BIOLOGY SYLLABUS

Deer Valley High School

Instructor: Ms. Samantha Weller
Room Number: C312
Email: Samantha.Weller@dvusd.edu
Tutorial Hours: 3:30-4:00 Thursdays
and by appointment before and after school
I. Course Description:
Biology is a year-long course designed to show the different connections between multiple
scientific disciplines which include; ecology, chemistry, and physics. It will give students a great
opportunity to experience the realistic aspects of a variety of scientific concepts seen in our
environment. During this first semester of biology, students will focus on the levels of ecology,
animal behavior, and natural resources. The goal of this course is to expand the students
knowledge of the state of Earths natural environments and what is happening to them, while
continuing to develop scientific critical thinking skills.
II. Text:
Doxen, Biology for the Future
III. Materials Required Daily:
1) Pencil, pen, colored markers
2) Paper
3) Classroom textbook (will stay in the classroom at all times)
IV. Course Content Skills and Standards
A. Science Skills
Students will:
Use science process skills in laboratory or field investigations to predict the outcome of an
investigation based on prior evidence, probability, and/or modeling (not guessing or inferring).
Use traditional reference materials to develop questions from observations that transition into
testable hypotheses.
Learn and use standard safety practices for laboratory or field investigations on a regular basis.
Learn and use safe and ethical procedures (e.g., use and care of technology, materials, organisms)
and behavior in all science inquiry.

B. Course Content Standards

STUDENTS WILL
PO 1. Evaluate scientific information for relevance to a given problem.
PO 1. Identify the relationships among organisms within populations, communities, ecosystems, and
biomes.
PO 2. Describe how organisms are influenced by a particular combination of biotic (living) and abiotic
(nonliving) factors in an environment.
PO 3. Assess how the size and the rate of growth of a population are determined by birth rate, death
rate, immigration, emigration, and carrying capacity of the environment.
PO 1. Describe how human curiosity and needs have influenced science, impacting the quality of life
worldwide.

V. Classroom Format, Requirements, and Evaluation:

We will be doing a variety of different classroom activities in this course that include;
class discussions and lectures, labs and field studies, individual work, and student projects.
Students will be expected to actively participate in the required work while completing all aspects
of the activities that are currently being performed. This will ensure that students can
accurately test their abilities and test their understanding of course concepts. Student
achievement will be evaluated based on effort and the overall performance of the student.
Tests and quizzes will be given throughout the semester with a single final exam at the
end.
VI. Grading System:
Student grades will be recorded in Power Schools, the district mandated on-line portal, as soon as
possible.
Grades are weighted as follows:
Tests
Quizzes
Labs & Research
Class work, Homework &
Class Participation
Final Exam

15%
15%
35%
20%
15%

Grading Scale
A= 100-90
B= 89-80
C= 79-70
D= 69-60
F= 59-0

VII. Exam Grade Remediation

Students will be given the opportunity to retake quizzes and tests they earn a non-passing
(69% or lower) grade on. This is an opportunity for students to take a 2 nd exam on the same
material in a different format than the original exam.
The guidelines for this opportunity are as follows:
Quiz and exam retakes will occur during the last week of each quarter in class.
Quiz and exam retakes are available only to students who earn a 69 or below on their
original scores.
Quiz and exam retakes must be done during the week they are being held.

VII. Student Success:

I want to see every one of my students succeed. If you are having trouble with a
particular assignment or concept, do not hesitate to seek help from me! I am available for extra
help during tutorial hours, and also before and after school by appointment. Students and
parents are encouraged to also use email in order to contact me at Samantha.Weller@dvusd.edu

VIII. Policies & Procedures:

i.

ATTENDANCE:
Students MUST be present in class in order to succeed and pass the course. It will be the
students responsibility to provide the teacher with an excuse for the absence. It is the
students responsibility to retrieve the assignments and the notes missed when absent for
any reason. Make-up must be addressed during tutorial hours and NOT during class.
Students may also make an appointment with the teacher to receive make-up work if the
tutorial hours do not work with the students schedule. Remember: STUDENTS ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING UP ALL ASSIGNMENTS AND NOTES MISSED DUE TO
AN ABSENCE FOR ANY REASON.

ii.

TARDINESS:
Students who are late to class will receive a warning on their pass books. A student is
considered late if they are not inside of the classroom when the tardy bell rings.

iii.

MAKE-UP WORK:
It is the students responsibility to inquire about what assignments, notes, and class work
they have missed when they are absent with an excuse for any reason. Work turned in
after the due date will be graded for reduced credit. In order to receive make-up
work from an excused absence, students must come to tutorial, or make an appointment to
do so.

iv.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
DO YOU OWN WORK! Plagiarism will not be tolerated and plagiarized material will always
receive a grade of 0. Although students may collaborate on certain projects,

students should NEVER turn in work created by another student.

If a student is caught copying or plagiarizing someone elses work then they will
receive a grade of 0 on their project. This grade can only be corrected if the
student completes the assigned tasks during tutorial hours on their own. Students
can receive no higher than a 70% on these assignments.
When group work is assigned, all members of a group are expected to do their part and
perform an equal amount of work within the group.

v.

DO NOT BRING TO CLASS:

The following items will not be allowed in class. If they are seen in the classroom then they
will be confiscated until the end of the period.
Hats
Mobile phones that are turned on (vibrate or ring mode)
Food
Drinks other than water
Any electronic device other than a calculator
Any item deemed to interfere with instruction
Chronic use of these forbidden items in the classroom will result in further disciplinary
measures.
PLEASE REFER TO THE PHOENIX PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD POLICY REGARDING
CONFISCATION OF AND RETURN OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

vi.

CLASSROOM CONDUCT:

Students will be required to present themselves in a mature and appropriate

manner in order to create an optimal learning environment for all students in the
classroom. Students will maintain respect for themselves, other students, the
instructor, and our community at all times. Inappropriate behavior will result in
disciplinary actions that include parent/guardian and administration collaboration in
order to correct the behavior.

PARENT/STUDENT SYLLABUS FORM

Please read, sign, date, and return this page of the syllabus to Ms. Weller:
***(for a homework/class work grade)***

STUDENT NAME (PRINTED): _____________________________

CLASS PERIOD: ____________________
A Note to Parents & Guardians:
Please feel free to contact me with any questions and concerns you have regarding your
childs success. The best way to contact me is via email. My school email address is:
Samantha.Weller@dvusd.edu. Likewise, I will not hesitate to contact you if I think that it is
necessary. If you do not use email you may leave a message for me by contacting the Deer Valley
main office at 602-402-3671, or schedule a conference with me through the childs counselor.
We, the undersigned, have read and fully understand the guidelines for Ms. Wellers Biology class.
I agree to abide by these guidelines, and all school policies throughout the school year.

_________________________________
Student Signature & Date

_________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature & Date

Parent Guardian Contact Information

(TO BE COMPLETED BY PARENT/GUARDIAN)
Name: __________________________________
Best Contact Phone Number: ___________________________
Email: ________________________________________