Physical
Science 2004-2005-- Syllabus
Miss DeVries Room 217 Voicemail ext. 158
sdevrieslcchs@yahoo.com “Science Does Not Know its Debt to Imagination.” R.W.Emerson
Welcome
Welcome to Lansing Catholic Central High School, and
to the world of science. As freshman, you will be encountering many new
experiences: classes, teachers, classmates, rooms, procedures, policies and
opportunities just to name a few. Making adjustments as a 9th grader
can and will be challenging, yet through these challenges you will develop a
whole new sense of yourself. One of the required components of you 9th
grade year is physical science. I hope as a class, we can work together to make
this a positive learning adventure for everyone.
My name is Stacia DeVries. This is my third year at
L.C.C. Before taking this position, I worked for two years at Wyoming Park High
School, and a year at Harrison Alternative, teaching math and science classes.
I graduated from Wyoming Park in 1994, and then from Western Michigan
University in 1999 with certifications in Biology, Earth Science and General
science. I am truly looking forward to this year, and I hope you are as well.
Throughout
the year, we will be discussing a number of topics: scientific thinking and
processes, Earth’s interior, rocks and rock formation, astronomy, meteorology,
laws of motion, electricity, magnetism, chemical equations, and elements. This
list is not all-inclusive. While the material covered is of great importance, a
major goal of this year will be to encourage scientific and critical thinking,
problem solving and to understand scientific language. We will learn to interpret
and create, graphs and tables, understand data, make predictions and draw
conclusions. This knowledge is vital for success in future science courses.
Science is
everywhere in our lives. It is important to learn how what we study in this
class relates to life itself.
Science portfolio
A key component to science is organization. It will
not only help you succeed in this class, but you will also learn important
study skills to carry with you throughout your school career. You have already
received your supply list, and were asked to bring these items to class with
you on the first day of school. If you need another supply list, please let me
know ASAP.
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR SUPPLIES!! ALWAYS
KEEP YOUR NAME LEGIBLE ON THEM!!
If you need something to place your name on a supply
item (marker, label, etc.) Let me know, and I will help you.
It is expected that you bring all necessary materials
to class everyday.
You are going to create a
portfolio of all your work throughout the year. You will keep everything in
your science portfolio—the 3 ring binder you are required to have for this
class. Once again: Everything from this class must be kept in your
portfolio, and be organized. I should be able to ask you for any assignment
and you should be able to find it directly. This binder should be used only
for material from this class. I do not want to find your English essays or
Spanish worksheet in the middle of it.
Some assignments, such as your responses to the warm-ups,
will stay in your portfolios until they are collected. Others will be turned in
and should be placed in your portfolio after they have been returned. My goal
for you is to have something that shows how much you have learned and grown
throughout the year. That is what a portfolio is for. To show off what you are
capable of. You were also asked to bring a set of tabbed dividers. The
following are to be your sections and should be labeled as such.
**All sections should be organized in chronological
order.**
Bring
your portfolio with labeled tabs to class on Wed. Aug 25th for extra
credit points on your Syllabus Quiz.
Be your own Advocate
If you find yourself needing help or with a
question, PLEASE, PLEASE come see me—I have “office hours” posted in my room,
and in general, I tend to be here a whole lot.
This
classroom revolves around students, without you there is nothing. ASK QUESTIONS!!!! Not only does your
understanding and opinion matter in this class, but you have a right to share
with others (when appropriate) so we can all learn from each other. We will
have many discussions, and I expect each and every one of you to be active
participants. To do so, you must not only ask meaningful questions, but listen
during discussions and to the questions and statements of others.
One
suggestion I have found that often helps students is the use of flash cards.
They can be a very helpful strategy to learn new vocabulary, and I would highly
recommend making and using them if you struggle at all with the material. It
would also be a good habit to begin incorporating into you study habits for
future classes and college.
Grades
Grades will be assigned according to the grading
scale set by the school, which can be found in your hand book. Grades will be
posted fairly regularly but you are always welcome to check with me if you have
any questions or concerns about your standing in class. I would appreciate it
however if you chose an appropriate
time to do so. Before school is usually pretty hectic, but after school is a
good time. At the end of an hour might also be appropriate, but use your
judgment. I use a points based system to assign grades. For example, a test
might be worth 75 or 80 points, but you will only have 3 or 4 a marking period.
Homework assignments however would only be worth 15 to 20 points, but you will
have many of them. In order to do well in class, you need to succeed on tests
and do your homework. One without the other will not lead to an A in this
class.
Any rounding of grades will also follow the school
policy. For example, an 81.5% would be rounded up to an 82%, therefore a B
instead of a B-. You should also be aware that I am more willing to give an
inch when I have seen an effort put forth. Class participation, preparedness
and appropriate behavior will all be considered in the final calculation of grades.
