Policy – Attendance
Naturally, over the course of the school-year, students will be absent due to illness, personal reasons, and field trips. If a student is absent for any length of time, it is their responsibility to get in touch with me via email or see me as soon as possible in order to arrange the make-up work for activities that were missed. Attendance to class is important as much of the work we do is discussion-based and cumulative and getting caught up quickly is essential.
In the case of emergency and/or illness, students should get in contact as soon as they are well enough and able to touch base. In the event of illness or emergency, the priorities of the student clearly supersede our work in the classroom and the resolution of the emergency or resting until well are the primary tasks of the student. Missed work extensions should be discussed with the student during the time at which the student gets in contact with me.
If a student has a planned absence – school-related or personal, this includes vacations, field trips, sports, appointments, and enrichment opportunities, work due for that day needs to be submitted prior to their absence (this includes quizzes). Extensions are not typically granted for planned absences unless the student has made arrangements well before the due date.
Also, because the internet is a thing, and most work will be due on Google Classroom, students have little reason to not submit assignments even if they are not present in school as long as there are not extenuating circumstances.
Policy – Extra Help & Extensions
Sometimes we all need a little help! Speaking personally, it took me a long time to recognize that asking for help isn’t a weakness, but reflects instead a strong desire to learn, to grow, and to understand.
Historically there had been many ways to get help at Newtown. And there still are! But things are certainly different in the time of COVID.
Ways to get help:
Send me an email. Even if you’re in the building, you can send me a quick email at labargew@newtown.k12.ct.us to ask a question or set up a time and place to meet. I can respond with relative speed during periods 1, 4 and 6 (depending on the nature and need of your question) but will always do my best to respond to you in some way by the end of the day.
Talk to me. Speak with me in person either before or after class.
Conferences in the Writing Center. Newtown High School’s Writing Center is located in B143 and has both teachers as well as qualified and trained tutors. They are open every period (except advisory) and on PLC days. Underclassmen: I am happy to write you a pass to the Writing Center for one of your study hall periods if we are actively working on an essay. Upperclassmen, make use of this resource as you need.
A note about extensions:
Life happens and I understand that. If you are working on something that is due for class and you recognize that you need a little more time, you must email me prior to 4pm the day before something is due with your work in progress and a plan of action.
Naturally, if there are extenuating circumstances, please send me an email or come see me.
Policy – Grading & Late work
Over the course of the year, you will be completing a number of assignments ranging from homework assignments to final projects, journals to essays, quizzes and classwork. Your final grade will be calculated by category percentages that work to best convey your mastery of the skills of the course.
Categories and percentages:
60% - Summative – these assignments demonstrate mastery of skills
40% - Formative – these assignments reflect practice and skill development. This also includes, in some cases, engagement (which encompasses non-academic factors such as participation, attending to class, and cellphone use. Not that these skills aren’t as important in other classes, but particularly attending to material and discussions in an English class will enrich your appreciation and depth of knowledge of the material).
Late Work:
English department policy
Formative:
May be accepted for partial credit at teacher discretion the next class meeting after the due date, depending on the purpose of the assignment. Ask for extensions ahead of time.
Summative:
10% per day for each calendar day beyond the due date will be deducted from the real score on the assignment. Late summative work will not be accepted after 10 days, barring extenuating circumstances. If you have time and a half, this begins on your individual due date.
Policy – Honesty & Integrity Policy
Don’t plagiarize – this will not be tolerated. You are here to learn and you are all capable!
If you fail to turn in original work to me (if you are using someone else’s words or ideas and fail to properly cite it, effectively claiming it as your own) you will receive a zero, your parent will be notified and your AP will be notified as per school policy.
In my experience, plagiarism happens for one of two reasons: 1. The student has run out of time and 2. The student does not adequately understand the expectations of the assignment or the material necessary to complete the assignment. Luckily, I am prepared and able to help you with both of those reasons either by providing extensions (assuming you request one) and/or providing extra help (assuming you seek it out).
If you experience complications in completing an assignment or have any other reason for failing to complete an assignment with your own original work, please see me – I would rather work with you to make sure you complete the assignment than have you plagiarize. Seriously. Don’t do it.
Policy – Technology
After research, discussion, and careful consideration, I believe it is in your best interest as a student and our best interest as a learning environment to ban the use of cell phones during class. Naturally, if there is an exception that needs to be made, you are welcome to discuss this with me (ie, medical purposes such as monitoring blood sugar).
Exceptions may also be made at my discretion for certain in-class activities and writing workshop days.
A numbered pocket chart (affectionately referred to as “The Cell Hotel”) is located in the classroom to safely store your device and hopefully help remove the temptation to check it during class time. If your phone stays safely confined AND silenced in your backpack, purse, etc for the duration of the class, that is also fine as long as it is not interfering with class activities.
Students that wish to use a laptop, Chromebook or other tablet device for notetaking may do so on a probationary basis. As with the cell phone policy, students who do not use technology appropriately in the classroom will lose the privilege.