Biology Syllabus 2012-2013
Teacher: Mr. Bowman
Room: 506
Phone Number: (703) 957-4300
Email Address: ray.bowman@lcps.org
Office Hours: Throughout the course, there may be times when you would like to meet with me outside of
class. I will try to schedule conferencing time during class and during Eagle’s Connect time. However, if we
cannot meet during these times you will need to make an appointment for before or after school.
Students: Welcome to Biology Class! In this course we will study . . . life! This will include the components
that make-up livings organisms and tons of other related items. As you know, science is constantly changing.
Biology is no exception. There are going to be lots of changes and discoveries that will take place during our
time together. We will try to look at as many of them as we can! Your goals for this class should be to learn or
improve problem-solving skills, critical thinking skills, writing and self-evaluation skills within the topics of
Biology. I am very excited to begin our work together and I hope you are too! You will find some important
information below that will make your transition into this classroom successful and rewarding. I urge you to
keep this syllabus for future reference.
Textbook: Biology, Prentice Hall.
Course Materials: You will need the following items EVERY day:
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Binder
Textbook
School provided Agenda
Paper
Pen AND Pencil (with eraser)
You will be required to keep a binder in this class. You need to keep all assignments, handouts, notes, labs,
quizzes, tests, etc. in your BIOLOGY BINDER. You also need to bring it EVERY DAY!!! I am not very
picky about how you organize the notebook, but you ARE required to keep one.
Your notebook is a very useful study tool. Keep in mind that you are expected to retain information from this
class for the entire year. DO NOT CLEAR ANYTHING OUT OF YOUR NOTEBOOK UNLESS I
INSTRUCT YOU TO DO SO!!
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Assignments:
Your quarter grade will be calculated by points earned from class activities/assignments, labs, quizzes, tests,
projects and group work. The following is the weight each type of assignment will carry for your overall grade.
Practice (Formative) (Class assignments/ Homework/Some portions of labs)
Summative Assessments (Tests /Projects/Labs)
Total
0%
100%
100% per Quarter
Your grade depends entirely on your performance on Summative Assessments. I will be VERY clear
about which category assignment fall under. Students are expected to complete all assignments, regardless of
point value.
Periodically throughout the quarter you will have the opportunity to check your grades via interim reports. The
grading scale is as follows:
A = 100-90
B = 89-80
C = 79-70
D = 69-60
F = 59 and below
SOL Course
Biology is a SOL tested course. Failure to pass the SOL test for Biology will result in a loss of credit.
The following is a tentative syllabus schedule for the year:
 Quarter
 Topic
 1
 Intro. To Biology, Scientific Method,
Characteristics of Life, Lab Experimentation
and Safety, SI System
 Classification and Kingdoms
 Biochemistry
 Cells
 2
 Photosynthesis and Respiration
 DNA/RNA/Protein Synthesis
 3
 Heredity
 Evolution
 Forensic Technology
 4
 Homeostatic Mechanism
 Ecology
 SOL Review
 Projects, Inquiry Investigation
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Related SOL
1a–m
4 a – f, 6a, 6 e
2a–d
3 a – e 4f, 5a, 5c
2d
5 a-j
5a–j
6 b – d, 7 a – e
5i, 5j
4b, 4 d
8a–e
All
All
Your grade in this class is, for the most part, up to you. There will be ample opportunities for you to do well in
this class, as long as you do what is asked of you. If you find that you are not doing as well as you had hoped,
please see me as soon as possible. You don’t want to be scrambling for a passing grade during the last two
weeks of the quarter or semester.
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Additional Information:
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT RETAKE POLICY
 It is possible to get up to 100% credit on any retaken assessment.
 The following are pre-requisites for any retake:
o No incomplete assignments associated with the standards found on the target assessment
o A rationale for why the assessment needs to be retaken (as assigned by the teacher)
o Evidence of the student’s attempt to reach mastery by completing an extension assignment
at the discretion of the teacher. These may include but are not limited to:
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Concept maps
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Chapter outlines
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Drawing/Diagrams
 Student must be re-assessed on all standards found on original assessment. Format of the retake
is determined by the teacher.