Attendance
Attendance in class is vital; however all of you will
miss class at some point this year. It is your responsibility to check for
missed homework, tests etc. Lab work and group work will be hard to make up and
you may have to do an equal, yet alternative assignment. Even if it for a
school related reason, the responsibility falls on YOUR shoulders. I will not be chasing students down to remind them
about missed anything. Again, you need to find an appropriate time to check with me about this. End of class
and end of the day are the best.
Absences can be classified in two ways: excused and
unexcused. Check your handbook for clarification on those terms. After (or
before) any excused absences all work, tests, assignments etc may be made up
once you have checked with me about what you are responsible for. Unexcused
absences equal zeros in all tests, quizzes, assignments of that day, unless
that absence is later cleared up. It is your responsibility to make sure you
absences are excused.
Cheating
Don’t do it. It
is not in anyway appropriate for you to cheat at anytime. This is not
limited to tests or quizzes. Copying
homework is cheating as well, and both parties, the cheater and the person
whose paper they are copying will receive zeros. Consequences for cheating
can result in further action from the assistant principal.
Late Work
I will always
accept late work, but once you have missed the original due date, you will
not receive full credit for your assignment. If it is turned in within 1 week
of due date, you will receive up to 75%. After 1 week, you will only receive up
to 50% credit. **Please also note that assignments
done in ink colors other than blue or black or on colored paper will receive
late credit. Papers without a name run the risk of being thrown out and at
the very least, they will receive late credit.
Classroom Expectations
All rules found in your hand book apply to this
classroom. Refrain from inappropriate language; do not bring drinks or food
into the classroom. This is particularly important for science classrooms. It
is expected that you will speak only at appropriate times. Side conversations
are expected to stop when someone is addressing the class, either myself or
another student. You are entering into adult hood, and I expect you to act as
such. Do not take what is not yours. You can always ask to borrow, but do not just take. Be prepared. Requests
to get forgotten items in lockers will be granted at my discretion. Many will
be denied. You are aware what you
must bring to class. Do so.
Personal Expectations
1. Act with Respect. Treat others as you wish to be
treated. It is as simple as that. Don’t say things that are offensive to
anyone, stop talking when the class is being addressed, use you manners. If you
need to borrow something, ask first, and be sure that permission has been
granted.
2. Act in a mature manner at all times. The science
classroom is not the place for goofing off or horseplay. Things can get broken
and injuries can occur.
3. Be prepared. Bring your necessary supplies to class
everyday.
4. I value your thoughts and opinions. ASK QUESTIONS!
If you have a concern, you need to make me aware of it. If we need to pursue
that concern with Mr. Maloney or Mrs. Corner, we will do so.
5. This classroom has been graced with a computer lab. We
will be using those computers throughout the year. School usage rules apply
here the same as in the library. The computers are for school related use only,
not personal. (No checking of your email). If you are removed from a computer
for inappropriate use, your privileges will be indefinitely revoked, depending
on the nature of the infraction. Misuse will be reported to Mrs. Corner as
necessary as well.
Group/Lab Work and Safety Expectations
1.
There are
electrical outlets at each desk. They are “LIVE” and direct contact with a
metal object will cause you bodily harm. DO NOT TOUCH them.
2.
No food or drink
is allowed in this classroom, unless special permission has been given by Miss
DeVries. This includes bottles of water.
3.
The faucets and
sinks are not meant to be played with. The covers will remain on the sinks
unless removed by Miss DeVries. You will find that if you turn on the faucets,
the water comes out very fast and will drench anything nearby. If you chose to
fiddle with either of these, your behavior will result in consequences,
detention, and removal from group, etc.
4.
All group members must remain with their group. Half-way across the room does not count as being with
your group. You are expected to equally contribute to your group’s assignment,
and this can be made difficult when you are not with your group. Seems like
common sense doesn’t it?
5.
All group/lab
work must follow the given assignment. You may not create your own experiment
in any way. This includes using materials in ways they were not meant to be
made, such as goofing off.
6.
Goggles must be
worn when Miss DeVries deems it appropriate. I have enough pairs to for
everyone to borrow, however you are welcome to bring your own in. I will try
and let you know a t least a day before so you can bring your own in.
7.
Anyone who
disregards the above rules will not be allowed to finish their assignment or
lab. Rather they will spend the remaining time on the lab working quietly by
themselves. Depending on the nature of the infringement, spending the remainder
of the hour in the assistant principal’s office is always an option.
8.
If a student is
removed from a lab, he or she will not be allowed to complete it, even if it
continues more than 1 day. For that person, the lab/group assignment is over.
9.
Anyone who is removed from a lab/group situation twice
will no longer be allowed to participate in any future lab or group work. Instead they will be assigned a lengthy library
research assignment.
This year will be what you make of it. I hope it is a
great experience for all of us. ♥ Miss DeVries
“We especially need imagination in science. It is not
all mathematics, not all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry.” Maria
Mitchell J