AP Biology Class Policies 2014-15 Ms. Wambold- Room 204 Email: nwambold@washoeschools.net Web Page: http://mswambold.weebly.com Class Supplies A 2 or 3 inch 3-ring binder just for AP Biology Dividers with Tabs labeled: Warm-Ups/Exit Tickets (put binder paper in this section) Vocabulary & Notes (put binder paper in this sections) Worksheets/Handouts/Reading Guides Tests/Quizzes Pencils and highlighter Sticky notes of various sizes and/or colors Composition book for lab write ups (mandatory) Calculator (4 function w/ square root- NOT SCIENTIFIC- this is the only kind you are allowed to bring to the AP test) Course Expectations Be prepared. This class will require you to stay on task, complete work independently, and not procrastinate. There will be many instances when you will be responsible for obtaining the background information for a concept from readings, videos, and resources that I direct you to. We will then use class time to explore these ideas through activities, labs, and discussions. You will not be able to participate in these group activities unless you have completed the necessary background work. AP level classes differ significantly from the traditional high school class in text content, depth of material covered, lab work, level of critical thinking, and time and effort necessary by the student to achieve mastery in the content area. This course is designed for the student who has taken, and done well (B- or better), in Biology 1-2 and Chemistry 1-2. Because of the amount of material and the speed at which it must be delivered, it is extremely necessary that the student be present to each class. Excessive absences will damage the overall grade in this class and make it very difficult to be successful in the course. Due to the nature of many of the labs, there may be some labs that cannot be made up. The ultimate goal of this class is to learn a great deal of biological concepts, understand how the concepts are connected to each other, prepare you for college science courses, and to do well on the AP exam in May. The year ahead will be challenging. There will be a great deal of reading! We have over 1,000 pages to read. You will read most of it on your own. You will not be able to take it easy in this class. If you become lazy you will not do well in this class. Student Expectations 1. Students should make every attempt to attend every class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain missed work from a classmate, or me, before school, after school, or at lunch (not during class). You should obtain other students emails and or phone numbers so that you will be able to contact them if you need help. Materials will be posted on my web page as well for your reference. 2. All tests need to be made up at lunch or after school. Labs may not be able to be made up. In this case, an alternative assignment will be given to make up the points, but missing a lab will put you at a disadvantage for the AP test. 3. Students should pay attention in class. Do not do work from other classes during AP Biology. 4. You will have homework almost every night. You must read the chapters, watch the videos, or complete the assigned research prior to class the next day so you will be prepared to complete the activities and labs and participate in class discussions. You will not be able to participate with the rest of class until you have completed the necessary background work. After class, re-read the chapters and then read your notes and the chapters again before the exam. This is how you succeed in college. 5. Class work should be done in pencil or blue or black inked pen, or some of it may be typed. Lab write-ups must be hand written in a composition book. Hand written work must be legible.
6. Cramming for the exams WILL NOT work. Exam questions will require a thorough understanding of the topic. You will not understand important concepts if you wait until the day before the exam to try to understand all of the information. You will not be able to do your lab write up the night before the day it is due. The observations and data must be taken as they happen in lab. You will forget important details. Good study habits are essential for this class. 7. Students MUST take the responsibility to ask for help when needed. Do not wait too long to seek help once you feel lost. I am available in the morning at 7am, at lunch, and after school almost every day, although often times, I will have meetings after school so before school and lunch are encouraged. 8. Please DO NOT be absent during labs! Labs may not be able to be made-up. 9. The AP Biology Exam is on Monday, May 11, 2015. Expect practice exams throughout the year. We will have some Saturday sessions in the 4th quarter to help prepare for the exam. 10. Because this is a college level class, and the work required in this class must be done in a timely (prompt) manner, no late work will be accepted for full credit. For work turned in late that has not been graded and returned to other students, 25% will be docked per day until it is a zero. If the assignment has already been graded and returned to other students, the grade will be a zero. 11. It is encouraged to buy a review book. However, please note that books published before 2013 are not aligned to the current AP Bio curriculum. Lab & Exam Fee There is a $20 lab fee for this course. The fees that are collected will be used for a variety of materials that make this class a hands-on learning experience for the student. The fees are spent on disposable items such as glassware, lab items, project materials, chemicals, as well as other miscellaneous items that help supplement our science curriculum, enhance teacher instruction, and assist in student learning and organization. If these fees are already paid, please provide a receipt to me. If the fees have not been paid, they are due in two weeks (August 27th, Wednesday). If this is an immediate financial inconvenience please