For Parents

Welcome to Ms. Lucia's Life Science Classroom!!

I am thrilled to be starting my 9th year teaching science at SCA, and want to do everything possible to ensure that your daughter learns a lot of science, and has fun learning it. The world needs poets, musicians, business executives, lawyers, teachers and stay-at-home mothers, but while your daughter is in my class it is my sincere hope that she will, at least for a time, be able to imagine herself as a future scientist or health care provider. I also hope that she will work hard to learn the material, and enjoy the journey.

How can you support your daughter's learning?

• Make sure that she has all of the proper materials, including textbooks, lab notebooks, and other supplies. Since students will be unable to share supplies this semester/year, it is important that she have her own scissors, pens, pencils, highlighters, and sharpie markers. I am purchasing a touchless stapler for the classroom, and have a touchless pencil sharpener for student use as well. Each student will need their own safety goggles (must be purchased from the school to ensure that they meet regulations). I will provide each student with a small drawer--this can be used for personal supplies such as goggles, scissors, wipes, tape, etc if they wish.

• Ensure that your daughter comes to school prepared to learn outside. I have ordered a large rolling whiteboard so that I can take classes outside whenever the weather permits. This may mean sun, heat, bugs, damp grass, etc.

• Take a look at the information on the class webpages for your daughter's course for general information using the navigation bar on the left.

• As a parent you have access to your daughter's Google Classroom pages when she adds you to her account. Google Classroom codes are on each webpage. Assignments, announcements, worksheets, discussions and labs will be posted to the Google Classroom. You will also be able to see whether your daughter has turned in her assignments, as well as any comments I've added to her work. Grades will be transferred from Google Classroom to Powerschool as well.

• My classroom procedures are designed to prepare your daughter for college. This includes large projects that require time management skills, presentations that are improved with rehearsal, inquiry-based labs that develop problem-solving skills, and group work that requires teamwork and good communication. There should never be a time when your daughter has "no work" for my classes, since there is always something to read, study or review even if all assignments are turned in. It is my hope that your daughter develops a professional pride in her mastery of the material, and begins to see how it will help her with her future goals.

• Ensure that your daughter has a quiet, distraction-free place to study at home, and that she has a stable internet connection for online work. Help her make good choices with nutrition and get good sleep and daily exercise. All of these help make learning much more efficient and positive!

• Help your daughter prepare for quizzes. Ask for her science textbook and ask her the questions at the end of the chapter she is currently studying. As I plan my lessons, I deliberately use the questions within the chapters, but not those at the end. This way students always have access to a question bank for review.

• Encourage your daughter to be pro-active if she is struggling with the material. I am happy to help at school, by email, or even by zoom if she has questions or would like some support.

• Pray for an end to the Covid pandemic