Dear parents and families,

     Welcome to the 2011-2012 school year! We are extremely excited to see returning students and some new faces!

Our goal is for every student to succeed and have a positive school year both academically and behaviorally.  Below are some helpful strategies and school policies to go over with your child.

1.  Students should be reading every night when they go home. This should be a part of their homework routine. It will help with their comprehension if you first preview their reading then ask questions about what they have read.  Ask them to summarize and come up with a possible ending.

2. Designating a time and place for homework and reading when your child returns home from school will ensure consistency that such tasks will be accomplished before playtime

3. Check in with your child’s teacher periodically to make sure assignments are being completed and turned in. The Infinite Campus Parent Portal is a quick and easy way to keep up with your child’s academics.

4. Opportunity Hour is an after school program that runs Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 3:00-4:00, or until assignments are completed.  Students are referred by their teachers and must have a signed parent permission slip to attend.

5. Cell phones are not permitted in school. They must be turned off at all times while your child is on school property and stored in their backpack or given to their teacher for safekeeping. Cell phones are a distraction to learning and students need to stay focused on the reason they come to school.

6. The Washoe County School District is a “hands off” district. Any type of physical contact will result in consequences for all students involved. Students must feel safe in order to learn.

7.  The Washoe County School District has a new Anti Bullying Law that has gone into effect this year. Bully behavior of any type (cyberbullying, intimidation, name calling, threats of violence, pushing, grabbing, poking fun, etc) will not be tolerated and will result in severe actions taken by WCSD schools and School Police.

8.  We are in our second year of our School Wide Positive Behavior Support Program. Students are earning Cougar Cash to be used at the Student Store on Tuesdays during lunch recess.  Teachers also have classroom rewards they may buy with their Cougar Cash. Cougar Pride is earned when the whole class is showing how to be respectful, responsible, and safe.  Please talk to your child about the Cougar Cash he/she has earned and the Cougar Prides his/her classroom has earned.

9.  Classes for parents!  Parent University offers a wide array of offerings. You will receive a catalogue in the mail.  Your child’s classroom teacher also has information.

10.  Katherine Dunn will be renewing our membership to IXL.com. This great math website helps support our students in all areas of math computation and problem solving and this year they have added Algebra skills.