Course Syllabus

Ms. Patton,
8th Grade Science
2016-2017
Welcome back! I look forward to exploring a year of 8th grade science with you. I believe in
active learning, where both students and the teacher are responsible for and in control of the
learning process. You must actively engage and participate in my class to succeed and I must
teach in way that engages every student. My goal is to teach you how to do science and how
science is relevant to your life rather than how to memorize more facts. This is also the theory
behind NGSS the New Generation Science Standards, which all schools across California will
begin implementing this year. I will discuss these standards and how they will impact our
classroom much more in class and back to school night. Below is a list of requirements for class
and my expectations for my students.
This year we will also focus on Behavior Expectations (HR2) as outlined in the Bronco
Handbook.
HR2 relates to all Bret Harte students and will be enforced at school activities on and off
campus.
Honesty Being sincere in your words, being able to be trusted, being truthful to yourself and
others,
Academic Honor. Completing your own work, answer/grade work truthfully in the classroom.
Respect Being considerate of others, being courteous to all people, treating others how you
wish to
be treated and accepting others regardless of race, religion, gender, and all other
individual qualities.
Following directions and acting and speaking politely in the classroom.
Responsibility Commitment to excellence, considering the results of your actions and taking
responsibility for them, knowing right from wrong and managing your time well. Complete all
work, come to class with all materials, be on time and keep your area clean in the classroom.
CLASS POLICIES:

In all situations display respect, tolerance and patience when interacting with classmates
and the instructor. Each student has the right to learn in a safe and respectful manner. This
includes, but is not limited to: paying attention during class, not distracting your classmates,
and raising a hand and waiting to be acknowledged to ask a question.

Approach me for help early and often, and provide me with feedback.

Take responsibility for learning by staying attentive and organized.

Do not use portable electronic devices in class unless EXPLICITLY instructed to do so (cell
phones, iPods, etc.) this includes texting!

Be sitting in your assigned seat when the bell rings or you will be marked tardy.

I dismiss you, not the bell! Dismissal will begin 5-10 minutes prior to the bell ringing,
depending on the activity or lab of the day. I expect you to clean up as instructed, leave the
classroom looking as it was when you entered, and be seated at your desk. Only then will the
class be dismissed.

For excused absences, please inform me of the nature of the absence before you miss
class. Excusable absences include participation in school sports games, meets, or matches,
drama productions or music ensembles, as well as official class field trips (practices or
rehearsals do not qualify as excused absences). Although you are excused from being in
attendance for the day in question, you are still responsible for material covered that day, and
you are given one week from the day you return to class. Any work that you do not make up will
be subject to a grade of zero. It is your responsibility to get missed assignments.

CLASSNORMS:
Thefirstweekofclasswewilldecideuponclassnormsfortheyear.Thiswillbeacontractofclassexpectationsforall
students,andwillsetthetoneforcreatingasafelearningenvironmentandinclusiveclasscommunityfortheyear.

POLICYONLATEWORKANDMAKINGUPMISSEDWORK
Whenhomeworkisassigneditisforareason,sinceIdonotbelieveinbusywork.Lateassignmentswillnotbe
acceptedforfullcredit.
CHEATING&PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarismandcheatingaredefinedasfollows:Plagiarismisthepresentationofinformationasone'sownwheninreality
someoralloftheinformationwasderived(orcopied)fromsomeothersource(includingworkofothermembersofthe
class).Cheatingconsistsofanyunpermitteduseofnotes,texts,orothersources(includingcopyinganswerscompleted
byothers)soastogiveanunfairadvantagetoastudentincompletingaclassassignmentoranexamination.
Intentionallyaidinganotherstudentincheatingisalsoconsideredcheating.Anystudentcaughtcheatingonanexamor
submittingworkthatisjudgedbytheinstructortohavebeenplagiarizedwillearn0points,andthestudentwillbe
referredtotheoffice.Itakethisveryseriously!
GRADING:
Yourgradeinthisclasswillbebasedonexams,quizzes,homework,classwork,projects,andparticipation.The
gradingsystemforthecourseisasfollows:A90100%,B8089%,C7079%,D6069%,andFisbelow60%.
Keepalltestsandassignmentsuntilfinalgradesarecompleted.
PARTICIPATION:
AgoodgradeinthisportionoftheclassrequiresACTIVEparticipation.Engaginginclassactivitiesandwriting
entriesinaninclassjournalareallwaystosuccessfullyparticipateinclass.Atleasttwiceaweek,youwill
completeajournalentryinclassinyourcompositionnotebook.Thismayinvolveansweringaquestionposedin
class,participatinginaclassorgroupactivity,orrecordingyourthoughtsonaparticularsubject.
EXAMSANDQUIZZES:
Examswillcoverprimarilymaterialfromthesectionofthecoursethatprecedesit,thoughasthesemester
progresseslaterexamsmayalsocontainquestionsthatrequirethesynthesisofmajorconceptsfromearlier
sectionsofthecoursewiththosefromthemostrecentsegmentofthecourse.Thefinalexamwillthereforecover
materialfromthefinalsectionofthecourse,aswellasmajorconceptsfromthroughouttheentirecourse.Notify
meASAPifthereisadeathinthefamily,fire,caraccident,tornado,orebolavirusthathashityourhouseand
youcannotmaketheexam(withprooffromadoctor,scientist,ornewspaperarticle).Pleaseberesponsible.
EXAMCORRECTIONS:Anymissedquestionsonexamscanbemadeupforhalfcredit.Allcorrectionsmust
beturnedinwithinONEWEEKofreceivingthegradedexam.
LABWORK:
Wewillcompleteadetailedlabsafetyprotocolthefirstweekofclass.Inthemeantime,understandthatthisclassroom
isalsousedasalab,andthereforenofoodisallowed.Waterbottlesareallowedbutmustremainclosedduringlab
work.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) is the new standards being implemented by
SJUSD. We are in a transition year this year however, if you would like to preview NGSS please
link to http://www.nextgenscience.org or http://www.nsta.org/docs/NGSSParentGuide.pdf
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail or by phone at (408) 535-6270.
Please visit Bret Harte Middle School; A National Blue Ribbon School at our website
www.sjusd.org/bretharte

DearParentorGuardian,
Welcometoanewschoolyear!Thisisanimportantyearforyourchildsmiddleschooleducation.I
amlookingforwardtoworkingwithyourchild.Studentsatthisageshouldbeexpectedtobe
responsibleformanythingsthemselves.However,thisdoesnotmeanthatparentsandteacherscannot
helpthemmakeinformeddecisions.AttachedisinformationIhavediscussedwithyourchildandI
wouldlikeyoutoreaditoveranddiscussitwithhim/her.Hopefullythisinformationwillhelpyour
son/daughterhaveaverysuccessfulyear.
Parentteachercommunicationisimportanttoachildssuccessfulyear.Iwelcomeyourcallsandnotes
throughouttheyear.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsorconcerns,pleasefeelfreetoemailme(easiestwayto
reachme)orcallmeatschool.Myemailaddressisjpatton@sjusd.organdtheschoolnumberis408
5356270.Afterdiscussingtheattachedinformationwithyourchild,pleasesignatthebottomportionof
thispageandreturnittoschool.Thankyouforyourcooperation.
Sincerely,

Ms.JennaPatton
8 GradeScienceTeacher
th

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