REGULAR ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY "RAP" COURSE POLICY

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Mrs. Carothers   pacteachme@comcast.net and pcarothers@mvhigh.net  Voice Mail: 925-552-2829  Fax: 925-484-5896

    Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year at Monte Vista High School.  This course policy will provide you with valuable information that 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 this link (click and print);  Please sign and return it  within the first 10 days of school, indicating you have read the policies. You are kindly requested to attach it to your lab fee check of $55.00 made out to MVHS Science/Carothers.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions after reading this class policy.

   Regular Anatomy and Physiology "RAP"  is a course designed to help students understand the workings of the human body.  Students will dissect, build models, and perform physiology labs with students as the specimen. The knowledge obtainable in this class will enable students to understand their doctors, and aid them in making health care decisions for themselves and in the end the student should be  more informed, able to understand the intricacies of his/her own body and hopefully able to apply this information to future studies and their families. For students planning a career in the health fields, this course will provide a solid background for further study in  health related college course work .    

  For your convenience all assignments are listed on the class web page calendar.  Please bookmark this site on your home computer http://patticarothersonline.org  Parents, feel free to browse the web site for the Course Syllabus , Assignment Calendars, and any additional links found on the home page pertaining to RAP.  Parents should also feel free to visit the classroom anytime during the school year. 

   Grade updates will be posted on school loop at least twice a month.  If you have not registered for school loop please check with the Administration to do so. On occasion it is necessary for me to send emails to my students.  Please give me the student and parent email addresses  immediately so I will be able to keep you up to date.  Send email addresses to both  of my email addresses: pcarothers@mvhigh.net AND also to  pacteachme@comcast.net.  If at anytime during the school year, a change occurs to an email address it is your responsibility to send me an update.  Additionally 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.

   Participation in lab dissections is a required portion of this course, however you may elect to participate by observing the dissections.  It must be noted,  however, that  laboratory exams using dissection specimens are a common practice. You may use any number of alternatives to dissection to study.  See your teacher for the list of alternatives.   NABT National Association of Biology Teacher's policy on animal dissection.  For a detailed policy on dissection please open the link. To answer a Frequently Asked Question:  WHERE DO YOU GET THE CATS??  The cats are obtained from a biological supply company which originally purchases them from the Humane Society.  They are the cats that do not get adopted.  They are humanely and painlessly  put to sleep and their bodies are sent to one of many biological supply houses for embalming.  They are purchased from the biological supply house. We have the privilege of learning from these animals, therefore we always treat them with respect!  Your dissections should be treated as if it is surgery using the utmost care.

Materials Provided:

  •  Textbook:  Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology 9th edition  w/ CD ROM, by Elaine N. Marieb.  Replacement cost $176.45 including tax and shipping.    Replacement cost of the textbook CD ROM  $18.00 including tax and shipping Lab Manual: Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual/4th edition by Elaine N. Marieb.  Replacement cost $59.00 including tax and shipping

  •  Online Textbook support for tutorials, practice quizzes etc: Password not needed.

  •   Laboratory CD  produced & published by the teacher on CD rom.  Lab Replacement cost $5.00 or burn a copy from Mrs. C's master copy.

  •  Lab equipment, materials and specimens including dissection kit. Replacement cost of the dissection kit $18.00 including tax and shipping

Materials Required: The required materials must be provided by you and available to you in class on a daily basis. 

 

GRADING:

Grades will be determined according to the following:

100-90%

A to A-

89.9-80%

B+ to B-

79.9-68%

C+ to C-

67.9-55%

D+ to D-

Below 55%

F
   
Semester Grades will be based upon the following criteria
35% Quizzes and Exams
25% Labs
15%Homework                   
10% Projects & Participation (models, presentations,  participation during lecture, discussion and lab,  etc)
15% Final Exam
2% Extra Credit is offered per semester
 

Dropping the course beyond the 5th week of class will result in a WF (withdrawal failure) as per science department policy.

Attendance:   

  • Absences due to illness are allowed one day per day absent to turn in assignments.  You are encouraged to e-mail me or contact a classmate when you are absent to get an update on the material you may have missed. Check the web page calendar http://patticarothersonline.org .

  • Absences on lab days please see  Lab make up Policy

  • Absences due to long term illness (5 or more days) require special arrangements with me via email BEFORE returning to school so the student can plan his/her make up schedule.  Extended absences beyond 5 class days will require a home teacher as per district policy.

