Welcome to the Hawk Team
Welcome to the Hawk team. We are very excited about this year, and we are ready to go! This page includes valuable information concerning the Hawk team. We believe that communication and understanding are two  keys to your child’s success. Please pay close attention to the dates found on the back of this page. As these important events get closer, we will send information home.
Team Philosophy
The Hawk team strives to provide a well rounded education by working together with the students, their parents and each other. We as a team focus on critical thinking (thinking strategies) which helps connect learning between different content areas, the real world and helps your child grow as a learner and a thinker.
In order for our focus to be on learning we expect the following from all students:
1. To be an independent, responsible, cooperative learner
2. To follow the set rules in each classroom and in the school
3. To hold themselves and each other accountable for their behavior, learning, and performance
4. To practice and model the characteristics adopted by Conrad Ball
5. To openly communicate their needs with the teachers so we can provide the best learning environment possible for their needs.
Important Dates so far
Thursday, August 25 —School ID Pictures
Monday, September 5—Labor day / No School
Friday, October 21 —1st Quarter Ends
Homework and Assignments
On the Hawk Team, it has been agreed that homework will not count for more than 20% of a student’s grade. All other assignments such as class work, projects, quizzes, assessments (tests), and large writing assignments are not considered homework even if a student needs to continue their work at home due to time requirements. All other assignments count for the other 90% of the student’s grade. Most work is accepted late, but the grade might be reduced to 70% credit or less depending on the quality of the work. All work must be turned in before the end of the grading period (quarter) or before the end of the unit to receive any credit. For example, if it is a geology paper, the paper must be turned in before the end of the geology unit. If it is a math assignment, it needs to be turned in by the end of the quarter.
Missing work – Use the suggestions for absent, missing, or late work. If missing assignments become a concern and/or a behavior, parents will be contacted through missing assignment notices, phone calls, or emails and parental support is appreciated with holding students accountable for completing all their work. If needed, a meeting will be held to create an academic plan to increase student achievement.
Grades – Use the Thompson School Website and access Parent Portal to check on your child’s grades. The grades can fluctuate daily, so checking them weekly (Fridays are a good day) is helpful. You do need a user name and password that can be accessed by coming to the school and showing your ID to the front office staff.
Communication and Achievement
All Hawk teachers want this to be a great year for all – students, parents, and teachers! Communication between all of us is the best way possible for this to happen. We are committed to communicating with parents and students. We also need parents and students to be committed to communicating with us.
The best tools for communication going home are:
- Agendas (Student)
- Hawk Team Site (http://conballms.org/hawks/)
- Infinite Campus (Parent Portal – online access to grades)
- Semester Report Cards (approx. 18 weeks)
All grades are In Progress until the quarter grade. This means that grades will fluctuate and are cumulative and not final until the end of the quarter.
The best tools for communicating with the team and school:
- Email (access through Parent Portal or CBMS Website at http://conballms.org/
- Voice Mail (phone numbers are in student handbook/agenda)
- Parent Teacher Conferences or Scheduled Meetings
CONRAD BALL and HAWK TEAM DISCIPLINE POLICY
As teachers, it is our responsibility to make certain all students are learning and we need as much time as possible to do that. More importantly, kids need more time than ever to learn! On the Hawk team, students are taught school wide and classroom expectations. If a student is not following the expectations, he/she will be prompted, either verbally or non-verbally, to change their behavior. If the behavior does not change, two more opportunities for changing the behavior are given. At this time, if the behavior continues, the student will be asked to leave the room, going to Recovery for an opportunity to think about their behavior, their choices, and then asked to continue to their next class with the hope they will change their behavior for the rest of the school day. If the inappropriate behavior becomes a habit, the student will be invited to a team conference to discuss the problem and determine a solution so that learning will not be interrupted in the future. However, if the behavior does continue, a discipline referral is written with a phone call home. If needed, parents will be invited to join us for a second conference where we will create a plan for changing the behavior. The intention is to create a learning environment with minimal disruptions and maximum positive attitude and behavior for all students and teachers. Conrad Ball does have discipline policies set in place (aligned with the district) for more severe behaviors that may require a discipline referral to be written immediately.
