Welcome to

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Welcome to
Mrs. Swierskis Fifth Grade!
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Open House 2015-2016
Questions? Email melody.swierski_at_cobbk12.org
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• TTF Annual Campaign Has Begun!
• Donate by August 31st to be eligible for drawings
  of local area attractions.
• Pledge tonight and receive the new coveted car
  magnet!
• Your donation to the TTF is the sole funding
  source for
• Salary of the full time science lab instructor
  (Mr. Giunta), plus lab supplies.
• Salary of the full time computer lab instructor
  (Mrs. Pascual), plus lab supplies.
• Previous investments include 230 iPads, 25
  netbooks, 3-D printer and other technology.

The Tritt Tiger Foundation provides science and
technology enrichment for your children
TTF volunteers are at the table at the front of
the school to answer any questions you may have.
Look for them in the bright orange shirts!
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All About Melody

• Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.
• Product of Cobb County Schools.
• Attended Southwest Texas State University in San
  Marcos, Texas and Kennesaw State University.
• BS degree in Middle Grades Education with focus
  in LA, science and social studies.
• M.Ed. In Elementary and Early Childhood Education
• Endorsed in gifted education.
• Currently working toward endorsement in
  Leadership.
• Married Todd Swierski for 20 years.
• 2 children Evan 9th grade and Anna 5th grade
• Enjoy spending time with my family, reading,
  tennis, animals, travel and teaching!

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All About Jennifer

• Im so sorry that I cant be with you tonight!
  We are enjoying getting to know your children and
  look forward to a fantastic year!
• Born and raised in North Carolina (GO DUKE!)
• Attended Brevard College in Brevard, NC (where I
  met my husband) and then attended Western
  Carolina University and graduated with a BSEd in
  1993
• Dual certified in Early Childhood Education and
  Special Education.
• Currently going to KSU for my Masters in Early
  Childhood Ed. And to add another special
  education certification
• Married to Charlie Dino (Go DAWGS!)
• 2 children Im dropping my son Alec off at GCSU
  TODAY for his FRESHMAN year! My daughter Katelyn
  is a senior at POPE, .how did that happen???
  They were JUST in 5th grade!!
• Enjoy reading, singing, music, spending time with
  my family, tennis, and chocolate

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Tritt School-Wide News

• S.T.E.M Certification

• Parking

• SPLOST project to replace the existing Annex
• Approximate start date November
• Limited Parking
• Assigned Parking for Staff
• Visitor Parking limited to minimal spaces
• Carpool, walk, park on the grass in front of the
  school
• Violators will be towed

• State visit will be October 13
• Practice All-School STEM Days August 18
  September 15
• Parents welcome to come and experience STEM
  during the hours 830-1030am

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Com
Tritts Innovation Learning Commons Our
Innovation Learning Commons takes Tritts Media
Center into the 21st century by continuing to
provide printed texts along with research and
technological resources. There will be a hum of
activity with students talking, learning,
searching for information on a variety of
devices, focusing on content creation and
synthesizing of information. The ILC is the hub
of the school a place for teachers and students
to collaborate to build inquiry learning and
critical thinking skills a place for technology
integration and experimentation a place that is
owned by students and staff alike.
Source http//aslc.ca/blog/what-is-a-learning-co
mmons-anyway
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• Students in all grades (k-5) will visit the ILC
  every other week for a 45 minute lessons.
• Science and ELA standards will be used to drive
  instruction for research and product creation
  lessons.
• Students will continue to check out books.
• Our maker space will provide all types of
  resources for staff and students.

We are looking forward to working with your
children! -Joanne Bates, Alexa Dean, and Kathy
Porter
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Our Classroom Environment

• Respect and accountability
• Develop responsible, confident, life-long
  learners
• Emphasis on problem solving and working
  cooperatively with others (use STEM process which
  includes 4 Cs see bulletin board.)
• Communicate and record in Thursday folder
  (teachers only parents please do not write
  notes here.)
• Daily Class Meetings facilitate
• successful peer relationships
• communication skills
• Inclusion class with 2 teachers

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Class Schedule

• 800-900 math
• 900-1030 reading
• 1030-1105 ELA
• 1109-1139 lunch
• 1140-1210 science
• 1210-1240 social studies
• 1240-100 recess
• 100-125 class meeting and agenda
• 125-210 specials

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Behavior

• Students will be rewarded both individually and
  as a class for good behavior.
• ClassDOJO
• Be sure to sign up for classdojo and check often.

