About Physical Science
Contact Information
Email: [email protected] Phone: 252.937.9040 Room: 408 Office Hours: Mon KT-A and Thurs KT-B
Classroom Rules (Students will receive a warning, and then be sent to chill out for subsequent violations)
Materials needed for this class: (Have out at the start of class each day.)
Grading Scales:
Official grades can be found in PowerSchool and are determined based on the scales below. Comments may be added to the grades indicating a note about an assignment, especially concerning missing work.
Email: [email protected] Phone: 252.937.9040 Room: 408 Office Hours: Mon KT-A and Thurs KT-B
Classroom Rules (Students will receive a warning, and then be sent to chill out for subsequent violations)
- Be Respectful. Be polite, supportive, and safe. Raise your hand during discussions or for questions. Value fellow student and teacher input. Keep hands and feet to yourself. Clean up after yourself.
- Be prepared for class. Arrive on time. Be in your seat when the last bell rings. Have all required materials and work on hand and ready when needed.
- Participate to the best of your ability. Follow directions the first time they are given. Keep your mind and activities on current class related items.
- Use technology responsibly. All use of technology in class should be for class related activities only. Cell phones may not be out or used in class unless specific permission is given. Having a cell phone out during a formal assessment will result in a zero on that assessment.
- Put away food and drinks. For safety reasons, and in accordance with school policy, students are not permitted to eat or drink in the classroom, with the exception of Knight Time. When in doubt, ask permission.
- Plan ahead. Anticipate your needs. If you have an upcoming field trip or away game, be sure to pick up a hard copy of your homework in advance. Account for extracurricular activities when planning study time.
Materials needed for this class: (Have out at the start of class each day.)
- Graphing paper composition notebook and pen
- Your computer once assigned (charged or with its power supply.)
- Scientific calculator (may borrow from class set during class)
- Closed-toe shoes
Grading Scales:
Official grades can be found in PowerSchool and are determined based on the scales below. Comments may be added to the grades indicating a note about an assignment, especially concerning missing work.
Term Grades
Tests/Quizzes ............ 60% Daily Work................. 40% |
Course Grade
T1...................... 40% T2...................... 40% E1....................... 20% |
Item Meaning
1M................................. Assignment cannot be made up 2L..................................Late work; may earn up to 80% 3...................................Absentee work; follow policy |
Aces: Students averaging 90 or better are "Aces" and have their names posted prominently to celebrate their success. "Golden Aces" have a 100 average and get a star by their name.
Daily Work: (Check both knowledge and proficiency.)
Daily Work: (Check both knowledge and proficiency.)
Type |
Due |
Late Policy |
Grading |
Notes |
Catalyst |
10 min. into class |
Not Accepted |
Per related type |
Can be online or paper |
Activity Lab |
End of class or start of next class |
20% penalty until unit test |
Valid Attempt or Accuracy |
May be distributed via Edmodo |
Notebook Check |
End of Unit |
20% penalty for 5 days only |
Completion & Organization |
Rubric will be provided |
Extra Credit |
Before Test |
Not Accepted |
Accuracy |
Adds up to 10 pts to related test |
Remedial |
5 class days after a test grade < 70 |
Not Accepted |
Accuracy |
Required for any test below 70 or if attempting a retake |
Tests and Quizzes: (Check both knowledge and proficiency.)
Defending Work:
Absentee Policy:
Bathroom Policy: (In accordance with school policy)
Getting Help: (We all need help sometimes.)
Communications: (Let me know what you need.)
Required Knight Time:
- Tests will count 2 times and quizzes will count 1 time in this category, each.
- If absent for the review, you still take the test/quiz with the class. If absent on test/quiz day, you have 5 class days to make it up, after which, the grade is "1," and it cannot be made up or retaken.
- You may retake a test to improve its score up to an 80 after completing its remedial until term grades close.
- Quizzes will be given frequently, may or may not be announced in advance, and will be timed.
- CK-12 assignments are online assignments that can be worked on at home. Each will be due by the end of its corresponding unit and will count for a quiz grade. These assignments can be worked on late for a 20% penalty by part of the assignment until the term grade closes.
Defending Work:
- Students may be asked to demonstrate the process used to arrive at an answer. Right or wrong, you should be able to show how you found an answer. If you cannot or will not, I will assume you did not actually do the work, and the assignment will receive a "0." If cheating is discovered, it cannot be remediated.
Absentee Policy:
- Online assignments should continue to be done since you do not need to be at school to get or submit them.
- For all other work, you must track and make up any work within five days of your return. Items will show a grade of "3" while they can be made up for full credit. After this time, the work follows its related late policy. Parents may request exceptions in extraordinary circumstances.
Bathroom Policy: (In accordance with school policy)
- Each student will be given 3 passes for the semester to use for going to the restroom. Passes may be kept in the card file at the front of the room. If the card is lost, so are the passes. Students will not be permitted to leave the classroom in the first eight minutes of class and/or the last eight minutes of class.
Getting Help: (We all need help sometimes.)
- Other than during tests and quizzes, your first resource should be your notes, CK-12’s articles, and the classroom textbooks. If still stuck, quietly ask your group to explain the material; however, peers may not provide you answers. You may be asked to defend your work, so be sure you understand any help received. If these resources fail you, ask me and I will reteach your group.
- I am available for tutoring on Mondays during Knight Time A and Thursdays during Knight Time B for any student who wishes to get help or have a quite place to do homework/study.
- Videos related to the content are available via my website (nnhswilliamsscience.weebly.com). Some assignments may permit/require the use of certain websites; any other use of the internet for assignment completion is strictly prohibited.
- Tests and quizzes are meant to assess your knowledge. You may not seek help from classmates nor provide it. You may not use notes or any other resource (except calculators) not specifically stated on the test or quiz. I will clarify the questions but not tell you how to do it nor say if answers are correct.
Communications: (Let me know what you need.)
- Students can log into Edmodo and CK-12 to see the assignments for the class from anywhere they have internet access. Hard copies of assignments will be provided to those without internet and upon request.
- Major class announcements and reminders will be sent over Remind. Parents and students can subscribe for these announcements. Directions for joining are posted in Edmodo.
- Weekly updates will be sent via e-mail to all parents and students. I will be using the students’ school e-mail addresses for these updates.
- Student behavior is tracked in Class Dojo. Parents & students will be provided with a code to join.
- You can best contact me via e-mail or through my website.
Required Knight Time:
- You will be required to attend Knight Time with me if your average grade is <70.
- Make-up tests and retests will be offered during Knight Time; you should pick up lunch and come straight to Room 408 at the start of Knight Time A. Plan to stay for both Knight Time A and B.