Course Expectations CLASSROOM RULES

for 1. Follow directions.

Physics 2. Do your best work.

Mr. Rast 3. Respect others.

Room 610 4. Respect property.

2006-2007 5. Be prepared.

6. Be on task.

Some of the key elements in achieving a successful and enjoyable learning experience in this class depend on YOU and your

integrity......sincerity......maturity......enthusiasm......willingness to accept responsibility

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is a very important part of success in any science class. Work that is missed due to an excused absence may be made up, but:

1) it is the student's responsibility to ask for and complete work missed due to absence

2) many lab activities cannot easily be made up, so students may be given alternative assignments that will take approximately the same amount of time to complete.

3) the time period allowed for completing make-up work is limited to one day for each day of excused absence plus one extra day. For example, a student who missed (excused) two consecutive days of class would have the next three days to complete the make-up work.

Students are responsible for ALL course material regardless of the reason for missing class. Students who are present during the days before a test but are absent the day of the test must take the test on the day of returning to class. Please have your parent or guardian call the attendance office (885-5007) no later than noon on the day you are absent. The excused list is printed shortly after noon and if you are absent, you want your name to be there.

All work missed due to an unexcused absence may be made up for the joy of it, but no credit will be given.

LATE WORK

Work turned in past its due date will not be worth full credit. Assignments are due THE DAY AFTER they are assigned. Under normal circumstances, today’s assignment will be collected at the beginning of class tomorrow. If yours is not ready to turn in when papers are collected, expect reduced credit. If an assignment is one day late, it will be credited as 50% of its original value. If it is two days late, 25% of its original value. An assignment more than two days late will be considered of no value toward a grade.

TARDIES

Students must be on time to class. On time is defined as being in the desk at the assigned location when the bell rings. Students who are tardy will be subject to disciplinary action including after school detention. Chronic tardy problems will be referred to the grade level administrator.

PASSES

Students will be allotted five non-transferrable passes each semester to be used for emergency purposes. The passes may be used only during independent work time. Students must sign out upon leaving and sign in upon returning. If, at the end of the semester, you still have pass credits in your account, each pass will be worth approximately 0.40 percent of the final semester grade as a bonus (maximum 2.00 percent). This credit will not be applied before the end of the final grading period for the semester. If you ask to leave class, one of your five pass credits will be deducted from your account. Please evaluate your need before making your request. Pass credits may be revoked due to ill-mannered behaviors as well as for tardies.

GENERAL

Please do not bring MP3 players, CD players, headphones, earbuds, or other personal listening equipment to class. If you must bring them, please make sure they are stored in your bag prior to entering the classroom.

Campus regulations allow the use of cell phones only during lunch and outside of regular school hours. Please do not bring cell phones to class. If you must bring them, please make sure they are TURNED OFF and put away in your bag prior to entering the classroom.

For the benefit of us all, I would ask that you

* arrive in class on time and prepared to work

* bring materials necessary for class activities (writing utensil, paper, notebook, textbook, etc.)

* be a participant (not just an observer) in class and lab activities

* not engage in off-topic conversations during class time

* use class time constructively and in a way that allows others to concentrate on their work

* be silent and attentive during class discussions and lectures

* bring NO FOOD or DRINK to class (except WATER)

* during class discussions or lectures, raise your hand and wait your turn before speaking

* follow and observe classroom rules and safety procedures

* limit requests for passes to critical needs only

* do twenty minutes of homework for this class each day this class meets

* recommended: take notes during lectures and class discussions

* on test days, remain silent until the last test has been turned in

HOW WILL I BE GRADED?

Semester and progress report grades will be based on the following:

Testing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50%

Quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%

Daily Work (assignments, worksheets, etc.) . . . . . . . . . . . 25%

Lab Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%

Participation and Effort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%

Using the above as weights, the following overall percentages will be used to assign letter grades:

93 and up A 77 and up C+

90 and up A- 73 and up C

87 and up B+ 70 and up C-

83 and up B 67 and up D+

80 and up B- 60 and up D

Below 60 F

WHAT’S MY GRADE?

Prairie High School issues progress reports every six weeks. If you need grading information in between six week reports, you can access that online through your student login. Don’t have internet access at home? The library has computers that you can use. Please be aware that grades are in a constant state of change. The only grades that are final and fixed are the semester grades issued in February and in June.