Ms. Smartt's Biology Class

The answers to questions that you might have:

How do I contact you?  

• My e-mail is smartt@aps.edu.  I will check e-mail in the mornings and throughout the day.  Sometimes I can't reply back to you during the day because I am in class, but I will respond after school.  You can certainly e-mail me after hours, but know that I might not be able to get back to you until the next day.  

What if I was absent?  Log into your Biology Google Class and select the "Classwork" Tab.  Look under the Week that includes the day(s) you were absent.  The assignment AND the supporting information that you need in order to complete the work will be posted there.

What supplies do I need?  

• SPIRAL NOTEBOOK (single subject with 3 punched holes) 

• 3 RING BINDER (Small- 1 in.) or FOLDER (For Biology only!!- Dividers optional) 

• LOOSE LEAF PAPER 

• COLORED PENCILS (small box or just 10-12 colors in a "zip-lock" bag) 

•   You should also bring a PEN, PENCIL and HIGHLIGHTER to class daily. 

• If possible, 1 box of tissue or a roll of paper towels.

How do I know what my current grade is?  Your grade can be found in Student Vue.  I update grades every weekend.  You should check this every week because if you are missing work from the week before you need to get it to me the next week on order to receive full credit.

What do I do if I am missing an assignment?  If you see that you are missing an assignment in StudentVue,  take note of the assignment number, then go to the Google Classroom Classwork.  All assignments are posted there by week, date and assignment number.  Look up the assignment and complete it.  Then turn it into me in class.   Do not submit makeup work to the Google Classroom without sending me an email to let me know to look for it.  Please include the assignment number in your email.

What if I need a book to do my work? The textbook is posted in the Google Classwork. You will have to scroll to the bottom of the page  in the Classwork Tab.  You can also check out a Biology Book from the Media Center.

Do you have a syllabus?  Please scroll down for the Syllabus. It is posted below.

🙂

   Biology I -2025-2026

Course Syllabus and Classroom Expectations

Sabra Smartt     Lisa Sparks                Asmaa Shakir               

897-0110 x 40170   897-0110 x 440216       897-0110 x 

smartt@aps.edu   lisa.sparks@aps.edu                    504550@aps.edu

WEBSITE: cibola.aps.edu→Contact Us → Teachers or Special Education→ Name

Welcome to Biology!  I’m  looking forward to a great year and hope you are too!  Biology I is an introductory class in which we will be studying living things and the processes of life.  Since we are all living things, this is important information to know!  It is my philosophy that “teachers have the right to teach and students have the right to learn”.  As such, I will work to the best of my ability to help you learn the basic concepts of biology, utilize scientific methods in problem solving, acquire processing skills, and develop and practice safe laboratory skills through proper use of scientific equipment. You, however, are an important component of this process and I expect you to add to the learning community by not only following all class and lab safety rules, but actively participating in the learning process.  I believe that all of you can and will learn, and as such, a learning environment is our priority in this class.

STATE STANDARDS FOR BIOLOGY I:

Science course standards may be accessed through the NMPED website (see life science standards for specifics): http://www.ped.state.nm.us/ped/index.html.

1st SEMESTER GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE:  

• Themes of Biology (Ch. 1)

• Ecology (Ch. 2,4,5)

• Energy in a Cell (Ch. 9)

• Chemistry of Life (Ch. 6)

• A View of the Cell (Ch. 7)

• Homeostasis (Ch. 8)

2nd SEMESTER GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE: 

• Cell Cycle (Ch. 8)

• Mendelian Genetics (Ch. 10)

• DNA and Genes (Ch. 11)

• Human and Applied Genetics (Ch 12-13)

• Evolution (Ch.14-15)

• Organizing Life’s Diversity Ch. 17)

TEXT: Biology: The Dynamics of Life: Glencoe.  You should check out a book from the Media Center and take it home to help you with your assignments.  The textbook is also available in the Google Classroom, under the Classwork tab (scroll to bottom of page).

GRADING POLICY: You earn your grade by demonstrating mastery of course material through a variety of written assignments, labs and tests.  Each semester is divided into two quarters. Grades shown on each report card will be cumulative.  For example, the 2nd report card will show the combined grades of Quarter 1 and Quarter 2.  Final examinations will count 20% of the semester grade.  Material mastered will be reflected in point scores on the following scale:

A  90-100      B  80-89      C  70-79      D  60-69      F  below 60

Homework—34% Labs/Projects—33% Tests/Quizzes—33%

HOMEWORK & MISSED WORK:   If you are absent the day an assignment is due, the assignment will be accepted on the next scheduled class day upon your return.  You will be granted a time equal to that of the absence to make up missed work.  It is your responsibility to obtain missed assignments and make an appointment with me to make up missed labs, activities or tests!!  You can find your missed assignments in Google Classroom under Classwork.  You should check your Student Vue regularly to see if you are missing something.

