GREETINGS SHS STUDENTS
GENERAL PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE CLASS
--So you don't need to ever say--"I didn't know."
PART 1=GENERAL CLASSROOM PROCEDURES/GUIDELINES
PART 2= GRADE RELATED INFORMATION and CLASS RULES
This information is provided in the two parts mentioned above. If it has not been given to you, the second part will be sent to you soon. The second portion concludes with a section for you to sign and return after you have finished reading all of parts 1 and 2. If you have any question please feel free to call me at home. My home number is 792-7310.
PART 1
I welcome you to YOUR class. If the semester
is going to be a success we must work together to make it so.
The following will answer a few of the questions that may presently
be of concern to you.
THE BASIC RULES
BASIC RULE # 1--- THE TEACHER MAKES THE RULES
OF THE CLASS-within limits established by the State of
Tennessee, our local Board of Education, and SHS.
BASIC RULE # 2----THE TEACHER RETAINS THE RIGHT TO CHANGE A RULE
BASIC RULE # 3----IF YOU DON'T LIKE A RULE, SEE RULE #1.
Do what you know you should do when you should
do it.
GUM--Don't be caught chewing gum in class.
People generally will respond to you according
to how you treat them. I consider your behavior a direct indicator of your choices and/or upbringing. I expect good manners and appropriate behavior at all times.
FEEL FREE to express your opinions and ask questions provided you DO NOT INTERRUPT when someone else is speaking. DURING CLASS ACTIVITIES , BE ACKNOWLEDGED BEFORE SPEAKING (raise hand, eye contact with teacher, etc.). Feel free to talk to teammates when assigned to work on a team or group activity.
You may talk as much as you want BEFORE CLASS STARTS. Once class begins we only speak ONE AT A TIME.
I WILL make a decision that you think is unfair
either to you or a classmate. I do promise to do what I think is most fair for all concerned. Remember--LIFE IS NOT FAIR
(JFK).
DONOT
turn in paper to me that has been torn from a spiral notebook
(the ones with the messy paper on the sides). Do Not bring liquid paper into the classroom. Cross out
mistakes and keep going.
ALWAYS bring to class WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN CLASS. AT
DISMISSAL, THE TEACHER, NOT THE BELL, DISMISSES THE CLASS.
Please enter and leave like ladies and gentlemen.
We will discuss items such as food and drink in class during an appropriate moment. Until that moment arrives, do not bring food or drink into the classroom.
CHEATING deserves a zero and you should expect to receive what you deserve. Please do not violate the trust I put in each of you to be honest and do your own best work. When trust is violated, it is usually never reacquired (in my mind). The amount of time to reacquire trust is usually one life time.
In my class you are considered to be using a phone if it is within ANY HUMAN'S view, emits ANY sound OR any human is touching it!!! If you are using a phone you are disrupting class and the learning opportunities of yourself and others.
EVERYONE PICKS UP TRASH!!
If you have a computer, visit my
web site (starting with the "go"
page at)
I have made and will be making a sincere effort to include helpful links for students. If you have not utilized the links, don't say you are trying or doing your best. If you have not read a chapter twice, don't say you are making a sincere effort to understand its contents.
DON'T ASK TO USE THE PHONE. Be aware of the policy for cell phones etc.
You are to keep a notebook/workbook. It must be a three RING notebook. The notebook must contain materials such as handouts, daily notes, problems, quizzes, lab reports, and other material related to the class. KEEP ALL MATERIAL IN THE ORDER THEY ARE ASSIGNED, WRITTEN, OR GIVEN TO YOU. THE DATE and YOUR NAME
(in ink) must be at the top of EVERY PAGE. If I don't tell
you to turn in a specific assignment, it should be retained in
the notebook. On unannounced occasions, your notebook or parts
of your notebook will be graded. You can open & print a blank "table of contents"
page for the notebook from my "go.htm" page. You may use a scientific calculator in class. You MAY
NOT use a graphing calculator on a test or quiz. I recommend
an inexpensive Texas Instrument scientific calculator.
A PAGE OF WRITING CONSISTS OF AT LEAST 150 WORDS-- NOT
COUNTING CONJUNCTIONS.
