Academy of Science Classroom Guidelines

Ninth Grade

 

Welcome to the Science Classroom. This is the place where you will learn to think, inquire, and investigate a range of natural phenomena. If you are to be successful here, there are certain things you will need to be aware of. Some of these may seem obvious, some may not; all are important. We ask that you and your parents read this over, discuss it, and sign it.

 

Behavior

1. No food, drink, or gum is allowed in the science classroom.
2. Please do not touch equipment that you are not authorized to touch. Not only is it extremely fragile and expensive, but you may be interfering with an experiment that someone else has had to leave set up.
3. Any materials you bring in should be able to fit under your chair. Anything that cannot fit there should be left in your lockers.
4. Please do not sit on lab tables.
5. The lab is not a playground. If your behavior in lab is such that your actions threaten the safety of your fellow students or the equipment, you will be asked to sit down and you will miss that particular lab. A grade of zero will be earned for that activity.
6. It is absolutely required that you give each other respect. Our classrooms are safe havens. This means that under no conditions should any student comment or question be mocked. It is fine to disagree with someone it is not fine to put them down.

 

Safety

Most safety issues are also behavioral issues, in other words if you follow the rules above, you will be safe. On the other hand, accidents do occasionally happen. In the beginning of the year and at the beginning of each lab exercise, you will be instructed as to the safety precautions you must use. To avoid accidents please be aware of the following safety issues:

1. Please be aware of the location and use of the Fire Blanket, Emergency Eyewash, Shower, and Fire Extinguisher.
2. Under no conditions should you ever conduct an unauthorized experiment of any kind.
3. Wear safety goggles and laboratory aprons/coats whenever using chemicals or as instructed by your teacher.
4. Whenever an injury occurs, no matter how small, it must be reported immediately to your teacher.
5. Report any chipped, cracked or broken equipment.
6. When working with chemicals, be certain you are working with the chemicals called for in the experiment. Make sure all chemicals are properly labeled and check labels before each use. If you have any questions…Ask.
7. Be sure to properly clean and store equipment after each use.
8. Dispose of all used materials according to the teacher’s instructions. No solids, such as glass, metals, or rocks are to be placed in sinks. All broken glass and only glass is to be placed  in the receptacle labeled “Broken Glass”.
9. No equipment or materials may be moved from any science room.

 

Academic Policies

 

1. Grade distribution and computation
1. Your quarterly grade will be computed using the following distributions:

Science                                                      Math

Tests and quizzes -50%            Tests,Quizzes, Graded Assessments-90%

Lab Reports -40%                   Homework/participation-10%

Homework-10%

2. As discussed in your handout describing lab reports, each report will be scored based on a rubric developed for the Academy.
3. Homework will be given nightly. For the most part, it will be graded for completion rather than correctness. Homework is your opportunity to make mistakes that you can learn from. If you do not understand a problem, you should try it anyway. Evidence of attempting a problem will get you full credit for homework, whether it is correct or not!
4. Penalties for late work have been discussed in the handout entitled “Late Assignment Policy”.
1. Notebooks and Lab Notebooks
1. Each of you should have a 3 ring binder to keep notes and handouts.
2. You should also have a hard cover composition notebook with graph paper in it. This is your lab note-book.
2. Cheating
1. Cheating is defined as the giving or taking  of any information during quizzes, tests, lab reports, or homework.
2. It also includes the use or creation of data during and investigation that is not your own.
3. The penalty for cheating is a zero grade on that assignment. Follow this simple rule…Neither give nor ask for answers on any assignment or lab report. If you do not understand something, seek your teacher out for help. Extensions can be granted on any assignment where you have shown that you have tried and gotten stuck somewhere.
3. Late Work
1. All work assigned is expected to be turned in at the beginning of the class period on the date that it is due.
2. Penalties for late work are discussed in the handout entitled “Late Assignment Policy”.
3. If you are absent, you must turn the work in the day you return, unless you were absent for several days and missed the material covered. In this case, see “Makeup Work” below.

 

 

 

5. Makeup Work
1. When you have been absent there are several things you are responsible to do:

                                                               i.      Turn in any homework that was due.

                                                             ii.      Ask your teacher what material you missed. Quite often, you will have time during Advisory to come in and view the notes from the day before.

                                                            iii.      Find out what assignments you are behind in and when they are due.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Please sign and detach the following form:

 

I have read the above material regarding Classroom Guidelines:

 

Signed:

 

Student_____________________________________

 

 

Parent_____________________________________