2016--2017

Biology/Honors Biology
Fr. Luke – Room 114

My primary goal is to instill in my students a fascination and appreciation for the interesting, beautiful, and ever-changing, extraordinary world of Biology.

Students in the course will accomplish several skills that will help to make him/her a successful life-long learner incorporating the Mary Star of the SeaHigh SchoolESLRs…

* AChrist Centered Person, *An Individual of Strong Character, * A Genuine Thinker and Decision Maker, * A Socially Responsible Citizen!

Biology/ Honors Biology Course Description

The beauty and mystery of life fascinates people all over the world. For many students, taking a biology course is the natural expression of an interest in the great questions of life: “Why am I here on this earth?” and “How does everything work?”

This course will reinforce and enhance our understanding of life while providing a rigorous introduction to biology as a science. This course will have a Catholic worldview to emphasize the integration between faith and science and the importance of respecting life both scientifically and morally.

Many major themes run through Biology:

In the School Year 2016-2017:

Next Generation Science Standards

This new state frame work involves 3 major strands:

1. Science and Engineering Practices

2. Crosscutting Concepts

3. Disciplinary Core Ideas

PART ONE: Structure and Function

PART TWO: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
PART THREE: Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems

PART FOUR: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

  • PART FIVE: Natural Selection and Evolution

In Addition, the New Common Core Curriculum is being utilized by the Archdiocese this school year

The use of these new frameworks will be used to prepare the students to be both scientifically prepared for college level work and to be lifelong learners with skills to adapt to our ever changing world

Please Note: Each of the Units above cover the requirements set forth by the California State Standards

Each unit will attempt to show the real world connections between what is learned in class and the students “real life” experiences.

Students will learn using lectures, investigative laboratory experiments, reading, completing interactive activities with the internet and technology, and with reports and projects.

N.B. All information for this class can be found in the following places:

  • All homework will be posted on the school website this year.
  • Please check your portal for this on a consistent basis.
  • E-mail will be utilized for communication purposes.

One of the keys to the success of our students is good communication(proper etiquette with emails/written messages and phone messages) between student, parent, teacher, and counselor. The best way to stay on task and to be organized for success in this class is to always use:

  1. The student agenda
  2. The use of PowerSchool
  3. The use of the school website for an updated listing of all homework assignments and their due dates

Science Notebook and Required Materials:

Required Textbooks:

1)Biology, 2010 Edition, Prentice Hall

2)Biology.comWebsite

Required Materials: a detailed list will be given in class

3)Science 3 ring binder 2” or larger(see instructions)

4)Set of Colored Pencils

5)Pens, Pencils, Erasers, Highlighters, Paper, Section Dividers

6)Scissors and Glue Stick

The science notebook is an important part of the scientific method and will help students in organization and preparation for exams. All science work is to be kept in the science notebook. Students are responsible for maintaining their notebooks for the entire semester and will be a great resource of study material for the final exams.

Science Notebook:

The notebook must be a hard cover 2inch-threeringbinder, brought to class every day, maintained and organized daily. It will be turned in for creditthroughout the school year.

How to OrganizeAn A Science Notebook:

Prepare your notebook with dividers clearly labeled for each of the following sections:

  1. Syllabus(Class policies, rules, grading scales, grade tracking, and weekly agendas)
  2. Notes(This is for class notes – Have lined paper in this section-including handouts)
  3. Homework(Graded homework will be placed back in this section)
  4. Labs(Graded lab exercises will be placed in this section)
  5. Tests(Test corrections and questions will be placed in this section)

How to be a Successful Student in Fr. Luke’s Biology Class

1. Time: Class begins at the sounding of the bell- DO NOT BE TARDY

  • silence begins immediately
  • talking only during activities that call for it
  • be ready and focused to begin at the bell
  • Ready: in your seat and all your materials and books out!!

2. Conduct in the Classroom: Moral and Respectful

  • ALWAYS follow the directions given
  • respect yourself, the school, each other by conducting yourselves as ladies and gentlemen
  • lack of response to directions and class rules will result in various school discipline policies being used

3. Homework:Very Important for Success

  • Homework is essential to doing well in all your classes. It helps in understanding the material and making the material part of your foundation for success.
  • Work completed during an academic detention will be penalized 20% for the quarter in which it is assigned and graded. This policy also applies to late homework. EXTRA CREDIT may be given during a semester. Values, deadlines of all extra credit are determined by the teacher.
  • You should expect to have some homework several times each week and some weekends. Homework is varied and includes the completion of vocabulary terms, chapter exercises/review, reports, current events, lab write-ups, semester projects and studying lecture notes for tests and quizzes. Students need to be aware at all times of ALL Deadlines and turn in the work for credit.
  • Homework is due when collected in the classroom by the teacher.
  • Tutoring is available for all students to help them in understanding the material for the class. Ask questions and seek help often.
  • At the discretion of the teacher, students may be required to attend teacher’s detentions for missing academic work.
  • Work missed due to an excused absence will be accepted for credit. The due date will be determined by the teacher and the student.
  • Work missed due to an unexcused absence may not be made up.

