Welcome Parents & Students!

Thank you for visiting our class Website. Please visit often to get the latest news and information on what is happening in our class. If you have any questions about our program or progress please don't hesitate to contact me! I am looking forward to working with you this year!

English 9, Honors English 9

Mrs. Deborah Schmidt

Room 2213

2010 – 2011

 

Welcome to Dauphin County Technical School.  Education is your job while you attend this school.  You are expected to develop and practice the skills that are necessary to be successful in the world of work.  This encompasses not only academic material, but also the social and behavioral skills as well.

 

This is an academic environment.  Any behavior that interferes with the learning in this classroom will not be tolerated.  The rewards of working to the best of your ability are well worth it.

 

Our class periods are brief.  We do not have time to waste.  It is my intention to cover as much material as possible in the time we have.  It will take a great deal of effort on everyone’s part to accomplish this goal.

 

Your responsibilities:

1.  Come to class every day on time, with all necessary      

               materials, prepared to work.  You will NEED a blue

              or black ink pen, a pencil, a notebook for English work

              only, homework, and textbooks every day.  Please do

              not come to class unprepared.  You will lose 5 points for

              each day that you are unprepared.

         2.  Complete every assignment to the best of your ability. 

              You cannot learn something new if you don’t try it.  You

              will receive 25 bonus points each marking period for

              completing and turning in all homework assignments on

              time.

          3. Failure to complete an assignment will result in a notice

              to your parents to be signed by them.  Failure to return the

              notice with your parent’s signature will result in an after

              school detention, or an after school tutoring session with

              me.  

          4. Speak up and ask questions if you do not understand

              something.  You must become your own advocate.

          5. Show respect for your classmates, me and yourself.  Do

              not ridicule another’s questions.  What seems to be simple

              to you might be difficult for someone else.  Remember,

              the next time, it might be you asking the questions.

          6. Clean up after yourself.  Make sure all trash is deposited

              in the appropriate place.

          7. Use appropriate language and conduct at all times. 

              Profanity, disrespect, sexually explicit language or

              behavior, and bullying others will not be tolerated.

 

The BIG No-No’s:

 

          1. You will NOT sleep in my class.

          2. You will NOT talk while I am teaching or others are

              asking questions.

          3. You may NOT go anywhere during the lesson of during

              a test. Use of the lavatory will be at the very beginning or

              at the very end of class.

          4. If it does not belong to you, don’t touch it.

          5. Lotions, perfumes, cosmetics, combs/brushes, mirrors,

              and other toiletries or personal grooming items are

              prohibited.  A classroom is not the appropriate place for

              these items, and they may constitute a health/safety

              hazard.  It is also disruptive to the educational process.

 

Consequences:

 

          1. Consequences may include, but are not limited to, a

              personal conference, removal from class, loss of

              privileges, parental contact, referral to the office, loss

              of points, change of seat, PM detention, or PM tutoring.

          2. Tardies are a violation of school policy.  You are expected

              be in class, IN YOUR SEAT, when the bell rings.

              Loitering by the door or being away from your seat when

              the bell rings means you are not ready to begin class work.

              3 tardies will warrant a warning, 5 will warrant a PM

              detention, and 7 or more will warrant disciplinary action

              in the office.

 

Grading:

 

          1. Work ethic:  WORK MUST BE TURNED IN ON TIME.

              That means it must be turned in at the beginning of class

              on the day it is due.  Any assignment not turned in on time

              will receive a zero.  NO work will be accepted late unless

              it is due to an excused absence.  If you have an excused

              absence, you have 3 days to make up the work.  Be sure

              to request the work on your first day back at school. 

              Unexcused absences will result in an zero.

          2. You must work on material for English class only, while

              in English class.

          3. Attendance is crucial.  If you are not here, you cannot

              learn.

          4. Class work:  This is a practice and discovery time during

              class.  Points are earned based on effort, following

              directions, and completeness of assignments.

          5. Homework:  assignments must be completed in pencil, or

              blue/black ink.  I will not accept homework written in

              other colors.  ALL compositions, projects, and journal

              entries must be completed in blue/black ink or typed.

          6. Be as neat as possible when completing your work.  If

              I cannot read it, I can not grade it.

          7. Do NOT display your artistic abilities on homework,

              tests, or your classmates’ papers.

          8. Put your name, period, date, and assignment in the top

              left side of your paper.

          9. Tests/quizzes:  point value depends on the length of the

             exam.  Quizzes may be unannounced, but tests will always

             be assigned in advance.

       10. Extra credit:  this will be given for completing all work in

             a marking period and at other times at my discretion.  Do

             NOT ask for extra credit if you have not been doing your

             work all all along, or if you have been disruptive in class.

       11. Book reports:  during the year, you will be assigned a book

             report for each of the first three marking periods.  The

             books must be approved by your parents and by me.  You

             will be given a list of projects from which you must

             choose.  You must choose a different project each marking

             period.  Failure to complete a book report project will

             result in a incomplete that will carry through the year until

             the project is made up.  Choose books that you have not

             already read to broaden your horizons and that are

             appropriate for your age group.

       12. Benchmark exams will be given at the end of each quarter.

             A final exam will be given at the end of the year.

       13. An incomplete that has remained or has been earned in the

             fourth quarter will result in a failure for the year.

       14. Your grade is influenced by your productivity and effort.

             It can only be affected by you.  I simply record the grades

             that you earned.  You choose whether to succeed or fail.

             Hopefully, failure is not an option for you.

I am sure that this may seem to be overwhelming at first.  However, I am certain that you will easily adapt to the guidelines

for this class.  Remember, if your specific needs are not being met, see me and we will try to work out proper accommodations for you.  I am available for extra help from 7:20 – 7:45 each morning

with prior arrangement.  I wish you the best for the school year.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mrs. Deborah Schmidt