Welcome to Prep English 1
This syllabus includes some helpful information you’ll want to reference throughout the year. Feel free
to contact me with any questions or concerns. I look forward to getting to know you, and to helping you be
successful during and after high school. My contact information is below.
Drue Harris
dharri31@houstonisd.org
Conference availability:
3rd period (Monday, Tuesday, and Friday 9:50 – 10:40); or by appointment.
Tutorials:
During lunch on Mondays and Wednesday (You must obtain a pass from me to attend.)
Course Description:
Students will have multiple opportunities to develop and expand their skills in the language arts: reading,
writing, listening, and speaking. Students will read short stories, novels, plays, and non-fiction and will write in
a variety of formats. Vocabulary enrichment will be a major focus, along with the mechanics of writing:
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage.
My weekly lesson plans will be posted on my website at the beginning of each week.
How to find them:
1. Go to westsidewolves.org
2. Click on the “Faculty” tab near the top.
3. Click on “Staff”
4. Find my name, and click on it.
5. The link to my lesson plans is in the left column! 
I will keep all supplies in my classroom. There are three items students are required to gather and bring to
class by the end of the first week of school:
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Pens/pencils
1 standard sized art box
1 spiral notebook (preferably a 3 or 5 subject)
I will provide students with a folder during the first week of school as part of one of our first assignments.
The following is a brief summary of some behavioral expectations:
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Be on time and prepared.
I begin class promptly every day. The time allotted to you for “Do-Firsts” is minimal, and every second
counts. Also, be sure to bring your materials. I do not allow students out of class to go to a locker.
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Be kind.
My classroom is a safe place. We are never rude or disrespectful. This applies to your relationship with
me, but it also applies to the relationship you have with your peers.
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Be proactive about your learning!
There is no extra credit. If you feel like you need help, come get a tutorial pass from me!
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Follow all Westside Way policies.
WHS English I Grading Policy
Major Grade assignments will comprise 60% of the 6-weeks average, while Minor Grade assignments will
comprise 40% of the average. For minor and major grade assignments, scores lower than a 50 will be reflected
as a 50 in time for publication of report cards. This may not be reflected at the time of progress reports.
Only major grade assignments are eligible for a retake, and Prep students may earn a score up to an
80. The retake will not be the same as the original assessment, but will be of similar length, rigor, and content.
In order to be eligible for a retake, the student must fulfill the following requirements:
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The student must have earned lower than an 80 on the original assessment.
The student must attend a tutorial, complete an alternative assignment, complete necessary homework,
or complete test corrections, as determined by the teacher.
The student must inform the teacher in a timely manner of intent to complete a retake.
The student must complete the retake within one week of the original grade being posted in
Gradespeed (Parent-Student Connect).
***If you have not already done so, please create an account in Parent-Student Connect so you can
monitor your child’s grades as each grading period progresses.***
Cheating, plagiarism, and other academic fraud and dishonesty will NOT be tolerated.
If a student is caught cheating, plagiarizing, or committing any form of academic dishonesty, it will result
in a “0” on the assignment. There will be no opportunity to redo that assignment. It will also result in a phone
call or e-mail home, a discipline referral to the dean, and an automatic “P” in conduct for that grading cycle.
See the Westside Honor Code for more details on what constitutes cheating, plagiarism, and academic fraud.
Classwork/Homework
Work done in class is expected at the end of the period and will not be taken late. For outside of class
assignments (homework, projects, papers, etc.), the due date will be communicated well in advance, and this
date will be displayed on the board and/or on the assignment itself. Students who do not turn in assignments at
the indicated date and time will fill out and turn in a “Yellow Card” in its place (to be described in class), and
then will have the option of turning in the assignment for reduced credit, as described below.
Late Work Policy
Work will be accepted for two days after an assignment is due. After that, the assignment will not be
accepted. For each day an assignment is late, the grade will be reduced by 10% of the earned score. For
example, if a student has an assignment due on Monday, but they don't turn it in until Tuesday, that's minus
10% of the grade. If they bring it on Wednesday (two days late), that's minus 20% of the earned grade.
Days late are considered absolute. This means that weekends and days the student is not scheduled
to attend class count toward the number of days late. It is expected that a student make every effort to turn in
a missing assignment, including bringing it to my class before or after school, or emailing me a word file or
scan of the assignment. (Yes, this means that if an assignment is due Friday and is not turned in, I will not
accept it on Monday. It will need to be sent to me over the weekend.)
Make-Up Work
Students who are absent have the opportunity to make up any missed work. For each day a student is absent,
he or she has that number of days to complete any missed work. (For example, if a student was absent two
days, he or she has two days to complete and turn in any missed assignments) It is the student’s responsibility
to come to tutorials to learn the content he or she missed and to reschedule any missed quizzes or tests.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Please fill out the following form with the information you’d like to give and return it to me. This form
confirms that you have received and read the syllabus and policies for English I. I look forward to a wonderful
year of English, and please do not hesitate to call me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Drue Harris
Student’s Name ______________________________________________________________
Student’s E-Mail Address_______________________________________________________
Home Phone Number _________________________________________________________
Mother’s Name ______________________________________________________________
Mother’s E-Mail Address _______________________________________________________
Work Phone Number __________________________________________________________
Father’s Name _______________________________________________________________
Father’s E-Mail Address ________________________________________________________
Work Phone Number __________________________________________________________
Guardian’s Name _____________________________________________________________
Guardian’s E-Mail Address ______________________________________________________
Work Phone Number __________________________________________________________
Relationship _________________________________________________________________