OFFICE Hours:7:00-7:30 A.M. Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs
COURSE POLICIES
Course:Philosophy HL 2 IB
Instructor: Dr. VanderWilt
Year:2010-2011
Classroom:G113
OFFICE Hours:7:00-7:30 a.m. Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs
E-MAIL:
VOICEMAIL:949-766-6000 ext 4091
MATERIALS: Textbook(s), pens, pencils & erasers, notebook.
CLASS WEBSITE:
1
CLASS-WORK:All assigned class-work will be posted on the class website on a regular basis.
CHRISTIAN SERVICEA minimum of 15 total hours of verified, direct, Christian service is required plus two
CALENDAR:reflection essays.
The Christian service requirement is distributed to each semester as follows:
First semester: A minimum of 6 hours of verified Christian service and the first reflection essay is due on Friday, January 7 regardless of class period.
Second semester: A minimum of 9 additional hours of verified Christian service and the second reflection essay is due on Friday, February 25 regardless of class period.
No verification forms will be accepted for academic credit after February 25, 2011. After February 25, verification forms may be submitted directly to the Christian service coordinator for consideration toward graduation requirements.
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GRADING POLICY:The semester grades are determined by the following weights:
Summative assessments (tests & paper) 30%
Homework / classwork 25%
Final exam 20%
Christian service 8%
Formative assessments (guided feedback) 7%
CAS milestones / completion 5%
Class participation 5%
______
Semester Grade 100%
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* According to school policy, decimal grades of .5% or higher will be rounded up to the next letter grade for the final grade.
SMCHS Grading Scale: (% of max score / Low%-High%)
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A+ 100/99-100%
A98.49/92-98%
A-91.49/90-91%
B+89.49/88-89%
B87.49/82-87%
B-81.49/ 80-81%
C+79.49/78-79%
C77.49/72-77%
C-71.49/70-71%
D+ 69.49/68-69%
D67.49/62-67%
D-61.49/60-61%
F59.49/59-0%
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IB MARKS GRADING SCALE: (For Internal assessment, in-class writing, and practice examinations)
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30100%
2998.5 %
2897%
2795.5%
2694%
2592.5%
2491%
2389.5%
2288%
2186.5%
2085%
1983.5%
1882%
1780.5%
1679%
1577.5%
1476%
1374.5%
1273%
1171.5%
1070%
968.5%
867%
765.5%
664%
562.5%
461%
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O/S/U GRADING SCALE: (For classwork, class participation, and less formal assignments)
O (Outstanding)95% = A
S (Satisfactory)85% = B
U (Unsatisfactory)75% = C
F (Fail)25% = F
**ALTERNATIVE RUBRICSmay be developed and applied to specific assignments on a case by case basisso as to emphasize particular skills, objectives, or outcomes. Students will be informed of these standards at the time these tasks are assigned.
ATHLETICAthletic eligibility is determined at the end of each of the four official grading periods.
ELIGIBILITY:Teachers cannot change grades to make students eligible once grades have been submitted to the registrar through ABI.
IB EXAM:All students in Philosophy HL 2 IB must register for and take the IB Examinations in Philosophy on May3 and 4, 2011.
TESTS / QUIZZES:- Given regularly throughout the quarter.
-A 2-3 day notice is given for tests; a 0-1 day notice is given for quizzes.
- In the event of an excused absence, a test / quiz must be taken within 1 class period.
- In the event of an unexcused absence, a test / quiz must be taken within 1 class period. In addition, the test / quiz will receive a 50% penalty.
- Tests or quizzes not taken on the assigned day will receive a “zero.”
- No tests or quizzes are curved or dropped during the quarter.
HOMEWORK:- Regular assignments will include informal and formal writing, group reports, and in-class presentations.
- Informal writing assignments may be assigned in class or to complete after class.
- Formal writing assignments will be assigned well in advance of the due date.
- Formal assignments will be assessed for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity of thought, completeness, creativity / originality, and other appropriate criteria as noted in the directions for the given assignment.
- Some formal assignments must be typed and submitted through “turnitin.com.”
- In the event of an excused absence, a writing assignment must be submitted within 1 class period.
- In the event of an unexcused absence, a writing assignment must be submitted within 1 class period. In addition, the writing assignment will receive a 50% penalty.
- Assignments not submitted by the assigned day will receive a “zero.”
- No writing assignments are curved or dropped during the quarter.
PARTICIPATION:Class participation is an essential element of this class. Students will be asked to share, make presentations, work in groups, and participate in hands-on learning. These are essential learning activities for this course. Therefore, student behavior and attitude need to be positive. The class participation grade is worth 5% of the total grade each quarter and focuses on positive student behaviors and attitudes. Please be aware that failure to interact cooperatively with fellow students, to contribute generously to group work, to complete in-class writing assignments, or to exhibit behaviors that are at all times respectful and appropriate to assigned learning activities will affect the student’s academic grade.
CHRISTIANAll Santa Margarita students are required to perform at least 15 hours of direct service
SERVICE:with the objective of forming an authentic relationship with other people in need. These 15 hours are usually also acceptable for IB CAS requirements (which follow a separate rubric and are administered by the IB Office).
