Welcome to Buford Academy’s Curriculum Night

Mrs. Ostoits

and

Ms. L. Smith

Fun Facts about Mrs. Ostoits

The most exhilarating thing that I have done is skydiving!

I am married & we have 2 little dogs (that are really like our children) I have taught here, at the Academy, for 8 years- 2nd grade for 4 years,

3rd grade for 4 years.

Hobbies: reading, relaxing, hiking, white water rafting

Favorite Stores: Dunkin Doughnuts, Target, Hobby Lobby

Collects: Scented Hand Soaps

Fun Facts about Ms. SmithI decided to become a teacher the first day of kindergarten.

1988 Buford High School Graduate

BMS track and field coach

I have taught in west, south, and northeast GA.

Birthday: January 1st

Hobbies: reading, shopping, eating

Favorite Stores: TJMaxx, Starbucks, Target

Collects: Elephants

Attendance

• Improving attendance, tardies and checkouts is a school improvement goal of Buford Academy

• A written excuse within 2 days of the absence must be sent

• Absences of 10 or more days in a school year will result in contact from the school counselor or system social worker

• Students should not be checked out from 2:50-3:10 pm

• Students with perfect attendance each quarter are eligible for a reward (this is new this year)!

It is important for children to

be on time for school. Many

morning tasks are completed before

announcements at 8:15. Children

must be here prior to 8:25.

Weekly Newsletter

The newsletter will be emailed weekly or a hard copy will be sent to those who request it.

It is also on our webpage, just in case it gets misplaced.

AgendaYour child needs to bring it to school every day and

home every night.

It will be used for:– Communication between parents & teachers. (Tell your child if you

write us a note.)– Record misbehavior– Record assignments– Record important dates/events– Study Guides will be stapled in agendas (PLEASE leave them in the

agenda.)

Daily Schedule

Tardy Bell: 8:25am

Lunch: 11:52-12:17

Recess: 12:20-12:35

Bus Call: 3:10

Please try to keep Dr. appointments & missed days to a minimum.

Gold FolderWill come home every day.Please remove your child’s:

– Graded work– Graded tests– Newsletters (if not emailed)– Homework– Important notes

Please return homework and signed papers in the gold folder each day.

Please do not throw any papers away without asking your child first if they are important!

HomeworkReading  

• Read at least 100 minutes each week. Reading Logs will come home on most Mondays.

• Complete reading responses and return on Friday.• The more you read the better you will do in ALL subjects. • Send in your library books every day. WE USE THEM IN CLASS!!

Spelling

    - Test on most Fridays using Spelling City

    - Homework is to learn the words!!! Students will receive a spelling packet.

    - Begins Aug. 24

Math

Study math facts every night ~ Occasionally there will be other homework assignments

Science and Social Studies:

Study guides ~ Occasionally there will be other homework assignments

Behavior Plan

Respect…

Each other

Self

Property

Environment

Children

Teachers

Behavior Plan

Rewards:

Earn fun choice tickets, treasure box, candy box

Consequences:

Warning, Parent notification, Note in agenda

Loss of recess, Laps at recessPlease address any disrespectful behavior at home as well.

If you are being notified, this is a problem.

Reading Taught using a variety of methods/strategies:

Small group/whole group instruction

Literature studies and stations

Novel Studies

Comprehension Skills

Fluency Checks

Cold Reads

Close Reads

Etc.

Language Arts

Sentences

Parts of Speech

Spiral of Skills (LARS)

Capitalization and Punctuation

Cursive Writing

Etc.

Writing

Writing Process

Personal Writing

Narrative Writing

Opinion Writing

Informational Writing

Letter Writing

Spelling

Will begin on Monday, August 24

A packet will be sent home explaining how we will do spelling this year.

