Welcome to Ms. Taylor-Garcia’s class.

Parent/Guardian and Student: Please read this document carefully, as these will be the policies for the entire school year. You will want to be familiar with them if a problem ever arises. If there are any questions, please feel free to e-mail me.

Contact information:

Email address: stephanietaylor@alpinedistrict.org Website address: staylorgarcia.weebly.com

Office hours:

Room C244

Wednesday through Friday 2:15 PM to 2:45 PM

Remediation hours:

Room C244

Tuesday and Thursday 2:15-2:45 Wednesday and Friday 7:20-7:40

Attendance and Skills:

This class will adhere to Westlake High School’s Attendance Policy. Please refer to the Student

Handbook for an updated version of the Attendance Policy.

Please make arrangements with the teacher if you are absent on a test/quiz. It is the student’s

responsibility to come get missed work from the teacher or to go on the website to see what

he/she missed and what was handed in during class.

All students are expected to actively participate in class. Mature discussions, questions and

debates will take place in class and all students will be expected to participate. Skills includes

coming to class on time; having assignments neat, presentable and turned in on time; having

the needed materials for class; taking active notes, and participating in class discussions.

Welcome to Ms. Taylor-Garcia’s class.

Grade Scale

Student work will be graded on a weighted point and percentage scale. All grades are electronically calculated by Skyward, where students and parents will be able to see their present grade as it is entered.

The grade scale is as follows:

100-94 A 79-77 C+ 63-60 D-

93-90 A- 76-74 C 59-0 F

89-87 B+ 73-70 C-

86-84 B 69-67 D+

83-80 B- 66-64 D

Grades will be updated at least once a week online. Each day, students will receive Participation Points (10% of overall grade)

o 5 points for being in class on timeo 5 points for daily silent reading—20 minutes at the beginning of class.o 5 points for adhering to class rules (cell phone rule included)o 5 points for participation in class activities and following instructions

These points cannot be made up. Students must be in class on time each day to receive full points. However, if the student has an Excused Absence, he/she will not be penalized for that/these days.

Late Work

Work is late the day after it is due (except if previously discussed with the teacher). The 50% will be taken from the score once the assignment is graded. For example, if you earned a 15/20 on the assignment, it will be reduced 50% to 7.5. Late work is graded as I get to it. Priority always remains with the work turned in on time. It may be a few weeks before late work is entered into the computer. If you want it on your grade, turn it in on time.

Any late work is automatically 50% off and cannot be remediated for more points.

Welcome to Ms. Taylor-Garcia’s class.

No late work will be accepted the last week of each quarter! No late work will be accepted after the deadlines

o Term 1: Sept 15th and Oct 11tho Term 2: Nov 21st and Dec 12tho Term 3:Feb 6th and Mar 9tho Term 4: April 27th and May 24th

If the student is absent, he/she is responsible to contact me as soon as possible to make arrangement with me regarding missing assignments. Failure to do so will result in the work being considered late.

NOTE: Because we are on a block schedule, you have ample time to come get any missed work. There really is no excuse for not being prepared everyday. If you miss class on Monday, you can come in to see what you missed on Tuesday, and be prepared for class on Wednesday. Be sure you check the website for any upcoming assignments and due dates. The weekly syllabus will be listed there as well. You can also e-mail me and I can usually send some of the assignments over e-mail. You have plenty of resources to complete your work on time. If there is a pop quiz on the day you come back, you are responsible to take that quiz. You are expected to be prepared for class every day regardless of your attendance on a previous day.

Mastery of Concepts Students must demonstrate mastery of the concepts taught over the course of a unit by

earning 70% or higher on each assessment (including tests, quizzes, essays, projects, presentations.)

Students will be able to remediate the assessment in class.  o “Remediation” means revise an essay, retake a test, participate in re-teach,

complete an extra assignment, or engage in other activities as determined by the teacher.

o Remediation will result in ½ the points missed added to the original score, up to the minimum mastery (70%).

Extra Credit

Extra credit is only available when all assignments have been turned in.

“A word in the hall, please!”

I do not believe that it is proper to approach any student about any behavioral issue, concern, etc. that I may have in front of their peers. It may happen that I ask you to come talk to me in the hall during the year if I need to talk to you in private.

Welcome to Ms. Taylor-Garcia’s class.

Likewise, if you need to communicate with me about any sensitive issues, whatever it may be, do not hesitate to ask me to step in the hall with you at a convenient time to talk.

Cell Phones:

Cell phones will not be allowed in the classroom except for emergencies or classwork. Cellphones will need to be turned off and in backpacks each day as the students enter the

classroom. No snapchats, videos, etc. are allowed in the classroom unless permission as been given. If students expect an important call or text, they need to let me know. They will be

allowed to step out of the classroom to answer it.

Class rules:

Be Respectful

We show respect to the teacher or any other presenters who come into our classroom.o All electronic equipment will be used at appropriate times o All homework from other classes will be left in a locker or a backpack. o Sleeping is done at home, so you can show respect to a presenter (including

your teacher) We show respect to one another by using positive language. We show respect by obeying all school rules and classroom rules.

o No hatso No bare bellieso No bare shoulderso No visible underwearo All other rules listed in the student handbook apply in this class.

We are responsible for our own learningo Prepared with homeworko Coming to class on timeo Finding out what any missed work iso Turning in missed work o Following all procedures in classo We are responsible for protecting the rights of otherso If someone is being left out, we include themo We don’t giggle at someone’s opiniono We don’t use harsh words to respond to another’s opiniono We use Civic Dialogue when discussing differences

Be kind. It is easy to be mean or to make snide remarks. In our efforts to become better scholars and individuals, “Laziness will simply not do!” (Robin Williams).

Welcome to Ms. Taylor-Garcia’s class.

Come to class on time and prepared to work and to learn (see Late Work section).

Believe in yourself and Do not be afraid of challenges because you will be challenged!

The “Human” Clause:

If special or unusual circumstances arise, please immediately communicate with me. I will work with you. However, these issues should be discussed privately and at an appropriate time. DO NOT interrupt class time to have these discussions, if possible!

Welcome to Ms. Taylor-Garcia’s class.

Please read, sign, and return ONLY this part of the disclosure. Keep the rest of it for your records.

I have read and understand the content of this disclosure document.

Class Period_________ Date__________

______________________________________________________________________________

Student Name (please print) Student Signature

______________________________________________________________________________

Parent Name (please print) Parent Signature

FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS:

If necessary, how can I best contact you?

Daytime # ___________________Email____________________________________

Any special concerns I need to be aware of?