Mrs. Groch rgroch@srvhs.org
Dear Students and Parents:
This
letter will provide you with valuable information that will give you and your
parents a clear understanding of what is expected of each student enrolled in
this course. Please take a moment to read this letter and review these
expectations. A "signature slip"
is available online and must be returned via email within the first couple of days of school, indicating you
have read the policies. For your convenience all assignments are listed on the
class web page calendar. Please bookmark this site on your home computer.
Grades are posted
approximately each two weeks. Grades will be available on School Loop.
Please make sure your parents
email their email addresses directly to me at
rgroch@srvhs.org.
Parents, feel free to browse the web site for the calendar assignments. Mrs. Groch Website: Accelerated Biology.
TEXTBOOK: Biology Concepts & Connections,
6th Edition, Campbell et al, 2008 (has a cheetah on the cover)
To access Campbell/R/M/T Biology C&C 6e Student: go to
http://wps.aw.com/wps/media/access/Pearson_Default/5329/5457129/login.html
and log in using your Login Name and Password.
There is also a related textbook FREE site http://www.phschool.com/atschool/biology/Dragonfly/Student_Area/PHB_S_BK_index.html)
REQUIRED MATERIALS: binder, quad ruled lab journal, red & blue/black ink pens, highlighter, #2 pencil, calculator,
Lab Donation: Due to the continued lack of funding for education from the State, we are restricted by what we can accomplish. For this reason we must ask for your generous support by making a donation (not a fee) to the SRVHS-Science. This donation will help maintain the quality of our laboratory courses, demonstrations, provide supplies, chemicals and specimens, repair equipment, maintain high safety standards, and allow us to upgrade equipment. We would like to thank you in advance for your continued and generous support. It is warmly appreciated. Without your donations, our laboratory science program would come to a complete halt, as your donation is our only adequate means of laboratory funds. The cost of science materials continues to rise each year, while our allotment of funds remains stagnant.
We would like to recommend a minimum lab donation of $50.00 (or any amount you feel you can afford at this time) per student for the school year. We will also accept donations of supplies such as: office supplies; scientific equipment, such as microscopes, balances, glassware, are always welcome donations. This year I am continuing to ask for computer donations; the eMacs are aging quickly (keyboards, mice and batteries to name a few) and with the demise of the state program for technology there is no funding to replace or repair these computers. If you are interested please check out the district requirements for donated machines PC or Mac or other equipment please contact me at rgroch@srvhs.org .
Attendance See Board Policy AR 5113a and Board Policy AR 5113 (makeup work)
Parents are strongly encouraged to plan family vacations, doctor's appointments, and other social activities (Educational code considers these "unexcused" absences) for times when it will not adversely affect a student's educational progress.. It is impossible to replicate the science lab and classroom experience with paper and pencil activities.
Cuts and Tardies will result in an email home to parents. Students receive 4 "tickets" per semester (worth 1% each of extra credit on the final exam) if you are tardy, need to use the bathroom, or need to go to your locker you will need to use one of your red tickets. Cuts will result in an attendance contract, 3 cuts may result in you being dropped from the course.
Absences due to illness are allowed a "reasonable amount of time" (within 3 days unless other arrangements are made please) by district policy to make up missed assignments, otherwise the work is considered to be late (NOTE work is also considered late and only worth up to 70% credit after each unit test). the last day to turn in any late work or extra credit is the Monday the week before finals' week, no exceptions. Please see me if you need to make personal arrangements, due to special circumstances. You are encouraged to e-mail rgroch@srvhs.org ,or a classmate when you are absent to get an update on the material you may have missed. Check the web page calendar , and check your email account regularly for messages from me.
Missed tests are to be made up within 3 days unless extraordinary circumstances exist. The exams must be made up at lunch or during tutorial (see me to set a date). It is your responsibility to make sure you make up your missed exams and quizzes, note alternative quizzes and exams may be given if made up later than 3 days.
Missed Labs will be made up after school on lab make up days (to be announced). If you know you will be out because of athletics, please plan on taking quizzes at lunch or starting your tests during lunch to finish up early in class before you are released. If you are going to miss the whole class please make arrangements to make up the test. NOTE: if you miss a lab day an alternative written assignment may also be required.
Absent work is accepted according to the above written guidelines. Try to email work to yourself (and me for backup) if your printer dies and please print out in the library
NOTE: the SCHOOL DETENTION Program will be held 1/2 before school starts Tuesday thru Friday. Not attending detention will result in a 4 hour Saturday School (assigned by Administration). Parents will be notified by email or phone prior to detention dates. Detention may be assigned for tardies, cuts, failure to turn in homework on time, etc. (please see the student handbook for current policies).
Assignments:
Homework must be typed (#10 Times New Roman font) with the correct heading otherwise credit will not be received. Lecture notes, pre-labs and chapter homework go in your journal. Lab write ups and PBLs will be typed. Try to email work to yourself (and me for backup)if your printer dies and print out in the library
Homework is corrected with a red ink pen during class discussion unless otherwise noted on the board.
Average 4 assignments per week. (not including Science Project assignments)
Homework or Lab Quizzes will generally be given weekly.
All graded/recorded/returned/ stamped assignments are to be kept in the student binder by theme/unit of study, until after the final exam 2nd semester..
Note the following changes: if an assignment is turned in past the unit test day then the assignment can only earn up to 75% credit (even if complete). This change does not affect lab re-do re-writes that were turned in on time.
LAST DAY ANY LATE OR REDONE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED IS THE MONDAY OF THE WEEK BEFORE FINALS, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Labs:
Safety is a priority in the lab. Each student will take a safety exam and sign a safety contract prior to being allowed into the lab.
