Wenatchee High School
Agriscience Department
Biology
Teacher: Mrs. HammerbergRoom: 308
Contact Information:
Phone: 509-663-8117 ext308
e-mail:
hours: 3-3:30pm after school in room 308 unless otherwise posted. Other times by appointment only
Class: Agriscience and Biological Systems
Agriscience and Biological Systems will explore the areas of biological and life science using an agricultural approach. This class will count for a full sophomore science credit at Wenatchee High School. In addition to scientific principles, leadership and employability skills and activities such as public speaking will be included in this class through FFA activities and will account for a significant portion of your grade. I would encourage you to join FFA but it is not required.
Required Materials:
Textbook: Agriculture: A Biological Approach: 3rd Edition by Ray V. Herren Available in the high school library
Materials: Composition notebook specifically for science notebooking
Pens/pencils, calculator, ruler
Late Assignments
Late assignments must be completed entirely and correctly. They will receive no more than half credit. Tests and quizzes must be made up within one week of original date. Tests require a completed review sheet to be turned in prior to the test.
Classroom Procedures and Expectations
* Respect others time and property and put forth your best effort.
Tech Prep Notice
This course is College Tech Prep approved and articulated with Wenatchee Valley Community College. Student’s who demonstrate proficiency of the college course competencies with a ‘B’ (3.0) or better grade, may earn 5 quarter college credits in Agri 101 through the College Tech Prep registration process. During the year all competencies for tech prep credit will be covered in class…some may require additional independent work by the student. To earn college credit students are required to pass a skill check/assessment with the high school instructor and pay a one time fee of $15.
SAE Project 10%
Each student in an agriculture class at Wenatchee High School is required to complete a Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) project. This is an essential portion of the course which is mostly student directed with some help from the instructor. Outstanding SAE projects are eligible for awards at the state and national level.
Daily Work 40%
Once given a job, employees are not given grades for how well they work. Instead, they are awarded with pay. If you fail to perform on a daily basis at work, you will be fired. Likewise, if you don’t complete your work in this class on a daily basis you probably won’t pass (failed, fired... very similar). Daily work may consist of book assignments, work sheets, reading assignments, leadership activities, group assignments, presentations, etc. performed in class. Assignments not finished in class become homework.
Tests/ Quizzes 15%
All tests and quizzes will be written from material covered in class. In the case of pop quizzes, students will be able to use their notes to complete the quiz. If a warning is given ahead of time for a quiz students will not be allowed to use their notes.
Work Ethic 5%
Leadership and employability activities in this class will account for this portion of your grade. The course you are enrolled in is a Career and Technical Education course. As such, it is important that you develop a strong work ethic throughout the year.
Lab Activities and Projects 30%
Lab projects done during the semester will account for 15% of the students’ total grade. For each lab performed in class a written lab write up will be completed by each student. Scores for lab activities can only be earned with the completion of a lab write up. Labs will follow in accordance with the scientific method.
Final Grade Ranges
Final grades will be based on the following grade ranges:
93-100%A78-79.9%C+
90-92.9%A-73-77.9%C
88-89.9%B+70-72.9%C-
83-87.9%B60-69.9%D
80-82.9%B-Below 60%F
Wenatchee High School Attendance Procedures
Goal
We believe that school attendance is not just a school issue but a community issue. The extent of a student’s success is determined by a couple of things. First, it is our responsibility to keep accurate attendance records. Second, it is the parent’s responsibility to call or write a note within 48 hrs of the student’s absence to excuse the absence. Finally, if we share this responsibility, students will improve their academic achievement and be able to establish meaningful relationships as part of a professional learning community with their peers and staff at WHS.
Definitions
Student absences from class & tardiness to class are recorded by class period and are classified in the following ways: (please keep in mind that a parent or student can ask for an attendance report print out)
Unexcused Absence
The student is late 10 or more minutes to class or is absent in one or more classes in any one day and fails to have a parent or guardian call or provide a written note for the absence within two school days (48 hours) of the student’s absence. Student will be assigned an intervention.
(On school reports unexcused absences are identified as “W” or “U”): “W” is reported by regular classroom teacher, “U” is reported by substitute classroom teacher
Tardy
The student arrives to class less than 10 minutes late. Please keep in mind that 4 accumulative tardies in any one day or week(s) is equal to having one unexcused absence. 4 tardies = 1 unexcused absence
(On school reports tardies are identified as “T” or “L”): “L” is reported by regular classroom teacher, “T” is reported by substitute classroom teacher
Excused Absence
The student is absent from school due to illness, health, family emergency, religious purposes or educational opportunities during one or more classes in any one day and has a parent or guardian call or submits a written excuse within two school days (48 hours) of the student’s absence from school.
After five consecutive absences per class due to a health, or an accumulation of ten absences during a single semester due to illness or a
health condition, a note of explanation signed by a doctor will be required, unless the absence was pre-arranged.
Even when oral or written verification is received, school officials have the discretion to investigate the circumstances surrounding an absence.
If a student does not check out of school with the attendance office before leaving campus for an appointment or for any parent excused reason they may be assigned an intervention resulting in a 2 hour detention.
(On school reports excused absences are identified as an “E” accompanied by two letters specifying reason)
Examples: E-AP (appointment) / E-PE (parent excuse / E-CT (court) / E-JD (juvenile detention) / E-MD (medical)
School-Excused Absence
The student is absent from school for a school-sponsored or school-endorsed event. Examples include athletic and academic competitions, field trips, and educationally-related absences that have been pre-approved by the school.
(On school reports school-excused absences are identified as an “O” accompanied by two letters specifying reason) Example: O-SA (student activity):
Absenteeism and Grading
- Students reaching level six intervention (accumulation of six or more unexcused absence in one class; reminder four tardies = one unexcused absence) will receive a reduced schedule. If a student is currently receiving a passing grade when schedule is reduced they will receive an “NC” (no credit) grade for the class and on their transcript.
- An “NC” grade differs from an “F” grade in that an “NC” grade does not figure into the student’s overall GPA. However, both “NC” and “F” grades result in loss of credit.
- For co-curricular eligibility purposes, an “NC” grade is counted the same as an “F”.
Course objectives: Students will become familiar with the following topics through a series of hands on activities, reading/writing text and other resources for information, and classroom discussion.
- Introduction to Career and Technical Agriculture
- Develop and plan SAE project
- Scientific Method/Scientific Papers
- The Science of Agriculture
- Apple Judging
- Microscopes
- Cells
- Determining the Bases of Life
- The Science of Genetics
- Monera
- Protista
- Fungi
- Classifying and Naming Things
- Plant Systems
- Plant Reproduction
- Plant Growth
- Job Interview
- Meats
- Animal Systems
- Animal Reproduction
- Animal Growth
- Plant and Animal Diseases
- Developing a report
- Public Speaking
- Weed Science
Wenatchee High School
Agriscience Department
Biology
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