Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I drop off my child at the beginning of the day?
The gates to the left of the Front Office open at 8:45 AM. As there is no supervision prior to 8:45 AM, students are not permitted to arrive prior to this time and must wait in the front of the school. Once gates are opened, students are to quietly walk directly to class, where Mrs. Wolf will be waiting to greet them.
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Where will I pick up my child after school?
The 5th grade pick-up location is at the back of the school, to the left of the Multi-Purpose room. The gate is opened at 3:11 PM. Our class will be lined up under the blue canopy, prior to opening the gate. Parents are to walk to our class line and wait to be seen by Mrs. Wolf to insure her students are going with their correct people. Bus riders will be dismissed by Mrs. Wolf from the line, as well as those attending Safe Key, walkers, bike riders, and siblings responsible for younger children will be permitted to leave the line at 3:11 PM, after the bell has rung. Students who are not picked up by 3:20 will be brought to the late pick up room, located in the multipurpose room.
May my child bring bottled water to class?
Yes! Because we live in a desert, playing outside can cause dehydration. Having bottled water will prevent this from happening. It will also cut down on classroom water break interruptions. However, bottled sports drinks, colored punches, soda pop, etc., are prohibited. If the bottle were to spill, the liquid would stain our carpet.
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What is the grading process and policies?
Dennis Ortwein Elementary School has adopted the following grading system and learner behaviors.
POINT VALUE SCALE: 100% of an overall subject grade for assessments and projects
LEARNER PROGRESS SCALE:
A = 90-100% mastery of grade level common core standards
B = 80-89% mastery of grade level common core standards
C = 70-79% mastery of grade level common core standards
D = 56-69% mastery of grade level common core standards
Minimal F = 55% mastery of grade level common core standards
MASTERY OF CONTENT STRANDS: E = exceeds grade level standards S = meets grade level standards N = needs improvement
LEARNER BEHAVIORS: E = exceptional progress S = satisfactory progress N = needs improvement
Practice assignments will be checked and returned within three days. A checkmark will be placed at the top of each practice assignment. If there are any errors, they will be circled. No grade or score will appear on assignments and will not be put into the gradebook. Children may redo any practice assignment they choose to help prepare for tests.
End of a unit tests, either paper-and-pencil or computer, will be checked and returned within five days. If the test is paper-and-pencil, a score, percentage, and grade will be written at the top of each assessment. If the assessment was completed on the computer, students will receive an email providing a link for review, as well as a score. If students earn a poor grade on an assessment, they will be given time during our scheduled WIN time to redo it. They will have four opportunities to achieve mastery, and the best score will be recorded in the gradebook.
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Why didn't my child receive an exemplary citizenship on his/her progress report behavior?
The citizenship grade is based on seven categories of the Learning Behavior section of the report card. The seven categories are follows classroom rules, observes school rules, follows directions, accepts responsibility, works independently, works cooperatively, and quality of work. The eighth category: Returns Homework, is not used, because Dennis Ortwein is a no homework school.
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How do I know if my child is doing well in school?
Your child's academic progress may be viewed on a daily basis when logging onto Infinite Campus.
Additionally, a progress report will be sent home every month. The report should be signed by a parent and returned with your child the following school day. If there are any questions or concerns, please note them on the report and Mrs. Wolf will contact the parent as soon as possible.
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May my child bring birthday cupcakes to school?
Yes. However, the treats will be served and eaten during lunch time only.
When purchasing treats, please be cautious. Any food item to be shared MUST be a safe snack item and MUST NOT contain NUTS and/or MUST be produced in a NUT FREE factory. A sticker must be visible on the packaging. If any food item does not meet this criteria, that food item will NOT BE ALLOWED to be consumed and will be returned home with your child.
If you are unsure as to what constitutes an appropriate item, refer to the following website: http://snacksafely.com/safe-snack-guide.
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When is Mrs. Wolf available to talk with parents?
She is available to speak with parents before or after school and during the classroom prep period. Parents may also contact Mrs. Wolf by e-mail: wolfla@nv.ccsd.net.
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What nights does my child have homework?
Dennis Ortwein Elementary School is a no homework school. However, students are strongly encouraged to read nightly for at least 50 minutes to help master fluency and comprehension.
What additional supplies will my child need each school day?
No additional supplies must be purchased. The district has supplied all materials that your child will need to complete daily tasks. However, if a parent wishes to purchase school supplies, please refer to the third grade supply list that was provided by our school or is located at https://www.ortweinelementary.com/our-supply-lists Hand-wipes and facial tissues are always in high demand and would be especially appreciated. Additionally, large notebooks, boxes of crayons, markers, pencil boxes, etc. take up a great deal of space and, if purchased, will be stored in student backpacks to conserve precious desk space.
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My child was absent. What work does he/she have to make up?
Because only assessments are graded, students need not worry about missing assignments. Assessments are to completed upon their return to school, important content materials will be placed in appropriate notebooks, and passages or handouts will be placed into their binder when they return.
​​When does my child have P.E.?
Ortwein Elementary School is on a seven day schedule. Our 2025-26 specials times, 2:15-3:05, are as follows:
TBA
Please note, this schedule is subject to change throughout the school year.
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Can my child redo an assessment?
During school hours, using our scheduled WIN time, students may take the opportunity to correct and redo assessment errors. If redone correctly, your child's assessment will be rescored and regraded. The score will be changed in the gradebook accordingly, noting this process may take up to 5 days.
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I called and left a voice mail message. Why is my child's absence unexcused?
A telephone message or a verbal reminder is no longer considered acceptable responses to your child's absence. A legibly written note, with the student's identification number, must be received within three days of your child's absence for it to be considered excused. If a note is not sent within three days, the absence is considered unexcused and will not be reversed at a later date.
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So what if my child didn't follow directions. The answers are correct.
In order to be successful test takers, children must be able to follow verbal and written directions carefully and correctly. Standardized tests use specific question words. If children are not in the habit of reading and following directions exactly, test results will be poor. Making children accountable for these skills will create appropriate test taking habits and will lead to better test results.
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How will my child be rewarded for following the rules?
When children follow the rules, verbal praise will be given immediately. Other possible rewards include stickers, house points, and school wide honors.
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Why must my child restate the question in his/her answer?
When writing answers to questions, students should get into the habit of restating those questions in their answers. This simple practice will help them later when taking the SBAC exam. When the SBAC written responses are scored, students are often given numerous points if the prompt is simply restated in the first paragraph: just as they have practiced restating the question in their answer when completing fifth grade assessments.