new MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL
FORENSIC SCIENCE
2016-2017
TEXTBOOK: Prentice-Hall Forensic Science, by Richard Saferstein (online resources for text are available at http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_saferstein_forensicscience_1/59/15205/3892550.cw/index.html)
INSTRUCTOR: Mrs. Victorine Shaw (Rm C.1.200)
TUTORIAL: Tuesday and Thursday 3:45-4:30pm
PHONE: 770-651-2839
EMAIL:
SCHOOL WEBSITE: http://tinyurl.com/ganmhs (you can access teacher’s websites from this website under school
staff and then click on the teacher’s name)
TEACHER WEBSITES: Mrs. V. Shaw: https://engradepro.com/wikis/shaw’sforensics -or- http://tinyurl.com/forenshaw
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
To provide students with knowledge of forensic science and the investigative skills involved through hands on activities and student centered inquiry based learning that is relevant to their world. There will be some risk-taking involved on behalf of the student and instructor to facilitate the exploratory and experimental nature of being in a science classroom. As students explore through various hands-on techniques, they are expected to support and defend their ideas. This often involves the higher order thinking skills of analyzing, critical thinking, and synthesis of information. Therefore, there will be rigor involved when learning forensic science as students navigate through the course.
LABORATORY: Students will have the opportunity to engage in many laboratory opportunities throughout the year. Although a laboratory can be a very interesting place that involves inquiry and problem solving, it is important that all students follow Lab Safety Rules as to not endanger themselves or others. Each student should learn to work cooperatively as a member of a classroom team of scientists, as we explore questions in the world of Forensic Science. All parents and students must read the Lab Safety Contract located on the teacher’s webpage.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will cover the following units of Forensic Science in accordance with the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) listed below. They can also be accessed at http://tinyurl.com/ForensicGPS.
· Unit 1 INTRODUCTION/HISTORY/EVIDENCE
· Unit 2 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE (2a & 2b Unit Assessments)
· Unit 3 BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE (3a & 3b Unit Assessments)
· Unit 4 BALLISTICS/EXPLOSIVES
REQUIRED MATERIALS: All materials should be brought to class every day.
*5 subject spiral notebook –or- 1.5-2.0 3 ring binder
*Pens (blue or black ink only) & pencils
*Colored pencils
*Glue Sticks
*textbook, magazines, encyclopedias, video clips, & internet (additional materials used during class)
*https://engradepro.com/wikis/shaw’sforensics for agenda and hwk assignment
* Remind (Shaw only): Text the message @92c83 to (To:______)the number 81010
NMHS STUDENT NON-NEGOTIABLES:
1. Show respect for authority figures
2. Be on time to every class
3. Use appropriate language
4. Contribute to instruction in a positive way
5. Follow the Dress Code
CLASSROOM NORMS:
All classroom norms and procedures will be explained in detail and practiced as part of our daily classroom routines and procedures. They are summarized as follows:
BE PROMPT! BE PREPARED! BE POLITE!
DISCIPLINE CONSEQUENCES: (severe disruptions will be sent to office)
1st Offense: Warning – Verbal/Nonverbal
2nd Offense: Student Conference/ parent contact
3rd Offense: Before/After/Lunch Detention
4th Offense: Referral to an administrator or counselor
*Tardies – Students that are tardy to class will initially be marked absent. Those late to 1st period must report to the front attendance office and check in with Mrs. Davis or Mrs. Chasten who will distribute the student a yellow slip. They will be required to present the slip, which designates the tardy as excused/unexcused, to their 1st period instructor in order to enter the classroom. The attendance office will then make the change from absent to tardy in the student’s attendance file on Portal. Otherwise, there will be a Tardy Sweep when students are late to class from period 2-8 daily. This will result in further administrative action after which time the instructor will make the change from absent to tardy in the student’s attendance file on Portal.
TEACHER ASSIGNED DETENTION:
All minor infractions (chit chat, off task, sleeping/head down, inappropriate behavior, etc.) will be subject to Science Dept. Detention held Tuesday-Thursday from 3:50-4:20 in C.1.200 (Mrs. V. Shaw's room) after school(subject to change). In order for students to serve the detention, the form must be returned by the day of the detention with both parent and student signature. Failure to do so will result in a referral. There will be 48hrs notice given to the student to arrange transportation. At any time parent contact will be made if the student chooses to behave contrary to the rules and expectations set forth.
