Belle Heth Elementary School

Welcome to Fourth Grade
The fourth grade is a very challenging year. One of the most important things for the students to learn is how to be organized. Organization will help them keep up with assignments and lessons. The first six weeks of school is a review of the previous years. Multiplication is studied along with division and fractions. Social Studies is the study of Virginia and its history. The students study the different regions and progress from the settling of Virginia to present time. In the fall, the fourth graders take a field trip to Natural Bridge.
Carol Asbury casbury@rcps.org	Frank Leighton fleighton@rcps.org
Sherrie Cullaty scullaty@rcps.org	Heather Rowland hrowland@rcps.org
Darlene Lane dlane@rcps.org	Lori Whitehead lwhitehead@rcps.org

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Welcome to Fifth Grade
The enjoyment of learning is in full bloom in the Fifth Grade at Belle Heth School. The Standards of Learning are our guidelines for involving the students in active educational experiences. Radford University, as a member of our community, is an integral part of our learning environment. Yearly, we benefit from the placement of the University's students within our classrooms to assist in the ongoing tasks of educating the children. The University offers many cultural advantages to meet our diverse population. Our students have enjoyed such activities as participating in the National Geography Bee and the National Spelling Bee competition. The curriculum of the fifth grade is involved with the geography and history of the United States.
Fay Bowen fbowen@rcps.org	Anne Rehak arehak@rcps.org
Janet Whitt/Angela Davis jwhitt@rcps.org adavis@rcps.org	Jenny Zienius jzienius@rcps.org
Stacy Page spage@rcps.org	Kim Luckett kluckett@rcps.org

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Welcome to Sixth Grade
The sixth grade at Belle Heth differs from the other grades. This transitional year affords students the opportunity to lead and to prepare for intermediate school. Sixth graders hold the position of student council president plus homeroom representatives. They may become safety patrols who help and guide the younger students. The guidance committee and recycling representatives serve the student body as well. Sixth graders change classes at our school. Each student has his own individual schedule which includes reading, language arts, math, science, social studies, health, PE, and an activity period during which students take art, music, and have library time. Reading in sixth grade focuses on unabridged books rather than basal readers. Besides participating in small group discussions on popular novels for young people, the students also conduct research on a topic of sociological importance. In 1997 the students selected to study the Holocaust. The Radford High School Foundation supplied funds from a grant to purchase recourses for the unit. Sixth grade science subscribes to the Chinese proverb: I hear, and I forget; I see, and I remember; I do, and I understand. Through the study of biology, chemistry and physical science we try to foster thinking skills, and a love of science, as well as develop a knowledgeable background of scientific principles. Social studies in sixth grade covers American history post Civil War to the present. Students often work on small group projects. Many of our students have done extremely well on the National Geography Bee. Students also have the option to join the sixth grade band or chorus. Classes meet daily. Sixth graders can be found in their spare time organizing chess tournaments, drawing in their art portfolios, assisting homeroom teachers with maintaining and managing the classrooms, or simply socializing - a favorite pastime for this age group. The students are friendly and considerate. New students are welcomed by southern hospitality and soon feel comfortable and accepted at Belle Heth.
Beverly Edwards (Math) bedwards@rcps.org	John Pierce (P.E. & Health) jpierce@rcps.org
Jeannie Straw jstraw@rcps.org	Valerie Rogers (Social Studies) vrogers@rcps.org
Denise Boor (Science) dboor@rcps.org	Nancy Webb (Reading/Language Arts) nwebb@rcps.org

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Special Education Cheryl Shull, Department Chair cshull@rcps.org

Title 1 Becca Bondurant (Reading) bbondurant@rcps.org, Jeanette Croteau(Math) jcroteau@rcps.org
Denise Turner (Reading) dturner@rcps.org
Title 1 is a federally funded program designed to provide services to meet the special educational needs of students who are at risk of not meeting the Commonwealth of Virginia’s academic standards in Language Arts and Mathematics. The goal of Title1 at Belle Heth Elementary is to provide remedial instruction and/or supplemental assistance to students in Language Arts and Mathematics.

What Does Title 1 Offer?
-small group or individual instruction
-instruction planned to meet the student’s needs
-implementation of a variety of teaching methods and materials
-extra instruction in Mathematics

How are Children Selected for Title 1?
-test results from the Stanford 9 and SOL tests
-teacher recommendations

How Can You Help Your Child at Home?
-Encourage your child to read at least 15 minutes each day.
-Set a good example; let your child see you reading.
-Set a time and place for homework to be done and check the homework.
-Limit the time you child watches TV and plays video games.
-Help your child organize school materials and assignments.
-Take an active role in your child’s education.
-Take advantage of resources available (i.e. the public library).

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Art Michelle Saunders msaunders@rcps.org
Students at Belle Heth enjoy a 30 minute art class once a week. A lot of activity takes place in this short amount of time. The art program emphasizes student experimentation and original expression while involving students in a wide range of art experiences. Drawing and modeling skills are practiced, art styles and artists techniques are studied and appreciation of our differences is encouraged.

Computer Janey Hazleton jhazleton@rcps.org
3rd, 4th, and 5th graders use the Computer Lab twice a week. 6th graders go to the Computer Lab every Tuesday and Thursday. There are 25 computers in each of the Labs. Every student is assigned a computer to use for the year . The students learn to use word processing, spreadsheets, databases, searching the Internet, search engines, how to research, and the different parts of a computer. Typing is practiced often. The Computer Labs are very busy and exciting places to be.

Music Sandra Findley sfindley@rcps.org
The Music K-6 Standards of Learning introduce basic music concepts through singing, playing instruments, moving and listening. Students will gradually develop their singing voices, a repertoire of songs, and a sense of rhythm beginning with the steady beat and continuing toward complex rhythms and meters. Movement experiences are included as a means of demonstrating an understanding of concepts such as pitch, rhythm, and form. Listening experiences include traditional and contemporary classical works, American folk music, and music of other cultures. Through these experiences students will have the opportunity to apply and demonstrate and understanding of music concepts.

Library Sherri Quesenberry squesenberry@rcps.org
The Library is a busy and exciting place, pleasantly decorated with bright and colorful pictures and slogans. Many shelves are decorated with objects that depict the topics that are to be found on those shelves. The library is carpeted and can comfortably accommodate 25 - 30 students at a time. There are seven computers available to students for accessing the card catalog and Accelerated Reader. The library has over 8,000 books, of which more than 2,500 are Accelerated Reader books.
Each class has one scheduled library period each week. At this time students check-out books, do research, and receive instruction in library usage. Sometimes we play library games or simply have free reading. Children may come to the library at times other than their scheduled period.

Physical Education Toni Wright (4th & 5th grade P.E.) twright@rcps.org

Additional Programs...

D.A.R.E.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education

Accelerated Reader Program The students read books and then take tests on each book. The students work very hard to receive as many points as they can for the books they read.

National Geography Bee The first round of the National Geography Bee is held in late November. The final round is narrowed to 10 competitors. The winner of the final round takes a written test in mid-January. The top 100 in the state compete for the Virginia winner.

National Spelling Bee In early January, each classroom determines its top speller. Those students compete in front of a whole school assembly in late January. Belle Heth's champion competes against Dalton's winner in February. That winner is the Radford champion who will compete regionally in Roanoke in March.

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