St. Martin de Porres School
5TH AND 6TH GRADE SCIENCE CLASSROOM POLICIES
Welcome to Science at St. Martin’s! In order for Science to be fun and productive, we
must maintain a safe and positive learning environment. It is hoped that by following the rules
and policies set forth below, we will all have an awesome year of Science at St. Martin’s!
General Rules:




Students are expected to respect each other and all adults that enter the classroom
Students are expected to cooperate with the learning process within the classroom
Students are expected do their best
Students are expected to follow the rules set forth in the St. Martin de Porres Handbook and
disciplinary code.
Grading Policies:
In accordance with the school wide grading policy, Science grades will be calculated as
follows:
 Summative assessments. This includes major tests.—45%
 Quizzes—25%
 Classwork and participation. This includes lab work 20%
 Homework—10%
Students should expect a serious point penalty (5% per day, down to 65%) for late work.
Mid-term and final examinations will be given in January and June. These exams combine to
count as 20% of the final grade for the year.
Tests and Quizzes:
Tests and quizzes are always announced in Mrs. Canfield’s classroom. Students will be
informed of upcoming tests and quizzes during class time and are expected to record this
information in their planners. Information about tests and quizzes, as well as other assignments
can be found on the classroom homework page of Mrs. Canfield’s website. Mrs. Canfield’s
website can be accessed through the school website, www.smdpschool.net. Students should
expect to make up tests missed due to absence on the day they return.
Homework and Vocabulary:
Homework will be assigned on a regular basis. Routine, nightly homework assignments
will be checked in class, so it is essential that students bring them to class at the time that they
are due. Each nightly homework will be worth 10 points towards the total homework grade.
Additionally, Vocabulary Words of the Week will be assigned on Mondays. Students are to log
these words, and the definitions, in their Vocabulary notebooks. We will check Vocabulary
notebooks for completeness each Monday. Again, Vocabulary homework assignments are worth
10 points each. Students should NOT ask to “show the homework later”, as the homework will
have been checked in class already. Students who are absent are expected to show me their
homework when they return to school. Format for Vocabulary entries can be found on the
“Handouts” page of my website.
1
Supplies:
Classroom supplies have been accounted for in the supply lists that went home over the
summer. Students should be expected to have a lab folder to store lab papers in the classroom,
a folder or notebook section for handouts, pens and pencils, colored pencils, loose leaf paper,
graph paper, a scientific calculator, ruler, notebook or binder, scissors and glue. A planner
should be used and brought to every class session. Students should also have a second
composition style notebook to use as a vocabulary notebook. Additionally, girls with long hair
should have a hair tie of some kind to tie their hair back during lab for safety reasons. (Safety is
important—if a student ever forgets a hair tie, I have clean, new hair ties in my desk at all times
and can help if needed.)
Textbooks:
No textbooks will be assigned for either 5th or 6th grade Science. We have classroom sets
of Harcourt Science textbooks that will be used in class as needed.
Lab Portfolio:
All students will maintain a lab portfolio. Lab is done weekly and students will have about 3 days
to write up and turn in most labs. I reserve the right to refuse labs that are excessively late without
appropriate reason (ex. serious illness). The project/ portfolio grade will be determined by averaging the
scores on the labs for the quarter. Lab work that is not done will receive the grade of zero. Parents can
expect to be contacted if students are not doing lab work.
Lab Safety:
Lab safety is of the utmost importance! All students will be expected to conduct
themselves in a safe manner in the laboratory at all times. Any student who is removed from lab
due to inappropriate behavior should expect to receive a zero on the lab in question. All
students must sign a lab safety contract in order to participate in lab. I reserve the right to ask
questions about lab safety and content on any and all tests or quizzes.
Mrs. Canfield’s E-Mail and Website:
Do not hesitate to contact me if you need help or information. I am reached most easily
by E-mail. My E-mail is LCanfield@smdpschool.net, and can be reached through my website.
My website is most easily found attached to the school website. Please note, this e-mail address
is new this year and replaces any old e-mail addresses. Do NOT use old e-mail addresses as your
notes will not be seen or answered.
REMEMBER! I am here to help! Please contact me if you need anything. Have a great year!
2