1. WELCOME!
 Please come in!
 Find where your child sits and have a
seat.
 We will begin shortly.

2. WELCOME TO FIFTH
GRADE
Isabel Anaya
Karen Conner
Leticia de la Garza
Joe Gagliardo
Ellen Schmidt
Pat Skinner and Michelle Westfall

3. EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
 Everything a person does or says speaks volumes
about his/her character.
 All instructional decisions keep the latest brain
research in mind. Everything is on purpose.
 We build life-long learners
 We strive to create horizontal connections, as well
as vertical learning to create well rounded thinkers.
 Students are encouraged to see beyond
themselves.

4. SCHOOL HOURS
 7:45-2:45
 No student drop off before 7:00-there are no
adults on duty. Students will wait in the cafeteria
until 7:15, when they will be released to the
hallways
 All exterior doors will be locked at 7:30 with the
exception of the front doors.
 Students will be counted tardy if they arrive in the
classroom after 7:45
 Students are absent if not in class by 9:00.
 2 or more tardies/early departures will result in a
child not being eligible for Perfect Attendance
 IMPORTANCE OF DAILY ATTENDANCE

5. HOW/WHEN TO REACH US
 Conference time 10:10-10:55
 Email is a convenient form of communication
used frequently.
Please make sure to get your child’s teacher’s
email address if this is an option for you.
 Teachers have voice mail on which you may
leave a message. We will do our best to check
messages regularly and get back to you in a
timely manner.
 Joseph.Gagliardo@nisd.net
397-8050 x3212

6. VISITORS
 Parents are always welcome to come and observe
their child in the classroom. Please call the
morning of the day you are planning to come in to
make sure we are not at specials, assembly, library,
etc. Observations should be limited to 30-45 min
per day.
 Parents who are on-campus to volunteer or go on
field trips must have completed the background
check form.
 Feel free to come and have lunch (12:05) with your
child –But YOU MUST sign in, receive, and WEAR
a visitor badge! This must be worn by any person
on campus after 7:45 am.

7. IMPORTANT INFO
Teachers will use the following means to
communicate important events/info to parents:
 Discipline Folder
 Weekly Newsletter
 Web page
 Friday Folder (Handouts and Graded Work)
 Parent Connection—see separate slide
 Progress Reports/Report Cards
 Parent Conferences

8. GRADE-LEVEL NEWSLETTER
You will be able to print a weekly
newsletter on the last day of each week.
Information is for the next week. This
will provide vital information for you on
what your child is doing in the
classroom. Please access online.

9. REPORT CARD/PROGRESS
REPORT
•Our Report Cards and Progress Reports are aligned
with NISD Standards.
•Report cards will be issued after each nine week
grading period.
•Progress Reports will be issued midway throughout
each nine weeks.

10. 5TH GRADE PROMOTION
REQUIREMENTS
 Reading at an ending 5th grade level
 Pass 3 math promotion standards
 Receive a 3 or 4 on a Writing Prompt
 Pass the Reading and Math STAAR
 Master most of the NISD standards
 Have an average of 70 or higher in subject
areas.

11. HOMEWORK POLICY
•It helps when you have an established
routine and a designated workspace.
•Fifth grade students will have homework
Monday through Thursday. It is all due
Friday with no exceptions.
•Every night, students are required to read
for a minimum of 20 minutes.
•If students are using their class time
wisely, they should have no more than 50
minutes of homework per night.
•Please check the planners nightly.
•Please initial the Reading Log whenever
your child reads.

12. GRADING POLICY
•Assignments below 70 can be
re-done and re-submitted for a
70. This does NOT apply to
assessments/tests.
•Late Work-Work is due the day
assigned unless otherwise noted.
Ten (10) points will be deducted
from the grade for each day it is
late. Late work WILL NOT be
accepted two weeks after the
assignment was due. Late
projects are NOT accepted.

13. TEST TAKING POLICY
 All tests require corrections to be made and
returned in a timely manner. This is to help
students rethink/relearn misunderstandings
of the content. A higher grade will NOT be
given.
 Students must make corrections on a
separate sheet of paper and staple it to the
assignment. It is due the following school
day.
 This does not alter the grade on the
assessment!

14. CMP MATH
 Students who are recommended by their 4th grade
teacher, are eligible to attend an honors math class
called ―CMP‖, taught by Mrs. Conner.
 Students who are not eligible will attend math in
their 5th grade classroom.
 This program will begin soon. Letters will go home
in the next several weeks telling you where your
child will be placed.

15. TOYS AT SCHOOL
 Toys may not be brought to school unless
the teacher sends home a note
 No one may bring a weapon or any item
associated with a weapon for an reason
 Trading cards are not allowed on campus
 Electronic devices/games are not allowed
on campus unless specified (reward day)
 Toys brought to school will be taken by the
teacher for a parent to retrieve.

