Policies & Procedures

NILES WEST HIGH SCHOOL

Classroom Procedures

The following information describes classroom procedures and course expectations for students. Students are expected to review this information with their parents/guardians.

1. Attendance: Students are to follow the attendance procedures defined in the Student Handbook. Students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings. Students must avoid being tardy as this disrupts the learning of other students and will result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Handbook. Students who are detained by authorized school personnel must bring a pass to class.

2. Laboratory Safety: Students review and practice safety rules during all laboratory activities. Any student who willfully disregards these rules will receive a zero for that particular assignment and may loose lab privileges for the course.

3. Electronics: Screens shatter concentration. You may not have any electronic device powered on in the Science room unless directly instructed to do so. The instructor will confiscate devices used without permission and forward them to the Dean’s office by 4 p.m.

4. Textbooks: Texts are on loan from the school and must be cared for properly. Texts are to remain at home to minimize wear and tear on the book and on the student.

5. Materials: Students are expected to come to class prepared for learning. The instructor will not provide extra materials to students. Poorly prepared students may not disrupt the learning of peers. Please come prepared to engage in our daily battle of wits.

6. Extra Help: The instructor is available during 5th period, and before school in the Lit Center. Students are encouraged to ask for extra help with their course work as soon as they recognize difficulty in meeting published learning targets. Peer tutors and other science faculty are also available to assist students with their course work in the Literacy Center.

7. Make Up Work: Class time lost to illness or other excused absences is the responsibility of the student. Students who miss classroom deadlines will receive a mark of “Z” in the gradebook for that work. Students may submit late work and makeup quizzes and tests if their absence is recognized as an excused absence by the attendance office. Any student who fails to address missing assignments within three days of their return to class forfeits their right to make up those missing assignments.

8. Classroom Environment: Our classroom is a center of learning. The instructor will not tolerate discriminatory behaviors or language that exclude participation by any student. Please bring any concerns you may have to the attention of the instructor immediately.

9. Student Conduct: Physics is hard and you need to focus. Students who are off-task will be referred for disciplinary action as defined by school policy. If you’re having a rough day, you may request a one-time pass to your counselor’s office.

10. Course Grading Scale: All student materials are evaluated on a ten point Mastery scale as defined below. Gradebook entries reflect student progress on this scale.

11. Homework: Homework is cumulative and collected at the conclusion of instructional units. Students are responsible for keeping pace with their assignments. Students are responsible for seeking help as soon as they recognize difficulty in their understanding of homework assignments. Late homework is not accepted for credit.

12. Lab Work: Lab work develops key concepts under study. Student work in the lab is to be conducted in the manner described in lab instructions. Safety is a priority in all lab activities; students who endanger themselves or others may lose lab privileges for the course. Late lab work is not accepted for credit.

13. Quizzes and Tests: Specific learning targets defined in district curriculum documents are evaluated with announced in-class quizzes. There are no retake opportunities for quizzes. Rather, end of unit tests re-evaluate student learning on those same targets.

14. Grades: Semester grades are cumulative grades with homework weighted as 10% of the total grade value, lab work as 15% of the total, quizzes as 25% of the total and tests as 50% of the total. Point averages are updated regularly on the gradebook program.

15. Academic Integrity: Students who engage in any form of deceit jeopardize their standing in the class. Students will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Handbook for any classwork in question.

16. Communication: Students are encouraged to approach the instructor directly with any concerns about the course. Parents are also encouraged to contact the instructor as soon as possible with any questions or concerns regarding their student’s progress. The instructor can be reached by e-mail at neikor@d219.org or by phone at (847) 626-2791.

Thank you, Neil E. Koreman, NBCT , WFR