Welcome to North Penn!!
Find a seat and we will get started
very shortly.
Biology 6.0
Mr. Christopher
Agenda for the day:
• The things you need to know to have a
successful high school career!
• Biology Shopping List
• Teacher Introduction (time permitting)
Survival Guide to North Penn High
School
• Update the wardrobe!! Pennfield, Penndale, and
Pennbrook sweats are out – “North Penn” apparel is
IN!
– School Store is a great place to start!
• Join the bleachers!
– Cheer on the teams… “If you can’t be an athlete, be an
athletic supporter!!!”
• Find the club that fits your style – guess what other
people might be there?!?!?
– Outdoor Clubs (Ski & Board, ultimate frisbee, ENACT)
– Language Clubs (French, German, Spanish)
– Service Club (Key Club, Leo Club, Goodwill Embassadors)
So you are on your way to making
NEW friends…
Your idea of “honors” needs to
shift…(for some of you)
Middle School
High School
• I’m a smart kid so I should
just be in all of these honors
classes.
• Honors classes will help me
get into a good college.
• All of my friends are in
these classes, so I should be
there too.
• I am passionate about this
class and will be willing to put
the work into this class.
• I can foresee myself majoring
in this subject in the future.
I wish I knew this a little earlier…
• “I’m number 5 in the class; I’m a shoe-in for
National Honor Society!”
• 89.3% and you won’t round that up to an A!?!
• “Life doesn’t revolve around me?”
– When I am absent, classes really go on?
– My teachers teach over 100 other students?
• Sophomore is spelled as such – not SOPHMORE!
• 3,000 students coming through the hallways, let
me just stand right in the middle.
What do I need for this class?
• 3 – ring binder (1” – 1.5”)
• Scientific Calculator
• Colored pencils (Basic Colors)
• Optional
– Ruler
– Glue Stick (Small/Med)
Get to know Mr. Christopher
• 12th year at North Penn High School
• Classes I have taught…
– Biology 6.0 (11th year)
– Genetics/Embryology (5th year)
– Genetics 5.0 (6 years)
– Biology 5.0 (2 years)
– Biology 4.0 (2 years)
– Botany 5.0/Botany 4.0 (2 years)
– Chemistry 5.0 (1 year)
Where am I from?
College Years
The more I become involved with North
Penn, the more fun I had TEACHING!!
Class of 2015 Advisor
Former Boy’s Volleyball Coach
Senior Class Trip to Disneyworld
Ski and Board Club to Stowe, VT
Winter Ball, Junior Prom, Senior Prom
A typical Biology 6.0 Class Distribution
• 15% of the students will soak Biology in like a sponge…other
students will be jealous that all the concepts just come naturally to
them. Minimal study time will be necessary.
• 50% of the students will understand the concepts, but will need to
ask questions, read a little on their own, go to a classmate. Without
studying, these are the solid B students. With studying, they can
make it to a B+ or A range.
• 25% of the students will be happy just coming into class, figuring
out as much as they can. They won’t do much extra work outside of
class. They will be content in the C+ range.
• 10% of the students will hate biology and wonder why they put
themselves through this course. They will stop caring UNTIL fourth
quarter. Then they realize they should have at least tried, because
now the fourth quarter could make or break them for the YEAR!
Stats of 2012-2013
• Averages for Midterm
– PreCalc 6.0 – 94%
– Alg 2 6.0 – 85%
– Alg 2 5.0 – 80%
– Geometry 5.0 – 75%
Stats of 2013 – 2014
Final Course Grades (out
of 100 students)
• A+ = 6
• A = 20
• B+ = 10
• B = 36
• C+ = 8
• C = 16
• D=3
• F=0
KEYSTONE RESULTS
Class of 2015
• 100 Students Tested
• 0 below basic
• 0 basic
• 22 Proficient
• 78 Advanced
Class of 2016
• 104 students tested
• 0 below basic
• 0 basic
• 10 Proficient
• 94 Advanced
Class of 2017 Keystone Results
•
•
•
•
100 students tested
0 Below Basic
0 Basic
5 Proficient
95 Advanced
Get used to the following
• Class periods lengths change ALL the time
which causes havoc for creating tests!
• I do not give a lot of homework! Graded items
are most often completed in front of me.
• 9th period is a great concept, but there are
MANY limitations to it!
– Time, Location, Availability