Dear Holy Family Families,
Welcome Back!!
It is WONDERFUL to see everyone again!!!! I hope that all of you had a relaxing yet safe summer. For those of you who may not know me, my name is Jennifer Baumhoer; and I will be teaching your 3rd or 4th Grader this year at Holy Family School.
I would like to begin by saying, “THANK YOU” for giving me this awesome opportunity to teach your wonderful children, and allowing me the honor of being a part of your Holy Family Catholic School community. I look forward to another new year with many awesome activities!
During the first days of school, the students will become acquainted with their 3rd & 4th Grade classroom and the school. We will also read over parts of the Holy Family School Handbook, especially the part covering the dress code. Another item of discussion will be the 3rd & 4th Grade Classroom rules, cafeteria rules, drills, where to go during these drills, and proper Mass behavior. We will also discuss expected behavior and consequences if the rules are not followed.
Lastly, please remember that I am human, and I will make mistakes. If any “hiccups” occur, I will not be offended if you bring them to my attention. My contact information is listed at the end of this letter. PLEASE FEEL FREE to call me at any time! (Preferably between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.) I will receive information through a text or a phone call faster than through an email. I have very little time throughout the day to check emails.
Thank you for all that you do, and Welcome Back! Mrs. Jennifer Baumhoer
Some Things to Know about 3rd and 4th Grade!
Homework:
I believe a child should be able to be a child and live like a child as long as possible. With that being said, I also think that for that same child to become a mature adult; he or she also needs to be held accountable for certain age-required responsibilities. Lastly, I believe homework is beneficial for children so that they become responsible, higher-level thinking students. Each night, the students may bring home a blue homework folder. If a student does not finish his or her schoolwork throughout the day, then he or she is expected to do so by the next school day. I intend not to give too much homework, so if your child has more than 2 hours’ worth of written homework a night for many consecutive nights, PLEASE let me know. This only includes work for that day. This does not include additional studying that may be done on prior days for upcoming tests that may be given later that week. This homework time also does not involve studying multiplication/ division flashcards, spelling words, and vocabulary words. I highly encourage studying each night for upcoming tests. I also believe that parent involvement in the younger years of a child by helping them study for tests or completing homework plays a key role in assisting students become more efficient learners in the upper grades. Plant the seeds today so that you can watch your child grow into a future responsible adult!
“Homework” Folder:
This year, all the students’ unfinished work will be kept in their Blue Homework Folders. Any uncompleted assignment can be completed during the students’ class time, free time, or at home. All finished work can be turned in at school when it is completed. Students can also turn in finished assignments the next morning, at the beginning of the day, if the assignments need to be completed at home the previous evening.
Each pocket in the Homework Folder has an important purpose. The “Stay at Home” pocket will be for graded work, notes from me, or other items that will need to be kept at home. The other pocket, “Bring Back to School,” is for unfinished daily assignments that need to be completed at home and returned to school the next day. Students may also place any subject notes or study guides in this spot to help them study for any tests throughout the year. ALL STUDY GUIDES NEED TO BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL as soon as possible upon completion of the test. Parents may also use this area to send notes to Mrs. Kampeter or me concerning your child. Please check this folder nightly and remove any work that needs to be kept at home. This will help reduce the amount of unnecessary papers. Also, I ask that you have your child review any work before it is thrown away and make sure it has been graded!! THANK YOU in advance for your help in this matter!!!
“Work in Progress” Folder:
From time to time, you may see a “Yellow “Work in Progress” folder come home. This folder is where students will keep work that they are working on and have not finished. This work is not due the next day. It may be due in two days or 2 weeks. For example, while reading a small novel together as a class, the students will write about the characters as they appear in the story. Thus, this assignment will be due and turned in once the short novel is completed. PLEASE: Do not take any work out of this folder if it comes home. If the work gets thrown away, it will have to be redone, and that is not a fun task!
Thank you in advance for paying attention to this area!
Red “Graded Work” Folder:
This is an important folder that will be sent home regularly containing graded classwork. Most of this graded work needs to stay home, unless it has the words “Parent Signature” either stamped or written on it. Then, please sign your name or your initials next to the words “Parent Signature” and return the paper or papers to school as soon as possible.
Please know that you may not always have papers to sign in a folder. Please empty it and just return the folder to school.
