Lower School Helpful Info

A

Attendance

Attendance in kindergarten is very important. However, if your child will be absent for any reason, please call Mrs. Kilduff at 651-925-8700. If you know your student will be missing school for vacation, please inform the office as well as me by either email, phone call or a note in your kiddo’s folder. If you are planning on picking your kinder up early, please, again, contact both the office, and me this way your kinder can be ready and waiting in the office upon your arrival.

After School Care

After School Care, formerly known as Commons is held every day from 7-7:30am and from 3-5:00pm downstairs in the Cafeteria. Please contact Mrs. Kilduff in the main office or Sandy Veal in the business office with any questions you have.

Arrival and Departure

Kindergarten begins at 7:55 am. Students are welcome in our classroom at 7:30am; if you drop your child off before 7:30, they are report to Before School Care, located in the cafeteria. Kindergarten ends at 2:40pm. Students who go home after school will be released out of the front doors on Lafond Avenue at 2:40 and will be brought in by 2:50 if there have not been picked up and brought down to the cafeteria. Students who will attend After School Care will immediately downstairs.

Art

Kinders go to Mrs. Richtsmeier for Art once a week! For questions about Art curriculum, please contact Mrs. Ritchsmeier at britchsmeier@saintagnesschool.org.

B

Birthdays

Birthdays are a very special event and will be celebrated in our class. The birthday person is welcome to send a treat to share with the class. Because I do not have access to a freezer from my classroom, please do not send frozen treats to school, also please be mindful of nut allergies in the classroom. While we are in Phase 3 of COVID-19 protocol, all treats must be store bought and pre/individually packaged.

Book Order

Each month, we will send home a Ignatius Book Club order form. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy books at a reduced price. Each book purchased earns bonus points that we can use to purchase more books for our classroom library. Feel free to also order books from Ignatius Book Club online using our class’ code (forthcoming)!

Breakfast

Breakfast for students is available each morning in the cafeteria from 7-7:45am. Breakfast is available for kindergarten students free of charge.

C

Conferences

Conferences will occur twice a year. Fall conferences will be held October 22 nd. Spring conferences will be held March 11 th. You will be able to sign-up online using Sign-Up genius. If you would like to meet with me outside of conferences, please set up a time rather than stopping in before or after school, I want to be sure I can give you my full attention.

Contacting Me

The best way to contact us is via email. Our email addresses are Ashley Duppler: aduppler@saintagnesschool.org and Nancy Johnson: njohnson@saintagnesschool.org We try to check my email throughout the day, but it can be challenging. If you need to contact us right away, please call the main office at (651-925-8700) and they can connect you to us. Our direct line is (Duppler: 651-925-8721 and Johnson: 651-925-8720) but please note that during the school day the phone in our classrooms go directly to voicemail.

Catechesis

For the second year, Kinders will attend Catechesis of the Good Shepherd as part of our religion curriculum. Kinders will attend Catechesis with Mrs. Langolis once a week.

Covid-19

We are living in unprecedented times with the COVID-19 pandemic. Saint Agnes School has been working extremely hard to ensure our children can be IN school to learn! For more information about our protocol, decision tree for when to stay home, the different phases we have and which we are in, please visit the school webpage under “Reopening” or contact Mr. Adkins.

D

Daily News Folders

Each day a folder will be sent home in your child’s backpack. Inside the folder, there is a Daily News Sheet. Please look through your child’s folder every night as important classroom and school information will be sent home in them. Please make sure you send the folder back to school every day!

Drills

Several times throughout the year there will be fire drills, tornado drills and lockdown drills. Kindergarten students will be informed of most drills before they happen, this will provide an opportunity for us to discuss and practice them as a class.

E

Envelopes

When sending money to school, please put it in a sealed envelope labeled with your child’s name and what the money is for. This will help in case the money gets lost within the school. The envelope should go into your child’s folder.

Educate

You can access your kinder’s grades via Educate. www.educate.tads.com

Education in Virtue

We are excited to use a new virtue program this year! We will be using Education in Virtue. See more in Virtues.

