Mrs. B. VanVield
8th Grade Social Studies
Bbomani-vanvield@wcpss.net
Website- MrsVanVield.com
Fuquay-Varina Middle School
2015-2016
Welcome, to a new year at Fuquay-Varina Middle School. To have a successful educational
experience it takes team work: the cooperation of the student, parent, teacher, administration and the
community.
All the policies and rules included in the student/ parent handbook, agenda and in this contract
are designed to achieve personal success, which also maintains a positive and productive learning
atmosphere.
This Social Studies course is designed to provide the student with knowledge about historical
events and how these events connect to our lives today. We also want to prepare our students for High
School and ultimately in becoming productive citizens of the USA and the World.
Grading System:
 Test& Projects-40%
 Interactive Notebook- (Notes and Handouts) & Class participation-20 %(Organization, class readiness and involvement in class discussions and Q/A)
 Quizzes & Mini Projects - 30%
 Homework- 10%
*Extra Credit: Extra credit opportunities will be often available. Take advantage of them. Extra Credit
work will not replace any assignment; but it will contribute to the students’ grade.
Make-up Work:
It is the student’s responsibility to inquire about assignments missed during their absence. Being
absent does not excuse you from ANY assignments, stay in touch with a friend. All work missed during
the student’s absence can be located on my website or in “THE WHILE YOU WERE OUT” NOTEBOOK,
which is in a designated area in the classroom. Please refer to page 4 in the Agenda Book for makeup
work procedures. Students will have a week after the student has returned to school to make up a
test/quiz. Students must turn in all assignments promptly by the given due date; however all late
assignments points will be deducted unless it is due to an EXCUSED absence.
Work Procedures:
In this course we use quizzes/test, mini-projects, class work, participation and projects in assessing your
work. Homework is to be done at home. Most homework assignments prepare the student for the next
day in class, so it is vital for classroom participation (so do not procrastinate!). All work given into the
teacher should be completed, have a full heading (name, date and period) and should be QUALITY
WORK or it will be returned. Copying someone else’s work, a fellow classmate, the internet etc. is not
acceptable; students will receive deducted points.
Each student will receive an Interim Report for each course taken approximately every 3 weeks and a
Report Card approximately every 9/10 weeks of every marking period.
This year will incorporate many attributes to make this an interesting and educational school year. This
syllabus gives you just a basic foundation of the North Carolina Standards for 8th grade Social Studies.
Curriculum:
1st Quarter
Pre Colonial North America
Colonial Era
Revolutionary Era
2nd Quarter
US Government- Washington – Adams
Moving West- Jefferson- Jackson
Nation Divided- Jefferson- Jackson
Civil War – Van Buren-Lincoln
3rd Quarter
Reconstruction- Johnson-Cleveland
Industry& Reform-Harrison- Taft
Imperialism &WWI-Pierce -Wilson
Boom & Bust, Roaring 20’s, Great Depression and New Deal- Harding-Roosevelt
4th Quarter
WWII- Roosevelt- Truman
The Cold War-Eisenhower-Nixon
Civil Rights- Kennedy-Johnson
The Modern Age-Carter-Obama
*The following is a list of supplies required to bring to class on a daily basis.
Supply List
1. 1 inch binder–Student Interactive Student Notebook.
2. Loose leaf paper (as many as needed)
3. Composition Book- Pride Time
4. Blue or black ink pens and pencils -pre sharpened (as many as needed)
5. Flash drive
6. One pack of Markers and one pack of Color Pencils
7. Ear Buds
8. Glue Stick
9. Sharpener (keep shavings inside)
10. Clorox wipes (girls) & Kleenex tissue (boys)- wish list
11. Small Stapler-optional
12. Hole puncher- optional
Parent’s involvement is very vital in a child’s education; we promote parent involvement from grade level
trips and functions, as well as guess speakers, donation of supplies etc. When you want to communicate
with me, emailing is the best method (my email address is in the above heading). Please a donation of
$3.00 for a Social Studies Junior Scholastic Magazines.
A very essential aspect of achieving success in school is good behavior in the classroom; to accomplish
this I have implemented a Behavioral Action Plan.
Individual Procedures:
Step One- Verbal Warning and Lose Class Dojo Points
Step Two- Lunch Detention
Step Three/“Strike Out”- Parent Contact /Note to parent
The Next Step- the Student receives a REFERRAL
Class as a Whole
“STOP”-Each letter is taken off the Board when the class is disruptive
When all letters are taken off, the class will receive a writing assignment
Fuquay-Varina Middle School believes that all students can achieve success. This is done with motivation,
organization and time management skills. This Social Studies class will incorporate these keys to success
with life skills to prepare the student for High School and ultimately life. Each student has been given the
following in class:
1. Contract/Syllabus/Supply List
2. Class Dojo & Class Messenger Parent Sign Up
3. Interactive Notebook Guidelines
Please keep the contract for your records (the first page of notebook) and sign the lower half of this page,
as this is Assignment #1. Please email me within the first week (an email you check daily); so that there
is an email address I can contact you.
Student’s Name: ______________________________________________ Social Studies: Period: _____________
Please check: ________ if your child has access to a computer.
Please check: ________ if your child has a printer.
Please check: ________ if your child has access to the internet.
Please check: ________ if you emailed me. (It helps for constant communications.)
Please check: ________ if you signed onto class dojo (student’s behaviors) and class messenger (class
reminders)
I have read the following information and understand that these are Mrs. VanVield’s expectations of this
8th grade Social Studies class.
Student- PLEASE SIGN: _______________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Parent- PLEASE SIGN: _______________________________________________________ Date: __________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________
Cell Phone Number: ____________________________________________ please check: ________ if you don’t mind text
messages