Dear Team Galaxy Parents/Guardians and Students,
Welcome back to Hughes! We are looking forward to a great and productive year. This year, Team Galaxy’s curriculum continues to explore the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL’s) and the Fairfax County Public Schools’ guidelines remain integral components of our instruction.
General Procedures:
Daily Agenda Book (DAB): Every student at Hughes receives a DAB to help organize short- and long-term assignments. School and team policies require students to bring their DAB’s to every class every day. Pages may not be torn out.
Homework: Homework is assigned on our team as an extension of classroom instruction. While some teachers assign long-term work, others assign daily homework. Homework is a part of every student's grade. Information is available on http://fcps.blackboard.com/ for parents who want to keep apprised of assignments.
Make-up Work: It is essential that missed work (including homework) be made up as soon as possible. While it is the student's responsibility to find out what was missed, most teachers provide homework calendars and syllabi, post updates to blackboard, or they have assignments available in the individual classrooms. Teachers are available on most late-bus days for students who want or need individual assistance. However, appointments should be prearranged to make sure that an instructor is available on a particular day.
Grades: Grades are in accordance with Fairfax County's Grading and Reporting Policies.
Parent Questions: Please call Ms. Thrall, Team Galaxy’s guidance counselor, with concerns regarding a student. Mrs. Zeile, team leader, can answer team-related questions. Core teachers can answer specific questions about classroom policies. The team’s administrator is Mr. Zook.
Supplies
Students are expected every day to be prepared with appropriate class materials. We ask that students do NOT use enormous “trapper keeper”, multi-subject style binders in their core classes. The Hughes News has published a general supply list for the school; however, please refer to the Team Galaxy teacher-specific supply requests as attached.
Parent Participation: We hope that parents can join us at school as guest speakers, team parents, or as participants in special activities. We look forward to meeting you on Back-to-School Night, Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 7pm. Thank you for your support in our joint venture to make this school year an outstanding academic year for every student. Please sign-up for “Keep in Touch” at the fcps.edu website for regular email updates!
Supply list:
Math (Teacher email: Catherine.Taylor1@fcps.edu)
· All courses: A math notebook containing a couple of folder pockets and some graph paper (note: the notebook can consist entirely of graph paper – this is the easiest way to go but, if you can’t find that, get a notebook containing a section of graph paper. “QUAD RULED” (i.e. graph paper) composition notebooks size 9¾ x 7½ work nicely). Buy a type with graph paper that works for you (sometimes it’s too dark). It is okay to substitute loose leaf notebook paper, graph paper, and folder dividers that will be part of a larger, multi-subject notebook.
· 2 mechanical pencils with replaceable lead
· A supply of lead for the mechanical pencils
· A good eraser
· For algebra and geometry: TI 83 (or higher) graphing calculator (always kept at home)
· 4 AAA size batteries (donated to the class for inevitable replacement in calculators)
· For geometry: a simple (cheap) compass and protractor (kept at home)
English
- A binder, at least 1 1/2 in., with five dividers
- At least one package of lined binder paper
Civics
- A spiral notebook
- Ink pens – blue or black and red or green
- A glue stick
- A highlighter
Science
- A single subject spiral notebook dedicated as their science interactive notebook
- Extra glue sticks
- A mini stapler with staples or roll of tape
