Mrs. Stine’s Class

Welcome students and parents

to the 2014-2015 school year!

About Mrs. Stine

This marks my ninth year with Spring Grove Area School District at New Salem Elementary. For the first six years of my teaching career, I had the privilege to teach fourth grade. This marks my third year teaching third grade. Every year has been exciting and memorable, as I have been fortunate to teach such wonderful and unique students.

I grew up in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, outside of Pittsburgh, but now reside in York, Pennsylvania with my husband and two cats, Bella and Sadie. I love to visit my family and friends back in Pittsburgh whenever I have time. My hobbies include reading, redecorating my house, and cooking.

Educational Background

I graduated from Penn State University with a Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education and a minor in Psychology.

During my senior year, I was chosen as one of the 60 Pennsylvania State University Elementary Education majors to participate in a collaborative, year long student teaching experience arranged between the Pennsylvania State University and the State College Area School District.

In 2011, I received my Masters of Education from Penn State York in Curriculum and Instruction.

Specials Schedule

Day 1- Library SkillsDay 2- Library Enrichment

Day 3- ArtDay 4- MusicDay 5- Gym

Day 6- Wellness

Daily Classroom Schedule

What Supplies Will My Child Receive?

Agenda book (Homework Planner)Folders for each subjectA pencil case Please no pencil sharpeners! Pencils, erasers, markers, etc. Books for Math, Social Studies, and ReadingStudents may cover booksPlease consider donating classroom supplies that we

frequently use throughout the year. If you are willing, please take an apple cutout with you when you leave. I thank you in advance for your continued support and generosity.

Retraining

Retraining is the behavior policy I use in my classroom. Clear expectations are taught and reviewed frequently

throughout the school year.Retraining will occur during class or during recess. If your child receives a retraining for that day, it will be

marked in their homework planner or they will receive a retraining slip to be signed at home.

Retraining is provided for expectations, including but not limited to:

Morning routine Peer interactions Classroom behavior Hallway use Bathroom use Recess and lunch

Homework Policy

Homework is always due the next day unless assigned for another specific day.

Students who do not complete their homework assignment will receive retraining.

Parents will be notified about the retraining in their homework planner.

Students may be asked to complete assignments during recess or during their own time.

If there are extenuating circumstances that prevented your child from completing their homework (e.g. sickness) please send in a note with the homework assignment.

Please see homework policy handout.

100 Hour Challenge

Classroom Library

Students may borrow books from our classroom library.

Students will be held responsible for any books that are returned damaged or lost.

If any books are returned damaged and/or lost, then you will be responsible for replacing the book.

Homework Planners

Check and sign planner daily!As a class, we will write down assignments for the day!Students will not be penalized for not getting it signed. The homework planner can be found inside your child’s

school binder. If a student forgets their planner, homework assignments

will also be posted on our classroom website everyday and periodically texted to parents through Remind 101.

There are no excuses for not knowing the homework assignment!

Remind 101

Friday Folders

Every Friday, your child will bring home a manila file folder, which will be a designated “Friday Folder”.

Contains important papers for you to view such as: graded tests, weekly newsletters, permission forms, and other valuable papers.

The weekly newsletter contains important upcoming events and dates, as well as, what we will be studying the next week.

Inside the Friday Folder, you will need to sign next to the designated date and return it to school by the following Tuesday. You may keep all the papers inside the folder, unless it is a signed paper that needs to be returned to school.

School Year Overview

Science: This year science will concentrate on topics to help assist with the Science PSSA testing in 4th grade. Topics that will be taught include: matter, moving objects, animal classes, Pennsylvania’s energy supply, and more.

Social Studies: This year your child will be studying the U.S. Government and Pennsylvania history.

Math: We will begin by reviewing place value. The basic skills we will cover throughout the year include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, geometry, and problem solving.

Reading: We will continue to learn more about comprehension target skills such as: main idea, summarizing (recount), story structure, compare and contrast, etc.