Students will verify at least 6 hours of direct service and prepare a reflection paper during the first semester. Students will verify an additional 9 hours of direct service and prepare a second reflection paper during the second semester. The teacher will evaluate the service, assign academic credit for the project, and submit service forms to the SMCHS Service coordinator for further evaluation and follow-up.
NOTE WELL: Requirements for academic credit, SMCHS service hours credit and IB CAS hours credit differ. The teacher can only assign academic credit and does not verify IB CAS or SMCHS service hours.
SERVICE VERIFICATION FORMS and POST-REFLECTION essays
will not receive academic credit after Friday, February 25, 2011.
CAS reports will not receive academic credit after April 29, 2011.
CLASSROOMInstruction begins from the time you enter the classroom.
POLICIES:
Instruction continues until the time you leave the classroom. After the completion of assigned work, if there is free time remaining, students may quietly begin work on other assignments (for this class; occasionally, for another class). Collect your belongings during the last minute of the period only.
Homework will be collected at the beginning of class.
Bring all classroom materials to each class meeting.
Raise your hand when you have a question.
Disagreement is encouraged. Questions are encouraged. Curiosity will be rewarded! Differences of opinion, respectfully stated, are par for the course. I do ask all students to consider opposing or alternative viewpoints with all seriousness. Ask appropriate questions in class about topics you are unsure of.
All school policies regarding dress code and proper behavior in class will be enforced. All cell phones (including iPhones and iTouch) will be confiscated and turned in to the dean’s office.
iPods and MP3 players are not allowed in this classroom.
No food, gum, or beverages in may be brought into the classroom. Water is permitted.
Bathroom policy: Students will receive 3 free bathroom passes each year. Lost bathroom passes will not be replaced.
Locker visit policy: Students will receive a detention for failing to bring their textbooks or assignments to class.
If a student is absent from class, it is the student’s responsibility to find out what material was missed (all assignments are posted on the internet) and to have all homework ready to hand in for class within the allowance period after returning to school.
The teacher’s computer and work area is off-limits to all students.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty will result in the student receiving an F (grade of zero) on the assignment, test or quiz, and a referral to the Dean of Discipline’s office.
Academic dishonesty includes the following:
- Plagiarism (= more than 5 consecutive words are copied from another source, unattributed or un-cited; or the idea of another person – alive or dead – is paraphrased without attribution or citation.
- Disclosing test / quiz questions to any other person.
- Copying test / quiz answers from any other person.
- Turning in work completed in another class as though it were assigned work for this class.
- Completing the assigned work for any other person or allowing any other person to complete your work.
- Turning in any other person’s work as if it were your own.
- Allowing your work to be turned in by any other person as if it were theirs.
- This list is not complete. The standards of honesty may vary depending on the learning objectives of the assigned work. For example, some work may require collaborative work and sharing of ideas among students.
DisciplinARYDiscipline problems in class will result in a Teacher’s detention or a
Actions:Dean’s detention.
CONTACTINGE-mail address at SMCHS:
YOURParents and Students may correspond with me at any time during the school
TEACHER:year. E-mail is the preferredmethod of getting in contact with me. I can also be reached by calling the school and using extension: 4091. Except when ill, absent or on vacation, I will respond to e-mails & telephone calls within one business day.
The Diocese of Orange requires that all teacher-student communication be conducted through school provided media (school phones and school e-mail accounts.) This requirement will occasionally delay my response.
The teacher (Dr. VanderWilt) reserves the right to amend these policies as needed for instructional purposes. Such amendments will be given in advance, in writing, to students and parents, as needed. Specific instructions, grading rubrics, and policies may vary on individual assignments. These variations will be given explicitly in writing when the work is assigned. In no way do I intend to amend, abridge, or depart from SMCHS policies with respect to the content, structure, or policies for this course. In the event of a discrepancy, those policies will prevail.
Students who show blatant disrespect or challenging behavior to a teacher may be removed from that class for the remainder of the year. The final decision will be made by the Dean’s Office and the Academic Office.
Obtain signatures and return the next page by Friday, September 3, 2010.
Parents, detach for your records:
Dr. VanderWilt
949-766-6000 ext 4091
Philosophy 2 HL IB
CAS Hours deadlines are set by the IB office.
The IB Exams in Philosophy are May 4 and 5, 2010.
No Christian service hours will receive academic credit after Friday, February 26, 2010.
September 2010Parent Confirmation Form
I am confirming my understanding of the attached information by signing this sheet and returning it to the classroom teacher. (The classroom policies should be kept for reference in your notebook.)
I have noted that I may check on my student’s progress at any time during the year by sending an e-mail to or leaving voicemail at x 4091 with the understanding that the teacher will respond within one business day.
My student understands and agrees to follow Dr. VanderWilt’s classroom policies with the knowledge that there will be consistent consequences for infractions of these policies.
Please sign and return by Friday, September 3, 2010:
Parents: Please attach a business card if you have one.
Date: ______
Student Name (print):______
Student Signature:______
PARENT Signature:______
Home Phone #:______
PARENT E-mail address:______
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS / NOTES to teacher:
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