Classroom Rules

Rules, Expectations, and Procedures:

• Be respectful. Be respectful to your classmates, to me, and to yourselves at all times. There should be no talking out of turn when I am speaking, no talking over each other, and no other distractions during instructional time. Be respectful by taking care of the classroom environment, including the classroom furniture and school property. 

• Be prepared. Come to class every day with your English materials and writing utensils. Being prepared also means having read the assigned readings and other assignments PRIOR to the start of class. Your Chromebooks MUST be charged before you come to class. 

• Be an active participant. Participation is an essential part of your education. Class is generally more fun (for you and for me) when students participate. Participation means asking questions, raising your hand, answering questions even when you are unsure, and contributing to class discussion. Sometimes extra points are given to those who participate in class.

• Be engaged. Be ready to learn, listen, and limit your distractions. No cell phones! We will have lots of in-class activities, including partner work and group projects, so it is important to stay engaged to work productively with your classmates. 

Tardy Policy: Students who are not in the classroom and in their assigned seats when the bell rings will receive a tardy. Students who must leave the room to retrieve materials from their lockers will also receive a tardy. You’ll get three tardies “for free.” All subsequent classroom tardies will result in an office referral. Students may use one of their allotted classroom hall passes to avoid being tardy. 

Hall Pass Policy: You are allowed three classroom hall passes per semester. During independent work time, you may ask to use one of your passes, no questions asked. This policy includes leaving class for the water fountain, locker, Chromebook, or restroom. 

Your three passes will renew at the beginning of the Spring semester, and you will receive all new passes. This policy reduces hallway traffic during class time and maximizes instructional time. Only one person is allowed out of the room at a time. As an incentive, you will receive two extra credit points per unused pass at the end of each semester! 

Cell Phones, Smartwatches, Earbuds, etc.: Your cell phone must be placed in the designated cell phone holder by the start of class. If you are using your cellphone during class, you will receive a referral. Additionally, any smartwatch you wear to class can be confiscated if it is an apparent distraction for you. Do not enter the classroom with earbuds in.

Food and Drink: No eating snacks in the classroom. Please refer to the student handbook for a complete understanding of all school rules of this nature as they apply to the classroom. 

Class Dismissal: Our class will run from bell to bell. I will dismiss the class at the close of each class— not at the bell. You are not to begin "packing up" toward the end of class and will not leave your seat or line up at the end of the hour. 

Digital Assignments: Many assignments will be posted on our Google Classroom page. Students must ensure their assignments are completed and submitted on time via the ‘turn in’ button in Classroom. Assignments not submitted via the turn-in button by the due date will be subject to point deductions. 

Chromebooks: Chromebooks and FCHS Google accounts are the property of Freeburg High School, not the individual student. It is important to understand that school Chromebooks are monitored with monitoring software. Students are expected to use their Chromebooks for educational purposes only. We will take most of our quizzes and tests on our Chromebooks as well. You should not use your Chromebook in class without my permission. I will always instruct you when it is time to use your Chromebook. When you walk into the classroom, check the displayed agenda to see whether you’ll be using your Chromebook. If you are not otherwise prompted, you should not have your Chromebook out. 

It is your responsibility to ensure that your Chromebook is charged before you come to school. If your Chromebook is dead when you need it in class, I cannot guarantee you will have access to the classroom loaners. You MUST ask permission before utilizing the loaner computers. I will sign the loaner out on a first-come, first-served basis. You must hand in your cell phone in order to check out a loaner. Repeat offenders may be required to use a loaner computer at the library.  

Academic Dishonesty: In essence, Academic Dishonesty means to cheat and includes any circumstance in which a student submits work that is not their own. This includes cheating on assessments and plagiarism in writing assignments. In this class, if you plagiarize or commit Academic Dishonesty, you will receive a zero on the assignment as well as a disciplinary referral. 

Regarding the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Submitting work that incorporates any form of generative AI without proper MLA citation is Academic Dishonesty. Unless explicitly instructed to do so, students may not use generative AI to complete any coursework for this course, including projects, papers, basic assignments, or assessments of any kind. If students submit work that contains generative AI content, they will receive a zero on the assignment and a disciplinary referral. 

Absent Work: 

• For excused absences (illness, appointments), the student will have one day, plus the number of days absent, to complete and submit missed assignments for full credit. If a student has an EXCUSED absence on a due date, the assignment is due the day the student returns. 

• When missing school due to a pre-arranged absence (doctors' appointments, field trips, sporting events, etc.), students should be sure to see me before or after class to pick up their work, ensuring they turn it in on time and avoid a late grade or falling behind in the class.

• If students are absent due to sports, vacations, or field trips, they are still responsible for school work and will be expected to take quizzes as scheduled on their return dates. 

Late Work: You will receive 50% credit for any assignment turned in one day late (24 hours past the due date). If you are completing a digital assignment for late (half) credit, you must leave a private comment on Google Classroom that says “turning in late for half credit.”

Class Calendar: You MUST check my classroom calendar (shared on my webpage and Google Classroom) to see what was covered in class while you were home/absent. I will refer you to the calendar, which shows the complete agenda for the day(s) you missed. 

Communication: It is very important that students check their email regularly. I also check my email regularly and will typically respond to parents and students within 24 hours, if not the same day. As high schoolers, students are encouraged to advocate for themselves and to initiate face-to-face conversations with me as much as possible. At times, it may be most appropriate to email to request a time to meet one-on-one to receive additional help or guidance.