Dear Parents,
Welcome back to the new school year. I’m Bronwyn Opelt, your
child’s Language Arts teacher for 8th grade. I am looking forward to this
year, and, with your help, I’m confident it will be a good one.
This year, we will be focusing a great deal on writing (8th grade students
take the TCAP writing assessment in February), grammar, vocabulary, and
reading. Students will be expected to read several novels each quarter (one
class novel and two of their choice), and we will be covering a number of
short stories. I do have quite a few middle school appropriate books in my
classroom that students are welcome to borrow. However, since parenting
styles differ, if you do not approve of a book your child brings home,
please let me know and we will work together to find a more appropriate book
for your child.
I have included a list of my classroom rules, policies, and
consequences, and have just a couple things to add in regards to the
homework policy. I will not be assigning homework every class simply for
the sake of assigning homework. However, I do believe an appropriate amount
of homework is necessary to aid in the learning process. It helps to
reinforce ideas and concepts we have discussed in class, it teaches
responsibility, and it helps develop positive study habits. As a parent,
you play a vital role in this process by ensuring that your child knows that
homework is a top priority and is expected to be turned in complete and on
time. I will be regularly updating TeacherWeb with homework, tests, and
projects. This is a great way to keep up with homework for both students
and parents. Please feel free to email me at any time with questions or
concerns.
Find me at http://teacherweb.com/TN/MtJulietMiddleSchool/Kratz-Opelt/.
I look forward to working with you and your child to make this
a great year!
Bronwyn Opelt
Team D – 8th grade
kratzb@wcschools.com
Opelt’s Class Rules
1. Be in your seat when the bell rings. If you are not in your seat
when the bell rings, you will receive a tardy. Simply being in the room
when the bell rings does not count.
2. Be prepared for class EVERYDAY! This includes having the following
items with you at all times in Language Arts: pen/pencil, paper, agenda,
English folder, journal, vocabulary book, novel, and homework assignments
(when applicable).
If you do not have these items with you, you will be required to go back to
your locker for them, and you will receive a tardy since you were not in
class, and prepared, on time.
3. Be respectful! This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
no talking while I, or your classmates, are talking, or when you’re supposed
to be reading/working quietly. Do not touch your classmates’ things, or my
things, without permission. Keep your hands and your feet to yourself. Do
not say negative or hurtful things to, or about, each other or your other
teachers.
These rules are straightforward and common in most schools, so they should
not be difficult to follow. Please keep them in mind at all times and the
year will go smoothly. However, should you choose not to follow these
rules, here is a list of the consequences.
Consequences for Breaking Opelt’s Rules
1. In each class period, you will get a verbal warning for talking out
of turn. If you continue to talk after a warning, you will stay one minute
after the bell rings without a pass to your next class. If you still
continue to talk, I will contact your parents and you will be given a write-
off. Should talking out of turn become an ongoing problem for you, you will
be assigned a morning detention from 7:15 to 8:00.
2. The first two tardies you receive are essentially warnings. I will
document the date and time that you are late or unprepared for class. After
the third tardy, I will contact your parents. After the 4th tardy, I will
write a referral to the office that will eventually end in ISS.
3. Any problems with fighting, stealing (and even “borrowing” without
permission), name-calling, etc. will immediately result in a referral and a
call to your parents. This behavior will not be tolerated in my classroom
under any circumstances, and you will either receive ISS or OSS, depending
on the severity of the incident.
