Princess Anne Middle School
2012-2013 Class Expectations
Teacher: Mrs. Felter
School Telephone Number: 648-4950, ext. 72068
Class: Science 8
Email address: kerry.felter@vbschools.com
Assignment Information: “Sign up for MySchoolMail from the Princess Anne Middle School website
(http://www.princessannems.vbschools.com/) to get your child’s daily homework assignments.”
Course Description: Physical Science 8 is a comprehensive general science course emphasizing relevant, laboratoryoriented activities integrating current scientific thought. It covers two quarters of chemistry and two of physics.
Independent research activities are also included in the course.
Course Objectives: The course covers all Virginia Standards of Learning objectives in detail. It also encompasses the
Virginia Beach City Public School’s objectives, which correlate to the SOL’s. The SOL’s can be found at
www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Superintendent/Sols/home.shtml. The content of the course is based on these two guidelines.
Course Scope and Sequence:
First Quarter
PS SOL 1- Scientific Investigation
PS SOL 2- Behavior of Matter
(VB 1.1-1.4)
(VB 2.1)
Second Quarter
PS SOL 3- Periodic Table
PS SOL 4 & 5- Structure of Matter
(VB 2.2)
(VB 2.4-2.6)
Third Quarter
PS SOL 6-11 Energy Types and Transfer (VB 3.3-3.7)
Fourth Quarter
PS SOL 10- Work, Force, and Motion
Includes heat, light, and electrical energy
(VB 3.9, 3.10)
Texts and Materials: Physical Science (Holt). Please note that I will be handing out online textbook log-in
information and passwords. Should you need an actual textbook; simply email your request to me. To help your child
study for tests and to know upcoming homework assignments, students can access information through my wikispace at
http://pams-felter.wikispaces.com. Students will be shown how to access this tool, although most already know how to
use this. Due to the type of instruction students will be engaged in, they are required to keep a science notebook that
should be brought to class daily. The online text book should be used as a reference tool when needed to look
something up or to clarify information.
Assessment Measures: Students will be graded upon set standards and objectives. Grades are not compensation but
are instead used as a communication tool. What does this mean? The letter assigned to the task will allow you and your
child know if they are grasping the concept fully or if they still need to work on it. Final grades are determined by our
professional opinion of your child’s work against the standards for physical science 8, not by mathematical calculations.
We will convert the 4 point scale to the VBCPS Board approved grading scale. Students will be evaluated formatively and
summatively through tests, quizzes, class work, labs, projects, and critical thinking tasks. Please keep in mind that
mastery of every concept is the goal and students have as many chances to achieve mastery as needed.
Students will also have opportunities to determine how they should be assessed. This will allow them to shine in their
particular intelligence strength. However, they will also be challenged to get better at all the intelligence types.
P. A. Middle- a school where every child achieves
Grading Procedures and Policies:
4 = A Advanced proficient – consistently demonstrates proficiency; grasps, applies, and extends key concepts,
processes and skills.
3 = B Proficient – regularly grasps and applies key concepts, processes, and skills with limited errors.
2 = C Developing Proficiency – beginning to grasp and apply key concepts, processes, and skills
1 = D Novice – needs improvement; not making expected progress toward proficiency
0 = E No progress is evaluated.
*Formative evaluations will take place multiple times during each class period and will not count as graded material but
will serve as communication. There are too many various methods to list them all but to name a few: critical
question/answer session with peers, experiments, projects, quizzes, exit tickets, etc… This will allow both the teacher
and the student to determine where they are on the grading spectrum as the summative assessment draws near.
*A summative evaluation will be given after every mini unit (typically three class sessions), to assess what has been
covered during that time. These assessments will include multiple-choice, true and false, fill in the blank, as well as
critical thinking application questions.
*Students will receive at least one laboratory grade during the three-day increments, and often a cooperative group
activity for additional application/understanding.
*Students will have homework most nights; however it will be voluntary. Why? Some students have enough prior
knowledge that homework is not needed, rather higher level assignments are. Should the student opt out of the
homework assignments and then receive a lower grade on the summative than expected, they can then do all the work
they opted out of as well as a few others to better prepare before re-taking the summative assessment.
If a student is absent, one day will be allowed for make-up work for each day missed.
You can sign up for “Parent Portal” at the school’s website to be able to access your child’s grades at any point during the
year. If you are signed up to view the grades; please give me a timely manner to put the grades in as I do have more
than 100 students. I will have grades for each week put into the digital grade-book by Friday 4pm. Please direct any
questions you have about this to me via email or phone.
A safety contract is required to be signed by both parents and students in order to be able to participate in any type of
lab activities. Students must wear goggles for most labs and these will be supplied in science class. After each usage
the goggles are placed in a UV cleansing device to ensure that no germs are being spread among students.
Help Sessions: I am available for extra help in the morning at 8:30 to be arranged in advanced. Students need to have a
signature from both the teacher and their parent in their agenda to be able get into the building in the morning. The student must get
a ride to school for extra help sessions.
Procedures for conferences, parental contacts: If you would like to request a conference, please contact guidance.
I encourage you to email me if you have any questions/concerns, since I have found that it is the easiest method of
communication between us. Should your child be performing below average, I will contact you to plan a strategy which
will better serve your child. I can be reached best between 9:10 and 10:50am if you would like to speak to me directly.
P. A. Middle- a school where every child achieves
Citizenship Expectations: Rules for the classroom are as follows: treat others as you would want to be treated, as this
encompasses every rule. Come prepared, be kind and courteous, and follow the code of conduct. For rule violations,
students receive verbal warnings first, and are next asked to come for detention with me in the morning from 8:30 –
9:00. Final consequences will result in referral of student to the office. My policy is to contact parents immediately if I
have any academic or any behavioral concerns.
Science is always an exciting, relevant, and successful subject. I am looking forward to a rewarding year with your child.
Please sign and return the bottom portion of this letter by September 10/11th. Thank you!
Science (Felter)
I have reviewed these expectations with my child. I will support the teacher in the delivery of instruction
and the enforcement of acceptable classroom behavior.
Parent(s) _________________________________
Student __________________________________
Parents’ phone numbers (home)_____________________
(work) _____________________
(email)_____________________
P. A. Middle- a school where every child achieves