2025-2026-School Year:Westwood Middle School
Mr. Delaney - Social Studies 8 - World History
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS:
Your child is enrolled in my social, studies 8 -World History 8 is both an interesting and challenging course for most students so it is important that you are aware of the course requirements so that we can work together to assure your child’s success in my class.
Student Google Classrooms:
Each of my social studies 8 -world history classes will have a separate google classroom .Your child’s social studies 8 google classroom is where both you and your child will find the following reminders; daily/weekly classwork, daily/weekly homework assignments, assessments;quizzes, study guides,tests,projects/essays will be located.Your child’s google classroom is also where both you and your child can check due dates, check if they handed in/attached daily activities,homework, assessments,projects, essays, and/or research papers.
Google Classroom:
Each parent will be able to track and follow their students weekly classwork and weekly homework by looking at their child's google classroom. Although your child must give you access to my social studies 8 - world history google classroom so you always know what assignment is due and when an assignment is due. You simply have to know what period your child has me for class.Then, get access to your childs google classroom so you know what your child is assigned and when the due dates to assignments are for my class.
Period 1 - Red Team - emghaacs
Period 2 - Blue Team - aczhd3rx
Period 4 - Green Team - vsgvdldg
Period 5 - Purple Team - pbbf5xsy
Period 9 - Orange Team - kyav366w
Homework:
Homework is assigned consistently each week.Your child will receive weekly homework and not daily homework every week which will be due at the end of the week on Friday.All homework will be found in the following places; on my board,on my school website, on your child’s google classroom, and will be updated daily/weekly If your child is absent from class, your child will be expected to complete any missing work within a week from they return to school unless other arrangements are made with me.
Assessments:
Doing well on assessments;quizzes and tests requires consistent studying. They key to best practices when it comes to studying is not just memorizing but understanding the material learned and making the connections.Quizzes are announced at the beginning of every week.Tests are announced approximately one to two weeks in advance.The amount of material presented in this course cannot be mastered in a single night; therefore, it is strongly recommended that students start studying well before the date of a quiz or test.All students are expected to take every assessment given in class. Students with a documented absence must make arrangements with me to make up a missed assessment as soon as possible.After being absent, your child must make-up a missed quiz or test within a week so they don’t fall to far behind.If any student fails to take a make-up quiz or test within a week of being absent they will take or be given a zero on that assessment.There are always exceptions that are made based on the individual situations.
Use of Artificial Intelligence( AI)
District Regulation
5701 - PLAGIARISM
Section: Students
Date Created: May 2024
Date Edited: May 2024
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Teacher Options for Assignments: The discretion to utilize AI rests entirely with the teacher. Students cannot insist on AI being employed for all classes or assignments. It is essential for students to acknowledge and respect each teacher's individual policy regarding the use of AI.
Option 1: Use Prohibited
● Students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, or Dall-E) on this assignment. This ensures the development of individual critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students are expected to complete each assignment independently, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools. With this policy, teachers should ensure they utilize Google Classroom, revision history playback extensions, Go Guardian, etc., to verify student submissions and potential use of AI tools.
○ All teachers and students should ensure alternative technology (i.e. cell phones and smart watches, etc.) are not being used during the class period.
○ Only district approved devices are allowed to be used during instruction.
Option 2: Use Only with Prior Permission - Citation Review (Teacher Confirmation)
● Teachers should clarify with their written permission if a citation is required (see guidelines for AI citations in Option 3)
● Students may use advanced automated tools on this assignment if they obtain prior permission from the teacher.
● To request permission, students must submit a prior written request to the teacher within a specified timeframe (e.g., 48 hours), detailing the purpose and intended use of the AI tool in relation to the assignment.
● Requests will be evaluated based on criteria such as the assignment's nature and the student's justification. Teachers will respond within a specified timeframe (e.g., 48 hours).
● If permission is granted, the student may use the AI tool as outlined in the approved request. If denied, the assignment must be completed without these tools.
Option 3: Use Permitted with Acknowledgement - Citation Required
● Students may use advanced automated tools on the assignment but must properly document and credit their use.
● A guide on citing various AI tools will be provided. AI-generated content should complement student work, not replace it.
● Failure to provide appropriate citations may lead to grade penalties and consequences under the cheating/plagiarism policy.
● Below are two guides on how to cite work generated by GenerativeAI systems.
○ MLA Guide to Generative AI Citations
○ APA Guide to Generative AI Citations
Option 4: Use Permitted with No Acknowledgement
● Students are allowed to use advanced automated tools on this assignment without special documentation or citation.
● The final submission should reflect the student's understanding and synthesis of the topic, adhering to all course requirements and academic integrity standards.
Please Note for Options 2 - 4: Any student work submitted using AI tools should clearly indicate what work is the student’s work and what part is generated by the AI. In such cases, no more than 25% of the student work should be generated by AI.