Food and Drink
Students are allowed to bring a healthy snack and water from home. The team will also be selling snacks at the beginning of 2nd period for $.25 to $.75 each. The money is used for field trips and awards throughout the year. Please use a water bottle to keep yourself hydrated, but make sure it is filled with only water.
MISSING WORK/ ABSENCES/ EXTRA HELP–
On occasion, students may find they are unable to attend school because of illness, appointments, or other circumstances. The student is responsible for collecting missing class work and homework they missed due to the absence.
HOW CAN YOUR CHILD GET THEIR MISSING WORK???
- http://conballms.org/hawks/ for updated agenda
- CALL Alysa Barnes if you want to pick up all their missing work (especially if gone more than 1 day).
- Schedule a Prearranged Absence when possible (call front office)
- Call Classmate (Hawk Student)
- Ask Teacher when they return to school (During passing period or appropriate time)
- Infinite Campus (Parent Portal – Online grades through Thompson School District)
HOW DOES YOUR CHILD MAKE UP WORK????
- Student must make an appointment with each teacher to get caught up – lunch recess or after school.
- Attend Workout Wednesday (WOW) – available most Wednesdays, 1 to 3 pm, buses provided.
- Try to get the work made up as soon as possible (given 2 days for each day they are gone).
- Work on schoolwork during the absence.
- Continue to work on long-term projects or papers at home when they are absent as they may not get much extra time depending on the due date.
- Spend extra time each night to get caught up.
- Absent work must be turned in within a timely manner, but we try to be flexible.
- Missing or Late work needs to be turned in as soon as possible or it might not be accepted.
Student Agendas
Each student will be provided with an agenda, which is used to record class and homework assignments, tests, quizzes, and projects as well as what is being learned in class. It is also the student handbook, which includes all the very important information about the school, staff, rules, and student passes.
- Must be brought to every class every day!
- Students copy the agenda on a daily basis during each Hawk class for the entire week
- Parents encouraged to regularly check the student agenda or Hawk Team site (http://conballms.org/hawks/)
- Informs parents and students about short term and long term assignments, etc.
- Team agenda is also updated regularly on the hawk team site
We hope everyone will find this to be a helpful communication tool for parents, students, and teachers. If you have any questions please contact any Hawk teacher.
Passing Periods
Sixth grade students are allowed 29 passes per Quarter to leave class during learning time.  Four (3) minutes are built into the schedule between classes for passing period, which is used for drinks and restroom use. Because of the close proximity of Hawk classrooms and most elective classrooms, students should not need more than 3 minutes to get a drink or use the restroom. If a student needs to use their locker during passing periods, they just need to let a teacher know what they need and why, and more than likely they will be allowed to use their locker. If a student needs to get materials or an assignment for a class or must take care of their personal needs during learning time (not including the nurse or emergencies), they will need to use their agenda pass for this. Passes are tracked in their agendas and they may not use another student’s agenda to leave the room. Without their agendas, they may not leave the room, which is another reason why the agenda is so important. Teachers need to know where all students are at all times; therefore, students may not leave any classroom without permission.
Lockers
Each student is assigned a locker that is shared with another Hawk student, after they return the Thompson School District Discipline Book signature page). Partners are chosen from the other students on the Hawk team of the same gender. Students need to remember that having a locker is a privilege, not a right, meaning that students must be responsible and treat lockers and locker partners with respect. Partners will determine their own rules for using the locker (as well as following school locker rules), make a plan for dealing with possible conflicts throughout the year, and sign a contract showing commitment and agreement. All teachers will assist students with opening and using their locker and help students throughout the year with any issues that arise with the locker or the locker partner. The students need to communicate with the Hawk teachers if there are concerns and not let situations escalate OR parents can call a team leader to discuss the concern. If at some time a student needs to change lockers or partners, he/she may request a change by writing a letter to the team explaining the reason for the request. Before a locker change is granted, the teachers will mediate or refer the students to mediate with the counselor in order for them to learn how to resolve conflict in a healthy manner. If the conflict cannot be resolved, then a locker change will be granted if lockers are available.