It is very important for your child to receive daily reading practice. I suggest at least 15 minutes of silent reading every day for the 100 hour challenge.

Spelling: You child will have a Spelling Test every Day 5. The spelling words are located on your child’s Focus Wall.

Writing: Students are required to write three different writing pieces this year: An opinion piece, informative piece, and a narrative.

PSSA’s: Tentative dates for this year’s ELA and Math PSSA’s will be in the middle of April.

PSSA Samplers

Snacks/Birthday Celebration

Due to the new Nutrition Policy #246, homemade snacks may not be brought to school.

The new policy requires all snacks and celebrations to be pre-packaged and to contain a complete list of ingredients. You may also purchase a Birthday Basket through the cafeteria. If you donate snacks, please make sure there is enough to feed 23

students and do not contain any peanut products. We greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness in donating snacks to our

classroom. We always enjoy a great mid-morning snack! Great snacks include:

Pretzels Goldfish

Fruit Snacks Breakfast Bars

Breakfast and Lunch

Lunch prices for this year are $2.25 for students. There are two lunch choices this year:

RegularAlternate Sandwich

The breakfast program will begin the first day of school. The price of a meal will be $1.20 for students.

Milk purchased separately will cost $0.50. Menus will not be distributed to your child every month. To access

the menu, please visit the district website where you can view or print the new menu.

Nutrition Department Please fill out the free and reduced lunch application!

Scholastic Book Orders

This year I will continue to send out scholastic book orders.

There will be a different book order for each month. Please send in checks written to Scholastic Book Club or

cash only! Ordering books does take a bit of time, so following

these suggestions really helps me to get the order sent quickly.

You may also order books directly online using our classroom code: FMT2P

For more information, please read the book order information sheet.

Volunteers

Any help that you can provide to the classroom is greatly appreciated. I am always in need of extra helpers around the classroom.

Please grab a volunteer packet on your way out at the office to start volunteering.

You must have district clearances to volunteer in the classroom or to chaperone a class field trip.

The school is also looking for more volunteers to help out with the Junior Achievement Program.

Just in Case…What Should I Do? What should I do if my child is going to be absent?

Contact the teacher through email or voicemail. If you are going to pick up homework, please contact the school in the morning; before school if possible. What should I do if my child is going to be a car rider or is going to

leave for an appointment?

Send a note in to the teacher on the day they will be a car rider and/or going to the appointment. What should I do if my child is having trouble with another student or

with a school subject?

Contact the teacher immediately! Please do not hesitate to contact the teacher! You may detect something at home that I may not see present at school! What should I do if my child needs to take medicine at school?

Send in a note along with the medicine to the school nurse. Cough drops are not allowed to be consumed in class without a form filled out for the nurse!

Safety Concerns

When dropping off students before school, please park in the playground area to form a car loop.

When dropping students during the day or if they are a car rider in the afternoon, please park in the side parking lot. Please DO NOT park in front of the school building!

When entering the school building, please do not let anyone in the building behind you! Please close the door and allow the other person to buzz in to the building for security reasons.

The district will be performing a C.I.R.E. (Critical Incident Response Exercise) drill in September.

Important Dates to Remember

Bring a Friend to Lunch October 20th-23rd

Parent Conference October 20th-23rdThe sign-up process was changed to an

online format last year. I will keep you posted on any updates.

Parent Visitation Day is November 20th for grades 3-4

How to Get to Our Classroom Website

• Go to www.sgasd.org• Click on the Our Schools tab• Click on New Salem Elementary • Click on the tab called Teacher’s Pages• Click on Mrs. Stine (Last one listed in second column)• You are now at our classroom website! • You can find homework assignments, spelling lists,

vocabulary words, educational websites, etc. • Mrs. Stine's Website

Here’s to a Successful Year!

• New Salem Elementary is a fantastic place where I truly enjoy being around such enthusiastic students, staff, and parents. I feel very privileged to be a member of the New Salem faculty and I look forward to working with you and your child and helping them succeed and grow as learners.