LETTER OF EXPECTATIONS:

Welcome to the Liverpool High School Annex (LHX) and your first year of high school!  This is the start of your four years in high school and a new opportunity for each of you to excel in school, have fun with new and old friends, and focus on your future.  I am looking forward to working with you this year. I believe that an open line of communication between students, teachers, and parents is one way in which to assist students in their education.  Therefore, this information letter is intended to give you an understanding of what I expect from my students and how my class operates.

 

Grading Policy – Academic Classes

 

• Unit Tests (about 2 per quarter)                                   30% (of quarterly grade)

• Laboratory Reports (about 5 per quarter)                       30%

• Quizzes & Homework (about 15 to 20 per quarter)            30%

• Literacy & Current Events (1 per quarter)                        10%

 

Grading Policy – Honors Classes

 

1st, 2nd, and 4th Quarters

• Unit Tests (about 2 per quarter)                                  25% (of quarterly grade)

• Laboratory Reports (about 5 to 6 per quarter)                25%

• Quizzes & Homework (about 15 to 20 per quarter)           25%

• Literacy Assignment (1 per quarter)                              25%

3rd Quarter

• Symposium                                                            50% (of quarterly grade)

• Unit Tests                                                              20%

• Laboratory Reports                                                  20%

• Quizzes & Homework                                                10%

 

Lab Policy

 

• New York State Education Department requires that in order for a student to be eligible to take the New York State Earth science regents examination he/she must satisfactorily complete at least 1,200 minutes of hands-on laboratory time in addition to class time.  This equals 30 lab assignments at 40 minutes per lab.  If 30 lab credits are not accumulated by the last Monday of classes, the student will not be allowed to take the regents test.  Any laboratory report that is deemed unsatisfactory must be corrected and resubmitted before the end of the quarter the lab was performed in.

 

Homework Policy

 

• Practice assignments are due on the date given by Mr. Calderwood. Late homework will be accepted for partial credit if it is completed by the next time the class meets (prior to me handing back the graded assignment) or after school in the presence of Mr. Calderwood.

• If a student is absent when an assignment has been given, it will be the responsibility of the student to find out what was assigned and to complete the assignment by the next time his/her class meets.

 

Classroom Materials

 

You will need the following materials every day to be successful in this class:

• 3-ring binder (1.5-inch binder should work well) with 5 labeled tab dividers.  The binder should be divided into the following sections:

• Course information/Earth Science Reference Tables (ESRT)

• Unit Schedule and Packet

• Notebook or three-hole punched composition book

• Completed unit assignments (homework, quizzes)

• Unit exams for full year

• Pens and pencils

• Simple calculator (type that clips into 3-ring binder is a good idea!)

• Agenda book (provided for you by the district)

• Review book (provided for you by the district)

 

Office Hours

 

Generally, I am available for student help from 2:20 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.  These are also days that a late bus is provided for students staying after school.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read through this material.  I know that it seems like a lot to grasp but it opens up the line of communication between school and home.  After all, you and your parents are my clients and it is my intention to provide my clients with the best possible education for school and for life in general.

 

If you should have any questions or comments regarding this letter or your child’s progress at any time, please contact me at 453-1275 to schedule an appointment after school or email me at acalderwood@liverpool.k12.ny.us.  In addition, my website contains course information and can be found at http://teacherpages.liverpool.k12.ny.us/webpages/dcalderwood/.

 

Sincerely,

 

Andrew J. Calderwood

Earth Science Teacher