Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives 2017-18 Syllabus Mr. Griffith jdgriffi@volusia.k12.fl.us (407) 688-9500 ext. 43607 Rm. 7-230 Welcome to my Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives course! You are about to endeavor on a challenging yet rewarding course that will provide you with amazing learning opportunities. According to Cambridge IGCSE, IGSCE Global Perspectives encourages awareness of global problems and offers a range of opportunities to explore solutions through cooperation and collaboration. The course is not about getting everybody to think identically; rather it is a matter of opening minds to the complexity of the world and of human thought, and encouraging empathy for the diversity of human experience and feeling. Please note that Cambridge courses are based on an international curriculum created by Cambridge AICE, a non-profit arm of Cambridge University in England. The topics of the IGCSE Global Perspectives requires parents and students to be aware of the latter and be prepared to process the course materials in a manner of understanding, empathy, and adult manner. If you have filed a Cambridge/AVID application, you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) have already been made aware of this. If you are taking a Cambridge course but are not pursuing a Cambridge AICE Diploma please review with your parent(s)/guardian(s) the packet attached to this syllabus and return it signed no later than August 18. Classroom Rules/Culture All VCS behavioral and dress code rules and regulations will be upheld in my classroom. In addition, there are several classroom rules that are meant to create a classroom culture that is safe and where everyone is respected. Those are: Golden Rule Treat others how you would like to be treated. No name calling, bullying, stealing, etc. No Cheating Self-explanatory. PRHS and Cambridge expect students to think for themselves and to do their own work. Cell Phone Usage As PRHS is rolling out technology carts to classrooms for students use, there should be limited use of cell phones in class. Excessive use will result in contact home. All infractions will be treated by their severity, this will range from teacher contact home to referral. Assignments Various assignments will be assigned throughout the year. Three component assignments (please read next section for more information) will be assigned which will have hard deadlines
because they must be sent to Cambridge, England. The other assignments that will be graded my me are expected to be turned in by announced due dates. Late work will be excepted, however grading and feedback may take a few days to complete given grading priority will be for the current assignments that have been turned in on time. The inhouse assignments include but are not limited to readings, in class course work, individual and group projects, and homework (all coursework not completed in class will need to be finished as homework). Any assignments that are not completed by due date will be graded with a M for missing which will affect their grade. The grade will be replaced with the earned grade once the work has been turned it. Assessments There will be multiple forms of assessments that will be given through the course. The first group will be made up of graded formative assessments and graded summative assessments that will be graded by myself. Summatives that are missed due to absence must be made up during office hours or by appointment after school. The second group of assessments will be conducted by markers (Cambridge officials) in England. Those Cambridge assessments are as follows: Component 1 Written Examination, Component 2 Individual Report, and Component 3 Team Project. More information about those assessments on the components will be provided as the course nears the assignment. Those assessments graded by me will be graded in accordance to the VCS Grading scale: A=100-90 B=89-80 C=79-70 D=69-60 F=59 or below Students will be given prior notice of formative and summative assessment due dates through their calendar on Canvas and agenda board in class. Extra Credit Extra credit will be available through volunteerism. This is optional. Total extra credit points will not exceed a total of 5 points to the student s final semester grade. All valid volunteerism must have documentation prior to the start of volunteering. Office Hours Office Hours are a time where students may come to my class during the last half hour of lunch to address me about tutoring, clarifying assignment issues, make up tests/quizzes, discuss issues about grades, or to study. A general schedule for hours is as follows and is subject to change: Mondays AP US History Students Tuesdays Cambridge Students Wednesdays NO OFFICE HOURS Thursdays US History Students Friday Open to All
If a student needs to attend Office Hours on a day that is not scheduled for them they may attend but students belonging to the scheduled group will be helped first. I am available also after school from 3:00 to 3:30pm by appointment. Tardies/Absents Students are expected to be in their seat, materials on desk, and ready to work at the time the final bell rings. All tardies will be noted and excess tardies will result in student conference and contact home. All students with absences regardless of being excused or unexcused are responsible to keeping up with assignments as they will be posted to Canvas and the agenda board. As assignments will be posted online to Canvas it will be up to the students to complete them and turn them in when they return to school. Students with excused absences will have one school week to make up tests/quizzes missed unless other arrangements have been made. Students with unexcused absences will be expected to take the makeup test/quiz the next day they return to school. Until test/quiz is made up the Gradebook will reflect an M for missing which will affect their grade. Needed Materials Students will need a 3 three ring binder (they may share it with another class if course work is organized and kept separate). Students will be responsible to keeping binders organized and will have periodic binder checks to ensure this. Other materials needed will be loose leaf note book paper, 5pk. divider tabs, pen/pencil. 21 st Century Classroom As VCS moves towards a 1:1 ratio of technology in the classroom and most students owning smartphones with internet access it is important to discuss 21 st Century Expectations. Students who wish to contact me electronically must do so through their VCS supplied email. Emails received from non-vcs student accounts will not be replied to. Parent(s)/guardian(s), when emailing me please include your child s name and alpha code in the subject line. Canvas will be used in my classroom, this means some assignments, online discussions, and quizzes will need to be taken online through the Canvas system. Students will be able to access this through the VCS VPortal through their mobile devices and home computers. If students do not have access to this technology they may access it during class time, office hours, or Media Center. Please note that the library is a great resource for accessing technology too. Students are expected but not required to have their own library card. The reason being, there will be a lot of online research that will be done for this course and a library card will allow students to access many research databases and other valuable resources. These are all free to anyone with a library card. Contact Info If you have questions or concerns, please contact me through my VCS email, jdgriffi@volusia.k12.fl.us or my school phone number at (407) 688-9500 ext. 43607
I am typically available throughout the school day until 5pm. I will endeavor to return phone calls and emails promptly, usually the next day. If you call or email me over the weekend I may not response until the following Monday.
Syllabus Acknowledgement Form This form s purpose is to acknowledge that the student and their parent(s)/guardian(s) have read the syllabus and having done so will sign and return this form to the teacher. This form may be referred to in any future communication between the student and or their parent(s)/guardian(s). Student I, (print name) Have read and understand what is expected in the teacher s course and classroom. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) I, (print name) (print name) Have read and understand what is expected in the teacher s course and classroom.