August 2015
Office: (385)646-4792
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to a new year! My name is Amy Staley. I am delighted to be your teacher this year. We are going to
have a great year together. The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 19. School begins at 8:10 a.m.
If you'd like to know more about your new teacher - that's me! - I invite you to go online to our class website at
www.mrsamystaley.com. Go there to find lots of information and resources.
You should know that while I've only been in education professionally a short time, I have raised five children
and have been actively involved in every aspect of their school experiences. I’ve also a great deal of experience
interacting with children of this age in my community. I love working with young people.
To my future students: I am very interested in getting to know you. I want to help you realize your potential. I
want you to be excited about your education. We're going to have lots of fun learning together.
Please read through the attached Class Plan so that you are aware of how this year will run. After reading the
information, please sign and return the last page when you come on the 19th. This way I will know that you
know our plan.
I would like to ask each student to bring two things on the first day of school. The first is a pencil box (or
something like it). The second is a small pencil sharpener—one that holds the pencil shavings. We will
provide all other basic classroom materials this year.
We would also appreciate it if you could donate one box of tissues to our classroom. This donation may wait
until sniffle season, if you prefer. Other items students may bring, but are not required, include extra pencils,
pens, their own scissors, markers, their own colored pencils, or their own calculator. Please label all materials
brought from home. We will have P.E. the first day of school, just FYI.
Email is a great way to get a hold of me. [email protected] or [email protected]
The first S.E.P. Conferences for this year will be Monday & Tuesday, Sept. 28 & 29. We'll be sending home
more information about that soon. Thanks in advance for your support. I look forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Amy Staley, B.S.,Ed.
7635 W. 3715 S., Magna, UT 84044
Telephone (385) 646-4792
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Mrs. Staley’s 2015-16 Classroom Plan
Attendance: Students are expected to come to school on time. At the end of the year
and periodically throughout the year, students with zero tardies and/or perfect
attendance will receive special awards. If a student must be gone for whatever reason,
it is important that a parent writes and sends a signed note to school with the child
upon his/her return to class.
Discipline: All students are expected to behave responsibly. No one is permitted to
keep the class from learning. Hard work is a reward in itself, but points for a spin on
our prize wheel, in-class computer time, certificates, special privileges, treats, little prizes, notes and such will
be given to encourage students to make good use of time. If a student chooses to act irresponsibly by disrupting
class, not following school rules or by not working, the following will occur:
1st disruption or misbehavior: Student is given a warning.
2nd disruption or misbehavior: Student receives a time out.
3rd disruption or misbehavior: A parent will be contacted.
Of course, we will issue yellow or red slips as needed, per the Copper Hills offense hierarchy. Please see the
Copper Hills Elementary website for more information.
Math: We at Copper Hills want students to value mathematics and be able to communicate and reason
mathematically. We use an excellent math program called "Go Math". Students will have math homework
every weeknight but Friday. Students will learn how to access their homework online in case they forget to take
it home at night. The focus is on problem solving and practicing math reasoning. You may check out our class
website for more information and resources. On the website, I’ve provided links to many fun learning sites
courtesy of Mrs. Dean, another sixth grade teacher at Copper Hills. Mrs. Dean’s UEN site is specifically
designed for students to engage in interactive learning and study. Even if a child finishes homework in school,
he/she should still engage in 20 minutes of math practice/problem solving each weeknight. See Mrs. Dean’s site
at my.uen.org/209847. Eventually, I will provide these links on our own class website, but for now, Mrs. Dean
is graciously sharing all her hard work! Students, please make sure you have parent permission to be
online.
Reading/Language: Students in my class are required to read twenty to thirty minutes every week night.
Books are very important in my classroom. Each student must carry a reading book to read when s/he
finishes regular class work. Books may be checked out from my classroom library, the school library or
town libraries. Once again, our school will be participating in the Ken Garff “Road to Success”.
Also, students are required to complete a book report on each book that they complete. Book reports
should tell the title, author and number of pages in the book. It should also tell about the plot, setting,
characters and ending. For the first quarter of school, I will provide an outline and ideas, so the students
will know what I expect. These reports are to encourage students to read. A parent must sign book
reports. 400 pages of reading are required each term. I will be rewarding students who engage in
reading. Books read should be on the appropriate reading level.
Comprehension Tests: Students will be assigned a language arts test at the end of each week. This four-
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page test assesses what has been studied throughout the week. Students have one week to complete this
test, which includes vocabulary, language, comprehension and writing assessments. I encourage students
to take their books and their tests home during the week in order to work on the test a little each night.
Students may access the test on the website.
Spelling: Our class has purchased an online spelling program that goes along with our SRA Imagine It
spelling/vocabulary program. Students may practice their weekly vocabulary and spelling words at this
site: http://www.spellingcity.com/amystaley/ Each student will take a front of year spelling assessment
to determine which list he/she will study each week - the longer words or the shorter words. There are
also five challenge words that, if students spell those words correctly, will earn extra points on each test.
These challenge words are optional. The regular spelling/vocabulary tests are every Thursday morning.
Planners: We are providing each student with the Copper Hills School Planner. The planner is designed to
help students manage their time and plan their day so that they can take an active part in controlling their
academic achievement. Copper Hills Elementary requires all students to bring the planner to school every
day. I expect my students to record their assignments, goals, and reading minutes in their planners. Each
Monday morning we will write the week's events, schedule, activities, assignments, spelling and vocabulary
words, and exercise minutes into these planners. Monday evening, parents need to read and sign the planner
underneath the information we wrote that day. Students turn their planners into me each Tuesday morning. I
will read any parent notes and initial next to the parent's signature. This method should help you be informed
about assignments, tests, projects, school events, etc.