F

Field Trips

Throughout the year we will go on a handful class field trips. These field trips are both fun and educational. While we are in Phase 3 we will only be attending outside field trips with our grade level. We welcome adult chaperones who are VIRTUS certified. Please contact our volunteer coordinator, Mrs. Beaudry if you would like to learn more about VIRTUS certification.

G

Goodies

If you are interested in bringing special goodies to kindergarten for a Feast Day, birthday or any other celebration, please let me know prior to bringing the goodies in. Also, please be mindful of nut allergies.

Grandparent's Day

We are excited to invite our Grandparents and friends to spend a day with us this October! Watch for a formal invitation in the mail!

H

Homework

Throughout the year, I will send home homework assignments. Our homework usually consists of a review item for math or literacy activity. Please return all homework by the due date. Quality work is expected. I ask that you read to your kinder for 15-20 minutes every night as part of their homework.

Hot Lunch

Hot lunch is available for purchase every day. Menus are available on the school website as well as in the main office. Please contact Kelly DiPietro with any questions! kdipietro@saintagnesschool.org

Homecoming

Homecoming week will take place September 16-20. Kindergarten through 12th grade will participate in different activities and dress up days! More information to come!

Hybrid Learning

If you and your family find that you need to self-quarantine due to COVID-19, please reach out to Mr. Adkins and he will set you up for temporary hybrid learning. If you and your family decide you feel more comfortable learning at home, again, reach out to Mr. Adkins and he will add you to our Hybrid Learning site where your child can learn from home.

I

Illness

If your child has vomited, experienced diarrhea or a has had a fever, school policy states that they must stay home from school for 24 hours since they last got sick. Students must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. Thank you for helping keep our kiddos healthy! In this time of COVID-19 please err on the side of caution when considering keeping a symptomatic child home. I will work with your kinder when they return to catch up on all their work. Not sure if you should keep your kinder home? Please see the Decision Tree on the school website.

J

Jackets and Outerwear

Each day your child will go outside for recess- when the Minnesota weather permits. We will only stay inside if the temperature is below 0 or if it is raining. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, including jackets and any outerwear. Please label all items with your student’s first and last name as they often get lost in the shuffle.

K

L

Labels

PLEASE make sure that ALL OF YOUR KINDERS clothing and accessories—especially winter gear IS CLEARLY LABELLED.

Library

Kinders go to library to see Mrs. Heather and Mrs. Roddy once a week. Kinders are allowed to check out one book at a time.

Lunch

Your child will eat lunch in the cafeteria each day. Students will be able to have hot lunch or bring their own cold lunch. Please help your child decide what they would like to eat before school each day. A monthly lunch menu will be available on line or in the school office. Students will purchase a lunch using a pin number- see P for Pin Number. If you have any questions about purchasing school lunches, please contact Sandy Veal.

Lower School Director

Our lower school director is Mr. Michael Adkins. If you have any questions or concerns throughout the year about anything pertaining to the lower school Mr. Adkins is your point of contact. madkins@saintagnesschool.org.

M

Math

Each day your child will have the opportunity to explore math concepts through hands-on exploration through worksheets, large group instructions, math games, calendar activities and small group instruction. We will use both Saxon and Singapore math curriculum this year.

Morning Meeting

We begin each day with a Morning Meeting as part of Responsive Classroom. Traditional components of morning meeting include: greeting, sharing, activity and teacher’s business. This daily meeting will help to set a positive tone for the rest of the day as well as create a positive learning community.

Mass

Kindergarteners attend Mass with the grade school once a week every Wednesday at 8:45. We will also attend several all school Masses throughout the year on Feast and Holy Days; all are welcome to join us. See the last page for the Mass schedule.

Medication

Please send all of your kinder’s medication to the school office. For safety reasons, I do not keep or administer medication in the classroom.

Music

Your child will get the opportunity to go to Music class twice a week with Mrs. Truran. If you have questions about music class or curriculum class, please contact Mrs. Truran directly at mtruran@saintagnesschool.org.

