COURSE EXPECTATIONS & POLICIES: REGENTS EARTH SCIENCE

MRS. VAN VOORHEES-KELLY

Every day you must bring to class the following:

A writing utensil; b. A 2-inch three-ring binder.

BOOK BAGS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CLASSROOM
CELL PHONES will be TURNED OFF for the duration of your class period(s)

** FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THESE REGULATIONS AT ANY TIME MAY CONSTITUTE DETENTION WITH ME AND A CONFERENCE WITH YOUR PARENT !!

GENERAL CLASSROOM POLICIES:

Lab folders will be provided for you; it must be picked up from the lab box at the beginning of class
and must be returned at the end of class. I use your folder for attendance purposes and to

return papers when you are absent. LAB FOLDERS DO NOT LEAVE THE ROOM.

Only Earth Science Reference Tables and grade record sheets belong in the pockets of your lab
folders. Homework, tests, quizzes, or other non-lab handouts belong in your 3-ring binder.

DO NOT TOUCH anything in the classroom that does not belong to you unless you are directed to
do so (this includes the fish tanks, 3-hole punch, etc.). You will NOT touch anything on my

personal desk.

If you are late to class without a pass, you will fill out a Late To Class Card and hand it to me upon
your late arrival; cards may be found near the exit door. 3 lates will result in detention with me.

When class is over, remain at your desk until the bell rings for dismissal; DO NOT wait at the door.
Under no circumstances are students allowed in the office room. Stay out of the “NO FLY ZONES.”
All assignments due will be handed in to THE BOX next to the exit door; make sure the paper falls
all the way in and does not stick out of the slot in the top (“tuck” it in). By placing an

assignment into THE BOX, the student is giving me permission to grade it; no papers can be

retrieved from THE BOX once they are submitted.

PROPER BEHAVIOR:

There is to be no talking while others are speaking. Please quiet down the moment I begin to make
announcements or give directions. Raise your hand to be recognized; I will do the same.

Students are expected to be on task for the entire period and not engaged in other work.
Absolutely NO GUM, candy, or non-water beverages of any kind will be consumed in the classroom.
For safety reasons, application of perfume, body spray, after shave, or other chemicals to your person
is NOT allowed at any time.

I am empowered by the school to confiscate any item of “yours” that you display that is in violation of
this contract or school policy. This includes all electronic devices. NO CELL PHONES

You are responsible for the actions of the class as a whole. Make sure that you stop others who are
violating safety and/or class rules. Since this may potentially be a safety issue for all present, the

entire class may be held responsible for the actions of a few. Be vigilant of those around you.

Lab breaks between double periods are privileges that may be taken away from the entire class if at
least one person returns to class late from the break. NO BOOK BAGS

Miscellaneous personal items are to be kept out of the fire lane (aisle) at all times. Make sure you
do not leave these items where they can be tripped over. Coats and jackets are not allowed in the

classroom. NO CELL PHONES

Do not write on the desktops or otherwise damage any objects in the classroom. NO BOOK BAGS
You may use the electrical outlets to charge your phone; make sure your phone is turned off.
Do not lean back and balance your chair on two legs. NO CELL PHONES
Do not throw objects (such as pencils, highlighters, or garbage) through the air at any time. Foul or
obscene language will not be tolerated. There is to be no horseplay. NO BOOK BAGS

Do not store binders, books, or phys-ed clothes in this classroom.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Remember to bring in a note to the Attendance Office within 5 days of any kind of absence !
If you miss Harkness, but come to school for the end of the day, sign in to the attendance office !

A green attendance sheet will be in your lab folder. Absences will be recorded by me; however, it is
your responsibility to make sure the sheet is accurate and complete. You will find the date and a

code for each absence in the box that corresponds to the day of the week you were absent.

Remember that “lab” days (or double periods) count as two class-period absences.
Any time that you are not physically in my room for at least 20 minutes of the total 40 minutes is
considered a class absence, and will be shown on your report card. This includes “excused”

absences, such as funerals, doctor or dentist appointments, illnesses, court dates, etc.

Unexcused absences (such as oversleeping and skipping class) cannot be made up; any work due
(or tests / quizzes given) during such a “willful absence” will receive a grade of zero.

