This document provides information for parents about an open house for Ms. Snyder and Ms. Blackburn's 5th grade class at Sheffield Elementary. It outlines topics that will be covered such as attendance, behavior expectations, homework policy, grading, curriculum, parent-teacher conferences, important dates and contact information. Parents are encouraged to get involved by volunteering in the classroom, joining PTA and helping with fundraising events. The teachers thank parents for their support in their child's education.

1. Welcome to Open House
at Sheffield Elementary
Ms. Snyder and Ms. Blackburn’s
5th
Grade Class

2. Topics to CoverTopics to Cover
* Attendance* Attendance
* Ready to Learn?* Ready to Learn?
* Behavior* Behavior
ExpectationsExpectations
* Agendas/ Planners* Agendas/ Planners
* Homework Policy* Homework Policy
* Grading* Grading
* Reading Curriculum* Reading Curriculum
* Math/ Science/and* Math/ Science/and
Health CurriculumHealth Curriculum
* Progress Reports* Progress Reports
* Parent/Teacher* Parent/Teacher
ConferencesConferences
* Important Dates* Important Dates
• ContactContact
InformationInformation
• RemindRemind

3. Attendance
o Students are expected to be in school on time
everyday.
o The school day begins at 8:30 am and ends at
3:00 pm.
o Attendance is taken daily by 8:45 am.
o Students who are late to school or picked up
early miss valuable instruction time and class
discussion.
o Students with numerous tardies or early outs
will be referred to the attendance clerk.

4. Is your Child Ready to Learn?
In order to be successful, students must
be prepared with the following items on
a daily basis:
 A good night’s rest
 Homework that has been completed and checked by
an adult
 Agenda that has been signed
 Book bag that has been checked for important papers
 A day’s supply of paper and pencils
 Lunch box or money in their account
 Mode of afternoon transportation
 Tuesday folder returned by Thursday every week

5. Agendas/Planners
• Students are responsible for transporting the
agenda between home and school everyday.
• Agendas should be in a binder. This makes it
easier for students to keep track of their
homework.
• I will check agendas at the beginning of the day to
make sure students have recorded daily
homework assignments and upcoming tests.
• Parents are encouraged to look at the agenda
daily
• If a teacher writes a note to the parent, the
agenda must be signed so that we know the note
was read.

6. Homework Policy
• Homework is assigned daily, including weekends
as needed. (Students may receive weekend
practice assignments during our intensive FSA
preparation month.)
• Homework is calculated into each child’s grade for
each marking period.
• All homework is due the next day unless otherwise
noted. If a student is absent, homework is due
when he/she returns.
• Beginning next week, if homework is turned in on
time for a two week period, students will participate
in an extra 20 minute activity which will be chosen
by the teacher and sometimes by the student.

7. Grading
• Grades are based on the accumulation of points.
• Points are based on:
 Class participation
(effort)
 Completion of assignments
(daily work)
 Major projects, Tests, and
Journals
• Grades are posted online.
• Visit www.duvalschools.org and click on the “Parent” tab.
Select FOCUS to view your child’s grades.
• Additional instructions on how to get access can be found
there.
Our Grading Scale
• 90-100% = A
• 80-89% = B
• 70-79% = C
• 60-69% = D
• Below 60% = F
Grades are calculated
on cumulative
percentage and are
rounded up whenever
possible.

8. Reading Curriculum
• Fifth grade students are required to read 30 book a year.
One book is equal to 150 pages.
• Weekly Book Log- Students are given a Weekly Book Log
each week. Book Logs will be due every Monday. This will
allow your child to log in the books they read each weekend.
Students are expected to read 30 minutes daily as part of
their homework assignments.
• Achieve 3000 COUNTS towards the 30 minutes daily. The
articles on Achieve also count as 10 pages towards your
child’s reading goal. They DO NOT have to log these
though. I will be able to count their pages when I review
their usage. Please visit
http://www.duvalschools.org/domain/5286
• Vocabulary/Spelling tests will be given weekly beginning
next week. We will alternate each week between Spelling
and Vocabulary. If I see students having difficulty learning
new vocabulary, I will adjust the testing dates accordingly.
Students will be given an opportunity to choose an activity
to complete when it comes to Spelling and Vocabulary
homework. The words will be programmed onto
SpellingCity so that your child may practice at home. The
student username and password for this wonderful site is
Snyder314.

