Welcome to Algebra 2!
Teacher: Mr. Gillus
Classroom: #4018
In this course we will follow up on some of the concepts learned in Algebra 1, such as functions,
graphing, and polynomials. We will also work with some new topics, including complex numbers,
radical expressions, statistics, and sequences and series. Other topics will include solving
equations, rational expressions, and logarithms. We’ll emphasize problem-solving and practical
applications, and we’ll use graphing calculators frequently.
Students will take the Algebra 2 SOL test in May or June. To receive a verified credit for Algebra
2, students will need to both pass the SOL test and earn an overall class grade of D or better for
the year. Please keep in mind, however, that students need to earn a grade of C or better in
Algebra 2 in order to move on to another math class for the 2012-13 school year.
Students need to bring to each class meeting:
 pencils – you will lose points for math work done in pen!
 a 3-ring loose-leaf binder, with paper, for notes, homework, and other class papers
 TI-83 or TI-84 graphing calculator – students may use their own or borrow from school
I may sometimes include class preparedness in the participation grade.
The textbook will be Prentice Hall’s Algebra 2. Students are required to bring the book to class
during each class meeting unless instructed otherwise by the teacher.
We will start most class periods with a few warm-up problems, which will be accumulated and
collected later to count as the majority of the quarterly participation grade. After that the answers
to the previous homework assignment will be available, and we’ll spend a few minutes going over a
few problems. On most days students will need to take notes on new material, and they will need
to work through all sample problems.
Doing homework is important because it’s the best way to get extra practice on new math skills.
Homework will be assigned almost every class meeting, and it will be checked for effort and
completeness and will count in overall grades. There will be no partial credit for late homework.
Most homework assignments will not be collected, and most will not be graded for correctness.
Students will be responsible for finding out about and showing me any assignments they miss due
to absences, and they will be due one week from the last day of the absence. More details about
homework grading are on the back of this page.
Students who need to take make-up quizzes or tests will need to talk to me within two days of
their return to school. Together we will schedule the make-up; it will be outside of class time, in a
supervised setting, preferably after school. Students who miss class due to field trips are expected
to stay on schedule with the rest of the class.
When a tardy or an absence is unexcused or unverified, no makeup work will be counted –
all missed warmups, homework, quizzes, and/or tests will earn grades of 0.
Please refer to the Student Handbook for attendance policies, the school honor code, and
school rules. During this class, all cell phones and electronic music/entertainment devices
should be turned off and should not be visible. Cosmetics may not be used in class, and hats and
hoods may not be worn. Students should not leave the classroom without a hall pass. Students
arriving late must follow sign-in procedures as explained in class; three or more unexcused tardies
will result in detentions.
E-mail is a great way to get in contact with me; my e-mail address is warren.gillus@apsva.us.
You can also call the school’s Main Office at 703-228-6200 and ask to speak to me or to leave a
message for me. Another way to contact me is to call the school voicemail system at 703-2283600 and leave a message in my voice mailbox, which is number 97278.
You can access my webpage through the Washington-Lee website, www.apsva.us/washingtonlee.
My page will include this course description. There is also an individual page for each class period
which has a calendar listing class topics (sometimes with a file of class notes), previous and
current homework assignments, and information on any upcoming quizzes and tests that have
already been announced. I will update the webpage at the end of the day of each class meeting,
so it should be a good resource for everyone.
Grades: Student grades reflect student achievement and not student behavior. In each chapter
we will have at least one quiz, at least one test, and grades for homework, warmups, and
sometimes other projects and/or activities. Some quizzes will be surprises and some will be done
in small groups, and sometimes work done during the class period will be counted as homework or
as a quiz. There will also be a cumulative test at the end of each quarter, designed to help
students show their knowledge as well as prepare for the SOL exam. I will offer occasional extra
credit assignments (one or two per quarter); directions for those assignments must be followed
exactly in order to earn credit.
On quizzes and tests, partial credit usually will be given for showing some correct mathematical
steps, even if the student does not reach the correct solution. This will not be true for multiple
choice questions, on which students can earn either full credit or no credit for right or wrong
answers, respectively.
Here is how the overall grade for each quarter will be calculated:
Tests
Quizzes
Participation
Quarter Test
35
30%
15% (warm-up, homework, book check, notebook check)
20%
Quarterly grades will be rounded up when the final value ends between .5 and .9.
The overall grade for the year will be the average of the grades earned for each of the four
quarters and the final exam. Each of those grades will count as 20% of the final grade for the year.
Students will be exempt from the final exam if they have no outstanding math department
obligations, have passed the Algebra 2 SOL test, and have earned a grade of A for at least three
quarters (with a B allowed in the other quarter).
The grading scale for this class will be:
90 – 100
87 – 89
80 – 86
77 – 79
70 – 76
67 – 69
60 – 66
0 – 59
A
B+
B
C+
C
D+
D
E
Homework grading:

Most homework assignments will be worth a percentage of the participation grade. On most
days I will not collect homework; instead I will look at it and assign a grade of 100, 50, or 0
percent at the beginning of the class period

No late homework will be accepted unless the student has an excused absence. If a student
attended a class in which homework was assigned and failed to submit it on the date due, it
will not be accepted.
Missed Assignments:

Any homework that was assigned before you were absent will be due on your first class day
back at school.

It will be your responsibility to find out about any assignments that you missed due to
absences. The homework calendars on the website show the homework assigned each class
meeting, recorded in the block for the day on which it was assigned.

I will keep copies of any worksheets that you miss, but you will need to take the initiative to
ask me for them.

Any homework assigned while you were gone is due within one week of the last day of your
absence.

If you miss a quiz or test you will need to see me as soon as you return to school to schedule
a makeup. Makeups will not be done during class time, so make sure to choose a makeup
time that you can attend.

If you miss your scheduled makeup time or if you don’t schedule a time to make up a missed
quiz or test you will probably get a 0 on it!

If you miss class due to a field trip you need to stay on schedule with the rest of the class.
There will be no adjustments to homework due dates or test or quiz dates.

Again, any quizzes or tests missed because of an unexcused or unverified tardy or
absence will receive 0 points.
Extra help and intervention: Students who want extra help or have questions or problems will
have several options, and several of them offer a chance for students to work with me. I’ll be
available on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school until at least 4 p.m.; I’ll often be here after
school on Mondays and Wednesdays as well. Students who would like to work with me during
Generals Period can see me for a pass or they can ask their Generals Period teacher to sign them
up for the Algebra 2 Skills Lab, for which I will be the teacher.
In the event that a student is not achieving at the appropriate level, he/she will be required to
attend additional support sessions. Students may choose between the following options:

Generals Period help in room 3221

After school Math Acceleration Program on Tuesdays (room 4024) and Thursdays (room
4008)

Zero Period between 7:20 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. in room 3222

Lunch Lab – in room 3221 on W Days and in room 4013 on L Days
Failure to attend required support sessions may result in disciplinary action. To verify
attendance at above support options, visit http://tinyurl.com/WLACCEL
All of these opportunities for extra help are open to and available for all students, not just
those who have been required to attend. Sometimes there will also be math teachers available
during Saturday School.
I’m looking forward to our year together!
Mr. Gillus
Please read and sign the acknowledgement below
and return this page for a homework grade
I have read Mr. Gillus’s Algebra 2 course description and understand all the information
included.
Student Name (please print): _________________________________________
Student Signature: _________________________________________________
Date: ____________________
Parent/Guardian Name (please print): __________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________________
Date: ____________________
Parents, I would appreciate having some contact information from you (a phone number or
an e-mail address, whichever you prefer). Thank you!
Name of contact: ___________________________________________________
How may I contact you? _____________________________________________