It is your responsibility to make an appointment with me within 5 days of your return from an
excused absence to make up missed assignments.

After ten (10) class period absences, interventions will begin and continue in regular increments in
order to keep parents informed in an effort to increase student attendance.

If you accrue 38 class-period absences, you will lose credit for the course. In this event, you are still
mandated to attend and audit the class and you will still be allowed to take the Regents Exam if

you have already met the laboratory requirement for this course at the time of your audit.

9. In the event that you are absent from class, upon your return you are to check your lab folder for a
copy of any handouts or returned papers and with your classmates for any notes.

Any assignments given before your absence are due either by the due date given or upon your
return, whichever comes last. You are still responsible for due dates, regardless of absences.

Please be aware that the “critical numbers” for class-period absences are DIFFERENT for a Regents Science with a Laboratory Period than they are for other classes.

ASSIGNMENTS POLICY:

All assignments will lose 5 points for each day they are late, down to half credit. This means that all
late assignments still have value and can be handed in for half credit (less any errors made) at

any time during the marking period they are assigned to be due.

If a graded Home Work assignment (except vocab) has already been returned and gone over
in class, the assignment will lose 10 points for each day late, down to half credit.

All assignments can be handed in anytime during the day on the date they are due, up until
the time I leave the building for the day.

Any assignments due on a Friday will be accepted the next day (Saturday) for no late penalty.
If my door is locked and I do not answer when you knock, slide your paper(s) under the door.
It is the student’s responsibility to check E-School as often as necessary for any missing assignments.
It is the student’s responsibility to check the white boards for daily assignments and due dates.
Any time you come in to the classroom outside of class time to complete assignments, you must sign
in by placing your name on the “Tutoring Time Record Sheet” near the exit door.

Missing or Unsatisfactory laboratory experiences can be made up at any time during the year.
All tests and quizzes are to be taken within 5 days of missing the initial test or quiz date.
Students will use proper first and last names on all written assignments.
You will be responsible for recording your grades for all homework assignments, tests, and quizzes
on a Grade Record Sheet, which will be collected at the end of each marking period for a grade,

based on completion. Students must also remember to record the grades for papers returned

during an absence. These papers will be placed inside your lab folder.

No typed assignments are allowed except under extenuating circumstances.
Homework CANNOT be re-done for a better grade.
Collaboration is allowed; however, all students are responsible for doing their own work.
If I discover, or it is brought to my attention, that the work you submit as your own does not
represent YOUR work, a grade of zero will be given and other more stringent punishments may

apply. Cheating, copying, and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated.

If I discover, or it is brought to my attention, WHOM the cheating/copying was done FROM, that
person will also receive a grade of zero and other more stringent punishments may apply.

ABOUT CHEATING: There is a fine line between working together on an assignment with a partner, and copying what the other has written. Two answers may be identical, and

sometimes MUST be in order to be correct. However, if I SEE one person leaning

over and writing word-for-word, I will assume that cheating is taking place.

COMPUTATION OF GRADES:

Grades are computed on a total points system. The value of any assignment is determined first by the number of questions and then by the number of items required for each question. All assignments fall into one of four categories: 1. Homework, 2. Quizzes, 3. Tests and Major Quizzes, and 4. Labs. Each category is assigned a percent value as illustrated below.

Homework: 15%

Quizzes: 15%

Tests and Major Quizzes: 35%

Labs: 35%

As you can see, HOMEWORK can make the difference between getting a 65 and an 80, so…

…do your HOMEWORK !

All grades will be given in the following format: total points earned over total possible points for the assignment plus the percentage (top number divided by the bottom number). The percentage is for your information only; I use the total points on e-school. When recording your grades, you are to record the top number, the bottom number, and the percentage; these are the numbers you will be using to check your own averages.

YOUR FINAL EXAM GRADE:

Your final exam is comprised of two things: A Laboratory Practical Exam, given some time in the

beginning of June (during the school day), and a written Final Exam during Exam Week in June.

The Laboratory Practical Exam will test basic laboratory skills learned during the year. It is designed
so that the student may demonstrate his or her knowledge.

The Final Exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice and short-answer questions which
may include drawing contour maps, profiles, graphs, and constructing written responses. There

are no essays on the Regents Earth Science Final Exam.

