Hallsten Handbook

5th Grade Handbook

Room 367
Mrs. Hallsten

Phone: 218-879-2969 ext. 367

Hello, dear 5th grade families!

As always, I am looking forward to getting to know you and your child this school year. Please think of us as a TEAM...and together, as a team, “everyone achieves more”.

I firmly believe that communication between home and school is vital to your child’s success in the classroom.

I hope that this handbook will help you better understand our classroom procedures and help reinforce school/class expectations.

Attendance
As a school community, we are going to put an extra focus on attendance this year. It is time to start getting back to positive school routines and put school attendance at the top of your list as a family.

Distance learning is a thing of the past. Sleeping in because of a late sports practice or activity isn’t acceptable. Taking a day off because your child is tired doesn’t meet the standard. These are just some examples of what we hear from families during the school year. Each of these examples give your child the idea that school isn’t that important. We need to change this narrative and get back to putting school attendance as a high priority.

Research shows that school attendance has a direct correlation to academic success and sets the tone for an overall positive school experience for students. Let’s work together this year to get your child to school each and every day.
Parent Expectations
Please seek to understand. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns or need clarification in any way.

Please keep me informed with any pertinent information that will help me best meet the needs of your child.

Please look over school work, review, and reinforce skills as needed with your child. If you have any questions about this, please reach out.

Please empty your child’s Take Home Folder regularly and return papers to school as necessary.

Please inquire with your child about school supplies, working headphones, the fit of PE shoes, etc. regularly.
Student Expectations
Students are expected to...

always do their best.
follow classroom and school rules.

be responsible, kind, and safe.

show “Esko Pride” and represent our school and community with integrity.
Report Cards
Grades will come home four times this year, at the end of each quarter. Our report cards are standards-based and assess the following:

Math

Fact Fluency

Algebra

Data Analysis

Geometry and Measurement

Number and Operations

Social Studies

United States History
Classroom Rules
1. Allow Mrs. Hallsten to teach and classmates to learn.

2. Listen and follow directions, complete assigned tasks, and ask for help when needed.

3. Always be prepared with required items and be ready to transition.

4. Respect your classmates, yourself, and your teacher.

5. Always do your best.
Classroom Discipline Plan
Offense 1-Verbal warning and behavior is documented.
Offense 2-Conference with your teacher to discuss concerns and make a plan for change. A behavior reflection sheet will be filled out by the student and brought home for parents to sign.
Offense 3-Call home to share behavior challenges occurring at school.
Offense 4-Conversation with principal and/or call home and/or meeting with your teacher, principal, and family.
If there is continued behavior that does not meet classroom/school expectations, students may lose privileges (e.g. class parties, field trips, or other extra school events).
If there is an event at school that is extreme or severe, a Behavior Conduct Report may be filled out and Mr. Harker will be involved in the conversation.

Classroom Behavior
Whole Class

We want school to be a positive place for all. I will verbally reinforce positive whole class behavior and also use a reward system. The class will set a goal and when they reach their goal as a class they will receive a class party/special day!

Individuals

As the classroom teacher I will manage a notebook. If a student needs verbal warnings throughout the day I will document these events in the notebook. This documentation will allow me to communicate with you AND your child more effectively. Also, this documentation process will be used to decide if students may need individual behavior interventions. In some cases, individual behavior plans are put in place. If this occurs, you will be contacted first and you will be part of the planning process.
Take Home Folders
Each student will have a designated Take Home Folder that will travel to and from school each day. Please check it regularly and return it with your child each morning.

Students will be given plenty of time to work on assignments during class, but if they do not finish during this time they might have to bring the assignment home, finish it, and return it by its due date. If these assignments are not on the ipad, they will travel from school to home in the Take Home Folder.

The Take Home Folder will also have completed/corrected class work and tests, study guides, and communication from me and Esko Schools.

I understand that life is busy, so I encourage establishing that after school/evening routine as soon as possible.

Children thrive with routine!
Homework Policy
Homework may be assignment completion, extra practice with a skill, reading, or an at-home project.

Student Homework Responsibility
-Gather all materials needed for homework completion before leaving school.