Mystery Reader

To promote reading and literacy among the kinders, weask parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas and grandpas to volunteer to be a Mystery Reader for our class! Please watch for a sign-up sheet to come home! During Phase 3, we will be doing this virtually via Zoom!

N

O

P

Physical Education

Kinders will attend physical education with Mr. Thompson twice a week. Please note that tennis shoes are required for P.E. If you have any questions about P.E please contact Mr. Thompson at sthompson@saintagnesschool.org.

Pin Number

You can find your Kinder’s Pin Number in Educate under student ID. All students will use their pin numbers for hot lunch, if they chose to have it, as well as how they will sign in and out of after school care.

Q

R

Reading

Reading is a huge part of kindergarten. Our morning consists of a math and literacy block. We will use our Superkids curriculum to guide our reading instruction. We will also learn sight words and fundamentals of writing.

Reading Log

Kinders are expected to read 20 minutes a day when at home and complete monthly reading logs as part of their homework. With the completion of each monthly reading logs, students will get a Pizza Hut certificate for a free pizza through a program called Book It!

Religion

Students will attend Religion three days a week with Miss Vandenburg.

Report Cards

The kindergarten report cards will be sent home at the end of each quarter. Students will be graded on all core subjects as well as Successful Learning Behaviors.

Responsive Classroom

Throughout the grade school we use Responsive Classroom as part of our classroom management plans. Traditional elements that will be used are Morning Meeting, Quiet Time, Guided Discovery, Academic Choice/Guided Centers and Take a Break.

S

T

U

Uniforms

Students are expected to be in proper uniform every day! Kindergarten girls are to be in a jumper or navy pants with a white blouse every day. Ladies are welcome to wear white, black or navy tights or socks. Tennis shoes are not required but are encouraged for every day wear! (Please refer to the Handbook for more details on shoes.) We recommend they wear some type of modesty shorts under their jumper. Kindergarten boys are to be in navy pants with a light blue school polo and a belt beginning second semester. Gentlemen are welcome to wear navy or white socks with their shoes. Again, please see the Handbook for more details pertaining to uniform. 14 Please help your child be successful each day by making sure they are in proper uniform BEFORE they get to school!

V

Visitors

In order to keep Saint Agnes safe, all visitors are required to check in at the school office. As much as we strive for an open-door policy in our classroom, please limit your visits during the day as they may interfere with our instruction time. During Phase 3 we will be limiting the number of people allowed in the building.

Volunteers

There are many ways to be involved in our classroom! A few areas where parents are always needed include: preparing art materials, working with small groups of children, field trips, and parties as well as helping with recess duty. If you are interested in volunteering in our classroom, please contact Annette Beaudry at abeaudry@saintagnesschool.org.

Virtues

This year we will be implementing Disciples of Christ: Education in Virtue. We will continue to have virtue assemblies where we share the virtue we have learned about as well as the Saints that demonstrated the virtue.

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Y

Z

1st Grade

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT

Saint Agnes School embraces the Responsive Classroom management approach in the elementary school. Every day we begin with a morning meeting where students greet each other, share briefly, participate in an activity, and read the morning message together. This routine builds community in the classroom while teaching students basic social skills. The Responsive Classroom approach also encourages student accountability and logical consequences for any misbehavior. Classroom rules will be determined by the teacher as well as the students. Students will sign an agreement to follow the rules. Students may receive a consequence if a school rule is not followed. Notes or phone calls home explaining misbehaviors may also be necessary at times. The main goal is for our students to respect self, classmates and adults. The practice of Christian virtue is introduced and emphasized.

SNACK

Please send a snack to school with your child each day. To ensure the safety of students with nut allergies, please DO NOT send snacks with any peanuts or peanut butter. Please remind your child of the difference between their lunch and their snack (for the afternoon)! Please have your child bring a water bottle with their name on it. Please instruct your child on how to use the bottle before they bring it to school.

