Room O-3 Phone Number 909-971-8230 Ext. 3703

Freshman Foundations

Miss Samuel

Email:

Room O-3 Phone Number 909-971-8230 ext. 3703

Welcome to Freshman Foundations, it is my pleasure to be guiding and encouraging students to bewell rounded students and citizens as they enter into high school and prepare for their life as an adult.

Course Description:

This is a requiredsemester elective course designed to promote a guided aspect for the freshman students to be successful in high school and their future. This includes aspects of organization, time management, decision making, digital citizenship, and college and career exploration. The health component of the class will include awareness of good health practices and engages students in meaningful activities that will foster the development of optimal physical, mental, and emotional well-being and lead to healthy choices. The health aspect of this course focuses on mandated drug, alcohol, tobacco, and STD/HIV/AIDS education, mental health and other related issues will be addressed. This is a student centered class, with discussion, group assignments, and participation.

Expected School-Wide Learning Results (ESLERs):

Effective Communicators

Read and listen with understanding
Write and speak with clarity
Use technology to access, organize and present information

Accomplished Learners

Challenge themselves continuously
Participate in and accept responsibility for learning
Produce quality independent work
Solve problems and express ideas creatively

Responsible Individuals

Respect all beliefs and cultures
Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior
Create and maintain a plan for the future
Work to promote causes greater than themselves
Inspire others to move toward a successful outcome

Academic Integrity

If you attempt to pass off the work of others as your own (either copies from a friend or print, or Internet sources), you can expect to fail that assignment and be reported to the discipline office. Do not allow others to copy or cheat off of you. If caught “sharing” work, both the sharer and the copier will earn zero points on the assignment and be reported. During tests, keep your eyes on your own paper, keep your answers covered and do not talk. If I catch you engaging in inappropriate behavior, expect that all parties involved will earn a zero on the exam. When in doubt, cite. If you have questions, ask me, not your neighbor.

Classroom Expectations:

Be on time
Be prepared
Show respect to yourself, the classroom and all others
Be mature (we cover a wide range of serious issues in this class)
Show effort and be positive . . . effort goes a long way in earning a good grade
Drinks must have a cap on them (to avoid messy spills)
Please finish your food outside (little critters like crumbs)
Please do not use perfume or body spray inside the classroom
Follow all school rules, class rules, and rules of common sense

Supplies:

Students are suggested to have a pen, pencil, and paper to be prepared for class. I will provide other materials that are needed for the variety of assignments done in class. I have a class set of text books, the health text book is not checked out to students, so any work that is done out of that book will be done in class or there are copies in the library. However, I do ask that when we use the textbooks that you respect them and treat them with care, because I have to pay for damaged or lost books. Each students will be assigned a number to use so there will only be three students who use that textbook in my class.

Class Website:

Staff Directory – Marisa Samuel – Visit Site – Direct Link 

Absences:

I understand that emergencies arise, you get sick, or a family matter takes place that prevents you from coming to school. I hope that these days are limited because materials covered in class, activities done, and in class group work is difficult to make up. If you are absent from school, you are responsible for getting the materials covered the days you were absent. Any handouts, notes, or material that was passed out can be found on the classroom website and in the daily folders in the classroom file containers located at the back of the classroom on the book shelves. I expect you to check the file folders, read the directions and ask a friend for instructions. If you need clarification on the assignment, please feel free to ask me before class, after class, or during break or lunch. The assignments done while you were absent are to be done before the test. The assignments are designed to prepare you for the final assessment, so if you do not do them, you will not be as successful on the test. I will try to be at school every day for you, please do the same for your fellow classmates and myself. If you know you are going to be absent, let me know and I might be able to get the assignment to you sooner, but the assignment will be posted on the website by the day that it is done in class.

If the absence is excused through the office, you need to make arrangements right away to make up the test either at lunch, during a free period, or after school. If an absence is unexcused, then you will not be able to make up the test or assignments that were due the day that you were absent.

Tardiness:

If you are late to class, you will not be able to receive a stamp for the homework assignment. I maintain a strict tardy policy and adhere to the school’s policy. If you are not in the classroom by the time the bell stops ringing, then you are considered late. This is especially a problem for 1stperiod, 3rd period and 6th period. If you are late because you were talking with a teacher, you MUST get a note from them before you come into class in order to excuse the tardy. The school’s tardy policy can be found in the student handbook.

Cell Phone Policy:

I have no tolerance for cell phones used during inappropriate times in class, like during a test or during a time of direct instruction. If I see it, you are expected to relinquish it and it will be taken to the office by the end of the day. I will lock your cell phone in a drawer until it can be taken to the office. The excuse of “I was checking the time” will not work. You do not need to text, check your voicemail, or see who called when you heard it vibrate in your bag or pocket. Just make our experience together easier and do not take out your cell phone while in class.

Due to newest technologies, Internet on phones, and valuable resources available on phones, if there is a time in class when using a phone is acceptable, all you have to do is ask for permission to use it. If I think that it is an appropriate situation and a benefit to the class, I understand and encourage the use of modern technology. But in general, the rule is to not use the cell phone.

