PHYSICS/HONORS PHYSICS WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL

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Percival Garrett
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1 PHYSICS/HONORS PHYSICS WHEELER HIGH SCHOOL Instructor: Dr. Jason Ritchie Classroom: Science Final Grades A = % B = % C = % D = % F = 69-0 % Grade Distribution Classwork & Homework 10% Activities, Laboratories, & Projects 25% Assessments (quizzes and exams) 55% Midterm + Final Exam 10% Student Required Materials One composition notebook. One folder or binder to store work One scientific calculator. Pens and pencils. Materials Provided By Teacher Hard copies of class notes will be distributed to students at the start of each lesson. Worksheets, laboratory instructions, and supplemental notes will be distributed as work is assigned. Students are responsible for saving and guarding their notes and other materials for class. Each student will receive ONE packet of notes and worksheets. Additional copies will not be provided in the event of loss. If the student loses the notes or worksheets, the student must print replacement copy either from his/her personal computer or from the media center. Notes will be posted at my blog. A classroom copy of the textbook will be available for students to use during class and to check out for home use. Teacher Responsibilities To prepare suitable lessons and experiences for students as mandated by the Cobb County School District. To provide students with a safe and clean learning environment. To update the blog and keep students informed about assignments. To grade and return quizzes and examinations to students within 48 hours (2-day). To grade and return homework, classwork, and other assignments within 3-4 days. To provide students with feedback about exams, homework, classwork, and projects. To keep students informed about grades.

2 To provide opportunities for remediation and tutoring. To notify parents and guardians about their student s performance in class. Student Responsibilities Attend class every day! Fewer absences = greater success Arrive to class on time! Punctuality = greater success Demonstrate respect and courtesy to the teacher, staff, and students! Be prepared and be organized! Take notes! Study for exams and quizzes! Complete assignments on time. Submit assignments by due date! Food, drinks, and gum are not allowed in the classroom! Assessments (quizzes or exams) Quizzes and exams will include a combination of multiple choice, true-false, short written answer, and problem solving questions. Students must attend school on test day. Assessments will be given on Wednesdays or Thursdays. If a student misses exam or quiz for 1-day excused absence (standardized testing, field trips, suspension, 1-day illness), that student must make it up the next class day. If a student misses an exam or quiz for multiple day excused absence (such as an illness or a family emergency), that student must make up the test/quiz within the same number of days the student missed plus one (CCSD attendance policy). If a student misses exam or quiz because of an unexcused absence, the student may make up the exam at the discretion of the teacher. Students may not use, hold, or touch any electronic devices other than a hand-held calculator during an exam or quiz. Illegal electronic devices are mobile phones, music devices, cameras, ipads, ipods, pagers, etc Students may not consult or talk to another student during an exam or quiz. Any dishonesty or use of electronic devices during a quiz or exam: The exam or quiz will be taken from the student and graded as is, or assigned a grade of zero if blatant dishonesty is committed. NEW: (Physics and ESL Physics only) Gradpoint will be assigned as one form of grade recovery for low exam grades. Each student will be given access to Gradpoint, Students that want to participate in Gradpoint must arrange time before and after school to work on Gradpoint in the Media Center. It is the student s responsibility to complete all Gradpoint grade recovery to the best of his or her ability. Each remediation cycle must be completed by 10 calendar days after the exam is returned to student to which the student needs to grade recover. Students must earn 80% or better on the remediation quizzes in Gradpoint to earn points back on their exams. All Gradpoint must be done by December 14.