VIRTUES

Saint Agnes School uses the Disciples of Christ, Education in Virtue program designed by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. The program is designed to build and strengthen a culture of virtue that penetrates every aspect of one’s life. The program uses specific vocabulary to introduce and reinforce virtuous behavior. The goal is to nurture virtue in every person so that they can freely know, guard, pray, live, and grow deeper in the virtuous life.

HOMEWORK

Homework given for Math, Spelling, and sometimes in other subject areas (this will be communicated on your child’s homework slip. A homework/ communication slip is sent home each day to keep open communication between home and school. Parents and family members are asked to provide assistance as needed on each task given The teacher and parents can also write individual comments when necessary and the parent is asked to sign the slip and have it returned in the student’s daily homework folder each day. Daily communication and collaboration between home and school are more than essential; both are very necessary in order to provide a rich and meaningful learning experience for our children at school. Parent involvement is encouraged and very much appreciated!

2nd Grade

Homework

Second graders are responsible for completing and bringing back daily homework. In the event of missing homework, we will give your child a “Late Homework Slip.” Accumulated homework slips will result in a reduced grade. Second graders should strive to read at least 10 minutes a day. Take time to study for the spelling test. Occasionally there will be science or history project with a reasonable amount of days or weeks’ notice.

Absent/Makeup work

Please communicate with teachers ahead of time if you anticipate your student being absent. Some work may be provided beforehand, but the majority of work will be made up following these absences. For unanticipated (sick) absences, students are expected to check in with the teacher right away and complete provided checklist of missed assignments. 10 Phone/Electronic Policy: It is the school policy that no electronics are allowed at school. If a student needs to call home, there is a phone available in the front office for student use. Please speak to the teacher directly if you have any questions about this.

Saint Agnes Dismissal Policy

At the end of the day students will either be walked outside for pick up or will go downstairs to be checked in to After School Care. A parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling must pick up and supervise student outside. For students checked into After School Care, a parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling must sign out and supervise student upon pick up. For outside dismissal, parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling must physically collect K-6 student or be visible to teacher/student from the sidewalk. Students who are not picked up outside by 2:50pm will be checked into After School Care and will need to be signed out by a parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling.

Parent Teacher Communication

Most days we will send home a daily newsletter that will include announcements, highlights, and homework assignments. Grades will be posted on Educate. Most tests and projects will be retained with respective teachers during first and third quarters to be used and sent with parents at conference time. During second and fourth quarter, tests and projects will be sent home

Contacting Mr. Johnson or Mrs. Vance: Email is the best way to reach us. We can read and respond to emails throughout the day. We are also happy to meet in person at any point. Please be in touch with any questions or concerns.

3rd Grade

Homework

Each third-grade student has a black homework folder which they will be responsible for throughout the entire year. They are required to bring it back and forth from school each day.

You will find these items inside the homework folder:

A place for your child to write his or her homework (Please sign each night)
A monthly behavior calendar (Please sign each night)
Homework worksheets Reading Log (Please sign each night)
Important notices On a typical day, your child will receive the following homework assignments
Reading- 10 minutes of reading, documented on a reading log
Math- daily worksheet or problems from the textbook
Spelling- you may choose to work with your child on the current spelling rule being learned in class
Science-occasional assignments
History- Ancient Rome research project in the spring
Latin- vocabulary memorization Homework is mandatory. Please check with your child daily about their homework and then initial the assignment sheet in the homework folder each night.

Homework not done will result in the following consequences:

The assignment needs to be finished.
After 2 days of missed assignment, the student will receive a zero.
If it continues to be a problem, a homework contract will be sent home which will need to be signed by both the parent and student. Homework missed due to absence will usually be due the following day after returning to school. But of course, due to the number of days missed, workload, and the reason for the absence, the due date can be negotiable. Please contact us directly if homework is taking more than 30 minutes or becoming burdensome for your child.

Absent/Make-up Work

Academic Progress

You may view your child’s grades during the semester on Educate. Parent teacher conferences are held in the fall and spring and attendance is highly encouraged. If needed, we may also request a conference to discuss specific academic or behavioral concerns. Also, please let us know if you have any specific information about your child’s learning or health so that we can make reasonable accommodations.

