MS. MELUCCI
ALGEBRA 2
COURSE OVERVIEW
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: mmelucci@chatham-nj.org
One of the most important things you will learn during your high school career is how to communicate
appropriately and effectively. Therefore, I will ask you to resend any inappropriately written emails before
I respond. All emails should include a salutation, valediction, and complete sentences within. Polite
words/phrases such as “please” and “thank you” are highly recommended.
EXTRA HELP HOURS
Monday – Friday During the Second Half of Lunch
You will need to print out a pass from our Google Drive in order to gain access to the B-wing. Once you
do, you should look for me in the Math Office and all of the Math classrooms. If you don’t see me around
please wait for a few minutes. I probably just stepped out and will be right back!
FINAL EXAM
You are required to take a cumulative final exam for this course.
MARKING PERIOD GRADES
Each marking period grade will be the percentage of points you earned out of the total possible points.
There will be approximately 300 - 400 points available per marking period. Points will come from tests,
quizzes, authentic assessments, class participation, and homework.
TESTS
Two to three 65 to 100 point tests will be given during each marking period. Test questions will be very
similar to those encountered during class or homework assignments.
QUIZZES
Three to five 20 – 55 point quizzes will be given during each marking period. Quizzes may be either
announced or unannounced and will be based on previous homework assignments and classwork.
AUTHENTIC ASSESSMENTS
You will complete four journal entries over the course of the school year. The journal entries will only be
assigned at the end of certain chapters. One journal entry will count toward each marking period grade
and will be worth 25 points. More details on the authentic assessment can be found in our Google Drive.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
You will receive two 20 point class participation grades each marking period. You will be asked to rate
yourself in multiple categories according to a class participation rubric. If I agree with your ratings then
they will remain the same. If I disagree, then I will change the ratings to reflect my opinion and indicate
the areas in which you need improvement. You will then have an opportunity to see my changes (and
your grade for that rubric) and will hopefully work on the indicated areas in order to achieve a higher
grade the next time!
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HOMEWORK
There will be approximately twenty 3-point homework assignments each marking period. Homework will
be assigned almost every day. You will be asked to show the completed assignment at the beginning of
the following class. You will then have an opportunity to ask questions about the problems on which you
were confused. Student volunteers will put their solutions to these problems on the board and we will
review them as a class.
You will NOT receive all three points on a homework assignment if the assignment is incomplete or if
work is not shown. You will receive an extra ¼ point if you list the assignment number at the top of the
page and include a summary of the directions before each set of problems.
Late homework will not be accepted.
NOTEBOOK
A three-ring binder is strongly recommended for this course.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES – ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
No electronic devices whatsoever will be permitted in my classroom. Any devices (including
headphones), must be completely turned off and put away prior to entering my classroom. “Put away”
means that I cannot see the item (not that it is laying at the top of an open book bag). This rule applies
even if you are coming in for extra help during lunch.
You will not be excused from being tardy if you are standing in the hallway putting these devices away
before entering my room. The solution is to not take them out for the four minute walk on your way to my
class.
If I see a device, I will confiscate it for retrieval in the main office at the end of the school day. I will also
write up an incident report, which may result in a central detention.
TARDINESS
As per the student handbook, if you arrive late to class four times you will receive a central detention.
You will receive additional central detentions for every third tardy, thereafter.
MAKEUP WORK
You are responsible for making up all work missed during absences. You should obtain missed notes,
handouts, and homework assignments from our Google Drive. All homework, projects, quizzes and tests
must be made up within two school days of your return to school. If you miss only a portion of a school
day, all homework, projects, quizzes and tests must be made up by the end of the following school day
(regardless of rotation).
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CHEATING POLICY
The following is the cheating policy for this course. It is an extension of the CHS Academic Integrity
Policy, which is located in your student handbook.
(1)
Any attempt to look at another student’s paper during a quiz/test/exam will be considered
cheating.
(2)
Allowing another student to see information on your quiz/test/exam paper will be considered
cheating. All students are advised to keep their work covered as best as possible at all times
during a quiz/test/exam.
(3)
Any attempt to communicate with other students during a quiz/test/exam will be considered
cheating.
(4)
Any information relevant to any portion of the course that is on or around your desk during a
quiz/test/exam, whether visible or concealed, will be considered cheating.
(5)
Any information relevant to any portion of the course that is stored in any part of your calculator
during a quiz/test/exam will be considered cheating.
(6)
If you borrow a calculator from someone for use on a quiz/test/exam, you are responsible for
contents of that calculator.
(7)
I may require that calculator memory be totally erased for a quiz/test/exam or that specific
programs on your calculator be erased for a quiz/test/exam.
(8)
I may check calculators on any test/exam I choose and at any point during a test/exam.
(9)
If you think a calculator program is acceptable for use during a quiz/test/exam, you must get my
approval of the program at least one day prior to the quiz/test/exam.
(10) No test/exam information may be stored in a calculator at the conclusion of the quiz/test/exam.
(11) Plagiarizing someone else’s work on any assignment will be considered cheating.
(12) Allowing someone else to copy your work on any assignment will be considered cheating.
Any violation of the CHS Academic Integrity Policy or this policy will result in a grade of 0 on the
assessment. Additional consequences, as outlined in the CHS Academic Integrity Policy, may also be
enforced.
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