Charging your cell phones has become a great need since there are so many teachers throughout the day using it as part of classroom instructions. While it is very tempting to plug it into one of the many outlets in the classroom, that also leads to the possibility of theft. So I have a “Charging Station” with two power strips and additional plugs in the front of the room by my desk. Once your phone is plugged in before class starts, it will remained plugged in until class ends. Students are allowed to charge their phones, but are only allowed to plug in and then retrieve their own phones from the “charging station”. I am also not responsible for any damage or theft of phones. The best advice would be to get your own portable charger so you can charge it in your backpack.

iPods/Music in Class:

I understand that some people work better when listening to music. With this in mind, I do allow you to listen to your iPod, but there are conditions to that. You may not listen to your iPod during the opening of class, during a lesson, during a group assignment, etc. The only appropriate time for you to listen to your iPod is during individual work. When you can listen, only ONE earphone can be in and if other people can hear it, it is too loud and we will make you put it away. If you abuse this privilege, you will not be allowed to use an iPod in class.

Grade Breakdown:

I use the Aeries Grading System, so parents and students are encouraged to monitor their progress online. Grades are also frequently posted in class. Grades are posted in the classroom and updated frequently. Please look at your grade often and clarify any problems or questions that you have please come talk to me as soon as you can. I admit that Iam human, and mistakes might be made, so please inform me if you think a grade is incorrect. I want you to get the grade that you earned. You earn a grade in our class based on the effort that you put into the class. You are in control of your own grade and will earn every point that you work towards.

Grade Percentages:

100.1% and higher = A+

100% – 94% = A

93.9% – 90% = A-

89.9% – 87% = B+

86.9% – 84% = B

83.9% – 80% = B-

79.9% – 77% = C+

76.9% – 74% = C

73.9% – 70% = C-

69.9% – 67% = D+

66.9% – 64% = D

63.9% – 60% = D-

59.9% and below = F

Late Assignments:

There will be no tolerance for turning in major late assignments, such as writing assignments and projects. The students will be given ample time to complete all assignments to late work will automatically be given half points of the earned grade. They will be given a suggested time schedule to work with, and I will check with the students’ progress throughout the longer assignments to try to prevent procrastination to avoid the students from turning in late work.

Stamps:

The Independent Practice (which is done at the end of each lesson) will be stamped the following day for the previous day’s lesson. To receive full credit (5/5, 10/10, etc) on the independent practice for that day’s lesson, the student will have to have received a stamp. If the students do not have a stamp, they can still earn partial credit (4/5, 8/10, etc) when the assignments are checked the day of the test, end of the unit, etc. The student can easily make up these points by doing the extra credit portions that are offered on occasional assignments and lessons.

Extra Credit:

There are ample opportunities for everyone to earn extra credit in my class. It is most likely done by completing an extra higher level question on an assignment or an additional critical thinking question attached to a lesson that was done. I do not give extra credit out to “save a grade” or if you ask for it, so take advantage of the opportunities when they do come around, because it does really help.

Communication:

The best way to contact me is through my school email address:

Marisa Samuel:

I look forward to having a wonderful year with you. I have an open door policy with my students. Please come to me for anything that you may need throughout the year. Iam more than willing to help you in any way that I can. I know that it takes courage to talk with a teacher, so I will do my best to help you with what you need. Please keep this course outline as a reference throughout the year. Talk with your family, not only about this course outline, but about what we are doing in class. The wealth of experiences and knowledge that previous generations have is priceless, so by sharing the topics we cover in class, a great insight may be gained.

FIRST ASSIGNMENT!! – Due by Friday, August 28th

Students – read over and discuss this syllabus with your parent/guardian. I know how this works most of the time, you have all of your teachers giving you these, so you put them in one big pile, and your parents flip through them (because you got them throughout the day, and they are getting them all at one time), sign the last page, and you return them to the appropriate teacher. That is fine, but just realize that is it important to review the policies with them at some point. Keep the syllabus in case you need to reference it in the future.

If your parents are only going to read one part of this syllabus, this is the big part that I need them to notice:

By signing this syllabus parents/guardians are giving their consent to allow their child to view featured and educational films/clips that reinforce the learning throughout the school year that are rated PG-13 or lower.
After reading the syllabus, please sign and fill out the contact information. No grades will be entered in the grade book for any students until they return the signed portion of the syllabus.

Student Information:Period: ______

Student’s Last Name (print)Student’s First Name (print)

Student’s Signature

Additional information you want Miss Samuel to know (preference of seating, preferred name, food allergies, etc)

Parent/Guardian Information:

Parent or Guardian Last Name (print)Parent or Guardian First Name (print)

Parent or Guardian’s SignatureRelationship to Student

Parent or Guardian’s Email

Language(s) Used at HomeParent or Guardian’s Home and/or Cell Phone Number

Additional information your want Miss Samuel to know (best time to call, additional contact information, etc)