About This Class

Student Commitment: 

Maintain an organized and complete Google Site: This Google website will be a compilation of your class projects, notes, homework, class reflection, and tests.  Your Google website may also include pages that reflect other classes you have at Canarelli Middle School.

• Complete your homework. Review the class notes, read and review text, and prepare for the next class by working on the required assignment.  Record any questions that you would like to ask.

• Prepare for project assessments.  Collaborate with all members of your group in setting expectations and a timeline, making the best use of the necessary communication tools, and maintain a focus on completing the task to the best of your ability.

• Seek clarification.  It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to be persistent at becoming a productive computer science student.  When you are unclear on any concept, procedure, or type of problem, ask questions. Ask for additional help from me during non-class hours, and from your group / project members, or from other students in the class.  Communication and collaboration with other students is extremely important.

• Manage your time effectively. Always prepare for the next class. This requires you to check your grades on Infinite Campus and your assignments on Google Classroom and the website calendar.  Review your notes, use Quizlet (flashcards) when necessary, and write down clarification questions related to the topic.

• Bring your supplies to class daily. Avoid borrowing pencils, paper, erasers, highlighter, and other basic supplies unless you have experienced an emergency.  Be thoughtful, stay prepared.

Computer Science and Applications 

• Course scope: This course is based on the standards for a required class in Computer Science and Applications for Clark County School District.  It is appropriate for upper middle-level and high school students and is taught within a semester. The course provides a wide lens on computer science by covering topics such as positive, safe, ethical, and legal responsibilities for technology use, design and development of computational artifacts, physical computing, data analysis, front end web development, and to create prototypes that use algorithms to solve computational problems. The course inspires students to build their own websites, applications, and games, and to gain a broad-based understanding of how to use the computer as an educational tool.  Preselected sections from Code.org will be emphasized within the semester curriculum.  The use of technology from our Canarelli CS lab that includes various computer applications and access to web-based instruction is an integral part of this course.   Consistent attendance is strongly recommended.  (Nevada K-12 Computer Science Standards).

• Curriculum Pacing Guide   (The scope and sequence of this may be adjusted throughout the semester.)

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• Evaluation

  • Criteria for arriving at students grades   

    • Performance Assessments (in-class projects, group activities, projects)

    • Task attainment / achievement  (punctuality, project design, meeting the requirements)

    • Written Assessments / Tests (questions based on subject knowledge and conceptual understanding provided through on-line quizzes/tests) 

    • Semester Exam (weighted at 10% of the semester grade)​

    • Homework Policy​:  The purpose of homework is to provide students an opportunity to independently practice previously learned concepts, provide students with direct meaningful connections to the instructional program, and act as an extension to classroom assignments.  A large portion of the class is project based, and homework is often determined by the progress a student achieves during class time.  Class assignments and projects will be evaluated based on CCSD's Grading Reform Initiative. 

    • All Canarelli Middle School classes will use the following grade percentages when calculating a student’s grade:

      • Summative assessments count for 90% of a student’s overall grade.  Assessment opportunities may include but are not limited to: tests, quizzes, essays, research projects, graphs, demonstrations, lab activities, experiments, and problem solving activities.  

      • Formative assessments count for 10% of the total grade.  Assignment scores will be posted in Infinite Campus, and will indicate the summative or formative weight.

      • All students have one opportunity to retake an (summative) assessment and earn a higher grade.

• Percentage categories for student grades

  • A      100 – 90%

  • B      89 – 80%

  • C      79 – 70%

  • D      69 – 60%

  • F          59% or less​

• Citizenship/Behavior Expectations

Students are expected to walk into class and immediately prepare for the days lessons.  Class procedures such as accessing Infinite Campus, Google Classroom, our class website, completing the “Do Now” and avoiding interruptions will be thoroughly explained and reviewed during orientation.  Distractions and interruptions to the educational process caused by students will not be tolerated and progressive disciplinary procedures will ensue in order to maintain an optimum learning environment.

• Participation

Students are expected to fully participate.  This includes appropriate collaborative classroom interactions between the student and teacher and among students that maintain a focus on achieving the lesson’s objectives.  Asking and responding to questions, collaborative peer instruction during group activities, tutorials, demonstrations and sharing skill practices are examples of how students are expected to participate.  Procedures regarding how and when to participate will be explained and practiced during orientation.

• Absences / Excused Absence Notes

Attendance is critical to student success, and class participation activities cannot be fully duplicated through make-up work.  Students will be provided the opportunity to make up notes, class projects, homework assignments, and tests / quizzes per District policy, but avoid unexcused absences.  This is NOT an online (synchronous based) class, and students are expected to attend daily.  Students may expect that for each class missed, at least an hour of make-up time will be necessary to learn the core information presented that day.

• Chromebook 

The computer lab contains 40 desktop computers.  Although each student is assigned a desktop computer, there will be a few occasions where a student is allowed to use his or her assigned Chromebook when collaborating within a small group.  The student is expected to bring his or her Chromebook daily (regardless of the desktop station assignment) and to be sure that it's properly functioning throughout the entire class.  Due to students' right to  privacy, no camera or audio recording is allowed when a Chromebook is in use. 

• Required Class Website:   

Every student is required to maintain a website related to the class.  Websites will be constructed using Google Sites.  All students are required to maintain a digital portfolio.  When a student is absent, the student is responsible to read the notes and work on missing assignments for the days absent.   Notes and assignments are posted on this website's calendar which can be accessed through Canvas and Clever.   Students are expected to refer back to their notes during homework assignments, test preparation, and for topic review on a daily basis.  It is also suggested that students record their questions and write any reflections onto their digital notes for greater understanding of the concepts and the class experience. 

• Homework:   

The purpose of homework is to provide students an opportunity to independently practice previously learned concepts, provide students with direct meaningful connections to the instructional program, and act as an extension to classroom assignments.  A large portion of the class is project based, and homework is often determined by the progress a student achieves during class time.  If students do not have access to a computer at home, the 825 computer lab is generally open 3 to 4 days a week after school from 2:15 to 2:45.  Students require a parent signed permission slip to access the lab.  

• Test / Quizzes:  

​​Tests are provided in two formats: online; written response. Our online calendar will specify each test date. Since this class is based on standardized grading, students are allowed to retake tests provided that an appropriate time between the retake, generally one day, has lapsed.  Class time is NOT allowed for test retakes, so it is strongly encouraged that students arrange a time such as during lunch to retake tests.  Note: All students have 1 opportunity to retake an assessment to earn a higher grade.

• Supplies:  The majority of instructional requirements will occur online.  School supplies for offline projects may include: spiral notebook, pencil, eraser, glue stick, highlighter, and a pencil pouch for convenient storage.   It is strongly suggested that supplies for personal hygiene regarding the use of a shared keyboard and mouse should include portable hand sanitizer.  Computer mouse and keyboards are cleaned weekly, however, each student may maintain hand sanitizer to be used before and after each class. 

• Contact:

  • Ron Free:    freerj@nv.ccsd.net

  • voicemail:   #3825

Please click here to view Canarelli Middle School's Schoolwide Expectations