NOTE: You may be excluded from taking the Lab Practical and Final June Exam if the

lab requirement, set by the teacher, is NOT met by the LAST FRIDAY in MAY.

If a student has failed to meet the laboratory requirement, the student must repeat the entire year; the

lab portion of the class may not be offered in summer school. The Counseling Center will have

more specific information. If a student has audited due to attendance, the student may still be

eligible to take the final exam if the lab requirement has already been met.

MY AVAILABILITY:

I am available for extra help before and after school on most days until

as late as the student needs me to stay;

I am also available during my planning periods, and on most Saturdays

by appointment between 10 am & 3 pm.

LABORATORY EXPERIENCES POLICY:

The New York State Board of Regents mandates completion of 30 satisfactory lab hours

(1200 minutes) in order to be eligible to take the final exam. The individual teacher may select the number of labs to be completed with satisfactory status to meet this requirement.

A satisfactory lab is one whose quality reflects time spent in the lab/collection of data.

Safety issues will be dealt with in the form of a Safety Lab. NO further laboratory experiences can be attempted without satisfactory completion of the Safety Lab.

You will be responsible for keeping track of your labs on a BLUE lab record sheet. In the event of an
absence, you must get the information from a classmate.

Five points will be deducted for each day the lab is late, down to half credit.
You WILL NOT doodle on your lab reports. DO NOT use markers, highlighters, or RED PEN to
fill out lab reports. Red colored pencils may sometimes be necessary.

All 6 blanks on Laboratory Report headings must be filled out completely. One point will be
deducted for each empty blank. You will use proper first and last names.

Satisfactory status is determined based on the degree to which the report was completed and the
quality of it; points deducted for lateness do not affect this status.

It is your responsibility to check E-School as often as necessary for any labs that you owe.
Unsatisfactory labs are considered those labs where it is clear the student did not spend the time in the
lab and the report is mostly incomplete and/or poorly done. Generally, a grade below 65 will be

Unsatisfactory. Unsatisfactory labs may become satisfactory if the entire lab is re-done and the

new lab is passing; you may use your old lab to complete the new one. You are not allowed to

just “do corrections.” Both labs must be handed in at the same time, secured with a paper clip.

You can re-do ANY lab (regardless of the original grade) during the marking period it was assigned to
be due, and the average of the two grades will replace the old grade. If you re-do an

unsatisfactory lab during another marking period, only the status may be changed, not the

grade. Both labs must be handed in at the same time, secured with a paper clip.

You can re-do any unsatisfactory lab at any time during the year, up until the official department
cutoff date which is always the last Friday in May.

You can only re-do labs in my room and in my presence: either before or after school, during one of
your study halls, your lunch period, on one of my planning periods, or on Saturdays – by

appointment – from 10 am to 3 pm.

You may take labs home to complete them (just like homework assignments). Graded labs will be
returned for you to peruse and record the grade; graded must be returned to the teacher

immediately following this process.

TEST AND QUIZ POLICY:

I will try to give at least one week’s notice for all Unit Tests/Major Quizzes.
Tests may be taken over again only during the marking period they were given. You may re-take the test regardless of your original grade; the average of the two grades will become your new
grade. If you get lower on the second attempt, the first grade stands. You may NOT use your

old test to complete the new one.

You can only re-take a test in my room and in my presence: either before or after school, during one
of your study halls, your lunch period, on one of my planning periods, or on Saturdays – by

appointment –- from 10 am to 3 pm.

Be prepared for pop quizzes; you will seldom have any notice for a quiz on the material and labs
we are studying. Quizzes may be re-taken ONLY if the original grade is 50% or lower; the

average of the two grades will become your new quiz grade.

EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:

Cut out a CURRENT Earth-Science-related article from the NEWSPAPER. You must write a two
paragraph summary and give a mini oral report to the class for at least two minutes. You will

receive one (1) point on your final quarter average for each oral report/summary, to a limit of

five (5) per quarter. Your name, class period, the source, date, and the article itself must be

submitted with your written summary. Notify me at least two days in advance, so I can work it

into the daily schedule. I must approve all articles before you begin work on it.

You may NOT use online articles, unless they are the online version of a NEWSPAPER.

