East Career & Technical Academy Page 1

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1 COURSE NAME: Freshman Studies TEACHER: Ms. Jacqueline Key ROOM NUMBER: 808 PHONE: ext COURSE DESCRIPTION: This semester course is designed for ninth grade students to provide a smooth transition into the high school setting and develop a sense of community and ownership. Emphasis will be placed on developing a long-range educational plan that focuses on the learning techniques and self-management skills that foster academic success. Students will discover ways to work effectively with their own learning styles, develop strategies for dealing with challenging class assignments, and have opportunities to practice new skills. Learning skill practice, especially reading, is emphasized. This course will fulfill one half elective credit required for high school graduation. COURSE GOALS: 1. To define vocabulary as it relates to educational planning, the world of work, and post-secondary education and training options. [NS: SC1.2, 1.3] 2. To research personal heritage and cultural background. [NS: SC1.3, 3.1, 3.3] 3. To improve and practice oral, written, and verbal communication skills. [NS: SC1.1, 4.3] 4. To create an educational plan for high school and post-secondary education or training. [NS: SC2.1, 2.3] 5. To learn the history and traditions of the high school community. [NS: SC2.1, 2.3] 6. To practice study skill techniques such as note taking, reading strategies, and test taking. [NS: SC1.1] 7. To explore various research techniques needed for high school success. [NS: SC1.2, 2.2] 8. To develop and practice proper time management strategies. [NS: SC1.3, 3.3] 9. To analyze the decision making processes. [NS: SC1.3, 2.1] 10. To develop an awareness of various student organizations. [NS: SC3.3, 4.5] 11. To examine personal responsibility as it relates to school success. [NS: SC1.1, 2.2] 12. To introduce issues related to personal fiscal responsibility. [NS: SC1.3] 13. To practice and model acceptable security, legal, and ethical issues as outlined in the Clark County School District s Acceptable Use Policy. [NS: SC4.4, 4.6] REQUIRED MATERIALS: -Notebook/Binder -Black and/or Dark Blue Ink pens -Pencils -8 GB USB drive -Highlighter East Career & Technical Academy Page 1

2 COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING PROCEDURES: GRADING POLICY The purpose of grades is to provide effective feedback to students, parents, and the school administration about a student s progress towards mastery of the established standards for a particular course or subject. As such, other factors such as attendance, effort, and behavior will not be considered when calculating a student s grade; however, excessive absences (more than seven unexcused absences during a semester) may result in a loss of credit in accordance with CCSD Regulation Extra credit will not be permitted unless the work is specifically designed to provide more evidence of a student s progress towards mastery of the established standards. CCSD s Grading Scale is as follows: % = A Consistently Exceeds Standards 80-89% = B Consistently Meets Standards 70-79% = C Approaching Standards 60-69% = D Emergent 59% and Below = F Does Not Meet Standards In order to demonstrate sufficient evidence of proficiency, a student will be required to make arrangements with the teacher to make-up any assessments missed due to an absence. Failure to complete required assessments may result in a lower grade or a failing grade due to a lack of evidence. Grades will be weighted as follows: Category Assessment Weight Content Knowledge 10% Presentation 20% Written Communication 10% Collaboration 30% Problem Solving 10% Technology 20% According to CCSD regulation 5121, Semester exams shall be comprehensive of the material covered during the semester and may be worth up to, but not exceed, 20% of the student s final semester grade. Final semester grades reflect assignments and assessments completed throughout the semester and the final exam grade. Semester grades will be calculated as follows: Quarter 1 = 45% Quarter 2 = 45% Semester Exam = 10% Semester Grade = 100% Per CCSD Regulation 5127, the weighted grade point factors for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses shall be incorporated only when a student participates in a cumulative examination. East Career & Technical Academy Page 2

