VISTA DEL LAGO HIGH SCHOOL COURSE EXPECTATIONS: Welcome to English 10! Please take time to carefully read and sign the following document.

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1 VISTA DEL LAGO HIGH SCHOOL COURSE EXPECTATIONS: Welcome to English 10! Please take time to carefully read and sign the following document. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world"--- Wm. Shakespeare COURSE DESCRIPTION: English 10 is the second year course for the secondary language arts curriculum. Emphasis is placed on higher levels of student performance with more complex assignments. Students will more keenly develop higher level thinking skills, as well as be able to demonstrate the ability to critically analyze specific writing styles and more sophisticated pieces of literature. Closely following the California Language Arts Content Standards, students will hone their writing, reading, and oral language skills in English 10. Students will develop the speaking skills needed in both small- and large-group discussions; write essays of greater length and level of sophistication; demonstrate the proper use of the MLA format for all assignments; do research of a more in-depth nature with a broader range of sources and an original thesis; and read and analyze a higher level of literature in terms of language, literary elements, and thematic content. A focus of English 10 is student preparation for the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). This test, which is based upon the language arts content standards, is given to all students in the spring of their tenth grade year. CAHSEE is used to ensure a minimum of competency in reading and writing. Governed by the State Board of Education, the test measures these competencies in students beginning with the graduating class of A board-approved literature list constitutes the basis of student instruction in literature. Approved by the FCUSD Board of Education in February 2002, the list sets forth all literature from which teachers will draw their literary curriculum. Please initial by each area, thanks! CLASSROOM RULES/CONSEQUENCES: Teachers have a clear job: to teach. Students too, have a clear job: to learn. Any behavior that interferes with the teacher teaching or all students learning is unacceptable. If after a warning, the behavior does not change, the consequences will be immediate and include any of the following: a private conference, a phone call home, detention, or suspension from class. Frequent unacceptable behavior will have more severe consequences: conferences with parents or school suspensions. Absolutely NO gum, food, or drinks are allowed in class. Water is the exception. All cell phones and electronic devices need to be turned OFF and carried in a non-visible manner, e.g. zipped up in your backpack or purse which is kept on the floor, not on your person. (See Vista Student Handbook) No other work should be done during English class without my permission. Further, no one is allowed to keep his/her head down on the desk or to sleep during class. HOMEWORK: A portion of the academic grade will be based upon homework assignments. Although assignments will be made regularly, they may vary in quantity and complexity based on subject matter and ability level. Since only your best effort is acceptable to you, me, and your parents or guardians, late or incomplete work will not receive credit unless accompanied with a late pass which has been signed by parents and filled out completely. Large project assignments, including essays are due on the day they are due, even if the student will not be in class.

2 Students should an electronic copy to me by the time the class session is to be held, and then bring a paper copy when he/she returns from absence. Because some unforeseen conflicts may arise, each student will receive two late homework passes. This means that the pass must accompany the late assignment and will be accepted the day following its due date. Use these passes judiciously, and follow the guidelines on the pass. TESTS: Students will receive at least two days notice prior to major tests. The final exams, which will include information from any part of that term, may be both objective and essay. Quizzes may be given at any time and without advance notice. Make-ups will be taken the day the student returns to class. If this is not possible, it is the student s responsibility to arrange alternate scheduling on that return day. METHOD OF EVALUATION: Grades will be weighted according to the following: Formative Assessments (Assessments FOR Learning quizzes, reading checks, study guides, notebooks, etc) 30% Summative Assessments (Assessments OF Learning tests, essay final drafts, etc) 70%. The semester grade will be based on a running total of the first and second quarter points and the final exam points. The following scale will be used for letter grades: A+ = >100% B+ = 88-89% C+ = 78 79% D+ = 68-69% F = <60% A = 93 99% B = 83 87% C = 73 77% D = 63 67% A- = 90 92% B- = 80 82% C- = 70 72% D- = 60% Please refer to the school wide Academic Dishonesty Policy. This includes when you copy from any source as well as allowing anyone to copy from you. A referral to the Vice-Principal is automatic. GROUP PROJECTS: When participating in a group project, students will be graded individually and we will be evaluated based on their own work within the group. No group grade or average score will be used to determine an individual student s grade on a group project. In the event that a student wishes to raise a grade on a project score, a retake assignment (essay) will be provided. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: All students must sign and adhere to Vista s Academic Honesty Agreement. (Pleases see VDL website to review a copy of the Academic Integrity Contract.) ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance is critical for success in this or any endeavor. A portion of the grade may be based on class discussions and Socratic Seminars for which you must be in attendance. Just as with any absence, it is the responsibility of the student to ask about this and any missed materials and work. Always be sure to check online daily for current class postings! If the student is absent for more than two days, a call to the school requesting homework should be made to keep the student up to date. TARDINESS: Students who have 1-3 lates will be handled individually according to the teacher discretion. Any late that exceeds the 1-3 allowance should be dealt with according to the following procedures that are outlined in detail in the school planner that include: detention, parent contact, class suspension, administrator conference, school suspension. (After School Detention on Wednesdays 1:30 pm 3:00 pm and/or Saturday School May be assigned). In order to avoid being late, students must be in their assigned seats when the bell rings. CITIZENSHIP: The citizenship grade is measured by your ability and willingness to follow the policies of this class. As an English Department, we value courtesy, cooperation, and respect. The policies, which are posted on the wall, reflect this and the standards conducive to an orderly, productive classroom environment. Therefore, the

