Class Expectations for Mrs. Bolvin's Practical Biology Class Dear Students:   This paper outlines course expectations for your practical biology class for the 2002-2003 school year.  Please read it carefully because it is the “guts” of your science class.  We are looking forward to a great year!!!   Course:  Practical Biology   Teachers:  Mrs. Bolvin   Class goals: The goal of this course is for you to gain investigation skills and an understanding of living organisms and the factors that affect them.    Text:  to be supplied on a unit by unit basis   Materials to be brought to class daily:  Ring binder, something to write with, finished homework   Academic Expectations:   1.     All school and class rules will be followed.  Discipline decisions will be make according to the student handbook. 2.     Since you do not have a textbook for this class, you are required to keep a ring binder for this course.  Please get one as soon as possible since you will have to keep all of the readings and notes I give you as well as all of the work you do for this class.  All of the material in your notebook must be kept by date, not by category (tests, quizzes, homework etc.). This paper should be the first paper in your notebook. 3.     Be on time for class.  Be ready to work, cooperate and contribute.  Being prepared for class includes bringing all required materials. 4.     I really want you in class.  Tardiness will not be accepted.  (3 tardies = one absence)  The third time you are tardy, you will stay after school one half-hour.  For each additional tardy after the third you will have a half-hour detention.  No show for detention without letting me know doubles the time.  Two no shows will earn an administrative detention. 5.     Make up policy:  You will be given as many days to make up your work as you missed from class.  For example if you missed 3 day 1’s.  You will have until the third day 1 after you return to pass in completed work. If the work is not made up in that time, you will receive a zero for the work. It is your responsibility to meet this deadline. 6.     More than 12 absences for the year = no credit earned 7.     Any test will be announced 3 school days before it will be given.  If you are absent for the day we review but were here when the test was announced, you will take the test.  Quizzes may or may not be announced.  If you miss the day of the test you will take the test the next time you are in class. 8.     You are encouraged to get extra help during study hall or after school.  I am usually available before school as well.   Behavioral Expectations:   1.     Respect for everyone in the classroom will be shown at all times.  You usually get treated the way you treat other people.  A mature and self-respecting person does not need to resort to put downs, interruptions and offensive jokes just to get attention. 2.     Please respect school property such as desks, walls, and lab equipment of all types.  Do not write on the desks even with your eraser.  You will have to wash all the desks in the room as well as all the countertops if you are caught. 3.     Follow all lab safety rules.  Careless behavior and thoughtless actions that cause glassware breakage during lab will result in “dish duty”.  More serious misbehavior may result in removal from lab and loss of lab credit.   I do not hesitate to contact the office and/or parents if necessary. 4.     Inappropriate language (cussing) will not be tolerated. 5.     Gum chewing is a private experience, not to be shared with others.  As long as I don’t see it, hear it, or smell it, you can do it.  If gum chewing in anyway interferes with the learning process (gum stuck on furniture, bubble popping, etc.) gum chewing will not be allowed.   Grading:             Tests                                                   20%           Quizzes                                               10%           Labs and Projects                               25%           Homework*                                         30%           ParticipationF                                      15%           *Homework that we go over in class will be checked for effort before class discussion.  Grades will be given as follows:           Complete and on time                       Ö +  = 95 out of 100 pts           Incomplete or late                             Ö     = 80           Extremely incomplete                        Ö-    = 65           No effort                                             0                  F Participation will be graded on a daily basis.  If you are: present and participating in a positive manner    2 pts tardy or present but not participating                 1 pt not present or absent from class >20 min.         0 pts                     Your participation grade will be calculated based on the following formula:                     Total Points earned    x 100                     Total points you could have earned