Class Procedures 2008-2009

Instructor: L. Bauck, Center for Wellness and Medical Professions, Palm Harbor University High School
Courses: Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES), Chemistry I
Room number: 6-103
Classroom Phone: (727) 669-1131 ext. 2255
Web: www.kwanga.net
Email: BAUCKL@pcsb.org

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Note to students: If you are printing this document for your portfolio, you must fill out this section and obtain a parent's signature.

Student's name (please print): __________________________________________

Parent/Guardian's name (please print): ___________________________________

Parent/Guardian's signature: ___________________________________________

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Absences

Absent students have as many days as they are absent to make up the work missed. Students "skipping" class will receive no credit for work done or due that day.

          A.P. Environmental Science: This is taught as a college course. Assignment and lab report due dates are announced well in advance. If a student is absent on the day an assignment or report is due, the assignment should be delivered or emailed to the teacher that day. Students are encouraged to work ahead when possible and, they may turn in work early.

B.E.N. : The Bauck Email Network

Feel free to email anytime about our class. Sign up to be a B.E.N. member and receive weekly email updates. Encourage parents/guardians to join as well.

Books

Students issued individual textbooks will cover them and bring them to class every day unless told otherwise. If any class sets of textbooks are used, treat the books gently to minimize wear.

Cheating

Any kind of cheating undermines our learning environment and violates trust. Please be honorable. Grades of zero and referrals-- the consequences-- mean less to me than the untrustworthy behavior.

Detention

Detentions are almost always issued after a first verbal warning. Detentions can easily be avoided through cooperation. Detentions will be served if behaviors such as these are observed: moving out of assigned seat or area, working with a lab group other than your assigned group, talking when the teacher/speaker is talking. Detentions are a choice of 20 minutes before or after school.

Discipline Plan

Grades: six-weeks and semester

The county grading scale will be followed:

Our course is 1 full credit, 1/2 credit each semester. Each semester is divided into three six-week grading periods and a final exam, each weighed equally.

Grades are updated and uploaded weekly. Please access the grades often through Parent Connect. A hard copy of the grades, listed by student number, is always available for students to see in class.

Hall Passes

Only one student will leave the room at a time. A standard hall pass will be used.

Help

It is important to keep up with the material covered in class. It would help you if you reviewed the material and prepared questions to ask as often as you can. If you need help, please schedule extra help before or after school.

Homework & Classwork

There will be homework assignments pertaining to each chapter, such as book work, article research, worksheets, mini-labs, etc. Homework is usually worth 10 or 20 points. A due date will be announced and posted for all assignments.

Late work will be accepted for half credit at most and will be accepted no later than the test covering the material. Late work is NOT eligible for "point redemption" (see end of this section).

Criteria: loose leaf paper with no jagged edges, name on paper, legible writing, blue or black ink for writing, math work in pencil. Suggested paper heading in upper right-hand corner: STUDENT NAME, CLASS & PERIOD, DATE, TEACHER NAME.

Homework and classwork corrections ("point redemption" or "buy-back"): Any student may correct mistakes and add information and turn the paper back in for redeeming half the points (a 30/40 can become a 35/40). Half-points will be rounded up (35/40 becomes a 37.5/40, which rounds to a 38/40). The deadline for this is one school day after papers are returned. If a student is absent, the deadline for this is one school day after the student receives the paper. Late work is NOT eligible for "point redemption."

Hurricane Pride (Student of the Week)

Each week one student per class period is chosen for the Hurricane Pride award. This can be won by participation, improvement, good grades, helping others, etc. The names are posted in our room and on my web site. Each winner receives a prize as well as a mini-certificate.

Kwanga.net

My web domain is updated weekly.  Course information, lesson plans, student award winners, links for practice and enrichment, and assignment lists are posted. This is a valuable resource for parents and students.

Lab Master (lab award)

After each lab, one student per class is chosen for the Lab Master award. Winners show exemplary lab performance and adherence to safety procedures. The names are posted in our room and on my web site. Each winner receives a prize as well as a personalized paper Erlenmeyer flask certificate.

