Home-School Communication

There is always a lot going on in CTE classes throughout the school year, and I make every effort to communicate with families as much as possible. Listed below are tools I use to get the word out about grading, assignments and celebrations.

Google Classroom - In an effort to go more paperless in the classroom, I will post nearly all of my unit resources on Google Classroom. Students may access these resources on their Chromebook/wireless device for use (and editing in the classroom) and/or print hard copies of them at home. In some instances, I will provide and manage hard copies of course materials, like safety quizzes, at school. Students can expect to submit some assignment electronically on Classroom.

TAC - Students and parents should review student progress a minimum of once a week. I typically enter the week's grades on TAC on Friday afternoons. Mid-term and report card grades should not be a surprise.

Remind - In the past I have used Remind as a method to communicate with students and families. Other platforms, however, can do much more. If students set their notifications on Classroom and/or if they follow me on Twitter, they shouldn't miss anything important.

Twitter - Follow our class on Twitter @Bo_Class_TMS for daily updates of what's happening in class and photographs of exemplary work. I do abide the "no publicity" list and never post a student's full name.

E-mail - Every Friday I broadcast out a "Week in Review" that summarizes the week's activities and previews activities for the week to follow. If you would like me to add you to the distribution list for the weekly blast, please contact me via email, and I'll get your name added.

Agenda & Engineer's Notebook - Students are encouraged to keep track of assignments in their student agenda. Students will also keep an engineering notebook (likely kept electronically starting this year) that will capture daily activities, notes and planning resources for each of the year's design challenges. Should a student miss a class period, they will need only ask a trusted classmate to share notes taken on the day he or she missed. I will communicate this early and often and will expect it accomplished independently.

Below, please find hot-links to syllabi for all classes I teach and the Parent Safety Letter & Shop Safety Pledge, the latter must be reviewed and signed before students are allowed to participate in shop activities.

Simply click the link to open the documents (PDF format), print, sign and return to the school.

CTE Elective Syllabus

LAB21 & Food Science Syllabus

Invention & Innovation Syllabus