Weekly Specialist Schedule

Snacks

Arrival/Dismissal

Students can be dropped off beginning at 7:30 am. School (and learning!) begins at 7:55 am. Please be prompt! ▪ Students are dismissed at 2:43 pm.

Students who are picked up immediately after school will walk with their teacher to the third-grade sign on the fence. o To ensure the safety of all the students, parents/older siblings/grandparents/carpool drivers must pick their child up from this spot. o When the student sees his or her ride, he or she will say goodbye to the teacher with a handshake. o If there is a change in where your student goes after school or how he or she gets home, please call the office, send a note, or an email. o Again, we want to be careful and attentive to make sure your child goes to the right place at the end of the day. Students who have not been picked up by 3:05 pm will walk down to After School Care and families will be billed accordingly.

Absences

All absences need to be communicated to Mrs. Kathy Kilduff in the main office. If possible, please send an email to Ms. Coleman and Mrs. May, too, so that we can send assignments home with a sibling or leave them for you in the front office. If you know in advance about upcoming absences due to travel, we will do our best to get your child whatever work we can, but it is possible that your student will have to wait until after the trip for some of the missed homework/in-class work. St. Agnes School does not require teachers to come up with future homework assignments, quizzes, or tests in this sort of a situation, but does encourage teachers to get future assignments to families if they already have those lesson plans/assignments etc. created. That said, once students return from a period of absence teachers are required to get the missing work to students as well as give an extended deadline for completion of that work.

Volunteering

We are in need of recess volunteers every day of the week. ▪ Due to the Coronavirus, we are unsure if there will be any field trips this year (no field trips in Phase 3 of re-opening). Should we be able to have field trips, we will reach out at that time for chaperones. ▪ Volunteers and chaperones must have completed their Archdiocesan E3 Volunteer Requirements. Please reach out to Annette Beaudry abeaudry@saintagnesschool.org to confirm your volunteer eligibility.

4th Grade

Planner

Each afternoon 4th grade spend 10 minutes writing down and discussing nightly homework. It is the students’ responsibility to copy down all homework assignments and bring home any books or materials needed to complete their homework. Please check your child’s planner and homework folder each night to keep updated on what he/she should be doing for homework each night. Parent signatures will be requested at times.

Homework Expectations

4th graders can expect up to 50-60 minutes of homework, each night in at least core subjects: mathematics, reading, and spelling. The homework includes daily assignments as well as long-term assignments and studying for tests. As your student matures in 4th grade, more responsibility and assertiveness will be expected of them. Keeping this in mind, students must communicate questions and concerns with their teachers. When possible, parents are asked to allow their students to communicate issues first before intervening so that students may begin to grow in accountability. Thank you!

Long Term Projects

spelling homework, book reports, History Day Report and poster board, some writing projects, Latin homework, and general studying for tests. There are occasional projects that may be assigned over a few days’ time.

Missing Work Policy

4th grade students are responsible for completing and turning in daily homework. In the event of a missing or incomplete assignment, a student may be asked to complete it during various free times throughout the school day (morning meeting, snack time, or recess). If necessary, the students will compete the assignment that night and bring it the next day. Late assignments will be marked “LATE” on the assignment and on Educate and may result in a reduced grade. Missing assignments are marked zero until turned in. Incomplete homework will result in the following consequences:

✓ The assignment needs to be finished that day and turned in the next day.

✓ A missing homework slip will be sent home if a student is missing work. If a student brings this back signed and attached to the missing assignment they may receive full credit for their work.

✓ After 2 days (unexcused) missing work will receive a zero.

✓ If assignments continue to be a problem, a homework contract will be sent home which will need to be signed by both the parent and student.

Absent/Makeup work

Please communicate with teachers ahead of time if you anticipate your student being absent. Some work may be provided beforehand, but most of the work will be made up following these absences. For unanticipated (sick) absences, students are expected to check in with the teacher right away and complete provided checklist of missed assignments. Homework missed due to absence will usually be due the following day after returning to school. Of course, due to the number of days missed, workload, and the reason for the absence, the due date can be negotiable.