These oral reports CANNOT be done during the LAST WEEK of a marking period or during the LAST TWO WEEKS of school in June

You may re-do any lab (regardless of the original grade) during the marking period it was originally
due. It must be re-done in my presence. The average of the two labs will replace the old grade.

If you get lower on the second try, the first grade stands. You may use your old lab to complete

the new one. You can only re-do a single lab one time.

You may re-take any unit test / major quiz(regardless of the original grade) during the marking
period it was originally given. It must be re-done in my presence. The average of the two grades

will replace the old grade. If you get lower on the second try, the first grade stands. You may

NOT use your old test to re-take the new one. You can only re-take a single test one time.

When there are pencils to sharpen, you may sharpen 40 pencils for one (1) point on your quarter
average, to a limit of two (2) points (80 pencils) per quarter. This can only be done with a

hand-held sharpener, in my presence, during a time when I do not have a class.

REVIEW CLASSES begin during May or June and are held after school, in the evenings, and on Saturdays through the remainder of the year. Attendance is strongly suggested.

Remember that I am here to HELP you; please see me whenever you need assistance.

Top-Secret Regents Review Website: NYSEDRegents.org

This CONTRACT must be signed and returned

by TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018.

PERIOD: ____________

COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES CONTRACT:

I, the undersigned student, agree to comply with the rules, regulations and expectations for this Earth Science class as they have been described herein. I further understand that failure to comply with anything in this document is my own doing, and definitely may result in detention with the teacher, a parent conference, and may also result in a lowering of my grade due to my negligence.

I understand that I may be denied the opportunity to take the final exam in June if I do not meet the laboratory requirement by the due date at the end of May. I have been made aware of the absence policy, how my quarter average is computed, and how to earn extra credit. I understand that Safety issues will be dealt with in the form of a Safety Lab, and that I cannot continue with the laboratory portion of this class without satisfactory completion of the Safety Lab.

Student NAME (Please print clearly):____________________________________________________

Student SIGNATURE:_________________________________________________________________

PARENTS: Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your

child’s performance in this course.

I, the undersigned parent or guardian, agree that I have read and understood the expectations and policies for this Earth Science class as they are described herein. I underst

COURSE EXPECTATIONS & POLICIES: REGENTS EARTH SCIENCE

MRS. VAN VOORHEES-KELLY

Every day you must bring to class the following:

A writing utensil; b. A 2-inch three-ring binder.

BOOK BAGS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CLASSROOM
CELL PHONES will be TURNED OFF for the duration of your class period(s)

** FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THESE REGULATIONS AT ANY TIME MAY CONSTITUTE DETENTION WITH ME AND A CONFERENCE WITH YOUR PARENT !!

GENERAL CLASSROOM POLICIES:

Lab folders will be provided for you; it must be picked up from the lab box at the beginning of class
and must be returned at the end of class. I use your folder for attendance purposes and to

return papers when you are absent. LAB FOLDERS DO NOT LEAVE THE ROOM.

Only Earth Science Reference Tables and grade record sheets belong in the pockets of your lab
folders. Homework, tests, quizzes, or other non-lab handouts belong in your 3-ring binder.

DO NOT TOUCH anything in the classroom that does not belong to you unless you are directed to
do so (this includes the fish tanks, 3-hole punch, etc.). You will NOT touch anything on my

personal desk.

If you are late to class without a pass, you will fill out a Late To Class Card and hand it to me upon
your late arrival; cards may be found near the exit door. 3 lates will result in detention with me.

When class is over, remain at your desk until the bell rings for dismissal; DO NOT wait at the door.
Under no circumstances are students allowed in the office room. Stay out of the “NO FLY ZONES.”
All assignments due will be handed in to THE BOX next to the exit door; make sure the paper falls
all the way in and does not stick out of the slot in the top (“tuck” it in). By placing an

assignment into THE BOX, the student is giving me permission to grade it; no papers can be

retrieved from THE BOX once they are submitted.

PROPER BEHAVIOR:

There is to be no talking while others are speaking. Please quiet down the moment I begin to make
announcements or give directions. Raise your hand to be recognized; I will do the same.

Students are expected to be on task for the entire period and not engaged in other work.
Absolutely NO GUM, candy, or non-water beverages of any kind will be consumed in the classroom.
For safety reasons, application of perfume, body spray, after shave, or other chemicals to your person
is NOT allowed at any time.

