Guidelines for Success
Coach Troy Sonnen
Welcome to 7th grade Texas History in room C205. I am excited about having each one of you in class this
year. Also, it is with a great deal of pride that I promise to make every effort to ensure our time together is as
enjoyable and productive as possible. These Guidelines for Success will provide you with the “how things
work” in this class. I believe that knowledge is power. The more clear and knowledgeable you are about these
Guidelines for Success, the better you will do in my class and I want you to do well. I expect each one of my
students to give their very best effort and to have a successful school year. I pledge to help make that happen,
every step of the way.
Conference Times: A days: 10:50 - 12:20 (2nd period)
B days: 8:40 - 10:15 (5th period)
Phone: Coach’s Office.. (830) 357-3121
Classroom………….
(830) 357-3154
E-mail: troy.sonnen@boerne-isd.net
Prompt Arrival
Be on time to class. We get started right away, and I don’t want you to miss anything. If you are tardy and don’t have a
pass, I will direct you to the tardy clip board where you will sign and then quickly sit down. I am strict about punctuality
once everyone has gotten used to where all their classes are and how long it takes to get to class.
Entering Class
Once you have entered class, you are not allowed to leave unless you have received permission from me to do so. That
means no dropping your books off and then going out into the hall to visit with friends. You may use the restroom
during the time between classes if you will not be tardy to class by doing do.
You will enter the classroom in a quiet, orderly fashion with your Student Planner in hand, sit down at your assigned
seat, and be ready to start writing down your daily assignments as soon as the bell rings. Quiet talking at your assigned
seat is allowed until the bell rings.
Clutter and Accident Prevention
In order to keep your work space uncluttered and the walkways free, no purses or notebooks are allowed to remain on
your desk. You may get your notebook out if we are taking notes in it or if you need paper, etc., but it will then be
placed back under your desk. No notebooks, books, purses, or other personal items are allowed in the walkways at any
time.
Leaving Class
I dismiss class. The bell is not an automatic dismissal signal. Do not begin packing up until I have given you the okay to
do so. Leave class in a quiet, orderly fashion. Check to make sure you have all your belongings with you and that you
have returned any maps or working material you have borrowed but have not checked out from me. Also, make sure
that you turn in any assignment I have assigned to be finished by the end of class, finished or not.
Furniture
Please do not jump over or climb the desk and tables. For your safety as well as others, you will have to walk down your
row to your seat rather than hop across the chairs.
Student Planners
The student planner will be used to record daily objectives, assignments, projects, and test dates. You must have it with
you every day and only you are responsible for journaling the necessary information correctly. I will check planners from
time to time, it is imperative that yours is as accurate and current as possible. I encourage your parents to review the
planner so that they are aware of classroom topics and various due dates. If you lose the planner you were given at the
beginning of the year, you will be required to purchase a new one from the office. In any event, I expect you to have a
planner of some kind and to actually use it.
Homework
I will not assign a regular homework assignment. For the most part, if you work efficiently in class, you will not have
homework all the time. Occasionally, something may need to be finished at home because we have run out of time or
for some other reason. Of course, studying for an exam or quiz will also be something you will be expected to do at
home. I’ve been personally told by a Boerne Vet that dogs actually hate the taste of notebook paper….so no excuses.
Grading
50% Major (Tests, projects)
50% Daily (Daily, homework, quizzes, participation)
Class time is not a good time to have a quality discussion about your grades. I will write you a pass during class to come
speak to me at another time about your grades, so just let me know if you need one. Or, your parents can write you a
pass saying you would like to come in to speak to me before school. Remember that you can always look at your grades
online through VSI. I will usually have grades updated on a bi-weekly basis.
Grades Below 70
Grades below 70 are failing. Each nine weeks you will be allowed to correct one assignment (in the daily grade category)
for a maximum grade of 70 if you have received a failing grade (this only includes assignments that have been turned in
on time in the first place). You will need to check with me before correcting an assignment to make sure it is eligible for
this opportunity. If I approve the assignment for correction, it is your responsibility to turn the assignment to me by the
next class meeting. If it is not in by then, the original grade will stand.
Late Work
You are allowed 2 opportunities to turn in class work or homework assignments late each nine weeks for 70% credit.
These assignments must be turned in by the next class meeting. Any assignment turned in late after these first two
opportunities or after the extended due date will receive zeroes. You will call home when an assignment is not turned in
on time. I will contact your parents if you earn a zero for the third and subsequent late assignments. Late assignments
and zeroes will be documented for future reference. Your parents will be able to see zeroes when they log on to see
your grades online. Please make every effort to turn your work in on time.
Make-up Work
Make-up work must be handed in the first class period after your return to class. This means you have one day per day
absent to make up your work. If you have been absent for a longer period of time, I will work with you on due dates.
Most times, the work you have missed will be waiting for you when you return, however it is your responsibility to check
with me if you think you have make-up work. It is most helpful to come see me before school to get missing work. This
way, I can give you individual attention and make sure you’re fully informed about what you missed.