3 Make-up Work The Cobb County policy on make-up work will be strictly enforced. If a student has an excused absence, the student may turn in work up to the number of days absent plus one. If the student has an unexcused absence, the student may submit the missed work at the discretion of the teacher. All make-up work must be submitted by the deadline given by the teacher. Students are responsible for asking for their missed work and submitting the work on the due date. Late Work Policy Due dates for all assignments will be posted on the dry-erase board at the front of the classroom AND in the blog. Due dates for homework and classwork assignments will be provided when that work is distributed. Students will be reminded daily, on the dry-erase board at the front of the room, verbally, and by blog, of due dates for all assignments. If a student, for whatever reason, does not submit an assignment on time, an automatic grade of zero will be entered in the gradebook as a place holder until the assignment is submitted. The grade of zero will factor into the student s grade until the late work is graded. At that time, the actual grade will be put into the grade book. Project grades will accrue penalties for late submissions. The penalties for late submission of projects will be given in the project instructions. If assignments are submitted late, those assignments are moved to the end of the grade priority and will be graded when current assignments are graded. The priority is to grade the current work and defer the late work. NEW: Grading late work. If a late assignment is submitted six (6) school days or more after the original due date (e.g., lab reports, classwork/homework, and projects), that assignment will automatically be given the grade of 50% (1/2) of the original grade if and only if the assignment is totally complete. Incomplete late work (6 days or more) will be given a grade of zero. NEW: First half of the semester. The teacher will stop accepting late work on October 9, this is one calendar week before the midterm examination. Any classwork from the first half the semester that is submitted after October 9 will not be accepted and a permanent grade of zero will be given. NEW: Second half of the semester. The teacher will stop accepting late work on December 7, this is 2 weeks before the final exam. Any classwork from the second half of the semester that is submitted after December 7 will not be accepted and a permanent grade of zero will be given.

4 Exempting Final Exam Per Wheeler attendance incentive policy, a student may exempt the final exam with the following criteria 1. No disciplines (ISS, OSS, administrative detention, or documented cheating) 2. Grades before final: A 3 or fewer. B 2 or fewer. C 1 or fewer. D 0 absences. Arriving Late to Class and Tardy Passes Attendance will be taken within the first 5 minutes of class after the final bell rings. Arrive to class on time before the final bell. Students arriving after the final bell are considered tardy. If student is tardy, I will mark the student Tardy Unexcused unless the student arrives late with a note from another teacher or administrator. Tardiness and unexcused absences will be handled according to Wheeler High School student handbook. If you arrive late to class with a pass from another teacher or administrator, knock gently three times on the door. The teacher will let you inside. Leaving the classroom Restroom Passes: One student at a time. Students have four minutes to use the restroom unless the student is sick and needs to be longer. Students must use the restrooms located on the 2 nd floor of the Science Building. Hall passes will be given to students at the discretion of the teacher for the media center, administration, clinic, attendance, or guidance. ANY STUDENT GIVEN PERMISSION TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL OFFICE OR MEDIA CENTER MUST HAVE A SIGNED AND TIME-STAMPED NOTE TO RETURN FROM PERSONNEL IN THOSE OFFICES. Only one student may leave at a time. No passes will be given during the first 15 minutes and the last 15 minutes of class. Restroom passes will only be issued during work session. If the teacher is teaching, students may not leave the room or interrupt the teacher for a hall pass or restroom pass. Abuse of hall passes and restroom passes will result in the student s hall/restroom passes to be revoked permanently. Any student who is out of zone or uses a hall pass/restroom pass under false pretenses will be referred to an administrator for discipline, hall passes and restroom passes will be revoked permanently, and parent/guardian will be notified.

5 Consequences Depending on the severity of the infraction, if a student fails to follow classroom procedures, demonstrates poor attitude, disrupts the class, or commits a high-level offense, the teacher may respond to the student s behavior with Verbal warning. Change seating assignment Telephone call to parent or guardian Time out to another classroom Referral to administration Removed from classroom by administrator Parent/teacher conference Assistance and Tutoring Students will be given work time during class to complete assignments and ask teacher for assistance. Physics tutoring after school on Wednesday afternoons. The teacher will accommodate requests for before school and after school remediation. Students are responsible for identifying their areas of weakness, and communicating those needs to the teacher, such that the teacher can assist. Honors Specific Content Honors students are expected to have successfully completed Coordinate Algebra (9 th grade math) and Geometry (10 th grade math). All mathematics will be demonstrated by the teacher. The mathematics content will include 3-variable algebraic equations Quadratic equations Base-10 logarithms and powers of 10 Natural logarithms and natural exponents Positive and negative exponents Square and cube exponents Scientific notation Circle geometry Right triangle functions (sine, cosine, tangent) Pythagorean theorem Basic statistics and analysis Honors students will complete five or six (5-6) multi-component and/or project-based assignment that will require multiple days of in-class work and outside work. Two projects will be group projects, the other projects will be individual. Students will be provided with detailed instructions, rubrics for grading, some materials (students may have to provide some materials), and expectations.

