Teachers:
Homework Policy
Homework is assigned daily and should take no longer than 30 minutes a night. Spelling words will be assigned each Monday and a test will be given on Friday.
Grading Policy
S+
Above Satisfactory
S Satisfactory
N Need Improvement
Student grades are determined by the following: reading level, in-class assignments and projects, reading group assignments, dictation tests, spelling tests, group assignments, tests, quizzes, home projects and oral presentations.
Awards
Good Citizenship
Award
Tthe students must have an S+ in both Work Habits and Conduct to earn
this award.
Wildcat Award
This is a teacher selected award given to a student who has shown tremendous
effort in an academic and/or citizenship area during the grading period.
Each teacher will present one or two awards per grading period
Curriculum
All students will master the state Standards of Learning, as prescribed by the state Department of Education (DOE).
Language Arts
Students will develop oral language skills and an appreciation for all forms of literature using Prince William County’s Balanced Literacy Model, which includes shared reading and writing, reading and writing aloud, reading and writing workshops, interactive writing, and Writing Pictures.
Students will alphabetize words to the first letter, use 3-cueing system (letter names and sounds, letters make words and create meaning) and phonetic decoding skills, apply word analysis skills, build on fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, use the 3 domains of writing of composing, written expression and usage/mechanics, and know the writing process.
All students will have a portfolio that is maintained and sent home at least two times a year.
Math
Students will learn basic addition and subtraction facts to the sum of 18, sorting, classifying and patterning, fractions 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4, time on an analog and digital clock to the hour and half hour, skip counting by 2,5 and 10, geometry (shapes), greater than/less than, estimating, word problems with one step solutions, identifying the number of pennies equivalent to a nickel, dime and quarter, understanding the concept of volume, using a balance scale to determine weight, and count a collection of money.
Science
Students will explore scientific investigation, force, motion and energy, matter, life processes and living systems, relationship between the Earth and the Sun, identification of natural resources.
Social Studies
Students will explore American leaders and historical symbols such as the American Flag, Statue of Liberty and Bald Eagle, distinguish between past and present using timelines, Holidays (President’s Day, Columbus Day and Independence Day), locate historical sites of Washington, D.C. and Virginia on a map, economics-goods/services and understand the concept of saving, apply traits of good citizenship, recognize diversity among citizens of Virginia.
Technology
The student will recognize the computer as a resource for finding and clarifying information, use the shift and escape keys and locate the letters of the home row, develop technology skills, use the basic components of a computer, describe how people use technology in their jobs, use word processing software to create simple documents, use grade level appropriate vocabulary, describe uses of telecommunications at home and at school, demonstrate an understanding that electronic communication can occur among different locations.
Test Taking Strategies
Student will use scratch paper, follow oral and written directions, practice bubbling, and make educated guesses
Formal & Informal Assessments
Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA)
Curriculum Mapping System Tests (CMS)
Teacher-made quizzes/tests
Stanford 9 (standardized test given in April)
Weekly Spelling Tests
Quarterly Writing Prompts
Writing Pictures
Discipline Plan
Elizabeth Vaughan Elementary believes that all children have the right to feel safe at school. Our school implements Prince William County’s Zero Tolerance Policy regarding drugs, weapons, and acts of violence, which harm or endanger others, to ensure the safety of your child. Our proactive schoolwide discipline plan is both comprehensive and proactive. Each grade level has a management system, which includes clear, consistent student expectations and consequences posted in the room, regular class meetings, incentives for good behavior, and reinforcement of guidance lessons regarding life skills (responsibility, organization, friendship, effort, patience, perseverance, problem solving, caring, flexibility, sense of humor, integrity, initiative, common sense, curiosity) This plan is implemented through the use of a color-coded system.
Ø Green – the student displays appropriate behavior within the school and classroom.
Ø Yellow – warnings for inappropriate behavior choices.
Ø Red – the student violates Prince William County’s Code of Behavior and/or school rules.
Since this is a proactive plan, the children begin each day on green and their behavior choices reflect any color changes.
(The plans may vary between grade levels.)
Emergency Phone Tree
Support the code of Behavior
Lunch with your child per quarter
Classroom helpers
Dr. Seuss Readers
Field trip chaperones
Support during programs
Participation in class play
Fulfillment of Parent Passport to Success
Safety phone number
To report student absences please leave child’s name, teacher’s name and grade.
(703) 494-9955
Attendance Policy
All explanations of absences shall be received in writing to your child’s teacher, no later than the second day after he/she returns. If no such notification is received, the absence will be marked as unexcused.
Students receiving excused absences shall be responsible for contacting their teachers to make arrangements for make-up work within a time specified by the teacher.
Students who miss ten or more days of school, excused or unexcused, for which little or no make-up work is completed, may be considered for retention.