Biology Class Policy

College Preparatory Biology Class Policy

Introduction: This required course may be your most/least difficult academically and your most/least interesting subject-wise depending upon your interest, motivation, ability and self discipline this year. This course is required for graduation and meets the entrance criteria for state universities.
Course Length: One Year.
Course Text: Miller and Levine, Biology, 2007
Course Outline:
First semester: Students will be introduced to many techniques used in the laboratory, biochemistry, body systems, cell biology. and DNA and DNA biotechnology
Second semester: Students will be introduced to body systems, plants, genetics, evolution and biotechnology, and classification and diversity of life and ecology.
Class Material: You must bring a pencil, red pen, calculator (labeled) and your journal (sewed/bound only) and specified course materials to class everyday. There will be periodic checks of your journal with stamps given for completion of assignments. Please file any corrected papers in chronological order. Do not discard any work until after the final exam.

Lab Donation: The Science Department at SRVHS is committed to providing your son or daughter with the best science education available. Due to the continued lack of funding for education from the State, we are restricted by what we can accomplish.   For this reason we ask for your support by making a donation 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 main source of laboratory funds as the cost of science materials continues to rise each year, while the allotment of funds from the state is in decline.
We would like to recommend a minimum lab donation of $40.00 (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 iMacs 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 eMac or other equipment please contact me at rgroch@srvhs.org .
Attendance   See Board Policy AR 5113

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 NOT generally possible to replicate the science lab and classroom experience with paper and pencil activities.
Cuts (State Educational code considers these "truancy" ) will not be eligible for make up credit on any assignment or class activity nor will credit be given to assignments/tests/quizzes due the day of a "cut". Tardiness is a disruption. See Board Policy AR 5113
Students will receive 4 "tickets" to use for each semester for tardies, bathroom passes, and locker passes. Any unused tickets (color of tickets vary by semester) count as 1% extra credit on the semester final exam.
Absences due to illness are allowed to make up work withing a reasonable amount of time (as soon as possible, suggested time is within 3 days), otherwise the work is considered to be late. Any assignments turned in after a unit test will only be worth a maximum of 70% credit. Late work and extra credit are due by the Monday 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 phone or email a classmate when you are absent to get an update on the material you may have missed. Check the web page calendar at www.grochbiology.org. It is the responsibility of the student to check the calendar for missed assignments, pick up any handouts, make appointments to seek clarification if confused and to make up missed laboratory work, tests and quizzes after school or by arrangement within one week otherwise an alternative written report may or will be assigned.
Missed tests are to be made up within three days or students will receive a zero for all missed tests and quizzes. The exams must be made up during class immediately after the absence or after school. It is your responsibility to make sure you make up your missed exams, please make arrangements to make up your tests and quizzes. Students who do not make up their tests and quizzes in a timely fashion may be given an alternate written test or assignment.
Missed major labs will be made up after school on lab make up days, missing lab days may result in an alternative written report assignment..
NOTE: NEW SCHOOL DETENTION Program (as of 9/06) 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.

Assignments:

Homework and Lab Write-up that are required to be typed (#10 TImes New Roman font) must have the correct heading otherwise credit will not be received. IF you have computer problems, please attach a signed parent note when you turn in your assignment. If you are having printer problems at home, remember that the library has printers, email your assignment to yourself and print out. Lecture notes, pre-labs and chapter homework go in your journal. Some Lab write-ups that are assigned will be typed. Labs turned in on time may be eligible for full credit if redone correctly.
Homework is corrected with a red ink pen during class discussion unless otherwise noted on the assignment board. and receives a stamp.
Average 4 assignments per week.
Homework or Lab Quizzes will/may be given weekly.
Please keep all graded/recorded/returned/ stamped assignments until after the final exam.
If an assignment is turned in past the unit test day then the assignment can only earn up to 75% credit (even if complete).
THE ABSOLUTE LAST DAY FOR ANY LATE WORK OR REDONE ASSIGNMENTS 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" 9/10/20--).
Major Lab write ups are to be typed (#10 font) or in journal. See calendar for specifics.
Lab procedure information is posted on the web page, it is the student's responsibility for printing the lab pages as needed prior to each lab and kept in the binder.
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: Begin a new page in your journal when a new topic is introduced. The topic e.g. ( Lecture: homeostasis, 11/20/10) must be written at the top of the page.
Daily Class Procedures: Class starts when the bell rings. Your homework must be turned in before the bell, ( if called for on the board at beginning of class). Always check the front board for daily instructions, homework assignments and activities. The homework calendar is on line on Mrs. Groch's Web Page not on School Loop.
Academic Responsibility/Cheating Policy: Please read the student guide for specific consequences. Cheating, which includes plagiarism, is defined as representing any work that is not your own original work as your work. This includes using another student's work from a previous year, this year, looking at another student's test, work copied and pasted from the internet or other published material, use of cellular phones (text messaging, photos) etc. All work turned in must be in your own words. 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.bibme.org). Use of new technical vocabulary without definition may be seen as plagiarism.
Grading: Every assignment is worth a certain number of points towards your semester grade. Your grade will be determined from that score on the following scale: (no rounding)

Grading Policy:
> 100 A+	100-92 A	91.99-90 A-
89.99-88 B+	87.99-82 B	81.99-80 B-
79.99-78 C+	77.99-72 C	71.99-70 C-
69.99-68 D+	67.99-62 D	61.99- 60 D-
		59.99 -> F

After the second week of classes, weighted grades will be posted at School Loop you will need your student ID and a password. This grade report will help you monitor your progress. Final semester grades are determined by the following formula:

15% Homework Assignments, long term projects, activities,

25% Laboratory work,

50% quizzes, and tests, (35% tests, 15% quizzes)

10% Final Exam

Extra Credit: Extra credit may be offered periodically during the semester. These specific unit opportunities will be announced in class and generally posted in the classroom.

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 School Loop and 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. In addition, please read the Academic Responsibility and Accountability Grade information and kindly EMAIL the acknowledgement by pasting the completed contents of the signature sheet, located at Course Policy signature sheet SEE HOMEWORK CALENDAR FOR DUE DATE.

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 very detailed policy. If you have questions, feel free to e-mail rgroch@srvhs.org (first choice) or call my voicemail at 552-3728. The academic success of the student is of the utmost importance. Any problems or concerns require urgent attention. Kindly EMAIL and return the Course Policy signature sheet for credit (see homework calendar for due date) .