Policies & Procedures

Classroom Rules and Procedures

Teacher: Mr. Nathan Gray

Mission Statement

Niles West High School is a safe, student-centered academic community that:

• creates opportunities for success

• inspires life-long learning

• values diversity and unity

• nurtures respect for self, others and its environment

The following information describes the classroom procedures and course expectations for students enrolled in this course. Students are expected to review this information with their parents and return the top sheet to the instructor.

1. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT: High school students are soon entering the adult world and will therefore be respected as young adults in my classroom. We will be developing our writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills here, and your enthusiasm, attention, and participation are necessary components to forming these skills. Hence, silence is forbidden; yet patience and respect for others is mandatory. Students are expected to not only learn from me; they must also reciprocate their learning by educating themselves, their fellow classmates, and their teacher.

2. ATTENDANCE: Observance of school policies is required of all students. Prompt and regular attendance is essential for quality achievement in this course.

3. CLASS MATERIALS: Each day the following materials are required: the assigned texts, a pen and pencil, and a notebook for class notes and journal writing.

4. HOMEWORK AND QUIZZES: Homework and quizzes comprise 50% of your grade. Be sure to turn in homework on time. If a student's work is lacking in some way, it will be the teacher's discretion to offer alternatives. Unannounced quizzes may be expected, especially when I sense that students are not completing assigned reading. PARTICIPATION will also factor into this grade and will constitute approximately 10% of your overall grade. Though participation is graded subjectively, I am looking for attentive listening, questioning, and contributing of pertinent information and knowledge.

5. TESTS: Tests will be clearly scheduled and will be based on all information studied since previous test. Tests comprise the other 50% of your total grade.

6. MAKE-UP PROCEDURES: The following is the District’s operating statement regarding test/project make-up: Details of each teacher’s test/project make-up policy shall be printed in each teacher’s course handout. Students and teachers may make alternative arrangements, with the best interest of the students in mind, if both are in agreement. Make-up work deadlines for lab class set-ups may require some modification. Teachers shall incorporate the following as part of their individual course/test project make-up policy:

a. Any student falsely claiming illness to avoid taking an examination or turning in a paper, project, report or take-home test is subject to penalty as stated in the Academic Dishonesty section of the Student Handbook.

b. If a test is missed due to an unanticipated absence on the day of the test only, the student should take the test by the end of the day upon which she/he returns.

c. If a test will be missed due to an extended unanticipated absence (two or more days), the student should be given the same number of days to make up the test as days missed.

· If a student is absent for three consecutive days including the day of the test, the student must take the test within three days of returning.

· If a student is absent from Monday through Wednesday, and the test is on Thursday the day the student returns to school, the student must take the test by the end of the day on Tuesday (following three days of grace) of the following week.

d. If a test will be missed due to routine doctor/dentist appointments or school-related activities (anticipated absences), the student should inform the teacher of the anticipated absence as far in advance as possible to facilitate the make-up on the missed test.

· A test missed due to a partial-day absence should be made up the same day of the absence, after school, if possible.

· A test missed due to a full-day absence should be made up by the end of the first day upon returning to school.

· For example, if a student is absent on Wednesday, the test should be taken on Thursday.

e. If a student is absent (unanticipated) on the due date of a long-term project (project assigned two weeks or more in advance), the completed project is due on the day of return to school.

f. If a student is absent (anticipated) on the due date of a long-term project (project assigned two weeks or more in advance), the completed projected is still due that day. Students should make arrangements for delivery with the teacher.

g. Suspensions (credit for work missed):

· Out of class assignments: During the suspension students will be expected to work on any assignment that can be completed out of class. Students on suspension shall call or write the teacher for assignments made during the period of suspension. All assignments are due on the day of return (or on the due date if later), and will be graded without late penalty.

· In class assignments: As a natural consequence of missing class, however, students on suspension will receive no credit for assignments completed during class for in-class participation points.

· Tests: Students will be allowed to take all tests and assessments given during the suspension on the day of their return, or at a later date with teacher approval. These assignments will be graded without late penalty.

7. GRADING SCALE:

A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% F = 59% and below.

8. EXTRA HELP: Students are encouraged to seek extra help by making specific appointments in sufficient time to complete assignment properly. English teachers are available in the ResourceCenter and the Writing Center at all times during the school day.

NOTE: these course procedures are subject to change as the semester progresses.

9. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: Students are expected to review and conform to the policy on academic dishonesty. (A copy also appears in the Student Handbook.) Academic dishonesty violations normally result in a grade of zero for the test or assignment and in some cases a mandatory conference with the parent(s) or guardian(s). A copy of the academic dishonesty report will be placed in the student’s temporary school files, which may result in loss of eligibility for the National Honor Society or other prestigious memberships, awards and scholarships.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty occurs when students obtain or assist others in obtaining credit for work which is not their own. Common examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to the following.

A. Using hidden notes, copying from another student or helping another student during an examination.

B. Giving test questions or answers to a member of a later class or receiving test questions or answers from a member of an earlier class.

C. Submitting another student’s work as one’s own.

D. Stealing or accepting stolen copies of tests or answer keys.

E. Stealing or copying another student’s written assignment, paper, project, or take-home test.

F. Permitting another student to copy one’s homework assignment, paper, project, report or take-home test.

G. Falsely claiming illness to avoid taking an examination or turning in a paper, project, report or take-home test.

H. Plagiarizing: Presenting material taken from another source without adequate documentation.

1. Failing to cite with quotation marks the written words or symbols of another author.

2. Failing to footnote the author and source of materials used in a composition.

3. Failing to cite research materials in a bibliography.

4. Failing to name a person quoted in an oral report.

5. Failing to cite an author whose works are paraphrased or summarized in oral or written work.

6. Presenting another person’s creative work or ideas as one’s own in essays, poems, music, art, computer programs or other projects.

7. Copying or paraphrasing ideas from literary criticism or study aids without acknowledgment.

I. Impersonating another student in taking an examination.

J. Changing answers and seeking credit on an examination after the examination has been graded and returned.

K. Changing grades in a teacher’s grade book.

L. Changing the results on performance examinations, e.g. Physical Education Fitness test.

M. Falsifying information for applications, i.e. college scholarships, National Honor Society, etc.

N. Utilizing computers and programmable calculators in violation of guidelines established by the teacher.

O. Utilizing professional help such as an author, expert or purchased service, in violation of guidelines established by the teacher.

NOTE: Studying with other students to prepare for class assignments or examinations is not academic dishonesty unless such actions are prohibited or limited by procedures established by the teacher.

PENALTY: Penalties are assigned for the semester in which the violations are committed. The penalties may include the following: a grade of zero for the assignment and parent notification; a failure for the marking period and parent notification; exclusion from courses with the Principal’s approval and a parent conference; or suspension from school. The seriousness of the infraction will determine the severity of the penalty.