NOTE:

  • It is impossible to replicate the science lab experience with paper and pencil activities. Parents and Students are strongly encouraged to plan family vacations, doctor's appointments, and other social activities for times when it will not adversely affect a student's educational progress. See Vacation Policy

    •

  •  Cuts  will not be eligible for make up credit on any assignment or class activity nor will credit be given to in class assignments/tests/quizzes/labs/homework/projects due the day of a "cut".  *Refer to School Board Policy in student handbook*.  Students who cut class will not be eligible for 2%  extra credit assignments earned or offered during the semester.

  • Tardiness to class without a pass will result in 10 minutes of classroom detention per tardy.  Work detail is performed during lunch. Tardiness (with or without a note) that amounts to 30 minutes w/in the school year is determined to be truancy. *Refer to School Board Policy in student handbook*

  • Bathroom Privileges are permitted by asking for and obtaining the hall pass and signing out and back in upon return to class.  *Note: If a student is out of class for this purpose more than 15 minutes per week it will count as a 15 minute detention and classroom work detail will be assigned.

Homework Assignments:   

  • Homework is weighted at 15% of the semester grade.

  • All assignments need the correct heading format.  See class notes for this information.

  • Homework questions are  typed, single space, 12 font Times New Roman, black ink

  • Homework worksheet answers are handwritten in the space provided in blue or black ink pen only.

  • Average 2-3 assignments per week. (reading, questions, coloring are typical)

  • Late Homework or Labs are not accepted, beyond the 4 late assignment passes given out each semester.  Late work passes allow work to be turned in within 2 days of the original due date of the assignment to earn credit.

    •   Late homework/lab work passes that are unused at the end of a semester will count for 5 bonus points each added to your final exam score!

  • 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.  Additionally a note will be added to the student record and students will lose all 2% extra credit points earned or to be earned for the semester. *See details in SCIENCE DEPARTMENT ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY POLICY below

    •

Labs: 

EXAMS AND QUIZZES:

FINAL EXAM:

EXTRA CREDIT:

A student may earn up to 2% extra credit per semester.  Extra credit reading or research assignments are given periodically (see the assignment calendar) and due on the date given.   Late passes may NOT be used on extra credit assignments.  2% Extra Credit per semester may also  be earned by becoming a Science Alliance Club mentor to a 5th grade student for his/her science fair project providing you earn 90% of the science alliance points (each semester).   Being a SA mentor is a doubly rewarding experience helping a younger student and learning from that experience as well as it might earn you a college letter of recommendation.

Success Tips:

1. Attend class daily. Turn in all work on time, neat and legible.

2. Take pride in your work. Make every effort to do all of the assignments, especially for days you have missed. Even though you receive reduced points for late work you are still responsible for the subject matter covered. It will help you on the Final exam in the long run.

3. Participate in class discussions: ask questions; take notes; get notes when absent.

4. Maintain communication with your teacher by phone, fax or e-mail.

5. Cooperate and participate during labs. You will be expected to know how to use equipment and how to do certain procedures.

6. Review for quizzes and exams using the study guides and textbook resources.using the study guides and textbook resources..

7.  Come in for help...your teacher is always ready to help you!!!

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.

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. 

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:  1st cut discipline notice and Saturday school.  2nd cut -25 points + discipline notice and Saturday School.  3rd cut dropped from the course with a grade of WF. Cuts  will not be eligible for make up work or extra credit on any assignment or class activity nor will credit be given to in class assignments/tests/quizzes/labs/homework due the day of a "cut".  *Refer to School Board Policy in student handbook*

2. Tardy: Tardiness to class without a pass will result in 10 minutes of classroom detention per tardy.  Work detail is performed during lunch. Tardiness (with or without a note) that amounts to 30 minutes w/in the school year is determined to be truancy. *Refer to School Board Policy in student handbook*

3. Disruptive behavior, inappropriate language: 10 points  Note: if you're asked to leave the room with a referral, 50 points

4. Leaving the classroom early or without permission: 1st time discipline notice, and Saturday school. 2nd time  -25 points + discipline notice and Saturday School.  3rd time parent conference and may be dropped from the course with a grade of WF.

5. Leaving the lab tables dirty, wet, equipment not put away properly in the appropriate place. -10 pts per instance

6. Academic dishonesty/cheating (definitions of criteria below)  Loss of points for the assignment (grade of CHT = 0) and loss of all 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.

  *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: 

  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.

  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, etc) during 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 5/08