Class Expectations

Behavior Expectations
In order to be successful in school and to make the most out of your time in class, being prepared for learning very important.  Here is what you can do to best prepare yourself for class:

1.   Be on time to school and to class.
2.   Come to class with all your materials, and be ready to listen and participate.
3.   Complete and hand in all class assignments on time.
4.   Allow adequate time to prepare for assessments.

We will be following the same expectations that are outlined in the student handbook.  All our behavior expectations can be categorized into three main areas:
 

Respect for Self, Respect for Others, and Respect for our school.

 Everyone has the right to learn without being disrupted by others.  We all have a choice in how we decide to behave in school, and natural consequences will come from both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.  The school discipline system is set up on levels, and you are placed on a level if you violate one of the respect categories.  More information regarding the school rules, and discipline can be found in the student handbook.


Lab Safety
Labs are a major component of our science class, as they allow you to apply what you have learned to real-life situations and simulations.  We will have many opportunities for hands-on exploration throughout the course of the year.  You will be expected to follow all class and lab safety rules. We will be discussing class rules and lab safety rules over the course of the next few weeks, as well as leading into each lab.  Class participation means taking an active role in your learning, and the learning of your fellow classmates.  You must pay attention and be involved in class at all times.  Here are some reflective questions you can ask yourself to determine if you are doing your part during lab time: 

• Are you making eye contact with me or the members of your group?
• Is your body language positive?
• Are you involved in the discussion or activity?
• Are you on task?
• Are you making positive contributions to our learning environment?
 
Each day at the start of class you will be expected to:

• Come in and sit down quickly and quietly.
• Have your science folder and assignment planner out and ready.
• Look at the board for the daily directions, today's supplies and agenda, and tonight's homework assignment.
• Have a pencil in your hand.

Late Work
It is important that you learn in our class, this is why you are here!  As such, you will be held accountable for your learning by making sure that you turn in your work and it is done to your highest quality.  You may find that if it is not at standard, you will be asked to redo it.  We will also accept late work, but this assigned work is your preparation and practice of skills learned in class.  It helps you prepare for your assessments.  If you do not practice your newly learned skills when the assignment is given, it will be much more difficult.  (Which affects your performance on assessments!)

 Absent Policy
You have the number of days you were absent to make up the assignment or test before it is considered late.  For example, if you were absent 3 days, you have 3 days to make up the work.  Once beyond the number of days absent, the assignment or test is subject to a deduction on your grade for being late.  As per the Haller Middle School Policy, late work that is more than 2 weeks late will not be accepted, at this point the ship sails and you will receive a zero in the grade book.

Retake Policy
You will have the opportunity to retake an assessment if you did not meet standard if there is a retake available.  The retake is a different test than what was originally given.  It is up to you to take initiative and set up an appointment with your teacher either before or after school to retake an assessment if you would like to if one is available.  This must be taken within 2 weeks of when the original assessment was given.  Please do not wait until the end of the grading period to ask your teacher to retake an assessment.  You will not be permitted to take it at this point, we would like to have you take this while the material is fresh on your brain, relevant to your learning, and you have the opportunity to re-learn the material.  The end of the quarter is not the appropriate time for these to occur.