Be Respectful

Show respect to yourself, your classmates and your teachers by always
treating people with kindness and understanding, even in times of disagreement.
Show respect for your workspace by keeping materials clean, organized, and in the correct place.

Be Responsible

Show responsibility by being prepared and on time for class each day.

Communicate with your teachers frequently, especially if you need help.
Manage your time wisely to ensure that you meet deadlines and expectations.

You are responsible for your own success, your grades, and your behavior. 

Be Safe

Engage in safe behavior by exercising self-control and common sense.
Actions that put yourself or others at risk are not permitted. Ever.
If you are working online, stay safe by not revealing too much personal information,
especially to people you do not know in real life.

If someone is making you feel unsafe online or in class, communicate this with Ms. Wexler immediately.

Always give your best efforts

We all mess up sometimes, and that is okay.
What's not okay is not trying.

Everyone has something that they are insecure about.
In fact, according to several psychological studies, public speaking is the #1 fear in America.
(Even more than heights or spiders!)
Instead of giving up, make it a goal to tackle that fear.
By the end of the semester, most students who take Theatre Arts or Speech & Debate
say that they feel more confident speaking
in front of a crowd than they did when they first started.

Part of the creative process is understanding that the more you practice a skill, the easier it becomes.

All classwork, deadlines, project instructions, etc. will be posted to the class page on Google Classroom. 

Assignment deadlines are automatically entered into Google Calendar,
which students can access by logging in using their HCBOE email address and password.

Students and their parents/guardians should keep up with grades via PowerSchool.
Ms. Wexler does not use the Gradebook function of Google Classroom.
PowerSchool is the only place where official grades are posted.

The ONLY reason that someone has ever failed Theatre Arts was because of excessive missing work.

Simply put, turn in your assignments on time.
If you miss class, it's up to you to make up your assignments as soon as possible.
Each day's assignment is posted in the Slides deck at the top of your "Classwork" tab on Google Classroom.

I get it.  Things happen sometimes.
If need be, I will work with you regarding deadlines.

In return, I ask for you to communicate problems as they happen.
Do NOT wait until you're severely behind in class to say something.

But after a certain point, we need to move on.
See below for the hard deadline dates.

I'm also a big fan of letting students redo classwork assignments.
Again. Things happen.

Did you get a classwork grade that you're unhappy with?
Ask to redo the assignment.
Classwork assignments are designed to assess your knowledge of a subject.
I would rather you try again instead of settling for a bad grade.

Projects and presentations are a little different.
They are designed for you to creatively apply the skills that we work on in class.

The only assignments that you are unable to redo or turn in late without penalty are
group assignments and live, in-class presentations.
This is unfair to the other students in the class who managed their time wisely.

I am here to help you, but I cannot help if I'm not informed.
Communication is vital.

My email address is wexlerg@hcboe.net.

Theatre Arts

Theatre Arts is a fine arts elective that is available to all students. Whether you have been performing since you were a kid or you are just looking to try something new, you can find your place in Theatre Arts. This is a mixed level class, meaning that students who are brand new will be learning and performing alongside classmates who have taken Theatre Arts before. 

Students will regularly perform memorized scripts onstage. Sometimes, students will perform on their own, but other times, they will work with a group or a partner. Students also practice behind-the-scenes theatre skills, like directing, script writing, stage makeup, lighting design, costume design, scenic design, prop construction, and more. To see how a live theatre production comes together onstage, the Theatre Arts classes take a field trip  each semester to see a local show.

At the end of the semester, the students' final exam is to perform short scenes in the
East High auditorium for an audience of family, friends, teachers, and community members.

Speech & Debate

Ms. Wexler coaches the competitive acting, public speaking, and debate team at Morristown East.
The team meets after school on Mondays until 4:30 PM, but enrolling in the class allows students to connect with their teammates, share ideas, and receive feedback from multiple people.
Because students are required to participate in weekend tournaments, the Speech & Debate class is
limited to students who have shown a drive to compete and improve themselves as performers, speakers, and debaters.

In class, students have time to prepare their competition pieces, collaborate with their peers, and receive critique on their performance. In addition to competition prep, students use class time to connect and
respond to contemporary issues, thus strengthening their critical thinking and argument skills.