Behavior

Students’ behavior will receive a logical consequence in both good and bad circumstances. Our approach to discipline is formed by Responsive Classroom and Education in Virtue. As disciples of Christ, students will be encouraged to identify the virtues they possess and lack, as well as to pray for and work toward growth in those virtues. You will periodically receive printable Christian Witness certificates via email. If there is a behavior problem, you will receive a Disciple of Christ report, which identifies a virtue that your child needs to cultivate. All communication home is intended to keep parents in the loop and partner with you in the betterment of your students.

Bringing Items to School

All students should have a backpack. The students may also bring a water bottle. The bottle must have a lid that seals tight. There will be a brief time for snack every day, students should bring something healthy to eat at that time. If your child wishes to bring a book from home to read, it needs to have the child’s name on it. This will prevent mix-ups. To avoid distractions, all toys should be kept at home. This includes items such as fidget spinners and slime. Sports equipment, balls and other games may be kept in one’s backpack for use at recess. If a student brings equipment for recess they are consenting to sharing it with classmates. St. Agnes is not responsible for the replacement of lost or damaged equipment that your child must bring tennis shoes each day for recess.

School Supplies

Students will bring items listed on the materials list. Please check in with your student regularly to ensure that their supplies are replenished as needed throughout the year.

Friday Flyer

The Friday Flyer, is my weekly newsletter sent home each week. Please read the Friday Flyer for all news and announcements. In past years, some parents have chosen to place this on their refrigerator or bulletin boards so that both parents and students can see it throughout each week.

Parent Teacher Communication

4th grade teachers communicate grades and student progress with parents primarily through the weekly Friday Flyer and posted grades on Educate. Look through your child’s Take-Home folder to note academic assignments and progress. Check Educate to see posted grades. Reach out to teachers if there are any concerns or questions.

Birthdays

Students are welcome to bring in birthday treats. If your child has severe food allergies, you may send extra treats for me to store in the classroom so that your child does not feel left out. If a student has a birthday during the summer, we can celebrate either the child’s half birthday or we can celebrate sometime at the end of the year.

Progress Reports, Conferences, Report Cards

Be on the look out for Progress Reports and Conference Sign-Ups. Ideally, we hope to meet with parents of every 4th grade student. Due to the limited time we have during fall conferences, we ask that parents sign up as soon as possible and keep open lines of communication with teachers throughout the fall semester.

Parent Signatures

Students will frequently be asked to bring assignments or papers home to get signed. This allows parents to see what their student is working on and note due dates or important information. Please be prompt in returning these documents and marking down important due dates.

5th Grade

Planner: Saint Agnes has provided custom made planners for each 5th grade student. Students are required to utilize this planner each day. Each afternoon 5th grade spends 10 minutes writing down and discussing nightly homework. It is the students’ responsibility to copy down all homework assignments exactly as they are noted on the board and bring home all materials needed to complete their homework. Please check your child’s planner and homework folder each night to keep updated on what he/she should be doing for homework. Parent signatures may be requested. See parent signature section. Homework Expectations: 5th graders can expect up to 60 minutes of homework each night in at least core subjects: mathematics, reading, and spelling. The 60 minutes of homework includes daily homework assignments as well as long-term assignments and studying for tests. As your student matures in 5th grade, more responsibility and assertiveness will be expected of them. Keeping this in mind, students must communicate questions and concerns with their teachers. When possible, parents are asked to allow their students to communicate issues first before intervening so that students may begin to grow in accountability. Thank you! Long Term Projects: There will be long-term assignments and projects throughout the year that help to teach time management and organization. Students will be responsible for managing a weekly spelling schedule and monthly book reports. Projects to expect throughout the year: Narnia diorama (winter), 3D Map of the U.S.(spring), History Day Report and poster board (spring). Missing Work Policy: 5th grade students are responsible for completing and turning in daily homework. In the event of a missing or incomplete assignment, a student may be asked to complete it during various free times throughout the school day (morning meeting, snack time, or recess). If necessary, the students will compete the assignment that night as additional homework and bring it the next day. Late assignments will be marked “LATE” on the assignment and on Educate and may result in a reduced grade. Missing assignments are marked zero until turned in. Absent/Makeup work: Please communicate with teachers ahead of time if you anticipate your student being absent. Some work may be provided beforehand but the majority of work will be made up following these absences by completing a provided checklist of missing assignments. For unanticipated (sick) absences, students are expected to check in with the teacher right away and complete provided checklist of missed assignments.

