Beginning of the School Year Parent Communication
Dear Third Grade Parents,
We are very excited about the upcoming school year! We look forward to working with you in
order to provide your child with a positive educational experience. We also feel that the
following information is pertinent for the school year to flow smoothly.
 Parent/Teacher Communication and Conferences
Should you need to discuss your child’s progress, please feel free to contact us by email or
note. Our conference time is from 9:10-10:00 Monday and Friday. We have designated
Tuesday-Thursday as our planning days.

Teacher Contact Information:
o Ms. Barrera
[email protected]
o Ms. Cyr
[email protected]
o Ms. Jenkins
[email protected]
o Mrs. Lundin
[email protected]
o Mrs. Thomsen
[email protected]
 Academics and Grade Level Expectations
It is our goal for us to improve your child’s learning in a meaningful way. We aspire for your
child to become a lifelong learner as well as develop more responsibility and independence.
With your support and encouragement, we’re confident that your child will reach their
potential and surpass Texas and HISD standards. It’s going to be a terrific year!

Homework Policy
The purpose of homework is to reinforce skills learned in class, and we consider it a
valuable tool for academic success. We expect students to do their best on their
homework, and only ask for your help after they have given their best effort. Unsigned
agendas and missing/incomplete assignments will result in lowering conduct.
o Student Agenda
 Each day, your child will write down all homework assignments in his/her
agenda. Please check for homework and sign agendas every day.
Beginning of the School Year Parent Communication

o Take Home Folders (black wallets/expanding folder)
 Reading, Spelling (Language Arts), and Math homework will be assigned
daily and placed into your child’s black wallet. Assignments and projects
in other subject areas will be given sporadically throughout the year.
o Reading Homework: Reading log (20 minutes Monday-Thursday) will be stapled
into agendas
o Spelling Homework: Students will use journals to record their nightly
homework. (Monday= Write words 4x’s each, Tuesday= use 12 words in
sentences, Wednesday= ABC order, Thursdays= Study for test on Fridays)
o Math Homework: Students will have a two-sided review page
o Wednesday Nights: Students will study for their bi-weekly Wordly Wise Tests.
Wordly Wise Test are every other Thursday
o Thursday Nights: Students will study for a Daily Edit Quiz and Spelling Test
o Projects: Students will have projects sprinkled throughout the year. They will be
written in advance in agendas along with project expectations and a rubric page
Graded Papers
Each Friday, your child will bring home graded papers (located in their blue conduct
folders). Please review your child’s graded work and sign the top sheet. The entire set
is due back signed on Monday mornings. Missing and unsigned sets of papers will be
considered an incomplete homework assignment which results in a conduct cut. If you
wish to keep their graded papers for further examination or review, please send a note
with their conduct folder or email us with your questions and concerns.
 Specific Strategies for Content Areas
In 3rd grade, our learners are responsible for retaining enormous amounts of information.
We believe that our strategies enable them to be focused and connect prior learning with
the task at hand. In order to be successful, our students learn ways to seek out correct
answers, use higher order thinking skills to eliminate wrong or tricky answer choices, and
simply slow down and be able to concentrate on the vast amount of information in front of
them.


Reading code for reading passages
Math problem solving techniques & labeling information
The Reading Code and Math Problem Solving Graphic Organizer can be found on our class
websites.
Beginning of the School Year Parent Communication
 Report Cards/Progress Reports
o Report Cards will be sent home at the end of each 9 weeks. These dates are October
30th, January 8th, March 24th, and May 25th.
o Progress Reports will be sent home during the 3rd and 6th week of each 9 week
grading period. These reports are to inform you of your child’s progress or if we are
concerned that your child is in danger of failing in a particular subject.
o You may also access you child’s grades via GradeSpeed by using the link provided on
our website or through HISD.
o If your child has not met the required standards necessary, a Growth Plan will be
sent home along with your child’s report card detailing the steps to improve upon
the area of concern. Types of Growth Plans are: tardy, grades, and conduct. Conduct
will be lowered for 7 or more tardies in a 9 week period.
 Intervention Options
Should your child fall below grade level standards of readiness, we will contact you with
information about after school tutoring, small group pull outs, and intervention teachers
working with your child during the school day.
 Conduct Expectations
All students begin each day with an E in conduct and will adhere to the school-wide Lovett
Principles of Discipline Plan. We strive to be ready, responsible, and respectful at all times.
All conduct cuts will be recorded in the conduct binder located in our classrooms. Their final
conduct grade will be recorded weekly in their blue conduct folder. At the end of each
week, please sign acknowledgement of your child’s weekly conduct grade and return on
Monday. Missing or unsigned conduct sheets will be considered an incomplete homework
assignment.
 Conduct will be lowered due to behavior, unsigned agendas, and
missing/incomplete homework assignments.
 These conduct cuts may be reflected on the “Behavior and Work Habits” section on
their report cards.
 Conduct grades are:
E = 95
S = 85
P = 75
U = 65
 Attendance Requirements
 Arrival/Dismissal Procedures:
Please have your child at school on time; we begin instruction promptly at 8:00 A.M.
If your child is not in the classroom by 8:00, he/she will be considered tardy. When
your child is tardy, he/she must get a tardy slip from the front office before coming
to class.
Beginning of the School Year Parent Communication

If your child is absent, please send a written note or email within 3 days of the
absence. All absences are considered unexcused until a written note or email is
received. You many send notes or emails to Pam Moon ([email protected]) or
your child’s teacher. DO remember, however, that as much as we want your child
here every day, please do not send a child to school who is truly sick.
 Restroom Expectations and Procedures
We have two scheduled restroom breaks throughout our day. If your child has a medical
reason for needing to use the restroom, please let the teacher know so we can
accommodate those needs. Should your child need to go during instruction, they will go
with a buddy so that no child is left unattended. As we make adjustments from summer
freedom to the structured school year, restroom breaks should diminish so that valuable
instructional time is not lost.
 Snacks
Since our day can be quite long and our lunch does not start until noon, we give our 3rd
graders the option of bringing a healthy, low maintenance snack to eat during the morning
after ancillary. They are given 15 minutes to eat their snack while working. Please do not
send juice, candy, chips, or any sugary snacks.
We are THRILLED to be teaching your child this year! If you have any questions or concerns,
please do not hesitate to email or send a note with your child. We want to keep the lines of
communication open between school and home. Thank you in advance for all of your
support and hard work this year!
Sincerely,
Ms. Barrera, Ms. Cyr, Ms. Jenkins, Mrs. Lundin, and Mrs. Thomsen
Ancillary Schedules
Barrera’s Beakers
Cyr’s Gears
Jenkins’ Jaguars
Mon. – Music
Tues. – Art
Wed. – Music
Thurs. – P.E.
Fri. – P.E.
Mon. – P.E.
Tues. – P.E.
Wed. – Music
Thurs. – Art
Fri. – Music
Mon. – Art
Tues. – Music
Wed. – P.E.
Thurs. – P.E.
Fri. – Music
Lundin’s Lighthouses
Thomsen’s Tigers
Mon. – P.E.
Tues. – Music
Wed. – Art
Thurs. – Music
Fri. – P.E.
Mon. – Music
Tues. – P.E.
Wed. – P.E.
Thurs. – Music
Fri. – Art
Beginning of the School Year Parent Communication