General Policies

Grades

1. All of our work together will be based on learning targets that are regularly communicated to the students.

2. Students will be offered multiple opportunities to show proficiency on those learning targets.

3. To the best of my ability, I will provide feedback on student work within seven days of its submission.

4. As all work is tied to the learning targets, there is no extra credit.

5. When converting scores into grades, the MHS Standard Grading Scale will be used.

6. Assessments and check-ins must be turned in by the deadline given: either a date or a date and time. 

7. For work that is not an assessment or a check-in, students are given a one-week grace period after the deadline to submit their work at no penalty. After the one-week grace period, late work will not be accepted.

8. Students will have multiple low-risk opportunities to evaluate their own understanding.

9. Work that is determined to be an assessment will be weighted heavily in the overall score for the class.

10. Assessments that are formal tests -- with the exception of the final exams -- may be retaken for a higher score until the end of the following curricular unit.

11. I will use the following flags in Infinite Campus:

    • M --> This indicates that the work has not been turned in or has not been turned in to a level of completion that would allow for evaluation of the student's understanding. It also indicates that the student may remedy the situation and turn the item in for evaluation. In grade calculations, an M is equivalent to a zero.

    • I --> This indicates that the work was not turned in or was not in to a level of completion that would allow for evaluation. This is different from an M in that the deadline for remedying the situation has passed -- the work may no longer be submitted, and the student is encouraged to spend their efforts on future assignments. This flag will accompany a score: zero if no work was submitted, or some percentage of the total points based on the amount submitted and the successful demonstration of proficiency.

    • L --> This indicates that the work was turned in after the deadline. This is merely for bookkeeping purposes and has no bearing on the overall grade calculation.

    • Dr --> This indicates that, given some special circumstances, the student is not required to submit a particular assignment. There is no score given and it is not used in overall grade calculations. 

    • T --> This indicates that the assignment has been turned in and is awaiting evaluation. I admit, I don't use this very often. I use it primarily when grading assessment projects, during which deadlines might be more flexible.

    • Ch --> This indicates that the work has, in some way, violated the MHS academic honesty policy. I will not use this flag without meeting first with the student and parent/guardian. In terms of overall grade calculation, it is a zero.

12. Semester grades are calculated using the following formula:  [40% * Quarter A] + [40% * Quarter B] + [20% * Semester Final] 

13. Quarter grades are calculated using the following breakdown:

    • Summative assessments and formal tests 30%

    • Projects and lab activities 30%

    • Quizzes and check-ins (formative assessments) 25%

    • Practice 15%

14. All category scores are calculated using an average of points in that category.

General Behavior

All students will...

1. refrain from eating or drinking -- except for water -- in rooms 168 and 169.

2. respect the rights of other students, speakers, and instructors.

3. treat the room and the materials with respect, according to the guidance given by your instructor.

4. be prepared when coming to class -- bring a charged Chromebook, paper, pencil and calculator.

5. be in your seat when the bell rings at the beginning and end of class.

6. assist in the clean-up of the classroom and lab space as instructed.

7. leave their cellphone in caddy at the start of the class, unless instructed not to by your teacher.

Safety

All students will...

1. immediately notify your teacher of any accident, injury, equipment issue or other emergency.

2. thoroughly understand the procedure before beginning an activity or project.

3. only use machines on which they have been trained or checked off by your instructor.

4. wear safety glasses when required, as indicated by your instructor or the activity.

5. wear appropriate clothing and shoes to prevent injury and/or burns.

6. *avoid wearing loose clothing that might get caught in machines.

7. *protect long hair with a rubber band or hair tie.

8. *handle tools and materials with care and skill.

9. prevent the waste of materials by using them wisely.

10. replace tools and materials in their correct locations during the clean-up phase of the class.

*indicates policies that are specific to classes in rooms 168 and 169.

For the engineering and robotics classes, all students will be required to have a signed parent safety letter returned to the teacher, found here.