Phone/Electronic Policy: It is our St. Agnes grade school policy that no electronics are allowed at school. If a student needs to call home, there is a phone available in the front office for student use. Please speak to the teacher directly if you have any questions about this. Saint Agnes Dismissal Policy: At the end of the day students will either be walked outside for pick up or will go downstairs to be checked in to After School Care. A parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling must pick up and supervise student outside. For students checked into After School Care, a parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling must sign out and supervise student upon pick up. For outside dismissal, parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling must physically collect K-6 student or be visible to teacher/student from the sidewalk. Students who are not picked up outside by 2:50pm will be checked into After School Care and will need to be signed out by a parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling. Friday Folder and Friday Five: Every Friday, students will bring home their Friday Folder of graded assignments. These assignments are for you to look through, discuss with your child, and keep/recycle. The Friday Five will come home in the Friday Folder and contains brief weekly news and announcements. Please read carefully as this is our main communication. Parent Teacher Communication: 5 th grade teachers communicate grades and student progress with parents primarily through the weekly Friday Folder and posted grades on Educate. Look through your child’s Friday Folder to note academic assignments and progress. Check Educate to see posted grades. Progress Reports, Conferences, Report Cards: Progress Reports are sent out before ParentTeacher Conferences at the end of the first and third quarter. Report cards will be posted at the end of each semester. Volunteering: We have three (30 minute) recesses each week where parents are welcome to volunteer and get to the know the class. Another way to volunteer your time is by making copies or laminating for teachers. Any parent volunteers/chaperones must have completed their Archdiocesan E3 Volunteer Requirements. Please reach out to Ms. Erickson or Mrs. Leeson if you are interested in volunteering. Parent Signatures: Students will frequently be asked to bring assignments or papers home to get signed. This allows parents to see what their student is working on and note due dates or important information.

After School Care: Students who are staying for after school care in the cafeteria must be picked up and signed out by a parent, guardian, or Jr. High/High School sibling. If a student has not been picked up by their carpool by 2:50, they will be brought inside and signed into after school care. 5th grade student-athletes who are staying after school to wait for practice or a game will be signed into after school care until their coach arrives to supervise them.

6th Grade

Homework Policy

In sixth grade, students are expected to complete one hour to an hour and twenty minutes of homework each night.
Students are responsible for taking graded work home every Monday from their graded-work folders in our classroom.
Students are responsible for recording homework, project due dates, and test dates in their planners each day. This information will be posted in the classroom each day.
Students are also responsible for bringing home any books or materials needed to complete their homework. Materials must be brought back to class each day, regardless of the assignment’s due date.

Late/Missing Work Policy

Assignments should always be submitted on time. Points may be deducted for late assignments, unless the student has asked for and has been granted an extension for a legitimate reason prior to the due date of the assignment.
10 points per day are deducted for late assignments. Homework and in-class assignments (aside from tests, quizzes, and major projects) more than three days late will not be given credit.
If a student does not complete his or her homework or class work, a missing assignment form must be completed. The form must be signed by parents and returned to me the next day. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain parent signatures.

Absent/Makeup work

Each student should communicate with teachers ahead of time if he or she anticipates being absent. Some work may be provided beforehand, but the majority of work will be made up following these absences.
For unanticipated (sick) absences, students are expected to check in with the teacher right away and complete a provided checklist of missed assignments.
If a student missed a test due to an absence, the student must schedule a retake exam with the teacher. Possible times to retake an exam include before or after school, recess time, and/or quiet time.

