EES

Instructor:   Mr. Jesse Kenyon Phone: (919) 562-3600 (School)

Wakefield High School Room:  3326 Email: jkenyon@wcpss.net

Website: https://sites.google.com/wcpss.net/mrkenyon/home

NC State Science Standards: click here

Welcome to the 2023 Fall Semester

Course description and essential outcomes: Earth and Environmental Science will cover the many overlapping physical, social, and economic realms that encompass this rich “everything” science. Students will learn how humans interact and shape our planet, and how our planet shapes us.

Units of Study 

• Introduction to Earth/Environmental Science

• The Lithosphere:  Processes, Forces & Human Impact

• The Hydrosphere:  Structure, Processes & Human Impact

• The Atmosphere:  Structure, Processes & Human Impact

• The Biosphere & Human Impact

• Astronomy

In order to cover all of the state objectives, it is necessary to maintain a steady pace. It is imperative that students keep up with their daily assignments, review class material daily, and seek help as needed.   I STRONGLY encourage students to seek assistance from me during office hours and class time. Students are expected to review and study class notes in order to become proficient in these topics and standards. I will be available during the office hours posted on my website. Due to the evolving nature of blended instruction, please understand that my office hours may be subject to change. Should my office hours change, I will send a notification to students and parents.

Wakefield Life

Most of you are 9th graders and I understand the transition to High School can be bewildering sometimes. If you are feeling anxious, confused, lost, or melancholy Wakefield WANTS TO HELP! Please reach out to me, or any teacher, AS WELL as our school office of Student Services. You HAVE an assigned counselor and I am happy to help you make contact with your counselor. Whether you are one of my Upper classmen or a freshman you are not alone - talk to me or let me help you talk to a counselor.

Grading: Several methods will be used to evaluate student performance. The grading system below will be used to determine quarter grades. There will also be final evaluative assessments for course completion.

  Academic Classes Honors Classes

Tests/Major Projects:- 40% Tests/Major Projects-50%

Quizzes/ Minor Projects/Labs: -20% Quizzes/Minor Projects-20%

Classwork/ Major Labs-40% Classwork/Major Labs-30%

No grades will be given for completion only. They will all be graded for accuracy.

Retesting Policy:

• Students who receive lower than 80 percent on an assessment will be able to retake the assessment.

• Students will be able to retest for a maximum grade of 80 percent.

• Students may not remediate or retest on the same day of the original assessment.

• Students need to submit a test recovery form with reflection and signed by a parent (available from teacher)

Late Work- Late Work due to an excused absence will follow the WCPSS make up work policy: Assignments assigned prior to an absence will be due upon return; this includes tests scheduled for the day of the return. If the make-up work has not been assigned in advance, for absences of 1 to 3 days, the student will have a minimum of 1 day for each absence to complete missed assignments. For absences exceeding 3 days, the student will have a minimum of 2 days for each absence to complete assignments. Students will receive full credit for all make-up work following an excused or unexcused absence as long as the work is completed within the time limit according to teacher expectations and for unexcused absences as long as remediation has been attended to complete the assignment. Special consideration should be given in the case of extended absences due to injury or chronic illness.

Academic Courses

All students receiving academic credit for a course have the opportunity to recover grades through completing alternative assignments to demonstrate mastery, turning in missing work, and/or completing retests. Students will earn a minimum of 70% of the grade they would have received if turned in on time.

Work that is submitted on time and meets the minimal completion requirements will receive a score no less than 50%. Student late work assigned during the first half of the quarter must be turned in by the time of interim reports. Assignments due after the interim period will be due by the end of the quarter.

Honors Courses

All students receiving honors credit for a course have the opportunity to recover grades through completing alternative assignments to demonstrate mastery, turning in missing work, and/or completing retests. Students will earn a minimum of 60% of the grade they would have received if turned in on time. Work that is submitted on time and meets the minimal completion requirements will receive a score no less than 50%.

Late work is due by no later than 2 days after either the end of the unit or the day of the unit assessment.

Communication:Student grades will be posted through PowerSchool, and they will be updated as assignments are graded, which will be at the least by the end of the day every Friday. If you have any questions or concerns about grades, assignments, or progress, please contact me.  I will respond within one business day to all emails. 

Messages:  I will communicate through Canvas messages and/or emails with students and through TalkingPoints and/or email with parents.

Honor code- The students at Wakefield High School are committed to being honest and responsible in completion of academic materials and interactions with the school administration and community. Cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and lying are considered violations of the honor code. Through joint fulfillment of this code, students and faculty will achieve their fullest potential in academic excellence and character. (a good rule to follow is always do your own work and if you do use someone else’s work, give them credit through citations)

No students should be in the hallways until after the 7:10am bell. If you are meeting with a teacher, you must have a pass from that teacher with the meeting date and time on it.

Absences- defined as not being present for over 50% of a class period. If a student misses 3 consecutive days the teacher will contact parent/guardian and the students’ counselor. This communication will be documented in ECATS. Please notify the school and teachers when you will be absent. This will keep everyone informed.

Tardies- If a student arrives after the bell and within the first 15 minutes of class, their teacher will mark them tardy. If they arrive after the first 15 minutes they must have a note from the attendance office. (if your teacher keeps you after class please ask for a note stating you were with them. This will prevent you from receiving a tardy.

15/15 Rule-Students are to be in their classroom the first 15 minutes of class and the last 15 minutes of class.

Passes-Students are required to have a pass whenever they are in the hall (or outside their classroom) during class time. This may be a bathroom pass or a common pass.

 Throughout the semester, my hope is that students learn to manage their time wisely, set goals, work hard, have fun, but most of all take pride in their achievements.

Sincerely,

Mr. Kenyon