Grading and Assessments: You may access assignment information, scores, averages and grades any time by
going to the district's online grading program at portal.graniteschools.org. This is the program that you will use
throughout junior high and high school, too. The first time you go to the site, you will need to set up an
account. When setting up the account, you will choose a username and password. You will use the name and
password in the future in order to access important information. If you haven't Internet access, never fear,
because each week I will hand out a Missing Work report to each of my students. Each student will be able to
access Gradebook from school. Every student will always know just what work may be missing.
The district and state testing will be delivered in the SAGE format, as it was last year. The district will require a
pretest and posttest for Semester 1, and a pretest for Semester 2. The statewide SAGE test given toward the end
of the year will serve as Term 2’s posttest.
Data Books: A very important part of learning this year at Copper Hills Elementary is the use of data books.
Each teacher has customized a data book for each student. The purpose of this book is to allow students to track
their progress in reading, math, online programs, and testing. Mrs. Flanagan has placed the use of data books as
the number one priority in all classrooms. You will get to see your child’s data book at parent teacher
conference. The books need to stay at school until the end of the year.
Re-doing Poor Work & Late Work: In my class any student may re-do any assignment up until three days
before the end of each term. The student is in charge of earning whatever grade s/he wishes to work for. For
example, a poor score can be boosted to 80% by re-doing the assignment. I take late work but subtract points for
each day that the assignment is late. After an assignment is past due four days, the highest score a student can
receive is an 80%.
Outstanding Citizens: Students who have all work up to date, follow school rules, and who have no "N"s will
be among the Copper Hills Outstanding Citizens. These students receive recognition and incentives to keep up
the good work.
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Absences: When a student misses school, it is impossible to make up everything that was missed. I realize that
sometimes absences are necessary. Parents, please check with your child after an absence to insure that s/he
has picked up make-up work. The online grading program will help you discern if work is missing.
Absent Work: Students are responsible for making up absent or missing work. Absent work is due one week
after the student returns to school. It is the student's responsibility to make up missing work. Work that is not
made up will be counted as zero scores. It is never too late to make up missing work unless it is the last few
days before the end of the term!
Report Cards: Report cards go out at the end of each of the four terms. Check the online grades program often,
too, to see assignments and grades. Remember that each week students will receive a report listing any work
that is missing. When I am not on recess duty, any student may stay inside to complete work.
Portfolios: Portfolios will be kept for each student in their “Important Papers folder. The students will choose
most of the work to be included in the portfolio, but I will also choose work which I feel exceptionally
demonstrates what the student has learned. The students will also keep their own science portfolios. These will
be in notebook form and will hold all information your student learns in science this year. This notebook will
teach them many important note-taking and organizational skills they will bring with them to secondary school.
Recess: I will supply some fun equipment for students to use at recess. I will require them to sign out and in
(or check out and in) the equipment before and after each recess. I will hold students responsible for loss or
damage to this equipment. Students are welcome to bring balls or jump ropes from home for recess, but please
make sure the equipment is labeled well. They will be solely responsible for it. Recess may be used for
students to catch up on work, if they desire. If students receive a yellow slip for misbehavior or are missing
more than three assignments, I will ask them to miss one recess per day, but not all recesses. I believe students
need to breathe fresh air and use their breaks for physical activity and mental rest.
Parent Participation: Your participation in your child's education is crucial to our success. If you have any
concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me. You may call or text me before school (I arrive to school
at 7:30 am, after school (I leave at 4 pm) or at home on my cell phone: 801-631-9012. You may visit us any
time, but I cannot meet with you during regular instruction time. Email is a great way to get a hold of me
during the day. I check it frequently. You may use either my Granite District email or my personal email:
[email protected] or [email protected]
Free or Reduced Fee Lunch: Be aware that you should look for a packet of information to come home to you
the first day of school. In this packet from Copper Hills Elementary, you will find an application for free or
reduced fee lunch (and/or breakfast). We would encourage you to take advantage of this program if you
qualify.
School Programs: Here are some of the programs we will participate in this year:
Science Fair: Students use their creativity to invent or improve a product used at home or school.
Finished products may be on display at their annual fair.
After School Program: I don’t have a lot of information to give you at this time about the after school
program, but I do know that it’s going to be amazing. I promise to keep you informed.
ReadTheory: This is a wonderful adaptive site. Students increase their reading levels by working at
this site. You can learn more about this at my class website.
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MobyMax: This is another adaptive learning site the school has purchased a subscription for. This is a
site where students work at their own levels to increase their skills.
IXL: This school-funded site allows students to work on specific math concepts. Tutorials and practice
help students learn what they might have missed in past study.
Utah Compose: This district writing site teaches students how to write effectively. Students use
various tools to improve their writing skills.
UTIPS: This is the state’s site where students go to practice and prepare for the end of year state tests.
Please note that Granite School District has changed several programs this year, so we will send notes home
periodically this first quarter explaining anything new. My goal is to make sure you are aware of everything
happening with your student’s education. As always, you may find information about our school and our
classroom via our class web page, www.mrsamystaley.com. Here’s to a great year!
Thanks for reading all of this! Please fill out the information below, including a parent signature, and return
this page to me. I am excited about this new year and look forward to working with you!!
See you soon!
~Amy Staley
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My child’s name is ____________________. I have read the attached information.
_____________________________________________
Parent Signature
Your comments are welcome:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Please return this page only. Keep the rest for reference, please. Thanks!
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