Interactive Notebooks/Note-Taking:
Throughout the year, the students will use Interactive Notebooks to help them organize information and take notes in certain subject areas. Thus, all Social Studies notes and other important Social Studies information will be kept in an Interactive Social Studies Notebook, while all Science notes and other important Science information will be placed in an Interactive Science Notebook, and so on. There will be Interactive Notebooks for Science 3/4, Social Studies 3/4, Religion 3/4, Reading / Literature 4, Math 3, and Vocabulary 4.
Please note: Due to upcoming unplanned or unforeseen events (assemblies and so on), notes may not be taken every day during class. Just keep reading over the same notes.
Study Guides:
Before some tests, the students will fill out a study guide either on their own, with a partner, or as a class. All of the information to answer the questions on the study guide will be found in the notes that will be written in that subject’s Interactive Notebook during that class period. After the study guide is completed, we will grade it together during class, and the students will be allowed to correct any missed questions. The students are then expected to use this guide to help them study for the upcoming test. Before each test, the study guides will be turned in, and points will be given for questions that have been completed and corrected. PLEASE NOTE: Although a study guide is a great way to prepare for an upcoming test, don’t forget to look over any notes that have been taken covering the tested material as well.
Safety Drills:
Please be aware that we will be practicing our school’s various safety drills during the upcoming few weeks, so no need to be alarmed if you hear your child talking about a fire or tornado.
Class Rules:
Below are some of the classroom rules/ expectations for the 3rd and 4th Graders to follow this year. These are the same rules stated in our handbook, but I do ask that each student uses his or her common sense when making daily decisions.
- It’s OK to make mistakes. (As long as we learn from them and not repeat them.)
- Listen when someone (either a faculty member, staff member, or a student) is talking.
- Follow the directions the first time that they are given!
- Treat everyone with kindness and respect! NO BULLYING!
- Work and play safely and quietly.
- Take care of our school, classroom, and playground areas.
Always act positively toward everyone!!
Compliments:
Throughout the year, the students are given numerous opportunities to earn a Classroom Reward due to their Great and Outstanding behavior. When students are given compliments for this Exemplary Behavior, a tally mark is given to the class towards a type of Classroom Reward. Our goal will be to earn 25 tally marks to earn a party. Please know that since these Classroom Reward Parties are given based on how I believe the students should behave for me in my and other teachers’ classrooms, I firmly believe that any costs that may be incurred for the Classroom Reward Party will be my responsibility. On the other hand, I only ask parents to bring in snacks for holiday parties, birthdays, and school-related functions.
Discipline/ Consequences:
Discipline
Green, Yellow, and Red Cards:
At the beginning of each day, each student will start with a green card. Green means “Great”. Keep up the “Great” behavior! (Please stress to your child/ children that this is the card that he or she wants to begin and end on each day)
Yellow means “Caution”. It is a warning telling your child that the behavior that he or she is exhibiting is not desired and needs to be stopped immediately!
Red means “Stop” and “Think”. A red card will be given to students who have been warned, received yellow cards multiple times previously, and continue to exhibit and fail to stop the undesired behavior. When a red card is received, a consequence will be given comparable to the undesired behavior exhibited. This consequence will be given to them to help them take the time needed to reflect on what they have done and what they could have done better. NOTE: Students showing certain behaviors like punching/fighting, harshly disrespecting/bullying another student or staff member, or Ect. could automatically be given a red card. Please know that before the red card is given, teachers, Mrs. Woodruff, and Mrs. Reinkemeyer will investigate the incident thoroughly.
Consequences could range but are not limited to the following: loss of recess time, doing extra school-wide “chores” during recess, filling out a “Think Sheet”, and/ or time with Mrs. Reinkemeyer. (See also the list of other consequences below.)
At the end of each day, each student will color the color that he or she ended on within his or her planner. They will also be responsible for writing down the undesired behavior that has earned them a yellow or red card. After you review the planner and your child explains his or her behavior choice, please write your initials next to the corresponding color so that I confirm that you are aware of what is happening in our classroom. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Reinkemeyer, Mrs. Woodruff, or me.
Consequences:
During the first week of school, the students and I will discuss certain consequences that will be given when undesirable behavior is exhibited by our classroom family and/or by individuals.
Below are some of those consequences:
* changing the student’s card to yellow or red. (Please make sure to check your child’s assignment book/ planner nightly for an explanation of any color change. )
* writing sentences, or an explanation of what your child could have done or said instead.
* sitting out at recess. (I like to call this game: Sit Down and Watch the Traffic Go By! )
* walking during recess.
* writing the definitions during recess to the behaviors like Talking, Listening, Raising your hand, Walking, etc. ( I find that sometimes we just need to be reminded of what these words mean.)
