Back to School Night

Paul J. Weihs - Chemistry 101

Welcome!
Thank you for attending Back to School Night here at
Tracy High School - Chemistry 101
Class Syllabus Outline
● Training Course Outline (TCO)
● Assignments (Reading, Homework, Labwork, Extra Credit)
● Class Attendance & Participation
● Quizzes
● Final Exam (Content, Form, Grading)
Classroom Learning Style
● Please take special note that emphasis for this class is on Learning (not Grades),
Grades should only be used as a measure of your child’s current progress and
performance (as compared to the final completion of the class).
● All work is required to be completed and corrected to 100%.
● The use of Learner-Centered-Grading (LCG) principles and Scenario Based Training
(SBT) to apply the learned knowledge and skills is central to the methods being
employed in our classroom.
● Grades for Classwork are based upon application of Knowledge.
● Grades for Labwork are based upon the application of Skills.
Grades will be recorded using the following scale:
● 4 > 100% (exceeds standards)
● 3 100% - 70% (meets standards)
● 2 70% - 50% (needs improvement, passing based on efforts only)
● 1 50% - 0% (does not meet standards)
Grading (cont’d)
● Classwork (knowledge) is 70% of the total grade. Labwork (skills) is 30% of the total
grade.
● Classwork (Homework is 25%, Class attendance and participation is 25%, quizzes are
25%, final exam is 25%)
● Labwork (Lab attendance and participation is 50%, Lab Reports are 50%)
● Lab Reports (Complete, Correct, On Time 100%, 2 out of 3 67%, 1 out of 3 33%, 0
out of 3 not turned in 0%) prorated
● Extra Credit (Independent Research/Projects) prorated +20%
 Class Rules posted in our room:
1. Be Respectful to your class (teacher and students and yourself)
2. Be Ready and willing to learn (this includes being prepared for class)
3. Give your best efforts (Take pride in your work and seek to improve)
4. Have and maintain personal integrity (Honor Code, Reputation,
Ethics)
5. Be Accountable for your decisions and actions (listen to and accept
constructive criticism of your work and your behavior)
Class Procedures Outline
● Procedures for turning in homework
● Procedures for lab assignments (and reports)
● Procedures for lab safety
● Procedures for fire drills
● Procedures for lockdown drills
● Procedures for making up classwork
● Procedures for group projects
● Procedures for taking and submitting quizzes
1) Procedures for turning in homework

1.1) homework must be submitted in whatever form or degree of completion when

due
1.2) you will be given an opportunity to amend your homework with a
supplemental submission for anything incomplete after the original submission
1.3) incorrect answers will require re-submission and an explanation of
corrections
1.4) all homework MUST be corrected to 100%
1.5) if you need additional assistance or have questions about the homework you
are responsible for requesting and scheduling supplemental instruction and
tutoring after school during an assigned makeup period
2) Procedures for lab assignments (and reports)
2.1) Before beginning a lab first read the entire lab description and ask all questions if unsure about any
parts (including and especially special procedures and instructions related to safety and handling of
materials and equipment)
2.2) all labs include a lab report which must be submitted within 1 week after the lab is assigned and
completed. No credit for the lab will be given without submission of the lab report
2.3) lab reports must include a description and explanation of results including anything that did not go as
planned in order to receive partial credit
2.4) if anything breaks or if a lab fails in part in final results submit whatever you got and happened. Do
not delay submission of a lab report just because you did not get the expected results and wish to repeat
the lab experiment for better results
2.5) do not compare your work with anybody else's work, your lab report should be based solely upon your
work and your results
2.6) first seek permission from your teacher before repeating a lab and follow any additional special
instructions provided. Do not alter your original work but amend your lab report to include the additional
results achieved making note of any difference between the original and any new results
3) Procedures for lab safety

3.1) safety first, ask if you do not know something before you do it
3.2) clear your work area of all unnecessary items
3.3) put on your safety glasses before beginning to handle materials or equipment
3.4) if something spills notify your teacher immediately
3.5) in case of chemical contact with skin or eyes notify your teacher immediately and
proceed to wash off or rinse/flush with cool water and seek medical attention
3.6) when finished clean up your lab area in accordance with the lab assignment cleanup
rules and return equipment back to it original place and wipe down your lab area with paper
towels and warm soapy water to remove any residual chemical residue and dry it. DO NOT
automatically just dump chemicals down the lab sink NOR throw/dump in the regular
classroom garbage. Your teacher or a teaching assistant will come around with a disposal
container when necessary.
4) Procedures for fire drills

4.1) Leave all books and papers behind and turn-off any lab equipment
4.2) Line-up immediately next to the classroom door and wait for your teacher to
escort you out of the classroom.
4.3) remain quite and listen for instruction from teachers and staff and follow
instructions the first time
4.4) follow your teacher to the safety area
4.5) upon reaching the safety area count-off for "headcount"
4.6) remain in the safety area and remain quite and listening for further
instructions about when to return back to class
4.7) follow your teacher back to class when instructed to do so and retake your
seats for "headcount" again.
5) Procedures for lockdown drills

5.1) remain calm and quite and listen for instructions from your teacher
5.2) turn off any lab equipment and take a defensive cover posture
5.3) stay away from windows and doors (and out of sight)
5.4) when signaled by your teacher to do so return to your seats for "headcount"
6) Procedures for making up classwork

6.1) If you miss one or more days of classwork you are expected to come to the
teacher for further instructions regarding making up missed class work
6.2) turn in any homework that was due ASAP after returning to class
6.3) if you need more time to complete assignments ask after class or by email for
special arrangements
6.4) even if late you are still required to turn in missed assignments and homework
even though you may not be entitled to full credit for not completing it on time
6.5) if you are having trouble understanding the missed classwork assigned for
makeup notify your teacher immediately and schedule a makeup assistance meeting
6.6) provide a note of explanation signed by a parent when turning in makeup
assignments and / or late homework
7) Procedures for group projects

7.1) assign a group spokesperson

7.2) divide and assign tasks which will be completed individually
7.3) write up and submit a group project proposal as outlined in the group project
documentation with the required details
7.4) your final score for the project will be a combination of both individual and group
efforts and results
7.5) if you are having trouble or have questions do not delay asking your teacher for
further clarification or explanation, you are responsible for ensuring you understand the
details of what is required for the project and from your team members
7.6 your teacher is the final arbiter and decision-maker in the event of team difficulties
8) Procedures for taking and submitting quizzes

8.1) quizzes are open book (this does not mean that you are allowed to ask or use
another classmate for or as a reference for information / answers)
8.2) quizzes must be your own work / efforts
8.3) quizzes with wrong or incomplete or partially correct answers must be reviewed
and corrected to 100% after first being submitted for grading.
8.4) no extra time will be allotted for the first submission of quizzes for grading,
however, there is no normal time limit for submission of corrected quizzes (except at
the end of the course the week before final exams)
8.5) questions not 100% correct require not just the correct answer but an explanation
of either why the answer was originally not correct or why the corrected answer is
correct
8.6) follow any additional quiz details provided with the quiz for special instructions
Open Door Policy
● As always your comments and feedback are always welcome
and I am always available to discuss your child’s progress,
performance and needs at any time.
● Thank you again to all those who were able to attend Back to
School Night!
● I enjoyed meeting all of you and look forward to an exciting and
enlightening year ahead!
Contact Info
Paul J. Weihs

pjweihs@tusd.edu

Classroom B108

(209) 123-4567