We expect that all of the students in this core will act in a way that promotes excellence. This means that students will come to class prepared to learn and prepared to do their best. Regular attendance is a must. While in class, students will treat the classroom and everyone in it with respect. While in this core, students will remain a Film Academy Student in Good Standing.

A Film Academy Student in Good Standing:

• Attends field trips consistently

• Passing all core classes with a “C” or better.

• Regular attendance in class and is punctual.

• Completes and meets deadlines for the Junior and Senior Project.

If these requirements are not met, a meeting will be held to discuss your future in the Film Academy.

Film Academy adheres to all Rancho Cotate High School Rules including:

• LATE WORK: To receive any credit it is the student’s responsibility to make-up classwork, homework and tests missed due to an excused absence by the next class meeting.
• GUM may not be seen or heard by teachers. Gum must be disposed of properly.
• PLAGIARISM is a serious offense and school policies will be directly enforced. Assignments and/or essays with excessive amounts of copied content will receive ZERO points. While students may work with classmates to learn the material, they are still expected to complete the tasks independently from each other. Any extra credit assignment with copied content will not be considered for credit.
• PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (cell phones, ipads, laptops, etc) are not required during class. If the student decides to bring any valuable possession into the classroom, it is not the instructor’s responsibility to ensure the safety of these items. If this item is stolen, lost or anything else happens – it is not the school’s or instructor’s responsibility. The student has chosen to bring these items into the class and therefore is taking the risk of something happening. If you need to contact your son/daughter, please call the school.

FIELD TRIP EXPECTATIONS

• You will dress appropriately. Film Academy shirts will be worn on all field trips. No shorts unless stated ahead of time. You will behave in an adult manner. Remember, you are representing yourself, Film Academy, Rancho Cotate High School and Rohnert Park, California.

• PERMISSION SLIPS, PRE-ASSIGNMENT AND MONEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED ON THE DAY OF THE FIELD TRIP. If you fail to turn in these items by the due date (typically 2 days before trip), you will be staying behind and there will be an alternate assignment due that day – this includes sickness, doctor’s appointments, etc. Students will ride the bus to and from the field trip unless all the necessary paperwork is turned in to ride with a parent a week before the day of the field trip. Students attending field trips are required to complete an accompanying assignment. We expect all students to attend the field trips to enhance their learning experience. The field trip experience and assignments will be part of their core grade.

Tardy Policy

• We will be following the RCHS tardy policy. Please refer to the RCHS web page for more information (rchs.crpusd.org).
• Prepared to learn includes: pen, pencil, paper, required classroom materials and punctuality (not tardy).

Projects include producing a live news broadcast, a marketing campaign for a school event or local business, and a 3-5 minute short film or documentary for the annual Film Festival. If these requirements are not met, a meeting will be held to discuss your future in the Film Academy.

Film is designed with success in mind.

Throughout the year the Film Academy teachers will be showing films and clips of films that enhance understanding of curricular content. Some of these films are rated R and we request your permission to show these films in class. If you do not give permission for your student to watch films in class, we will make every effort to provide alternative assignments on the day the film is shown. We can promise you that we will not view films in class that contain gratuitous depictions of sex or violence. However, some of the topics that we cover in our classes throughout the year such as slavery, war, and political conflict contain mature themes.

If you would like to discuss the film policy, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Throughout the year the class will walk over to Sonoma State University, University Square and the Wolf Den. The purpose of these walks is to extend the classroom into the community and visit businesses that are involved in the film sector.

We will visit area bakeries, coffee houses, restaurants and businesses to discuss facilities use in the film industry. We will also visit the KRCB to observe a professional public TV station.

All school rules will be followed during any field trip.