HONORS ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY COURSE POLICY

Mrs. Patti Carothers email  pacteachme@comcast.net &  pcarothers@mvhigh.net 

Voice Mail: 925-552-2829    Fax: 925-484-5896 

Room # 500

Teaching Schedule 2009-2010  Periods 2,3,4,5,6  HAP

Prep Period 2009-2010   1st period

Open Lab  For Tutorial, Review, Study Sessions  Lunch period - Check the teacher web page Assignment Calendar  or School Loop:  Honors A&P Group News  for announced Dates .

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year at Monte Vista High School. This course policy will provide you with valuable information and will give you a clear understanding of what is expected of each student enrolled in this course.  Please take a moment to read and review these expectations.  A course policy signature sheet is located at the end of this policy. Please complete the information, sign and return it within the first 15 days of school, indicating you have read the policies. You are kindly requested to attach your lab $$ donation check of $65.00 made out to MVHS Science/Carothers. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions after reading this class policy.

For your convenience all assignments are listed on the class web page calendar which is password protected. Students have received the web site password and are asked to share it with their parent.  Parents may receive the password by emailing the teacher if the student is not forthcoming with this information. 

Grade updates will be posted on school loop a minimum of twice a month. If you have not registered for school loop email notifications and access please check with the MVHS Administration to do so.

General Communication will occur via email.  Please be sure both parent and student email protocols are set up to receive large group emails and attachments from both of my emails otherwise the emails will end up in your spam folder. Please put the STUDENTS NAME IN THE SUBJECT LINE when you send an email.

Cell Phones/iPods
There is absolutely NO reason that you will need a cell phone/iPod etc during class unless I specifically ask  you to use your phone to photograph a particular structure of anatomy for study purposes , record a lecture, study session etc., otherwise they need to be turned OFF before entering the classroom.  If your phone rings, buzzes, or if I catch you checking messages or using your phone/iPod etc  during class; I will notify the office and the cell phone policy outlined in the student handbook will be followed.  There are countless ways that cell phones/iPods can be used to cheat on a test so be aware that if you have a phone/iPod incident during a quiz or test, you will receive a zero.   

Parents:  If there is an emergency and you need to contact your child during class hours DO NOT CALL their cell phone, please call the front office.  They will either get a message to your child or call for your child to come to the office.

Participation in lab dissections is a required portion of this course. A student may elect to participate by observing the dissections. It must be noted, however, that laboratory exams using dissection specimens are a common practice therefore a student must have observed the dissection thoroughly to excel on lab practical exams. A student may use any number of alternatives to dissection. See your teacher for the suggested alternatives.

MATERIALS PROVIDED:

• Textbook:  Human Anatomy & Physiology 7th edition  w/ resource CD ROM, by Elaine N. Marieb.
• Human Anatomy Photographic Atlas:  A Brief Atlas of the Human Body 2nd edition by Hutchinson, Mallatt, Marieb, Wilhem 
• Online Textbook support for tutorials, practice quizzes etc: Password protected site
•  Lab Manual files
•  Lab equipment, materials and specimens including dissection kit.

ITEMS YOU PROVIDE: The required materials must be provided by you 

•  Kaplan Medical Anatomy Coloring Book 3rd edition  ISBN # 9781419553035 or the online source for free pages (see the online student Summer Assignment part 3 for the details.)   An order has been placed during the summer and copies are ready for your purchase and pick up at San Ramon Borders 120 Sunset Dr. Bollinger Canyon Rd.  You may also purchase it online at Amazon.com or another source.
• 1 1/2 "Three ring binder with pockets front/back
•  Blue, black and red ball point ink pens
•  #2 pencil
•  highlighter
•  colored pencils (10 or more colors)
•  latex surgical gloves
• You need the following materials available at home: Computer, color printer, stapler, hole punch, internet access w/ email set up to receive attachments and group emails.
• Lab $$ Donation: A lab $$ donation of  $65.00  is requested by the September 8th.  This will purchase lab materials & specimens used during the year*. This donation is extremely important due to the absence of lab class funding from the district and state . New specimens and other lab and dissection materials must be purchased new each year.  Please make checks payable to MVHS Science Department/Carothers. 

OPTIONAL Materials: There is a chapter by chapter study guide available that accompanies the textbook. It can be purchased online new or used at Amazon.com or other online sources. "Study Guide" Human Anatomy & Physiology 7th edition by Elaine N. Marieb and Katja Hoehn.  ISBN#0-853-7305 

GRADING:  Semester grades will be determined according to the following:

Assignments are weighted according to the following:

Dropping the course after the 6th week of class without requesting counseling with your teacher will result in an N or WF grade depending upon the quality and quantity of the student's work to date. 

