WELCO

ME TO 9
TH

GRADE BIOLOGY
Kennedy High
School
2015-2016

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am Ms. Scolaro and I am excited to welcome
both you and your 9th grade student to my
Biology class for the 2015-2016 school year. This
course is designed to cover many fascinating
subjects within the exciting scientific field of
Biology. I think that your student will find it a fun
and interesting class! We will be studying and
learning about cell biology, genetics, evolution,
ecology, human physiology, basic chemistry, and
other topics. One goal of this course is to enrich
your students life by providing him or her with
a basic understanding of your body systems, and
the natural systems that make life on this planet
possible for each of us every day. A second goal
is to prepare your student with the tools and
skills necessary to be successful in college and
life beyond high school.
I look forward to getting to know your student
and helping him or her set and reach goals. As
your students biology teacher, my
responsibilities will include:
Inspiring curiosity and desire to learn
Encouraging questioning and
challenging of current ideologies
Promoting student thinking and
problem-solving
Providing necessary resources to
develop knowledge, applicable skills
and a sense of self
Maintaining a positive classroom

COURSE
INFORMATION
Subject: Biology
Grade Level: 9th
Textbook: Biology,
Pearson/Prentice
Hall

Textbook Website:

Here is some information

about me: I grew up
TEACHER
nearby in Fullerton,
CA. I attended UC Santa
INFORMATION
Cruz and developed a fascination with the natural
Ms. Jessica
Scolaro redwood
world while exploring
the beautiful
forests and coastal ecosystems the town has to
offer. Following the experiences of teaching
students at an outdoor enrichment program in
Lake Tahoe, ski-instructing at the picturesque
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, and substituteteaching in Tahoe-Truckee School District, I was
positive that I wanted to be an educator. I
returned to my native soil of Southern California
and obtained my teaching credential from Cal
State Fullerton, aB.A.
leader
in developing secondary
in Environmental
education professionals.
Studies from
University California,
Parents/Guardians, you are important to the
Santa Cruz
success of your child in this and other classes.
Help your child practice
using new knowledge by
Single Subject
asking him/her to
explain
he/she has
Credentialwhat
in Biology
learned. Your attitude
about State
the importance
from California
of his/her education,
andFullerton
your expressed,
University,
clear expectations regarding his/her grades
Room 602
is what makes your son/daughter a good,
successful student.
E-mail:Please feel free to contact
me by e-mail or scolaro_j@auhsd.us
phone regarding your
son/daughters progress or any concerns of
HS Main
yours. I will alsoKennedy
contact you
if I feel that your
Office:
714-220-4101
student is not reaching his or her potential, or is
doing an outstanding
job. I am
excited
Conference
Times:
M- to meet
you at Back to School
Night on
Thursday,
F 7:00-7:45am,
2:30August 27 and 4:00
happy
to
answer
any
questions
pm (please
you may have. schedule an

Each student will be responsible for bring the following materials

to class every day:
- Spiral 3-subject notebook
- Pencil
- Colored pen
- Optional: calculator, stopwatch

GRADE
COURSE CONTENT,
GOALS AND
EXPECTATIONSBREAKDOWN
Tests/Quizzes:
45%
This class is a rigorous,
year-long
college prep
Lab
Work/Lab
Reports:
course. The curriculum is designed according
20% Science Standards.
to the Next Generation
15%
These standards Homework:
are based off
the view of
science as both aProjects:
body of 10%
knowledge and an
evidence-based, model and theory building
enterprise that continually extends, refines,
and revises knowledge. More information
about NGSS can be found at
http://www.nextgenscience.org/
Students will learn to:
-use models to represent concepts and solve
problems
-support reasoning with scientific evidence
-inquire about the world around them, and use
knowledge and experiences gained in class to
answer those questions
The class is broken down into six units:
Unit 1 Ecology
Unit 2 Chemistry of Life

GRADING SCALE
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
59% and below = F
EXTRA CREDIT
There will be
occasional extra
credit opportunities
throughout each
semester. Students
must exhibit their
efforts by completing
and turning in every
assignment for 3
weeks to be eligible to

CLASSWORK & HOMEWORK

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the given due date. It is
YOUR responsibility to keep track of your assignments. Late work will be
accepted for half credit up to two days after the due date. If you have an
excused absence, make-up work will be due, without penalty, within two
days of your return. YOU are responsible for finding out what assignments
you missed and completing them; assignments are not excused when you
are absent. All work must be made up or a zero will be recorded as your final
grade for the assignment.

