Greetings!
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year! The next nine months will be a time
of growth and exploration for your child. I look forward to sharing these
exciting times and working with your child throughout the year. I will use
my professional background to teach and guide your child.
My full name is Sherry Kay Thurston-Riley, but for simplicity, I go by
Sherry Riley. Before moving to Georgia 7 years ago, I lived in Illinois for
10 years and Kansas for 30 years. I received my bachelor and two master
degrees from Kansas. I have 24 years of experience in the field of
education. I’ve taught grades 1st-5th as a classroom teacher, computers
skills in an elementary school lab, and computer classes at a community
college I have also worked as an administrator at the Community College level
in which I supervised a wonderful staff, sweet children ages 3-10 years of
age and mentoring future elementary teachers.
I am currently enrolled in the doctorial program at Argosy University at
Sarasota. I am currently working on my dissertation. I have a 16
year old daughter named Laney. I am very fortunate to have my mother, also
from Kansas, agree to leave the snow, ice storms and tornados and move with
me. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, traveling, shopping, staying out of
the kitchen, going to the movies, and relaxing with friends and family. I am
honored to be beginning my sixth year at Sarah Smith Elementary.
My classroom management style is designed to provide a successful and
supportive learning environment which is non-threatening while protecting
instructional time and the right of all students to learn. I am strict but
fair. My expectations are high because I believe all students can achieve
the goals set before them. I provide positive incentives for students who
follow the rules and meet behavioral expectations as well as negative
consequences for those who choose otherwise.
Communication:
I welcome parent communication and feedback. The BEST way to contact me
is via e-mail.. STR2020@aol.com. Please place your child’s name in the
subject area.I am usually available before school (before 7:30) and after
school (2:30 –3:00). Feel free to leave a message at school 404-802-3850
or on my cell 404-245-1153. It is difficult for me to return phone calls
during the workday. Please give me at least 24 hours to get back with you.
I will use the classroom website for general communication.
http://www.teacherweb.com/ga/sarahsmith/msriley/
Tardiness:
Attendance is crucial to your child’s success in the classroom. Each child
is counted tardy after 8:00. Exceptions are made only for those riding a bus
that is late. Students arriving after 8:00 should stop by the office for a
tardy slip. We begin sharply at 8:00. Please help your child keep up by
making sure he/she arrives to school on time. A few reminders: Please
schedule any appointments after 11:15 if possible, otherwise, the student
will be absent for the entire day. The office needs a note, phone call or e-
mail if the child is absent Children will be given a homework pass for no
absents AND no tardies for the month.
Excused and Unexcused Absences:
In the event of an excused absence, please notify the office or have your
child bring a note upon return. Regardless of the reason, when your child is
absent, he/she is responsible for making up work. Students will have the
same number of days to complete the missing work as days they were absent.
In the case of an illness the student can gather their assignments when they
return back to school.
If a child has an unexcused absence, work will not be assigned to the
students prior to the absence. The work will be collected for him/her each
day and given to the student when they return. Again, a student has the
same number of days to make up the work as the number of days he/she was
absent. However, the teacher is not required to grade any of the missing
work.
Homework:
Homework is to prepare the students for activities the following day and/or
to reinforce and practice skills. In most cases, homework will be assigned
Monday through Thursday. Homework is due first thing in the morning.
Students will not be allowed to call home to retrieve forgotten homework.
A homework notification form will need to be signed by you for any missing
or incomplete homework. These notes need to be returned the NEXT school day!
Classroom work that remains unfinished at the end of the day is the
responsibility of the student to complete and return to school the NEXT
school day. Again, I won’t allow the children to call when they forget
their homework. I’m trying to teach responsibility and it is their job to
remember it daily. Most homework will be graded in class together. We
check to see if work in turned in first thing in the morning.
Late Work:
All students will be expected to turn in assignments on the assigned date.
If an assignment is turned in late, 10 points will be deducted per day from
the final grade. For example, if a student turns in a writing assignment
one day late and the child received an 88 for that assignment, his/her grade
would be lowered 10 points to a 78. It is critical for students to turn in
all assignments on time.
Agendas:
Please check agendas nightly for notes and homework assignment. Please help
me reinforce the importance of writing down assignments. You will also be
able to see the homework on the class website.
NEW Grading Scale:
Please note… the grading scale has changed!! Assignments that are posted in
my grade book will receive a percentage score and a grade as follows:
A= 90%-100%
B= 80%- 89%
C= 70%- 79%
F= 69 %
Birthdays:
Treats may be sent to celebrate a child’s birthday. Please give me advance
warning so I can fit it into our schedule.
Snacks:
Your child is allowed to bring a quick HEALTHY snack to eat if he/she
chooses. Please do not bring candy, cookies, juice or other sweets. They
may also have a water bottle to keep on their desk throughout the day.
Other Important Information:
Testing Schedule for this year:
GA Writing Test: March 3
ITBS Test: March
CRCT: April 20-29
If at all possible, please do not take your child out of school for
vacations or appointments on these testing days.
Websites:
http://www.teacherweb.com/ga/sarahsmith/msriley/... Classroom website..
I look forward to meeting with each one of you throughout the year!
Sincerely,
Sherry Thurston-Riley