Homework Assignments:  

MVHS Homework Policy: Homework is an integral component of education that deepens student learning and understanding.  Students will participate in homework that is meaningful, purposeful, and appropriate.  The Monte Vista High School site-homework plan includes guidelines for the assignment of homework and describes the responsibilities of students, staff and parents/guardians.  Please refer to the Monte Vista High School website www.mvhigh.net  for site guidelines.

• Homework is weighted at 15% of the semester grade.
• Average 2-3 assignments per week.(reading, questions, coloring workbook are typical)
• All assignments need the correct heading format. See class notes.
• Homework questions are typed, single space, 12 font Times New Roman, black ink.  If you have printer problems please do not email your homework to me.  Send it to your own email account and please print it in the library prior to coming to class.
• Homework worksheet answers are handwritten in the space provided in blue or black ink pen only.
• Late Homework assignments are given a maximum of 50% of the credit if turned in within 1 day of the due date. Homework assignments will not be accepted later than 1 day.
• Two free late assignment passes are given out each semester allowing a student to turn in a late homework assignment OR a late lab within 2 days of the original due date at full points earned. Latework passes that are unused at the end of a semester will count for 5 bonus points each added to your final exam score.
• ALL DAY legal absences your homework is due within the same number of days + 1 you are absent to earn full credit, otherwise the assignment is considered late and will be given 50% credit. Homework assignments will not be accepted later than 1 day beyond the formula of # days absent + 1 for full credit
• If you are only absent for part of the day and are on campus earlier or later and miss HAP you must drop your assignment by the classroom or into Mrs C's mailbox in the staff room before 4 pm or the assignment is late and will receive 50% credit if turned in the next day. Homework assignments will not be accepted later than 1 day.
• Students who cut on days that an assignment is due will receive a 0 on the assignment and will not have the privilege of making it up by using a late pass, or turning it in the next day for 50%. It is a permanent grade of 0.
• Cheating on any HOMEWORK assignment, as well as Plagiarism/including copying another students work or working too collaboratively so that the answers are nearly or exactly the same (up to discretion of the teacher) is not acceptable and will result in a 0 on the assignment for all parties involved. Additionally a note will be added to the student record and loss of all extra credit points to be earned for the remainder of the semester.  Bottom Line...It is not worth the risk! *See details in SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CITIZENSHIP POLICY below

Labs: 

• Safety is a priority in the lab. Each student will read and sign a Safety Guidelines and Contract. prior to being allowed to perform any  lab.  Parent signature is required on the Safety Guidelines and Contract prior to the student being allowed to perform any lab. Each student will take a Safety Quiz and must earn 90% or better to participate in labs. Retake the safety quiz until a passing grade is achieved.  
• Lab work is weighted at 25%of the semester grade.
• Printing Lab procedure packets from the web page or flash drive file, will be the student's responsibility as needed BEFORE each lab and will be kept in the binder.
• Students are required to read each lab prior to lab day and do a Pre-lab if requested to do so.  
• Lab questions must be either typed or written into the lab packet in ink pen as requested per lab assignment.
• One "Formal" or two "In-formal " Lab write ups are assigned per semester. See the details online.
• Missed Labs:   All labs must be performed…no dry lab data collection will be accepted (this means you may NOT collect data from another person) likewise, if you have missed  any days of a group dissection you will be required to make up that dissection. See Lab make up Policy   online
• Dissection labs are given a group grade, however a student may earn less points than the group on a lab if it is obvious he/she is not working to his/her potential. Likewise a member of the group may earn more points than the group if it is obvious he/she is doing the majority of the work.
• Breakage, damage or loss of equipment, specimens, lab manuals, syllabi,  will be charged to the student on a replacement cost basis.
• Late Lab assignments are given a maximum of 50% of the credit if turned in within 1 day of the due date. Lab assignments will not be accepted later than 1 day.
• Two free late assignment passes are given out each semester allowing a student to turn in a late homework assignment OR a late lab within 2 days of the original due date at full credit. Late work passes that are unused at the end of a semester will count for 5 points each added to your final exam score.
• ALL DAY legal absences your lab is due within the same number of days + 1 you are absent to earn full credit, otherwise the assignment is considered late and will be given 50% credit. Lab assignments will not be accepted later than 1 day beyond the formula of # days absent + 1 for full credit
• If you are only absent for part of the day and are on campus earlier or later and miss HAP you must drop your lab assignment by the classroom or into Mrs C's mailbox in the staff room before 4 pm or the lab assignment is late and will receive 50% credit if turned in the next day. Lab assignments will not be accepted later than 1 day.
• Students who cut on days that a lab is due will receive a 0 on the lab assignment and will not have the privilege of making it up by using a late pass, or turning it in the next day for 50%. It is a permanent grade of 0.
• Cheating on any LAB assignment, as well as Plagiarism/including copying another students work or working too collaboratively so that the answers are nearly or exactly the same (up to discretion of the teacher) is not acceptable and will result in a 0 on the assignment for all parties involved. Additionally a note will be added to the student record and loss of all extra credit points to be earned for the remainder of the semester.  Bottom Line...It is not worth the risk! *See details in SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CITIZENSHIP POLICY below