 Limited to one retaken assessment per week
 Every retake requires additional evidence (as determined by the teacher)
 2 weeks prior to the end of the quarter, no retakes allowed
 Retake sessions will occur during set days and times. To participate, a retake request form must
be submitted no less than 48 hours prior to the retake session.
This policy allows the student to demonstrate they have learned specific content even after the related
assessment has been taken for the first time. This prevents one or two bad grades from “ruining” the
overall course grade. This does NOT, however, allow for the student to improve their grade without
completing the coursework assigned by the teacher.
Do as you are asked and you will have every opportunity to succeed!
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CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
Please keep in mind that while you are in Biology class, you are also within the walls of Freedom High School.
Not only are there policies within this room to follow, there are policies for the school and county. These
policies will also be enforced while in class. Please refer to your agenda book for these policies.
Use your time between classes and your lunch to take care of your business (restroom, drink of water). I expect
you to be on time to class every day. Should you be tardy, you will receive a warning the first time. If you are
tardy a second time, you will be issued a pass to attend after school detention. If you do not attend after
school detention, you will be referred to administration. (This is FHS policy).
Finally…please keep our room clean and neat.. It is your responsibility to clean up after yourself, throw trash
away in the trashcan or recycling bin when appropriate, put items back where you found them and contribute
positively to the condition of the room. If you see trash on the floor, you should throw it away…even if you
didn’t put it there. If the class ends and this responsibility has not been taken care of, NO ONE will leave until
it has been. Be the more mature person!
CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. Respect the school, the teachers and substitutes, peers, their property, and most importantly yourself!
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Sit up in your chair and do not put your head on the desk. If I have to ask you more than
once to sit up, you will stand.
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Raise your hand to speak in class. Repeated interrupting of others will result in removal from
the classroom.
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Ask before leaving your seat. Refusal to obey this rule will lose you your seat.
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Not respecting others is the fastest way to lose their respect for you
2. Be on-time to class. When the bell has finished ringing, you must be inside the classroom.
 1st tardy = warning
 2nd tardy = 1 after-school detention
 3rd tardy = office referral / parent phone-call
3. Safety procedures must be followed as directed. This is in compliance with the safety contract that
will be signed by both you and your parents. Failure to follow any rule will result in removal from
class/lab and a zero for that assignment.
4. Keep a positive attitude!
Anything stated above is subject to change or revision at the discretion of Mr. Bowman
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Mr. Bowman’s Biology Class – Student/Parent Information Sheet
A Day Classes Due: ______________________
B Day Classes Due: _____________________
Parents/Guardians: Please fill out the information requested. Should you have any questions or
concerns, please write them below or email me at ray.bowman@lcsp.org . Thank you for your time. I
look forward to working with you and your student.
“We have read the information about how class is to be conducted for
Mr. Bowman’s Biology Class. We understand what is required so that the student can
succeed. We (the student and parent/guardian) understand that I (the student) will be
held responsible for my own behavior and schoolwork.”
Student’s Name (print): _____________________________________________________________________
Student’s Signature: __________________________________________________Date: _________________
Student E-mail (print neatly) : _______________________________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian’s Name (print): ______________________________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian’s Signature: ___________________________________________Date: ________________
Parent E-mail (print neatly): _________________________________________________________________
Home Phone(s): ____________________________________________________________________________
Work Phone(s): ____________________________________________________________________________
Cell Phone (s): _____________________________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________________
(Over, please!)
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1. What time(s) are best for me to call you? _____________________________________________________
2. What is the BEST way for me to contact you? (circle ALL that apply)
Home Phone
Work Phone
Cell Phone
U.S. Mail
Email
3. Is there anything specific you would like for me to be aware of regarding your child?
__________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Mr. Bowman has my permission to discuss grades (letters and percentages) over email any time during the
school year. (Parents, please initial one.)
_______YES (initial)
_______NO (initial)
Please return this to Mr. Bowman the 2nd day of class. Thank you!
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