I am empowered by the school to confiscate any item of “yours” that you display that is in violation of
this contract or school policy. This includes all electronic devices. NO CELL PHONES

You are responsible for the actions of the class as a whole. Make sure that you stop others who are
violating safety and/or class rules. Since this may potentially be a safety issue for all present, the

entire class may be held responsible for the actions of a few. Be vigilant of those around you.

Lab breaks between double periods are privileges that may be taken away from the entire class if at
least one person returns to class late from the break. NO BOOK BAGS

Miscellaneous personal items are to be kept out of the fire lane (aisle) at all times. Make sure you
do not leave these items where they can be tripped over. Coats and jackets are not allowed in the

classroom. NO CELL PHONES

Do not write on the desktops or otherwise damage any objects in the classroom. NO BOOK BAGS
You may use the electrical outlets to charge your phone; make sure your phone is turned off.
Do not lean back and balance your chair on two legs. NO CELL PHONES
Do not throw objects (such as pencils, highlighters, or garbage) through the air at any time. Foul or
obscene language will not be tolerated. There is to be no horseplay. NO BOOK BAGS

Do not store binders, books, or phys-ed clothes in this classroom.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Remember to bring in a note to the Attendance Office within 5 days of any kind of absence !
If you miss Harkness, but come to school for the end of the day, sign in to the attendance office !

A green attendance sheet will be in your lab folder. Absences will be recorded by me; however, it is
your responsibility to make sure the sheet is accurate and complete. You will find the date and a

code for each absence in the box that corresponds to the day of the week you were absent.

Remember that “lab” days (or double periods) count as two class-period absences.
Any time that you are not physically in my room for at least 20 minutes of the total 40 minutes is
considered a class absence, and will be shown on your report card. This includes “excused”

absences, such as funerals, doctor or dentist appointments, illnesses, court dates, etc.

Unexcused absences (such as oversleeping and skipping class) cannot be made up; any work due
(or tests / quizzes given) during such a “willful absence” will receive a grade of zero.

It is your responsibility to make an appointment with me within 5 days of your return from an
excused absence to make up missed assignments.

After ten (10) class period absences, interventions will begin and continue in regular increments in
order to keep parents informed in an effort to increase student attendance.

If you accrue 38 class-period absences, you will lose credit for the course. In this event, you are still
mandated to attend and audit the class and you will still be allowed to take the Regents Exam if

you have already met the laboratory requirement for this course at the time of your audit.

9. In the event that you are absent from class, upon your return you are to check your lab folder for a
copy of any handouts or returned papers and with your classmates for any notes.

Any assignments given before your absence are due either by the due date given or upon your
return, whichever comes last. You are still responsible for due dates, regardless of absences.

Please be aware that the “critical numbers” for class-period absences are DIFFERENT for a Regents Science with a Laboratory Period than they are for other classes.

ASSIGNMENTS POLICY:

All assignments will lose 5 points for each day they are late, down to half credit. This means that all
late assignments still have value and can be handed in for half credit (less any errors made) at

any time during the marking period they are assigned to be due.

If a graded Home Work assignment (except vocab) has already been returned and gone over
in class, the assignment will lose 10 points for each day late, down to half credit.

All assignments can be handed in anytime during the day on the date they are due, up until
the time I leave the building for the day.

Any assignments due on a Friday will be accepted the next day (Saturday) for no late penalty.
If my door is locked and I do not answer when you knock, slide your paper(s) under the door.
It is the student’s responsibility to check E-School as often as necessary for any missing assignments.
It is the student’s responsibility to check the white boards for daily assignments and due dates.
Any time you come in to the classroom outside of class time to complete assignments, you must sign
in by placing your name on the “Tutoring Time Record Sheet” near the exit door.

Missing or Unsatisfactory laboratory experiences can be made up at any time during the year.
All tests and quizzes are to be taken within 5 days of missing the initial test or quiz date.
Students will use proper first and last names on all written assignments.
You will be responsible for recording your grades for all homework assignments, tests, and quizzes
on a Grade Record Sheet, which will be collected at the end of each marking period for a grade,

based on completion. Students must also remember to record the grades for papers returned

during an absence. These papers will be placed inside your lab folder.

