Introduction and Policies
Introduction: In this course overview you will probably find everything that you need to know about this course and my expectations of your child as a student. Please take the time to read over this outline with your child and when you and your child have finished reading the information please sign the course outline handout and return it to me.
Parents, if you have any questions about the material contained within this document please feel free to contact me through my email. -- I will get back to you as quickly as I can.
Mr. Brideson's email: [email protected]
Ms. Poulos' email: [email protected]
Parents, if you have any questions about the material contained within this document please feel free to contact me through my email. -- I will get back to you as quickly as I can.
Mr. Brideson's email: [email protected]
Ms. Poulos' email: [email protected]
Cheating/Copying Policy: If a student is caught cheating/copying by me or any member of the Grand Ave M.S. Staff the following will occur: 1) a ZERO for the assignment (HW’s, tests, quizzes, labs, etc…) along with the person who gave you the assignment 2) You will also receive detention and a phone call home
Student Preparation (Present and Ready-to-Learn): (counts as one quiz grade) each student is expected to ON TIME and have their course materials with them each day: binder, calculator, pens, pencils, the Earth Science Reference Tables (ESRT) and your Chrome Book. Your cell phones need to be on silent and placed in the cell phone caddie (if the student brought it to class).
Each student will be given three (3) passes at the beginning of each marking period to use if they need to leave the classroom (locker, restroom, etc...) and begin the marking period with a free 100 as a quiz grade. As long as the student comes prepared each day and does not use more than 3 passes they will keep the 100 as a quiz grade.
If the student does not have the aforementioned materials with them at the start of class they can use one of their passes to go to their locker to retrieve the materials. Once a student is out of passes the student will lose 5 points off of the quiz grade for each offense.
If a student is late to class, without a valid reason or a pass, the student will lose 10 points off of the quiz grade for each offense.
If a student is caught texting in class, they will be considered unprepared (10 points off of the quiz grade) and the student will be given detention.
Attendance: Due to the difficult nature and the limited amount of contact time, it is extremely important that students are in class each and every day. If you arrive to school late or leave early, it is the student's responsibility to pick up any handouts from my class, to check Google Classroom and to discuss what they missed with their classmates. The student still has the responsibility of being prepared for class the next day (HW, labs, etc...). It has been my experience that students who frequently miss class do not do well in this course. Vacation Policy: If you are going to miss class because of a family vacation; give me a week's notice and I will put together a packet for you to complete while you are away. If you do not complete the assigned work by the day you return to class it will count as a zero in your average. Any missed quiz or test will have to be made up on the second day you return. Any missed laboratory assignment will need to be completed at extra help.
Materials (needed each day in class): pen, pencil, binder, ESRT, calculator, highlighter and your Chrome Book
Class Discussion: Students are expected to ask and answer questions to ensure a free-flowing discussion
Infinite Campus: Infinite Campus is updated on a regular (usually daily) basis. Parents: if you believe that an error has been made please have your child come advocate for his or herself. Students: If you believe that an error has been made, please come speak with us.
Extra Help: The extra help schedule varies each week depending on quizzing/testing for that week; I try to maximize extra help the day before and the morning of the quiz or test. On the "This Week" page you will notice one of three items listed for extra help:
a) TIME: (2:41 - 3:06 for example) means extra help is scheduled. Due to child care issues, I often have to leave immediately following the end time for extra help
b) NONE: means that there is no extra help available
c) BLANK: There is no assigned extra help and one of us is in the classroom and you can stop by.
NOTE: Extra Help will also be published on Google Classroom and in class
***Mr. Brideson and Mrs. Poulos quite often will have joint extra helps. It has been our experience that the students benefit when there are 2 teachers in the room to circulate and answer all questions.***
Student Preparation (Present and Ready-to-Learn): (counts as one quiz grade) each student is expected to ON TIME and have their course materials with them each day: binder, calculator, pens, pencils, the Earth Science Reference Tables (ESRT) and your Chrome Book. Your cell phones need to be on silent and placed in the cell phone caddie (if the student brought it to class).
Each student will be given three (3) passes at the beginning of each marking period to use if they need to leave the classroom (locker, restroom, etc...) and begin the marking period with a free 100 as a quiz grade. As long as the student comes prepared each day and does not use more than 3 passes they will keep the 100 as a quiz grade.
If the student does not have the aforementioned materials with them at the start of class they can use one of their passes to go to their locker to retrieve the materials. Once a student is out of passes the student will lose 5 points off of the quiz grade for each offense.
If a student is late to class, without a valid reason or a pass, the student will lose 10 points off of the quiz grade for each offense.
If a student is caught texting in class, they will be considered unprepared (10 points off of the quiz grade) and the student will be given detention.
Attendance: Due to the difficult nature and the limited amount of contact time, it is extremely important that students are in class each and every day. If you arrive to school late or leave early, it is the student's responsibility to pick up any handouts from my class, to check Google Classroom and to discuss what they missed with their classmates. The student still has the responsibility of being prepared for class the next day (HW, labs, etc...). It has been my experience that students who frequently miss class do not do well in this course. Vacation Policy: If you are going to miss class because of a family vacation; give me a week's notice and I will put together a packet for you to complete while you are away. If you do not complete the assigned work by the day you return to class it will count as a zero in your average. Any missed quiz or test will have to be made up on the second day you return. Any missed laboratory assignment will need to be completed at extra help.
Materials (needed each day in class): pen, pencil, binder, ESRT, calculator, highlighter and your Chrome Book
Class Discussion: Students are expected to ask and answer questions to ensure a free-flowing discussion
Infinite Campus: Infinite Campus is updated on a regular (usually daily) basis. Parents: if you believe that an error has been made please have your child come advocate for his or herself. Students: If you believe that an error has been made, please come speak with us.
Extra Help: The extra help schedule varies each week depending on quizzing/testing for that week; I try to maximize extra help the day before and the morning of the quiz or test. On the "This Week" page you will notice one of three items listed for extra help:
a) TIME: (2:41 - 3:06 for example) means extra help is scheduled. Due to child care issues, I often have to leave immediately following the end time for extra help
b) NONE: means that there is no extra help available
c) BLANK: There is no assigned extra help and one of us is in the classroom and you can stop by.
NOTE: Extra Help will also be published on Google Classroom and in class
***Mr. Brideson and Mrs. Poulos quite often will have joint extra helps. It has been our experience that the students benefit when there are 2 teachers in the room to circulate and answer all questions.***