8th Grade Science Class Syllabus
RJHS 2014-2015
Instructor: Ms. White
Course Description:
We will cover many topics in Earth Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. The overall theme for the class
is “change”.
Your success will depend on your individual commitment to participate in class, complete all the assignments in a
timely manner and demonstrate mastery of the material on tests, quizzes and projects.
You are here to succeed. Failure is NOT an option. Please come to me with concerns, questions, or neat things
you have found about science.
Class Requirements: The following materials must be brought to class every day in order to succeed. Textbooks,
Notebook, Pen or Pencil, Current Assignments, and Student ID #.
Attendance Policy:
 Absences and tardiness will be reported electronically according to the school procedures explained in your student
handbook.
 Plan ahead! Don’t ask to leave the classroom because you forgot something in your locker.
 Hall passes are only for real emergencies. You may request up to two hall passes per quarter. No hall passes will
be given during tests or quizzes.
Classroom rules:
Acceptance and daily compliance of these rules is required for continued enrollment. These rules are supplemented with
the school and district rules and policies.
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Respect Self: Be ready to learn and be prepared. There is a lot to learn in a relatively short amount of time.
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Respect Others: Hands off and be polite. All students have the right to learn in a harassment free environment.
This will be strictly enforced.
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Respect Staff: Listen and follow directions.
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Respect School/Classroom: Clean up and use appropriate behavior.
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Be Safe: Horseplay, dangerous, or threatening behavior will not be tolerated. 1st offense will result in a trip to the
office. No exceptions!
Failure to follow the rules above will result in the following.
1st offense – Documented verbal warning
2nd offense – The student/teacher will phone a parent
3rd offense – The student is referred to the office and parent is notified.
Classroom Procedures:
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When you get to class the first thing you do is to check the ISN (interactive notebook station) and glue in any
assignments or notes at the station. GET STARTED BEFORE THE BELL RINGS! You will be given 5 minutes to
get all the materials you need glued into your notebook and your desk cleaned up while I take roll, etc. A large
portion of your grade will come from your Science Notebook. You are expected to keep your notebooks up
to date with all assignments glued in the appropriate pages.
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The bell does not begin or end the class I do. Wait quietly in your seats until you are excused.
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Food, gum, and drinks are not allowed in the classroom.
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Assignments must include the student’s full name and class period, at the top of the page. Any work without
the above info will not be graded or recorded. It will go in the no name box.
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Students will be required to have a composition notebook to record Science Starters, labs, notes and worksheets.
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Every student is required to participate in class, both individually and during group activities. “I don’t want to” is
not an acceptable attitude.
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Raise your hand to answer questions. Do not talk while I am giving instruction.
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Sharpen pencils before class starts. However if you need to sharpen during class you will quietly raise your pencil
in the air and permission may be given.
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Class notes and lectures will be given in class as well as at home through videos. You are expected to come to
class prepared with all notes taken from the previous night’s homework. Students will have and keep an
interactive science notebook in class.
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Most homework will be completed in class.
Grading Information / Student Expectations:
 All students are expected to complete every practice assignment. These assignments are developed for the
intended purpose of helping students master science core concepts.
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All students are expected to complete all assignments by day of unit test. All assignments are intended to help
students prepare for the unit test, and there is no reason for completing them after the unit test. No credit will be
given for work after the unit test.
Students who are absent for the test will be allowed time in accordance to district policy to make up the work and
take the assessment.
Students will be notified of the test deadline at least one week before test is administered.
Part of a student’s intervention may include completing NHI assignments in order to develop their understanding
of concepts.
All students are expected to score a minimum of 70% (3 or 4) on every test. A student unable to score a 70% (1
or 2) will be required to retake the test after the appropriate intervention.
In order to motivate students to prepare to do their best on their first test attempt, any score greater than 70% (3
or 4) is their final test score and may not be repeated for improvement.
Initial student scores on quizzes will be recorded in the assessment category with a weight of 1. All students are
required to repeat quizzes, up to 5 times, until they score 100%. The 100% completion will be acknowledged in
the practice category in gradebook. The rationale is to motivate students to stay current and to utilize quizzes as
a practice tool to prepare for unit tests.
Assignments, quizzes, and labs can be redone, but they must be turned in before the UNIT TEST. It is your
responsibility to get with me to redo an assignment or lab.
Tests and quizzes can be taken at duchesne.utips.org
It is up to you to check the classroom blog and the absent box to get any assignments missed when absent. Do
this before or after class, not during. The website is mswhitesscienceroom.blogspot.com
Class grade reports will be posted periodically in the classroom
Grade Scale
 Roosevelt Jr. High has developed the following final grade scale based on a 1 – 4 student mastery: As mentioned
earlier, the assessment category contributes 70% of the student’s final grade and the practice category
contributes 30%.
The Grade Cutoffs are:
A 90%
There is no AA is Mastery
B 80%
There is no B+ nor BB is Near Mastery
C 70%
There is no C+ nor CC is Intervention
D 50%
There is no D+ nor DD is below average
F <50%
F is failing
Labs and assignment grades will be based on a scale ranging from 4-0 as follows: 4= Complete Mastery of the
concept 85% or higher, 3=Near Mastery 70- 84%, 2= inadequate understanding 50-69%, 1= demonstrates no
understanding of the concept 50% or lower
Scores will still be given but will be determined by the above Rubric scale. Again I want to see a demonstration of
learning of the concepts, not just a grade to complete the work.
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Cheating will not be tolerated. Any evidence of cheating will result in a zero for that assignment and a parental
conference.
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Checking grades on the internet can be done anytime. Log on to the internet at http://ps.dcsd.org/public/. You will
need your username and password from the office.
Laboratory Guidelines:
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Safety during lab-based activities is required at all times. Rules for each lab must be followed or severe
consequences will follow. 1st offense a zero for the lab, 2nd offense report to the office.
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Lab equipment is expensive; any student who damages or breaks equipment will be responsible for the repair or
replacement of such equipment. Even if it is an accident. No student at any time is allowed into the storage
areas or cabinets without teacher permission.
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If you are absent for a lab you may be able to make it up after school. Please check the absent log first to see if it
is one you can make up. It is your responsibility to schedule a time.
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Food, gum, and drinks are not allowed in the lab room.
Your signature below acknowledges your awareness of your student’s behavioral and academic responsibilities in my
classroom. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Thank you,
Ms. White swhite@dcsd.org
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Parent Signature
435-725-4599
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Date