No typed assignments are allowed except under extenuating circumstances.
Homework CANNOT be re-done for a better grade.
Collaboration is allowed; however, all students are responsible for doing their own work.
If I discover, or it is brought to my attention, that the work you submit as your own does not
represent YOUR work, a grade of zero will be given and other more stringent punishments may

apply. Cheating, copying, and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated.

If I discover, or it is brought to my attention, WHOM the cheating/copying was done FROM, that
person will also receive a grade of zero and other more stringent punishments may apply.

ABOUT CHEATING: There is a fine line between working together on an assignment with a partner, and copying what the other has written. Two answers may be identical, and

sometimes MUST be in order to be correct. However, if I SEE one person leaning

over and writing word-for-word, I will assume that cheating is taking place.

COMPUTATION OF GRADES:

Grades are computed on a total points system. The value of any assignment is determined first by the number of questions and then by the number of items required for each question. All assignments fall into one of four categories: 1. Homework, 2. Quizzes, 3. Tests and Major Quizzes, and 4. Labs. Each category is assigned a percent value as illustrated below.

Homework: 15%

Quizzes: 15%

Tests and Major Quizzes: 35%

Labs: 35%

As you can see, HOMEWORK can make the difference between getting a 65 and an 80, so…

…do your HOMEWORK !

All grades will be given in the following format: total points earned over total possible points for the assignment plus the percentage (top number divided by the bottom number). The percentage is for your information only; I use the total points on e-school. When recording your grades, you are to record the top number, the bottom number, and the percentage; these are the numbers you will be using to check your own averages.

YOUR FINAL EXAM GRADE:

Your final exam is comprised of two things: A Laboratory Practical Exam, given some time in the

beginning of June (during the school day), and a written Final Exam during Exam Week in June.

The Laboratory Practical Exam will test basic laboratory skills learned during the year. It is designed
so that the student may demonstrate his or her knowledge.

The Final Exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice and short-answer questions which
may include drawing contour maps, profiles, graphs, and constructing written responses. There

are no essays on the Regents Earth Science Final Exam.

NOTE: You may be excluded from taking the Lab Practical and Final June Exam if the

lab requirement, set by the teacher, is NOT met by the LAST FRIDAY in MAY.

If a student has failed to meet the laboratory requirement, the student must repeat the entire year; the

lab portion of the class may not be offered in summer school. The Counseling Center will have

more specific information. If a student has audited due to attendance, the student may still be

eligible to take the final exam if the lab requirement has already been met.

MY AVAILABILITY:

I am available for extra help before and after school on most days until

as late as the student needs me to stay;

I am also available during my planning periods, and on most Saturdays

by appointment between 10 am & 3 pm.

LABORATORY EXPERIENCES POLICY:

The New York State Board of Regents mandates completion of 30 satisfactory lab hours

(1200 minutes) in order to be eligible to take the final exam. The individual teacher may select the number of labs to be completed with satisfactory status to meet this requirement.

A satisfactory lab is one whose quality reflects time spent in the lab/collection of data.

Safety issues will be dealt with in the form of a Safety Lab. NO further laboratory experiences can be attempted without satisfactory completion of the Safety Lab.

You will be responsible for keeping track of your labs on a BLUE lab record sheet. In the event of an
absence, you must get the information from a classmate.

Five points will be deducted for each day the lab is late, down to half credit.
You WILL NOT doodle on your lab reports. DO NOT use markers, highlighters, or RED PEN to
fill out lab reports. Red colored pencils may sometimes be necessary.

All 6 blanks on Laboratory Report headings must be filled out completely. One point will be
deducted for each empty blank. You will use proper first and last names.

Satisfactory status is determined based on the degree to which the report was completed and the
quality of it; points deducted for lateness do not affect this status.

It is your responsibility to check E-School as often as necessary for any labs that you owe.
Unsatisfactory labs are considered those labs where it is clear the student did not spend the time in the
lab and the report is mostly incomplete and/or poorly done. Generally, a grade below 65 will be

Unsatisfactory. Unsatisfactory labs may become satisfactory if the entire lab is re-done and the

new lab is passing; you may use your old lab to complete the new one. You are not allowed to

just “do corrections.” Both labs must be handed in at the same time, secured with a paper clip.