-Complete homework assignments prior to when it is due.

-Ask for assistance from family members if needed.

-Bring completed work and take home folders to school each day.

-If work is unfinished at class time, students will be asked to finish it during available class time.

Family Homework Responsibility
-Create a daily homework time that works for your family and schedule.

-Create a study area that is quiet, comfortable, and free from disturbances.

-Review homework for quality and completion each day.

-Notify me when the homework presents a problem for your child.
School Work in Advance
Planned trips away from school are not recommended as most of what we do in our classroom cannot easily be made up outside of school.

If you know you are going to be gone, you may ask for homework, but it is usually not possible to give due to class learning activities and changing plans.

Missed learning may just need to be done when your child returns.
Fidget Tools/Environmental Accommodations
Fidget tools are small hand-manipulatives that students can use to improve focus. There are many other great sensory tools that can be used to help students in the classroom setting.

I want all students to have their needs met, but I ask that these tools not be sent to school/used until we have discussed its purpose and other options.
Please understand that if this is something your child needs, a doctor recommendation or recommendation from our education team is necessary before we put anything in place here at school.
Accelerated Reader
By 5th grade your child is accustomed to the expectations of Accelerated Reader each quarter.

This program has your child reading at his or her independent reading level to help your child improve and grow as a reader.

It is important that children read at their reading levels to build fluency and comprehension. Your child will be taking quizzes on the books that they have read in the classroom or checked out from the library at their AR level. These quizzes assess how well they comprehend what they read, earning them points as they pass each comprehension quiz, to work towards a point goal.
Lunch
Our School offers healthy meals each day. Starting with the 2023-24 school year, we are joining the Minnesota Free School Meals Program. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school.

Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Application for Educational Benefits is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other meal programs. More information can be found in the letter to families and the Application for Educational Benefits.

Please contact Emily Johnson in the district office if you have any questions or need further assistance - [email protected] or 218-879-2969
Healthy Snack Policy
In our class, we will try to have a snack break each afternoon. Our school’s snack policy encourages healthy eating. To reinforce the concept of healthy eating, we have some simple guidelines for our snack break.

-All fresh fruits and vegetables are allowed and encouraged. -Students may bring fruit snacks, crackers, yogurt, or a granola bar. -Please avoid any type of “junk food”. -This is a snack and not a meal. One snack is plenty. -Snacks cannot be shared. This is a school health safety issue.
Snacks that come to school need to be healthy, do not need to be prepared in any way, and can be eaten in a reasonable amount of time. In my classroom I have a small refrigerator for snacks that need to be kept cold.
We are a NUT FREE Classroom this year.
Water Bottles
Students are allowed to have their own water bottles here at school. They should only contain water; no juices or flavors of any sorts. Also, water bottles need to go home on a daily basis to be washed/refilled. Please label your child’s water bottle with their name.

Please help your child get in a routine of bringing their water bottle. Disposable cups will not be available to fill up at the water bottle filling station this year.
Cough Drops/Medicine/Inhalers

Cough drops are medicine and should be treated like so. If your child needs a cough drop please send in the number recommended for the hours here at school and please send in a note granting permission.

If other medications are needed during the school day they must be dropped off with our school nurse and appropriate documentation must be filled out.
Student Birthdays
We do celebrate birthdays in our classroom. The celebration is generally “short and sweet”.

You are more than welcome to send a store-bought treat that will be shared during our snack time, but it is not expected. Reminder: We are a NUT FREE Classroom.
Please send napkins, appropriate utensils, and anything else necessary for serving the birthday treat.
We have 27 students in our classroom. In the last few weeks of school we will also get to summer birthday celebrations.

It is school policy that birthday party invitations not come to school for any reason. Please distribute them outside of school.
Specialists
Each day your child has time away from the general education classroom to optimize the learning experience. At Esko we are privileged to have Art, Media, Music, and Physical Education.

Art 1x per week for 60 minutes

Media 2x per week for 30 minutes

Music 2x per week for 30 minutes

Physical Education 4x per week for 30 minutes

Art

Ms. Dando

[email protected]

Media

Mrs. Peterson

[email protected]

Music

Ms. Holland