write me a note on your student s behalf describing that the fees will be paid at a future date. It is imperative that each student is accounted for with either a note or a payment by August 27th. The AP Exam fee will be about $91. This will be paid to the bookkeeper. Please speak to the bookkeeper/office if you need to set up a payment plan or discuss options regarding this fee. Assessments & Grading Several different types assessments will be used in this class, but the majority of your grade, (50%) will be determined by quizzes and unit exams (per Washoe County School District policy, final exams will count for 20% of the grade). Periodic quizzes (announced and unannounced) will be given to confirm your understanding. Questions on the quizzes and tests will include material in the text, material covered in class, vocabulary, other assigned reading assignments and activities, and the labs. Unit tests will cover several chapters. They are comprehensive and extensive. While classwork only comprises 15% of your grade: The more effort you put into your daily work, the more this will reflect in your exam grades. Projects, class work, and homework will compromise 25% of your grade. Labs will be worth 25% of your grade. Grades will be in Infinite Campus, however, YOU NEED TO KEEP ALL ASSIGNMENTS ALL YEAR. Quizzes, Unit exams 30% Final Exam 20% Labs 25% Homework 10% Classwork/preparation/contribution 15% Late Work Late work is not accepted for full credit. If the work is late, but has not been returned to the other students, you may turn it in with a 25% penalty for each DAY. Once the assignment has been returned to the class, you cannot turn in the assignment for a grade.
Make up work According to district policy, the student is allowed to have the ability to make up missing work- one day absent = two days make up. It is your responsibility to get the work you have missed when you are absent. In regards to labs, most of the AP Biology labs are expensive and are a one-time only use. The shelf life is limited once the lab has been started by the other students. If a student is absent for a lab, they may be given an alternative assignment to make up the points, but missing a lab will put you at a disadvantage for the AP test. Plagiarism Plagiarism/copying (AKA cheating or sharing answers) is not allowed in this class. Copying information from another student, internet source, document, etc. with the intent to turn it in for a grade under the assumption that is it your work is plagiarism. Even if you change the words (without proper citation) it is still plagiarism! This will result in a zero for the assignment. If you loan your friend your work and they copy it, you both will receive a zero. You may also have to turn assignments in to Turnitin.com. Bottom line, it will hurt your grade and your education if you try to copy. Classroom Rules 1. Be on time! We only have 49 minutes together (and even less on Wednesdays) so every second that you are late is important class time that you are missing. 2. Be prepared. You must come with your notebook, paper, pen or pencil, your textbook (unless told otherwise by Ms. Wambold), and any assignment(s) that are due every day. You will not be allowed to go to your locker to get any of these things during class. 3. Do not have your phone or ipod out during class. If I see it, you will be sent to SRO to turn it in. Do you really want to lose your phone for the entire day because you were checking a text message? 4. Respect others, their property, and their opinions. Do not talk when other are talking (including the teacher). Raise your hand to speak. Do not put others down, laugh when someone is asking a question, or make rude comments when another student is talking. Do not touch anything that does not belong to you without permission. Respect others personal space, and do not use inappropriate language or gestures. 5. Food is not allowed in this classroom. Only water is allowed. Consequences 1st offense- Verbal warning and/or conference with the teacher. Possible detention. 2nd offense- Lunch detention (to be served within 2 days of issue). Phone call to parent/guardian. 3rd office-referral to SRO with Discipline Notice and a call to parent/guardian. Severe Offenses: Immediate call to administrator and removal from the class. Continued disruption or serious infraction will result in a conference with the student, parent/guardian, counselor, teacher, and administrator in charge and may result in permanent removal from the class. Violation of laboratory safety rules will result in a zero for the lab and may merit immediate discipline referral. The teacher reserves the right to skips steps one and two if the offense deems necessary. Removal From the Class According to the WCSD administrative regulation 5124(c) students who enroll in honors classes are exceptional students and should be expected to earn only the highest grades... If a student is not performing at a level appropriate for an honors class or has attendance problems, the teacher will contact the student and the parent/guardian to discuss the problems and to set guidelines for the student to remain in the class. If these guidelines are not followed within a given time frame, the student will be dropped from the class. Two weeks after the beginning of school, dropping this class is no longer an easy option. Should you feel it necessary to drop this class, you must have a more valid reason than it s hard. It will take a group meeting with you, me, a vice principal, your counselor, and your parents/guardians to come to an agreement to allow you to drop this class. We will not accept it s hard as a reason for you to quit. At the semester, I will evaluate your performance and determine if placement in this class is a good option. If your semester grade is a D or an F, the counselor, vice principal and I have the option to remove you from the class pending contact with your parent/guardian.
