Welcome Letter 2019-2020

P.S. 527 East Side School for Social Action

Welcome Letter for Fifth Grade: 

Ms. Yvonne and Ms. Nina/Ms. Sarah 5-401

Ms. Sadaf and Ms. Nina/Ms. Sarah 5-402

 September 5, 2019

Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year!  We also congratulate you on entering the last and final year of your student’s elementary school career.  We hope that you and your child had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. We are committed to creating an exciting and challenging academic year for your child, as they begin to spread their wings in preparation for middle school. 

Fifth grade is a pivotal year in which students will be encouraged to think more extensively, abstractly and comprehensively across the subjects.  Students will aim to complete more rigorous tasks and challenge their own thinking in collaboration with each other. Students will also work together to develop the tools needed in order to acquire a greater sense of independence.  As the last year of your child’s elementary school, fifth grade is the time to cement what they have previously learned and to practice, refine and grow their skills in order to be best prepared for middle school.

The supply list for this school year is available through the school’s website http://www.ps527.org 

As we begin the new school year, there are some requirements and information to keep in mind. Please review the following carefully with your child before signing and returning the next page to class with your child.

Requirements/Important Information

Class Website: Each class maintains their own website throughout the school year.  We encourage and expect that students will use this website as a helpful resource.  Although students receive planners to copy homework and project assignments this year to promote responsibility, the website still serves as an important tool to refer to whenever necessary, especially if a student is absent.  Teachers will post homework daily, along with reminders about upcoming events. 

Homework: We assign homework to help reinforce lessons learned during the school day.  We encourage homework to be completed daily, and expect your child to read for at least thirty minutes each night. Homework will be viewed daily on the smartboard in class and will be posted on our class website. This year, your child will be writing their homework in their homework planner on a daily basis and placing assignments inside of their Home Folder.  Your child will also note important dates such as trips, quizzes, exams, etc. in their planners. We recommend signing your child’s homework planner weekly to acknowledge awareness of assignments. In addition, please check your child’s Home Folder for important notices nightly. The Home Folder is designated as a communication folder between school and home.  

Independent research is another essential component of fifth grade.  Homework assignments may involve students logging onto a computer/tablet to use the internet for homework and studying purposes.  If for any reason, your child does not have daily or weekly internet access, please inform us.  

Punctuality/Dismissal:  It is very important that your child be in school on time. Your child should be in the classroom no later than 8:30 a.m. Dismissal time is at 2:40 p.m.  Please fill out the Weekly Dismissal Schedule found in the back of this packet and return it with your child.  If someone other than the legal guardian will be picking up your child, please notify us via e-mail in writing and inform the office staff, at least 24 hours in advance.  Also, please make sure your child says “goodbye” to us before leaving the gymnasium and waits for a response.  This year, our goodbye policy will involve a quick fistbump to the teacher.  If you prefer that your child travels home from school by him/herself, written permission is required from the parent/legal guardian.  Feel free to send us as well as the office an email to confirm this.

Specials Classes:   Listed below are the days that each class has a special’s class that you should be aware of:

Message from Principal Michelle:  In order to prepare students for a middle school schedule with first period 

classes, we are assigning each fifth grade class with two 8:20am Physical Education classes this year.  Class 

5-401 will have Physical Education at 8:20am on Mondays and Wednesdays and Technology/Library at 8:20am on Thursdays.  Class 5-402 will have Physical Education at 8:20am on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Technology/Library at 8:20am on Wednesdays.  Students should report directly to the gym or technology lab/library on those days with all their belongings. 

Class Rules/Citizenship: At the beginning of the school year, the class establishes rules for a safe and productive learning environment.  All students are expected to display respectful behavior toward their teachers, and other students, and their school. Students will be encouraged to work collaboratively and in teams in order to promote a safe learning environment for all. We will also be using Class Dojo in order to promote positive behavior in the classroom. Login information for Class Dojo will be sent home within the first few weeks of school. 

Birthdays:  Please contact your child’s teacher at least one week in advance if you would like to have an in-class birthday celebration for your child. Birthdays will be at 2:20pm, and can be celebrated on the day of your child’s birthday inside of the classroom. Please bring in individualized treats such as cupcakes and juice boxes for celebrations only.  If a parent/guardian cannot attend, birthday snacks may be dropped off in the office prior to lunchtime. We kindly request that no decorations or gifts be brought in. 

*ALLERGIES: We also request that you check in with your child’s teacher regarding any food allergies that students may have.  Due to a severe tree nut allergy (cashews, pistachios, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, chestnuts) of one of our students this year, we kindly request that all parents email us in advance of the type of birthday treats they wish to bring in, including a picture or list of ingredients for the treats. Peanuts are okay.  We also ask that you be mindful of this tree nut allergy as you pack snack and lunch for your student. We also have a nut-free birthday treat options that can found all year long on our class website. Thank you so much in advance.  

Teacher Contact Information:  The best way to contact us is by email. 

Ms. Yvonne and Ms. Nina’s/Ms. Sarah’s Class 5-401  - 5-401teachers@ps527.org   

Ms. Sadaf and Ms. Nina’s/Ms. Sarah’s Class 5-402 - 5-402teachers@ps527.org  

We appreciate your cooperation in your child’s education.  

We are looking forward to an exciting and successful year with you and your child!                                                                                                                                      

Thank you,

 Ms. Yvonne, Ms. Sadaf, Ms. Nina and Ms. Sarah