John Champe High School
Word Languages and Cultures Department
Español
sofia.pollock@lcps.org
Sra. Pollock
703-722-2680
Course description Spanish IV through AP
Spanish IV
Students polish the four basic language skills. Major grammar points are reviewed and the subjunctive is
completed. Different global themes are studied each quarter with relevant applications using these four basic
language skills. The students’ common assessments will be parallel to the AP Exam in content and format. The
common assessments as well as the curriculum will incorporate the six AP Global Themes: Global Challenges,
Personal and Public Identities, Science and Technology, Families and Communities, Contemporary Life, and
Beauty and Aesthetics.
Spanish V
Students will refine the four basic language skills with the aid of authentic materials. Advanced grammar
structures are introduced for mastery while basic grammar points are reinforced to prepare for the Advanced
Placement course. Each quarter a Spanish Speaking region is examined with a focus on history, geography,
culture, literature, politics, current events, and global issues pertinent to the area. Focus will be placed on the
students’ ability to understand, apply, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, create, and compare and contrast topics
using the language. The students’ common assessments will be parallel to the AP Exam in content and format.
The common assessments as well as the curriculum will incorporate the six AP Global Themes: Global
Challenges, Personal and Public Identities, Science and Technology, Families and Communities, Contemporary
Life, and Beauty and Aesthetics.
Spanish AP -Advanced Placement ® Spanish Language and Culture
The Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language and Culture course is holistically designed to offer students’
proficiency based rigorous college level experience to maximize their potential in interpretive, interpersonal,
and presentational skills in Spanish. The following graphic displays the six global, overlapping course themes
of instruction and their related sub-themes:
The Loudoun County Public Schools Advanced Placement ® Spanish Language and Culture course actually
begins in the FLES program (Foreign Language Elementary School), where students gradually develop the
essential listening, and speaking skills. The students t hen advance to the development of reading and writing
skills in the SAMS program (Spanish at the Middle School,6th grade). Embedded in culturally authentic,
meaningful contexts the students continue developing their skills in the high school program beginning in 7th
grade. This enables students to function at more advanced cognitive, analytical, and communicative levels as
the pre-AP ® sequence begins in Level IV Honors. Students build confidence in Spanish by continually
developing comprehension and comprehensibility, a rich breadth of vocabulary, language control,
communication strategies, and cultural awareness throughout the curricula of study from the FLES program
through AP. In order to connect the course with the ACTFL National Standards of Foreign Language of
Learning for the 21st Century, students are expected to communicate entirely in the target language in AP ®
Spanish Language and Culture as they compare and contrast Spanish-speaking cultures with their personal
communities and connect their studies with other disciplines in their high school curricula.
Expectations
What does Sra. Pollock expect from me every day in class?
A. Character Education Oath: I must be a caring, fair, responsible, respectful, trustworthy citizen in the
classroom at all times. I am a unique and valuable member of our team.
B. Always Be on Time or Early: I will always be on time for class or early by being in my seat before the
bell rings. I am not permitted to be tardy to or absent from class for any unexcused reason.
C. NO Gum, NO Food, NO Candy, and ONLY water (if I need a beverage)…KEEP THE ROOM CLEAN!
1. If I have any gum, food, or candy in use/accessible upon entering class, I will quickly
throw them in the garbage can by the door. There may be units where we study food
and bring in cultural dishes, and that is the ONLY time I am allowed to eat in the
classroom.
2. I am responsible for making sure my space and the entire classroom is kept clean with
my classmates. I will not be permitted to leave until the entire room is ready for the
next class.
D. No electronic devices are permitted in class or SHIELD at any time! Power them off! Cell phones, iPods, and other electronics will be confiscated by Sra. Pollock if used during class or SHIELD. All cell
phones, i-Pods, and other electronics will be turned in to the main office and I may pick them up at the
end of the school day.
I will not need these devices in class and do not have time for them. If I want to keep my
electronic devices, I must keep them stowed away in my back pack (not my pockets) and
out of sight.
E. Be Prepared to Participate: Upon being seated before the bell rings for class, I will immediately begin
the daily warm-up. I will be ready to participate in class, fully prepared with all necessary materials and
assignments required every day.
F. Sign-Out: Whenever I must leave class for an office-related departure or an emergency, Sra. Pollock
will give me a hall pass. I must then sign out and back in on the logs in the binder closest to the entrance
door. I need to visit the restroom between classes during the six minutes given…It’s the same action Sra.
Pollock has to take as well! Note: JCHS policy states that students may not leave the classroom during
the first 15 or last 15 minutes of class unless there is an emergency.
G. The Bell Does NOT Dismiss Me! Sra. Pollock dismisses me. The bell is her signal to say, “Adiós” when
she is ready.
Daily Agenda
What are our daily activities and goals?
A. The daily agenda provides a list of activities as goals for completion for class each day. If an activity remains
incomplete on any agenda, it may stay on it until it has been fulfilled for a few sessions depending upon the
pacing of the course.
