** ( 6 - 10 Feb 2012) This weeks' highlights:  ** Please sign and return late report card envelopes to your homeroom teachers  ** Make up Quiz #2 on Monday  ** Continue Ch. 2 Textbook work began last week (Key terms will be done in Study card format  ** Study card is due on Tuesday, Feb 7   ** A notebook / class prep check may take place anytime this week (unannounced)  ** Muscular system worksheet checked this week ** Digestion system mini-videos  ** Digestive system  drawing activity (counts as a double grade)   ** Tentatively scheduled a PBIS survey to be completed by all students at our school during a time to be determined  ** Fact set #3 (Digestive system)  ** Quick Drill #3 this week (on Thursday, prior to the Quiz on Friday)  ** Quiz #3  ** Continue Ch. 2 Textbook work (Due on Tuesday, Feb 14)  ** 3rd quarter extra credit opportunities was announced last .There are usually three different options, this time there are four: (1) the first will be a written Extra Credit option (Write two paragraphs about what you think has been the greatest contribution made in the field of Medicine), (2) the Food Bank collection that we will conduct as a team throughout the year (bring at least three cans or boxes) , (3) One regular sized sheet of foam board (equals two extra credits) and (4) One ream of copy paper equals two extra credits.  ** (Tentative) If time allows this week, we will discuss the basic requirements for this quarter's Human Body System mini-project

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*** Monday (Feb 6) : Homework: ** Make up Quiz  #2 today  ** Return late signed report card envelopes  ** Continue work on Ch. 2 textbook work  ** Study Card (Digestive system) due tomorrow for a daily grade   ** Bring Science folder to class each day - Always be ready for a Notebook / class prep check.  ** Digestive system drawing activity (double grade) due on Wednesday

***Tuesday (Feb 7): Homework: **  Continue Ch. 2 textbook work  ** Digestive system drawing activity due tomorrow

*** Wednesday (Feb 8): Homework: ** Ch. 2 due Tuesday, Feb 14  ** Study for Quick Drill #3 (look over class notes, handouts, Ch. 2 Textbook key terms & key concepts, study card, in-class model)

*** Thursday (Feb 9): Homework:  ** Study for Quiz #3

***  Friday (Feb 10): Homework: **  Always have your science folder organized  **  Have a safe and fun weekend!  

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***** All students should come to class prepared everyday (supplies, homework, etc.!) - To receive credit, all assignments must be in the class at the beginning of class on the day they are due  ** 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.

*** Mini-project(s):  [To be announced in the near future]

(4) Announcements (Including Supernovas/LRMS):

*** Items of interest/deadlines:

Jan 27        Report cards sent home

Feb 17        Early release day

Feb 20/21    Teacher Work days

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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 - Science). All of us have taught together in various combinations over the years on several teams here at Leesville.

(5) Recurring requirements:


**Quizzes/tests:Some form of evaluation (quizzes/tests/Grade level common assessment/Quick Drills) 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 should have their 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. This year, homework will only count as 10% of their report card grade.



** 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.