Welcome to the 2015/2016 school year! I am looking forward to working with you. Please take the time to read through this newsletter,
and the accompanying information.
Subjects
This year, students will be studying
English language arts, science, social studies, phys-ed., career ed., and
health with me. They will take French with
Mme. Powell, and arts education with Ms. Yim. Mr. Chernoff will teach one phys-ed class per week.
Math will be taught primarily by myself, or
Mrs. Leib. There may be the opportunity
for flexible math groupings, where students will work with the other middle
years teachers in math, but that will be determined at a later date.
We are fortunate to have Mrs. Pingert
working in our classroom as an educational assistant.
Teaching
Philosophy
I believe that students in grade 7 need to
start the school year with a lot of structure and support. As the year progresses I will gradually
release the structure and support, encouraging students to independently employ
the skills and strategies that they have learned. My goal is for students to develop the
academic and organizational skills, as well as the independence to succeed in
high school.
Communication
Agendas – Each student at Grant Road School receives an agenda at the cost
of $3.75. This is a very important tool
in student organization, and home-school communication. Each school day students will record any
homework assignments, and important information in their agendas. I will sign it at the end of the day to
ensure they are using it, and we ask that students have their agenda reviewed
and signed by a parent each night.
Classroom
Blog – I update our classroom blog everyday with
homework assignments and any important information that students and parents
need to know. Everything that students’
record in their agenda is taken directly from our classroom blog. Students are expected to check the blog if
they have missed school to help them ensure that they are prepared once they
return. This is the best way for parents
to keep up to date on what’s happening in our classroom. Please visit our blog and bookmark it: www.mrsweeney.blogspot.ca . You can sign up on the blog to ‘follow by
email’. If you put in your email address
into this box, you will receive an email each day that I write a post.
All
important information will be available on the blog.
How to get in touch with me:
1.
Write a note in your child’s agenda.
This is the best method for communicating smaller pieces of information
such as student appointments.
2.
For more detailed inquiries you
can contact me by email timothy.sweeney@rbe.sk.ca. I spend most of my time working with students
and focusing on planning lessons, so I do not check my email regularly
throughout the school day. You can
expect a response within 1-3 school days. Please check the blog to see if the
information you need is there before emailing me.
3.
You can call the school and
leave a message for me to call you back. 306-791-8590
4.
Check the blog! I make a daily post and try and include all
important information. So your answer
might be there.
Technology
Licence
Please review the technology licence. I will be very diligent with implementing
this policy.
Indoor
Shoes
Each student is required to have a pair of
indoor running shoes that are left in the classroom. These are mandatory for phys-ed class, as
well as to help keep our school clean.
This is particularly important in the winter.
Phys-Ed
Clothes
Students are required to have appropriate
clothes for phys-ed class. They do not
have to change if they are wearing phys-ed appropriate clothes to school, but
all students are encouraged to have a change of phys-ed clothes at school.
Appropriate phys-ed clothes include:
ü Track pants, sweat pants, or yoga pants
ü Shorts
ü T-shirts
Inappropriate phys-ed clothes include:
ü Street clothes (jeans)
ü Short spandex shorts
ü Low cut shirts
Homework
Students will have regular homework
throughout the school year. It may
include unfinished work, writing assignments, reading assignments, math
practice, social studies and science projects, etc. It is hard to get an estimate of how much
time students should be spending on homework per night or per week, because
each child works at his or her own pace, and the workload will vary depending
on the units and assignments that we are working on.
Home reading expectations – Students are
expected to read at home. There will be
no formal tracking of home reading, but this is an easy way to improve academic
achievement and success.
Regular Homework Routine – regardless of
the amount of homework assigned, students should get into the habit or
regularly doing homework. When there are
no specific assignments to complete, home reading and additional math practice
are great ways to maintain a regular homework routine. Having an established time of day, work area,
and time length are excellent ways to develop good homework routines.
Technology
and Online Tools
Technology and online tools can help
students learn and be engaged in lessons.
Using smartphones, tablets, and computers are important tools for
teachers and students. We will use these
tools in the classroom for educational purposes. We will be using information sharing software,
such as iGo, as well as other apps, software, and programs. All of our online activities are used with
the intentions of teaching student safe and valuable online and computer
skills.
With this information in mind, I want to
make sure that students are not getting too much screen time, and are still
learning fundamental academic skills that don’t required technology. We will be working to find a good balance
between using our technological tools, and having technology-free time, this
year in the classroom.
Please review the technology licence for
more information.
Attached
Information
Please review the following information
together, that is attached to this newsletter and that is located on the
classroom blog: timetable, student
organization information, and technology licence.
I’m looking forward to a great school
year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Tim Sweeney
