Accounting I
2011 - 2012
Teacher: Mr. Valanzano
Office: N211A
(West Top next to Mr. Vogelson’s office)
Room: W107
Contact: avalanzano@sfponline.org
Introduction
This is a full-year (2 semester) course intended to provide an introduction to basic accounting
concepts and teach how to manually proceed through the accounting cycle and prepare financial
statements. The goal of this course is to teach basic accounting skills that can be utilized in real
world, for-profit business situations. The importance of ethics and the impact of unethical
accounting on the business world and the individual investor will be explored.
The topics that will be covered include: The accounting cycle for service-oriented and
merchandising businesses, Cash receipts, Cash payments, Journals for Sales and Purchases,
Inventory procedures, Methods of depreciation, and Accounting for uncollectible debts.
Course Goals
- To develop the use of basic accounting principles and procedures that are applied to accounting
records kept for business in the United States.
- To explain and appreciate the importance of profit in helping to ensure continued business
operations.
- To know and understand the three major types of business organizations in a private enterprise
company and to explain how accounting procedures differ for all three.
- To be able to complete the accounting cycle for a service company and a merchandising
company.
- To develop an appreciation for ethical behavior in financial matters.
- To increase the ability to apply reason and logic to everyday situations.
Required Materials
Textbook – You will get one to take home and we will have a class set.
Workbook
Notebooks (Preferably with a folder)
Calculator
Ruler
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Grading
Final Grade:
Quarter Grades (20% each x 4 quarters)
80%
Final Exam*
20%
__________________
100%
*THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE CUMULATIVE!
Quarter Grades:
Exams
300 points
Quizzes
150 points
Homework
100 points
Class Participation & Attendance
50 points
_________________
600 points
YOUR QUARTER GRADE WILL BE DETERMINED BY TAKING THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF POINTS YOU EARNED DIVIDED BY 600.
- There will be 2-3 exams given each quarter. All exams will be cumulative to that point in the
course because accounting concepts build off each other. Each exam will be worth 100 points.
- In the event a project is assigned in place of a test, the project will also be worth 100 points.
- Quizzes will be given throughout each quarter. They will be worth 25 points each and vary in
content and style. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped, giving you 150 points worth of quiz
grades.
- Homework will not be given every night but it is expected to be completed when it is assigned.
Everyone will start with 100/100 for their Homework grade. If a homework assignment is not
completed by the next class period, 5 points will be deducted from this grade.
- Attending class and actively participating in class is vital to your understanding and success in
this course. If you know you will be missing class, please do your best to notify me ahead of
time.
- All make-up exams and quizzes must take place within one full week of the date of the missed
exam or quiz. Failure to make up the exam or quiz within that time will result in a grade of zero.
***DUE DATES FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND DATES OF EXAMS & QUIZZES
WILL ALWAYS BE POSTED IN THE CLASSROOM AND
ANNOUNCED AHEAD OF TIME!***
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St. Francis Prep Honor Code
As members of a Catholic community in the Franciscan tradition, we affirm the significance of
honesty in all areas of our lives. Honesty fosters a community based on trust, the only
atmosphere in which true learning and spiritual growth may occur. Lack of honesty is a major
impediment in the pursuit of Truth, the heart of the philosophy of St. Francis Prep. As such, we
pledge ourselves to honorable behavior in all we do.
Academic Honesty
Students at St. Francis Prep commit themselves to honesty in all their academic work. Academic
dishonesty (cheating) is taking credit for work that is not one's own. Cheating includes, but is not
limited to, the following items:
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giving or receiving aid on an exam or attempting to do so;
copying homework;
not documenting sources (including use of the Internet);
plagiarism;
getting the answers for a test in advance;
forgery;
misusing calculators.
Any behavior that compromises the integrity of a student's work or a teacher's assessment of that
work constitutes cheating. Students who misrepresent themselves and their work face serious
academic consequences. Individual classroom teachers will explain in detail policies regarding
academic honesty relevant to their discipline and course. There are also school policies and
consequences for violating commitment to
academic honesty.
The responsibility of supporting and upholding the Honor Code falls to each member of the St.
Francis Prep community. Students are responsible. for respecting and upholding the Honor Code
in all their behaviors. Parents and guardians are responsible for
supporting the Honor Code. Faculty members are responsible for explaining, clarifying, and
enforcing the Honor Code in all their classes and for providing for fair testing and proctoring.
The Administration is responsible for providing guidance and support for education and
enforcement of the Honor Code.
Sanctions
First Infraction of the Honor Code:
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The student automatically fails the assignment involved.
The teacher involved will report the offense to his or her Chairperson.
The teacher involved will telephone the parents or guardians immediately to inform them
of the infraction.
The name of the student will be recorded with the Chairperson and the Assistant Principal
for Faculty and Instruction.
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Second Infraction:
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The student automatically fails the assignment involved.
The teacher involved will report the offense to his or her Chairperson.
The teacher involved will telephone the parents or guardians immediately to inform them
of the infraction and that a letter will he sent-home regarding the consequences.
The Chairperson and teacher will meet with the student to explain the seriousness of this
second offense.
The Chairperson will send home a letter (from the Chairperson and the Assistant
Principal for Faculty and Instruction) informing the family that the student has been
placed on academic probation. The letter will explain the meaning of academic probation.
The parents or guardians must sign the letter and return it to school.
Third Infraction:
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The student automatically fails the assignment involved.
The teacher involved will report the offense to his or her Chairperson.
The student is suspended.
The student will remain on suspension until the student and his or her parents or
guardians come to school for an interview with the Assistant Principal for Faculty and
Instruction. At that time, the Assistant Principal for Faculty and Instruction will explain
the seriousness of the student's actions and the possible dismissal following another
offense.
The parents or guardians must sign a letter explaining the student's change in affairs.
Fourth Infraction:
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The student and the parents or guardians will meet with the Principal to discuss the
student's dismissal from St. Francis Prep. At that time, the Principal will review the
student's entire school record. The Administration reserves the right to move immediately
to the fourth step in cases it determines to be extreme.
OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- It is expected that students show up on time for class. Arriving late is a disruption and a
distraction to both the teacher and the other students. Excessive lateness will result in a negative
impact on your class participation and attendance grade, and possibly your quarter grade.
- Cell phone use is PROHIBITED in the classroom. If I see your phone, it will be confiscated
and submitted to the Dean's Office for 2 days. If it happens again, your parent or guardian will
have to pick up your phone from the Dean's Office for you. This is the school's new policy.
- The school's dress code will be strictly enforced.
- Respect everyone and everything in the classrom.
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