School Patrol Duties

Each 6th grade student is responsible for participating in the Saint Agnes School Patrol. Each class will be on duty from approximately 2:40-2:50 p.m. daily for a full week (the three sixth grade classes will be on a three-week rotation).
Students will be trained in their duties and will receive a certificate of service from the Saint Paul Police Department at the close of the year. Responsible, active participation is a requirement, and students who do not meet these standards may not be permitted to attend the School Patrol Picnic and Parade in the spring.

Basics of Grade-Level Schedule

6th Grade students will have Band or Choir every Monday and Thursday
They will go to Physical Education class on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (and must bring appropriate gym uniforms and shoes for those times), and will have recess on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Saint Agnes Dismissal Policy

6th Grade students will be dismissed from the classroom at 2:45, except on Safety Patrol days, in which case they will be on duty from 2:40-2:50, approximately. 6th grade students are expected to find their way to their rides safely and quickly once they have been dismissed. Students who are not picked up outside by 2:50pm will be checked into After School Care and will need to be signed out by a parent, designated carpool adult, or 7-12 sibling.

Behavior Expectations

Raise your hand and wait for permission to speak.
Wait for directions with no talking.
Follow directions the first time they are given.
Change tasks quickly and quietly.
Be prepared for class and have all needed materials.
Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Be respectful of your teachers and classmates at all times.

Classroom Discipline

The importance of responding to God’s call to holiness through the cultivation of virtue is an evident focal point of the classroom discipline plan. In sixth grade we will award “virtue points” when we see or hear about students practicing specific virtues. Each student will have a chart of the virtues in his or her binder where a tally will be kept next to each of the corresponding virtues for which points were awarded. This chart should help the student in determining which virtue he or she would like to cultivate at present. Moreover, the chart will help the students to grow in self-knowledge as they recognize those virtues which are their strengths. Periodically, students may also be awarded a prize when they attain a specified number of virtue points.
Students are encouraged to recognize and encourage virtue in their classmates by completing “Virtue Shout-outs.”
Students will be disciplined by teachers or staff for behavior that is disruptive, disrespectful, and/or dangerous. Should students choose not to follow the school rules and classroom procedures, they will lose time from their break or recess, or receive another logical consequence for their misbehavior. Serious misbehavior will result in an immediate discipline referral. Please also refer to the discipline plan outlined in the school handbook.
When a student’s behavior has merited four marks within a one to two-day period, that student must complete a “Conduct Reflection” form. The form must be signed by parents and returned to school the following day. Failure to return the form will result in a loss of recess and/or other consequences.
If any sixth-grade student engages in behavior that is contrary to the principles of Saint Agnes School, that student may be sent to Mr. Adkins office to discuss the issue with him. This will be communicated to the parents, and if deemed necessary or beneficial, a meeting may be scheduled with them.

Parent/Teacher Communication

Planners
- Planners are used daily to communicate homework. The dates of projects and upcoming tests should also be recorded in the planner.
Weekly Newsletters:
- Newsletters will be emailed or sent home to the parents of students in each 6th grade homeroom weekly.
Educate: 15
- Documents: Information about field trips and class projects, among other items, will be posted as needed. The weekly newsletter will keep parents and students informed of recently uploaded documents.
- Academic Progress: Current grades can be viewed on Educate. Parents are required to check grades on Educate at least once a week.
Christian Witness Reports will be completed and sent home as occasions to reward virtuous behavior.
Conduct Reflections
- Occasionally, a student may need to reflect on his or her behavior. Students may be given a conduct reflection form to complete. Students should bring these forms home to be signed by their parents. The form should then be returned to the teacher the next day. Failure to return the form will result in a loss of recess.
- If you have a more immediate concern, please leave a message for me and I will return your call as soon as possible.

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
Phy Ed	Phy Ed	K-6 Mass	Religion	Music
Music	Religion	Library		Art
		Latin		Religion