Students can view the State of Tennessee COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (and/or my modifications of the descriptions) for Chemistry, Physical Science, and Physics by clicking a link on my "go.htm" page.
The course description linked to my "go" page lists the related text chapters / sections in (Modern Chemistry). Chemistry 1 students are expected to successfully complete the study of (or a portion of) approximately 20 different chapters in the text and some lab related objectives. Chemistry 2 students will be working using multiple texts.
We can have a great year together if we all work together.
DO think twice before you speak if you intend to say what you
think. Remember when things seem unmanageable, the control center
of your life is ATTITUDE. Speaking of attitude, whether you have
or have not enjoyed this little publication, just SMILE and see
if you don't feel better.
If your absence TALLY is greater than 5 you cannot receive credit for the course unless you are granted a waiver oR appeal. KEEP UP WITH YOUR ABSENCE TALLY. You will receive an absence if you are out of class for more than ten minutes.
The Board of Education has established a
$20.00 lab fee for chemistry.The physical science lab fee is $10 unless it has been increased by the Board of Education. Make your check payable to Sycamore High School and indicate what class it is for. Additional donations will be spent on supplies/equipment. Get a receipt from me (the teacher).
Parent's are strongly encouraged to provide internet service to the student. The students will be able to access practice tests, text links, and the textbook online. Online assignments may also be given. If the student does not have access to the internet - the online assignments would have to be done in another manner or omitted altogether. Let's face it - we are in a computer world. The student will either get with it or get left behind. The federal law is "No Child Left Behind." It is my opinion students cannot keep up with the real world unless they can access the internet properly.
Physical Science students are currently scheduled to take the End of Course test on December 4, 2008. The semester calendar at present will provide for only 71 days of student contact before the test will be taken. Consequently, good attendance is paramount for students in physical science. We will be striving to have the physical science students meet 96 standards in less than 71 days. MOST students will need parental assistance.
PART 2 GRADES AND POSTED RULES
IF YOU ARE ABSENT----IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ask (promptly) for missed tests and obtain missed assignments. If you were absent when a test/assignment was initially announced AND returned after the test was given or assignment taken up, you may take up to three days to ask to complete a test or assignment provided I don't inform you of the test or assignment. UNLESS SCHOOL POLICY REQUIRES me to do otherwise, I will NOT GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO PREPARE FOR OR COMPLETE AN ACTIVITY THAN YOUR CLASSMATES WERE INITIALLY GIVEN. Quizzes are surprises!! If you were ONLY absent on a day you would have taken a test or turned in an assignment, you should take the test or turn in the assignment on the day you return (without being prompted).
If you have an absence you will be given a zero score for a test that was given on the day of your absence. If homework is taken up on the day of your absence you will be given a zero for the homework grade. The POSSIBLE SCORE POINTS FOR THE TEST OR HOMEWORK WILL REMAIN THE SAME. IF YOU MAKE UP THE WORK ACCORDING TO BOARD POLICY and THE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS -- THE ZERO WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE SCORE YOU EARN.
If you perform an activity that benefits the entire class
I will consider rewarding you with additional points.
You should expect to be refused permission
to go to the restroom more than once during a week (unless you
have a statement from a physician calling for special treatment).
YOU--are responsible for anything you miss while in the restroom.
** Your grade computation is simple. Everything IS worth points. I will tell you how many
points something is worth and how many points you scored. You
grade will be calculated by dividing the sum of your scored points
by the sum of the points that were possible. You should expect
tests and quizzes to account for at least half of your semester
grade. The number of possible points will vary among students.
** I use a grading program called "Easy
Grade Pro." The program has NEVER made a mistake during my usage. The person using the program DOES make mistakes. As you know all measurements contain error. I am human, consequently I make mistakes. I do promise to always strive to be fair and make as few errors as possible when assigning and computing your grades. If you believe I have made an error, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP so I can take steps to correct your grade.
You can E-mail
me by clicking on the mailbox at the bottom of one of my web pages. E-mail is fantastic for sharing information and documents. However, if you desire an immediate response from me, please use the ancient device called a phone. No text messaging - please.
Mr. JACK
H. NORRIS