Heading
Your heading goes in the upper left-hand corner of the paper. It should have the following elements in the following
order:
Name
Subject/Period
Date
No-Name Papers
Speaking of heading, papers with an incorrect heading will receive a 5 point deduction and are then put into a
“Whodunit?” tray. You may check the tray and if you find a paper that is yours, write your name on it, and resubmit it.
The tray will be emptied into the recycling every week on Friday afternoon.
Handwriting Problems
If you turn an assignment in with illegible handwriting (meaning I can’t read it), I will take 10 points off the assignment
grade. You will be able to earn the ten points back by rewriting the assignment on a new sheet in legible handwriting.
Projects
Most projects will be done in class. Occasionally, I may assign a project for you to complete at home. You will receive
written instructions on any project I assign outside of class.
Supplies
•
textbook
•
planner
•
pen (black ink only) or pencil
•
red pen
•
loose-leaf notebook paper
•
highlighter
•
pocket folder with brads
The folder will stay in my class. You will be responsible for bringing your other supplies with you to class every day. I
may ask you to bring other things as the year goes on.
Gum
Gum is a no-no. It is against school rules to have gum. I will ask you to spit your gum out if I see you with it. If you
continue to repeat the offense, it will begin to count as a documented offense which can eventually lead to a referral.
Trash
Since you pass the trash can on your way out of the classroom, I will ask you to place trash underneath your desk and
leave it there until you leave the room. The same goes for recycled paper.
Sharpening Pencils
You may sharpen your pencil at the beginning of class or during group or independent work. NEVER sharpen your pencil
when I am talking, during class discussion, or while we are reading.
Tissues
You may leave your desk to grab a tissue when necessary without my permission. As long as you show maturity moving
quickly and taking care of business discretely this works fine. Should a student abuse this privilege, they will be required
to obtain permission prior to leaving their seat.
Visitors
If someone comes into the class to speak with me, get quiet immediately so that I can hear what the person is saying.
(Besides, if you are quiet enough, you may hear something interesting in our conversation!)
Substitutes
I try to miss as little school as possible, but occasionally I have to miss a day. Our subs are a valuable part of our school
and we need them throughout the year. When I have a substitute, she or he is in charge and will have seating charts,
name lists, etc. in advance. You will receive an office referral, either from the sub or me, if you are insubordinate or
rude to the substitute. Be nice to the substitute, they may have real world information to bring to the table that I do not
have.
Permission to Leave Class – Bathroom or Drink of Water
In order to leave class to go to the bathroom, ask my permission. If I say it is a good time, you will fill out the back of
your planner where it says “Hall Pass.” I will need to initial it. You will take this with you when you leave the room in
case anyone asks to see your pass. If you don’t have your planner, you will have to wait until the end of class to go to
the restroom. *See me privately if it is an extreme emergency. You may not ask to leave class 15 minutes after the
beginning of class or 15 minutes before the end of class. Only one person will be out of the room at a time. If you abuse
the privilege of leaving class by going somewhere you have not been given permission to go, staying out of class too
long, creating disruptions for other teachers and/or students, etc., you will lose the privilege. If you just want a drink of
water, again, get my permission and then take the purple hall pass, fill it out, step right outside the door, get a drink, and
come right back in the room. The purple hall pass NEVER goes into the bathrooms! You must go only where you said
you would go and let me know when you have returned to class.
Permission to Leave Class – Other Reasons
In order to leave class for some other reason besides drink or restroom, you still must always ask my permission. Most
times, your planner can serve as your hall pass. You fill out the pass; I initial it. Again, go only where you said you were
going and come right back. Please remember to let me know when you have returned to class.
Emergency Drills
During fire drills, you will follow me silently in a straight line. We will remain silent walking outside, waiting outside, and
walking back inside our room. We will review every time we return to the classroom. We will also review procedures
for non-standard fire drills. A disruption during any drill will result in an Incident Report to the office and a parent phone
call. Please students, take drills very seriously as one may not be just a drill.
Questions & Class Discussions
I want to know what you think about the topics we discuss in class. On a standard, daily basis, raise your hand if you
have a question and then wait to be called. Regarding class discussions, I will make it very clear beforehand whether we
are brainstorming and calling out answers, raising our hands before we answer, or holding all answers until your name is
called.
Asking to Go Get Something You Forgot for Class
If you choose to leave class to go get something you need for my class from your locker, you will be counted tardy no
matter how far into class we are. Please remember to bring what you need for class. Also, remember that three tardies
in one nine week period results in an office referral.
Note Writing and Note Passing
While I certainly don’t want to discourage any students from developing their writing skills, we do not have time for you
to write notes or pass notes in class. If it becomes a problem, I will take disciplinary action (phone calls to parents,
documented offenses, and referrals if necessary.)
Saying Thank You
We all need help from time to time. Whether the help you receive this year comes from myself or a classmate, you
must always remember to say “Thank you!” These two words are underestimated in their power and value. Use them
often.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
By signing below, both the student and the parent acknowledge that they have read and
understand the above information.
Student’s Signature:
Parent’s Signature: