
Students - Welcome to 4th grade!
Mrs. Neumann & Mrs. Reichardt have developed a handbook to help you have a successful and productive year! The first section of the handbook is a discussion about four important terms and how they relate to the handbook. These four words are ‘rules’, ‘procedures’, ‘choice’ and ‘consequences’.
There are ‘4’ rules listed in this handbook. These are School-wide Rules and must be followed by all St. John Bosco students. The word ‘rule’ is defined as a prescribed guide for conduct or action. We all need rules. For example, it would be nearly impossible to arrive safely at school every morning without traffic rules or laws. Can you imagine what the streets would look like without these laws? Cars driving on the wrong side of the road or not stopping at red lights, it would be a mess!
Similarly, we also have procedures in life for almost every task or activity. A procedure is a series of steps necessary to accomplish something. Let us use the example of sending a letter to a friend. There are many steps involved beginning with writing the letter, folding it and then placing it in an envelope. Next, you must seal the envelope, write your friend’s address on the front of the envelope and place a stamp in the upper right hand corner-but you are not finished yet! Finally, you must drop the envelope in a mailbox.
The next term that we need to discuss is the word choice. The dictionary defines the word ‘choice’ as the act of selecting freely after consideration. It is important to realize that you, as students, have the power to choose freely and ultimately create a great classroom environment. It is your choice to follow St. John Bosco’s four rules and our classroom procedures. Yet, you must realize that there will be consequences to your choices.
A consequence is the result of a choice. It is also important to realize that a consequence can be good or bad. We usually experience bad consequences if we do not follow rules and procedures. For instance, there are many negative consequences when the state’s traffic laws are not followed. If any traffic laws are broken, a driver risks receiving a citation, a fine or sometimes even jail time, not to mention damage to their car and possible injuries if an accident occurs. Likewise, if you miss any of the steps in the letter writing process, the letter will not reach your friend. Yet, if you follow all of the rules and procedures for the letter writing process, the letter reaches your friend- a good consequence! Additionally, if you CHOOSE to follow all school RULES and classroom PROCEDURES, the good CONSEQUENCE will be a positive learning environment and safe classroom- where everyone can learn!
The goal of developing this handbook is to provide a safe and efficient classroom. We have included first the basic information that is important for you and your parents to know about how things work in 4th grade. But it is not all inclusive, meaning that there are other procedures that your parents don't necessarily need to know about like how and when to sharpen your pencil, or where to put a library book. But, we will keep sharing these with you in the early weeks of school. In the meantime, please read the basic rules and procedures carefully and ask any questions if you do not understand them. Let’s have a great year!
Peace and Blessings,
Mrs. Neumann and Mrs. Reichardt
St. John Bosco Rules, DWP
1. Respect the Lord, themselves, others, and property.
_ Only touch items with the owner’s permission.
_ Be courteous, show respect for one another, and to all school personnel.
_ Say please and thank you.
_Address adults using proper salutations: Father, Mrs., Ms., or Miss.
_ Respect the learning environment inside and outside of the classrooms.
_ Behave in a calm, safe and orderly manner in the Chapel, classroom, multi-purpose room, playground, on field trips and when you are on and about the campus.
_ Use appropriate language in speech and in writing.
_ Be honest at all times.
_ Leave an area cleaner than when you came.
_ Respect bathroom facility by keeping it clean, and not swinging or hanging on doors or partitions
_ Participate respectfully in Mass and prayer Liturgies.
2. Bullying is unacceptable, preventable and must be reported.
_ Only engage in appropriate physical contact. i.e. handshakes, high-five.
_ Only engage in supporting and encouraging others.
_ If harassment is observed, report it to an adult.
_ Invite and include others so all may participate.
3. Contribute positively to the learning environment.
_ Be on time and prepared for class.
_ Read and follow directions as they are given.
_ Ask appropriate questions
_ Actively engage in your own learning
_ Do your own work.
