NYSSLS REGENTS BIOLOGY
COURSE SYLLABUS 2026-20267
Instructor: Mrs. Daniello
Contact Information:
adaniello@shufsd.org
Extra Help:
Tuesday and Thursday
2:15pm–2:45pm, Rm 607
-By appointment.
Course Description:
Welcome to the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year, and more importantly, to Biology! Biology is the science of life, which deals with living organisms and their vital processes. This course will help you build your critical thinking skills, learn to analyze data, and apply scientific inquiry to explain natural phenomena.
Our class will run smoothly if we all understand and follow the expectations outlined below. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me right away
Daily Attendance : In order to be successful this year students are expected to in class, on time, and prepared to learn
Labs: While not every day, labs will be performed each week and are required for entrance into the exam in June
Regents Exam: Students are required to meet the NYS lab hour count and take the Life Science: Biology Regents in June–this exam counts 20% of your final grade
Four Class Pillars of Success:
Respect: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Responsibility: Do what is expected without being told. Take ownership of your actions and your learning.
Self-Control: Follow instructions, use inside voices, stay on task, and be actively present during learning.
Focus: Actively engage in each task, strive to understand the concepts being taught, and follow directions the first time they are given.
Materials
Science Folder with weekly packet, loose leaf, and review sheets.
Pens, pencils, highlighters!
Chromebook and charger - devices charged before class (used frequently to administer tests and quizzes)
Expanding File folder: To be kept at home, to safely store all class yellow packets for both midterm and regents review.
Grading Policy:
This breakdown was agreed upon by the Walt Whitman High School Science Department:
Category
Participation 15%
Daily classwork, homework assignments, preparation, collaboration with peers, etc.
Labs 20%
Completion of required lab hours and assignments (See “Labs and NYS Investigations” below
Test 55%
15-30 “cluster” questions (mix of multiple-choice and short answers related to readings and datasets). Tests are announced at least one week in advance.
Quizzes 10%
10-15 questions (multiple-choice and/or free response, one short cluster). Quizzes take half a period and are EVERY FRIDAY. Some unannounced pop quizzes should be expected.
Late Work Policy:
Late assignments will be a ZERO until turned in. If completed with clear effort and accuracy, it will be accepted with a 65%.
Classwork not completed during class may not be turned in late for partial credit.
Planned absences: Let me know ahead of time and check Google Classroom for missed work. You are still responsible for making up assignments by the due date.
Labs and NYS Investigations
In-Class Labs
The State of New York requires a minimum of 30 laboratory hours in order to receive Regents credit. We will exceed this requirement, but it is imperative to complete and hand-in labs when they are due. Labs are graded, recorded, and filed in the classroom; labs will occasionally be sent home to complete by an assigned due date.
Late labs will not earn full credit unless due to a legal absence or extenuating circumstance with prior communication from you or a parent/guardian.
Labs with excessive materials or set up requirements may not be made up.
NYS Investigations
In our course, there are 3 mandatory New York State Biology Investigation Labs. Each lab will be performed at the end of their respective units in class. These investigations are titled as follows:
Structure and Function: Balancing Act - Exploring Feedback Loops and Homeostasis
Inheritance and Variation of Traits: Unraveling the Mystery of Lactose Intolerance
Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems: For The Birds - Designing Solutions
Important Note:
Per NYS policy, investigation materials will not leave the classroom.
Students absent on investigation days must schedule a make-up during the school wide make up sessions.
Cell Phone Policy:
This class will adhere to the Walt Whitman High School Cell Phone Practice.
This policy is in accordance with the New York State Phone-Free Schools Law recently signed and implemented for the 2026-2027 school year.
Code of Conduct and Attendance
All students are expected to follow the District Code of Conduct. Academic honesty and integrity are key to succeeding in our class. Plagiarism of any kind, including copying other students’ work or inappropriate use of AI tools, will result in disciplinary action.
Topics:
September-October Marathon Runner : In the Marathon Runner unit curriculum, students investigate a real-world phenomenon—the collapse of a marathon runner—to explore how complex organisms maintain homeostasis amid strenuous physical challenges. Through a storyline centered on gas exchange, cellular respiration, metabolism, thermoregulation, and water balance, students engage in inquiry-driven learning under the NGSS framework. They design investigations, develop and refine models to illustrate how multiple body systems interact via dynamic feedback mechanisms, and ultimately compose evidence-based explanations detailing why the runner became disoriented and fell into a coma after completing the race
Tools for Regents success
Diagram Reading Protocol
Using Cross Cutting Concepts to master big ideas
Mastering Vocabulary