The Iron Quill

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Instructor: Luke S. Howell, CTE Teacher
Office: A105
Telephone: 520-407-4101
Email: lhowell@amphi.com
Office Hours: Office Hours: Tuesday 8:25AM - 8:55AM, Thursday 8:25AM - 8:55AM and After School (By Appointment)

Course Description
Over the course of the year, students will learn the basic principles of Journalism.  Using this knowledge they will write and produce multimedia stories using print and digital media.  Students will learn how to draft, layout, and distribute their material and will have the opportunity to learn about how a multimedia journalistic organization really works.

The Newsroom
The Newsroom is a safe space where integrity and hard work are celebrated.  Stories will be well researched and written without bias.  Learning will be an exciting endeavor and the occupants of this space will be encouraged to seek knowledge as often as they have it handed to them.  The journalists entering this space will be expected to do so ready to work and serve the IRHS community.  My goal as your advisor is to facilitate learning by sharing my knowledge with you, helping you to find answers, guiding you through the class and working in tandem with you to create a safe and respectful space. Much of this class is project oriented and requires students to work independently or in groups.  I expect professionalism and collaboration.  Students will be held to strict deadlines and will be expected to develop effective time-management skills over the course of the year.    

NOTE:  Words, actions, or items that create a hostile working environment (even in gest), unkindness, disrespect for yourself or your peers, interruption of lessons, and actions that disrupt the work of other journalists in the class will not be tolerated.   
Journalist Expectations

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Students will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner.  That means…

• • Treat everyone in class with respect (including yourself).

  • Allow your peers to learn without disruption.  

  • Come prepared for class every day.

  • Maintain journalistic integrity.

  • Take your work seriously.

  • Be kind to the equipment.

  • Adhere to safety guidelines.

  • Manage your time and meet your deadlines.

  • Enjoy yourself in a productive manner.

Journalists are expected to abide by high standards of ethics and strive to adhere to stringent standards of journalistic integrity. Journalists are expected to be fair and honest and to confirm the facts before articles are released to the public.

ALL STUDENTS AND STUDENT WORK MUST ADHERE TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT!

While humor in class is encouraged, any humor made at the expense of another individual's race, color, religion/religious beliefs, gender, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, creed, citizenship status, political beliefs/affiliation, disability, home language, family, social or cultural background will not be tolerated.  This applies to the work created in the class as well as to social interactions in the classroom.  This behavior will be considered bullying and will result in appropriate consequences.

Lab and Studio Policies

• • No Food and Drink (Other than water with a lid) will be allowed in the Lab or the Studio.

  • All Safety rules will be followed at all times.

  • All Students are expected to be respectful and courteous in the Lab and Studio.

  • All Students will work together as a team and have a positive attitude.

Consequences For Violation of Lab or Studio Policies
Failure to comply with Lab and Studio Policies or School Policies will result in discipline as laid out HERE.  Lab or Studio privileges may be revoked.

Class Materials
Students are encouraged to purchase a notebook, binder, and headphones with a 3.5mm jack (no bluetooth) for the class.  

Equipment**
Students MUST check out equipment before use and adhere to all rules and regulations. It is the student’s responsibility to care for any equipment in his/her possession and he/she will be responsible for any damage or loss that occurs due to his/her negligence.

Students must use equipment for appropriate educational purposes only and in compliance with Governing Board Policy IJDNB (Use of Technology Resources in Instruction) and it’s corresponding regulation, the Student Code of Conduct, all copyright and trademark laws and regulations.  Violation of any of these rules may result in the loss of permission to use classroom equipment and further disciplinary action.

Students may not use class equipment to retrieve, send, or display offensive image or messages, insult, threaten, or harass others, post anonymous communication or the District network resources to engage in cyberbullying, illegal, inappropriate, or obscene purposes.

Accessing or downloading VPNs or other proxy-avoiding extensions with the intent of bypassing District security features and filtering is prohibited.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Assignments and Grading

4 =  Highly Proficient

3 =  Proficient 

2 =  Partially Proficient

1 =  Minimally Proficient

0 =  No Evidence of Proficiency

4: Highly Proficient

This level indicates exceptional performance. A student earning a 4 not only masters the content but also demonstrates a deeper understanding and the ability to apply what they've learned in new and complex situations. They can often teach the concept to others and are proficient in critical thinking and problem-solving related to the subject matter.

