 | Alena Shorthttp://my.uen.org/63714short@johnhancockcs.org 796-5646 |
| Welcome! Dear Students and Families,  I am excited for the new school year. I have looked over the list of students who will be entering our class, many of them you might already know. The 5th grade students at John Hancock are going to make our class Super Stars! For those of you who might not know me, I began teaching 6th grade at Ivy Hall Academy in February, 2002. Before that, I taught as a substitute teacher for 8 years in Long Beach, Washington. I graduated from BYU in Secondary Ed, 2002. My emphasis was History and English as a Second Language. I recently earned my Elementary Teaching License as well. I have taught piano and voice for more than 15 years and performed in several choirs and piano recitals at college. While living in Long Beach, I organized “The Peninsula Children’s Choir”, a non-profit choir. As President and Director, we performed at many state competitions, parades, and public parties. Disney Land was a highlight for the 100 children voice choir, as was our annual Christmas play/musical. I love music and find ways to use it in my teaching. Here is a lttle bit about me. I have five children, three boys and two girls ages 22, 21, 20, 19 & 7. The caboose was not a surprise - (Sort-of). Jay and I married when the children were all under the age of five. He has been a joy in our lives and loves the children as his own. And now, little Charlie has blessed us more than we can imagine. I love to play the piano and sing, scrapbook with my computer, blogg with my family, spend time at the beach, go walking and riding bikes. Gardening is where I spend a lot of my time in the summer. Our family also enjoys four wheeling at the sand dunes or playing around in Park City. We love to get outside and enjoy time together. I have even tried to do a little golfing since all the boys in our family love to do that, including Charlie. I like to read children's books and biographies. I have never had a broken bone or a cavitiy. My favorite subject to teach is history but science is a close second. I am second oldest in a family of 12 brothers and sisters. That meant my mom was pregnant with my littlest sister at my wedding. My oldest is the same age as my littlest sister and they graduated from the same high school together. I was raised on an Arabian horse ranch my grandfather owned. We had over 200 horses at one time. In school this year, we will study hard and play hard. It will be a rigorous schedule but rewarding. We will create games, posters, plays, essays and other projects as we read and learn. Parents are encouraged to e-mail me with any questions or concerns. (alenashort65@yahoo.com). I check e-mail twice a day, before school and after dinner. For the first day of school I have an assignment for you! Bring to class a shoebox decorated to fit your style and fill it with four things that tell about who you are. I look forward to seeing you very soon. I will be calling to schedule a visit with you. If you will look over the class disclosure, attendance policy, and become familiar with our class blog, I can answer any questions you might have when I see you. Mrs. Short | Letter to Students HELLO! It is back to school time for you! I am excited to be a great class of Super Stars! I will want to get to know you and hope that you will want the same for me. This year can be wonderful. Be ready to work hard and work at school. Then, when it comes time to go home, you will have finished the tasks and your homework load will be attainable. You start with an "A" grade, so lets keep it that way! See you soon. I am asking you to do a few things to get ready for that first day.
Attendance Policy No Child Left Behind mandates that students attend at least 95% of the school year, which equals nine or less absences during one academic year. This is accomplished by many students, but we have recently seen an increase of absences. It is the belief of JHCS that exhibiting or permitting a casual attitude toward school attendance can damage a child's chance for success. To demonstrate our commitment to academic excellence, JHCS will institute the following consequences [for excess absenteeism]: After 5 Absences
Advance notice of such circumstances is recommended whenever possible so JHCS may try to help parents provide cohesive learning experiences to the extent possible before, during, and after the absence. Such efforts are subject to availablity and discretion of JHCS staff and do not guarantee full or partial relief from the consequences listed above. | Class Disclosure 5th Grade Super Stars! Class Disclosure WELCOME! I am excited to be your child's teacher this year. I am looking forward to a positive, academically successful year. As you get to know me, you will find that I love to have fun. I have accepted the responsibility of being your child's teacher and recognize how valuable the time is that I spend with your student. As we work together this year, in support of one another, your child will benefit. I have outlined the year's expectations and policies to help us get a good start. Attendance Uniforms Late Work & Absences Late work will be graded fairly and then scored one letter grade lower. It is accepted up to one week prior to the end of the term. Check SIS regularly to stay on top of the work that has been assigned and graded. When a student falls below a B- grade, I send home a missing assignment sheet to inform you of the work that has not been turned in. Daily Morning News Homework Homework is an essential element in your child’s learning. I expect students to do their best on each assignment. In their homework folder is a check-off list that will serve to remind them of how homework is to look before it is turned in the next day. Any homework that is not completed by the following morning or on the due date is considered late. Portfolios  At the end of every week or when necessary, the students will review their corrected work and decide which pieces to save for their portfolio. They will learn to self evaluate and set goals for improvement as well as gain pride for what they have accomplished. I will teach them to keep ‘beginning of the year’ work and to track progress, to keep their best work, appreciated work because it was especially hard, etc. They will fill out a blue slip that tells why they chose the work.The rest of the assignments are sent home with a portfolio slip as well. You may also choose assignments to keep in their portfolio. It will be nice for the student to read what mom or dad has to say about their work too! Fill out a slip, return it and the piece for your child to file back at school in his portfolio. Portfolios will be shared at parent teacher conferences and you are welcome to come in and look at them any time. I encourage you to do that. All corrected work should be taken home by the student for you to see and not thrown in the trash at school. Encourage your child to bring it home. I have to admit that a lot of our work is kept in spiral notebooks. Some things you will not see often unless there is homework or tests. (Science and Social Studies) Reading  I ask that all students have a novel in their desks at all times for free reading. Each student will read at least 20 minutes each night. In the Homework Record Keeper is a place for you to sign this off each day. A reward is given to those students who have all their signatures at the end of the week and month. Also, a student can choose to participate in the class reading blog as part of their 20 minutes reading at home. If they choose to do this, they will receive a special reward each month as well! A book report will be due at the end of each term. I will choose the genre of the book and post a rubric with requirements on the Reading Connections Tab of our class web page. They will have literature circles in school that will require reading at home. This will give them ample opportunity to read for pleasure, read for exploration and read for assignments. Memorization  Memorization is a skill that builds both the right and left side of the brain. Each week we will be memorizing poetry, math equivalents or terms, list of prepositions, helping verbs or speeches. If a selection is more lengthy or difficult, it will be given more weeks to memorize. Memorization will be tested on Fridays in groups of two’s or three’s. Every day we have memorization practice and review. However, to be successful, students will need to work on them at home as well. Use car trips as a great time for reciting. I will play memory games at school, but when it comes right down to it, the student must do the work and memorize. Birthday Parties Science Fair Parent Volunteers |
Class Management