NOTEBOOK:  You should keep your notes and assignments organized.  This will aid you in studying for chapter tests & final exams, and will help you to keep track of your assignments.  Dividers are not required, but might be useful for organizing work by chapters/units.  It is required that notes are taken in your spiral notebook, which should be kept in the front of the 3-ring binder.  Portions of the notebooks may be graded periodically.

OFFICE HOURS:  I am available every day after school until 3:40. By appointment, I will meet with you before school or during lunch.  You may feel free to use this time to make up quizzes, labs, get help on assignments, or discuss any concerns they may have.

TARDIES & PASSES:  We start class right away and it is important for you to be on time in order to hear the directions for the day. It is hard to do well in class if you don’t know what to do, so be on time! 

Passes will not be issued on A or B days, as we will be having a 5-7 minute break in E-Hall as a class to use the restroom or get a drink of water.  Break is limited to the E-Hall Bathroom by Autos and the water fountain by our classroom.  Passes on C days are only for emergencies.  You may not take your phone and need to be back within 7 minutes.  If you abuse the “Break” rules or emergency passes those privileges will be taken away.

ATTENDANCE:  Being in class is one of the greatest factors in student success.  It is therefore extremely important that you attend class regularly.  

SUPPLIES:

• Spiral Notebook (single subject with 3 punched holes)

• 3 Ring Binder or folder (for Biology only!!- dividers optional) 

• Loose Leaf paper!!!!!

• You should bring a pen, pencil, and highlighter to class daily.

• 1 box of tissue or a roll of paper towels 

• Optional:  Colored pencils (I have some, but you might want your own)

Supplies due Monday __________________

Classroom Expectations

• Be on time and in your assigned seat, ready to work, as soon as you come in.  Remain working throughout the period until I dismiss you.  If you are late, not working, or are disruptive during class, you will be assigned lunch detention, will receive a written referral, or will be escorted to the office, depending on the severity of your disruption.

• Be prepared for class.  Bring your biology binder/folder & spiral and all of your supplies every day (paper, pen, pencil, and highlighter).

• Put away prohibited materials during class (in your backpack). This includes personal electronic devices, food, drink, gum, and earbuds.  Electronic devices are distracting to the learning environment and food and drink can be dangerous in a laboratory situation (you may have a bottled beverage, with a lid, on days when we do not have a lab).  You will be asked to throw out your gum.  Prohibited items will be confiscated and given back at the end of the class period.  Repeated infractions will result in the item being confiscated and given to an administrator. A parent must then be present to retrieve the item. It is your responsibility to keep your PED’s put away in a safe place as security will not come into the classroom to search for missing electronics, nor am I allowed to search personal property without permission.

• Respect your surroundings!  Please clean up after yourself and take care of the property in the room.  Destruction of property (including writing on desks) is vandalism, and will result in a written referral or an immediate visit to the office.  You may be held financially responsible for damages.

• Respect and be considerate of all creatures.  Be respectful of your classmates, teachers, substitute teachers, guest speakers and classroom animals and plants!  Improper behavior includes, but is not limited to, name calling, mean comments, and disrupting others.  Live animals and preserved specimens should be treated as a learning tool, not something to be tortured or unnecessarily “experimented” with.  I expect a polite and considerate environment in which we can all learn.  Disregard of the above mentioned will result in loss of lab credit, lunch detention, or an office referral, depending on the infraction.

• Follow all lab safety rules and procedures.  Unsafe lab activity or misuse of specimens, alive or preserved), will result in the student losing credit for the lab.  Further infractions will result in a discipline referral and/or a parent conference. 

Lab Safety Rules

1. Never perform any activity that is not authorized or supervised by the teacher.

2. Follow safety procedures.  You will be instructed at the beginning of each laboratory period, as to the potential dangers that may be encountered and the proper precautions that are required to eliminate or reduce such hazards. Keep in mind how to use and locate all safety equipment (i.e., fire extinguisher, safety shower, first aid kit, eyewash, etc.)

3. Become familiar with the instructions of laboratory procedure prior to the initiation of any related activity. Read all directions for the experiment at least two times. Ask questions if you don't understand any part of the directions. No changes from the instructions are allowed without permission from the teacher.