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Inclusion Classroom

• Inclusive education is nothing more than good
  teaching practices. Good teachers develop and
  implement ways to teach all children. It
  challenges us to be the best educators we can be.
  As we share the knowledge to meet needs of kids
  with challenges and kids who need to be
  challenged, we improve the quality of education
  for all children in that classroom. In this case,
  the number of adults increases the contact time
  between students and teachers.

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Inclusion students who require special
education services receive that service within
this classroom

• How does this benefit the child who does not
  require special services? Thats easy!
• Teacher to student ratio is improved!
• Other classrooms, have 26 students and one
  teacher. Thats a 126 ratio (at best).
• Our class has 25 students and two certified
  teachers. Thats a 112.5 ratio.

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Purpose of Class Meetings

• Compliments
• Help each other
• Solve problems
• Plan events
• Life skills/lessons with focus on respectful
  behavior

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Student Organziation

• Take home folder - Students have two folders in
  desk. One is a folder that they can use to take
  home daily for homework. This folder should go
  home daily.
• Works in progress folder Students will not take
  this folder home. It stays here inside desk.
  Students will store work that I havent taken up
  yet, things they are working on, and writing.
• Composition books Four composition books used
  for reading, math, social studies, science. These
  are interactive books where students will glue
  things in as well as write responses and
  reflections about content.
• Agendas provided by our PTA. Agendas will have
  all homework written in them. It is imperative
  that we work together to get the students into a
  good homework routine as the amount will increase
  this year in order to prepare them for middle
  school.
• Thursday folders provided by our PTA. Folders
  will come home every Thursday. On the back cover
  you will find a sheet of paper that I would like
  for you to initial each week. Your initials
  indicate that you have seen the contents of the
  folder. Do not write notes in this folder if
  you need to send a note, please do that on a
  separate piece of paper or via email. This
  folder will contain graded papers from the week.
  Folders should be returned on Monday. Keep graded
  papers for each quarter.
• Behavior information yellow slips
• Homework infractions pink slips

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Homework, Blog and Emails

• Monday-Thursday
• approximately 1 hour a night, plus 20 minutes of
  reading
• Update Blog daily with homework
  (www.tritt.typepad.com/swierski)
• Blog daily try to have posts completed between
  330-400.
• Email address melody.swierski_at_cobbk12.org
• I check email in the morning, during planning and
  after school. I will get back with you as soon
  as possible. If for some reason I dont respond,
  PLEASE email again.
• Curriculum www.georgiastandards.org
• Common Core Georgia Performance Standards

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Assignments

• Remember the planner, homework, and projects are
  the students RESPONSIBILITY!
• Thurday folders go home EVERY Thursday and should
  be checked for announcements and graded papers.
• Please establish a homework and agenda routine.

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Is your child spendingtoo much time on homework?

• If so, this checklist may help us determine what
  might be going on. I assign homework with a goal
  of averaging 60 minutes or less of a students
  time for all subjects each night. If a student
  is consistently spending more than 60 minutes, it
  could be for any number of reasons.
• Which of the ideas below might relate to your
  child?
• Is your child using his/her time appropriately at
  school? Is (s)he having to bring work home that
  was supposed to be completed in class?
• Is your child behind in a basic skill in reading
  or math? Would (s)he benefit from tutoring or
  remediation in that skill?
• Is your child struggling with study skills, such
  as how to prepare for a test?
• Is your child struggling with a new concept (s)he
  is practicing, and needs continued help/guidance?
  
• Is your child doing homework in a location that
  is distracting?
• Is your child having a difficult time focusing on
  starting or completing the work?
• Is your child striving for perfection, instead of
  striking a balance between accuracy, neatness,
  and completion?
• Has your child taken a long-term assignment and
  put off working on it until the last minute?
• Does your child enjoy putting extra time into
  schoolwork?
• Is your child seeking recognition or confirmation
  from you that (s)he is working hard?
• Is this a rare occasion, and perhaps not typical
  of the usual amount of homework or length of
  time?
• Other  ___________________________________________
  _________________________
• If your child is consistently averaging more than
  60 minutes a night to complete homework, please
  contact me so that we can address the problem and
  discuss any adjustments that may need to be made.
  
• If your family has an emergency please let me
  know so that I can give your child additional
  time.

