Mr. Tippetts Contact Information: rtippetts@questac.org Parent/Guardian Email: Please be sure to update your email address in SIS.

I like to be able to contact parent/guardian by email. Also, Please subscribe to my blog. I will communicate most of the information regarding upcoming assignments and requirements through my blog. Classroom Supplies: It is important that your child have all his/her classroom supplies. Class supply lists are provided online at the individual teachers blogs. These can be accessed by going to www.questacademycharter.org, clicking on the People tab, selecting Teachers and then going to 6th grade. Forgotten Items: If your student forgets his/her backpack, lunch, homework, etc. PLEASE, PLEASE do not bring them to the classroom, as this is very disruptive. Please leave item(s) in the office with your students name. Office Staff will bring the item(s) to the classroom. School Calendar: Please be sure to check the school calendar for Early days and No School days. Early Day dismissal is 1:00 p.m. You can obtain a copy of the calendar from the Quest Academy website. Parent/Teacher Conferences: Look for notification from administration. Uniform Policy: Per Quest Academy Policy (See Parent Handbook). Please be sure your student is in compliance with the school uniform policy. Any student not in compliance, parent/guardian will be called to bring a change of clothing, shoes, etc. Class work/Homework Assignments: Students will be expected to be responsible for completing and turning in all class work, homework assignments, and any projects on time. Students are expected to be prepared with all their materials. Students will not be allowed to call home if they forget their work. Homework will vary with lessons. I will call for assignments only one time. Planners: In order to help students get their homework assignments done, students will be given a Planner to be filled out every day. If a student does not have his/her planner, then a blank piece of paper is to be used to write down the information. Please be sure to ask to see your students planner and review the information each night with your student. We want to help your child learn to be more self-reliant and responsible for his/her assignments. Late Work and Absent Students: Students are responsible to ask for their own missing work and they are responsible to turn them in. I will not call for them. Missed assignments must be done at home. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact me to make arrangements for make-up work. Late homework will be accepted no later than 5 school days after the due date. Each day that it is late, it will be docked 10% of the earned score. On the 5th school day past the due date, it

will be worth no more than 50%. On the sixth day assignments wont be accepted. When students are absent, they will have the same amount of school days to make up work as they were absent. e.g. if you were absent 2 days, you have 2 days to turn in work for full credit. Special arrangements will be made for long-term excused absences. Grading of Student Work: You may access the students scores and grades online through the Student Information System (SIS). SIS can be accessed through the link on the Quest webpage (www.questacademycharter.org) under the Get Involved tab. I will update grades in SIS on a regular basis: at least once weekly on Friday. I will post on my blog when I have updated grades for each class so you will know that what is on SIS truly reflects all of the work that has been turned in to me. If there are points possible but your student's score is blank either your student has been excused from the assignment or it means I have entered the task but not yet entered their score. If your student has a Zero (0), then the assignment is missing. If you have any questions about your students grades, feel free to contact me. Extra Credit: I rarely offer extra credit. When I do, I expect students who are struggling to keep a good grade to take advantage of the opportunity. I will not offer special extra credit to students who have not been diligent in keeping up on their work throughout the term. Parent Involvement in Students Work: Parent may aid their student in completing homework through encouragement and guidance that will lead them to the proper conclusion, as appropriate. Parents are asked not to give answers or physical assistance on their students work. Additional Help from the Teacher: For additional assistance, the Junior High with be running a tutoring lab Monday-Thursday immediately after school until 4:00. Students must be picked up by 4:00 as teachers are also off at the time and plan to leave to be with their families. Student Access to the Internet: Students may be asked to access the internet at home as well as at school to complete certain tasks. Those students without internet access at home may contact your local public library (branch) to schedule free access to the internet at that branch. The sites we access at school or give to the student to access at home have been previously checked for appropriateness. Any additional websites must be previewed by you, the parent, to ensure it is appropriate for moral, academic, and safety value. Rules, Consequences, and Rewards: My class will follow the same rules that are required throughout the entire school. (See page 15 in the Parent handbook for specific rules and consequences.)

Mr. Tippetts Classroom Policies and Procedures 2012-2013 1. DAILY START UP a. Upon entering the classroom, students will find their seats quickly and quietly. b. Students must sit in assigned seat and silently and immediately begin the self-start assignment. c. Students may not enter the classroom before the bell rings at the beginning of school except when accompanied by a parent. d. Late students will be referred to the office. 2. IDENTIFICATION OF WORK a. Include all of the following: Student name (first and last), teacher, date, and assignment title are required on each assignment that is to be turned in. b. If a student fails to put his/her name on the assignment, that student will receive a zero (0) for a score on that assignment until it can be identified. 3. RESTROOM /LEAVING CLASSROOM (other than class or group tasks) a. Only one student leaves classroom at a time. b. Students are encouraged to use scheduled breaks to address drink and restroom needs. c. If an emergency (e.g.: urge to vomit): Take care of the problem first, then inform the teacher of situation. d. When you leave the classroom, except in an emergency, take the appropriate pass with you. 4. SIGNALING OF NEEDS: Students will use the following signals to indicate specific needs. This keeps the lesson flowing with minimal interruptions. a. Restroom: Student silently will raise hand with sign language symbol for R. b. Drink: Students silently raise hand with sign language symbol for W. c. Tissue: Students silently raise hand with sign language symbol for T. d. Sharpen Pencil: Students silently raise hand with pencil. e. For any other need: Raise hand and wait to be called on silently. 5. LUNCH ROOM: Refer to Parent Handbook.

6. HOW TO SEEK HELP a. During instruction & Individual Work Time: Silently raise hand and wait patiently for response. b. During Group Work Time: Ask a peer within your group using only a 12-inch whisper. 7. FOOD/DRINK IN CLASS a. No food will be allowed in class, unless a physicians signed medical release is brought in to keep on file. b. No drinks, other than water, will be allowed in class. Water containers will need to have a sealable lid. 8. GETTING MATERIALS a. During group instruction, no student may get up from his/her desk without permission. b. During work time, students may retrieve materials, sharpen pencils, and get tissues as needed to efficiently complete the assignment activity. 9. ATTITUDE OF RESPECT a. Always address and refer to adults and other students using polite and positive speech. b. If you feel anger in a situation, remove yourself from the situation (both person and place) and immediately seek teacher or other adult help. 10. PARENT HANDBOOK a. Beyond the policies and procedures for my classroom;, all students and parents must adhere to the instructions contained in the parent handbook. b. The Parent Handbook is found i. On the Quest Academy website ii. In the front of the student planner, or iii. At the Quest Academy front office. NOTE: The preceding Policies and Procedures may be altered, rescinded, or added to as needed at any time to meet the evolving needs of the classroom and Quest Academy.