* a meeting with Mrs. Reinkemeyer and a parent will be contacted.
* Think Sheets: These sheets are completed by the students to help them reflect on the undesired behavior that was exhibited. When a Think Sheet is given, it involves not only the student and the teacher, but also the parents and Mrs. Reinkemeyer. Think Sheets are typically given after parents have been informed about the undesired behavior, but they may also be given for first offenses, depending on their severity.
*School duties: Depending on the offense exhibited, the students may need to stay in from recess and complete tasks around the school. They will be supervised by Mrs. Woodruff, Mrs. Reinkemeyer, Mrs. Kampeter, or another Holy Family faculty member.
**Please remember that I will try to base the consequence according to the undesired behavior that has been displayed. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Lastly, there will be Consequences given to those who violate the School’s dress code…..PLEASE REMEMBER to wear YOUR BELT or simply place an extra in your book bag!!!!
4th Grade Spelling/Vocabulary: ( 4th Grade Vocabulary will only be taught to the current 4th Graders. Please read my weekly newsletter to see which subject the 4th Graders will be learning for the week.)
This year, the 4th-grade students will experience a new change in classes. I will be teaching the students from the 4th Grade Spelling book and the 4th Grade Vocabulary book. ABOUT every other lesson, I will alternate teaching each subject. This means that during the time that I am teaching the students from the 4th Grade Spelling book, we will not be doing work in the Vocabulary book. Then, for 2 weeks, I will be teaching the fourth-graders from the Vocabulary book. Then back to Spelling for a week, and later onto Vocabulary for 2 weeks. At the end of each unit (1 week and 2 weeks), a test will be given covering the words that are being taught. I plan on testing words from the Spelling book every Friday of the week that the Spelling lesson is taught. During short weeks, tests will fall on the last day of that week.
In Vocabulary, students will not only be tested on their knowledge of the word’s definition but also on the correct spelling of the word. A spelling test covering the vocabulary words from the vocabulary lesson will be on the first Friday of the first week, while the definition test will be on the 2nd Friday of the 2nd week of the Vocabulary Unit. As with Spelling, all Vocabulary tests will be either on Friday or the last day of that week.
Building Up the Kingdom Reports:
During the upcoming year, Holy Family School students will have the opportunity to participate in our voluntary Building Up the Kingdom program. This is not a mandatory program! You may complete the whole, parts, or none of the Building Up the Kingdom rubric. Please let me know if your child has completed a specific area, so that I can note it on his or her rubric. Good Luck to ALL!!
Class Dojo:
The green, yellow, and red cards will also be used to track the behavioral sections of the Building Up the Kingdom rubrics. An accumulation at the end of the year of the number of red, yellow, and green cards received at the end of each day will determine certain criteria on whether or not a student will be considered for the Building Up the Kingdom Upstander awards.
Holy Family Dress Code:
Please make sure that you read the section in the Holy Family Handbook about our proper dress code. There will be consequences for those who violate our school’s dress code. Especially beware of the BELT section!! PLEASE REMEMBER to wear YOUR BELT!!! I know how mornings can be very hectic, so I suggest that students keep an “extra” belt in their book bags. Trust me, many of my past students have been saved by the “extra” belt.
***Think Sheets will be given to students when this dress code is not consistently followed.
No Name Papers:
Unfortunately, throughout the year, students often forget their names on assignments. Initially, I will give everyone a grace period and remind them about the importance of showing ownership of their work. (Let’s face it, we all have forgetful moments!)
Then, if the students continue to forget to write their names on their assignments, they will stay in during recess and write their full name (first, middle, and last) in their neatest cursive handwriting three times for each assignment that is missing a name. Please remember to write your name!!! Be proud of your work!!!!
Assignment Book / Planner:
Each day, your child will write all assignments inside his or her assignment book. (I sometimes call them planners.) This is a place where you can see if your child has completed his/her work in each subject and how he or she behaved during the day. This is also the place where you can find dates for upcoming tests or activities like liturgy leadership roles or other school events. Please review the planner with your child nightly, making sure that he/she has completed his /her homework and is prepared for school the next day. Lastly, from time to time, I will staple some important notes or letters in the student’s assignment book/planner. This is another way that I communicate with the parents by letting them know about important upcoming news. Once you have looked over that day’s work and removed any stapled notes, please write your initials in the proper space provided for that day.
