large view Ms. Billo

Westminster Woods is coming fast.  If you haven't paid your account in full yet, please try to get that money in as soon as possible.  We need drivers to Westminster Woods.  Please let me know if you are willing to drive students on Monday and then come back to pick them up on Friday.  It is about a 3 hour drive from Woodside.

Things we are learning:

Math: We are moving on to chapter 9, which is about percents, fractions and decimals. When you go out to the store or to dinner, use percents and fractions to help your child better understand these difficult concepts.  Students are also reviewing fractions and still having difficulty with them.  Continue to help your child with these concepts if he or she is sruggling.

Language Arts:  We are working out of the reading book for the next few weeks before Westminster Woods.  Most Fridays we have a spelling test, comprehension test, grammar test and/or vocabulary test.  Ask your child what concepts we are learning in order to further their understanding of the concept.

Science: We finished studying plate tectonics and are now moving into ecology, in order to be better-prepared for Westminster Woods.  Students enjoy this subject more, for the most part, and usually do better than they did during plate tectonics.  Students will still be working in their science notebooks, which is 40% of their grade.  Ways you can help your child are by going through their science notebooks and asking them to explain certain concepts, making sure they are completing their notebooks and quizzing them on vocabulary. 

You are able to check on your child's grades at any time online through Zangle.  If you don't have a password, please go into the office and ask for your password.  Teachers are unable to get or give out these confidential passwords.  Many questions have arisen because of progress reports.  I would like to help you understand the grading system, using letter grades, and how it relates to standards grading.

90% - 100% = A         60% - 69% = D            73% - 97% =3-, 3 and 3+

80% - 89% = B            59% and lower = F       63% - 72% = 2-, 2 and 2+

70% - 79% = C                                             62% and lower = 1 and 1+

Teachers have different ideas on the actual percentage for standards grading.  4's are not usually given very often, unless the student is working above grade level.  Therefore, you may be wondering why your child is getting C's when they used to get 3's.  C's are average at grade level, which is what a 3 is.  B's are above average at grade level, which is a 3 and A's are excellent at grade level, which is also a 3.

Students are writing their homework in their planners daily and will write when they do not have any homework.  Typically, there is no homework assigned on Friday, which gives the students a break.  However, there will be projects and essays throughout the year that may be assigned and due over the course of a week or more, which would then include a weekend or two as well.  All students were given a binder at the beginning of the year and are expected to keep all homework, notes and their planner inside.

Please do not hesitate to contact me either through e-mail or through our new voicemail system, which can be accessed by calling the office and dialing my extension, which is 1072.