| A Letter to Parents and Guardians |
Hello Sixth Grade Parents and Guardians, |
Welcome to Osceola Middle School!
Please allow this note to be your introduction to your child's Geography class. I hope the information I will give you and your child will help us prepare for a successful school year. Please look over the information, and let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.
It is in your child's best interest that we work together to assist him/her to be successful, of course, so I hope to be in close contact with you regarding your child's progress in my class.
He/She needs to have a school planner in which important dates, homework assignments, tests, projects, progress reports, responsibilities, etc. will be placed. The school has provided a planner. Please encourage your child to put it in a folder/small binder and use it daily.
Each student will have the opportunity to check out a textbook to use and keep at home. They may, also, check out a flash drive to take their computer work for HW. Please return all textbooks and other school material if you relocate, so there will not be a “lost book or flash drive” charge for a new book or flash drive. Students are fined for excessive "wear and tear" on or unreturned textbooks and/or flash drives at the end of the year.
Feel free to write or call me (547-7689, ext. 434) if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. I may be available to talk with you (unless I am in a meeting) from 8:30 - 9:30. If you are not able to reach me during these times, just leave a message with our 6th grade secretary. I will return your call as soon as possible. I can also be reached at Johnsondo@pcsb.org.
I ask my students to assume the responsibility of returning a family contact information sheet to me. Your signatures will indicate that you are aware of the information stated on the attached pages you and/or your child receive(s). Your child will receive a homework grade for fulfilling this responsibility.
Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation and support. I look forward to working with your family and welcome to ours!
Sincerely yours,
Mrs. Donna A. Johnson, M.S.
Our classroom Staples # is 2806375586.
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SUPPLIES: |
Your child must have the required tools to do his/her job each day of the school year and replenish them often. Our school store has an assortment of supplies for reasonable prices.
WHAT SCHOOL SUPPLIES ARE NEEDED for Mrs. Johnson's Social Sciences Classes?
Bring the following materials with you to class every day:
1. pencils and/or pens
2. class work and/or homework assignments
3. Student Agenda or Planner in a 3-ring binder or folder
4. notebook: loose leaf paper
(No spirals- unless notebook paper is perforated)
5. one geography folder (2 pockets)
6. Optional: colored markers and/or pencils, crayons, ruler, erasers
highlighter, enclosed pencil sharpener, classroom tissues
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HOMEWORK Suggestions: |
*Texts should be kept at home. We have various materials in the classroom for
students to access the material.
*Parents are requested to check planners nightly and communicate with the
school through it.
*It is the students' responsibility to show their planner to their teachers if
there is a note from home.
*Ask to see completed homework and classwork and follow-up by asking to
see the grade. Review incorrect questions.
*Help review class material. Set consistent homework times and place.
*Encourage independence. Provide support when needed. Make a game out of
studying for tests.
*Help relate class concepts to every day life. Read related material to expand
knowledge.
*Ask questions that require several sentence answers for retention and
comprehension of material.
*Call to communicate your your thoughts with me 547-7689 ext. 434.
Look for upcoming information about where to find additional information about assignments
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BEHAVIOR- Conduct and Character |
Please, support staff & school policies. We do our best to reinforce your etiquette, responsibility, safety, & behavioral training expectations, to provide an environment conducive to learning.
These are the guidelines for arriving at conduct grades:
Conduct/Character:
How often does a student exhibit these important classroom?
E = Always S = Mostly N = Sometimes U = Not Enough
I am in my seat on time with all my materials by the second bell.
I show a positive attitude to my teachers and my classmates.
I show a conscientious effort toward my class work and homework.
I focus on the appropriate classroom activity.
I show classroom leadership and responsibility.
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HELP IN A PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH THIS: |
Communicate with the teachers as soon as you are aware of a concern. We try to solve any “issues” within the classroom, before they become a problem.
We value our parents and desire to meet your expectations, as well as help educate your child. Please stay in touch with me. I am responsible for over 130 students, but each one is extraordinary and I deem it a huge honor.
Volunteers are requested for all types of tasks. Our parent groups are awesome and they need you, too. We welcome you to OMS and look forward to working with you, as well as your child or children!
In addition, Pinellas County Schools requests the following of our parents, in many instances:
1. Arrange transportation before or after school for extra help when available from the teacher, school tutors, volunteers or other students.
2. Provide for tutoring help after school hours.
3. Arrange summer assistance before the beginning of the course (if
appropriate).
4. Monitor homework assignments, including signatures on quizzes and tests.
5. Provide an appropriate study environment in the home on a regular basis.
6. Insure regular attendance to school.
7. Encourage active class participation.
8. Sign up for ParentConnect ASAP.
9. Provide computer access at home or at a public library for assignment completion, research, and/or studying for tests and quizzes.
10. Let us know about your concerns regarding your child and/or the classroom and school issues instead of discussing them at length with the students. We try to maintain a very positive environment that encourages attendance, participation, learning, safety, and FUN!
Thank you!
Mrs. J.
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WAYS TO BE INFORMED ON PROGRESS: |
+ Require planner, folders, binders, etc. go home; and organize graded papers.
+ Found out about tests, quizzes, projects, and reports.
+ Request to see assignment and test grades.
+ Sign all tests.
+ Commend good grades or ask how you can help.
+ Monitor your child from the beginning of each six week grading period; they fly by fast.
+ Utilize all our ways to keep informed.
+ Tell us EARLY about any previous poor effort, study patterns, seating
needs, eyeglasses needs, family stresses &/or learning challenges.
+ Don't pull back; the middle grades may be the one of the most difficult
life's transitions.
+ Sign up for Parent Connect. See my website page entitled "Parent Connect".
Do you have questions? Please contact me at johnsondo@pcsb.org
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PORTFOLIO ASSISTANCE: |
Please remind students to:
1. Bring back papers for their class portfolios,
2. Encourage neatly written or typed work,
3. Label their papers properly,
4. Create quality papers, and
5. Complete all tasks.
Our goals for quality products can be related to tasks in your home or at your workplace. We celebrate positive efforts.
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PLANNER INFORMATION: |
When you write to an OMS staff member in your child's planner, check to make sure we read your comments. We will respond and sign it. We hope you will be consistent at home to help make it a habit for your child and you to use it. Some families have their child write home activities so they will know how to schedule homework time and other activities.
Help your child become involved. If transportation is a problem, car pool with other families in your neighborhood. Encourage your child to ask a friend to go with him/her. They are often hesitant. Former students wish they had become involved earlier so they didn't miss out.
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CLASS TOPICS: |
| It will assist us all if you talk to your child about what we are doing in class and how it relates to the world and your family life. Our students seem to crave attention and approval. Try to help them with study skills, time management, task responsibility, and test taking strategies. If you have any suggestions for other parents, let me know and I will post it on my website!! Let me know if notice any mistakes on my web pages, too! I do strive to practice what I require of my students! Johnsondo@pcsb.org. |
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WHAT ADVICE DID FORMER STUDENTS HAVE FOR YOU? |
* Parents can never give too much attention and help in their child's life.
* It is very confusing having so many different teachers & classrooms! This is
often very over-whelming to most students. The transition will be smoother
with an understanding and attentive parent.
* Reassure your child, and listen.
* Your child thinks they're the only ones who feel this way... Wrong!
* Any new procedures you could start to help them remember their
responsibilities will help us all.
* The students said they thought it was really cool when parents were excited
about OMS. They actually like it when their parents help with things that
are going on at our school!
We appreciate when our parents talk to us about their concerns instead of the child. We want you to love us, too. Please let me know if I can help.
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