Core Resources: Click on name above in orange to go directly to that teacher's site for specific daily directions.

EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES

STAFF

The 6th grade Coyote Core has four teachers. Carla Rainone is the instructor for social studies, Kristin Vollmar is responsible for language arts, Cara Olivenza will be teaching science, and Nathan Wendlowsky will teach math. 

EXPECTATIONS

We "aim to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect." If the student fails to do the following, we will ask that student to fill out a profile reflection where the student chooses traits that he or she failed to consider and reflect upon his or her choice.  The available choices are:

1. Caring
2. Open-minded
3. Principled
4. Other

CONSEQUENCES

Your core teachers will handle infractions according to severity and frequency.  Our communication with parents is continuous, with a minimum of once a week notes, e-mails or phone contacts related to performance and/or behavior.  We follow the building “Response to Intervention” that is applied to each individual’s needs and situation.  Consequently, we will work hand-in-hand with parents, administrators, and counselors to seek the best classroom experience for your child.  Your participation in that process is critical and welcomed.

AGENDAS

Agendas will be utilized to communicate all assignments daily.  Please start the year by routinely checking the agenda each night and discussing its contents with your student.  Each teacher in the core has students write in their assignments during class.

CONTACTING TEACHERS

The best way to reach us quickly is through e-mail.  However, if you don’t have a computer at your disposal, we have phones in our classroom.  They will not ring into us while we are in class, but it allows us to access your voicemail messages.  We will send home a letter the first week of September with these new phone numbers.

GRADING

Daily grading will be in accordance with District and CMS policies.  Homework will begin in class with complete instructions and directions.

Long-term assignments, such as reports, investigations, experiments, problem-solving activities, and year-long projects, will be assigned with sufficient notice. 
Late class work: Students will be given 4 Homework passes to use in the core (life happens). These will give 24 hour extensions at the discretion of the teacher. Some long term projects may not qualify for passes. ZAP forms have been developed and will be used when a student does not hand in an assignment on time. It has a reflective piece that will help the teacher understand why the student is failing to hand in the work. The form has a solution section that allows the student to select a teacher directed solution or student directed solution which both require approval of the teacher. Solutions suggested are homework pass use, before school assistance or another solution that allows for peer solutions etc. In general unless a pass is used a student will receive 80% on late work completed within a one week window of the due date. Flexibility for individual student needs is always used.
Extra credit is possible and encouraged for its enhancement of learning value.  It needs to be meaningful. 
Group work is assigned, but grades are given on an individual basis by review of each member’s performance.

PROGRESS REPORTS