Notes For Parents

Pre-Algebra Curriculum

Pre-Algebra is a Pre-AP Honors math course for seventh grade students.  The topics come from the formerly adopted GISD 8th grade curriculum.  This means that your child has actually skipped 7th grade math and has moved on to 8th grade math.  This also means that if your child misses a day of instruction, they are missing a lot.  Since the pace of this curriculum is fast-paced, it is advised that if you are going to take your child out of school for a doctor's appointment or a dentist appointment, you may wish to schedule the appointment at a time that does not force your child to miss their honors math class.

Pre-AP Honors Contract

All students enrolled in a Pre-AP Honors course, regardless of subject, will be asked to sign the "Greenville Middle School Honors Course Contract. noting that if they are not passing the the six-weeks check point, they will be placed on probation for the next three weeks.  If a student is failing at the end of the nine-weeks, the parent will be contacted by the teacher informing them of the recommendation that their child be reassigned to a regular math class.

Attendance

It is the policy of the GISD to record a GMS student absent if they miss twenty or more minutes of class.  However, extenuating circumstances will be considered.

Attendance for each class is taken once at five minutes after the tardy bill.  Contact the school secretary when you believe there is a mistake.

Make-Up Assignments

Students are expected to make up any assignments they have missed while absent from class.  According to the GISD School Board Policy, a student is "responsible for obtaining and completing make-up work in a satisfactory manner and within the time specified by the teacher."  A student who does not make up assigned work within three days upon the return to school will receive a grade of zero in the grade book.  However, the zero can be replaced with an actual grade upon submission of the assignment within the allowable deadline specified by the teacher.  Please note that there is a deduction of points for the late submission of assignments.

Homework

In the GMS Academic Guide, it specifically states that students in honors math classes should expect between three and our hours of homework each week.  Please note that the volume of homework in Pre-Algebra will be considerably less than stated in the guide.  However, students are expected to complete their homework assignments overnight and be ready to review it in class the next day.  All homework assignments will be collected, graded, recorded in the grade book, and returned to the student in a timely manner ... usually the next day.

Grading Policy

Homework may be submitted late provided it meets the deadline.  Final deadlines are at the end of each 9-weeks of the current academic year.  There will be a deduction in points for late submissions (beyond three days of the date of the assignment).

Students who receive a grade of less than 70% on a quiz or test may re-take it again within five days of the date of the assessment for a maximum grade of 70%.

Those students who do not finish their quiz or test by the end of the assigned class period will be provided with extended time to complete it.  Those students who choose not to use their extended time and leave their quiz or test uncompleted will find it graded as is and will not be permitted to resubmit their quiz or test for a re-evaluation.  The consideration for an exception and request for a resubmission due to very unusual circumstances will require a written explanation from the parent noting the unusual circumstances that may have occurred preventing their child from completing their quiz or test within the required time and deadline.

Grade Book

All parents are encouraged to monitor their child's grades throughout the school year.  One very effective way to do this is through the access of the teacher's grade book via Skyward found on the GISD website.  Access can be obtained by setting up a "user id" and a "password".  Please contact the school secretary in the GMS main office for more information.

Discipline

As stated in the GMS Academic Guide, students in a Pre-AP (Honors) class are expected to exhibit self-discipline.  Any time a student makes poor behavioral decisions and becomes disruptive in the classroom, that student is not only disrupting their own educational progress, but the educational progress of every other student in that same classroom.  Therefore, when a disciplinary incident occurs, the parent will be contacted (either by phone or by email) by the teacher and informed of their child's misbehavior.  Any child who continues to disrupt the educational progress of the other students in the class, after the initial parent contact, will be asked to report to the disciplinary officer for appropriate disciplinary action, including the possible removal from the classroom.

Conduct Grades

The symbols used for conduct grades in the grade book include E (Excellent), S (Satisfactory), N (Needs Improvement), and U (Unsatisfactory.  Any student who must be assigned a change in seating due to the continuous failure to behave may possibly receive an "N" in the grade book for the current reporting period.  Any student who must be removed from the classroom in order to remedy their disruption may possibly receive a "U" in the grade book for the current reporting period.

Calculators

Students are provided the TI-84 Plus CE calculator for use in the classroom.  Calculators may not leave the classroom.

Textbooks

A digital edition of the textbook is accessible to the student through the use of a "userid" and "password" provided by the teacher.

Restrooms

A student may be permitted to go to the restroom only during controlled times during the regular class period when it is an emergency.  Students are expected to take care of their personal needs during the four minute passing period.  Students who chronically repeat requests for use of the restroom will eventually be denied unless it is an approved accommodation.  Permission is typically denied during instruction.

Library

Student use of the school library is prescribed and assigned by the English/Reading/Language Arts teacher.

Lockers

Lockers are not available.

Back Packs

Students who wish to bring a back pack to school must adhere to the current GISD School Board Policies.

Schedule Changes

A student may initiate a request for schedule change during the second week of school and at the end of each 9-weeks grading period.  All schedule changes must go through the school counselors.  The counselor for seventh grade students is Mrs. Jimmerson and Mrs. Miller.

Partnership

The instructional process of your child is considered a partnership between the teacher and the parent.  Throughout the academic year, If for any reason you feel that there has been an error in judgement about your child's grade, or something is not right, please contact Mr. Mahrer immediately and express your concern.  It is promise that it will be fixed immediately.  R. Mahrer