6 Procedures & Expectations 1. Enter and exit the classroom in an orderly manner. Enter through the front door after all members of the previous class have exited the classroom. Exit the classroom through the front door. The back door is only for emergencies. Collect any new materials from the distribution desk. Collect your graded work from your block s basket. Sit at your desk as quickly as possible and be prepared for the start of class and bell work. 2. Be prepared to work, take notes, and participate. This is school after all. Bring your notebooks, calculator, pens/pencils, and folder to every class. Take well-written notes. Do not distract other students. Do not be distracted by others. 3. Maintain a safe and a positive classroom and laboratory environment Do not engage in dangerous activities and reckless behavior Keep do not pose a safety hazard in the laboratory area Follow all instructions and teacher directions Keep all of your personal belongings in a safe place. During fire drills or emergencies, follow all instructions. Do not throw items (pencils, paper) to students or to the wastebasket. Pass items to other students. 4. Classroom etiquette. Use indoor voices when working in groups on assignments. Do not yell requests or demands at the teacher. Do not verbally interrupt the teacher. Do not stand up and move around the classroom while the teacher is teaching. If you need something, and it is not an emergency, wait until the teacher is finished with teaching before moving. If you need to dispose of garbage, wait until an appropriate time, then walk garbage to the wastebasket. 5. Complete your own work. Submit assignments at their due date. Study and be prepared for exams and quizzes Do not wait until the last minute to complete assignments. Seek help or guidance from the teacher or from classmates. Attend tutoring before or after school if possible. Academic dishonesty (cheating and plagiarism) is prohibited. Refer to the student handbook for more details.

7 6. Use honesty and courtesy at every opportunity. Be courteous to the teacher and to your classmates. Do not use profanity, abusive, or harsh language. Do not yell or talk loudly. No arguing, fighting, bullying, and inappropriate touching. Be honest. Tell no lies. No cheating. 7. Respect Wheeler HS property. Please do not vandalize, write or draw on, break, disfigure, or steal Wheeler HS property. Respect the property of your classmates. Stay out of the lab drawers and lab cabinets unless instructed. No students are permitted in the work room. 8. Hall passes and Restroom passes. Restroom passes will be given at the discretion of the teacher only during the work session. See syllabus for details and policy about hall passes and restroom passes. 9. Do not use mobile electronic devices or communication devices during class unless given permission. Mobile communication devices are to be turned off and securely stored in your backpack or purse during active learning, during activities, and during quizzes and exams. No charging phones from any Wheeler outlet unless given permission (e.g., using mobile device for school work). No texting, no telephone calls, no internet, no video games. Abuse of mobile device e usage will result in administrative referrals, telephone calls home, and parent-teacher conference. 10. No food or drink allowed in the classroom. Dispose of all food/drink before entering the classroom. Do not bring any food items from lunch. Students may bring one bottle of water in a container with a closable lid.

8 PHYSICS Wheeler High School Dear Parent or Guardian, Your child has been given important information about Physics for the academic year. This includes syllabus, procedures and guidelines, and detailed suggestions on successful completion of the course. Please review the materials given to your student. I welcome feedback and contact with parents and guardians, and I respond within 24 hours to any parental or guardian correspondence. Please complete the information. If you have any questions, please contact me at my . Sincerely, Dr. Jason Ritchie Teacher of Physical Sciences Wheeler High School I have read the course syllabus and classroom expectation provided by the teacher. I understand what is required for a student to be successful in Physics. STUDENT NAME: STUDENT SIGNAGURE: PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME: PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE: PARENT/GUARDIAN TELEPHONE: PARENT/GUARDIAN If you have any comments, feedback, or important information, please write your feedback or comments on the backside of this sheet.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS Respect yourself, the teacher & others 2. Put forth your best effort at all times Be prepared for class each day

CLASS EXPECTATIONS Respect yourself, the teacher & others 2. Put forth your best effort at all times Be prepared for class each day CLASS EXPECTATIONS 1. Respect yourself, the teacher & others Show respect for the teacher, yourself and others at all times. Respect others property. Avoid touching or writing on anything that does not