Important Info on how thIs class Is run…
Tardies
1st tardy – verbal warning/documented in Power School
2nd tardy – verbal warning/documented in Power School
3rd tardy – call home/ documented in Power School
4th tardy and after- full lunch detention with me/documented in Power School
5th and after- referral to admin/ documented in Power School
Power School
Please be aware of your Power School log in! Use it and access to your grades, absences, and tardies. I will
supply you with the log in at the beginning of the semester and I expect you to check in weekly.
Bathroom
Each student will receive 3 passes to use the bathroom or go somewhere (nurse, student services) every 9
weeks. If you lose them or go over 3 then you will owe me 5 minutes lunch time for every pass you need.
Students who do not use passes will be allowed to apply them to a “cash out “system at end of each 9 weeks
for extra points towards grades.
DO NOT ask to go to the bathroom in the middle of a lesson. Please wait like an adult until there is a lull in
instruction so that you do not miss anything.
Phones/Music
As much as I understand the need to have a line to the outside world there is no place for your phone in this
classroom while class is being conducted unless instructed. If I see you on your phone I will ask you to turn it
off and give it to me for safe keeping until the end of the period. If this is an issue I will confiscate the phone.
Failure to comply will result in a write up for insubordination. Our time is limited and I need your full attention
at all times please.
Headphones and music are to be turned off once class starts. Sorry, but no music as we are doing class work.
Yes, I know you work better with music but then you start to play DJ instead of working and I need your full
undivided attention for 90 minutes every day. DO NOT EVEN BOTHER ASKING PLEASE!
Late Work
On Level Biology Classes: Late work will be taken and will receive 10 points off for every day late. I will not
take late work after 10 days as it is a zero. This is strictly enforced
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You will be reminded of late work through a Missing Work Log. Please sign and return upon
receipt and get me the missing work as soon as possible.
Honors Biology: Late work will not be accepted. You are expected to hold yourself to a more rigorous
standard and be responsible and accountable for work assigned in class.
Absenteeism
DO NOT EVER ASK…“Did I miss anything important/did we do anything important in class?” if you are
absent please.
Let me answer this one for you in one word: Yes. The answer will always be “yes.” The reason is because I
never stand up in front of a room or create an activity that I consider useless. It is your responsibility to find
out what was missed in class.
In the front of the room is an absent folder. Inside will be a log of the things that were done on the day you
were out. Inside will also contain a sheet with your name on it (attendance log) and the sheets that you
missed for that day stapled to it. You are to go there to retrieve missed work and to refer to your “Peek at the
Week” before you come to me please.
If you are absent the following policies apply:
1. Absent on the day an assignment is due, present when it was assigned- it is due on your first day back
2. Absent on the day an assignment is due, and when it was assigned (with no days in between)- it is due
on your second day back
3. Absent for part of a lab- obtain lab data from partners and due on original date
4. Absent for an entire lab or activity- obtain alternative assignment
5. Absent for a test but present when it was assigned- taken on day of return
6. Absent for a test but missed consecutive days beforehand- must be made up within a week of missing
7. Class cuts/unexcused absences- no credit for assignments, labs, or quizzes that take place on that day.
 You must get your absences excused by Mrs. Richardson in the attendance office within 10 days
of the absence. 10 unexcused absences will result in no credit for the course.
Peek at the Weeks
Peek at the Weeks are a weekly calendar that we do on Monday that give you an idea of what our week will
look like. Notes, labs and due dates for homework and tests will be given to you. I expect you to use this paper
as a planner. Do not ask me what we did/are doing before referring to this sheet of paper.
Notes
On Level Biology: TBD
Honors Biology: TBD
Tests
At the end of each unit there will be a cumulative test (test that contains all material that has been covered
from the beginning). Each successive test will be made up of previous test questions plus new material. It is
your responsibility to master previous material before the next test as they build on each other and you
cannot escape topics in here. Your EOC will be cumulative….
1st test= 25 questions
2nd test= 50 questions (25 from last test and 25 new)
3rd test= 75 questions (50 from last test and 25 new)
4th test = 100 questions (75 from last test and 25 new)
After that…..same format as above, cumulative so new questions will be added and old dropped. We will stay
at 100 for the rest of the semester.
 There will be about 9 tests in here.
We use the Mimio Votes for the multiple choice.
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On Level Biology: Multiple Choice
Honors Biology: Multiple Choice (worth 85%), short answer and essay (worth 15%)
Supplies:
~You must have a 1 inch 3 ring binder for this class only.
~Paper
~Pencil and Pen
~Not required but suggested: index cards, highlighter
Notebooks:
NEVER THROW ANYTHING AWAY THAT WE DO IN HERE!
At the end of each unit there will be a “notebook” due. It contains all the work we have completed for the
unit including notes, homework, quizzes, and labs. Some work is graded periodically throughout the unit and
some things will graded upon submission of the unit notebook. If work is missing then I can’t grade it (aka it’s
a zero). If you lose something it is your job to replace it before notebooks are due. There will be approximately
10 notebooks due during the semester.
I check for completed and thoughtful work. Everything in your packet is worth 10 points each. Depending on
how long the unit is and how much work we do, the packets can range from 90 to 200 points in total value.
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For each piece of missing work you will lose 10 points.
Points will also be subtracted for incomplete work. If work is not completed in class then it expected to
be finished in your own time before your notebook is due.
 10 points will also be subtracted for each day late, for work not being in order, or not having a cover
sheet.
These notebooks will be used to study and review for EOC. You have access to these any time from the drawer
that you will store them in once they have been graded and returned. I ask that you keep them in class if you
think you will not be able to keep up with them.
We will have notebook checks every Friday to make sure that you are keeping up with your work. The
quickest way to be unsuccessful in this class is to be unorganized. If you think that this may be an issue please
let me know so that I can help you.
Rules for the Notebooks
1. Cover page (running list that we keep as the unit progresses) available from me
2. Work must be in the order of the cover page
3. Work must be complete and present (if you are absent you are still responsible for getting notes or making
up work. Please check with me for alternative online lab assignments)
4. Must be turned in the day of the test or 10 points will be subtracted for each late day. (NO late work for
HONORS)
5. All graded notebooks will be stored in a filing cabinet in the room until you need them for EOC review or to
study. You have access to these at any point in time.
******An example notebook is in the front of the room with a running list and examples of the sheets that you need*****
Academic Honesty
Cheating will not be tolerated. This includes but is not limited to:
 Sending pictures of work via phone for the purposes of copying
 Copying answers from someone’s classwork, labs, homeowork
 Copying from another’s test
 Using the internet without citation
 Using prohibited devices during testing sessions (cheat sheets, phones, notes, book, etc. )
Please study with each other, use each other’s notes, discuss ideas during class activities, provide proofreading
but do not use someone else’s work as yours! This means that you and your lab partner should not have the
same EXACT answers to a question. Same ideas, yes. Word for word the same, no. Sharing is not caring! You
and the person that shared will receive zeroes for the work. Suspected cheating is at the discretion of the
teacher so your best bet is to avoid all activity that gives the appearance of cheating.
Projects
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TBA
Extra Credit
At least once every nine weeks I will offer an extra credit opportunity worth up to an extra 100 test grade.
Periodically there will be smaller opportunities. I advise that you take advantage of any and all of these. DO
NOT ASK for other chances.