Ellenville Junior/Senior High School Science Department; Department Chair and Living Environment Instructor
SUNY UCCC Collegian Program Instructor; College Biology (BIO105/BIO106)
Ellenville High School National Honor Society; Faculty Advisor
Ulster County Bright Futures Initiative; Academic Mentor
Welcome to another great school year! Please feel free to contact me by phone or email.
Email: jschoonmaker@ecs.k12.ny.us
Phone: (845) 647-0200 ext. 500
Period 1 - Regents Living Environment
Period 2 - A/C: Regents Living Environment Lab B/D: Planning Period
Period 3 - Regents Living Environment
Period 4 - A/C: Planning Period B/D: Regents Living Environment Lab
Period 5 - Lunch
Period 6 - College Biology
Period 7 - A/C: College Bio Lab B/D: Regents Exam Prep
Period 8 - Department Chair
After school help and lab make-up is offered through the Extended Day Program in Room 435 after school.
Be on time.
Be prepared.
Be ready to work.
Organization is the key to success in any class I teach. Keep your notes in order, write down your assignments, STUDY, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
Living Environment: Generally, the only homework for this class will be to complete assignments that did not get finished in class. As long as class time is used wisely, there should be minimal work at home, however, if work is taken home, it is expected back at the beginning of the period the next day. One exception to this is STUDYING FOR EXAMS! Everyone can benefit from a little review the night or two before a test.
College Biology: Homework assignments are given out roughly once or twice per topic. Typically students have two days to complete assignments, unless otherwise discussed. All assignments are due upon entering class.
Living Environment
Participation (homework, classwork, notebook quizzes)...............30%
Lab Activities .......................................................................................30%
Chapter Exams & Projects .................................................................40%
Late assignments will have 5 points deducted for each school day after the due date. If there are extenuating circumstances, parents/guardians may contact me by email, or may contact your child's guidance counselor.
College Biology (for the HS transcipt grade)
Participation (homework, classwork, lab work) .................................30%
Topic Quizzes ..........................................................................................40%
Unit Exams, Lab Exam, Projects ............................................................30%
Students are allowed one late classwork/homework assignment per 5 weeks. Beyond that, late work will not be accepted. It is expected that all major projects will be completed on time and turned in at the beginning of the period due.
College Biology is also a part of the Collegian Program offered through Ulster Community College. Their policies and grading rubric are considered when calculating the grades for the UCCC course average. Please view the college's course syllabus for further details.
What is the SchoolTool Parent Portal?
Our Academic Management System, SchoolTool, offers the SchoolTool Parent Portal. Parent Portal gives parents access to monitor their children's progress in school and provides a way for parents to get secure online information about their children.
To register for the Parent Portal, please contact your child's main office.
Course Description: Regents Living Environment is a high school course designed to reinforce the foundation of students’ knowledge and skills acquired while in Middle School, that are necessary for studying science. From there, we will continue build new understanding and applications of concepts in the field of biology. Some of these topics include cells and their processes, reproduction of single- and multi-cellular organisms, modern and human genetics, human anatomy and physiology, evolution and ecology. Since all students working towards a NYS Regents diploma need to complete a minimum of one lab-science, most students will use this course to satisfy this requirement.
Course Description College Biology 1 and 2 and each dual credit courses where high school students can challenge themselves with the rigor of a college level course, but in the familiar high school setting. This course is run in conjunction with SUNY Ulster Community College, where students may opt to take this class for college credit (at a reduced fee) as part of the Collegian Program, but it is not required that they must do so. It is strongly recommended that students have taken Regents Chemistry prior to enrollment in College Bio.
In College Biology 1, students will be introduced to a wide variety of topics, including biochemistry and cellular metabolic reactions, methods of cellular reproduction, patterns of inheritance, modern genetics, and evolution.
In College Biology 2, students will study the diversity life on Earth, and the methods and mechanisms used to classify and identify organisms based on their evolutionary history.
Collegian Program Handbook
SUNY ULSTER Collegian Program Handbook and Registration Guide
Fall Semester: General Bio 1 (Bio105)
Spring Semester: General Bio 2 (Bio106)