Parent/Guardian Letter

August 18, 2008

 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I would like to welcome you and your son/daughter to a new beginning. I am looking forward to working with your student in this new school year. I would personally like to invite you to Open House at the High School on Tuesday, August 26, from 7:00-8:30pm.  I would love to meet with you if I haven’t already done so. I believe that communication is of the utmost importance and I have enclosed the most effective methods of reaching me. Due to the volume of students, please allow at least 24 hours for me to contact you.

Please take the time to read and go over your student’s guidelines and information with them. Acknowledge that you understand them by signing, detaching and returning the bottom portion of this letter. Please feel free to contact me with any questions concerning this matter.  If you need more details about the class, please take a moment to review their forms. Each student has received a more detailed copy of class expectations and is required to keep it in their notebook. Please sign their copy as well. You may request a full version for yourself, if you like. Your student has also signed a form stating that he/she agrees to abide by the guidelines and procedures. I will be of service if you have any further questions. I request that if your child has special needs or medical problems that I need to be aware of, please contact me or write your comments on the appropriate blank on the return portion of this letter. My goal is to create a friendly learning environment and to do so we must have guidelines. I consider us all a team, working together for a common goal: A successful year for each student, in which they will continue to grow and learn for themselves and one they will not forget. I want to say thank you in advance for your cooperation and support. I look forward to meeting and working with you.

                                                                                    Sincerely,

 

Gwendolen Watson

 

Contact Information:    Email gmwatson@spartangurg4.org (preferred)

School phone: 476-7045  To my voice mail: EXT. #3655

Conference: contact school/guidance for a conference time.

 

 

 

Classroom Guidelines:    I will follow the discipline policy as outlined in the Woodruff High School Student Handbook. In addition to the school policies, the following classroom guidelines will be observed:

 

1.      Respect your teacher, classmates, and their property at all times. This includes your classroom environment and all materials therein.

 

2.      Be in your seat with materials ready and begin posted assignment when the bell rings.

 

3.      Raise your hand before you talk or get out of your seat.

 

4.      Maintain a cooperative and friendly learning environment for yourself and your peers (includes no grooming, gossiping, passing notes, cursing or other distractions during class time).

 

5.      Bring a positive attitude and be prepared to succeed.

 

 

If you choose to break a classroom guideline:

 

First offense:     Warning

 

Second offense:  Student Conference/Demerit(s)

 

Third offense:  Parent Contact

 

Fourth offense: Conference with parents/administrators

 

*** Any action that severely disrupts the classroom procedures or endangers the health or well being of the teacher or another student will result in an immediate referral to the office. All school policies are in the student handbook and must be adhered to as well.

 

 

 

 

 Materials:

A.                 Textbook:

a.       Biology I TP: Biology of Living Things

b.      Biology I CP: The Dynamics of Life

c.       1 - one inch, three-ring binder (A spiral notebook WILL NOT work due to the number of handouts each student will receive.)

d.      Paper

e.       Pencil or pen for notes

f.        1 ink pen for journals (blue or black ONLY)

g.       Composition notebook

h.      SMALL pack of colored pencils

i.        1 three-pronged paper folder

j.        Small notepad to keep up with assignments in all classes.

Homework:

A.     Assignments will be posted in the appropriate section on the board. It is your responsibility to notice and write down your homework assignments.

B.     Any work that is to be turned into the teacher must be placed into the appropriate “in-box” for your class PRIOR to the tardy bell. You will know what needs to be turned in by looking on the board when you enter class. Should your assignment not reach the “in-box” on time, you will not receive credit. It is your responsibility to turn assignments in on time.

C.     If you choose not to do assigned homework, depending on the homework assignment, you will be assigned to the Homework Center. A letter grade will be deducted each day homework is late. For example, if you don’t turn it in on the due day or at the appropriate time, you will not receive any higher than a “B” on the next day and so forth. Homework will count as a daily grade. Certain homework assignments cannot be made up, redone, or turned in late; therefore, you will not receive credit for that assignment if it is not on time. No exceptions.

 

Grading Policy:

A = 93 – 100              B = 85 – 92               C = 77 – 84              D = 70 – 76                                             F = below 70        I = Incomplete

 

There are two categories of grades:

 

Major grades - tests, labs, projects, journal, certain other designated assignments

All major grades count twice in calculations for report cards.

 

Daily grades - class work, quizzes, graded homework, vocabulary, and certain other designated assignments.

All daily grades count once in calculations for report cards.

 

A project will be assigned each nine weeks.  The project will count as two major grades.

  

There will be an exam at the end of the 1st and 3rd nine-week period. These count for 25% of that nine-weeks grade.

 

There will be an exam at the end of each semester (2nd and 4th nine-weeks) which counts for 25% of that semester grade.

 

Extra credit: Students are not to count on or ask about receiving. This will be up to the discretion of the teacher and the class will be notified of such an event.

 

Make-up Policy:

A.     In the event of an absence, it is your responsibility to obtain your assignments and make up missed work.  Call early in the morning of an absence and request your assignments.  A parent or friend may pick up your assignments. 

B.      I give at least a weeks notice before each test so that you may plan appropriately. If you are absent the day before a test OR out on the day of a test, you are still responsible for taking the test the day you return.

C.     If you are absent several days in a row, it is your responsibility to get help and missed assignments. If any missed work is not made up within five days of your return, a zero will be given for the work.  All make up work must be in before the unit test is taken for that unit. It is your responsibility to take tests and turn assignments in when due.

 

Laboratory Procedures:

Prior to the first lab activity, a set of guidelines will be sent home to be signed by the student and parent.

 

 

 

 

 Keep the above for your files. Please detach below the line and return to Mrs. Watson

_____________________________________________________________________

 

 

Please that I am here to help. If your child requires extra help, it is important that he/she tells me so arrangements can be made.

Please sign below indicating that you have read and understand the policies. If you have any concerns or information that would help me in better instructing your child, please provide the information in the space below.

 

** Students will receive a 100 daily grade for this return.

 

Questions/concerns:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

Special needs/ Medical Problems/ other information: _____________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Parent signature: __________________________________________ Date: __________