9. New Curriculum
• Duval County has adopted a new curriculum
this year. We will be using the Duval READS
and Duval MATH Curriculum which has been
adapted from EngageNY. You may visit
http://www.engageny.org/ for additional
resources. You may also visit
http://www.duvalschools.org/Page/9400 on the
Duval County website for additional information
about our curriculum.

10. Math Curriculum
• FSA- Fifth grade students will take the Math FCAT in
April. In preparation for the test, students will receive
homework in all benchmark areas. (This may include
weekend homework as needed.)
• To help your child prepare for the test, ask them to
explain their math answer and make them “defend” their
choice.
• TenMarks- This site provides practice problems for all of
the 5th
grade standards. You should have received your
child’s log in information this week in the Tuesday Folder.
Please have your child use this awesome resource
weekly. Please go to www.tenmarks.com.
• iReady – This is another program that students may use
to practice the math standards. Your child should be
able to log in. Please visit
http://www.duvalschools.org/domain/5286

11. Science Curriculum
• FCAT- In fifth grade, students will also take the Science
FCAT. Students are expected to be able to read and
comprehend the Science material. In preparation,
students will be learning new vocabulary with every unit.
They will be expected to define and explain the
vocabulary on the chapter tests.
• Science Fair- Fifth graders are required to complete a
Science project. Projects will be graded based on a
given set of criteria. Students must be able to
demonstrate and/or explain their projects to the class.
This is where the majority of their points will come from.
They will complete projects periodically in class, so that
they are familiar with the components and expectations
of what makes a good project.
• StudyIsland – Students will be using this site as well to
practice their Science skills. Passwords will go home next
Tuesday. http://www.studyisland.com/

12. County Approved Websites
• For a complete list of links to many
of the digital resources, please visit
http://www.duvalschools.org/domai
n/5286
• This is the student software link on
the Duval county website. Click the
“student” tab and then click “student
software.”

13. Progress Reports
 “Official” progress reports will be found online at
the FOCUS parent portal during the 5th
and 7th
week of each marking period.
 However, if your child is not meeting the
required expectations, you will be contacted
immediately.
 Please return all “D” or “F” student work the
following school day. All “D’ or “F’ papers will
serve as a scholarship warning and require a
parent signature.

14. Parent/Teacher Conferences
 Conferences are held before or after school
with a 24 hour notice. Please avoid conference
requests for Monday mornings and Friday
afternoons.
 “Drop-in” conferences are not an effective
method of communicating with your child’s
teachers.
 Conferences can be scheduled by phone, email
or by writing a note in your child’s agenda.

15. Important Dates
• Please check our class website for
upcoming dates.
http://mscsnyder.blogspot.com/
• You may also visit the school website at
www.duvalschools.org/sheffield

16. Contact Information
Ms. Snyder
Homeroom 314
696-8758 x169
snyderc@duvalschools.org
Ms. Blackburn
696-8758 X 178
blackburnn@duvalschools.org

17. A Few Quick Tips
• Please join REMIND for all of the current
information. I send FREQUENT reminders this
way. You can receive these reminders via email
or text.
• Visit http://mscsnyder.blogspot.com/ for updates
as well.
• Please send in $7.00 for Science Spin and
Scholastic News magazines.
• Please join PTA. The cost is $7.00 and the
money raised goes to helping our school.
• Fall Festival is coming up. If you are able to
organize our class booth, please let me know.

18. Wish List for volunteers
Thank you to all of the parents who so generously
brought in supplies from the wish list.
Hats off to all of our copy parents!
We are in need of volunteers this year.
If you are able to volunteer in your favorite subject area
please let us know.
Your children would greatly benefit from even
a ½ hour a week of extra help in math and
reading. Please consider signing up for just
one day a week; Your children and teachers
would love to have you join in the fun of
learning!

19. Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to visit your
child’s school. We appreciate all that
you do, because you are the key
ingredient in your child’s academic
success!
Educationally Yours,
Ms. Snyder and Ms. Blackburn
*If time permits, please stop by to meet
your child’s Art, Media, PE and Music
teachers.