You can re-do ANY lab (regardless of the original grade) during the marking period it was assigned to
be due, and the average of the two grades will replace the old grade. If you re-do an

unsatisfactory lab during another marking period, only the status may be changed, not the

grade. Both labs must be handed in at the same time, secured with a paper clip.

You can re-do any unsatisfactory lab at any time during the year, up until the official department
cutoff date which is always the last Friday in May.

You can only re-do labs in my room and in my presence: either before or after school, during one of
your study halls, your lunch period, on one of my planning periods, or on Saturdays – by

appointment – from 10 am to 3 pm.

You may take labs home to complete them (just like homework assignments). Graded labs will be
returned for you to peruse and record the grade; graded must be returned to the teacher

immediately following this process.

TEST AND QUIZ POLICY:

I will try to give at least one week’s notice for all Unit Tests/Major Quizzes.
Tests may be taken over again only during the marking period they were given. You may re-take the test regardless of your original grade; the average of the two grades will become your new
grade. If you get lower on the second attempt, the first grade stands. You may NOT use your

old test to complete the new one.

You can only re-take a test in my room and in my presence: either before or after school, during one
of your study halls, your lunch period, on one of my planning periods, or on Saturdays – by

appointment –- from 10 am to 3 pm.

Be prepared for pop quizzes; you will seldom have any notice for a quiz on the material and labs
we are studying. Quizzes may be re-taken ONLY if the original grade is 50% or lower; the

average of the two grades will become your new quiz grade.

EXTRA CREDIT POLICY:

Cut out a CURRENT Earth-Science-related article from the NEWSPAPER. You must write a two
paragraph summary and give a mini oral report to the class for at least two minutes. You will

receive one (1) point on your final quarter average for each oral report/summary, to a limit of

five (5) per quarter. Your name, class period, the source, date, and the article itself must be

submitted with your written summary. Notify me at least two days in advance, so I can work it

into the daily schedule. I must approve all articles before you begin work on it.

You may NOT use online articles, unless they are the online version of a NEWSPAPER.

These oral reports CANNOT be done during the LAST WEEK of a marking period or during the LAST TWO WEEKS of school in June

You may re-do any lab (regardless of the original grade) during the marking period it was originally
due. It must be re-done in my presence. The average of the two labs will replace the old grade.

If you get lower on the second try, the first grade stands. You may use your old lab to complete

the new one. You can only re-do a single lab one time.

You may re-take any unit test / major quiz(regardless of the original grade) during the marking
period it was originally given. It must be re-done in my presence. The average of the two grades

will replace the old grade. If you get lower on the second try, the first grade stands. You may

NOT use your old test to re-take the new one. You can only re-take a single test one time.

When there are pencils to sharpen, you may sharpen 40 pencils for one (1) point on your quarter
average, to a limit of two (2) points (80 pencils) per quarter. This can only be done with a

hand-held sharpener, in my presence, during a time when I do not have a class.

REVIEW CLASSES begin during May or June and are held after school, in the evenings, and on Saturdays through the remainder of the year. Attendance is strongly suggested.

Remember that I am here to HELP you; please see me whenever you need assistance.

Top-Secret Regents Review Website: NYSEDRegents.org

This CONTRACT must be signed and returned

by TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2018.

PERIOD: ____________

COURSE EXPECTATIONS AND POLICIES CONTRACT:

I, the undersigned student, agree to comply with the rules, regulations and expectations for this Earth Science class as they have been described herein. I further understand that failure to comply with anything in this document is my own doing, and definitely may result in detention with the teacher, a parent conference, and may also result in a lowering of my grade due to my negligence.

I understand that I may be denied the opportunity to take the final exam in June if I do not meet the laboratory requirement by the due date at the end of May. I have been made aware of the absence policy, how my quarter average is computed, and how to earn extra credit. I understand that Safety issues will be dealt with in the form of a Safety Lab, and that I cannot continue with the laboratory portion of this class without satisfactory completion of the Safety Lab.

Student NAME (Please print clearly):____________________________________________________

Student SIGNATURE:_________________________________________________________________

PARENTS: Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your

child’s performance in this course.

I, the undersigned parent or guardian, agree that I have read and understood the expectations and policies for this Earth Science class as they are described herein. I understand that it is my son or daughter’s responsibilit