Book Covers:
Each book, except notebooks, will need to be covered as soon as possible. This helps protect our books, allowing us to use them for longer periods of time. Please help your child do these when they are brought home. The school has a few paper covers that can be used, or you can use brown paper bags. Lastly, feel free to buy cloth book covers to use on hardback books as well. Cloth covers will be returned to the student at the end of the year, allowing them to be washed and reused for the next school year. SORRY – I do not know how to cover books, so please don’t have your child ask me for help. As a child, I never had to cover my books, so I do not know how to do this task. AGAIN SORRY!!
Absences:
If your child is ever absent, he or she will be responsible for completing the work that was missed that day. Please call the school as soon as possible to let us know that your child will need their homework for that day. I do not expect children to work while they are sick, but I do want them to turn it in as soon as possible.
Holiday / Birthday Treats:
I believe that the commemoration of someone’s birth is a significant milestone in that person’s life. Still, we also have many curricular standards that must be accomplished throughout the year. Thus, please let me know ahead of time when you plan to bring some goodies to our classroom so that I can plan accordingly. With that being said…. Any “Spur of the Moment” treats will not be turned down!! I may sometimes bring in some “Just Because” treats myself. With that being said, more information will be sent home before upcoming holiday parties and treats.
Lastly, any type of treat can be brought in, from home-baked to prepackaged or store-bought. It is up to you! Little Debbie snacks, fruit snacks, fruit juices, cups of ice cream, cans of soda, and homemade brownies or desserts are all welcome! Lastly, please also send any necessary utensils that will help cut up and distribute the treats. Students can use paper towels for some treats, but we will need cups if doing bottled beverages or bowls for some desserts. Thank you so much for your help in this matter!!
Allergies:
Please keep in mind certain allergies that may be prevalent among those in our classroom family. If your child is unable to eat any item, please let the school know as soon as possible. On the other hand, if he or she simply does not care to eat a specific type of food, then please remind him or her to simply say “No Thank You.”
**With all of this being said, PLEASE make me aware of any allergies that your child exhibits, especially any that have recently “popped up”. Some things I may give the students throughout the year may be marshmallow treats, chocolate, peanut butter goods, cookies, brownies, popcorn, & etc. I also do a special activity where ice cream or soda may be served occasionally. On the other hand, it would be very helpful if you could send me a list of items that your child can eat, so I can make sure to have those items on hand.
Hand Lotion/ Hand Sanitizer/ Lip Balm/ Cough Drops/Other Meds:
In the past, many students have been sent to the office with chapped lips, “itchy skin”, irritable coughs, and constant headaches. If your child is prone to these ailments, please feel free to bring in some lotion and lip balm for him or her to use. WITH THIS IN MIND, please do not hesitate to allow your child to bring in cough drops or needed medication like ibuprofen. These are items that are not kept on hand and require a parent’s note explaining why the medication is needed and the dosage. I will keep the cough drops at my desk and monitor how much is being used during a certain time. Ibuprofen will be kept in the office and monitored by Mrs. Kampeter.
Breakfast / Snacks:
Breakfast is being offered again this year at the students’ expense. If your child is not allowed to buy breakfast from the school, please let the office or me know. A.S.A.P.
Students are allowed to bring in snacks for themselves to eat while the other students are eating breakfast. Please keep these snacks as healthy as possible! Sugary sweets are discouraged during this time. (Like Skittles, Sweet Tarts, Smarties, and etc.)
Water Bottles:
These are highly recommended throughout the whole school year!!! Please make sure that it is of plastic or another unbreakable material. It should also have a good lid that closes tightly. I also suggest placing the bottle in a gallon Ziplock bag if it is being put in a book bag. This will help keep it from leaking onto homework and other school items. Lastly, please refrain from putting soda, juice, tea, or energy drinks in these bottles. Water bottles are to be taken home nightly for cleaning!!
Mrs. Baumhoer’s Contact Information:
I firmly believe that a teacher and a parent should be in regular contact with each other throughout the school year. Whether I am sending home a newsletter or graded work, reviewing planners, making a phone call, emailing, or simply posting information on our Holy Family website, these are all ways in which I will communicate with you throughout the year. If you need to speak with me, please do not hesitate to call me at school or at the number below. Additionally, you can email or text me, but I believe that texting or calling me will be a faster way of getting information to me.
Jennifer Baumhoer (573) 680-2445
Thank you for reading this letter. I am excited about our upcoming “Marvel”ous Year!!!!!
Mrs. Jennifer Baumhoer
3rd & 4th Grade Teacher Holy Family School
**Note: The above items are only a few of the happenings in our classroom from day to day. I will send home notes from time to time, keeping you aware of happenings or changes. I look forward to enjoying a great year!!