EXAMS AND QUIZZES:

• Exams and Quizzes are weighted at 40% of the semester grade
• Study guides for exams and quizzes are provided on the online calendar.
• Open lab study session dates and times are announced on the calendar. Attendance is optional but highly encouraged.
• Quizzes:  Homework quizzes, reading quizzes and lab quizzes will be given as needed weekly or every other week. Quizzes are always 30 points.  Check the online calendar for dates.
• The lowest QUIZ is dropped each semester.
• Exams: will cover reading, vocabulary, lecture and lab. Exams are always 100 points and may include a lab practical.  Check the calendar for exam dates.
• Missed Quizzes or Exams due to legal absences:  The student will take the quarter final.  The grade % on the quarter final will substitute for missed exams or quizzes.  The missed quiz or exam grade will be recorded as 0 until the quarter final grade is substituted.  Failure to take the quarter final will result in a permanent grade of 0 on the missed exams or quizzes.
• Students who cut on days a quiz or exam is given will receive a 0 on the quiz or exam and will not have the privilege of making it up by  taking the quarter final.  It is a permanent grade of 0.
• Students earning a semester cumulative 90% or higher exam + quiz average are exempt from the semester final exam. This average is computed BEFORE the lowest quiz is dropped and AFTER the quarter final make up exam is taken.
• Cheating on any quiz or exam is not acceptable and will result in a 0 on the assignment for all parties involved. Additionally a note will be added to the student record and loss of all extra credit points to be earned for the remainder of the semester.  Bottom Line...It is not worth the risk! *See details in SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CITIZENSHIP POLICY below

FINAL EXAM:

• Final Exams are weighted at 20% of the semester grade. The semester final exam is mostly comprehensive with a lab practical and covers material covered during the semester with emphasis on the last units of study. A study guide will be provided online a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the exam.  Students will be permitted to have a "cheat sheet".  It  must be hand written, ALL diagrams must be hand drawn.  No photocopying, including shrinking or plagiarism is allowed.  
• Missed Final Exam:  Every opportunity will be made to have the student make up the final exam within 2 days of the missed final exam.
• Unused late assignment passes are added to the final exam score (5 points each).
• Calculate your grade:  To determine what you need on the final exam to maintain your current grade or improve it, click the link.

EXTRA CREDIT:

• Bonus Homework Points may be earned by accumulating Brainiac Coupons. To earn Brainiac Coupons various tasks are completed when assigned. Brainiac Coupons are valued at 1 pt. each.  These earned points go into a brainiac coupon column at the end of the semester and weighted as a homework assignment. 
• 2% Semester Grade Extra Credit::  A student may earn up to 2% extra credit added to the semester grade through 2 options: 

Option 1: Highly recommended...2% extra credit per semester may be earned by becoming a Science Alliance Club mentor to a district 5th grade student for his/her science fair project. Mentors must earn 80% of the science alliance points (each semester) to earn the 2%. Science Alliance Club has won national, state and local recognition as an outstanding science mentoring program.  Being a SA mentor is a doubly rewarding experience by being a role model to a younger student and learning from that experience as well as it looks great on a college application.  NHS and CSF members earn points for being an SA mentor.

Option 2: Extra credit assignments are given periodically during the semester and are due on the date given.  These assignments generally require researching a topic and writing a short research paper or essay, doing an extra credit lab or attending an outside of school event and writing a review.  100% of the 2% assignments must be completed to earn the full 2%.  However partial 2% credit is available. For example if eight  2% assignments are given during the semester and the student turns in 4 of those the student will earn  1% (50% of the 2% extra credit points). Extra credit is not accepted late for any reason, and late assignment passes may NOT be used on extra credit assignments

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT Academic Responsibility POLICY

Students: Are responsible for learning; no one else can learn for you.  You are also responsible for your own behavior and attitude. You are responsible for attending class and participating fully. Students should strive to limit the number of days or class periods they miss.