Honesty Policy:

  • All homework turned in must be the student’s own work. Copying work from another student, allowing another student to copy your work, or plagiarism of any previously published work for a presentation or report is considered cheating and is prohibited. Student papers may be processed through Turnitin.com to determine authentic work and plagiarism. Any work of this nature will receive a zero and disciplinary action will be taken according to school policies.
  • Materials may not be shared during any exam or quiz. Any infraction of the test taking policy will incur a zero for the test or quiz and disciplinary action.

4.Assessment:How your grade will be determined

Methods of Evaluation:

1.Tests and Multiple choice, True/False, Matching, Essay

QuizzesReadings, Lectures, Key Terms and Concepts

2.HomeworkWorksheets, Concept Mastery, Critical Thinking

3.LabParticipation in labs and write-ups

4.ProjectsEssays, Research Projects

5.Final Exam Comprehensive exam at the end of the semester

  • All Projects, Tests, Labs and other methods of evaluation will be graded on a Total Point scale
  • Semester grades are determined as follows:
  • Your Semester Work Grade = 80% of your final semester grade
  • Your Semester Final Exam = 20% of your final semester grade
  • Students missing more than one day will complete all missed work and tests on a date determined by the mutual agreementof the student and the teacher.
  • Missed work and examsare the student’s responsibility to complete and turn in for credit!
  • You may be given an academic detention for not turning homework on time or for incomplete work (you may be required to finish it in an after school detention in my room from 2:20pm to 3:00pm
  • Unexcused absences on the day of the exam or homework due dates can not be made up

Mary Star GRADING SCALE:(Grades are based on total points earned)

B+87-89%C+77-79%D+67-69%

A100-95%B83-86%C73-76%D63-66%

A-90-94%B-80-82%C-70-72%D-60-62%

Fbelow 60%

5. Class Rules and Expectations of Mary Star High School:

  1. All regulations as given in the student-parent handbook are expected to be respected and followed
  2. You acknowledge by your signatures on the student handbook to have good will and to be held responsible for all work that you do
  3. Respect for the learning environment and for one another at all times
  4. No gum, food, drinks, cell phones, or ipods (electronics) in the classroom/lab
  5. Follow all lab rules and clean up all lab work
  6. Each student is responsible for his/her assigned lecture seat and laboratory area. Therefore, it is in each science student’s best interest to check his/her classroom seating and laboratory area for any marks, damage, defacement, or problems at his/her assigned seat when the student enters the classroom. Should any problem be discovered, the student is required to report it to the teacher immediately so that the offending student can be identified.Any destruction, damage or defacement of the science laboratory/classroom, equipment, or supplies will result in an immediate referral to the dean’s office.

Page 1 of 2: Turn in this page to Fr. Luke: DUE: 8/15/16

Acceptance of Guidelines and Environmental Contract

2016-2017

Biology and Science Department

Mary Star of the Sea High School

Specifically, the classroom environmental contract states: Any destruction, damage or defacement of the science laboratory/classroom, equipment, or supplies will result in an immediate referral to the dean’s office. The offending student will be “required to pay restitution” to Mary Star of the SeaHigh School.

Each student is responsible for his/her assigned lecture seat and laboratory area. Therefore, it is in each science student’s best interest to check his/her classroom seating and laboratory area for any marks, damage, defacement, or problems at his/her assigned seat when the student enters the classroom. Should any problem be discovered, the student is required to report it to the teacher immediately so that the offending student can be identified.

For communicating with Fr. Luke: through the class website at PowerSchool at Mary Star of the Sea High School.

Return this WHOLE Form: Do Not Cut

RETURN THIS WHOLE PAGE FOR a 10 POINT HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

Print Student Name______

Student Signature ______Date ______

Parent/Guardian Signature ______Date ______

Page 2 of 2: Return to Fr. Luke: DUE: 8/15/16

Biology/ Honors Biology Student Information Sheet

As confirmation that you have received and understand the classroom information and

Guidelines for Fr. Luke’s Biology class, return this paper signed by student and parent/guardian by the due date of Monday AUGUST 15, 2016.

I have read and understand the course syllabus and class rules / guidelines for Fr. Luke’s
BiologyClass for 2016-2017.

______

Student – Print NameBlock

______

Student – SignatureDate

Student Information:

Do you work after school? ______How many hours per week? ______

Are you on a team at school? ______Which one? ______

Other activities at school ______

Do you play a sport outside of school?_____Which one? ______

Other activities outside of school______

Hobbies or interests ______

Future goals ______