_ Use proper voice levels
_ Listen attentively
_ Support the academic efforts of others
_ Don’t be a distraction
_ Stay in your seat
_ Take pride in your work and be productive
4. Follow the school and classroom procedures.
_ Remain on the supervised areas of the school grounds during the instructional day.
_ Use a pass when you are going to the restroom, the nurse, the office, to another classroom, or on an errand.
_ Be in a classroom only when supervised.
_ Consume all food and beverages in designated areas.
_ No chewing gum on campus.
_ Go directly to designated areas without loitering.
_ Leave toys, games and/or electronic devices at home.
_ Be considerate of others’ learning by holding balls in the courtyard andwalking on sidewalks quietly to your destination.
Special Note: Students are expected to be on their best behavior at all times. We are all models at St. John Bosco, inside or outside of our classroom. Please be a positive representation of our fourth grade classes by following the school rules, dress code and classroom procedures. Please travel the school campus quietly and respectfully.
Classroom Policies and Procedures
Morning Procedure
· Drop off your backpack outside the classroom.
· Proceed to the playground or library until the 7:40 bell rings
· Report to the classroom promptly after the 7:40 bell
· With Voice Level 1, line up in a single line outside the classroom with one shoulder against the wall outside of Mrs. Neumann's class. Line up with girls against the wall and boys in between the columns outside of Mrs. Reichardt’s class.
· Wait for the teacher to give you permission to enter the classroom.
· Greet your teacher and enter the classroom with your backpack.
· Go directly to your desk to unpack any materials, notes, and/or homework from your backpack/schoolbag.
· Take out your homework and place it on the top of your desk.
· Place any notes for the office or teacher in the “Note Basket.”
· Sharpen all pencils, including colored pencils if they will be needed.
· With Voice Level 0, follow directions on the board and wait until class begins.
Tardiness
If you are not in your seat at 7:45, you must get a tardy slip from the nurse’s office upon entering the school. You will need to join your homeroom class already in progress. Enter without disruption, give your tardy slip to your teacher and join the class.
Daily Planner
St. John Bosco has provided a daily planner that will be used daily in your classroom. Writing your assignments down will help you remember to complete them.
· Assignments will be written in the daily planner, EVERYDAY of school.
· Write down class work and homework as it is assigned neatly and clearly.
· Write assignments exactly as you see them on the assignment board. For example, if your teacher has written, “Quiz Monday, Sept. 1st on States and Capitals” do not just write, “Quiz”.
· Planners are required in every class.
· Teachers will check planners to ensure completion.
Homework Expectations For Math
· Homework is to be done in pencil only.
· All work is to be shown. NO WORK, NO CREDIT.
· The problems shall be written out with the work shown legibly.
· Completed homework is just that, COMPLETED. If you are uncertain on how to do a problem, please try to do the problem. Questions will be answered at the beginning of class; however, you must have work on your paper to show you tried to do the problem.
Homework Expectations For All Other Subjects
· Homework may be done in pencil only.
· All answers or assignments must be legible and completed with care and on time. Use complete sentences to answer questions.
· There is a homework rubric. Points will be lost for leaving off heading, incomplete work, late work, and messiness.
Late Assignments
· Homework assignments that are not turned in will require a pink slip. A pink slip indicates what assignment is missing and why. An I (incomplete) will be entered in Ren Web and remain that way until the teacher can grade the late assignment. This may NOT be right away, and may take until the next week to update the grade. The pink slip will be kept on file until the assignment is turned in.
· Turn in assignments as soon as possible.
· Make sure it has the correct heading.
