Back to School Letter

Social Studies and Language Arts
Mrs. Caruso
Nelsen Middle School, Room 106


About Mrs. Caruso
This year marks my tenth year of teaching. (Wow. Where does time go?) I have been at Nelsen for six years. Prior to teaching in Renton, I was with the Bellevue School District and also worked for a couple years in the corporate world.

One of my professional goals this year is to obtain my National Board Certification. I feel like I am at a great place in my career to move forward with this challenge and am excited about the professional growth that is on the horizon for me.

My family and I enjoy living here in Renton; in fact, we live very close to Nelsen. My husband is a high school band director and our son, Miles, will be three in November.

About this class
I am extremely excited about the coming school year. This year’s study of world geography will include map skills, the five themes of geography, creating and interpreting charts/graphs, current events, and regional studies from around the globe. In language arts we will focus on elaboration, the persuasive and expository writing modes, vocabulary and spelling, and improving critical reading skills.

Each student will check out a geography textbook to keep and use at home this year. If you need an extra book to keep at a second home, please let me know. Students will bring home language arts textbooks on an “as needed” basis.

Materials
Students are responsible for having the following materials with them in class every day:
 Three ring binder/notebook
 Notebook paper
 Student planner
 Writing pens/pencils
 Eraser
 A set of colored pencils
 An black ultrafine point sharpie for outlining maps
 
Classroom expectations
1. Be in your seat when the bell rings
2. Come to class prepared to work
3. Listen carefully and follow directions
4. Respect the rights and property of others
5. No gum or food is allowed

Online Grades
We will continue to use the Learning Gateway/Skyward system that most of you became familiar with last year. To access the website, students use the same log-in/password that they use to log into school computers.

Log-in names are last name (up to 12 characters).first initial followed by their 6-digit student number. (For example: caruso.m123456) All passwords have been reset to student numbers for the start of the school year. If you have trouble accessing the on-line grade book, please let me know.

Late Work
Students will receive late work slips at the beginning of each quarter. These slips may be attached to any daily assignment or current event up to one week after its due date to avoid any late penalty. Late work slips may not be used on large projects. Without a late work slip attached, late daily work will be accepted for only half credit.