Welcome to

Sendera Ranch

Elementary

NISD Beliefs

I am the future! 

iLearn

iRead

iSolve

iCreate

iAchieve

 

SRE 2011-2012 School Year

SRE Mission StatementSRE Mission Statement

The Sendera Ranch learning community will 

motivate students and provide safety nets

to ensure that students; • reflect and think critically

• work with and through others• perform on grade level or above.

Commitments To Students:1.structured learning environment2.mutual respect3.security-safe learning environment4.compassion5.open communication6.open to new ideas7.to be an invested member of the learning community8.positive9.respectful10.loving11.caring12.strong educational background13.teach to everyone’s strengths14.opportunities for all to succeed15.extra time and support, as needed16.always have their best interest in mind17.consistency18.use up to date teaching methods19.love and logic20.clearly defined expectations

Commitments To Parents:1.respect2.keep them informed3.make them feel like they are part of “the team”4.listen to them5.open door policy6.safe environment7.positive communication

a.newslettersb.phone callsc.emailsd.websites

8.encourage involvement9.to be an invested member of the learning community10. open to new ideas11. develop relationships12. consistency

NISD Grading Beliefs

• Grading and reporting serve a variety of purposes, but no one method serves all purposes well

• Grading and reporting will always involve some degree of subjectivity.

• Grades have some value as a reward, but no value as a punishment.

• Grading and reporting should always be done in reference to a learning criteria, never on the curve.

• There are 3 general types of learning criteria used in grading and reporting – product, process and progress criteria.

(For more information see www.nisdtx.org – Parents – Grading Guidelines)

Pinnacle Internet Viewer

A letter was sent home with each student that has the information you need to access grades.

If you have not received this, please contact the office.

NISD has gone digital and will no longer send home paper copies of progress reports or report cards for students in grades 1 – 5 unless requested by the parent. Kinder students still receive a paper copy due to the format.

AS A PARENT OF SENDERA RANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, PLEASE HELP

BY…

• Making sure your child is rested, on time, and prepared for school each day.

• Knowing how your child is doing in school by communicating with teachers by planner, phone, or e-mail.

• Monitoring your child’s homework and make sure study time is in a quiet place.

• Limiting TV viewing and read together daily with your child.

• Being an active participant in your child’s education.

Amplify the learning with Library, Art,

Music and PE!

LAMP it up!

SRE LibraryOur Library provides a Flexible Schedule that

allows students full access to the library all day.

Students also come to the library with their classes on a regular basis to check out book.

Kindergarten and 1st Grades come once a week.

2nd through 5th grade come every other week.

Story times and lessons are scheduled at other times during the week as well.

Library cont.• Kindergarten & 1st grade students may check out one book at a

time. • 2nd – 5th grades may check out 2 books at a time.• Students who have overdue books must return those books before

checking out any other books.

• Book Fair – October 7 – 14, 2011

• Battle of the Books

• Competition for 3rd , 4th, and 5th grade students during the Fall Semester. The winning campus team will compete at the district level

•Please see the Library Website for Details and a List of Books.

• We explore art techniques and materials to become better visual communicators and problem solvers !

• We learn about art history, world cultures, art/math and art/science connections!

• We create original artwork that is on display in the hallways when we finish!

• We collect most of our artwork in a portfolio to prepare for 2 Sendera Ranch Art Shows &the Northwest ISD Art Show in the Spring.

Art Education

ART (cont.)

• We explore, create and learn in the art room……

• Most of all, we have fun!• For more information about the art

program here @ Sendera Ranch Elementary, please visit Patricia Chisholm’s website under the staff tab @ the Sendera Ranch website!

The Music Classroom

• Students will be given the opportunity to sing and play instruments alone and in a group.

• Students will learn basic music theory and will be able to read and notate music.

• Students will learn about the history behind music and learn about music from around the world.

• Students will be given performance opportunities throughout the school year.

• Students HAVE FUN!!

Other Fun Happenings in Music• Longhorn Choir

– Open to all 4th and 5th Graders– Rehearsals after school from 2:45-4:00. Day of

week yet to be determined.