Laboratory Activities

Labs enrich the course content. All students are expected to follow laboratory rules and procedures. Failure to do so will result in a referral and a zero for the lab activity grade. Students must have a laboratory safety contract on file, signed by themselves and the parents/guardians, in order to participate and receive credit for labs.

Lab corrections ("point redemption" or "buy-back"): Any student may correct mistakes and add information and turn the paper back in for redeeming half the points (a 30/40 can become a 35/40). The deadline for this is one school day after papers are returned. If a student is absent, the deadline for this is one school day after the student receives the paper. Late work is NOT eligible for “point redemption.”

          A.P. Environmental Science (APES) formal lab reports:
In addition to one-, two-, or multiple-day lab activities, there will be one "formal lab" (requiring a report) each grading period. The lab will be completed over multiple days, and the APES formal lab report format must be followed. Lab report due dates are announced well in advance. If a student is absent on the day a lab report is due, the report should be delivered or emailed to the teacher that day.

Materials

Please check the Wish List for supplies we need for classroom operation.

Notebooks, Portfolios, and Notetaking

You need a folder to hold your notes, assignments, and worksheets. Students will keep track of assignment grades on the APES portfolio log or Chem portfolio log.

Everyone needs to take notes on lecture-discussions. If printed notes are provided (what we call "Lazy Notes"), add your own comments to the margins and highlight during the discussion as directed: VOCABULARY in blue, SUPPORTING DETAILS in green.

          Chemistry:
Notebook portfolios are required, a possible 40/40 grade at the end of each six-week grading period. They are not available for “point redemption” (See Homework and Classwork section). 

          A.P.E.S.:
Notebook portfolios are voluntarily submitted by students at the end of each six-week grading period for a possible 20/20 grade. They are not available for “point redemption.” (See Homework and Classwork section).  Students whose grades are "borderline" may turn in a portfolio to try to increase their average.

Optional Assignments

We do not have extra credit in our class, but we do have optional assignments.

           CHEMISTRY optional assignments each grading period:
1)   10-point optional assignment: Any student who comes before or after school to go over their test mistakes with me and write out the corrections will receive 10/10 as an optional assignment grade. By appointment only!
2)   20-point optional assignment: Students may complete the “test review” and turn it in to the teacher on or before the test date.

          A.P.E.S. optional assignments each grading period:
1)   10 points - Any student who comes before or after school to go over their test mistakes with me and write out the corrections will receive 10/10 as an optional assignment grade. By appointment only!
2)   20 points - Turning in a notebook portfolio is worth a possible 20 points if all papers are complete and present in the proper order.

Referrals

I do not expect to have disciplinary problems such as those listed below. However, referrals will be given if the following behaviors such as these are observed:

Depending on the offense, a verbal warning and detention may be given before a referral.

Room Upkeep

It is everyone's responsibility to keep the desk areas clean (free of papers, dirt, markings, etc.). Make sure your area is clean when you get there. If not, tell me immediately. We want our room looking as nice as possible.

Tardies

The school policy will be followed:

•  First Tardy: verbal warning
•  Second Tardy: 25 minute detention
•  Third Tardy: 40 minute detention
•  Fourth Tardy and beyond: tardy referral

Be seated when the bell rings.

Tests

Tests are worth 200 points. You will know when the test is so you have time to prepare. If you are absent on the day of a test, you must take it upon returning. If you are absent the day before the test, you must take the test as scheduled with the rest of the class.

Chemistry: There is usually a test after each chapter. A review sheet will be posted online and available before the test.

A.P.E.S.: There is usually a test after each unit or 2-3 chapters. Tests are given over two days: one day for multiple choice and one day for essays. Essays are in the style of FRQs (free response questions from the AP exams). An essay bank of possible questions will be made available to all students before the test. Two of the questions will be on the test, chosen randomly for each half of the class.

Quizzes will be announced ahead of time as well. If we have any "pop quizzes," they are usually given as practice.

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© 2008 Lori Bauck
All Rights Reserved
Last Update: 6 August 2008