SC08: Integrated Science II SC20: Advanced Science Franklin Jr. High 2015-2016 Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year at Franklin Junior High. As always, the start of a school year holds the promise of new discovery and learning. I am excited to work with you and your child. The curriculum will focus on the following: SC08: This course is designed to give students an opportunity to continue developing basic science skills. The curriculum will focus on genetics, adaptations, physics, chemistry and engineering design while incorporating the scientific processes within the content. SC20: Eighth grade advanced science focuses on the nature of science while developing an understanding of the principles of heredity, the Laws of Motion, introductory chemistry and engineering design. Content will be focused for delivery at an accelerated pace. This course is meant to prepare students to enter Biology as a freshman while providing a base for future science classes such as Physics and Chemistry. Students do not receive high school credit for this course. After reading through the course guidelines, please take a moment to complete the online parent contact form. You can find the link on my classroom website or visit http://goo.gl/forms/rZKyACse5l. I am looking forward to working with you to ensure student success and to seeing you at curriculum night on August 20th. If you have any questions or concerns about the classroom guidelines or would like additional information about policies not addressed at this time, please feel free to contact me at (480) 472-2263 or by email at aaabdelhaq@mpsaz.org or Mrs. Johnson at bajohnson@mpsaz.org. Sincerely, Mrs. Brenda Johnson & Mrs. Aminah Abdelhaq 1 SC08: Integrated Science II SC20: Advanced Science Franklin Jr. High 2015-2016 Course Guidelines: Safety Safety is of the utmost importance. It is imperative that each student follow safety procedures at all times. In addition, each student must return a safety acknowledgement form prior to participating in any labs. Class Expectations Respect yourself and others at all times. Bring supplies daily. Behavioral Norms 1. Follow directions the first time they are given. 2. Be in your seat and prepared to start class before the bell rings. I will dismiss you, not the bell. 3. Raise your hand and wait to be recognized before speaking or leaving your seat. 4. Avoid use of personal electronics. 5. Work on only assigned tasks. Disciplinary Consequences 1. Verbal warning 2. One on one conversation 3. Parent notification 4. Teacher, parent, child conference 5. Referral to administration Firebird Planner The planner is an excellent tool to use to monitor your child’s progress. Each student is responsible for recording assignments daily. If no homework is assigned, students are to write in “none.” Every Friday, I will circle the appropriate behavior and whether classwork and homework were completed. Students are to ensure that they have a parent signature by Monday. Failure to receive a parent signature will result in an after school detention. As this 2 SC08: Integrated Science II Franklin Jr. High SC20: Advanced Science 2015-2016 planner will be the only planner used throughout the year, it is expected that each child maintain it. Suggested Supplies Two quad ruled notebooks, sheet protectors, four glue sticks, pen, sharpened pencils, colored pencils, eraser, loose-leaf paper, and highlighter. Donations of the following items would be greatly appreciated: Kleenex, Clorox wipes, sticky notes, highlighters and glue sticks. Textbooks Each student will be assigned four textbooks to leave at home in order to complete assignments. The textbooks will not drive our curriculum but will be used as a reference. Science Notebook Students will need to keep all science papers in a quad-ruled composition notebook. Notebooks will be checked after each unit. It is advised that your child keep his/her notebook updated daily. I will also keep a science notebook that students may refer to if the need arises. Class Activities Daily class activities include bell work, instruction, note taking, labs, discussions, review sessions & reflections. Students are expected to participate fully in class. Students will also work collaboratively with others and therefore must maintain a good work ethic. Homework Homework will be assigned an average of 2-3 nights per week. Homework is due at the beginning of the next class meeting unless I specifically assign another due date. Homework is both graded and, at times, given credit for completion. The answers to homework assignments will always be reviewed. It is each student’s responsibility to listen to the correct answers and correct any errors on the assignment. 