Parents, below is a quick overview of Joe Hall Elementary, School & Classroom Procedures. Please read each section below carefully in order to avoid any misunderstandings in the future, as well as to be informed of what to expect and what is expected during the school year. Thank-you!

(Click on an anchor below to take you to that section)

Dress Code
Curriculum
Morning Drop-Off
Tardies & Absences
Classroom Visits
Conferences
Afternoon Pick-Up
Home Learning
Classwork
Classroom Discipline
Field Trips
Toys
Lunch
Physical Education
Special Area Classes
School Supplies
Birthdays
A.R. Tests
Reading Logs
Contacting the Romans
Volunteers

DRESS CODE:

A uniform policy will continue this school year. Students must wear proper uniform on a daily basis.

CURRICULUM:

Our literature-based program will expose your child to many wonderful novels and authors. Most of the time we will integrate these books with all of the other subject areas and create a thematic hands-on, fun-filled learning experience.
Our mathematics program will expose your child to all the skills and materials needed to meet state standards. This program offers terrific manipulative, consumable workbooks, extra practice, problem of the day, interventions, brain teaser, math links and projects.

MORNING DROP OFF:

Students need to be dropped off in the Covered Patio each morning. (Not outside the classroom!) The children will be picked up at 8:25 a.m. by me from the covered patio and escorted back to class. There is always adult supervision at the covered patio by teachers. Your child will never be left unattended. However, if your child is dropped off outside our classroom, there is no supervision.

TARDIES & ABSENCES:

Students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings at 8:35 am! If a student arrives late to school, he or she needs to obtain a tardy pass from the main office before going into the classroom. Parents, please remember that our school day begins promptly at 8:35 a.m. It is very important for your child to be punctual in the morning in order not to miss the morning announcements and lessons. Excessive tardiness will be reported to the office. If a student is absent, a written note by a parent/guardian will be expected upon the student's return. Otherwise, it will be considered an unexcused absence. The following are excused absences: (short term illnesses, death in the family, religious reasons, or family emergencies. A doctor's note is required if more than 3 consecutive days have been missed.)

CLASSROOM VISITS:

Parents will not be permitted in the classrooms during the school day. Any questions or conferences needed must be made either by a written note, email, or a phone call ahead of time. Please understand that my instructional time with the students is extremely valuable and limited.

CONFERENCES:

Afternoons are available for conferences, upon arrangement. A 24-hour notice is required either by letter, phone call, or email. Unfortunately I am unable to meet with parents early in the morning since I am a parent too. Mornings are usually complicated for me since I have to drop off my three children on time as well.

AFTERNOON PICKUP:

Parents, if you wish to pick up your child from school between 2:35 and 3:05pm, prior arrangements must be made. You can inform me by phone or by a note sent in the morning. The last half-hour of the day is used to distribute papers, pack-up, explain homework assignments and give announcements. Afternoon parent pick-up will be in front of the school. Students will be escorted to the front of the school to wait for their parents there. After-school care students and students who ride the bus will also be escorted to their destination.

HOME LEARNING:

Home learning will be assigned Monday through Thursday of each week. The homework assigned will be a review of the lessons taught that day, so nothing is “new.” Parents please make sure to read and review all the homework assignments with your child. Also, make sure your child doesn’t go ahead of the class and skip pages in their workbooks. It is impossible for the assignments to be done accurately if that skill still hasn’t been taught yet! Please check your child's Homework before it is turned in to make sure it has been completed correctly. If a homework assignment was explained and given on a day before a student is absent, it will be expected to be completed by the student when he/she returns to school. To read more about my Homework Policy, please visit my Home Learning Page!

CLASS WORK:

Any work turned in for a grade, is to be neat and presented in the student's best ability. The quality of work turned in is as important as the content within; this will be part of the grade. Re-doing unsatisfactory work and completing unfinished assignments will be included in addition to the daily homework. If your child has any incomplete class work, you'll find it inside their O.S.C.A.R. Folder on the side that reads "Return to School". Your child is to complete the incomplete class work and return it the next school day to be graded. Parents, if you notice that your child is bringing home too many incomplete class work pages... it's a sign that either he/she is not using their time wisely or perhaps we should meet to discuss your child's academic progress and see how we can help as a team. Please encourage your child to take pride in his/her work so that he/she will not be overwhelmed with work during the week.

CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE:

Our classroom environment is a positive one. The rules we adhere to are plain and simple. Please review my Classroom Rules with your child as we will do the same in class.

