Welcome!! 
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Consider the following..
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How big/complex must something be?
What must it be able to do?
Where must it come from?
What are the essential components?
How is it different from something nonliving?
Is seeing believing????????? 
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Welcome to Honors Biology! I hope
you are as excited as I am to begin
this rigorous yet rewarding
journey.
This class is designed to prepare
you for the high level science
curriculum that Aurora High School
has to offer.
Be prepared to work diligently,
cooperatively, and creatively inside
and outside the classroom.
I have established some Course
Guidelines which are essential to
ensure your success in the
upcoming school year.
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Ms. Pavicic
5th year at Aurora High School
I teach IB Biology in addition to Honors Biology
Bachelor of Science in Biology from John Carroll
University.
Master of Life Science Education from Ursuline
College
Other things I do…
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National Honor Society
Avid marathon runner
3rd of six kids
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Introduction to Biology
Ecology
Biochemistry and Enzymes
Cells
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Nucleic Acids
Mitosis and the Cell Cycle
Genetics
Proteins
Evolution
Classification
Current Issues in Biology
*Course Topics are aligned with Pre-AP Biology Curriculum
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Be respectful to your fellow classmates, teacher, and yourself at all times.
Be in your seat and prepared for class to begin before the bell rings.
Bring your textbook, binder, and writing utensils to class EVERY DAY. These three
items are a MUST.
Be an active participant in class, and ALWAYS raise your hand when asking
questions or responding.
Use appropriate classroom language. Profanity and improper language will not be
tolerated.
Lab rules and procedures must be followed and will be strictly enforced.
Absolutely no cell phones are permitted. Procedure as listed in the student
handbook will be enforced upon their presence.
Using the restroom, going to the office, visiting a counselor, etc. should only be
done if urgent.
All rules as stated in the student handbook will be enforced.
Have a positive attitude!
**As Honors students, it is my expectation that you ALL will follow these rules.
Consequences will be put in order in the event that they are disobeyed.
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GRADING
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60% Tests
30% Labs and Quizzes
10%
**There will be no extra credit opportunities
available
The district grading scale will be used. (No
class curve)
◦ A 100-89.5 B 89.4-79.5 C 79.4-69.5 D 69.4-59.5 F 59.4-0
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Late work due to an excused
absence will be accepted without
penalty if it is turned in on the day
you return to school.
You will receive two Late Passes
per quarter. You may use these
passes to turn in late work
without a penalty.
All other late work will be a zero.
This will be strictly enforced.
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To ensure success in Honors
Biology, it is essential that you
attend class on a regular basis.
If you are absent, you are
responsible for making up all
work/assignments missed.
Using the restroom, going to
the office, visiting a counselor,
etc. should only be done if
urgent. Not being in class for
the entire 50 minute period will
disrupt your ability to be
successful, and may be
disruptive to your classmates.
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I LOVE helping my students! I am very flexible
and available on most days. Please contact
me verbally or via email if you would like to
meet with me so we can arrange a time.
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Cheating will be detrimental to your success in Honors Biology
and will not be tolerated. The following acts of cheating will
result in disciplinary actions as outlined in the student
handbook:
◦ Passing calculators during a test, quiz, or other assessment.
◦ Copying someone else’s test, quiz, homework, assignment, or report.
◦ Allowing someone to copy from your test, quiz, homework, assignment, or
report.
◦ Looking at notes during a test, quiz, or other assessment.
◦ Sharing questions from a test with students who have yet to take the test.
◦ Listing someone else’s data without giving credit, or worse, making up
data to fit the expected answer. It is acceptable to present your own data,
to state the reasons that you feel the results should be disregarded, and
then to present another student’s data (making sure the source is
acknowledged).
◦ Using opinions, facts, ideas, charts, data and direct quotes from research
papers, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, websites, or another person
without citing the source.
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Unit Summative Exams are given once
per unit (about twice per quarter) and
will reflect the standards of the Pre-AP
Biology curriculum.
◦ They will be detailed and comprehensive,
including multiple-choice, calculation
problems, and extensive essay/discussion
questions.
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Quizzes and frequent formative
assessments will be given to allow for
proper intervention to help ensure your
success on the Unit Summative Exams.
There will be no retakes.
Laboratory work will be directly aligned
with the topics discussed in class.
Homework will be given almost every
day. Please review my Late Work policy
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The Honors Biology course provides a
rewarding curriculum that will enable you to
become successful, well rounded young adults
prepared for the higher level science courses
at Aurora High School. I am very excited to
experience this journey with you, and am
looking forward to an excellent school year! 