B. Students are required to start the warm-up activity when they get to class. The warm-up is a daily activity
that is graded.
C. Students who are absent from class must complete the warm-up and copy missed notes from another student
on their own time…NOT upon return to the next class.
D. Students should consult the appropriate classroom file boxes or VISION for any missed worksheets
stemming from agendas in case of an absence.
E. The daily agenda and certain classroom activities may also be found via:
1. Sra. Pollock’s VISION page
2. Sra. Pollock’s e-mail address: sofia.pollock@lcps.org for any missed assignments.
Materials
What materials are we required having at the beginning of class each day?
A. 2 inch 3-ring binder with 8 dividers.
B. 150 (college-ruled) paper for class notes and daily activities (to stay in school).
C. 8 sharpened pencils with erasers (to stay in school).
D. Pens (Green ink AND one additional color).
E. 1 Expo Dry-Erase Marker (to stay at school).
F. 1 pack of index cards.
G. 2 glue sticks (to stay at school).
H. 1 pair of scissors (to stay at school).
J. 1 pack of colored pencils (to stay at school).
K. 1 Highlighter
Grading System
How will we be graded in this course?
A. The Loudoun County Public Schools Grade Scale will be used in distributing all individual and final grades
during the nine-week marking periods, semester averages, and year-end averages:
Letter Grade Numeric Grade Range
A+
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
98-100
93-97
90-92
87-89
83-86
80-82
77-79
73-76
70-72
67-69
63-66
60-62
0-59
B. Overall grades are based on the four aspects of language: Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening, with
each aspect weighted at 25%. All graded assignments utilize the scale to the right for associations to letter
grades:
1. All grades count once unless otherwise announced.
2. Quizzes will be given on an announced and unannounced basis.
3. Homework will be assigned according to agenda listings. All homework assignments will be assessed
in class.
4. Time necessary to complete homework assignments will vary.
5. Late assignments are given a maximum score of 75% and will only be accepted one class late unless
related to an excused absence. (See next section)
Make-Up Policy
What if I miss class for an excused reason?
A. It is the student’s responsibility to make up work missed for any reason.
B. Agendas posted in the classroom, on Sra. Pollock’s website, and via e-mail can be used to check on missed
assignments.
C. Be sure to get missed notes from a class mate prior to returning to class! It’s your job to stay focused on your
education!
D. Students have the number of days missed plus one (+1) for making up assignments stemming from excused
absences. Students who make up work quickly have a higher success rate. Extended absences will be handled
individually.
E. Students missing for extracurricular activities or other school-approved absences are responsible to retrieve
their work before that class is missed. These students will have the same due dates and responsibilities as those
attending class that day.
Retake Policy
How can I improve my grade on an assessment that was not my best?
A. Students may retake one test and one quiz per quarter.
B. In order to retake an assessment, students must complete and turn the re-take form (located in the classroom)
the next class after receiving their grade. Students who re-take an assessment quickly after they originally take
it tend to make a greater improvement than those who wait several days (or weeks) to re-take.
C. Students must make an appointment with Sra. Pollock to complete test corrections before or after school or
during SHIELD. Test corrections may not be completed at home.
D. An alternate version of the assessment will be given to the student. The student must make an appointment
with Sra. Pollock to complete the new assessment before or after school or during SHIELD.
E. The new score will be averaged with the original score.
Be mindful of what you re-take! Remember, you can only re-take one quiz and one test per quarter! There is no
re-take for projects or graded class activities.
Assistance/Enrichment
What if I need help beyond the classroom setting?
A. Sra. Pollock is here for you. If you need extra help, speak to Sra.Pollock before/after class or e-mail her
to set up an appointment for extra help before or after school. Setting up an appointment ensures that
Sra. Pollock will be available and prepared with exercises and materials to help you. Remember: if you
set up an appointment for help, you are expected to attend. Please notify Sra. Pollock ASAP if you need
to cancel your appointment.
Discipline
This course will be a very enjoyable one for you in many aspects, but will also require your hard work and
dedication to succeed. We are a team with high expectations moving towards a common goal of learning as
much as possible concerning the Spanish language and associated cultures. You will notice your skills
becoming more and more proficient with the endurance required to succeed. Be confident and follow the
instructions in this document carefully to provide yourself with the opportunity to achieve the best! You’ll
do very well if you are disciplined and dedicate yourself!
JOHN CHAMPE HIGH SCHOOL HONOR CODE
In accordance with the JCHS Honor Code, it is important for all Knight Community members to remember
to practice academic integrity. Not only are students expected to complete their own work and not give or
receive unauthorized assistance on assignments (written, oral, or other), Spanish students should recognize
that the use of translators (electronic or other) are not permitted. When in doubt, ask Sra. Pollock for
clarification before compromising your integrity and jeopardizing your grade.
_______________________________________________
Please sign to confirm that you have read the preceding information Parents/Guardians, please feel
free to include any questions or concerns that you might have at this time regarding our Spanish
class.
Student Name ______________________________________________________
Student Signature___________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name ________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature_____________________________________________