Responsibilities of Staff, Students, and Administration
Student Responsibilities: Students must adhere to the options selected by the teacher. All students are responsible for:
1. Submitting all electronic written work via their WWRSD domain account ONLY.
2. Becoming familiar with the Academic Integrity Policy and what constitutes cheating and plagiarizing.
○ Westwood District Policy 5701
3. Contributing to an honest academic environment: behaving responsibly and honestly
during assessments and in-class activities, and avoiding discussions/activities that would give other students an unfair advantage.
4. Submitting all assignments/assessments to the required avenue, adhering to the academic honesty policy and honor code.
5. Avoiding cheating by completing one’s own work and not permitting others to copy their work.
6. If work is found to be plagiarized by 25% or more, students have the chance to explain and clarify their actions prior to the implementation of the student code of conduct or plagiarism policy.
7. Notifying a staff member if a student becomes aware of a situation where unethical use of AI has occurred.
Parent Responsibilities: Parents must review, acknowledge, and sign off on the AI Integrity Policy found in the Genesis Portal. Parents should support and collaborate with all stakeholders on the ethical use of AI.
1. Support students in adhering to the Academic Integrity Policy.
2. Be familiar with the Academic Integrity Policy and what constitutes cheating, Plagiarizing, and the unethical use of AI.
a. Westwood District Policy 5701
3. Help to create and contribute to an honest academic environment.
4. Support teacher discretion and embrace learning opportunities where AI may be appropriately utilized under the supervision of educators.
Teacher Responsibilities: Teachers bear the responsibility for clear communication with students, setting out the permitted uses of AI tools and outlining any specific guidelines or restrictions.
1. Be very clear and concise with students about what constitutes an academic integrity violation.
2. Teachers will demonstrate to students the difference between copying and summarizing from text and how to correctly use the sources and citations in their work.
3. Via the appropriate classroom settings, teachers will provide students with instruction about the ethical use of AI throughout the school year by providing examples and scenarios for discussions.
4. Structure the environment during testing and assignments to alleviate the possibility of cheating through advanced automated tool usage.
5. Incorporate in their syllabus the options stated above. Teachers who are allowing AI on specified assignments should state this clearly in the directions.
6. Engage in possible professional development activities outside the classroom intended for school and student enhancement (per teacher evaluation model)
Administrator Responsibilities: Administrators will promote a balanced and ethical approach to AI usage in the learning environment, granting teachers the freedom to choose the most appropriate AI application for their courses and individual assignments.
1. Ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in the development of school-wide policies via the WWRSD Committee established.
2. Publish and make available the Academic Integrity Policy to community members, including the parent and student copy of the Integrity policy via the Student/Parent Portal, course syllabi, and the district's Curriculum and Instruction website (C&I).
3. Support teachers in addressing academic integrity violations.
4. Support teachers with educating students about the ethical use of AI.
5. Track student violations of cheating, plagiarism, and unethical use of AI in order to identify trends and patterns that need to be addressed.
6. Works in collaboration and collegial manner with teachers, other school personnel, to promote/attend professional development for school and student enhancement.
Consequences for Violation
If a student violates the Academic Integrity Policy and engages in an act of cheating, plagiarizing, or using AI unethically, the parent, student, school counselor, and administrator must be informed. All students must accept responsibility for their actions and the accompanying consequences.
The goal in every situation is to ensure that the student is learning from his/her mistakes in an effort to maintain an environment that fosters growth, and academic integrity. The district will determine the nature of the discipline on a case by case basis. Every violation of the Academic Integrity Policy can be different. A student found guilty of academic dishonesty may be subjected to a full range of penalties including, but not limited to, reprimand and loss of credit for all of the work that is plagiarized. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct Regulation 5600 for more detailed information.
Adopted: 25 April 2024
Extra Credit:
There will be no extra credit assignments. However, there are times when students can earn extra credit through their classroom participation ,on certain assessments, or on certain projects over the course of the school year.
In School Extra Help:
If your child needs help in social studies 8-world history, all that they have to do is ask and set up an appointment with me. I am available for extra-help either during the Academic Support Lab during lunch every Wednesday and Friday , before school, or after school. The only day and time that I am not available for extra-help is on Monday after school because of faculty and departmental meetings.
Contacting me:
If you would like to discuss your child’s progress, you have any questions, or need to communicate for any reason please don'r hesitate to contact me, you can reach me at eric.delaney@wwrsd.org..E-mail is the most reliable way to reach me.It typically allows for an immediate and thorough response to your inquiries. I will always respond in a timely matter because you are extremely important to me(within 24 to 48 hours). I will email you about the small issues and contact you by phone on the important issues. Please remember that it is very important for us to work as a team. I am here to help both you and your child in any way possible so that their school year is a positive one. As always, my goal is to help your child reach their academic potential so he or she can develop the skills necessary to succeed in eighth grade and to prepare your child for high school next year.
Sincerely,
Mr. Delaney
Teacher of Social Studies
Social Studies 8 - World History
Westwood Regional Middle School
Westwood Regional School District