• 4th and 5th grade Recorders– Order forms will go home during the 2nd six weeks.

• All-School Programs– Each grade level will perform in our Holiday and

Spring programs.

For more information and updates please visit my website, call, or email!

Musically yours,Ms. Adler

The primary goal for P.E. is the physical and social development for all students.

The major content areas this year will include: motor and manipulative skills, rhythms, health and safety, physical fitness and skill development and games related to both individual and team sports.

Safety First, Fashion Second!

Wear athletic type shoes to P.E.!Flip –flops, platform shoes, heels, Croc type shoes or slip-on style shoes are not safe for your children during PE and recess time.

Help your child learn to tie shoes. It’s safer!

Wear shorts underneath dresses and skirts.

Family CommunicationFamily CommunicationCOWS (Folders)COWS (Folders)

Student Behavior Calendar – Feedback Sheet

School work comes home daily

School wide information home on Thursdays

Grade Level Newsletters every 2 weeks

Progress reports will be available on line the Monday

after the 3rd week of each 6 weeks.

Newsletters and Report Cards will be delivered electronically, unless otherwise requested.

Conferences

• We will have at least one parent/teacher conference this year.

• Parent conferences will take place on between Friday, October 7th and Friday, October 14th.

Benefits of Benefits of HomeworkHomework• Research has shown that the

repetition and practice provided by homework increases a student’s knowledge and internalization of concepts by 28%.

• Homework will be a practice of what was already taught. Students should be able to complete homework without parental assistance.

• This provides the teacher another opportunity to provide feedback for the student’s learning.

What do we want your What do we want your children to know this year in children to know this year in

Reading?Reading?Fluency:• 80 wpm at beginning of year• 100wpm at end of year.

Variety of Texts (Genres)

Comprehension• Summaries• Inferring• Main Idea• Character Traits• Word Analysis

Literacy Response-(Homework):• Prediction• Connection• Summary• Wonderings• Quotes/Passage of interest and

why?

example: “ In my chapter, Tum Tum does

eat poison but Nutmeg is sure that Tum Tum will get better soon. I hope she’s right because Tum Tum still has to help the children.”

What do we want your What do we want your children to know this year in children to know this year in

Writing?Writing?Beginning of Year Writing Stage:• Level 7

End of Year Writing Stage:• Level 10

How are we going to measure How are we going to measure

what they know?what they know? • Read Aloud

• Book Clubs

• Guided Reading

• Author Studies

• Conferencing with Students

What do we want your What do we want your children to know in Math?children to know in Math?

• Problem Solving• Place value: to read, write & describe

numbers through 999,999• Addition & subtraction – double-digit• Value of a collection of coins & bills• Multiplication & division facts through 12• 2 & 3 dimensional geometric figures• Construct and interpret graphs• Standard units of measurement• Telling time• Fractions

What do we want your What do we want your children to know in Science children to know in Science

and Social Studies?and Social Studies?Science

Simple Machines & Simple Systems

Needs of Living OrganismsAdaptations

Properties of MatterElements of Earth

Solar System

Social StudiesCommunity

Map Skills

Citizenship

Geography

Inventions

Local Government

Economics

Individuals who have influenced history

Thinking MapsCircle Map

Bubble Map

Flow Map

Brace Map

Multi-Flow Map

Bridge Map

Tree Map

Double Bubble

Technology in Action• Student laptops

• Electronic Chalkboards

• Data Projectors

• Document Cameras

• Distance Learning

• Media Cast

• CPS Receivers (think George Jetson!)

• PIV – Parent Internet Viewer

(online grade book)

STAAR Testing STAAR Testing DatesDates

April 24th-MathApril 25th- Reading

This year, the tests are timed. The students have 4 hours to complete the assessments.

Daily School Wide Daily School Wide ScheduleSchedule

7:20 – 7:25

7:20 – 7:40

7:40

7:45

2:45

• Building Open for Students (Back/Front)

• Breakfast• Students should be in their

classrooms• Students should be in their

seat ready to learn

• Dismissal

QuestionsWhat questions do you have for us?

Thank you!