September 9, 2024

Dear Sixth Grade Families,

Welcome Back! I am taking this opportunity to introduce myself.  My name is Emily Pennacchio, and I am looking forward to being your child’s Math and Science teacher.  I have been working at St. Ann School for over a decade and am very excited for the upcoming year!  I believe communication is the key to a great parent-teacher relationship.  Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

Homework/Class Work

Completing homework is very important.  If homework is not completed, students will not fully grasp the lessons taught in school.  Please expect homework every night and sometimes on the weekends.  All homework that is done on loose-leaf must have a full heading.  If this is not done, points will be deducted.  For every missed homework, a student receives five points off their overall homework grade for that subject.  Every student starts with a homework grade 100, and loses five points every time they are missing an assignment. 

All unfinished class work is to be completed at home.  If your child is absent, please make arrangements to get the missed class work and homework.  If on that absent day, they miss a test, it is expected that your child takes that test upon returning to school.  If homework is not fully completed or is sloppily done, points will be deducted from their homework grade.  

The sixth grade will be having a H.O.T. List (Homework On Time).  If a student hands in their homework complete, neat, and on time for a full month, they make this list.  As a reward they will be awarded one homework pass.  They may use this pass on one of my subjects taught (Math or Science).  If a student is on the H.O.T. List every month, they have the opportunity to earn up to 10 homework passes!

Worksheets , notebooks and assignments done in class will be collected and graded at random.  As part of the classwork grade, there will also be a participation grade that follows the following scale: 95-always, 85-sometimes, 75-rarely and 65-never.

Testing/Test Packets

State tests are given in grades 3-8.  The ELA State Test will be given April 29-30.  The Math State Test will be given May 7-8.  In addition to the state tests, our students will be participating in MAP testing again this year.  It will give a good indicator of where your child starts and how we can keep them progressing towards 12th grade proficiency.  These tests are 40-minute assessments that will demonstrate your child’s progress through the year.  They will be given in September, January  and May.

The Archdiocese has given Mrs. Sobrado and me pacing guides, and we know exactly what the class needs to cover for these tests, as well as all subjects for the rest of the year.  There will be many reviews going on especially as the tests get closer.  We will be working hard with your children in school and expect them to put their full effort into learning. 

All paper tests and quizzes must be signed and returned within two days of receiving.  If students do not show the signature before or on this day, they will receive an incomplete homework, therefore removing them from the H.O.T. List.

Midterms/Finals

The sixth grade takes midterms and finals (January and June) for each subject.  All midterms and finals count as a percentage of your student’s report card grade, and will appear on their report card.  They are cumulative and must be studied for in advance.  

Discipline

Your child is expected to behave and respect the other students as well as the faculty and staff.  If there is a constant problem or something we need to address, I will contact you.  Conduct is on the report card, and a poor conduct mark can affect your student’s status on the Honor Roll.  

Chromebooks

I will be using the chromebooks often and students will use google drive and classroom to complete many assignments.  We will continue to use Discovery Education, as we did last year, where students have complete access to their book online.  

Communication/Online Resources

Class Website - https://stannschoolstatenisland.com/mrs-pennacchio-  On my page you will find homework assignments, reminders, test dates, and class projects. Even though all of this is posted, students still must write down their homework and test schedules in their assignment books. In addition, I will add important resources and pictures from class.  This very letter will be on there tonight!  

E-mail - My school email is [email protected] 

Archdiocese Educate Website: https://adny.tads.com/  Each parent should have a user name and password for this website.  Here you will be able to monitor your child’s grades quarter by quarter. 

RemindApp - The Remind App is used as a quick way to keep parents and students up to date with reminders, test dates, and messages. Please download the free application on your cell phone.  You can join my class by texting @a7a7ka6 to 81010.  I encourage all parents to download this application and join our class to receive reminders about upcoming tests and important deadlines. 

Google Classroom Codes:         Math -    boeri77    Science - i5aqtxj

Miscellaneous

·        Please be sure your student has memorized their multiplication tables.  Quiz them daily!

 ·       Students must come prepared with all assignments, books, and supplies every day.  This includes a SHARPENED pencil, and an eraser for math!  

I look forward to a fantastic year with you!

Yours truly,

Mrs. Pennacchio

Sixth Grade’s Curriculum

Math: 

*WE FOLLOW THE ORDER OF THE BOOK AND COVER THESE TOPICS, NOT IN THIS ORDER*

In Grade 6, students will focus on four critical areas: (1) connecting ratio and rate to whole number multiplication and division and using concepts of ratio and rate to solve problems; (2) completing understanding of division of fractions and extending the notion of number to the system of rational numbers, which includes negative numbers; (3) writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations; and (4) developing understanding of statistical thinking.

Ratios and Proportional Relationships

• Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems.

The Number System

• Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions.

• Multiply and divide multi-digit numbers and find common factors and multiples.

• Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers.

Expressions and Equations

• Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions.

• Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities.

• Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables.

Geometry

• Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume.

Statistics and Probability

• Develop understanding of statistical variability.

• Summarize and describe distributions.

Grade 6 Science: 

*GRADE 6 NO LONGER USES DISCOVERY ED*

In Grade 6, students examine various properties of matter in greater depth, considering the Earth’s lithosphere as the foundation for a study of the rock cycle. Students analyze fossils to gain a better sense of the historical Earth. Energy, friction and force are considered at a deeper level and are examined from a contextual perspective in light of machines that students encounter regularly. This builds upon the basic knowledge of energy students gained in grades 2-4. A unit on light and sound exposes students to a more in depth analysis of energy as revealed through these two means. The year concludes with the study of the diversity of all life, which directly correlates to the prior unit on light—the energy upon which much of non-human life depends. 

Units: 

1. Matter

2. Energy

3. Rocks and Minerals - Chemical Reactions

4. Simple and Complex Machines

5. Light and Sound

6. Diversity of Life