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 TuesdayThursday 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 30 th,
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.
 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
Beginning of the School Year Parent Communication
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