Welcome to
Bell Middle
School!
620 Briarwood Road
San Diego,
CA. 92139
Phone: 619-479-7111 x 4128
Email: rewing@sandi.net
Dear Students and Parents,
Hello and welcome to sixth
grade at Bell Middle School! I am your studentsÕ new English and Social
Studies teacher. For all of our goals
to be met this year, it is important that we – the parents, students, and
teachers – all work together towards the education of our children. The Bell philosophy is a team approach
to personalizing education. This
allows each teacher to build a solid relationship and educational foundation
with each student. I am looking
forward to working with you and your child this year in English and Social
Studies.
English Curriculum
& Grades:
Literacy/Genre Studies meets
the California State Standards for Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking
utilizing the San Diego City Schools workshop model. (For more specific standards-related information, please
visit http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/enggrade6.asp
)During the workshop, students will focus on a variety of genres (i.e.
Biography, Persuasive text, Short Stories, etc.) using strategies that will
help them to become successful readers and writers within the particular
genre. The strategies will include
vocabulary acquisition, spelling, reading for comprehension, and grammar.
Grades will be based on
completion of assignments as outlined in the Òscoring guideÓ for each unit,
quizzes/tests, weekly reading homework and special projects. There will be occasional times where
students must complete either a project or unfinished assignment or study for a
test for homework, in addition to the regular weekly reading homework in which
students must read for 30 minutes each night. Parents are advised to check
studentsÕ agendas nightly for specific assignment information.
Social Studies
Curriculum & Grades:
This year Social Studies
focuses on California State Standards for world history and geography. Some of the exciting ancient
civilizations we will study this year include Greece, Egypt, India and
China. (For more information about
state standards, log on to: www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/hstgrade6.asp).
Grades will be based on
completion of assignments as outlined in the Òscoring guideÓ for each
civilization, tests, and special inquiry projects. There will be occasional times where students must complete
either a project or unfinished assignment or study for a test for homework, but
no regular homework will be assigned.
All Grades:
Grades will soon be
accessible via the Òparent connectionÓ on the Bell Middle School website: www.bell.sandi.net Students will also be provided with a
copy of their grades approximately one week before each progress reporting
period ends.
Citizenship/Behavior:
Students will be
expected to follow specific classroom rules, as well as the Bell school rules
to keep on PARR:
Rewards for
following these rules include earning good grades, participation in school and
classroom activities, positive
phone calls/emails home, game time and more. Consequences for not following these rules include poor
grades, phone calls home, detention, campus clean-up, referrals and more.
Citizenship grades will consider the students self-evaluation and teacher
observation.
Back to
School Night:
A more specific
guideline for grades, behavior and curriculum will be provided at Back to
School night on October 16, 2008. More information
will be sent home soon but please plan to attend so that we can work together
for your childÕs success.
Supplies:
Many parents have
inquired about the materials their child should have to provide them with a
successful school year. The
following is a list of supplies each student will need throughout (be sure
to replenish supplies from time to time) the year:
I will provide
the students with a folder that will be used to manage their Social Studies and English work this year.
Communication:
Due to the larger
class sizes in middle school, the best way to contact me is via email.
Please check your own email frequently as I use this method of
communication to send out whole class announcements or to contact individual
families.
I am looking
forward to meeting with each of you and know this will be a fulfilling
year. Please complete the attached
information hand-out, sign and return no later than Tuesday, September 12,
2008.
Sincerely,
Roberta Ewing
Family Survey
Student name:_______________________________________________________
Period:____________________________
Parent(s)
name(s):____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Email
address(es):_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Is there anything
you would like me to know about your child?
I have read and reviewed
the class syllabus.
Student
signature:________________________________________________