9th Grade Syllabus
Ms. Cleaver
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to an exciting new school year at Tucson International Academy! My name is
Ms. Cleaver, and I will be your child’s homeroom/English Language Arts teacher. I
believe that a strong teacher-student-parent relationship can make this a very
successful year, and as such I encourage open communication with me as an essential
part of your child’s education. Below you can find not only my contact information,
but also an outline of the basic guidelines and procedures that you and your child can
expect to see in the classroom this year.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to email me at the following
email address. I will do my best to get back to you as soon as possible!
kcleaver@tucsoninternationalacademy.com
Parents and students can also keep up-to-date with what is happening inside the
classroom by visiting our ELA blog at:
www.tiacleaver.wordpress.com
Policies, Rules and Procedures:
Turning in Homework: Homework will be turned into the designated class basket at
the beginning of each class period unless otherwise specified by the teacher. Any work
turned in after this time will be considered late.
Late Work: Late work will not be accepted. Turning in work on time is not only
essential for doing well in school, but is essential for success any career/job you will
be seeking in the real world. It is my job to prepare you for life after high school, so the
classroom will adhere to those same principles.
Beginning Class: As soon as the bell rings, students will be expected to take out their
journals and begin working on the Bellwork for the day, which will be displayed on the
board. Failure to begin class quickly and quietly may result in a loss of participation
points.
Class Participation: All students are expected to contribute to classroom discussions
and participate in group work. Lack of participation in either setting may result in a
loss of participation points for that day.
Attendance: Attendance will be taken promptly at the beginning of class while
students are completing their Bellwork. After attendance is taken, I will consider you
late. If I notice a pattern of reoccurring lateness to my class, I will notify the front
office and a meeting may be arranged with the both the parent and student.
Restroom Breaks: Students may go to the restroom whenever they need to as long as
their departure/arrival does not disrupt the rest of the class. The class hall pass must
be taken with them. If I notice a pattern of overactive bathroom activity, the student’s
bathroom privileges may be revoked.
Mailbox System: Each student will be assigned a mailbox slot in the classroom. This
mailbox needs to be checked on a daily basis, as I will be returning graded work as
well as sending home classroom newsletters using this system.
Personal Portfolios: Throughout the school year, students will be required to save what
they consider to be their best work. This work will be placed in a folder and will be
used at the end of the school year to create a professional, academic portfolio. It is
imperative, therefore, that students make a habit of saving their work.
Accessing Classroom Resources: Students will be encouraged to make good use of
classroom resources while inside the classroom. However, all materials must be
checked out with me if there is an instance where the materials need to leave the
classroom. This is especially applicable for the classroom textbook, which will stay in
the classroom unless arrangements are made with me to take it home.
Classroom Rules and Expectations:
There are only 2 basic rules for my classroom. The most critical aspect to keep in mind
is that I have extremely high expectations for all of my students. In much the same
way, I hope that you have high expectations for me.
1. Be responsible for your own success.
2. Respect yourself, respect others, and respect your school.
Required Materials:
1. 1 college-ruled, spiral bound notebook
2. 1 folder
3. 1 package of pencils, 1 package of blue or black pens
Please keep the first page for your own records. The only page that needs to be
returned to me is this one, signed and dated by both the parent and student.
I _____________________________________, have read through the 9th Grade Syllabus and
understand what is expected of my child for the 2015-2016 academic school year.
Parent Signature ________________________________________ Date ______________
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I _____________________________________, have read through the 9th Grade Syllabus and
understand what is expected of me for the 2015-2016 academic school year.
Student Signature ______________________________________ Date _______________