Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to a new year and and exciting time!  There is so much that will be going on this year and this is the page where you can get the most recent news!

As the year begins you will have many questions and hopefully some of them will be answered here, even before the year begins.  Actually, this information will remain on this page even as new letters are added. 

First of all, this is a year of accountability for your child.  Homework will be given most week days Monday through Thursday.  Homework should not take more than 1/2 hour most days.  If it is taking you longer, please find out from your child what he/she is doing during the day. I also want parents to help on homework so your child is not frustrated but is learning. I rarely give homework on Fridays and most of the time you will notice that homework is the same week after week.  Usually,  the spelling and vocabulary words will be given on the first day of the school week.  Three day weeks may not have vocabulary or spelling but most other weeks will.  I will always put the plan for the week on the  assignment page.  If you do not know if your child is "correct" about the work, check there.  On this page, you will see a link for spelling and vocabulary.  If your child happens to forget the words, check that link or call a friend.  I don't have the words at home and can rarely answer questions from there.  When we have tests, the assignment page will tell you that early enough to start studying for it ahead of time.

Homework  This year we have added a new homework policy to the handbook at Northpoint.  No homework will be sent home ahead of a planned absence.  We will wait until the 4th day of an absence to send home any work.  Homework will be added to the "assignment" page on our web site daily if there is a new item.  We also spend time as a group writing in our assignment notebooks.  Parents need to sign the assignment notebook only when there is not something to actually turn in.  For instance, if your child is to read for 20 minutes or study math facts, you will need to sign the notebook.  If your child's book is not signed, he/she will not be "paid" Kinzinger cash that day.  I do not pay for homework that parents bring in.  That is to be fair to those children who have parents who work full time and can't run it in for them. I consider homework a great way to encourage accountability for your child...not you.  If homework is not brought in,  the only consequence is that the daily pay is not given.  Late homework is accepted, just not rewarded. 

Birthdays will be celebrated very simply in the classroom.  The school has gone to a school wide policy of  "no birthday treats" due to the number and variety of food allergies. This year we have children allergic to peanuts, eggs, wheat and fruits!  Mr. Weldy will be putting birthday names on the sign outside, the bulletin board inside, and will still announce and pass out pencils for birthdays.  Ch

Grading will be shown with letter grades this year for the first time of your child's schooling. We are also going to a trimester grading period to help ease the system for Unit 5.  Be aware that if a paper doesn't have a letter grade on it, I probably did not record that grade. Much work is done as we learn and your child will not be held accountable until something has been well covered.  Reading tests will be given weekly as will spelling tests.  Spelling grades will also be taken from daily writing that will be equal to test grades.  Daily spelling is really more important than test spelling in our classroom.  I will have words on their desks and the wall that will help "IF" the child uses them.   My goal is to get them to use the environment when they are writing. Reading tests are "open book" tests.  The goal of our reading test is to help the child find material and to discover if they are comprehending.  Math grades will be derived from tests, math boxes, and daily activities. All grades will be equally weighted into your child/s quarterly grade.   Your child may bring home the math book anytime but it must be back the next day as it is an important resource in the classroom. We have no extras and sharing isn't an option. Following is the scale used in all subject areas.

Book Orders will come home several times this year.  If you want to keep them as surprises for your child, please tell me ahead of time.  This is especially important at holiday or birthday times.  Usually, books are given to your child directly and they have classroom time to start reading them.  Please do not send in cash.  If you order from several different forms you will still just need one check to Scholastic as they do allow us to combine the payments.

We have a science series that is directly connected  to our Illinois State Goals.  You will have science vocabulary words with every unit.  It will be important that you review these with your child as they will be used more during the year.  This is a hands on science that will be difficult to make up if school is missed.  Please keep that in mind as you make doctor's appointments and trip plans. 

School Calendar Link       I will add our classroom events to the first page of my own web site each week so be sure to check that out.  Mr. Weldy keeps an all school calendar on the first page of the Northpoint web site.  This will tell you when each report period ends.  It will also alert you to progress report dates.  You will receive a progress report the first nine weeks.  After that I will only send them when needed.  You will be kept posted if things are not progressing well. I like the phone or personal meetings better than a basic progress report.   We can be sure things are addressed much more quickly and personally that way.

Third Grade Expectations may be found on the Unit 5 site so I have added this link for you as well.  Keep watching so you will know what your child needs to learn this year and you will be able to track his/her progress. 

This year we will also have another Student Teacher, Ms. Faith Sabol. She will start the year with us and then return the second semester to finish her student teaching, This is the second year of this program for ISU and their student teachers.  Although I haven't met her yet, we are told that these teachers are the "cream of the crop".   What a gift to have her learn at Northpoint as she helps your children.  Please be ready to meet her when she arrives and help her through this first year!

I really look forward to a great year.  Somehow I always get just the right group in my class!  They are wonderful children and I want to thank you ahead of time for all the support you will give them this year.

Jodi Kinzinger