BISHOP CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL
Course Syllabus

COURSE:           Biology                                                                                    CREDIT:    1

INSTRUCTOR:    Mr. Nielsen                                                                   SCHOOL YEAR: 2011-2012

TEXTBOOK:       Prentice Hall Biology by Miller/Levine

TIME FOR HELP:  I will be in my room between 7 and 7:30 a.m. every morning.  The first Thursday
of each month I will be in Principal’s Council Meeting from 7 to 7:45 a.m.  The second Tuesday of each month there will be a Science Department meeting at 7:15 a.m.  The third Thursday of each month is our faculty meeting.  During the fall season, I have Cross Country after school.  In the spring, I will be coaching track after school.  During the winter season, I will be available after school.   Parents, if you would like to talk to me, call the school and leave your number on my voice mail so I can reach you during the day or e-mail me at nielsenran@bcchs.org.  I am here to help your son or daughter succeed.

GENERAL COURSE CONTENT:  We will cover the sequence of the book to cover the standards as     
outlined in our curriculum and the Common Core Science Standards.  Some  chapters may be omitted or condensed.  This will depend on the time we have for instruction.

LEARNER ACTIVITIES:  The learning activities in which the students will be involved include

                1.  Solving problems
2.  Taking notes from lectures
3.  Taking tests
4.  Checking and correcting other students assigned problems
5.  Tutoring classmates
6.  Performing and evaluating experiments
7.  Reading biological articles

PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION:  Your grade will be determined by performance of classroom    
activities such as testing, solving homework problems,  experiments, and class participation.

GRADING:  Grades will be based upon class participation, assignments, labs, quizzes, abstracts and
tests.  The following grading scale will be used.

                                A+ =    100-99%                  All grades are based on a point system and the semester
A   =      98-94%                  exam is 10% of the final semester grade.
A-  =      93-92%
B+ =       91-90%

CLASSROOM RULES

1.  Students are responsible for notes and assignments for the days they are absent.

1. If students are absent the day an assignment is due, it will be expected to be turned in the next day.
2. If students are absent the day before a test and are back the day of the test, the student will be expected to take the test.
3. If students are absent on the day of a lab, the student will need to make arrangements to make up the lab as soon as possible with the teacher. 
4. Use your agenda handbook to write down the due date of assignments and/or tests.
5. If a student is suspended in school they complete their work and hand it in for credit; if it is an out of school suspension, no credit will be given for the assignments missed.

2.  Come to class equipped with pen or pencil, text, notebook and your new planning agenda handbook.

3.  Turn assignments in on time.  Late assignments will result in a maximum final grade of 70%.  An assignment, which is late two or more days, will result in a “zero” grade.

4.  Students will not be allowed to eat or drink in the classroom.  This includes eating candy or chewing gum.

5.  Be in your seat before the tardy bell rings.  A reduction of three points for each tardy from your 15 point participation grade per grading period will result if you are not in your seat when the tardy bell rings.  No extra credit work or points may be applied to the class participation grade.  Demerits may be given for tardies as stated in our school policy.  Students will not be penalized twice for a tardy offense.  If a student loses their all of their participation points, they will not be eligible for extra credit.

6.  No talking without permission.

7.  No writing or sitting on the tabletops.  You sit on the chair with all four legs of the chair on the floor.

8.  CHEATING is communication, verbal or nonverbal.  First offense will result in a 10% reduction of grade on assignment or test.  Second offense will result in a zero for the assignment or test grade.

9.  Students are able to take a retake chapter tests on specific dates which will be assigned.  There are no exceptions.  Test scores can be improved up to 85%.

Grades will be posted after the class has had a chance to review and discuss the assignment or take the retake on tests.   Daily work should be posted within 48 hours after it is checked and reviewed.

Parent/Student confirmation signature dated this ­­­­_______ day of August, 2011.

_______________________________                                             ______________________________
Parent Signature                                                                                Student Signature