3 The exception for the aforementioned cumulative examination(s) requirement only exists if the course load for a student exceeds three courses per semester. A fourth or subsequent number of advanced placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses taken by a student in a semester does not require the participation in the cumulative examination. Students may choose which three advanced placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests to take related to that semester/year-long course. PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND THE SIX TENETS East Career and Technical Academy is dedicated to assessing student learning and achievement through Project-Based Learning (PBL). East Tech uses six tenets, or beliefs, to assess student performance during each PBL assessment. These tenets will be the basis of grading during each PBL project. The six tenets are Content Knowledge, Collaboration, Problem- Solving, Technology, Communication, and Presentation Skills. MAKEUP WORK POLICY According to CCSD Regulation 5113, teachers shall provide an opportunity for a student to make up missed work due to any absence, and students shall be held accountable for the work. When a student is absent, however, the educational experiences lost during that absence might be irretrievable because the instruction and interaction in the instructional setting cannot be duplicated through makeup work. After any absence, a secondary student is required to initiate contact with the teacher(s) to obtain appropriate makeup work within three school days immediately following the absence. Once contact has been made with the teacher(s), specific makeup work must be completed and returned to the teacher(s) within a reasonable length of time, to be determined by the teacher and communicated to the student/parent or legal guardian. The makeup work must be returned to the teacher(s) by the specified due date if it is to be acknowledged. Students shall be allowed a minimum of three (3) days to complete makeup work. LATE WORK POLICY Late work that is considered practice (homework, classwork, etc.) will be accepted and graded for credit at the teacher s discretion. All assigned work turned in after the due date, but within 3 class days of the original due date will lose 10% of the original possible points. If the assignment(s) is turned in after the 3 class days allowance, the assignment(s) will be worth zero points. TARDY POLICY It is the expectation of East Career and Technical Academy that students will arrive on time to every class. Not only are students developing skills for success in high school, but also for the rest of their lives. The Progressive Discipline Plan will be followed for students who are tardy to class. Furthermore, if a student is 30 minutes or later to a class, he/she will be marked absent for that class. DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES East Career and Technical Academy follows a school-wide Progressive Discipline Plan when students do not follow established rules and behave inappropriately: STEP ONE: STEP TWO: STEP THREE: STEP FOUR: Teacher-Student Conference (Warning) Parent Contact by Teacher (Phone or Letter) Counselor Referral Deans Referral East Career & Technical Academy Page 3

4 A teacher may also issue classroom disciplinary consequences for infractions at his/her discretion. Classroom Behavior: 1. Come to class with all materials: notebook paper, pens (dark blue and black ink only), highlighter and pencils. 2. Arrive to class on time. Both feet must be in the room when the bell rings or the student(s) is considered tardy. 3. Class is dismissed by the teacher. When the bell rings, students are to stay seated until the teacher dismisses the class. 4. The five minute passing time between classes is the time to get a drink and use the restroom. Ask for permission to do so during class only in an emergency. 5. Be respectful of the questions and comments of others. 6. When visitors attend class, you are to focus and not become disruptive in any way. 7. Please turn off cell phones while in class. They are only to be used if given permission by the teacher. If this rule is broken, Progressive Discipline will be implemented. 8. All school property, including the equipment in the classroom, is to be treated with the best of care: no graffiti, carving, permanent markings, gum, destruction of property, etc. Some offenses are serious enough to warrant a referral to the Dean for the initial infraction (e.g.: physical violence, gross insubordination, truancy, etc.) CITIZENSHIP POLICY Category Outstanding (O) Satisfactory (S) Engagement involved in class activities *Collaborates with others and/or the teacher prepared with required materials *Engages in class activities, but may have to be encouraged *Works with others or groups, but may not initiate collaboration *Usually prepared with required materials Needs Improvement (N) *Rarely engages in class activities *Rarely demonstrates initiative and may occasionally disengage from class *Regularly unprepared for class Unsatisfactory (U) *Does not engage in class activities *Adamant refusal to work unprepared for class Preparation meets working with peers in collaborative groups *Usually meets working with peers in collaborative groups *Rarely meets working with peers in collaborative groups *Does not meet working with peers in collaborative groups East Career & Technical Academy Page 4

5 Conduct respectful of both classmates and adults *Takes responsibility for individual actions *Usually respectful to both peers and adults * Often takes responsibility for individual actions *Often disruptive to others *Often argumentative; does not take responsibility for individual actions *Consistent disrespect to classmates or adults *Argumentative and defensive; does not take responsibility for individual actions complies with school and classroom rules *Usually complies with school and classroom rules *Consistent disregard for school or class rules *Consistent disregard for school or class rules There is a clear expectation that all students will perform academic tasks with honor and integrity. The learning process requires students to think, process, organize, and create their own ideas. Throughout this process, students gain knowledge, self-respect, and ownership in the work that they do. Cheating and plagiarism violate the fundamental learning process and compromise personal integrity and one s honor. Students demonstrate academic honesty and integrity by not cheating, plagiarizing, or using information unethically in any way. East Career & Technical Academy Page 5

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