Lab notes, diagrams, and data are to be written in the lab journal. Begin a new page for each lab. (You may write on the backside of the pages) . Lab title and date must be written on the first line of the page. e.g. (Lab: "Who's on First" 12/1/10).
Lab write ups are to be typed (#10 font) if assigned, some labs questions are assigned to be completed in lab journals..
Lab procedure information are generally online or will be found in the School Loop calendar (notes or locker) and will be the student's responsibility for printing the lab pages as needed prior to each lab.
Breakage, damage or loss of equipment and glassware will be charged to the student on a replacement cost basis.
All graded/recorded/returned/ stamped labs are to be kept in the student binder by theme/unit of study, until after the final exam.
Journal Entries: Save the first page of the journal for table of contents. Entries include all chapter homework, class notes, warm up activity/daily questions, video and guest speaker notes, lab notes/data. Begin a new page in your journal when a new topic is introduced. The topic e.g. ( Lecture: homeostasis, 9/14/10) must be written at the top of the page.
Daily Class Procedures: Class starts when the bell rings. Look at the front board for updates to the web calendar. Copy the warm up activity/daily question into your journal, write an answer.
*If you are tardy to class, place the note on my keyboard and sit down. See academic responsibility contract at the end of this policy.
| Grading Policy: |
|
||
| > 100 A+ |
|
|
50 |
| 89.99-88 B+ | 87.99-82 B |
|
|
| 79.99-78 C+ | 77.99-72 C | 71.99-70 C- |
15 |
| 69.99-68 D+ | 67.99-62 D |
|
10 |
|
|
** category percentages will be modified 2nd semester to include a project category for the completed science project- HW drops to 10% as well as Final exam to 10% of grade) |
Enrichment Credit: Enrichment credit may be offered periodically during the semester. These opportunities will be announced in class and generally posted in the classroom. Enrichment credit points cannot exceed 2% of the total possible points. Extra credit is linked to units and no more than 4 articles can be turned in per quarter and on the Monday the week before finals WHICH is the last day that extra credit or any work will be accepted.
Students and parents,
The following is the District's policy regarding non-discrimination:
"District policy states
that harassment in or out of the classroom is not to be tolerated. Harassment
based on race, ethnicity, able-bodiedness, sexuality, perceived sexuality,
gender, gender expression, monetary standing, religion or faith-base, or any
other factor will be reported to the administration and dealt with accordingly.
This includes slang such as 'that’s so gay' or 'that’s retarded.' Both are
considered hate speech."
In conclusion, I thank you for taking the time to read this policy. Carefully read the science departmental citizenship policy that follows. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail rgroch@srvhs.org or call me 552-3728. The academic success of the student is of the utmost importance. Any problems or concerns require urgent attention. Kindly sign and return the form that will be sent home, within the first 10 days of school.
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY POLICY
Students: You alone are responsible for your learning; no one else can learn for you. You are also responsible for your own behavior and attitude. You are responsible for attending class and participating fully.
Parents: Are responsible for providing a home environment in which students are able to learn. Are responsible for monitoring the student's progress and attendance via online calendar and email progress updates. Should act as a positive advocate for the student with teachers and school administration.
Teachers and schools: Are responsible for providing an environment in which students are able to learn. High academic and behavioral standards shall be maintained. An atmosphere of trust and caring will be promoted at all times.
Read the policy carefully. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail, or call me. The academic success of the student is of the utmost importance. Any problems or concerns require urgent attention. Please read and return the bottom portion of sheet sent home with the student.
Defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own work, taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, and the fabrication of information.
Common examples of academically dishonest behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Cheating - intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to improve one's grade; use of a cellular phone during testing, copying from another student's work; submitting same work for an assignment in more than one class without prior permission of both instructors; representing material prepared by another as one's own work; inappropriate test taking conduct; violating rules of academic conduct relating to this course.
2. Fabrication - intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any data, information, or citation in an academic exercise.
3. Plagiarism - intentionally representing the words, ideas, or sequences of ideas of another, as one's own in any academic exercise; failure to attribute any of the following: quotations, paraphrases, or borrowed information. There are no joint assignments. You may consult with other students, but your work must be original. Working on an assignment together and turning in virtually the same assignment will either result in a ZERO for that assignment or the score divided up between the authors with directions to rewrite in your own words. All sources must be cited using APA formate (see www.easybib.com). Use of new technical vocabulary without definition may be seen as plagiarism.
4. Falsification and forgery - knowingly making a false statement, concealing material information or forging another's signature.
5. Facilitating academic dishonesty - intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.
6. Use of any electronic devises (not limited to cellular phones, photos, text messaging, etc) during exams- the use of any electronic devises for any reason will result in a zero on that test.
Any of the infractions mentioned in this section will result in a discipline notice to the appropriate assistant principal. This will be entered on the student's discipline screen. Student will be dropped from a course with an "F" on the second academic dishonesty violation which takes place in any class during the school year.
All rules and policies in the San Ramon Valley High School Student Handbook will apply if not addressed in this class policy.
Success Tips:
1. Attend class daily. Turn in all work on time, neat and legible.
2. Take pride in your work. Make every effort to do all of the assignments, especially for days you have missed. Even though you receive reduced points for late work you are still responsible for the subject matter covered. It will help you on the Final exam in the long run.
3. Participate in class discussions: ask questions; take notes; get notes when absent.
4. Maintain communication with your teacher by school e-mail, School Loop email, or last resort-phone,.
5. Cooperate and participate during labs. You will be expected to know how to use equipment and how to do certain procedures.
6. Review for quizzes and tests.