Moore High School / Mr. Ishmael Kissinger
(Coach K)
300 North Eastern Avenue / Competitive Debate & Speech Instructor
Moore, Oklahoma 73160 / Email: TBA
(405) 735-4700 / Web site: > School Staff > Kissinger, Ishmael

Welcome to Moore High School!

Required Materials:

1.2” Notebook/Binder with 5 dividers
2.Pencils / Pens / 3.Student ID - EVERY DAY!
4.Dress clothes for competition (this should be business attire)
5.One Digital Egg Timer – must have a seconds function.

Classroom Expectations (AKA “The Rules”):

  1. Follow all guidelines and regulations as set forth in the Student Handbook.
  2. Be on time to class.
  3. Be prepared for class (pencils, paper, books, assignments, agenda, ID, attitude, etc.).
  4. Be courteous and respectful to peers, teachers, staff, visitors, and administrators.
  5. Smile! You’ve made it this far; you can handle the rest!

Students will be asked to sign a discipline book for each classroom disruption or misbehavior incident, including sleeping, not staying on task, excessive tardies, and talking. Upon signing the book for the third time in one week, students will serve detention either before or after school. Students will sign up for an appointment to serve their detention within a week of the third infraction. Any disruption or incident after the third time in one week automatically warrants a referral to your principal. Each week the students start out fresh as far as signing the book; however, students will be allowed only three detentions for me before being referred to their principal. As always, extreme disruptions or misbehavior will result in an automatic referral.

Signing the book – weekly:
1st infraction
2nd infraction
3rd infraction = detention
4th or more = referral / Detentions – 3 “strikes” per semester
1st – detention for Mr. Kissinger
2nd – detention for Mr. Kissinger
3rd – detention for Mr. Kissinger
4th – referral

Classroom Procedures:We work bell to bell. Students may not get ready to leave until the bell rings.

Bell Work:Every day students need to complete the work on the board or overhead as soon as they enter the classroom. Each day we will do about 5 – 15 minutes of exercises related to the bell work. It will be randomly checked for completion.

Binder:Every student should have a 2 inch three ring binder with 5 dividers. The sections should be labeled in the following order: Bellwork, Notes, Quizzes & Tests, LD Casesand Research, Extemporaneous Speeches, and the syllabus goes in the very front of the binder.

Uh-Ohs:Students are given more than enough time to get to and from classes between bells. Students need to plan accordingly. If students think they do not have time to run to their lockers between classes, then he or she should take all supplies for classes. Likewise, students should plan bathroom trips before school, during lunch, or when classes are located closer together. However, on occasion, everyone forgets something for class or genuinely needs to use the restroom. Because of this, students are allowed 3 uh-ohs a semester. These are 3 “freebies” when they may run back to their locker or run to the restroom. After these 3 freebies, if the classroom situation allows for it, they may be allowed to leave class but will be expected to make-up the class time in 10 minute appointments either before or after school. Anytime a student needs to leave, he or she needs to sign out at the back of the room, putting the time leaving class, intended destination, and the time returned to class.

Tardies:Tardies are discipline issues. Everyone is expected to be in his or her seat working on bell work when the bell rings. When a student is tardy, he or she needs to sign in the discipline book. If the student is tardy but has a pass, go ahead and sign the book, put “excused” as the reason, and leave the pass in the discipline book. If the pass is not left, it will be considered unexcused. Students who are more than five minutes late are absent, and two tardies equals one absence. After 10 absences, students do not receive credit for the course.

Grading:

A = 100% – 90%
B = 89% – 80%
C = 79% – 70%
D = 69% – 60%
F = 59% and below / Borderline grades (89.5%, 79.8%, 69.4%, etc.) will only be rounded up if attendance is good and there are no zeros. Points will be given for assignments and participation in class discussions and activities. Please note that participation is more than just being in class. Major assignments will have a grading rubric, so students will know how they will be graded, but for the most part, exams, cases and major assignments will be worth at least 200 points. Most other assignments will be worth 100 points unless otherwise noted at the time. Assignments with low grades will need to be corrected and turned back in to receive a grade. Students whose grade falls below a 65% will be required to attend tutoring during lunch. SEMESTER EXAM = 10%, Essays/Exams/Projects = 40% & Daily Work = 50% of semester grade

Assignments:Assignments may include essays, journals, quizzes, projects (group and individual), oral presentations, exams, and reading, lots of reading. Students should keep ALL graded work that is returned to them in their binder. It will be used as a study guide for the semester exams.

Homework:Students will have homework if they do not complete their assignments in class. Frequently, students will have to work on some assignments outside of class, including research.

Make-up work:Students will have two days for every one day that they are absent to make-up work (this is double what the school suggests). Extensions can be granted in special circumstances but must be cleared with Mr. Kissingerbefore the due date. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for make-up work between classes, before school, after school, or at lunch—not during class. Most worksheets and handouts can be found in the make-up folder.

Late work:All work is due on the due date. Any work turned in late will lose 25% for every day late. Exceptions will be made for absences and special circumstances that have been cleared with Mr. Kissingerbefore the due date. Please note: Assignments whose deadlines have been announced ahead of time will be due on the date announced regardless of students’ attendance. Students will be responsible for emailing assignments, sending them with a friend, or having them sent to the office on the day they are due even if they are absent. For school activity related absences, students must ask for their assignments before the event. Bottom line—if you do not do the work, you will not pass the tests because you will not know the information.

Extra Credit:There will also be other various cultural events, contests, or other enrichment opportunities to receive extra credit. Mr. Kissingerwill announce those as they become available. Students with zeros from academic dishonesty will not be allowed to receive extra credit points during the six weeks in which the academic dishonesty occurs.