3 SC08: Integrated Science II SC20: Advanced Science Franklin Jr. High 2015-2016 Science Fair Each student is responsible for completing a science fair project. The project is to be completed at home. Students may choose to work with a partner. FJH science fair winners will move on to the district expo in February. Students are responsible for adhering to the science fair timeline. A science fair packet will be sent home with your child in the next few weeks. *Students who choose to work with a partner need to keep in mind that student schedules will change at second semester and that your partner may not be in your science class. Grading System Students will be graded on tests, quizzes, homework, class assignments, a science fair project, various projects and labs. Tests and projects are weighted more heavily than quizzes, class work and homework. Parents, I encourage you to pick up your parent portal access code from the office in order to have access to the MPS portal. Grading Scale A = 100-90% B = 89-80% C = 79-70% D= 69-60% F = 59 or lower Breakdown of Grades Tests & Projects: 30% Quizzes: 20% Science Notebook: 20% Classwork: 20% Homework: 10% Tardiness/Absences I expect all my students to be here everyday and on time. It is each student’s responsibility to find out what he or she has missed. Students may locate this information from the absent binder. Students may ask me for clarification once they have looked up all the information. All make up work is to be placed in the designated basket corresponding to your class period. 4 SC08: Integrated Science II SC20: Advanced Science Franklin Jr. High 2015-2016 Students are allotted two days for each day that he/she missed to make up an assignment. Tests & labs are to be made up after school. If an assignment is not turned in within the allotted time frame a zero will be issued. No late assignments will be accepted as per FJH policy. Students are expected to check their MPS portal on a regular basis. Academic Honesty I trust & expect all my students to maintain a positive & truthful learning environment. Computer use is a privilege and is to be used strictly for academic purposes. Help Sessions I am available most days after school, but to ensure my availability, students are encouraged to discuss meeting times with me. Students must sign in and out prior to attending a help session. My availability will be posted on the board every Monday. Students need to make arrangements with parents prior to staying for a help session. Service Learning Opportunity Students can earn service hours after school by assisting in lab set up and clean up. Students must check with me to see if any assistance is needed and make arrangements with their parents to stay after school. All service learning students need to sign in on my classroom planner. Contact Information If you have any questions or concerns about the classroom guidelines or would like additional information about policies not addressed at this time, please feel free to contact me at (480) 472- 2263 or by email at aaabdelhaq@mpsaz.org or bajohnson@mpsaz.org. Please be sure to include your child’s name in the subject line if corresponding by email. I will try my best to return all phone calls or emails by the next school day. 5 SC08: Integrated Science II SC20: Advanced Science Franklin Jr. High 2015-2016 Dear Parent or Guardian, In an effort to communicate with you on a regular basis, I have created an electronic contact sheet. Please take a few minutes to complete the online contact sheet. How to find the Parent Contact Sheet: Option 1: Visit http://goo.gl/forms/rZKyACse5l Option 2: 1. Visit http://www.mpsaz.org/franklinjr/staff/aaabdelhaq 2. Click on “Science Links” 3. Click on Parent Contact Information 2015-2016 4. The link can be found at the top of the page. Thank you for taking the time to complete the contact sheet. Sincerely, Mrs. Abdelhaq & Mrs. Johnson aaabdelhaq@mpsaz.org bajohnson@mpsaz.org (480) 472 2623 6 SC08: Integrated Science II SC20: Advanced Science Franklin Jr. High 2015-2016 I _______________________, have reviewed the classroom guidelines & understand what is expected of me. Student Signature ___________________ Date ___________Period _____ I have received & reviewed the classroom guidelines for Science with my child. Parent Signature __________________________ Date ____________ Please complete some additional information that might be helpful to know about your son or daughter. Does your son or daughter have internet access at home? Yes or No Contact Information: Home Phone Number: ______________________________ Contact person name 1: _____________________________ Work #: __________________________________________ Cell #: ___________________________________________ Relationship to child: ________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Contact person name 2: _____________________________ Work #: __________________________________________ Cell #: ___________________________________________ Relationship to child: ________________________________ Email: ___________________________________________ Please describe the best times & method to reach you. Feel free to use the space provided to explain anything else you would like me to know. Thank you in advance for all of your support. 7