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Bloomington High School South
Here are a few guidelines and other information that are imperative to your success in this class.
Required texts:
- Literature: The Reader’s Choice. Columbus, Ohio: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2002
- Writer’s Choice. Columbus, Ohio: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2002
- “Stotan” – Chris Crutcher
- “Fahrenheit 451” – Ray Bradbury
Units of Study:
- Novel—Stotan
- Drama—Julius Caesar
- Poetry—connected with Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and from the Literature book
- Classic Literature—Fahrenheit 451
- Research Paper
- Vocabulary—Weekly vocab will be assigned. Words will be drawn from the literature as well as from vocabulary building exercises. Tests will occur primarily on Fridays. The definitions of the vocabulary words are due the Tuesday before the test.
- Grammar and Mechanics—integrated throughout the trimester
- Writing—journals, essays, letters, papers, etc.
***Please note that our Literature books cost $57 if lost. If you lose Fahrenheit 451 or Stotan you will be asked to replace the book with one you buy on your own or pay the Language Arts department $15.***
Supplies needed every day:
- Loose leaf paper / notebook
- Pen (blue or black ink ONLY) or pencil – I will not grade any work turned in written in fluorescent or bright ink.
- Folder for this class only
You must bring your ENGLISH notebook to class every day along with the particular text we are using.
Headings:
All papers you turn in (unless otherwise directed) should have the following in the upper right-hand corner:
- Name
- Period #
- Date
- Title of assignment
ANY ASSIGNMENT WITHOUT A NAME WILL BE POSTED FOR TWO DAYS. IF IT IS NOT CLAIMED IN THAT TIME, THE ASSIGNMENT WILL THEN BE THROWN AWAY.
Homework:
There will be homework given mostly on a daily basis. As long as the entire class works hard throughout the week, I will do my best to not assign homework for the weekend. Homework must be put in the correct tray for your period in order to receive credit. Your work will be handed back to you and you are required to place it in a file folder in the file cabinet. It is your responsibility to routinely check your folder and grades. All grades are online and are updated every two – three weeks. If you fail to keep your assignments in the classroom folder or throw them away, the teacher is not responsible for fixing any situation where your grade is in question.
Excused Absences:
If a student misses class for an excused absence (pre-arranged absence, doctor’s appt. etc.) then the student will have 1 school day for each day absent to complete missed assignments without penalty. For example, if a student misses class on Monday, then they will have until Wednesday to turn in the assignment.
Unexcused Absences:
If a student misses class for an unexcused absence, then the student will not be given credit for any missed assignment. For example, if a student misses class and a test is given on the day of the absence, the student will not be able to make up the test due to an unexcused absence.
Make-Up Work:
ALL make-up work is the student’s responsibility to get, do, and turn in – in a timely fashion. Make-up vocabulary quizzes need to be taken the following Monday. It is your responsibility to tell me that you need to make up a quiz. The work will be in the make-up folders in the classroom. Students need to schedule any make-up tests (excused absences only) with me. Please feel free to ask me any questions about make-up work after you have checked the make-up folder.
Grading:
Points will be accumulated through two grading periods and a final exam. The trimester grade will be based on your points for each grading period (worth 42.5% each) plus the final examination, which is worth 15% of the total.
Grading Scale: Follows BHSS grading scale
| A+ 97-100 4.0 | A 93-96 4.0 | A- 90-92 3.7 |
| B+ 87-89 3.3 | B 83-86 3.0 | B- 80-82 2.7 |
| C+77-792.3 | C73-762.0 | C-70-721.7 |
| D+67-691.3 | D63-661.0 | D-60-62.7 |
| F59 and below0 |
Expectations in my classroom:
- Respect yourself and others. No insults - PERIOD. Any insults (especially those based on ethnic background, skin color, gender, sexual preference, or religion) will be dealt with swiftly and seriously. We all have the right to our human dignity and self-respect.
- I realize that we have no natural light from large, sunny windows, but that does not mean that we are a bunch of vampires. Please sleep at night and not in my class.
- You need to be in class when the bell rings. Any attempts to enter the class after the bell results in a tardy or an unexcused absence.
- Bringing the correct materials to class every day is vital. You are getting driver’s licenses – you can remember to bring a book and pen to class. If you continuously forget, you will be given a referral.
- No book bags in class.
- No food or drinks in the classroom.
- No electronic devices in school (i.e.: no cell phones or ipods during my class.)
- Cheating is unacceptable. Students caught cheating on ANY work will receive a ZERO for that assignment and will have no opportunity to make up the work. Parents/Guardians will be notified.
Attendance:
Come to class! Be on time! Coming to class on time is like getting to work on time. If you are late to work too many times, you get fired. Well, we won’t fire you, but you will have some problems. Here are the consequences for being tardy: *** Excessive tardies can lead to expulsion!! ***
- The first 2 tardies are “free” (meaning no punishment).
- The 3rd tardy – teacher will call your parents/guardians to notify them of the situation.
- The 4th tardy – will result in a referral to the principal and will most likely result in an OSS (Out of School Suspension).
- At the end of each trimester, the Tardy Count goes back to zero, and students have the chance to start clean again.
- Any student trying to enter class 5 minutes or more after the bell will be marked as an unexcused absence.
Passes:
Students are given a Student Handbook at the beginning of the school year. Located at the back of the handbook are 2 pages of free hall passes. The student must have their Student Handbook in order to go to the restroom, locker, office, etc. during class time. Only for extreme cases will a student be allowed to leave class without their handbook (i.e. medical emergency). If a student comes late to class without a pass from another teacher, the student will be counted as tardy. If the handbook is lost/stolen, please contact a guidance counselor or a vice-principal to obtain a new one.
Disruptive/Inappropriate Behavior:
For any questions regarding BHSS disciplinary procedures, please consult the Student Handbook.
BHSS Student Handbook Link
Each disruptive offense (non-compliance, rudeness, inappropriate behavior/language, fighting, failure to bring required texts/materials to class, etc. ) will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the situation and other determining factors. Consequences will include, but will not be limited to:
- Verbal warning in class
- Revised seating arrangements
- Student/teacher conferences
- Parent guardian contacts
- ISS (In-School suspension)
- Saturday school sessions
- Referrals to school administration
- OSS (Out of School Suspension)
- Expulsion
Page created May 2006
Maintained by Karen Banach
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