Heading Papers
Upper RIGHT corner must have the following information written legibly:
1. Line 1- Your First and Last Name, Student #
2. Line 2- Today’s Date
3. Line 3- Subject
4. Line 4 - Assignment
Example:
Olivia Allegretto # 3
8-16-2007
English
Grading Scale
The following Diocesan grading scale is used at St. John Bosco for grades 4 through 8:
A = 100-94 B = 93-83 C = 82-74 D = 73-65 F = 64-0
Thus, we expect grades across students to be more widely distributed. This means that everyone may receive A's, B's, and C's or lower from time to time. Please know that in 4th grade, we see grades partly as a reflection of effort and learning. We also seem them as feedback on where we need to work with you. Sometimes, they give us an indication of poor work habits such as not turning in homework on time, not putting headings on paper, or work that is difficult to read. We will help you identify what you can do to improve your grade in some way.
End Of The Day Procedure and Dismissal
· Clean-Up - Each student is responsible for clearing his/her own desk by placing materials and personal belongings in desk, expandable, or backpack as appropriate at the end of the day. The team captain for each table will wipe down desks daily.
· Each student will place his or her chair on the desk and pick up anything from the floor around their desk. If personal items are left behind on the floor for the teacher or custodian to pick up, the student must retrieve the items from the teacher by paying 25 cents the next day. The change will be donated to our Friends of the Orphan godchild.
· The Prayer leader will lead us in prayer.
· Teacher will instruct students leaving to form one line beginning at the 1st column in front of the 4th grade restrooms and wait for the teacher to accompany them to their designated areas.
· MAP students will be dropped off at the MPR.
· Carpool Pick-up students will walk with the teacher as a class to our dismissal line at the Carpool Pick-up Bay and remain in line until their name is called.
· For students who remain in the classroom for parent pickup, it is not free time or recess. You will need to remain in the classroom and talk quietly with your neighbor, or working on your own. You may not leave the classroom for any reason without permission from the teacher before parent arrives.
Leaving Early
Students who need to leave before the end of the day will need to write down the assignments for those classes missed. The missed work is due the following day. If you know in advance you are leaving school early, please have your parent send a note to that effect so that you will not have to wait for your assignments.
Curriculum and Schedule
Subjects
Mrs. Neumann will teach math and science to both classes. Mrs. Reichardt will teach Language Arts including spelling, phonics/word study, grammar, and writing; and Reading including vocabulary and comprehension. Each teacher will teach her class Social Studies, and Religion. Mrs. Avila will teach Spanish. In addition, you will have PE on Monday and Wednesday each week, in addition to Art, Library, and Music.
The curriculum for 4th grade follows the 
Diocesan guidelines.
Home/School Communication
RENWEB
RenWeb is used by you and your parents to access your progress report, attendance, discipline, report cards and parent service hours. You may find it at http://www.renweb.com/. RenWeb should be checked weekly, typically on Mondays after the previous week's grades have been entered. When an assignment is incomplete due to not being turned in or late, it will be entered as an I, which gives 0 points. A '0' will affect the overall grade greatly, and full points will not be given when the assignment is turned in.
It is important that incomplete/missing assignments be turned in within the week that they are due, because late assignments will not be graded until the next week. You need to tell your parents that the reason for 0 points is because it was turned in late or not at all! Once it is noticed that an assignment is missing, it is your responsibility to discuss this with your teacher and let her know what you need to get the assignment completed. By the third quarter, any assignments not completed and turned in within a week of the due date will not be accepted, graded, or counted toward the report card and will reflect 0 points for the assignment.
Weekly Folders
After assignments are graded and entered into Ren Web, they will be filed in student files and distributed to you to take home in your take home pocket of your work binder on Fridays. Please have your parents look at notes and handouts, project assignments, and returned assignments daily and weekly. Parents should check and remove items from pocket 1 labeled "For Parents." Materials from all other pockets should not be removed as they are used to file work-in-progress or hand-outs used in class.
Weekly Newsletter and Web Page
There will be a combined teacher newsletter titled 4th Grade News each week, emailed to parents by Sunday for the week that ended. It will notify parents of upcoming events and inform them of what we are currently studying at school. It will also talk about upcoming projects, directions, and due dates.
