Mrs. Smith
Room 604
2005—2006
CHEMISTRY
ATTENDANCE
Regular
attendance is a very important part of success in any science class. Work
missed due to an unexcused absence
cannot earn credit. Work that is missed due to an excused absence may be made up, following these guidelines:
1. It is
the student's responsibility to ask for and complete work missed due to an
absence.
2. Many
lab activities cannot easily be performed without partners. It is the student’s
responsibility to arrange for partners.
3.
The time period
allowed for completing make-up work due to an unexpected absence is limited to
one day for each day of excused absence plus one extra day. For example, a student who unexpectedly
missed two consecutive days of class has the next three school days to complete
the make-up work. The make-up work for a prearranged absence is due one day
after the student returns to school, regardless of the length of the absence.
Labs can be made up before school (6:30 – 7:20 AM) except on Wednesdays or
after school (2:10 – 3:00 PM).
4.
Students who are
present during the days before a test but are absent the day of the test must
take the test without a make-up period.
TARDIES
Students
must be on time to class. On time is defined as being in the assigned
seat with materials out ready to work before the bell rings. Students who are tardy will be subject to
disciplinary action including detention before or after school or at lunchtime
in the SMC. Chronic tardy problems will
be referred to the appropriate administrator.
GENERAL BEHAVIOR
Students
are expected to be prompt and prepared, to follow directions, to respect others
and their property, and to refrain from vulgarity. Eating and drinking, except for water, is not allowed in the classroom
or the laboratory. Cell phones must be out of sight with ringers turned off.
Assignments require
reading and interpreting the text and other reference materials, observing and
recording lab experiments accurately, and communicating clearly. Students are
expected to complete all assignments neatly, using correct spelling and
notation for chemicals. For the most part, there will be an assignment every
class period. A due date is given with
each assignment. Assignments one day
late cannot earn a grade higher than a C; two days late, a D. Consideration
will be given to the reason the assignment is late.
Working in the laboratory is an important
component of a chemistry course. This is the place where discovery leads to
knowledge and understanding. It is also the place where appropriate behavior is
essential for the safety of everyone in the room. Strict adherence to
laboratory safety rules is mandatory. Students who do not adhere to the rules
will be removed.
A $10-lab fee helps offset the high cost of
chemicals and other consumables used in the laboratory. This does not cover the
cost of replacing glassware and equipment broken by students. A fine, based on
the replacement cost of the broken item, will be given for broken glassware and
equipment. The only exception is test tubes.
Students will take several short quizzes each
week. Most quizzes are from 4 to 10 points each. All quizzes will be given at
the beginning of the period, are timed, and will be corrected immediately.
Tardy students without passes will not get extra time to complete a quiz.
There will be one major test for each chapter
and each semester will end with a cumulative final. The lowest test score,
excluding the final, will be dropped.
NOTEBOOK
Students
are encouraged to keep all semester work organized in a notebook. Notebooks
that are the student’s own original work can be used while taking the semester
final.
CALCULATORS
Students
need a scientific calculator for chemistry. An inexpensive scientific
calculator—one that has logarithmic and scientific notation functions—is
sufficient.
GRADING
The overall grade will be calculated using weighted
scores from four categories. The categories and their percentage contributions
to the overall grade are:
40% Chapter
Tests & Semester Final 20% Labs
20% Quizzes 20% Daily Work
93 – 100% A 77 – 79% C+ 00
- 59.9% F
90 – 92% A- 73 – 76% C
87 – 89% B+ 70 – 72% C-
83 – 86% B 67 – 69% D+
80 – 82% B- 60 – 66% D
I have read
the general expectations and grading criteria for Chemistry.
Student ____________________________________________
Date__________________
Parent/Guardian ____________________________________
Date__________________