TECHNOLOGY:
Students at NMHS are encouraged to bring their own technology, BYOT. A form that outlines the terms and conditions defining that use both in the school and classroom, along with a signature page is posted on the school’s website. Technology devices would include all smart devices; tablets; phones; and laptops. Please note that any student bringing a device for school use must have this contract agreement on file, and adhere to all of the terms and conditions highlighted therein. The opportunity to use these devices is at your own risk and is a priviledge. Any violation will result in that privilege being revoked. Students are not allowed to charge any of their electronic devices here at school to avoid the risk of being lost or stolen. there will be no search ensued for lost or stolen items. Therefore we strongly encourage students to have devices charged prior to coming to school, or have an external charger as the use of these devices will be needed for instructional purposes throughout the school day. The listed policies in the BYOT contract will be strongly enforced in the Forensic Science classroom.
Engrade: We are introducing a more interactive student/learning management system called Engradepro. Student grades, attendance, as well as teacher’s website that includes: class assignments/calendar; test/quiz; class documents; turnin/uploading abilities, will all be housed in this new system. Both parents and students will be provided with their login (username/password) information by all classroom instructors. Students will also be provided with the website to get to their assignments and turn in documents by their individual teachers. Our current system, Infinite Campus (IC), is not as interactive and will no further be in use by the end of the year, 2016. Engradepro has all of the capabilities of IC and more, so therefore we will cease any parent/student interaction on IC. All of the information regarding the student will be visible and available on Engradepro, so we will initializing logins the 1st day of school. The link for the instructor website for this forensics class is: https://engradepro.com/wikis/shaw’sforensics .
ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
The opportunity to use these devices is at your own risk and is a privilege. Any violation will result in that privilege being revoked. The listed policies in the BYOT contract will be strongly enforced in the Forensic Science classroom.
Guidelines:
1. You cannot charge your device in the classroom at any time.
2. Classrooms will not be searched for lost/stolen items. It is your responsibility to keep up with your belongings.
3. Earbuds- #1in1out
4. Absolutely NO cell phones during CODE BLUE DRILLS!!!
5. Devices are to be taken out ONLY when designated by the instructor.
Consequences:
1) parent contact/detention
2) office referral
LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOODLE & SCHOOL COMPUTERS:
Student Login: first and last name initial and lunch# (Ex. John Smith 123456=js123456)
Password: Birthdate MM/DD/YY (Ex. 01/11/96= 011196)
GRADING SCALE & POLICY:
According to School Board Policy the grading scale is as follows: A 90-100; B 80-89; C 71-79; D 70; F <70
Summative Assessments = 50% (Unit Test, Exams, & Major Projects)
Formative Assessments = 30% (Lab reports, Quizzes, Daily Work, Homework, & Minor Projects, etc.)
Final Exam = 20% (S.L.O.-Student Learning Objective Exam)
Appeals
*A student/parent has 5 business days from the date report cards are issued to appeal the final grade. The appeal must be made in writing to the principal and the decision of the principal is final.
PROGRESS REPORTS:
Students will be given progress reports every 9 weeks throughout the school year. Please check the school website for the calendar schedule. A final report card will be given at the end of the year. The grades run cumulative, therefore the grades you receive in August can affect you in May. Grade Reports will also distributed from the instructor periodically. Parents are encouraged to check https://engradepro.com/wikis/shaw’sforensics to stay current on student performance in class. Parents will be provided with their own login information for access.
HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS:
All homework is expected to be complete and turned in on time. An assignment will be considered late if it is not turned in when the teacher collects it. Late homework will be collected a class day after it was due with a maximum grade of 50%. NO HOMEWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE NEXT CLASS MEETING OR IF IT HAS BEEN REVIEWED IN CLASS ON THE ORIGINAL DUE DATE. The instructor does reserve the right to declare NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED for any assignment.
