Stephen Decatur Middle School

8300 Pinewood
Clinton, MD 20735
301-449-4950
Principal: Mr. Cyrus

Welcome!!!
Policies, Procedures, and Syllabus

Course: Science Teacher: Ms. Allison Porzillo
Grade: 7
th
Room: 16

Ms. Porzillos Contact Information:
Email: allison.porzillo@pgcps.org
Remind 101: We will be using Remind 101 as a means for efficient and instant
communication throughout the school year. Remind 101 is a text messaging service that
gives all parties involved a phone number to ensure real phone numbers are kept
anonymous. I have set up an account for each class and the information that you need to
sign up is listed below. I urge all parents to set up an account! Parent-teacher
communication is essential and Remind 101 provides a convenient way for us to
communicate.

**Use the code attached to the module that your child is in**
**The phone number I will be using is 240-766-8159**

Module One: @msporz

Module Two: @msporz2

Module Four: @msporz4

Module Six: @msporz6

I will be using Remind 101 to send text reminders of all assignments, assessments,
projects, upcoming events, and other important announcements as they come up. To sign
up please text the code above to the number above (240-766-8159).


Teacher Availability: I will be available to stay after school to provide students with additional
assistance but they will need to make an appointment with me first, as I may not be in the
building. Students will also need to provide me with a note from a parent or guardian stating
they have permission to stay after and will have a way home.


Overview: The Middle School Science curriculum is designed to equip students with the
necessary knowledge and skills that will enable them to apply scienctific skills and processes in
our world and society. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to
identify and explain major scientific concepts, natural phenomena, and their interrelationships
with other scientific, technological, and social issues.

Materials:
Everyday students should come to class with the following:
Three-ring binder (with dividers), homework, and other class work.
Two pencils (sharpened), pen, and highlighter.

Science Binder: In your three-ring binder, you will need the following sections:
Warm-ups/Objectives
Class Notes (including habdouts)
Homework/Classwork
Lab Handouts/Lab Work
Reading Article Assignments
Graded Work

The purpose of your science binder is to help keep you organized. This is a life skill that will
make everything much easier. Having all your work readily accessible will make studying for
assessments and quizzes much easier.

Tardiness: It is vital for all students to be in class and in their seats at the sound of the bell,
ready to learn. We begin class immediately and you will be responsible for the information
missed. If for any reason you are late to class, you must have a late pass. If you enter class after
the door is closed, without a note, you will be marked for an unexcused tardy.

Entering the Classroom:

Warm-up/Objective: Upon entering the classroom, there will be an objective and
warm-up on the board. Students must copy down both the warm-up and objective onto
their handouts (provided by teacher). After everyone has had a chance to answer the
warm-up question, we will discuss the answer as a class. It is important that everyone
participates, as the majority of the warm-up questions will come directly from previously
given 8
th
grade MSAs. Every Friday, warm-up sheets will be collected for a classwork
grade. Once during each quarter, students will be given a warm-up and objective quiz in
which they will be allowed to use their notebooks. If you are absent, it is your
responsibility to get the warm-up and objective from a peer.

Lab Materials: Due to safety concerns, do NOT touch any lab materials or any other
materials that may be set up until directed to do so. This will result in your not being able
to participate.

Class Info Board: You should check this board daily (located next to the classroom
door) for school and class announcements.
Ms. Porzillos Desk and Table: For confidentiality reasons, no student is permitted to be at the
teachers desk, table or computer withour permission.

Restroom: Students should use the restroom before and after class. Class time is extremely
valuable and it is vital that students are not leaving the room unless it is absoluley necessary. It
is understood that special circumstances do arise, and in these situations students will be
permitted to use the restroom. If you have a medical need, please have a note on file. Students
are not permitted to leave the room during the first or last fifteen minutes of class; this is a school
rule.

Assessment Days: Enter the classroom ready to begin the assessment. This includes having two
sharpened pencils and all materials removed from your desk. When you are not prepared, you
steal valuable class time for your classmates. If you break you pencil during the assessment,
please raise your pencil in the air and I will bring you another. Students should not get up from
their seats during an assessment unless they have permission from the teacher. As always,
talking will not be tolerated during an assessment.

Participation: Everyone is expected to participate! This includes answering or attempting to
answer questions, asking intellectual questions, and participating in labs, demos, and group
work.

Class Dismissal: Class is dismissed by Ms. Porzillo, not the bell. Class will be dismissed once
all materials are nicely put away, students areas are clean and ready for the next class, and I have
stopped speaking.

Late Work: Students are expected to turn in their work on time. This is a life skill that students
should be practicing. Deadlines and due dates are set in place for a reason. Therefore, 10 points
will be deducted for each day your assignment is late. This goes for homework that was not
done, left at home, left in your locker, left in the car, etc. If you have a legitimate excuse and
dont think you can make a deadline, talk to me BEFORE the assignment is due. Do not wait
until after the assignment is due; it will be marked down!

Absences and Make-Ups: Class time is very important. For every day you miss, you are
behind 72 minutes in my class. For this reason, it is much easier to just be in class and on-time.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the work you missed. It is your
responsibilty to check your modules absent box to get the work you missed. You will have one
day to complete the work you missed per day you were absent. It is also your responsibility to
get the warm-ups and abjectives you missed from a peer. It is your responsibiltity to ask the
teacher for any additional work/information you may have missed.


Grading Policy:
**This is the mandatory county-wide gradig policy for 7
th
grade science.**
Homework 15%
Classwork/Labs/Projects 40%
Assessments 45%
Consequences: Consequences are used for any disruptive or disrespectful behavior in class.
You are old enough to know how to act. INTERFERING WITH THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT OF
YOUR CLASSMATES WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. It is my responsibility to maintain a learning
environment in which all students are comfortable and able to learn. The following are the chain
of consequences I have set in place:
Verbal Warning
Name Written on Board
Time Away
Lunch Detention
Refferal

Depending on the type of behavior and frequency I will make phone calls home and meet
indiviually with the student and/or parent to discuss the behaviors being displayed, reasons for
them and possible solutions. Please note the consequences can be skipped or repeated based on
the type of behavior and frequency.

Lab Safety: Lab safety is extremely important for keeping yourself as well as your classmates
safe. If at any time you decide to play around (running, hitting, throwing, or any other form of
horseplay), you will not be permitted to participate in laboratory experiments. In addition, any
form of misuse/abuse of lab materials (stealing, breaking, wasting, etc.) will also result in your
not being able to participate in laboratory expeirments.

Class Expectations: As a student, you will
Have homework every night (if not a written assignment, then study classroom notes).
Give 100% effort in completing all assignments and turn them in on time.
Complete reading assignment articles.
Complete unit projects.
Study for all assessments and always try (dont leave anything blank).

Course Main Topics by Quarter:











Quarter 1
*Skills and Processes
*Motion, Forces, and Energy
Quarter 2
*Earth/Space
*Human Biology
Quarter 3
*Life
*Bacteria to Plants
Quarter 4
*Chemistry/Physics/
Environmental