Parents:  Are responsible for providing a home environment in which students are able to learn.  Are responsible for monitoring the student's progress and attendance via online calendar and email progress updates.  Should act as a positive advocate for the student with teachers and school administration. Parents should strive to limit the number of days or class periods a student misses.

Teachers and schools: Are responsible for providing an environment in which students are able to learn.  High academic and behavioral standards shall be maintained.  An atmosphere of trust and caring will be promoted at all times. Promoting Monte Vista ESLR'S and California Science Subject Standards are the responsibility of the teacher and school.

1. Cuts:  The school attendance policy is followed. Consult the student handbook for details. Students who cut on days that an assignment is due or a quiz or exam is given will receive a 0 on the assignment, quiz or exam and will not have the privilege of making it up by using a late pass, or turning it in the next day for 50% or taking the quarter final.  It is a permanent grade of 0.

2. Tardy: The school attendance policy is followed. Consult the student handbook for details. Excessive tardiness will result in a discipline notice.

3.  Bathroom Privileges are permitted by asking for and obtaining the hall pass then signing out and back in upon return to class. Excessive time out of class (more than 2 times per week) may result in a Saturday School.

4. Disruptive behavior, inappropriate language: 30  minutes of classroom detention per instance to be performed at lunch.   Note: On the 2nd instance you will be asked to leave the room with an Administrative discipline referral.

5. Leaving the classroom early or without permission will be determined to be a CUT and the cut policy applies. 

6. Clean up: Leaving the lab tables, sink, counter and floor areas dirty or wet, or if equipment is not put away properly or stored in the appropriate place. - 10 points off of current lab task grade per instance.

7. *Academic dishonesty (see definitions below) Grade of 0 on the assignment and loss of all Brainiac Coupon points, all 2% extra credit points earned or to be earned in the future for the semester of the academic dishonesty/cheating instance.  Additionally a discipline note will be added to your school record. 2nd instance you will be dropped from the course with a grade of F.

  *Definitions of Academic dishonesty: Defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's own work, taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, the fabrication of information, and turning in an assignment that is a duplicate of another student's work accomplished via collaboration (working together) without effort to individualize the assignment to show one's own learning.. Common examples of academically dishonest behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:  Plagiarism/including copying another students work or working collaboratively so that the answers are nearly or exactly the same  is not acceptable and will result in a 0 on the assignment for all parties involved, and loss of all extra credit points earned or to be earned for the semester.  Additionally a note will be added to the student record.

1.      Cheating - intentionally using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to improve one's grade; copying from another student's work; submitting same work for an assignment in more than one class without prior permission of both instructors; representing material prepared by another as one's own work; inappropriate test taking conduct; violating rules of academic conduct relating to this course.

2.      Fabrication - intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any data, information, or citation in an academic exercise.

3.      Plagiarism - intentionally representing the words, ideas, or sequences of ideas of another, as one's own in any academic exercise; failure to attribute any of the following: quotations, paraphrases, or borrowed information, as well as collaborating so that answers are nearly the same as another student. .

4.      Falsification and forgery - knowingly making a false statement, concealing material information or forging another's signature.

5.      Facilitating academic dishonesty - intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to commit an act of academic dishonesty.

6.        Use of cellular phones or any electronic device (photos, text messaging, emailing, fax etc) during or after exams or during discussion and or corrections of exams.

            All rules and policies in the Monte Vista Student Handbook will apply if not addressed in this class policy or departmental citizenship policy.

Amended 8/09

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Class Policy Signature and Lab $$ Donation

Return this on or before September 8th

Your lab $$ donation check can be attached to this policy signature sheet. Lab $$ Donation for Honors A&P $65. Please make checks out the MVHS Science Department/Carothers. 

We have read the class policy and science department academic responsibility for Honors Anatomy & Physiology

Please Print Clearly

Student Printed Name __________________________________   Class Period _______

Student Signature  _____________________________________  Date _______________

Student Contact Information (if not supplied previously with summer assignment #1)

email _______________________________________

Parent Printed Name  _____________________________________________________

Parent Signature  _____________________________   Date ______________

Please feel free to ask questions about the class, course policy, lab  $$ donation by using the space below.     Or if you have an expertise in the medical field you would be willing to share as a guest speaker, please let me know below.

My questions are:

Yes, I have an expertise in an area of medical or health related field I'd like to share as a guest speaker.  My area of expertise is

________________________________________________.  You may contact me at this phone number _________________