Welcome To 8th Grade Science! Hello! My name is Mrs.

Koester, and I will be

your 8th grade science teacher. I am thrilled to be your science teacher this year! I am from
Cleveland, Ohio, and this is my eighth year teaching at New Providence Middle School. I have high
expectations for you because I know you will succeed!

In 8th grade, you will be participating in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
in both math and science. You will be learning some of the same concepts in science and math,
which you will take notes and complete labs in your Engineering Notebook; this notebook will be used
year-round, as well as graded. We will complete both labs and challenges throughout the year, so I
hope you are ready for a year full of hard work and fun!

Contact Information:
You may e-mail me at any time at: kristen.koester@cmcss.net. I am always here before and after
school if you ever need help with homework, studying, etc. I also have a website to help you
throughout the year: http://koesterscience.weebly.com. My phone number is 931-648-5655 ext 2217.

Topics Covered:
● Unit 1-Newton's Laws of Motion
● Unit 2-Magnetism and Electricity
● Unit 3-Waves and Applications
● Unit 4-Origin, Composition, and Forces of the Universe
● Unit 5-Evidence of Earth’s Interior
● Unit 6-Distributuion of Earth’s Resources
● Unit 7-Fossil Records
● Unit 8-Natural Selection and Artificial Selection

Expectations:
● Follow all school rules
● Listen to directions
● Enter prepared to learn
● Always try your best
● Respect yourself and others
● No excuses
Materials Needed Every Day:
● Pencil or pen
● Engineering Notebook (spiral notebook)
● Folder
● Loose Leaf Paper
● 3” binder

Grade Scale:
93 TO 100 A - OUTSTANDING
85 TO 92 B - ABOVE AVERAGE
75 TO 84 C - AVERAGE ACHIEVEMENT
70 TO 74 D - BELOW AVERAGE
69 AND BELOW F - UNACCEPTABLE

Homework Policy:
You will be assigned weekly homework every week and possibly another assignment throughout the
week, which is mandatory for you to complete. This is a way for you to apply what you have learned
that day and extend your thinking.

70% of your grade will be based on assessments, while 30% of your grade will be based on
classwork and homework.

If an assignment is not turned in on time:

1 day late: 10% off
2 days: 20% off
3 days: 30% off
4 days: 40% off
5 days: 50% off
There will be zero tolerance for cheating/plagiarism in this class!

Technology:
Student computers will be used daily in our class. Students are expected to abide by all school and
district digital safety rules and guidelines. Failure to do so will result in said student being banned
from technology while in Science. It is further expected that students arrive with computers
CHARGED and ready for use.

Absent Work:
It is the student’s responsibility to check the absent work file folder for the date(s) that was missed. A
student has the equal number of days absent to turn in any work assigned on a day a student was
out. If a quiz or was administered on a day a student was absent, the quiz must be made up when the
student returns. If previously assigned work was due on the day of the absence, the work is due on
the first day the student returns.

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Please cut and return this slip with your student by Friday, August 12th.

I have read and understand the expectations for 8th grade science this year.

Student’s signature: __________________________

Parent/Guardian’s signature ____________________