FIELD TRIPS:

Chaperones are welcomed and needed on field trips! However, in order to be allowed to chaperone any school related event you must apply and register to volunteer. Once your application is processed and approved, Your name will be place on our school's approval list for chaperones and volunteers. If you're already approved and are interested in attending a field trip or any other school related event, we will need notification ahead of time, so please come in and see us or let us know on your child's field form if you are interested in attending. For more information about being a school volunteer, please follow the link provided. (School Volunteer Information)

(Some field trip events give us a chaperone limit of 1 chaperone for every 10 students, including the teacher(s), so please answer as soon as possible. Chaperones will be chosen on first come first serve basis.)

TOYS:

Please remember that your child will be very busy in second grade, therefore they are not permitted to bring any toys, electronic gadgets, cards...etc... to school. Thank you.

LUNCH:

Our daily lunch time is 12:35 a.m. - 1:05 p.m. Please do not plan to pick your child up during lunchtime. A student may be dismissed from lunch only when a note has been received by the teacher in the morning, or in the event of an emergency. Lunch can be paid in advance on Monday for the entire week. The daily cost of lunch is $1.25 and $.40 for reduced lunch. The weekly cost is $6.25 and $2.00 for reduced. You can register and pay for your child's lunch online by visiting Paypams.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION:

Your child should wear sneakers for P.E. We go to P.E. everyday. Water bottles and hats are not necessary. The children will spend half the time under the covered patio receiving instruction and doing their exercise routine. The rest of the half-hour is spent on the field. Water and bathroom breaks are given frequently and as often as needed.

SPECIAL AREA CLASSES:

Special area classes include: Music, Art, and Spanish. Each day your child will have different special area class to attend. Take a look at our Daily Schedule to know which class is held on what day.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES:

You can view and print my School Supply list here on our classroom website. We will also be sending home a school supply check-off list for your convenience in your child's Back to School packet. Parents, please make sure that your child has all his/her school supplies within the first week of school. All the materials and supplies requested will be needed daily, and are required to stay in their desks at the end of each day. We recommended that each child have a duplicate set of supplies at home to use during homework time. To read more about the duplicate set and which supplies are needed at home.

BIRTHDAYS

Your child’s birthday is important to me. We do many things to recognize birthdays in our class. Students receive a birthday bag filled with goodies and treats, new pencils, stickers, etc. special helper for the day, plus he/she gets to sit with a special buddy for the day. However, due to school policies and regulations, I am not allowed to celebrate your child's birthday in our class. Still, if you are interested in dropping off some treats during recess, please let me know ahead of time, We’ll be more than happy to help you pass out some goodies and enjoy this special day along with you.

A.R. TESTS:

Your child should be taking at least one Accelerated Reader test a week. Your child will be checking out about 2 books each week from our classroom library. Please make sure your child is reading the library books at home. Each nine weeks I will send home a print out with your child’s score and keep you posted on how your child is doing. To learn more about the Accelerated Reader Program and how you can help your child improve their "A.R. Score."

READING LOGS:

Daily reading at home will be an important part of your child's fourth grade gifted reading program. As you may know, every minute your child spends with a book brings him or her closer to becoming a fluent reader. Even children who have not yet begun to read can gain reading skills simply by sitting down in a quiet location, and looking through a book. Over the school year, consistent daily reading will expose your child to various author's styles and will improve your child's fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and writing. Our main goal will be for your child to enjoy reading and to choose to read for pleasure. Please join us in inducting children into the wonderful world of literature, so that they can enjoy books and reading for a lifetime. Our class will be going up to the Media Center once a week for book check-out. Your child is expected to check-out at least 3 books that are at their reading level. If your child loses a library book, keep in mind that you will need to reimburse the library for the cost of the book.

CONTACTING MRS. ROMAN:

Please know that open communication between us is essential to a happy and productive experience for your child. If you have questions, concerns, funny stories or happy thoughts about your child we would love to hear them! Please write me a note, or give me a call after school. I try to return phone calls the same day I receive them. If you call me after 4:00pm, chances are you will not hear from me until the following day, as I check all of my messages at that time. Please understand that my evenings are devoted to my family and I do not take calls at home. If you have a quick question or comment, and need an immediate response, feel free to email me, Mrs. H. Roman at hroman@dadeschools.net. or you can post a comment on our Facebook Page.

VOLUNTEERS:

What would we do without parent volunteers? There are many opportunities to be involved in our classroom. Please get in contact with us if you’re interested in volunteering in our classroom or you can visit my Volunteer's Page to learn more on how to become a volunteer and how you can help!

Thank you for your cooperation and support. I cannot do my job without you! You, the parent, are an integral part of your child's education and they really need you!