Welcome to Mr. Gorby's Classroom
Fifth Grade @ Hampden Elementary/Middle School
Welcome to SY 16-17 @ Hampden
"Good Beginnings Never End Because Everyone Learns Something New Every Day."
The mission of Hampden Elementary/Middle School #055 is to develop a community of life-long learners that are college and/ or career ready, which includes students, staff, families and community members; who work together to ensure that every person learns something new every day and can articulate new learning, as well as, apply it to ongoing life situations.
The vision of Hampden Elementary/Middle School #055 is to continue a rich and challenging tradition of excellence, where every decision is made with the students' best interest in mind. We recognize the value of each student as an integral member of the school community. With a partnership of parents, staff, and students, we are dedicated to making a positive and dynamic impact on our world.
SY 16-17 Begins NOW!
Getting to Know Mr. Gorby
Mr. Gorby is a passionate teacher-leader who joined Hampden Elementary/Middle School in SY 16-17, after having worked at Collington Square Elementary/Middle School is East Baltimore since 2009. He has worked as a 4th and 5th grade general educator, as well as served as a school-based instructional coach, school testing coordinator and curriculum facilitator as both a "Model" and "Lead" teacher. While in the classroom, over 80% of his students scored proficient or advanced on both the reading and math MSA. In his role as curriculum facilitator, he collaboratively stewarded and supported a 50% increase in the number of students reading on or above grade-level in Grades 1-5. He brings his energy and enthusiasm to the classroom so each and every student has access to, and understands the power of knowledge. It is important that students learn with joy and take control of their future.
His classroom motto is, "Growing stronger and taller every day in a peaceful way," with his classroom logo being the object that embodies this best - a tree.
Mr. Gorby lives in Remington with his wife and two sons, Eli and Wyn, where he has been a resident for the past eight years. He has both a Masters degree and Administrator I certification from Johns Hopkins University School of Education (JHU SOE), with an undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond. He has also worked at the School of Education as a graduate-level advisor and adjunct faculty instructor. For 2016, Mr. Gorby was the 2016 Society of Excellence Award recipient in Administration and Supervision, which was presented to an outstanding student who demonstrated academic excellence, leadership, and collaboration with peers.
Mr. Gorby attended public schools for his K-12 education in both rural Pennsylvania and North Carolina, and it is these experiences that drive his activism as an educator.
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"It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." -- Frederick Douglass
"When given the choice between being right or kind, choose kind." --R.J. Palacio
Getting to Know You & Your Student
More About Mr. Gorby's 5th Grade Classroom
At the end of all newsletters, you will have the opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions about any of the content presented. I look forward to working together!
Academics
Attendance
Teamwork
Academics
Academic Expectations & Support
"GROWING STRONGER AND TALLER EVERY DAY, IN A PEACEFUL WAY"
Materials for Learning
Students will be expected to arrive at class each day, on-time, prepared for learning. This means that they bring SIX sharpened pencils to class, along with two red pens. Students must have an appropriate chapter book for independent reading both at school and at home. Additionally, being responsible means that they have their completed homework (see below for more information), along with any materials for studying that may have been taken home.
A more detailed materials list was sent home by the main office at the end of SY 15-16.
The list was as follows:
- Box of #2 pencils (24 or more)
- 1 pack of colored pencils
- 1 pencil pouch or box
- 1 pack of 3x5 index cards
- 2 two-pocket folders
- 1 yellow highlighter
- 1 roll of paper towels
- 2 five subject spiral notebooks
- 1 composition notebook
- 2 packs of loose leaf paper
- 2 boxes of tissue
- Gym shoes/cloths
- Hand sanitizer
- Clorox wipes
- Ream of white paper
- Box of zipper bags (sandwich or gallon size)
Additional supplies may be requested at a later date, as we will definitely need more five subject spiral notebooks.
Organization & Cleanliness
Students will be expected to maintain organized and clean work and workspaces, to include desks and lockers. We will take pride in our classroom and learning space. To this end, no food or drink will be allowed within classrooms, with the exception of bottled water.
Homework
Homework will be assigned every night, Monday through Friday. Written homework should take students no more than 30-60 minutes each day, in addition to students independently reading for at least 60 minutes each day.
Sleep & Technology
Fifth graders should be getting at least 10-11 hours of sleep each night in order for memory retention and healthy growth. Because of this fact, it is recommended that students have very limited "screen time" during the school week, with NO "screens"--TV, computers, tablets, cell phones (no technology)--accessible in the bedroom.
Additional Information About Technology
All cell phones and other technological devices (tablets, iPods, game systems, etc.) must be turned into me at the beginning of each day to be placed in our classroom safe. These items cannot be retrieved until the end of the school day. It is encouraged that students DO NOT bring any electronic device to school as the school accepts no liability in cases of lost, stolen or broken devices.
Grading and Mandatory Coach Class
My grading policy is as follows:
- Tests/Quizzes (weekly) 30%
- Class work (daily) 50%
- Participation (weekly) 10%
- Homework (daily) 10%
All students with an average lower than an 80% will be required to attend mandatory coach class on Friday afternoons from 2:30-3:15 p.m. Additional homework will be provided for practice over the weekend. Students will be provided with a YELLOW pass that needs to be signed by their parent in order to attend mandatory coach class.