Tests will be taken on ipads (Spelling City)

Social Studies

Map Skills

Ancient Greece

9 Historical Figures

Government

Economics

Math

What we will learn in 3rd grade: • Place value, rounding, multi-digit arithmetic

• Multi-step word problems• Multiplication & division (within 100)

• Fractions• Measurement & Data (area, perimeter, volume, mass)

• Geometry

Science

• Scientific Method• Rocks & Minerals• Different types of

soils• Weathering & Erosion (Changes to Earth’s Land)

• Fossils

• Heat energy• Magnets

• GA Habitats• Adaptations of living

things• Preserving

Ecosystems

Grading

Report cards are sent every nine weeks.

Progress reports at mid-term.

Look at PowerSchool - Call the office if you need assistance.

Children are graded based on:– Formative (classwork) 55% – Summative (assessments) 40% – Homework 5%

AssessmentsAssessments will include:

Oral

Online

Written

Multiple-choice

Extended Response (open ended questions)

Constructed Response (based on text evidence)

Etc.

Fall Standardized Testing

ITBS and CogAT testing Sept. 15-18, 2015

(No studying needed for these tests)

• ITBS: Reading, Lang. Arts, Math• CogAT- Cognitive abilities

Make sure students get a good night’s sleep and

eat a nutritious breakfast!

Spring Standardized Testing

GA Milestones

We follow the Georgia Standards of Excellencewww.georgiastandards.org

Georgia Milestone Assessment SystemELA, Math, Science, Social Studies

Written responses in ELA/Math

BA Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact

BA Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact

As a Parent I agree to…

Be an active participant attending Open House, Curriculum Night, Parent Teacher Conferences, and other events throughout the school year.

Be a supportive parent by having my child read at least 20 minutes five nights each week to help increase their Lexile reading level, by assisting with homework completion,

and reviewing school communication nightly.

Be a supportive parent by practicing Math facts with my child at least 10 minutes two or three nights each week.

BA Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact

As a Teacher I agree to...

Ba an active participant by regularly updating PowerSchool and classroom websites, scheduling parent-teacher conferences twice a year, and consistently communicating

through phone calls, email and newsletters.

Be a supportive teacher by providing research based differentiated instruction that helps to ensure students can achieve their Reading Lexile goals.

Be a proactive teacher by communicating with parents benchmark data to address standards and skills related to math.

BA Title I Parent/Student/Teacher Compact

As a Student I agree to...

Be an active participant by cooperating in classroom activities, asking questions when I do not understand, and completing classroom assignments.

Be a responsible student by reading at least 20 minutes five nights a week, completing my homework, studying for tests, and reviewing school communication with my parents.

Be a responsible student by practicing math facts at home for at least 10 minutes two or three nights a week.

Did you know that Buford Academy isa Title 1 school? We arealways looking to make

our school better. We welcomeparent input!

Title IWe need your input for Title Funds.  Mrs. Pulley is open for

suggestions on ways to best use Title funds to meet the needs of all students.  You may email her at

kaleen.pulley@bufordcityschools.org.  Ways we currently use Title funds are:  Technology,

Paraprofessionals, Summer School, After School/Saturday School, and Professional Development for teachers.

What can you do to support your child this year?

Encourage and praise your child every day!

Have your child read. Go to the public library.

Give your child a routine and structure.Have your child read. Have a set bedtime.

Give your child household responsibilities.

Did I mention “reading”?Limit absences, late check-ins, and check-

outs Have fun together!

Events at Buford Academy

• All Pro Dads (September 15, November 17, January 12,

March 8)

• PTO Family Involvement Night (September 17)

• Fall Festival (October 8)

• Run Raiser (October 30)

• Holiday Chorus Concert (December 3)

• Winter Social (January 22)

• PTO Science Fair & Bingo Night (January 28)

• Parent Conference Days (October 15&16 and March

17&18)

• Arts Night (March 29)

• Field Day (May 13)

• 3rd Grade Awards and Talent Show (May 24)

We Need You!

After Labor Day

Volunteers will be needed to:

Work with students

Prepare classroom materials, Etc.• If you are interested, please let us know,

even if you already have We LOVE volunteers!

Thank you for coming!

Questions?lacrecia.smith@bufordcityschools.org

tessa.ostoits@bufordcityschools.org

http://smithostoits.weebly.com/