August 25, 2008

Dear Foreign Language Exploratory (FLEX) and Integrated Studies Parents/Guardians:

My name is Dionne Griffith, and I am honored to teach your child here at West Frederick Middle School.  I am entering my fifth year in the middle school classroom, and I absolutely LOVE teaching my students.

This year the students in my FLEX classes will develop multi-lingual skills essential to the mastery of French, German, Latin, Spanish, and ASL; demonstrate understanding of different types of communication and the history of spoken languages; communicate in the target language; and learn about the culture of the people who speak the language.

Students taking Integrated Studies classes will gather information, think critically and solve problems across curricular areas; assess and comprehend information from a variety of sources; interpret and communicate information in an oral, visual and written format; and utilize reading and writing processes and strategies incorporating technology to prepare presentations.

As parents/guardians, you play a key role in your child?s education.  Please assist your child by:

·        reviewing his/her daily work, checking homework, and reading nightly.

·        reinforcing West Frederick Middle School?s rules and procedures with your child, thus helping to create a safe and orderly learning environment for all.

·        communicating with me through agendas, phone calls, emails, and parent-student-teacher conferences.

·        ensuring that your child arrives to school promptly and is present every day unless there is a serious illness or emergency.

It is my belief that ALL students can interpret and apply subject concepts successfully with a constant effort on their part.  From my students, I will never expect or accept more than their personal best.  Regular attendance, class participation, and mental preparation are keys to academic excellence at any institution, and in my classes as well.  I will take each student at the level he or she arrives and attempt to increase knowledge in some aspect. I simply ask that the students follow my guidelines in the process.  My students will be expected t

·        come to class prepared to learn.

·        arrive on time.

·        demonstrate responsibility for self, others and property.

·        exhibit hands off behavior at all times .

·        talk quietly.

·        stay on task until their work is finished.

I have provided each student with a copy of the FLEX Syllabus. Please take a moment to review this syllabus with your child.  My grading system is designed to optimize student learning. Rubrics by which I evaluate student work are provided with each product assigned, so students and parents know what is required to achieve at each grade level.

This year promises to be an exciting one for FLEX students, and I am very grateful for the opportunity you have provided me to get to know your child. If you have any questions about the course or if you have any concerns you wish to share with me, please feel free to contact me at 240-236-4091 or email me at dionne.griffith@fcps.org.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Dionne Griffith