Participation
Students are required to actively participate in instruction in accordance with the following expectations, which can also be used at home:
- Reports on a topic or text or presents an opinion, sequencing ideas logically (SL.5.4.1)
- Uses appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes (SL.5.4.2)
- Frequently draws on required material and other known information about a topic to explore ideas under discussion (SL.5.1.2)
- Poses and responds to specific questions by making comments that consistently contribute to the discussion and elaborate on the remarks of others (SL.5.1.5-6)
- Reviews key ideas expressed and draws conclusions in light of the discussion (SL.5.1.7)
- Summarizes the points made by a speaker and explains how the speaker’s claims are supported by reasons and evidence. (SL.5.3.1- 2)
- Summarizes text read aloud or information presented in diverse media formats (SL.5.2.1- 2)
- Comes to discussion prepared, having read or studied required material (SL.5.1.2)
- Consistently follows agreed-upon rules for discussions and carries out assigned roles (SL.5.1.3-4)
- Speaks clearly at an understandable pace (SL.5.4.3)
Attendance
Attendance Expectations & Support
"ON TIME, EVERY DAY, ALL DAY"
It is the responsibility of the student to check a missed-work folder and complete any missing assignments within three days of returning to school and/or missing the work.
Any time missed from the classroom will affect academic performance.
The school day begins promptly at 7:45 a,m., with breakfast being served in the cafeteria from 7:10-7:40 a.m. All students will be marked late if arriving after 7:50.
The following procedures will be followed concerning lateness:
- 1st & 2nd Occasion -Message
- 3rd Occasion - Phone call home, after-school reflection and goal setting on Friday
- 4th Occasion - Phone call home, parent/teacher conference and goal setting on Friday afternoon
- 5th Occasion - Referral to SST
Every Day
It is the expectation that students attend school every day, starting promptly at 7:45 a.m.
While there may be rare occurrences of students missing school due to illness, emergency or unique family needs, students should not miss more than ONE day of school each quarter.
Prior to a student being absent, please call my cell phone and leave a message between the hours of 7:00-7:30 a.m.
The following procedures will be followed concerning absences:
- 1st & 2nd Occasion - Message
- 3rd Occasion - Phone call home, after-school reflection and goal setting on Friday
- 5th Occasion - Phone call home, parent/teacher conference and goal setting on Friday afternoon
- 8th Occasion - Referral to SST
All Day
All appointments should be scheduled after-school. A dismissal prior to 2:25 constitutes an early dismissal.
While there may be rare occurrences of students dismissing early from school due to illness, emergency or unique family matters, students should not have more than one early dismissal in a quarter.
The following procedures will be followed concerning early dismissal:
- 1st & 2nd Occasion - Message
- 3rd Occasion - Phone call home, after-school reflection and goal setting on Friday
- 5th Occasion - Phone call home, parent/teacher conference and goal setting on Friday afternoon
- 8th Occasion - Referral to SST
Teamwork
Teamwork Expectations & Support
"FOCUS, SELF-CONTROL, MEMORY, AND FLEXIBLE, CREATIVE THINKING"
ClassDojo will be used to award individual, group and whole class points for the areas of focus, self-control, memory, and flexible, creative thinking. Parents will have the opportunity to track student points through ClassDojo, which will also be used as our main messaging service throughout the school year.
Students must earn at least 22 points weekly to be included in special events.
Students who do not earn enough weekly points will be given a RED pass to attend a mandatory reflection session on Friday afternoons from 2:30-3:15. This pass must be signed by a parent. During this Friday reflection session, students will fill out a goal-setting document around their current behavior and academic standing.
Support & Communication
Weekly Meetings, Phone Calls & After-School Support
My work hours at Hampden are generally from 7:00 a.m.-4:15 p.m. (~9 hours), Monday - Thursday, with Friday hours being until 3:45 p.m.
All changes to my schedule will be communicated through the ClassDojo app.
While it would be wonderful if teaching was just TEACHING, ample time needs to be devoted toward both planning and grading, as well as meeting school-wide community needs. Thank you for your understanding so I can be my best and refreshed for your students each day.
Coach Class/After-School Student Support
Fridays
2:30-3:15 p.m.
Students who elect to attend coach class MUST pick-up a GREEN PASS that is to be signed and dated by their parent for EACH coach class session they choose to attend. Coach class is offered on Friday. Students given YELLOW PASSES for attendance and/or academic concerns and RED PASSESS for behavior concerns will also attended scheduled reflection time during this period.
Parent Meetings
Friday
3:15-3:45 p.m.
All parent meetings should be scheduled in advance, as to not conflict with scheduled coach class, meetings, and designated planning and grading times.
Important Upcoming Dates:
- Back to School Night - Wednesday, September 14th, 2016 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
- Principal's Chat and Chew (Kickoff) - Friday, September 9, 2016 from 9:00-10:00 in the Interim Library.
Contact Me
Email: adgorby@bcps.k12.md.us