3: Proficient

A 3 signifies solid and consistent performance. This is the target for all students. A student at this level has a firm grasp of the core concepts and skills outlined in the curriculum. They can complete assignments accurately, participate meaningfully in class discussions, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the material without needing constant assistance.

2: Partially Proficient

This grade suggests that the student is still working toward proficiency. They have some understanding of the material but may struggle with more complex concepts or require additional support to complete tasks successfully. A student at this level may have some gaps in their knowledge or skills and is still in the process of mastering the learning objectives.

1: Minimally Proficient

A 1 indicates that the student is not yet meeting the basic expectations for the course. They may be missing fundamental knowledge, have significant gaps in understanding, or are not completing assignments. This grade often signals a need for significant intervention and support to help the student grasp the foundational concepts.

A student’s grade is based on their proficiency/mastery of State Standards and curriculum…not behavior, tardies, initiative, how many times they raised their hands, or how many school supplies they donated. This cannot be included in student grades. 

Note: Participation that is linked to a state standard can be included in the academic letter. ALL CTE courses have professional skill standards and may be counted as part of the student's grade. 

Follow this link for standards https://www.azed.gov/sites/default/files/2022/08/AZCTEProfessionalSkills.pdf 

At the end of each grading period, I will report the student’s academic grade and enter a work habits/citizenship mark. A student’s work habits, and citizenship mark will be based on behavior, initiative, non-standard related participation, tardies, etc. 

Follow this link to see that grading scale explained:  Grading Scale

Attendance Policy
In accordance with Arizona state law and Amphitheater Public School District’s Governing Board policy, students cannot miss more than 10% of each class. Students enrolled in year-long courses may only have 17 excused absences, after which all additional absences will be marked as “unexcused.” Students in semester-long courses may only have 9 excused absences, after which, each additional absence will be marked as “unexcused.” Please note, teachers are not required to provide make-up work for any absence that is marked “unexcused.” Regular school attendance is essential for success in school.

Make-up Work
Students with excused absences must make up their work after school, during lunch or at advisory time.  Normal class time is NOT TO BE USED to retrieve missed work or instruction.  Unexcused absences may not be made up.
Note:  This is a highly collaborative class.  Absences could severely inhibit the ability of other students in the program to complete their work.

Tardy Policy

Tardiness to class will result in the loss of class time and critical instruction for the day’s work.  Therefore, students who are tardy will be required to confer with Mr. Howell about the reason he/she was late and try to find solutions to avoid tardiness in the future.  After the third occurrence, Mr. Howell will contact the student’s parents regarding his/her chronic tardiness.  The fourth tardy will result in an office referral.  Bellwork may not be made up for an unexcused tardy.

Cell Phone Policy
Arizona Law prohibits cell phones or other electronic devices during instructional time. Phones must be turned off and kept in backpacks at all times. Phone usage is permitted before school, after school, and during lunch. Consequences include: 1st Violation: Warning, 2ndViolation: Parent Email, 3rd Violation: Referral to Administration.

Academic Integrity Policy
Ironwood Ridge takes academic integrity very seriously. Any assignment that is found to be completed utilizing work other than the student’s own will receive an immediate grade of zero and the offending student will receive a referral.  Additionally, a conference will be held with the student, teacher, and student’s parents.  There are no exceptions to this policy.

This is especially important in a journalistic environment.  Reporter integrity is the most important thing in the news industry.  Therefore, any student who is found to have deliberately published work that is found to be fraudulent in any manner will be required to print a retraction, pen a letter of apology to the school community, and lose publishing privileges.

Advisory Period
Students are encouraged to utilize the advisory period to receive additional assistance understanding assignments or concepts.  Exploration of software and equipment with Mr. Howell’s supervision during this time is encouraged.  Students may not use computers for activities that are not school related.

Last Item
My number one goal is to make sure that I provide you with the resources that you need to actively learn.  If you have any questions or concerns always feel free to speak to me.  And remember … the earlier you speak to me, the better.  It’s easier to handle a small concern early than to fix a big problem later!

Mr. Howell reserves the right to treat each student in a unique manner based on their individual educational needs, and make exceptions or modifications to these guidelines as he sees fit.