16. CELL PHONES
Cell phones are allowed at school IF:
 They are turned OFF
 They are kept in a backpack
Phones that are confiscated will be given to
administration for parents to retrieve.

17. PARENT CONNECTION
**AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE**
Parents are now able to log on to
Parent Connection
(via the NISD home page) to check their
child’s grades and attendance. If you do
not have a parent connection username
and password, please use the student
station to get it.

18. DRESS CODE
Please consult your NISD parent handbook
for any questions you might have regarding
what your child should wear to school.

19. FAMILY FIELD TRIPS
 Throughout the year, you
and your family will have
the opportunity to gather
with other grade level
families for a Family Field
Trip
 This is an educational
opportunity for you and
your child(ren) to learn and
grow together!

20. LAW CONCERNING FOOD GIVEN
OUT IN CLASS
The Texas Department of Agriculture initiated a policy calling for certain
foods and beverages to not be given away on the school premises. These
foods include but are not limited to any candy, sodas, and popsicles that
don’t contain fruit juices. This policy will be strictly enforced at Kuentz,
meaning that our thinking will have to accommodate this policy when
planning parties.
You may bring in cupcakes or non-food items for birthday’s. They will
be distributed at recess. The treats may be store bought or home made.
The only times that we are exempt from the law are for the Winter,
Rodeo, and Graduation parties.
(This policy does not affect what you send for only your child,
although snacks to be eaten in class must be HEALTHY.)

21. CAFETERIA MENU
Families will receive
ONE cafeteria
menu for the entire
year. The menu will
rotate every two
weeks. If you lose
your copy, please
refer to the NISD
homepage.

22. DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
 Students are dismissed at 2:45 pm daily (with the
exception of Early Release days)
 If your child needs to be released early for an
appointment or emergency, sign them out in the
office.
 If the way a student goes home is changing, written
permission must be given to the teacher. Each
time it changes documentation is necessary. This
must be received by
2:00.

23. THIS IS A TRANSITION
YEAR!
Not a child anymore
Not yet a young adult
In addition to curriculum, your child
will learn life lessons and acceptable
social norms.

24. YIKES! THAT SOUNDS
HARSH!
Let
us take a moment to
address some policies that
may raise your eyebrows.

25. MORNING HALLWAY
WORK
 Some students arrive as early as 7:00am.
That is 35 minutes that could be utilized for
brain building activities.
35 min x 5 days x 4 weeks = 700 min
Almost 12 hours a month!
For this reason, students are required to
WORK while they wait for school to
begin.

26. LATE WORK POLICY
Students have 10 days to turn in late
work with a 10 pt penalty per day.
After 10 school days, the grade will be a
zero.
In middle school, many teachers do not
accept late work AT ALL. This policy is
an effort to train students up for success.

27. SILENT HALLWAY
Respect and safety are of the utmost
importance.
Students walk in a straight line to
facilitate movement throughout the
school.
Students walk silently to respect the
other learners in the building.

28. HOMEWORK
 Weekly homework will, for the most part,
remain the same all year.
Completing it early is a good idea, as
other assignments, unfinished work, and
projects will be assigned, as well.

29. COMMUNICATION/
DISCIPLINE FOLDER
 Thisfolder is used to let you know how your
child is doing on a weekly basis.
If YOU don’t sign it, half of its purpose disappears!
If your child’s folder has been signed, it indicates
that:
1- repeated redirections were not sufficient to fix the
behavior OR
2-the behavior was very disruptive to other learners

30. COMMUNICATION/DISCIPLINE FOLDER
(CONT’D)
 Asper NISD standards, work habits and
responsibility are wrapped up with citizenship.
Folder marks are given for missing homework and
forms.
This provides a method of communicating with you
AND a source of accountability for the students.

31. STUDENTS MAY GO TO THE
NURSE WHEN SOMETHING IS
COMING OUT OF THEIR BODIES.
 Ourcampus implements a buddy system that
requires THREE to go to the nurse. This takes
valuable instruction time from all three.
Upset tummies, headaches and boo-boos will
be handled in the classroom.
Emergencies happen! We promise to be
proactive and judicious when deciding if an
injury warrants a nurse visit.

32. HOWL AT THE MOON FAMILY NIGHT
 Friday, October 26 5:30-8:30pm
 Food, fun and games
 PTA Fundraiser
 We are responsible for putting together a basket for
the silent auction. Our basket theme is ―Snacks‖.
 If you have any questions, please contact the
Kuentz PTA at kuentzpta@yahoo.com
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

33. ONE LAST THING!
 Be sure to complete your Criminal History
Background Check. It takes just a couple of
minutes.
 You must be cleared before coming on field trips or
helping at parties.

34. We are very much looking forward to a
productive school year. As a team, we
will strive to do everything possible to
help your child experience success,
encouraging them to grow academically
and emotionally. We cannot reach this
goal, however, without help from you,
the parents. Your involvement and
cooperation play vital roles in
determining the degree to which this
goal is met.
Fifth grade teachers