LAB WORK
In the case of missed lab work one day MAY be given for makeup of the
lab depending on the availability of materials and supplies. Parents and
students should understand that it is entirely possible that some or all
materials (proteins, enzymes, starches, chemicals, nucleic acids, organisms,
etc.) will be consumed by the classes performing the lab, and a lab makeup
will therefore NOT be possible because such materials cannot be reordered,
or prepared a second time. In cases of absences, I will make every effort to
help the student make up the lab, but that may not be possible for the

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
Come to class prepared to work. You must bring your
biology spiral notebook and a pen or pencil to write with
every day.
Stay hydrated! You may drink water in class. No eating,
drinking other beverages, or chewing gum in the
classroom.
You (yes, YOU!) are expected to constructively contribute
to class. This means doing the assigned classwork,
homework, coming prepared, sharing your ideas, and
asking questions about what you do not understand.
When working on labs, every student must practice safe
lab procedures. Always follow directions and listen
carefully. Lab stations must be cleaned once the lab is
finished and before being dismissed.
Do not work on assignments from another classes unless
permission has been granted.
Raise your hand if you have a question or comment to
share, need to sharpen your pencil, borrow a supply or
equipment, etc. (Do not disrupt the class. Lets create a

reasons explained above. Students have a responsibility to have

regular class attendance with very few, if any, missed classes. If no
lab supplies are available to make up a lab, a student may make it up by
using another students data. However, full credit for the assignment may
not be given because the student did not complete the work to get the lab
data.
CELL PHONE/ELECTRONICS POLICY
Cell phones, iPods, tablets, etc. are to be turned off and in your backpacks
during class, unless instruct otherwise. There will be occasions during labs

or activities that I allow you to use your electronic devices as timers or

calculators. However, if I observe you using your device for other activities
such as texting of Facebook during this time, it will be confiscated. Parents,
in the case of an emergency, please do not call your childs cell
phone. Please call the front office, who can contact your child efficiently
and in a non-disruptive manner.

Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the

consequences of his choices.
Alfred A. Montapert
If you choose to make poor
decisions, the consequences
are as follows (depending on
the severity of the offense and
number of occurrences):
1. Verbal warning
2. Detention
3. Phone call home
4. Parent/guardian
conference
5. Referral to Assistant

Outstanding work, admirable

efforts and positive attitudes do
not go unnoticed!
1. Raffle ticket
2. Notable student of the
week display
3. Proud letter home
4. Proud phone call home
5. To be decided. (I will take
suggestions and discuss
with students!)

ATTENDANCE & TARDY POLICY

Attendance is important in any subject. It is not possible to succeed
without regular attendance. Many assignments, because of their group
nature or lab equipment set-up, will not be possible to be made up if you are
absent. Repeated absences will have a negative impact on your
success and should be avoided to prevent your grade from
suffering. Please talk to me about absences due to health or emergency
situations, or cultural or religious observances.
Tardies are unacceptable; you must be in your seat when the bell rings to
avoid being marked tardy. Per Kennedy policy, you receive one excused
tardy for this class. The 2nd will result in a detention. Subsequent tardies
will result in a referral to administration. Assignments, quizzes, and
exams missed because of unexcused tardies may not be made up.

LEAVING CLASS
You will be issued two hall passes per semester, which I will collect when you
need to leave class to use the bathroom, go to your locket, etc. Do not lose
your passes, as I will not provide replacements. You may turn in your
passes at the end of the semester for an extra point on the midterm or final
exam.
At the end of class, the bell does not dismiss you. Please be respectful to
your classmates and your teacher, and wait to be dismissed by me. There
will be a consequence for students that leave class before they are given the
OK.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Any student caught cheating will receive a zero on that assignment, a U for
citizenship on the report card, a phone call home, and a referral to an AP.
Cheating is copying anything from another student or source, and/or
receiving help from other students on assignments that have not been
categorized as collaborative. Cheating examples would include (but are not
limited to) talking in class during an exam, copying homework or classwork,
and using technology such as cell phones or Facebook to collaborate with
other students on assignments without my prior approval. If you are in
doubt, it is up to you to ask me for clarification.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Stay on top of your assignmentsuse your planner
Tackle the big tasks and projects first
Review your notes daily rather than cram the night before a test
Ask questions about what you dont understand! Chances are,
somebody else has the same question.
Keep your body alert and ready to learnget enough sleep and eat
well.

The

I want to see all of my students succeed! If you need help, guidance,

study tips, etc., please come and see me before school, at lunch, or
after school. If you arent sure if I will be available, send me an email
or ask me in class

scientist is not a person who gives the right answers,

he is one who asks the right questions.
- Claude
Levi-Strauss

My student and I have read and discussed the course requirements

and classroom rules. We understand and agree by the information and
rules set forth in this parent letter.
_________________________
Student Name

____________________________
Student Signature

____________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature

________________
Class Period

_________________
Date

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Date