August 2023

Dear Students, Parents and Guardians:

Welcome back to school!  Much is important this year, but chief among my priorities are values I hold passionately: kindness and responsibility.  Expect that in my classroom we will diligently follow ISD guidelines.  We also will remind each other to stay flexible with changes which occur. 

I take seriously the charge to teach English to NHS students to the best of my ability.  This calling is important, as communication is the basis for all other life skills.  My compelling belief is that the ability to express complex abstracts with symbols that can be communicated to others, better known as language, constitutes a chief distinction that sets people apart from a goldfish or a pine tree.  Effective communication is, therefore, man’s highest accomplishment and greatest goal.  What a privilege we have to exercise language improvement daily!

Our specific course studies for English 3 are American Literature, writing skills, and TSI excellence, all highly relevant and valuable as preparation for continuing both post-graduation education and work or life skills.  We will use a variety of reading texts and writing prompts. 

Through many years, I have seen student success with my homework policies, so I plan to continue to follow a format that I have seen help students achieve academic improvement as well as higher levels of personal responsibility.  I will send out one official homework on Monday every week; with appropriate adjustment for absences, it is due at the start of class on Thursday.  I’m asking that you or another interested adult of your choice sign your student’s homework to verify that he or she did the work independently.  Students often make strong academic gains during this junior year of diligent work, but only if they complete assignments themselves.  Your signature helps discourage students from copying from a classmate.  If we have a Monday holiday, we will not have homework that week.  Students may occasionally have an individual need to work at home to make up missed work or assignments not finished in class, but these events may be rare and are not part of the official homework policy.

Since we will be busy with English skills and campus safety is a high priority, the following class rules are important to me.  Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom unless called for by the office; they should go to the restroom between classes and be in class before the tardy bell rings.  They must leave their cellphones at the door and may not eat or drink anything but water in class.  They may bring in a water bottle.  Many supplies such as pencils, paper, and a workbook will be provided, but please send a box of tissues for class sharing if you are able to do so.    

I am consistently available to help you or answer questions.  Please call the school if you need to make an appointment or talk by phone.  You may also e-mail me at  melinda.shirley@newtonisd.net to reach me quickly and easily.  I am looking forward to a great year teaching your student.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Melinda Shirley, Newton High School English