Each week,this page will be organized into the following sections : (1)Summary of previous week, (2)Current requirements (including homework), (3)upcoming projects , (4)Supernovas Team announcements,(5)recurring requirements, and (6)General comments/class overview.[Since I am also the Supernovas Team Leader, I will use this section to keep you informed of important team/school events and activities]The focus for students should be on sections 2 and 3. Many of the items in section 5 and 6 will not change for the entire year. The information is provided for your information and is made available for you to access at anytime.
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(1 - 5 Feb 10)   (1) Summary/Highlights of last week: **  Short week due to three snow days and one 1-hour delay day  **  Ch.2 textbook work due date changed from Tues., Feb 2 to Mon., Feb 8 (Bonus points were provided to students that turned in textbook work on either Thurs., Feb 4 or Fri., Feb 5)  ** Team spirit Logo contest voting results announced once again [Winners: 1st place- Alicia Chen, 2nd place- Pankti Patel, 3rd place- Tremel Romero] Great job everyone!  ** The Incredible Human Machine video (notes)  ** Quick Drill #2  and Quiz #1 were delayed until next week (each will be slightly longer to cover expanded material)  ** Extra Credit opportunity #1 was announced [There are three options: #1) Write a 3 paragraph paper concerning the impact of the recent snow storm on the local economy and safety (counts as one Extra Credit; #2) Donate one full sheet of Foam-board to support the team's Character Education gala exhibit (counts as two extra credits); #3) Donate one box of 100 small brass fasteners to support a future activity (counts as one extra credit). Note: The foam board must be turned in by Feb 15th. There will be another set of extra credit options in about 3 - 4 weeks.]  ** The first Saturday make up day for year round schools was conducted this past weekend (Feb 6). About one-half of the team was present [it appears that many students got exposed to the dreaded three and a half hour flu this Saturday]. The next two Make up days will be conducted on may 1 and 8.

(2) Current requirements (including homework):

( 8 - 12 Feb 10) This week's highlights:  ** Go over this week's schedule  and this week's highlights   ** Explain what was covered on Saturday with students that were absent ** Final day to turn in Ch. 2 textbook work (Originally due last Tuesday; however, it was rescheduled for last Thursday/Friday for early turn in and this Monday for final turn in)  ** New Cardiovascular/circulatory system worksheet passed out on Monday (extra time allowed until Wednesday due to the large number of team students that will be gone Mon & Tues. attending the State Beta Club Convention  ** Wednesday will be the first time that we will have the entire team hear in some time so we will check over the worksheet and the Ch. 2 textbook work on that day. ** Quick drill #3  ** Quiz #2  ** Collect the first group of 3rd quarter extra credit opportunities  ** Applications for participation on the Supernovas Team's Character Education Gala Independent Study Group will be passed out on Monday through Wednesday (they must be turned in by Friday Morning (Feb 12th). The group selected will be announced on Monday Feb 15 and members will begin work that day. A limited number of slots will be available. Only the best all-around students will have a chance of being selected (Academics, Conduct, Character traits). Good luck to all students that apply. This is the 10th year that I will be organizing a group to participate. Nearly all students on the team will have examples of their work displayed during the gala; however, only the INdependent Study Group will have a major role in the event.

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***Monday: Homework: **  Work on Ch. 3 textbook work (Key terms and Key concepts due this Thursday and the entire textbook work assignment due on Tuesday, Feb 16)

**Tuesday: Homework: **  Circulatory/Cardivascular system worksheet is due Wednesday at the beginning of class   **  Use online textbook to continue to work on Ch.3 textbook work

*** Wednesday: Homework:  ** Ch.3 textbook work (the key terms and key concept should be ready by tomorrow so you can also study them for this week's quick drill and quiz. The rest of the textbook work is not due until next Tuesday)  ** Study for Quick drill #3 (Look over all Ch. 2 textbook work, key terms and key concepts portion of Ch.3 textbook work, the digestive/cardiovascular system portions of the Human Body system packet, and the digestive system & cardiovascular system worksheets) [This will involve more  information than the previous quick drill and quiz since we are making up for the previously postponed quick drill and quiz.]

***Thursday: Homework: ** Study for Quiz #2 (same items as listed above)

***Friday: Homework: ** No new homework ** Reminder: Textbook work previously assigned is due next Tuesday  ** Have a fun and safe weekend!

***** All students should come to class prepared everyday! Always be ready for notebook / class prep checks.


This schedule is subject to change based on the quantity of material covered in class, weather closings/ delays, conflicts created by other school/ school system requirements, or other unforeseen circumstances.

(3) Projects:

*** 3rd Quarter mini-project:   To be announced in late February

(4) Announcements (Including Supernovas/LRMS):

*** Items of interest/deadlines:

**  Dec 18 -     Last day of 2nd quarter (Track out day) - Students were given their 2nd quarter report cards

**  Dec 21-Jan 20 Winter Vacation and Track out

**  Jan  21       Track 4 returns to school (return signed report card envelopes) - A/B Honor Roll celebration

**  Feb 1-3        Snow days (no school) 

**  Feb 4/5       Quick drill and quiz (postponed)

** Feb 6           Saturday school Snow day make up #1

** Feb 8-9        Team Beta Club representatives at the State Convention

** Feb 11/12    Rescheduled Quick Drill and Quiz

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** Welcome to the Supernovas team. The team consists of very experienced teachers. Carol Brown (Language Arts), Margie Farmer (Math), Maxine Wilson (Social Studies), and David Rutten (Current Supernovas team leader and the school's Students of the Quarter Coordinator - Science). All of us have taught together in various combinations over the years on several teams here at Leesville. ** We certainly enjoyed meeting some of the parents and students that showed up for the new students walk-through on July 2nd. We look forward to seeing the rest of you during our Track 4 open house in August.