*Homework/AGENDA App: https://engradepro.com/wikis/shaw’sforensics is a link to a website that NMHS will use to replace the need for student agendas. This wonderful tool assists with communication between teachers, parents and students. All students are required to login in order to access all tests, quizzes, homework, major project assignments that will be posted, as well as the class syllabus. The app is both android/ i-phone compatible. it is strongly recommended that parents log in as well to keep up with assignments for each of your students classes!!!! Log in instructions will be provided for both parents and students
REMIND: I strongly recommend that both you and your students sign up for REMIND so that you can receive reminders from your instructors about important due dates and test/quiz. Just text @92c83 to 81010 for Mrs. Shaw’s class.
MAKE-UP:
If a student has an excused absence, it is their responsibility to ask for any work they may have missed. Students who are absent will have until the next class meeting day upon their return to school, to turn in their make-up work. The student is encouraged to refer to the Assignment Folder located on the file cabinet (Shaw)/next to outbox near the white board/ on the teacher’s desk (Qiana) to see the missed assignments and activities. *It is recommended that you record names and phone numbers of at least two class members and check the board daily for assignments and check the teacher’s website at: https://engradepro.com/wikis/shaw’sforensics for additional information. For students who have unexcused absences, the opportunity to make up work will be left to the teacher’s discretion. FYI: As per DCSS policy regarding unexcused absences, no late work will be honored. The absence must be excused in order to receive make up work (A letter, document or doctor’s note excusing the absence submitted to the attendance office, after which time a yellow slip receipt will be provided verifying the absence as excused and subsequently turned into each instructor’s class that was missed to be signed by the instructor. do not turn in letter’s or doctor’s note to the instructor; they must be submitted to the attendance office in the front of the building). Additionally, There will be no excused late work due to computer-related problems such as crashed hard drives, power outages causing disk corruptions, printer ran out of ink, etc. Back up your work regularly and plan printing your work well ahead of the due date. Students are expected to make up all missed assessments within 2 weeks from the time you return to school.
ASSESSMENTS:
There will be a county-wide common assessment after each unit. Other assessments will be given on a continuous basis throughout the year. Your final grade will be determined by your performance on major tests, quizzes, class and homework assignments, lab work, group work, class participation (group participation, rubrics, performance assessment, etc.). Assignments will be due at the beginning of the period on the due date. Test dates will be announced in class approximately one week before the test. Announced and unannounced assessments will be given on a regular basis. Students will be allowed to retest once for assessments that haven’t been mastered once remediation has taken place. Major projects also count as assessments and are expected to be turned in on time. Ten points per school day will be removed for late projects.
RETESTING OPPORTUNITIES: Will be afforded to those students that don’t achieve mastery (80%) of standards per Unit. This will be administered within a 2-3 dys time frame from the original assessment date ONLY, and additionally after the remediation process outlined by the instructor has been completed by the student. The re-test time and date will be arranged with the instructor. PLEASE NOTE: THE STUDENT WILL RECEIVE THE AVERAGE OF THE TWO TEST (ORIGINAL AND RE-TAKE) FOR THEIR NEW CALCULATED SCORE.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
There is a ZERO tolerance policy for cheating. Cheating is obtaining information from any sources other than those prescribed (approved) by the teacher for the specific assignment.
Examples of cheating offenses:
A. Having a “cheat sheet”
B. Copying from someone else’s paper during a test or homework assignment
C. Providing someone else with answers
D. Talking during a test
E. Plagiarism (copying, word for word, or ideas, without giving credit to your source)
F. Use of any technology (cells phones will be turned in prior to testing and returned after the testing period is
completed)
If a student has a question any time during the testing period, they must raise their hand as not to disturb/disrupt other students testing. During assessments every student’s desk should be cleared before testing, except for the materials the teacher gives or asks the students to take out. If a student is caught cheating, both the student(s) that copied the information and/or provided the information will be given a grade o
Penalties/Consequences for cheating:
1. Parent notification
2. An assignment of 0% for the grade
3. Office Referral
BATHROOM/HALL PASSES:
According to school policy, hall passes are not to be issued unless it is a true emergency. Please be sure to notify the nurse and the teacher of any medical conditions the student may have. Each student will be given 3 bathroom passes per semester, use careful discretion when deciding when to use them because it will be documented. Before leaving with the pass, students must sign in and out, recording the time leaving and returning. Passes will not be given the first or last fifteen minutes of class. There will be absolutely no hall passes given to students unless the teacher deems it as an emergency. Make sure all materials and/or homework needed are brought everyday to avoid any problems of needing to go to lockers.