Hello Awesome Students - Mrs. Holbrook's Science Class



Hello Awesome Students!

Welcome to Skyridge Middle School and to 7th Grade Science. I hope you had a great summer. I am glad to be at Skyridge Middle School and to have you in my class. I look forward to getting to know you and introducing you to new science concepts and building on those you have already learned.

Literacy is our goal at Skyridge Middle School. In this science class students will read, write and do math the majority of the time. However, I believe that science is really learned if it is experienced first hand. Therefore, we will be conducting experiments and doing many activities this year. We will keep a science notebook of our experiments and activities that will document our learning. In this classroom facts and terminology will be learned as needed while developing explanations and designing solutions supported by evidence-based arguments and reasoning. We will also practice systems thinking and modeling to explain phenomena.

The 8 Keys of Excellence

Integrity: Conduct yourself with authenticity, sincerity and wholeness. Your values and behavior are aligned.

Failure Leads to Success: Understand that failures simply provide you with the information you need to succeed. There are no failures, only outcomes and feedback. Everything can be useful if you know how to find the gift.

Speak with Good Purpose: Speak in a positive sense, and be

responsible for honest and direct communication. Avoid gossip and harmful communication.

This is it: Focus your attention on the present moment, and make the most of it. Give each task your best effort.

Commitment: Follow through on you promises and obligations; live your vision. Do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Ownership: Take responsibility and be accountable for your actions.

Flexibility: Be open to change or new approach when it helps you get the outcome you desire.

Balance: Keep your mind, body, and spirit in alignment. Spend time developing and maintaining these three areas.

Before we get started it’s important that each student know what will be required of him or her during the school year. Please read and discuss the expectations and classroom format with your parents.

In this classroom we use a set of principals called the 8 Keys of Excellence. I believe that following these principals will help to make this classroom a supportive, trusting environment where each person is valued and respected.

* Be part of the solution that makes our classroom a great place to be.

*In this classroom...

1. I will treat you with respect, so you will know how to treat me.

2. Feel free to do anything that doesn’t cause a problem for anyone else.

3. If you cause a problem I will ask you to solve it.

4. If you can’t solve the problem or choose not to, I will do something.

5. What I do, will depend on the special person, and the special situation

6. If you feel something is unfair, whisper to me “I’m not sure that’s fair” and we will talk.

*Consequences to Poor Behavior:

If everyone is doing their job, there should be few discipline problems. In the event of disruptive behavior occurs in class, I expect students to give an apology and supply restitution if necessary. Students are responsible for their actions, if you break something, you are expected to repair it or pay for it. If you hurt someone’s feelings you are expected to apologize to the person. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. But it is a quality person who owns their actions and admits when they have made a mistake. If students are not willing to apologize, supply restitution, and get back on task I will do something. Parents are notified.

*Tardy Policy: All students are expected to be on time to every class every day. In this class, you should be in your seat when the bell rings with needed supplies on your desk. In this class, the first 5 minutes are spent reading and completing the “Class starter assignment.” Sometimes this will be a video segment. If you do arrive late to class, enter the class without interrupting the learning that has started. Students who interrupt upon entering late may receive disciplinary action. Upon arriving, sign in on the clipboard that is on the front counter next to the door. If you have a note excusing the tardy put it in the basket next to the clipboard. Failure to sign in may result in being listed as absent.

*Assignment Policy:

If students are on task during class, work should be turned in on time. No late work is accepted without an Oops Ticket for full credit. You have two “Oops tickets” per tri-semester. If you are out of the room to attend a school meeting, counseling appointment, office summons, nurse visit, etc. you are required to make up the work with in one week of the activity. Students are required to make up work missed due to absences. If there are hand-outs to take they are filed, by date, in the “While you were absent box” which sits on the back counter near the back door. Assignments will be posted daily on the class website at cherylholbrook. Click on the month under Assignments in the navigation bar of the website. If you missed a lab activity you are expected to come in after school or during FLEX to make it up with in a week of coming back to school. Work not made up will receive a zero score. Alternative assignments can be arranged with advanced notification. If students require extra help in getting caught up they should seek assistance during class when appropriate, or see me during FLEX, or after school.

* Be part of the solution that makes our classroom a great place to be.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to ask for clarification.

*Revisions are expected :

Students are expected to revise work when requested. It is important to follow directions for each assignment or risk receiving a lower score or no credit. When writing in this class...

-Use part of the question’s vocabulary in your answer.

-Do not use pronouns (it, she, he, they) when writing one sentence answers.

-Answers not written in complete sentences will receive zero credit.

-You are expected to revise your work for credit.

*Grades: Grades are a necessary part of school. In this class, I will emphasize listening skills, and comprehension of the basic science concepts, while re-enforcing reading, writing, and math skills. I will emphasize the importance of meeting each science standard. Students are graded on total points earned out of total points assigned. Extra credit is available when all regular assignments are completed (not as a makeup opportunity). Students will receive a zero for missing assignments until assignments are completed. Special circumstances always occur; therefore, we need to keep open communication to resolve issues. I will do what is logical, fair, and best for students. A total points system is used for grading. The following grading scale is used:

A 93-100 C+ 77-79

A- 90-92 C 73-76

B+ 87-89 C- 70-72

B 83-86 D+ 65-69

B- 80-82 D 60-64

Class Supplies

It is the students’ responsibility to bring these supplies to class everyday:

Please Buy these items:

-Composition Notebook of 70-100 pages

-loose notebook paper

-blue or black pens, pencils, and a red pen

-colored pencils or markers

-calculator (a scientific calculator is preferred)

-A place to record homework.

If for any reason you or your parents need to contact me please call the school and leave a message or e-mail me. I will call you back on my prep period or after school. The school’s phone # is 360-833-5800. My extension is 78456 I am usually available in room 225 during these times 7:30 to 8:00 before school, during SSL 1:50-2:10 pm, and after school from 3:55 pm to late afternoon.

My e-mail address is cheryl.holbrook@camas.wednet.edu

I will try my best to keep the class website updated.

The class website is //cherylholbrook.

It is my hope that you will be successful in this science class. We can work together to accomplish this goal. You can achieve success by studying, practicing vocabulary and completing assignments in class and doing homework when assigned.

* Be part of the solution that makes our classroom a great place to be

Your teacher,

Mrs.Holbrook

| |

|Name_______________________________________________Date____________ |

| |

|Oops! My Science Work |

|will be Late! |

| |

|I am not able to meet the work deadline because: |

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

|I plan on turning in my work by _________________ |

|(date) |

|____________________________________ |

|Student Signature |

| |

|Name_____________________________________________Date____________ |

| |

|Oops! My Science Work |

|will be Late! |

| |

|I am not able to meet the work deadline because: |

| |

| |

| |

| |

| |

|I plan on turning in my work by _________________ |

|(date) |

|____________________________________ |

|Student Signature |

-----------------------

[pic]

[pic]

[pic]

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download