3 following will be used to determine your citizenship grade: attendance and class contribution, following directions, obeying rules, and attitude toward me, fellow classmates, and substitutes. MAKE-UPS: All tests and assignments are due upon returning from an absence. This includes long term assignments, which are given in advance, regardless of the absences between the day assigned and the day due. The only exceptions will be those assignments GIVEN during the absence. These will be due two days after your return unless designed to be completed over several days. It is the responsibility of the student to inquire about any and all missed work and to make the necessary arrangements for its completion. If a student is on campus any part of a day in which an assignment is due, the work must be turned in that day to receive credit whether or not the actual class is attended. If tests/quizzes/assignments are not made up within two weeks of return, the student will receive a 0 on that test/quiz. EXTRA CREDIT: Generally, no extra credit is available at Vista del Lago. Students are expected to do the reading and writing assignments as designed for the course. Bonus points may be given on assignments for exceptional work however! MATERIALS: The recommended materials list includes a blue or black erasable pen, sharpened pencil with eraser, red pen (not a crayon, marker, pencil, or highlighter) for correcting only, highlighter, sticky notes, colored pencils/markers, 3 x 5 note cards, 1 three-ring binder with college-ruled loose-leaf paper, correction fluid or tape, textbook (MUST BE COVERED!), school agenda, and a free-reading book every day, helpful---small stapler. All drafts of writing assignments and reports must be word-processed and printed. Students are expected to have with them daily an orderly binder in which they keep their notes, handouts, assignments, and other course materials. Please see me ASAP if you are unable to attain these materials. You are responsible for bringing your supplies to school EVERY day! Vista del Lago Web site: The English department and I post grades and other information online regularly. Please check postings daily. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. However, please---do NOT ask me about your grades during class time. Come to me outside of class to have that private discussion, thanks. TEXTBOOK/MATERIALS RESPONSIBILITY: Students are financially responsible for any and all books and materials provided to them. This includes damage as well as loss and will be billed accordingly. CONFERENCES: Students will receive help in class whenever possible. You may also meet with me during Advisory or after school; however, please check with me ahead of time to ensure my availability. A PERSONAL NOTE: I hope you will enjoy your time with me as much as I will enjoy my time with you. I am a lifelong learner who looks forward to learning from you as you learn from me. I believe you get exactly what you give. If you always give your best effort, you will get the best the world has to offer. Likewise, if you only ever do the least with which you think you can get by; you will get the least the world has to offer. Let us all commit to getting the best we can out of our time together by always giving our best effort. You have the power to create your own destiny! Please do not hesitate to ask me for help that is why I am here. I welcome the chance to work with you. Together, we can make this an excellent year for all of us! Go Eagles!

4 Here Is My Contact Information: Ms. Hali Boeh (pronounced---miz Holly Bay) Phone (916) , ext Try to practice Random Acts of Reading everyday! English 10 Contract /Vista del Lago High School/2014 Please return for homework points by the end of the first week, thanks! By signing your names below, you are indicating that you have read and understood the preceding class guidelines and that you will assume the responsibilities and accountability of being a student, or the parent/guardian of a student, in this English class. Print Student s Name Student s Signature Date Please answer the following questions: Do you have computer access at home? Do you have Internet access at home? If you answered NO to either of the above questions, where would you go to use a computer or the Internet? Will you need me to provide you with any of the supplies mentioned in the course outline? If YES, which supplies will you need help with? List them here: Have you registered your address here at Vista del Lago? Parent/Guardian please sign below verifying the information above: Print Parent s/guardian s Name- Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Signature Date

5 Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Information: Name (s) Name : Daytime phone ( ) Name : Daytime phone ( ) Name : Evening phone ( ) Name : Address Name : Evening phone ( ) Name : Address Additional Comments You d Like To Add: