MS Earth/Space Science
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Welcome to Mount Dora Middle School—Home of the Soaring Eagles!
I would like to personally welcome you and your son or daughter to this year's science course! I believe that
science is an interesting and exciting topic. By getting involved in your child's instruction, you can not only help
your son or daughter to succeed, but you may also enjoy learning new material yourself! And why not? The more
we know about the world around us, the more fascinating it becomes . . .
This year your son or daughter will be using a textbook published by McGraw-Hill/Glencoe called Earth & Space
Science. The textbook has a rich bank of science content and plenty of examples to help make that content relevant
to daily life. In addition, the book clearly outlines lesson objectives and vocabulary. By mastering these concepts
and terms, your son or daughter will gain a solid base in science and will be prepared for the next step in their
science education. Your child will also have many opportunities to reinforce, extend, and apply what he or she
learns with fun and meaningful investigations and activities. Also, you can rest assured that this program meets our
state and national standards for science!
My goal is to create a classroom environment that will help your son or daughter
 build a solid science vocabulary
 gain a strong understanding of key scientific principles and topics
 learn how to use mathematics to tackle scientific problems
 find out about the latest technologies and use many of them to learn more about science and our world
 see how science is related to all other disciplines
 effectively prepare for standardized assessments
 see science as worthwhile and meaningful
 develop thinking skills and the ability to challenge assumptions, think creatively, and solve real-life problems
 have fun!!
I would appreciate your help in furthering these goals. Simply supporting your child as he or she explores science
this year will go a long way!
Sincerely,
Kim Okey
Mount Dora Middle School
Room 4-006
383-6101, Ext. 3880
okeyk@lake.k12.fl.us
Planning: MTTF: 1:15-2:00
W: 12:45-1:15
Grading Policy and Class Requirements
This year in science class your son or daughter will have many opportunities for learning, growth, and
achievement. I will be monitoring your child's progress with the following grading policy.
Category
Classwork/Quizzes
Labs
Homework
Tests/Projects
Progress can be monitored on
e-Sembler @
http://grades.lake.k12.fl.us
Science Grading Policy
Grading Scale
1 grade
1grade
See Below
2 grades
Student school identification
number is required to set up
an account.
Each of the above categories plays an important part in your child's learning.
Homework Students will be assigned homework several times per week. Homework may be a reading
assignment, a worksheet, review questions, take-home activities, or unfinished class work. I encourage you to
review homework on a regular basis so that you know how well your son or daughter is doing. A homework
completion grade will be given at the end of each 9 weeks. The homework completion grade counts 2 grades.
Labs Students will be doing a number of exciting laboratory activities this year. To ensure that students have fun
and succeed in the laboratory, it is important that they have a good understanding of safe lab practices. Please help
me maintain a safe environment by reviewing the safety guidelines with your son or daughter. When you are sure
your child understands and agrees to the safety guidelines, sign the safety contract together. With that signed
contract and a B (80 or better) on the Lab Safety Test, your son or daughter will be welcomed in the science lab.
Quizzes and Tests To ensure that students are regularly completing and understanding their course work, I will
administer a graded assignment or quiz as needed. I assess student progress with a more formal test at least once
per grading period. If your son or daughter earns a test grade below a C, please encourage your child to visit with
me about ways to improve his or her progress.
Projects Projects may be assigned at various times during the school year. Special projects are fun and
challenging additions to your child's regular course work.
Late or Makeup Work In certain circumstances, I may accept late work from your son or daughter (excused
absences only). If your child has an excused absence, please encourage him or her to visit with me immediately
upon returning to the classroom (or in advance if possible). It is the student’s responsibility to ask about missed
assignments. Upon return from an absence, the student has 5 school days to make up missed work as set forth in
the Student Code of Conduct.
Earth/Space Science Notebook Students will be expected to maintain an Earth/Space Science notebook
containing all science materials including an up to date Science Assignment/Grade Sheet.
An Earth/Space Science Course Outline will be provided for you and your student to view/discuss the topics that
will be covered in this class.
Electronics Any personal electronics of any kind are to be turned off and out of sight at all times; otherwise,
they will be confiscated and accompanied by a warning for the 1st offense and an office referral for the 2nd offense.
Materials Required
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3-ring binder (1 to 1 ½ inches) w/ pockets and clear view cover (Class notebook)
5 dividers w/ tabs
McGraw-Hill/Glencoe Earth & Space Science (Interactive textbook---you can WRITE in it!)
Pens and pencils (NO RED INK!)
Highlighters/Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils (for home use)
Attendance
It is extremely important that students attend class on a regular basis. Attending class on a regular basis helps
students to keep up with daily assignments and to connect the dots between concepts learned each day.
It is amazing how much a student will learn just by being in class!
Rule of thumb:
Poor attendance = Poor grades.
Behavioral Expectations
All schools have implemented a positive behavior system which defines behavioral expectations of a student on
the school campus whether he/she is in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, bus loop, parking area, cafeteria,
common area, locker-room, or the restroom. The goal of this system is to promote a safe learning environment
which offers an “opportunity to learn” which is essential to moving student achievement (Marzano 2002). My
behavioral expectations for students to SOAR and LEARN are as follows:
S.O.A.R.(school campus):
S- Strive to be a willing, positive & active learner
O- On time and prepared
A- Always appropriately dressed & electronics free
R- Respect for self, others and MDMS
L.E.A.R.N. (classroom):
L- Listen, reflect and focus
E- Express yourself with appropriate language
A- Accept responsibility for your education
R- Respect diversity
N- No contraband! No excuses!
Please know that it is my priority to ensure that each student has adequate assistance and ample opportunity to
succeed in this class. If you have any questions about the class or your child’s progress, please feel free to contact
me at 357-4147 or by email at okeyk@lake.k12.fl.us .
After reviewing this information with your son or daughter, please fill in the following section
on the next page and return to Mrs. Okey.
************PLEASE RETURN THIS COMPLETED PAGE************
TO MRS. OKEY
STUDENT SECTION
I, ___________________, have read and understand the policies set
Print student’s name
forth in Mrs. Okey’s class syllabus. I fully understand the
importance of being present and prepared for this class. I also fully
understand that any electronics in my possession are to be turned off
and out of sight; otherwise, they will be confiscated and accompanied
by an appropriate consequence.
________________________________
___________________
Student signature
Date
PARENT/GUARDIAN SECTION
______________________ and I have read, discussed, and understand
Print student’s name
the policies and procedures set forth in Mrs. Okey’s class syllabus.
We fully agree that being present and prepared for class on a daily basis
is the key to being successful in this class. We also understand that the
return of this signed sheet counts as a 100 in the grade book.
________________________
Print parent/guardian’s name
________________________
Date
__________________________
Parent/guardian signature
__________________________
Home phone number
________________________________
Cell phone number
________________________________
Work phone number
________________________
Email address #1
__________________________
Email address #2
COMMENTS: ______________________________________________________
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