Lyndhurst High School
Honors Chemistry Course Guidelines
Instructor: Ms. A. Konel
Email: Anna_Konel@lyndhurst.k12.nj.us
Office: Room 207
Office Hours/Extra Help: Before school M-F (by appointment) and after school
Welcome to the new school year and welcome to Chemistry class! I am looking forward to what
will hopefully be a successful year for both you and me. Chemistry can be a difficult and
challenging subject to master but with patience, diligence, and hard work, I am confident that
each one of you can find the course interesting, informative, and fun.
Chemistry Course Description:
This course has been designed to place students at the center of the learning process by allowing
them the opportunity to experience the process of science and to enhance critical thinking skills
through active learning, problem solving, small group discussion, and laboratory experimentation.
The content of the course is centered around the unifying concepts of chemistry. These concepts
give students a basic understanding of the relationship between the properties, the composition,
and the interactions of substances. The course content includes organization of matter, chemical
bonding, atomic structure, and skill development. In addition, the course provides students with
real world experiences, hands-on activities, as well as creative problem solving strategies so that
they will not only learn, but also will be encouraged to appreciate chemistry as a physical science
and to connect chemistry to their daily lives.
This is a laboratory course and SAFETY is a priority.
Classroom materials:
- One 3 ring-binder (1.5 in) and loose leaf paper for all activities (on a daily basis);
- Dividers for binder;
- Graphing calculator or scientific calculator;
- Textbook (it has to be covered at all times and no sticky covers allowed).
Only on lab days the textbook is not required to be brought to class;
- Pencils and pens.
Grades:
Tests
25%
Quizzes
15%
Labs
20%
Tests will be given after each chapter or unit. Tests may consist
of multiple choice, matching, short answer essays, and problem
solving (calculations). Test or quizzes, missed for legitimate
reasons, may be made up within the guidelines of your student
handbook.
Quizzes will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and in
forms such as: cross word puzzles, word search, fill in the blanks,
open ended problems, and do-nows.
Based on observations and scientific method; 50 points will be
awarded on completeness and accuracy of data, correctness of
prelab quizzes and correctness of analysis section. A template for
Homework &
Classwork
20%
Class
Participation
10%
Other
10%
the lab report will be given in class. 50 points will be awarded
for lab participation. No makeups allowed . “Excused” will be
accepted only for one lab per each marking period and it has to be
medically documented.
Given for each chapter, problems will supplement classroom
activities. Homework assigned will include reading from the text
and powerpoint, problems from the textbook, and practice
problems from the worksheets. The written homework must have
a full heading in the upper right corner, a title, and the text of the
problems written down. It will also include name, date, and
block. The evaluation of homework will be done by collection at
the teacher’s request.
Based on taking notes, following teacher’s directions, completing
class assignments, appropriate behavior during lab activities.
Student will receive a grade every two weeks for this category.
Note: - 1 Hall Pass/1 week allowed;
- 15 points off for the use of cell phone;
- 15 points off for the use of iPad without teacher’s
permission;
- 10 points off for talking without permission after first
warning.
Includes projects, research papers, extra credits. A rubric will be
provided by the teacher for each situation. Failure to hand in
work on time will result in a zero.
Class Guidelines
1- Listen and follow directions.
2- Treat each person in our classroom/laboratory with respect and dignity.
3- Arrive on time.
4- Be prepared with class materials.
5-No food or drink is permitted in class.
6- All submitted work, including tests, quizzes, homework, class assignments, lab reports, etc.,
must be your own work.
7- Cell phones and ipods are not allowed in class.
8- Be ready to work and begin the “DO NOW” ACTIVITY WITHIN ONE MINUTE AFTER THE
BELL RINGS. Directions will be given to you on the board or projection screen.
9- Follow all procedures and policies as outlined in the Lyndhurst Parent/Student Handbook.
Not following guidelines will result in one or more of the following: Discussion with teacher,
discussion with the parental/guardian contact, and/or behavior report.
Steps to success
1- Do your homework, complete class and lab assignments and complete any projects.
2- Prepare for tests and quizzes.
3- Attendance
-You are responsible for making up work missed while absent including obtaining all notes,
handouts and keeping up with assignments when absent from class. A “0” is entered in the
gradebook until the assessment has been made up. Tests and quizzes will be made-up the day you
return from an absence. If the absence is school related, and the student has reported to school
that day, any assignments that are due must be turned in on that day.
4-Make up work: Tests and quizzes will be made up in the laboratory (212). Labs will not be
made up. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain from his/her lab partners the complete
documentation needed for the lab report.
5-Late assignments: Only assignments turned in on the due date will be considered for full credit
(unless for an excused absence). Some assignments will be accepted the following day with a
penalty. This will vary depending on each assignment’s turn over time. Therefore, the student
should ask if the assignment would be accepted for a late penalty if they want to hand the work in
for credit.
6-- Be an active participant in classroom learning.
7- Let the teacher know about any concerns.
8- Go to office hours for review or extra help.
Please keep in mind!
1- At the end of the semester you are responsible for returning the book that was issued to you.
2- Safety is a priority. Chemistry can be an exciting laboratory class. However, you must
demonstrate responsible behavior in order to participate in lab activities.
3- Class information is available online at
Forms – To be returned to Ms Konel by Wednesday September 17, 2014
1- Please read and complete/sign the Course Guideline and Policy agreement and have your
parent/guardian read and sign the agreement.
2- Please read and complete/sign the Lyndhurst School District Safety Agreement and have your
parent/guardian read and sign the agreement.
(Students who have not returned the safety agreements and class contract and have not passed
a safety assessment will not be allowed to participate in lab activities until they do so.)
School Year 2014 -2015
CHEMISTRY REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT
Welcome to Chemistry! I am looking forward to an exciting year. On the school website
you will find a document containing a very short description of Chemistry course, grading
system, and classroom rules.
Please read this document carefully, and sign below. Return the signed form to me by
September 17(B day). If at any time you have a question or concern, don't hesitate to contact me
via e-mail:
anna_konel@lyndhurst.k12.nj.us.
Most of my class information is posted on the internet at:
http://www.lyndhurstschools.net/
There you will find the notes, homework assignments (including printable versions) and a
calendar of assignments. I will also be posting grades on the site real time that can be accessed
from the school website. I try to update this at least every two weeks, so, if you have questions
about homework or assignments or grades, you can check it on-line.
Sincerely,
Ms. Anna Konel
I have read and understood the rules and grading policy, and agree to abide by them.
Student Printed Name _______________________________________________
Student's signature __________________________________Date ___________
Parent/ Guardian Printed Name ________________________________________
Parent/ Guardian signature ___________________________Date _____________
Note: Failing to return the contract in the day mentioned above will give you a
grade of zero in the class participation category for the first 2 weeks of school