Dear Parents/Guardians of Pioneer Team Students:

    All of the team teachers extend a hearty welcome to you as you join our educational team for this year. We are strong believers in the team teaching approach and the middle school philosophy, both of which stress the on-going cooperation of parent/guardian, teaching staff, and student for maximum success.

    We utilize the voice mail and agenda books for the most frequent updating and accounting of a student's achievement. We use the web and the newsletter for the news that is general to the team. We would like to hear from you if there is ever a question or concern. If the issue is one for all teachers on the team then you need only call one of the numbers and that person will inform the others. We also stay after one night per subject for the purpose of extra help. However, students are encouraged to stay any or every night if they would like a quiet place to get homework done. Each teacher offers help in the other disciplines along with study and organizational skills that maybe needed for any subject. We strongly recommend students stay especially if they have difficulties with studying, they have done poorly on an assignment/assessment, or they need a quiet place to get work done. In the following documents you will find the voice mail numbers for each teacher along with the night that each subject stays specifically for extra help.

    Every effort will be made to keep you informed of your son's/daughter' s progress in schoolwork. To help you understand the dynamics of the teams' policy; we would like to share some information with you. Keep this handy so that you can refer to it.

Tools:

    Each student is issued an agenda book that is to be used to write down daily assignments. There is also a forecast that may be two weeks in duration that gives the general information of the material to be taught.

Homework Policy:

    Homework that is assigned is written on the board daily and is the responsibility of the student to jot into his/her agenda book. No make-up homework assignments will be accepted after the due date unless student is absent due to illness or an acceptable reason is provided in writing by a parent/guardian. The assigning of homework serves several purposes. It may be to find out the strengths/weaknesses of the students; it may serve as reinforcement or review of certain skills; finally, it serves as a lifelong skill of time management control that they will need as successful, productive adults.

Reporting:

    Improvement plans will be issued when students fall below a C- (70) average. Parents/guardians are required to sign the plan. The student's grade will accompany the report. The school issues progress reports to all students during the midterm point and, of course, a report card at the end of the term. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact any team member at any time when there is a concern.

After School Sessions:

    During the school year the late buses usually run Monday through Thursday. Each of the teachers stay on one of those nights for extra help and to supervise a form of study hall for students who wish to stay after to get work done. Each teacher monitors all students and is available for make-up quizzes or tests and help in any of the disciplines. Students do not need to have a reason for staying other than a quiet place to get work done.

Awards

    At the end of each term certificates are awarded to the students based on academic achievement and overall citizenship in each of the classes within the disciplines. Beginning with the second term a certificate is given for most improved in each discipline from the previous term.

    We are delighted that your 8th grader is a member of our team this year. With your encouragement, your young man/lady will participate in and enjoy many exciting and rewarding experiences this year.

    Since lifelong success depends in part on learning to make responsible choices, we have developed a classroom discipline plan, which guides every student to make good decisions about his or her behavior. Your young man/lady deserves the most positive

    educational climate possible for his/ her growth and we know that together we will make a difference in this process. The plan below outlines our rules, positive recognition for appropriate behavior, and consequences for inappropriate behavior.

RULES

Be prepared

Follow directions

Be respectful

POSITIVE RECOGNITION

To encourage students to follow these classroom rules, we will recognize appropriate behavior with praise, good news notes/telephone call home, and rewards.

CONSEQUENCES

If a student chooses to break a rule, however, the following steps will be taken:

First time a student breaks a rule: Warning

Second time: One-minute after class

Third time: Detention

Fourth time: Phone call home/referral to Mrs. Cabral

Fifth time or severe disruption: Conference with Mrs. Cabral

Be assured that our goal is to work with you to ensure the success of your young man/lady this year..