Welcome & Classroom Information
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Open House: We are incredibly excited to welcome parents/guardians and our LCMS students to campus on the evening of Thursday, May 26 for Open House! This is meant to be a pleasant, low-key event to allow parents and guardians to see their child’s campus and teachers after many months away. Please note that, in order to keep our campus as safe as possible and numbers down, this is an activity for our students and their parents or guardians only. Thank you for your understanding. If you are hoping to conference with your child’s teacher about questions or concerns, please reach out to them to set up an alternative time to meet. Thank you for coming to campus at the time noted below to keep numbers on campus down.
6:00-6:30 PM - students with last names beginning A-M
6:30-7:00 PM – students with last names beginning N-Z
Greetings Students, Parents, and Guardians, and Happy New Year!
A warm welcome back to school, although the beginning of this year does bring new challenges, we will move ahead to continue the education process.
Please use Google Classroom for finding the assignments. If you need the classroom code, please email me.
Here's a reminder from the Daily Beat-
"Take Care of Yourself"
"Take Care of Each Other"
"Take Care of This Place"
Let's begin this new year by following this great advice!
See you soon,
Mrs. Bridges
We are beginning the month of December with all students now having a Las Colinas Agenda Book. Parents and Guardians, please ask your student to share this new agenda with you if you have not seen it yet. Students are now able to write down their assignments for each class they attend, and there is also very helpful information throughout the agenda.
The agenda will be a helpful tool for students to make it a habit to turn their work in on time. The Late Work Policy is in place in my classes. Work turned in a day late will be given 50% credit, unless previous arrangements are made, or there is an excused illness or excused absence.
Additionally, December brings some special activities with Stuff A Bus, our canned food drive, and Spark of Love! The students have already responded positively by demonstrating their joy of sharing and giving to others in need. For more information about these Las Colinas events, please see the Las Colinas website.
Happy Holidays!
Darcia Bridges
dbridges@pleasantvalleysd.org
All class work and homework can be found in Google Classroom. Parents and Guardians, please sign in so you are able to view your student's Google Classroom assignments.
Dear Parents and Guardians of my Art Exploratory Students,
Thank you so much for joining me on zoom for our Back to School Night event! If you were not able to join me at Back to School Night, I am including the information we went over via zoom, with this letter.
The curriculum for my Art Exploratory classes was created to introduce students to some well-known artists, and for students to try their hand at expressing themselves artistically after being inspired by these artists.
In addition to the information that we went over last night, several parents have asked what supplies would be helpful for their student to have, which they can keep in their locker to be able to use as needed.
On a daily basis, students should have a notebook to keep their notes in, and several sharpened pencils. Please keep in mind, I can only suggest the students bring these materials with them, however, with Covid, the supplies your student brings will only be used by your student. We will do our best to disinfect all shared supplies after each use.
SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST for Art Exploratory
Notebook to take notes in, or paper for an Art section in a 3-ring binderSeveral sharpened pencils (Please no mechanical pencils)
A spiral bound sketch book. It is important to keep your work in one place, and this makes it easy to do this.
A small pencil sharpener that collects the shavings.
A box of colored pencils
Watercolor paint set with a brush
Fine tipped sharpie
A pair of scissors
Two glue sticksA folder that is large enough to save your work in. (It is a great idea to keep every assignment you create in class).
*An individual tempera paint set. (Very small amounts of paints in different colors, with a brush and a mini art palette) This could also be a mini acrylic set. (These paint sets should not be left in lockers – you will be given advance notice if you need these at school)
Back to School Night
Mrs. Bridges
6th, 7th & 8th Grades Art Exploratory
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME?
My preferred method of contact is via email.
dbridges@pleasantvalleysd.org
Most emails will be replied to within 24 hours. Voicemail messages will be returned within 48 hours.
Las Colinas Phone Number: (805) 383-5320
WHEN CAN YOUR STUDENT MEET WITH ME IF ADDITIONAL HELP IS NEEDED?
I am available during Nutrition Break. Please advise your student to make plans to meet with me at this time, in advance. We can plan to meet outside in a comfortable outdoor setting. I am also available after school. Every other week, I have B building duty, so please ask your student to make plans for a time after school in advance also.
Student-parent-teacher zoom conferences can also be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time as needed.
HOW CAN YOU CHECK YOUR STUDENT’S WORK SO THAT THEY DON’T FALL BEHIND?
Please sign into Google Classroom, in addition to using Q’s Student Connect &/ or Parent Connect.
A majority of the work will be collected in Google Classroom, and all assignments for each class will be found in Google Classroom.
I suggest that each student has a notebook for my classes, or a section in a three ring binder. I often instruct the students to take notes in class, and write down assignments, in addition to posting the assignment in Google Classroom.
If your student needs assistance with organization, ask your student to show you the assignment in Google Classroom EVERY DAY. This way you will see if the assignment has been turned in.
Also, sometimes students accidentally click on “turned in”, when they haven’t submitted the work, so be sure to ask them to SHOW you the work they “turned in”.
WHAT CAN YOUR STUDENT DO IF THEY NEED TO RAISE THEIR GRADE?
Turning the work in by the due date is important, as LATE WORK (one day late) will be accepted for partial credit only. (This policy will begin on October 1st, 2021) Extra credit will rarely be given and only in instances where it extends and enhances class lessons.