Reed High School Science Department Safety Procedures 1. Perform the experiments as directed. Only perform the approved experimental procedures. Follow all instructions given by the teacher. 2. Be properly prepared to do the experiment. Read the written procedures in advance and understand what you are going to do. Lack of familiarity is a major cause of accidents. Know the hazards before you do the experiment. 3. Never work in the lab without the supervision of the teacher. 4. Wear appropriate protective equipment. Working with glassware, heat, chemicals, or dissection specimens requires the use of protective safety glasses. 5. Know the location of the fire blanket, eyewash, and fire extinguisher. 6. Act in a responsible manner at all times. Horseplay and lack of attention to details of the experiment can cause accidents. 7. Tie back long hair to keep it away from flames and chemicals. 8. Never taste a chemical. Check odors only if instructed to do so by gently wafting some of the vapor towards your nose with your hand. 9. Turn off your Bunsen burner or other heat source whenever you are not using it. Never let it operate unattended. 10. Treat burns by putting burned area under cold water for at least 15 minutes. This will reduce the subsequent pain and blisters. 11. Read chemical labels very carefully. Many injuries result from mixing the wrong chemicals. 12. Eating and drinking in a lab are forbidden. 13. Report all accidents and injuries to your teacher immediately. 14. Dispose of chemicals properly per the directions of the teacher. 15. Clean up all spills immediately. This includes water. 16. Treat all chemicals with the respect they deserve. Know the hazards before you handle the chemical. 17. Never take chemicals, supplies, or equipment out of the classroom without the knowledge and consent of the teacher. 18. Never return unused chemicals to the reagent bottle. 19. Wash off chemicals splashed or spilled on your skin or body immediately for 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing at once. 20. Clean your lab station at the end of the lab and wash your hands. Student Name Student Signature Date Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature Date
AP Biology Parent Agreement 2014-15 Due by Weds. Aug 13 Dear Parent or Guardian: Welcome to the 2014-15 school year. I am looking forward to the year we have ahead and to helping your student prepare for college and/or a career after high school as they complete AP Biology. The following are a few items that I would like to bring to your attention. Your student has received a detailed explanation of the Course Policies. Please take a few moments to review this. The $20 lab fee will be paid on or before August 27th. If this is an immediate financial inconvenience to your family please write me a note (below) on you student s behalf extending the date when the fees can be paid. Student Initials Parent/Guardian Initials I understand there may be NO MAKE UP LABS for certain labs. I understand excessive absences will negatively affect my grade, even if the absences are excused. I also understand that 11 unverified/unexcused absences will result in an F in this class. I understand the drop policy for this class. I understand that is my work is not at the appropriate honors level, I may be dropped from the class. I understand the late work policy for this class. I understand there is a lot of homework and work to be done outside of the class, and I am up for this challenge. I have read the Course Policies and agree to adhere to classroom rules and to put forth my best effort. Student Name Student Signature Date I understand AP biology is a college level course. I will be supportive of the homework and outside work that must be completed in order for my student to be successful. I understand the lab and late work policy as stated above. I understand the attendance policy, and realize that excessive absence will negatively impact my student s grades. I am aware of Infinite Campus and can log on to check my student s grades frequently. If you do not have Infinite Campus, please let me know. I will do my best to make sure IT gets a log in for you. I know I can contact Nicolle Wambold at nwambold@washoeschools.net. Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature Date