Another great way to keep in touch with class information and assignments is to visit our class website. You can visit it to find out about homework, read about class information and find spelling lists. You can also contact us through e-mail from the website. It will be updated each week with information about upcoming class events and weekly homework assignments. Additionally, copies of project instructions, book report formats, or rubrics can be found on the class websites. http://www.sjbosco.org/academics/4th-6th
Fun and Food
Daily Snack
Each morning you will be allowed to eat a healthy snack in the morning during class time. The timing will depend on what best fits for the teaching schedule and will be sometime between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. You will eat as you are working independently and quietly during a certain portion of the class time. Appropriate healthy snacks include pretzels, crackers, bagels, and fruits that can be picked up, eaten easily, and are already cut and peeled like grapes or strawberries. You may be working with books or papers and it is difficult for you to eat juicy fruit that you have to keep setting down, or even healthy snacks like yogurt that require two hands or can soil school materials. The teacher will ask you to save snacks such as candy, cookies, fruit roll ups, and chips, to eat with lunch.
Water is the only beverage allowed in the classroom. You should bring your own snack whether you are eating a packed lunch or hot lunch from the food service. Snacks will not be provided by teachers. Snack privileges are contingent on keeping the classrooms clean and trash disposed of appropriately.
Additionally, we ask that you do not eat snacks containing peanuts or tree nuts in the classroom for snack time, due to allergies in each of the classrooms. Thank you for your cooperation.
Water
You should bring in a water bottle. During the early months of school, you will easily go through 32 oz. by lunch. You may refill bottles at the drinking fountain or water cooler if available. No cups will be provided, thus the drinking fountain may be the only option available for a day.
Celebrations: Spotlight Student
Celebrations: Holidays
Field Trips
We have the potential for several field trips which may include:
Service organization - October
Pueblo Grande Museum - November
Nursing Home - December and February
Phoenix Zoo Night - April
Recess-Privilege
If the class as a whole makes good choices, you will receive an afternoon reward recess. Here are some general rules that must be followed:
_ Use Voice Level 0 as you walk to the playground and line up outside the gate.
_ Do not bounce balls as you wait for your teacher to lead you through the gates to the playground.
_ You may not eat food.
_ You must follow all playground and courtyard rules as well as St. John Bosco’s 4 school wide rules.
_ We will not check out sports equipment; you may bring own.
_ We encourage students not to do homework at recess because it is a time for physical exercise, a break from school work, and most importantly, a chance to interact socially with your classmates.
What happens if expectations, rules, and procedures are followed?
Class Rewards: could include recess, movies, & free time and most importantly, self-satisfaction.
What happens if expectations, rules, and procedures are not followed?
DISCIPLINE CYCLE FOR POOR CHOICES
Step 1. Non-verbal or Verbal Warning with DWP card - yellow side and yellow on board
Redirect behavior
Step 2. Verbal Warning with DWP card - red side and red on board
Written Reflection
Review classroom procedures
Make a plan
Time out – may miss afternoon recess
Parent contact (teacher discretion)
Step 3. Fill out an StopThinkPlan Form
Time out – misses afternoon recess
Additional Consequences may be assigned
STP form/email sent home
Parent contact (teacher discretion)
Step 4. StopThink Plan with Detention
Time out – misses afternoon recess
Additional Consequences maybe assigned
STP form sent home
Parent contact (required)
Step 5. Office Referral
Student sent to Vice-Principal to evaluate Referral Form and to make plan
Parent contact (required)
For any other questions about procedures, please consult the STUDENT and PARENT HANDBOOK.
Policy and Procedures Contract
I understand in order for us to have a safe, fun, and productive school year, there are rules and procedures that need to be followed by everyone. I will review the classroom rules and procedures at home with my family. I understand this is like a classroom guide to help you adjust to Fourth Grade and a new school year.
My agreement --
I understand all of the classroom expectations, consequences, and procedures and hold myself responsible for following them. I understand that by following these procedures, I am making a choice to be successful.
Student’s Signature
