COURSE DESCRIPTION
(HS150) FRESHMAN SEMINAR 0.5 Freshman seminar is a directed study hall course offered to all freshmen in lieu of a study hall. This course is designed to support freshmen students in meeting social, emotional, and academic success by focusing on and developing students’ personal goals and a connection with the community. Any freshman desiring a study hall will be placed into this class. Any freshman failing a course(s) during the second semester will be assigned to this course for support.
Kearsarge Regional High School
COURSE SYLLABUS
2023-2024
Instructor: Mme. Twombly Course: Freshman Seminar
email: gtwombly@kearsarge.org
Brief Course Description: This course is designed to support freshmen students in meeting social, emotional, and academic success by focusing on and developing students’ personal goals and a connection with the community.
Course Work: This course will include but is not limited to items such as: personal reflections, discussion, guest speakers, field trips, activities, participation, whole and small group work and a student directed community project.
Course Competencies:
First Year Seminar
A
Successful Transition to High School
B
Self-Awareness and Self-Advocacy
C
Community and Social Awareness
Successful Transition to High School: Students will be able to demonstrate the skills and strategies needed to navigate the culture of high school life successfully.
Self-Awareness and Self-Advocacy: Students will be able to monitor their academic growth and develop, reflect on, and accomplish personal goals.
Community (Social Awareness): Students will be able to contribute to the school and larger community through guided outreach, partnerships, and service learning
21st Century Learning Expectations
Initiative and Productivity: This category represents students’ skills in time management, independence, production of high quality work, positive attitude, engagement, rigorous goal setting, and perseverance in learning.
Responsibility and Accountability: This category represents students’ skills in promoting and exhibiting appropriate conduct as outlined in the student handbook and classroom policies, and demonstrating respect and involvement for school, local, national, and global community issues.
Collaboration: This category represents students’ skills in consistently and actively working towards group goals by contributing knowledge, opinions, skills, and advocacy for self and others in a positive manner; it also reflects how students value and encourage the opinions and contributions of the other group members.
Student Learning Expectations and Core Competencies:
Upon Completion of the course students will be able to:
Civic and Social Expectations:
Students accept diversity and individual rights
Students demonstrate respect and consideration for themselves, others, personal and public property, and the environment
Students accept responsibility for their actions
Students advocate for themselves and for the rights of others
Students exhibit academic and social integrity
These indicators will be assessed through the following techniques:
Students meet classroom expectations as stated in the agenda and course syllabus.
Students’ ability to handle himself/ herself/ themselves during oral presentations both as a presenter and as an audience member.
Behavior and attitude while on “field trips” and outings
Student exhibits self-advocacy practices
Student exhibits a courteous and respectful manner with self and others
Grading: PASS / FAIL
Classroom Policies:
Attendance/Tardy – Students are expected to be in school and in class on time.
Please see the student handbook for more information grading tardiness to school and classes.
Classwork/ Homework Policy – classwork and activities are part of the course and all students are expected to participate and will be marked as complete or incomplete. If there are activities that require more time/ they can be given as homework and will be assessed the same way as classwork.
Late Work / Missing Work - If a formative assignment is late, the student and teacher will need to communicate about why it is late to determine if there is help needed or if it is an issue with work habits and/or study skills. Formatives are accepted for credit up to two days following the designated due date.
The following practices are based upon this premise:
Whenever a student is absent excused, he/she/ they has one day per day of excused absence to make-up for the missed work. Students will not be academically penalized for late work resulting from an excused absence.
All missing schoolwork associated with an incomplete grade must be submitted within ten (10) school days of the close of grades during the quarter in which the incomplete status was issued.
The student has the right to make up any work missed for a grade. The student must have arrangements made with his/her teacher(s) the day he/she returns from his/her excused absence. This should take place outside of class time.
Student Commitment: Students are to arrive to class on time and be prepared with materials for class.
Students should schedule a meeting with me immediately following an absence of more than one day or if extra help is needed. Do not hesitate to schedule an appointment, I am here to assist! All students should follow school rules and treat others with respect.
Leaving Class: No leaving the room without a signed pass. Students will be allowed to sign-out to use the bathroom for emergencies only. Passing time should be utilized for using the restrooms in-between classes.
Special Classroom Rules:
NO cellular phones or text messaging in class! (All phones are the responsibility of the student and will be stowed in the clear plastic holder next to the whiteboard unless otherwise instructed! )
All students should come to class with something to read at all times. This reading material will be something that is not accessed through technology.
No MEALS will be eaten in the classroom (unless provided by the teacher)
Plagiarism: The Kearsarge Regional School District requires academic integrity of its students. Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses. Plagiarism is using another’s work as your own without giving proper credit. NOTE: Any senior who violates the academic honesty procedure will not be exempt from taking final examinations.
1st Offense: The work will receive a zero and not be remediated. There will be a meeting between student, teacher and administration.
2nd Offense: The work will receive a zero and not be remediated. A meeting between parent, teacher and administration and possible loss of leadership position(s). Possible disciplinary consequence as determined at the discretion of administration.
Further Offense(s): Students will lose consideration for school awarded scholarships and scholastic awards. Possible disciplinary consequence as determined at the discretion of administration.
Note: Students will be asked to place their cell phones and/or electronic devices in an assigned location within the classroom before each summative assessment or standardized test/state exams. Students who refuse to place their cell phone and/or electronic device in the identified classroom location will receive a zero on the evaluation and be sent to the main office. Students who are found in possession of, or using cell phones and/or other electronic devices during a summative evaluation will also receive a zero on the assessment. Students who are found in possession of or using a cell phone during a standardized test/state exam will be issued a five-day out-of-school suspension.
Citing Resources: (there is additional information in the student handbook/ agenda)
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Appropriate Behavior -- Disrespect shown toward staff, students or school property will not be tolerated. Failure to abide by these rules will result in one or more of the following:
* The teacher will move student’s seat
* Detention will be assigned
* Removal from class; sent to administrator
* Teacher and Administrator will call parent/legal guardian
Mature Content – Since this course is designed to the student and the individual student much of the work will be related to ones’ personal strengths and/or weaknesses. We will address community needs as well as individual needs and work towards improving skills in these areas.
THE BEST WAY TO REACH ME is by email: gtwombly@kearsarge.org
This syllabus is a general guideline for the course. It is subject to change based on changes in school or district policies. Please complete and return the last page of this packet, and feel free to contact me anytime throughout the semester with questions or concerns. I look forward to a successful year with you and your son or daughter.
Kearsarge Regional High School
COURSE SYLLABUS
2023-2024
Instructor: Mme. Twombly Course: Freshman Seminar
email: gtwombly@kearsarge.org
I have read and understand the Prospectus, Syllabus, and Class and Course Expectations for 1st Year Seminar
________________________________________________________________ Student Printed Name
________________________________________________________________ Student Signature & Date
________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Printed Name
________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature & Date
________________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Email Address
_____ My son/daughter has a cell phone and will leave it in their bag.
_____ My son/daughter DOES NOT have a cell phone.
Please note that - Cell Phones are a major distraction during classroom instructional time. I require that all students place their phones in the phone holder at the front of the classroom -- (unless otherwise indicated for lessons involving the use of phone technology)
Anyone using their cell phone device to text, call someone, watch personal videos, Snapchat, video another student, or any other inappropriate school use will be subject to disciplinary action. This could mean: taking the cell phone away, detention, or referral to an administrator.