Assigned work is due in class on the predetermined due date. If the work is turned in after the one-day late policy, acceptance is at the discretion of the teacher. (This does not apply to students that have an excused absence).
If your student would like to meet with me, it is the responsibility of your student to approach me outside of class time about making up any missed work. Please do not interrupt the lesson.
ABSENCES
This is a unique year and we realize your student may be out for an extended length of time. Please contact the front office to arrange for work if your student will be out for an extended length of time.
If they are out for an extended time, in my classes, they should be able to find the assignments in Google Classroom.
When your student returns, it is mandatory to go to the office for a re-admit notice before returning to their first period class.
Please see me upon your return, to clarify the work you may have missed. The best time to receive this work is AFTER class. Please do not interrupt the lesson.
DISTRICT GRADING POLICY
50% Tests and Assessments
40% Class work
10% Homework
Back to School Night
Mrs. Bridges
6th Grade ELA, 6th Grade ELA Honors
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME?
My preferred method of contact is via email. dbridges@pleasantvalleysd.org
Most emails will be replied to within 24 hours. Voicemail messages will be returned within 48 hours.
Las Colinas Phone Number: (805) 383-5320
WHEN CAN YOUR STUDENT MEET WITH ME IF ADDITIONAL HELP IS NEEDED?
I am available during Nutrition Break. Please advise your student to make plans to meet with me at this time, in advance. We can plan to meet outside in a comfortable outdoor setting. I am also available after school. Every other week, I have B building duty, so please ask your student to make plans for a time after school in advance also.
Student-parent-teacher zoom conferences can also be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time as needed.
HOW CAN YOU CHECK YOUR STUDENT’S WORK SO THAT THEY DON’T FALL BEHIND?
Please sign into Google Classroom, in addition to using Q’s Student Connect &/ or Parent Connect.
A majority of the work will be collected in Google Classroom, and all assignments for each class will be found in Google Classroom.
I suggest that each student has a notebook for my classes, or a section in a three ring binder. I often instruct the students to take notes in class, and write down assignments, in addition to posting the assignment in Google Classroom.
If your student needs assistance with organization, ask your student to show you the assignment in Google Classroom EVERY DAY. This way you will see if the assignment has been turned in.
Also, sometimes students accidentally click on “turned in”, when they haven’t submitted the work, so be sure to ask them to SHOW you the work they “turned in”.
WHAT CAN YOUR STUDENT DO IF THEY NEED TO RAISE THEIR GRADE?
Turning the work in by the due date is important, as LATE WORK (one day late) will be accepted for partial credit only. (This policy will begin on October 1st, 2021) Extra credit will rarely be given and only in instances where it extends and enhances class lessons.
Assigned work is due in class on the predetermined due date. If the work is turned in after the one-day late policy, acceptance is at the discretion of the teacher. (This does not apply to students that have an excused absence).
If your student would like to meet with me, it is the responsibility of your student to approach me outside of class time about making up any missed work. Please do not interrupt the lesson.
ABSENCES
This is a unique year and we realize your student may be out for an extended length of time. Please contact the front office to arrange for work if your student will be out for an extended length of time.
If they are out for an extended time, in my classes, they should be able to find the assignments in Google Classroom.
When your student returns, it is mandatory to go to the office for a re-admit notice before returning to their first period class.
Please see me upon your return, to clarify the work you may have missed. The best time to receive this work is AFTER class. Please do not interrupt the lesson.
DISTRICT GRADING POLICY
50% Tests and Assessments
40% Class work
10% Homework
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) & ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS HONORS
Following the DISTRICT GRADING POLICY – ELA grades will be based 50% on formal assessments and core reading tests.
Formal Reading – district benchmarks and core reading tests
Formal Writing Assessments – Various writing styles will be taught, including, Narrative, Research-based Information Writing, and The Literary Essay: From Character to Compare/Contrast
California Collections text. We will have various tests throughout the year on short stories in the text.
Other standards based assessments include: grammar, punctuation, Greek/Latin roots, proofreading exercises and vocabulary.
CLASSROOM POLICY
Enter class quietly and disinfect your desk, followed by disinfecting your hands.
Take out your silent reading book, your two ELA textbooks, and your charged-up chrome book, while attendance is being taken. Do NOT open your chrome book unless you have been instructed to. Instead, READ quietly from your silent reading book while you are waiting for class to begin.
DAILY - REQUIRED MATERIALS
Your two ELA textbooks
Your charged-up chrome book
Suggested Materials
A silent reading book
A notebook for ELA, or paper in a separate section in a three-ring binder
One black or dark blue ink pen
One green or red ink pen
One sharpened pencil (no mechanical pencils) and a small pencil sharpener that collects the shavings
Hello,
Welcome to the 2021-2022 school year! My name is Mrs. Bridges, and I teach Language Arts 6, Language Arts 6 Honors, and three Art Elective classes for the combined 6th, 7th and 8th grades.
I will be using Google Classroom for all of my classes, and I will open Google Classroom on Friday, after I have met with you in person.
I look forward to meeting you on Wednesday. For those of you that are new to Las Colinas, please remember we will be beginning this year together, and we'll all help one another through these first few days!
We will be supporting one another to create a positive community this year!
Please email me if you have any questions:
dbridges@pleasantvalleysd.org
Please feel free to contact our principal, Kelly Hatton, with any scheduling or programmatic questions at khatton@pleasantvalleysd.org.