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(5) Recurring requirements:


**Quizzes/tests:Some form of major evaluation (quizzes/tests)will be conducted nearly every week.[Note: approx. Seven out of every nine weeks each quarter] You can normally expect them to be given on Fridays. Make-ups are given on Mondays and Tuesdays. Graded quizzes/tests are returned on Wednesdays or Thursdays (after make ups have been given). All tests must be taken home by students and have them signed by parents and returned to school. Although we would expect all students to share all quiz grades with their parents/guardians, I require that all quizzes with failing grades (less than 70%) must be signed and returned. Quick Drills occasionally are like "mini-pop quizzes" but most often are pre-tests. They are given one or more times a week. They are given for many reasons: encourage early studying for evaluations, determine weaknesses early, allow self-assessments by students to allow them to focus on specific areas prior to quizzes/tests, and allow an increased number of mini-evaluations throughout the quarter to reduce the number of high percentage,high-stakes evaluations. Although they can be "pop" in nature, they can always expect one the day before a quiz or test. The others can come at any time.


** Homework:

We encourage parent support of your child's home work progress; however, we continue to stress the importance of individual responsibility and independent work skills. Each student has received his own assignment notebook (agenda) and we expect all students to record accurate and detailed information about their assignments. We are already initialing a number of student agendas so parents can confirm assignments. These were initiated by parents that have instructed their child to come up to us and get our initials. We acknowledge their initiative to start this process early because they know it works if there is a system of incentives established at home that encourages this process.It is the student's responsibility to approach the teacher to get his/her initials. The agenda can also be used to exchange notes between school and the home.Homework is expected to be in the classroom at the bell. Most "Textbook work" requirements are placed on the board one to one and a half weeks at a time. However, these are normally just checked at the end of the 1 - 1 1/2 week for a single grade. Although this reduces the likelihood of homework everyday, all students are encouraged to keep pace by following the "date assigned" column that appears on the board. The due date will always appear in the homework box on the board in class at least 24-hours before the actual due date. Students that keep pace will never have a problem with the due date. Students that wait until the last minute will of course be in the panic mode the day before it is due. This year I have included "Student Flex Time that will allow students to reduce the amount of homework they have by giving them the opportunity to catch up or get ahead on classroom/homework requirements. Students that use this time effectively will greatly reduce homework time.



** Extra credit/Bonus points/etc.:

There are many opportunities for students to help improve their grades. At least two extra credit opportunities are provided each quarter to earn "Extra credit." Most involve a writing assignment of some sort;however, a few can be a simple matter of bringing something in that can help someone (donations to the food bank etc.) Extra credit is worth 100 "homework points". It can be used to replace "zeroes" or even to help raise a homework average to make-up for a poor quiz/test grade. This can be used for a "rainy day" or like an insurance policy. A student with a 100 homework average can end up with a homework average over 100 that can make up for any other "problem area(s)." I do not offer any "special request" extra credit chances. No extra credit can be requested just because a student did poorly on a quiz for example. All students must turn in the extra credit by the due date or wait until the next extra credit assignment is assigned. I also offer many bonus point opportunities on quizzes/ tests/ projects. These must be earned. Bonus points are normally awarded for something other than academic reasons. The focus for these points are to encourage positive character traits: turning in signed quizzes or interims on time, coming to class with the required/ instructed item(s), no tardies, low number "discipline points", extra effort, early turn-ins of projects, willing to accept challenges,etc. By paying attention and making an extra effort, students can help themselves.



Notebook/class preparation check:

Periodically there will be unannounced notebook/class prep checks. All students will be required to produce a variety of items that I expect them to have. These items can include notes, worksheets, lab reports, study cards, textbook work, study guides, other handouts, and required supplies,etc. I will schedule occasional notebook clean-out sessions. Until then, students are required to maintain all required items in their binder. The following items do not have to be maintained in the binder; however, I would recommend that you set up a file at home to maintain these: quizzes, tests, project notes, drafts, and other items that may be identified. The at home file is up to you however, they will not be maintained in the binder at school due to space limitations.

(6) General comments/class overview:

**A form that provided an overview of my class (major topics, grades, homework, etc)will be sent home during the first week of school. All students will be required to show the form to their parents, get it signed , return it to school, and then to keep it in their binder (as the first page of the science section). Some of the forms may not signed when checked during the first notebook check. Please ask your child for this so you can read and sign it prior to the second check.



**To meet state of North Carolina Curriculum requirements, we will be using four primary textbooks. Students will not be issued individual textbooks. Students will be using part of a classroom set during class activities. Students will be given access to an on-line version of our textbooks. Instructions will be sent home in the near future. Most students will be provided sufficient time to complete all assigned work that requires a textbook (during "Student Flex time". If necessary, students that do not have access to a computer will be allowed to check out books for a single evening at the end of the day. They will be required to return the textbook during homeroom the next day to ensure that sufficient copies of the book are available for all periods. Most students and parent liked this situation because of the large size of most new school textbooks and the extreme weight of taking multiple books home. We once again stress individual responsibility. If the students are responsible (plan, organize, make a serious effort) then the book issue has never been and will never be an issue.

**Discipline system: The team utilizes a team concept of discipline that is consistent with Wake County and LRMS policy. It ensures a consistent team policy and also encourages individual responsibility and self monitoring.  All students will go over the system, school, and team policies and procedures during the first week of school. All students took home forms and booklets to parents that outlined / highlighted these policies. Both student and parents were required to sign various pages. Please look over the school's policy in the student agenda / student handbook. The team policy allows for an intermediate team level consequence for student behavior (for many less serious infractions)rather than going directly to a school administrator. Serious infractions will receive a more rapid response by administrators.