Princess Anne Middle School
2016-2017 Class Expectations
Course: Physical Science
Teacher: Donna Chapa
School Telephone Number: 648-4950
Email address:
Assignment Information: Daily homework assignments will be posted at http://pams-irish2.wikispaces.com and a text message will be sent out at least once a week via Remind. Please have your child sign up as well as yourself. Text @gg9chg to 81010 to join. Many of the classroom assignments will be on your child’s Google Classroom account. Parents are welcomed to join the class and monitor your child’s work. Most homework assignments consist of taking notes via teacher made videos and reviewing before a final assessment on that unit.
Course Description: Physical Science 8 is a comprehensive general science course emphasizing relevant, laboratory-oriented activities integrating current scientific thought. It covers two quarters of chemistry and two of physics.
Course Objectives: The course covers all Virginia Standards of Learning objectives in detail. It also encompasses the Virginia Beach City Public School’s objectives, which correlate to the SOL’s. The SOL’s can be found at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/testing/index.shtml . The content of the course is based on these two guidelines.
Course Scope and Sequence:
First Semester
Introduction to Physical Science, Scientific Method, and Measurement
Unit 1 Atoms, Elements, and the Periodic Table
Unit 2 Nature of Matter
Unit 3 Changes in Matter
Second Semester
Unit 4 Energy and Heat Transfer
Unit 5 Investigation Work, Force, and Motion
Unit 6 Wave Energy: Sound, Light, and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Unit 7 Electricity and Magnetism
SOL Resources
Texts and Materials: Physical Science (Holt). Please note that I will be handing out online textbook log-in information and passwords. This is also on my Wiki space. Students will be shown how to access this tool, although most already know how to use this. Students will have the opportunity to acquire the relevant information either with notes in class or a teacher made video as a homework assignment. Due to the type of instruction students will be engaged in, they are required to keep a science notebook/binder that should be brought to class daily. The online text book should be used as a reference tool when needed to look something up or to clarify information.
Mastery learning and Grading: A grade is a communication tool that informs you as to how your student is mastering a learning target. Students will be graded upon set standards and objectives. Grades are not compensation for points earned, but are instead used as a communication tool. What does this mean? The letter/number assigned to the task will allow you/your child to know if they are grasping the concept fully or if they still need to work on it. Final grades are determined by our professional opinion of your child’s work against the standards for Science, not by mathematical calculations or averaging. We will convert the 4 point scale to the VBCPS Board approved grading scale. Students will be evaluated formatively and summatively through tests, quizzes, class work, labs, projects, and varying critical thinking tasks. Please keep in mind that mastery of every concept is the goal and students have as many chances as needed to achieve mastery.
Note: All assignments will appear in the online grade book; however, they are not an average for the final grade. Teachers will determine which assignments truly allow the student the chance to show their grasp of the material versus assignments that are allowing the student a chance to learn or to practice the material.
-Homework is not graded but a student will give up class time to complete the work before being allowed to move forward with the classroom assignments.
-A zero can be assigned if a student does not turn in an assignment or fails to show any mastery.
-Should students receive a lower grade on the summative than expected, they must do supplemental work to better prepare before re-taking the summative assessment.
-Make up work will be accepted for full credit until one week before grades are due.
-There will be no extra credit assignments.
Grading Procedures and Policies:
4 = A Advanced proficient – consistently demonstrates proficiency; grasps, applies, and extends key concepts, processes and skills.
3 = B Proficient – regularly grasps and applies key concepts, processes, and skills with limited errors.
2 = C Developing Proficiency – beginning to grasp and apply key concepts, processes, and skills
1 = D Novice – needs improvement; not making expected progress toward proficiency
0 = E No progress is evaluated.
*Formative evaluations will be done multiple times during class to help students and teacher gage where they are on learning the required information as summative draws nearer.
*A summative evaluation (test) will be given after every three blocks, to assess what has been covered during that time. These tests will include multiple-choice, true and false, fill in the blank, as well as critical thinking application questions.
*Students will receive at least one laboratory grade during the three-day increments, and often a cooperative group grade for additional activities/projects.
If a student is absent, two days will be allowed for make-up work for every day missed.
You can sign up for “Parent Portal” at the school’s website to be able to access your child’s grades at any point during the year. If you are signed up to view the grades; please give me a timely manner to put the grades in as I do have more than 100 students. Please direct any questions you have about this to me via email or via phone.
A safety contract is required to be signed by both parents and students in order to be able to participate in any type of lab activities. Students must wear goggles for many labs and these will be supplied in science class. After each usage the goggles are placed in a UV cleansing device to ensure that no germs are being spread amongst students.
Help Sessions: I will be available for extra help between 8:40 and 9:00 on any day that there is a test, or any day a student requests it. Students must have signatures in their agenda from their parents as well as from me. This will allow them to get in to the building early in the morning. As there are no activity buses that run early mornings, your child will need to be driven to the school for extra help sessions.
Procedures for conferences, parental contacts: If you would like to request a conference, please contact guidance. I encourage you to email me if you have any questions/concerns, since I have found that it is the easiest method of communication between us.
Citizenship Expectations: Rules for the classroom are as follows: come prepared, be respectful to others at all times, and follow the rules under the code of conduct. My policy is to contact parents immediately if I have any academic (earning less than a C) or any behavioral concerns.
Classroom Behavior Plan
Negative behavior will be handled promptly and consistently, without disrupting the flow of instruction.
Students will be given a consequence for the rule violation.
Negative Consequences
· First Offense: Warning & verbal explanation
· Second Offense: Time out/ parent contact
· Third Offense: Teacher detention 8:40 – 9:00 am.
· Fourth Offense: Referral to the office
Should your child be performing below average, I will contact you to plan a strategy which will better serve your child. I can be reached best between 2:00-3:40 pm if you would like to speak to me directly.
Please print, sign, and return the bottom portion of this letter by September 15/16. This can be electronically signed and emailed. Thank you!
I have reviewed these expectations with my child. I will support the teacher in the delivery of instruction and the enforcement of acceptable classroom behavior.
Parent signature(s) ______
Student signature ______
Parent(s) phone numbers (home)______
(work) ______
(email)______
Physical Science
P. A. Middle- a school where every child achieves