Dear Parents and Guardians,

It truly is my pleasure to welcome you and your child to my mathematics class. This is my thirteenth year of teaching, and my seventh year at Hidden Valley. I taught 6th grade math and science for four years at Grant Middle School (now Mission Middle School) and, then, went to Earl Warren Middle School in the San Dieguito District and Valley Center High School to teach math for two years at higher grade levels. I have enjoyed my six years here at Hidden Valley very much, and I look forward to this year. I get as excited and as nervous as the kids!

As we begin the year, it is very important that parents and guardians, as well as the students, understand the requirements of the course and how students will be assessed in their efforts to meet those requirements. Please take some time to go through my website. As you do, you will find that I have outlined the course requirements in a document entitled, "grading policy". Briefly, the requirements of the course are that students,

1. complete daily homework assignments,
2. actively participate in class,
3. take notes during class,
4. perform to established standards on quizzes and tests,
5. and perform to established behavior standards within a school environment.

I have outlined the standards for each of these requirements and have provided information on how students will be assessed. The specific standards of how students will be assessed throughout the year are guided by the mathematics standards established by the state of California. These are the content standards which teachers are responsible for teaching and students are responsible for learning. To help students understand the sequence of material throughout the year, a syllabus is provided. I will spend considerable time during September ensuring that students, parents, and guardians understand the requirements of the course and the assessments used within the course.

At this time, I know that there is substantial paperwork going home so, for now, I would like to, once again, invite you to go through the website, and I welcome you and invite you to communicate any comments, questions, concerns that you might have. You may e-mail me at the address below or phone me at Hidden Valley (760-432-2457) or at home (858-484-9614).

Sincerely,