The students have begun their first STEAM activity in class. They are building an aircraft to provide services to those in need. We are in need of aluminum foil for this project. If you are able to donate some, please send it ASAP. Thank you in advance for your support.

I am excited to start another school year with a new group of students and their families. I hope that you all had a fabulous summer. I certainly had a great time enjoying the summer with family and friends. I am entering my 20th year of teaching and have been at DuVall my entire career. I truly love my job and look forward to working with your son or daughter this year. I am anxious to get to know your child on a personal and academic level so anything that you would like to share with me is greatly appreciated, you can reach me a variety of ways, which are listed below. 

I have 2 boys, Andrew who is 11 and Nicholas who is 9 and a lab mix named Joy. My husband, Erik, works in the automotive industry. That being said, family is of great importance to me and school should not get in the way of that. Throughout the year, I will work with you and your child to find a good balance. Please speak to me about any concerns that may pop up over the course of the year.  

Team Teaching: This year Mrs. Courtright and I will be team teaching.  This means I will have both classes for Science and Social Studies while she will teach Math to both classes.  The students will switch between classrooms daily. It will be helpful for you to sign up for Mrs. Courtright’s blog also so that you can keep up on what is happening in Math as well.  Her blog sign up is: http://iblog.dearbornschools.org/courtrl/

How to contact me: Please feel free to write me a note/email regarding questions or concerns you may have and I will respond as quickly as possible. If I have not responded to you in less than 2 days please ask your child if they gave me the note. I am looking forward to working with all of you this year. Communication is a key factor for a successful year: let’s keep the lines open!

Carey Ranka         voicemail (313) 827-7949 rankac@dearbornschools.org

Classroom Management: I believe in firm and friendly classroom management. Meaning, I empower children, respect them, and provide choices when possible. I will teach them acceptable ways of dealing with their feelings to promote positive social interactions. When children are taught through positive guidance, they learn to share and cooperate, which allows them to handle their own emotions, self-discipline, and take responsibility for their actions. When children feel in control, they can be successful and take an active part in their education.

Classroom Expectations:  I will emphasize student rights and responsibilities.  These will focus on positive student interaction.

The expectations are:

1.  We will follow the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated.

2.  We will keep our hands and feet to ourselves

3.  We will follow directions the first time

4.  We will listen while others are speaking

5.  We will cooperate with others while working in groups and partnerships.

6. Write in the planner DAILY

7. Complete Homework on time

8. Take needed supplies when “traveling” to math, etc. 

When students don’t follow the rules of the classroom they will lose a letter on their Behavior Card. Each month the students receive a new behavior card. This card allows students to make mistakes to guide their learning and acceptance of the expectations. If a students has any remaining letters at the end of the month they will be invited to join in for a special reward, such as a dance party, kickball game, extra recess, donuts, etc. The rewards change monthly. 

Take Home Folder: Every student will have a “Take Home Folder.” (A big THANK YOU to the PTA for supplying these!) This folder will be used to transport papers to and from school EVERYDAY. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that all assignments and notes go home and are shown to their parents. It is also the student’s responsibility to make sure all assignments are brought back to school. If we find old notes and papers in the folders, we will recycle them. Students should get into the habit of returning all homework to their folder and backpack as soon as their work is complete.

Assignment Book: Every student will use an assignment book to record assignments each day. It is the student’s responsibility to bring this book home and back to school EVERYDAY in the binder. Students are REQUIRED to copy their assignments from the teacher’s assignment book daily.

Grading: We will be following the district grading system and will use the following marks:

1: Masters Expectation 95-100% (Child is working beyond the expectations)

2: Meets Expectations 80-94% (Child is meeting the expectations)

3: Progressing 70-79% (Child is progressing)

4: Concern 69% and below (Child is struggling with the expectation)

Homework: Your child will have homework because it gives students the opportunity to complete work, practice to establish fluency, and inform parents of curriculum. If your child has an abundance of homework, please contact me! Please review your child’s work to stay informed. All homework is to be turned in on the due date, if this isn’t possible, please let me know. I understand that the evening can become hectic and I am willing to work with you and your child as long as there is a line of communication.

It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of his/her homework.  I will not make additional copies of misplaced or lost papers and if I do, a letter will be taken away from the student’s behavior card. 

Lunch schedule: 12:20-12:58 

Allergies: As in most classrooms, we have several allergies. Throughout the year, the students may have the opportunity to have treats that may not be ok for your child to have. If your child should have a food allergy, please send in a “treat” that I can keep in my cupboard for them to have if these situations arise. I will put their name on the “treat” and save it for them. This way, no one will be left out if a treat is given out. I do give out small candy now and then, right now I have Smarties and Dum Dums, over the years, I have found that these suit most students, please discuss with your child what types of candy they can and can’t have.

Snack: We will have a morning snack daily to keep the students energized. Please send a healthy snack (crackers, granola bars, vegetables, fruit, cheese, etc). If your child would like an afternoon snack, I am fine with that as long as it doesn’t interfere with learning. We are a Nut-Free classroom, so please do not send in snacks containing nuts. Student should also bring a water bottle to school EVERYDAY. This bottle MUST have a screw top, close tightly and have your child’s name clearly marked. Sticking with the traditional water bottle works best.

Camp- Each year fourth and fifth graders have gone to camp.  This year we will be going Monday, October 21-23. We took $100 deposit at the end of last year’s school year. We have only a few spots open and those will be open to new students first.    We will have a meeting for parents after Open House. You will get all pertinent details at the meeting and decide about the potential for fundraising. We also post on our blogs often regarding camp. 

Blog: Important information will be posted on the blog. You will want to visit it often. Communication is a key factor for a successful school year. Please take the time to check your email regularly to know what is happening in our classroom. You will notice the weekly postings on what the students will be learning in class along with other important information. I will also post website links to support many of the concepts that students will be learning in the classroom. The blog is not only a form of communication but is also a resource for both students and parents. Please check it regularly!

Volunteers: Volunteers are always welcome! If you are able and willing to help in the classroom, let me know. I am especially looking for someone to help with copies weekly.  

I am truly looking forward to this year. I am excited about this group of students and are looking forward to working with the parents. I realize that this lot of information but hopefully I have answered some of your questions.

Working together,

Mrs. Carey Ranka