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Readers Workshop

• Each student is expected to read 6 extended texts
  each quarter. Student must complete one of the
  following in order to receive credit for the 6
  books read
• AR tests- Individual goals that we will set with
  each student.
• OR
• Book review completed in ILC.
• Book selections will be based on Lexile level,
  curriculum, genre, and independent interest
  based. We will assist children with book
  selections.
• We will read both fiction and non-fiction texts.
• Novel Studies some of our selections will
  integrate with social studies content. Our first
  book is Wonder.
• CAFE - students will respond in journals, set
  goals, use strategies to improve and conference
  with the teacher.
• TFK Magazines current events.
• Daily reading homework read 20-30 minutes,
  record minutes read and respond to a question in
  Learn2Earn.org

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Guided Math

• Small groups that rotate from direct instruction
  to independent work
• Can extend and reteach when necessary
• Groups will have 6-7 students.
• Rotate to Dino, Swierski, iPads, problem solving,
  hands on games.
• Pre-test and post-test assessments will help
  guide insruction.

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Spelling

• Students will have weekly spelling tests on
  Thursdays
• Word lists are given to the students each Monday.
• Students will receive a choice board to complete
  each week by Thursday.

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Social Studies Science

• Integrated with Language Arts Reading when
  appropriate.
• Ms. Pizzuto social studies
• Mrs. Swierski - science
• Begin changing classes daily on Tuesday of next
  week.

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5th Grade Grading Scale

• 90-100 A
• 80-89 B
• 74-79 C
• 70-73 D
• 69 and Below F
• Please check Synergy for grades. Graded papers
  will also be in the Thursday folder.

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Report Cards

• Synergy online grade book.
• Families that are new to Tritt should contact the
  front office for log-in information.

• Report cards are sent home after each 9 week
  grading period
• Computer generated
• Progress Reports sent at
• 4 ½ weeks. These will be sent to all
  students.

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Supplementary Activities

• Guidance Every other week with Ms. Edwards
• Innovative Learning Commons Ms. Bates/Ms. Dean
• Target will be on Fridays
• Computer Lab/Science Lab are now a part of our
  specials rotation
• Thanks for supporting TTF

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PLEASE SIGN-UP TO HELP!!!!

• Civil War Day Monday, October 12
• Immigration Day Wednesday, December 9
• Matter Matters Day???

Your time volunteering enhances the curriculum
and makes the students 5th grade experience
meaningful.
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Learning Off Campus

• Driftwood
• March 16-18th (Wed-Fri) at Epworth by the Sea on
  St. Simons Island.
• Day trip to Cumberland Island (Wednesday).
• Overnight trip that focuses on ecology, natural
  habitats, ecosystems and conservation.
• 5 chaperones
• Take chartered buses leaving EARLY Monday morning
  530 am!!!!
• - Chaperones pay for food and lodging
• Dobbins Air Force Base
• Students will spend a week working on Science
• Standards. A hands on learning opportunity!
• Sept 8-Sept 11 Sept 14 Sept 18
• (No chaperones needed)

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Attendance

• Tardy bell rings at 755am It is extremely
  important for students to be at school on time.
  We are switching for Math immediately following
  announcements.
• Make-up work Students have one school day for
  each excused absence to make-up missed
  assignments.
• If you would like make-up work sent home with a
  sibling or left in the front office for pick-up,
  please notify me by email or call the front
  office by noon of that day. I will TRY my best to
  assist you with this.
• Absentee notes must be sent in upon your childs
  return to school. Please make sure these are
  signed and dated.

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Changes in Transportation

• If you are changing the way your child is leaving
  the building (in any way) we must have it in
  writing with your signature and the date of the
  change.  
• Notes can be faxed if emergency situations arise.
  
• Emails and phone calls are NOT acceptable.
• If a student is riding a bus, other than their
  own, you MUST complete a Transportation Change
  Notification Form.  A link to this form can be
  found on the Tritt website.
• If a child needs to go to ASP, that is the ONLY
  change that can be taken over the phone, because
  they are staying here and they must be signed out
  with photo ID.

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Extra!!

• Any birthday treats will be taken outside at
  recess to enjoy. Please include all supplies
  needed and have things in individual servings.
  The students will pass them out they love to do
  that! However, Im there to help if needed.

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Communication

• Email or Text is the best way to contact me.
• Please sign up for Remind if you have not done so
  already.
• One team One goal..
• SUCCESS!

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Parent email

• Make sure I have your email address. If you did
  not sign up on one of the computers at meet and
  greet, please stay afterwards this evening and
  put your information into the system.
• I will be sending out a test e-mail at the end of
  this week.

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• Thank you for coming!