Five Basic Principles for a Successful Year at Dirksen:
Be Present & Pay attention (fully commit to our time together)
Be Open to Outcomes (take a risk; it is okay to make mistakes)
Interact (with the program, teacher, and others in positive ways)
Be Safe (use appropriate words and actions)
Respect our Environment (be responsible for yourself and your possessions)
CLASS RULES
Be in your ASSIGNED SEAT ready to begin work upon arrival.
Keep hands, feet, and other objects to yourself.
Bring all appropriate materials to class.
Keep food, drinks, candy, and gum out of the classroom unless given special permission by the teacher.
Take care of all personal and physical needs before or after class on student time, NOT classroom time!
Do NOT talk or communicate through the doorway to anyone in the hall! (This includes teachers and students)
Sleeping or the appearance of sleeping is not acceptable.
Follow directions the first time they are given.
Nuisance items such as notes to other students, jewelry, magazines, work from other classes, make-up, etc., which prevent students from staying on task will be taken up and returned at the teacher or principals discretion.
Demonstrate respect towards the teacher, other students, and yourself.
DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
Your behavior should reflect the following principles:
RESPECT - OURTESY - HONESTY - RESPONSIBILITY - COOPERATION - SELF-CONTROL
1st offense: Student warning
2nd offense: Phone call or email to parent & Detention
3rd offense: Office Referral
MATERIALS NEEDED FOR CLASS
MyPerspectives Textbook (available online as well)
One college-ruled notebook as well as lined loose-leaf paper & index cards
1- 3 ring binder w/two inside pockets (no bigger than 1 ½ inch) & 5 tab dividers
Assignment notebook to record assignments and communicate with parents
Pens (blue, black & red) and plenty of pencils
ADDITIONALLY HELPFUL, BUT NOT REQUIRED MATERIALS
White out tape or pen
Mechanical pencil sharpener
Small personal stapler
Glue stick
Zipper Pouch (one that fits in binder)
MAKE UP WORK PROCEDURE
Upon returning to school following an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the teacher to request make-up work. If you are absent, you will have the number of days absent to make up class or homework, for example: two days absent equals two days to make up. If your child checks into school for a day (even if he/she checks in late or checks out early), he/she is responsible for completing that day’s homework for all classes he/she attended prior to leaving school by the next day. It is the student’s responsibility to get missing classwork from the teacher and homework by checking the class website: https://sites.google.com/site/dirksen6thgrade
LATE WORK
Students are responsible for being prepared to turn in homework on time during class. Any work that is turned in once students leave class will be considered late. Homework will be accepted up to three days late, and at a reduction of 50%. In order to receive full credit, assignments should be completed neatly, accurately, and on time. Students have 3 days to make up any missing homework, at a reduction of 25% the first day and 50% the second and third day late. Any work more than three days late will not be accepted, except at the teacher's discretion.
ACADEMIC HONOR CODE
All students must always submit work that represents his or her original work, words, or ideas. If any words or ideas are used that do not represent origination from an individual student, the student must cite all relevant sources. The student should also document the extent to which such sources were used with quotation marks where appropriate.
Academic dishonesty could involve:
Having a tutor or friend complete a portion of our assignments
Having a reviewer make extensive revisions to an assignment
Copying work submitted by another student
Using information from online information services without proper citation
PLAGIARISM DETECTION
At the instructor’s discretion, work submitted in this course is subject to verification of originality, using the following service: www.turnitin.com.
CELL PHONES
While many students have cell phones, students are not allowed to use cell phones or cameras during school hours. Calls to parents must be made from the school office. If your child is caught using the cell phone during school hours, in or out of the building (g.g., recess, gym, field trips, etch.), it will be taken away and parents/guardians will need to come to school to pick up the cell phone. The school is not responsible for cell phones. Repeated violations of this policy are subject to consequences under the Student Code of Conduct.
TEACHER/PARENT COMMUNICATION
You may contact me at the following email address: dkasir@cps.edu, I try to answer emails as promptly as I can. I usually answer emails within a 24-hour period. If emailing me over the weekend, please do not be alarmed if you do not receive a response until Monday. You may also call the front office at (773) 534-1090, or you may write a note and send it with your child to school.