• Tardies:  When the tardy bell rings, anyone not in their assigned seat working on the day's bell work will be swept. If you are swept, you will receive detention for the next day. 

• Unprepared:  It is your responsibility to bring the appropriate materials to class. If for any reason you are unable or unwilling to participate in class activities in a productive manner, you will be marked unprepared. 

(My policy on sweeps and unprepared is clearly laid out above. If you have questions about why you were swept or marked unprepared you can come and ask me.  Trying to argue your case with the ladies in the office is most unproductive and will not excuse the consequences. The office ladies did not sweep you or mark you unprepared; I did.)

• Referrals are not handed out lightly. Unless the behavior warrants immediate removal from my classroom for safety reasons, a referral is generally a last resort. This means you have already received at least 2 warnings and have been given ample opportunities to correct the behavior. You claiming to not know why you received a referral will only strengthen the case that you are not paying attention.

• Passes are for emergencies. Blood, barf, and broken bones are emergencies; Any thing else can and should be taken care of during the passing period.

• Grades: I do not give grades in Science. I simply record the score you earned. The only guarantee I can offer is this; If you turn in every assignment done to the best of your ability, I guarantee you will not receive less than a C in my class.  

• Make up work after an absence is the responsibility of the student. One day leeway for each day absent will be granted starting the day of returning to class.

• Late work will be accepted up to 5 days at minus 10% for each day it is late.  For computer based assignments, a dated note must be turned into the homework bin to ensure retention of points. Mentioning it in passing will in no way be counted as turning in the assignment.

• Backpacks are to be left in your locker. 

• Cell Phones (As per new state law.) are not allowed in my classroom and should be left in your locker. Should you choose to ignore this procedure, you will be given one chance to turn off the phone and put it on my shelf. The student handbook policy (Pg 20) will be strictly enforced.

• Other Prohibited items:  Food, makeup, balloons, toys, perfume, hair brushes etc. will be confiscated and not returned.

• Weaponized items  including rubber bands, thumb tacks, needles, pins, spit wads, paper planes, or any other items that are being thrown, or used to poke, prod, or irritate another will result in an immediate referral.

• Computer use at school is monitored. There is no expectation of privacy when using the district network. Misuse of computers (as defined in the student handbook pg. 30)  in my room is not acceptable and will result in the loss of computer privileges.

• Cheating/Lying in any form is an unacceptable practice, especially in Science. Admitting mistakes and fixing them makes you smarter; claiming someone else's work just makes you a cheater. Remember, if you have integrity, nothing else matters; If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.

• Testing: As everyone deserves the same consideration while trying to concentrate on testing, the following procedures will be followed. During testing, each student is to sit up straight, face forward with both feet under the desk, and refrain from distracting others. Failure to follow procedure will result in a score of zero.