Newton North High School - Curriculum I Biology Information Sheet
Contact information: Home base: Room 415/411Office: 420C
(this is the best method of communication)
What do I need for the course?
You’ll need: a relaxed mentality, patience, an open mind, a sense of humor, time to dedicate to the class, a folder (for this class only), a notebook, and a text book (best left at home). I’ll let you know about anything else.
Can I?
Most food and drinks are fine with me during class time, not lab time. ALL TRASH MUST GO IN THE BUCKET AND RECYCLABLES MUST BE RINSED AND PUT IN THE RECYCLING BIN!! No electronic devices! Please don’t put your head down on the desk.
I need extra help.
I am available during X blocks and by appointment. I have a four year old in the Plowshares program downstairs and need to pick her up before 3:30 each day and a one year old so we may have to be creative about meeting times after school. I also live an hour away from North. There is a math and science help room that can be utilized for test taking and extra help. Please alert me that you are coming in for extra help so that you can get my undivided attention.
Does this count? Numbers?
Every assignment will have a point value. The values are base on the time invested on a particular assignment. For example a long-term project might be worth 100 points whereas a one-night homework assignment may be worth 15 points. Points are added up at the end of the quarter and divided by the total number of points possible for the quarter. I post updated grades in the class every week or so. All assignments are posted in the classroom. You will receive a progress report from me each quarter. The final exam is worth 20% of your final grade for the year.
What do I do?
If you miss a lab you may be able to make it up or you may not; this will be addressed case by case. If you miss assignments because you are absent, make them up as soon as possible. Here is the late work policy: Every student can earn full credit on ONE late assignment each quarter. Any assignment that is late beyond this will be noted, but receive no credit. You’ll attach a late work pass to the late assignment (see hand out). Do every assignment. It may make a difference in your grade at the end of the quarter.
Cheating
It saddens me to feel forced to address this; it is the worst part of my job. I “catch” several people cheating every year. The first offense is a phone call home and a note put in your student file. The second offense is a phone call home, a note put in a permanent student file, and a suspension. Cheating/plagiarism come in many forms. If something does not “feel” right to you, don’t do it. If you cannot complete your own work that means that we need to have a conversation, not that you need to copy your friend’s homework.
Website
We have a class web site. It is . I expect that you will check it several times each week. It lists assignments, due dates, links to simulations etc. and is my way to communicate with you should we miss a class.
Extra credit
This will be offered several times (usually twice) throughout the year. If you make me laugh on an assignment/test/whatever extra credit may be rewarded.
My Philosophy/Mission Statement
I love science and want to share it with you. I hope to encourage you to think critically and deeply and help you to pose articulate questions. Use the text to “fill in the gaps”. I hope that you become more science literate and leave more curious than you are today. If you make me laugh in your written work, you can earn extra credit. I hold a sense of humor in high regard.
Good news!
Mr. Fuchs will be a full year intern with us! You get to the benefits of two instructors, two people for help, two people for individualized attention, two people to answer your questions – lucky you!
Mr. Fuchs has degrees in biology and geology. He has worked with environmental education centers, the National Park Service and in private industry and will bring practical examples of the use of science to the classroom. He shares my love of science and desire my to share it with you.
About me
I am both honored and enthusiastic to teach this course and hope, not only that you see this, but also that you are excited as well. As for me, this will be my fourteenth year teaching high school science. I LOVE teaching and cannot imagine a better way to spend a career than teaching young people about the world and helping them find their place in it (functionally and figuratively). I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in biology and have done independent research on many different songbirds, red squirrels, and Atlantic Salmon. I also have a handful of publications in different scientific journals (let me know if you have trouble sleeping and I’ll loan you a few of them). I like all parts of biology (some more others) and you will too. My deepest interests are definitely in organismic and evolutionary biology.
NO SHUT UPS!!!!
Questions?