4. Do not use equipment without knowing the operating instructions or without having specific permission from the teacher (i.e., Bunsen burner).

5. Don’t eat, drink, chew gum or apply cosmetics in the laboratory (can make you sick).  

6. Dress appropriately- closed toe shoes, full shirts, tie hair back, etc.  (Think of chemical burns on skin, hair on fire, or ruined outfits). Ask for an apron/hair tie if you need it. 

7. Wash your hands after every lab- no matter what! Use the paper towel that you dried your hands with to clean up the sink area if you made a mess.

8. Don’t be careless. Such behavior in a laboratory can cause accidents. Horseplay, teasing, loud talking or tossing objects is not allowed.

9. Put away all personal possessions such as PED’s, books, coats, and papers that are not related to the laboratory procedure.

10. Never reach over a Bunsen burner, chemical reagents or other laboratory equipment.

11. Dispose of lab chemicals and specimens according to the teacher 's direction.  If you don’t remember what to do, ask! 

12. At the completion of the laboratory period or when an experiment is complete, return

all equipment to proper storage and clean your work area.

Cibola High School

Electronic Device Policy

2025–2026

Cibola High School is committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and

inclusive learning environment. Our policies are designed to support student growth, uphold community standards, and ensure a positive educational experience for all. Additionally, CHS is

committed to maintaining a focused, face-to-face learning environment. To support this, the use

of personal electronic devices is restricted during instructional time.

📱 General Guidelines

Devices shall be kept out of sight and powered off or silenced during the school day and during

any school-sponsored activity, meeting or practice held on Albuquerque Public Schools property,

Including:

● Class

● Drills/emergencies

● Devices not allowed in hallways/passing periods at any time.

● No devices in private areas (locker rooms, bathrooms, etc.)

Use is only allowed during:

● Students may use such devices during their lunch period.

● The student is using the device for an educational or instructional purpose with the

                 teacher’s permission and supervision.

⚠️ Enforcement Procedure

● Violations: Unauthorized use may result in confiscation and disciplinary action.

■ 1st Violation: Redirection/Verbal warning from Teacher and Staff; “power off

                and put away”; communication logged in Synergy

■ 2nd Violation: Phone Confiscation, student must retrieve device from the

               front office end of day; failure to relinquish electronic device, e.g. cell phone,

               air pods,etc. will result in disciplinary action.

■ 3rd Violation: Phone Confiscation, electronic device will be released to a

               parent in the front office; failure to relinquish cell phone will result in

               disciplinary action.

Name__________________________________               Per. _______

Smartt: Biology I: 2025-2026

Course Expectations and Lab Safety Contract

By signing this contract, I acknowledge that I have received and have carefully read Ms. Smartt’s Syllabus Course Expectations and Cell Phone Policy for Biology I.  I agree to abide by the contents, and will accept the listed disciplinary actions if I do not follow the rules.  I further agree that I will:

1. Follow all written and oral instructions given by the teacher.

2. Ask questions, or state concerns before beginning a lab procedure.

3. Behave in a manner that will ensure the health and safety of myself and others in the laboratory or classroom at all times.  This includes not throwing things in the classroom.

4. Use protective devices for my eyes, face, hands, body and clothing during laboratory activities.

5. Know the location and use of first aid and fire extinguishing equipment.

6. Refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum or applying cosmetics in the laboratory.

7. Wash my hands after performing a laboratory activity.

8. Refrain from participating in horseplay or “dares” during laboratory activity.

9. Keep my work area clean and free of clutter during lab class.

10. Clean my lab area and equipment upon finishing my laboratory activity.

11. Keep my personal electronic devices put away and secure to avoid theft or damage.

I understand and realize that many accidents are caused by carelessness and being in a hurry.  I will come to class prepared to be responsible so that the safety and welfare of myself and others is not jeopardized.  I also understand that I am responsible for the security of my PED’s.

I have read the set of written science safety rules prepared by my teacher (in above document and Safety Lab) and agree to follow these and any other rules.  

_________________________________      _____________________

               Student Name (Printed)                          Class Period

_________________________________       ____________________

                   Student Signature                                          Date

Parents:

I have carefully read and discussed Ms. Smartt’s Course Expectations, Lab Safety Rules and Cell Phone Policy with my child.  I understand that my child is responsible for following all of the rules outlined in the aforementioned document.  

_________________________________         _________________________

               Parent Name (Printed)                 Best contact number(s)

_________________________________           ________________________

       Parent Signature                                             Date