Regents Earth Science:
Students & Parent / guardians: Thank you for taking the time to carefully read through this Earth Science information page.
**Please don't forget to sign and return your 'student/parent signature sheet' (provided to you on the first day; additional copy below) stating that you understand the class expectations and the N.Y.S. Regents lab requirements.**
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Earth Science is part of the New York State Physical Setting curriculum. It is an exciting, interesting, and challenging course covering several areas of study including geology & geologic history, astronomy, meteorology, and oceanography. These four distinct areas of Earth Science interact with each other in a dynamic and ever-changing environment.
Laboratory work is an integral part of the Regents Earth Science course. Lab completion is required before a student may take the N.Y.S. Regents Exam. Each student must complete a minimum of twelve hundred minutes of written laboratory work to be eligible to take the E.S. Regents Exam. Sadly, some VCS students fail this course simply because they did not complete the N.Y.S. Regents lab credits!!! (Please see the Lab document below for additional information).
**Please don't forget to sign and return your 'student/parent signature sheet' (provided to you on the first day; additional copy below) stating that you understand the class expectations and the N.Y.S. Regents lab requirements.**
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Earth Science is part of the New York State Physical Setting curriculum. It is an exciting, interesting, and challenging course covering several areas of study including geology & geologic history, astronomy, meteorology, and oceanography. These four distinct areas of Earth Science interact with each other in a dynamic and ever-changing environment.
Laboratory work is an integral part of the Regents Earth Science course. Lab completion is required before a student may take the N.Y.S. Regents Exam. Each student must complete a minimum of twelve hundred minutes of written laboratory work to be eligible to take the E.S. Regents Exam. Sadly, some VCS students fail this course simply because they did not complete the N.Y.S. Regents lab credits!!! (Please see the Lab document below for additional information).
IMPORTANT GENERAL INFO (parent and student):
REQUIRED MATERIALS that YOU provide:
* Pen and pencil (for all classes)
* Four function or Scientific calculator (NO graphing or phone calculators may be used on exams)
* Common spiral bound notebook (paper to record and organize your handwritten class notes)
* TWO folders (one for you to organize your class papers, and one for your completed Lab storage: kept in class)
* Colored pencils (colored pencils are available in-class but you may want to have your own)
* A 12" / 30 cm ruler (the ruler should have inches on one edge and centimeters on the opposite edge)
* Your personal computing device (your VCS issued chrome book, laptop, tablet, etc.)
* A drawing compass (to make/draw circles).
MASTERY GRADING policy:
Every student has the opportunity to re-take a chapter test (one additional test for each chapter) to improve their average in Earth Science! To be eligible to take a second chapter test you must meet THREE requirements: 1) you must attend a minimum of ONE review class with your completed review sheet packets PRIOR to the first test. 2) All collected labs, must be completed (no 0% lab grades in School Tool). 3) You must complete and turn-in your test corrections for the first test prior to taking the re-test (the second test). The second test will usually be offered within two weeks of the first test during 5th period. The dates for the re-test will be announced and written on the weekly agenda. The highest grade of the two tests will be recorded in school tool for the chapter test grade.
Smartphone / cell phone policy:
In some situations, your cell phone can be a very useful tool in the classroom, and we will use them for that purpose. But most of the time, your cell phone will be a huge distraction and prevents you from staying focused on the assigned task. Obviously, if you're texting, playing games or watching videos on your phone during class, you're not engaged with the content of the class! On the first day we meet, I will clearly explain to you when you may and may not use your phone in-class.
TEXT BOOKS:
Text books are NOT assigned to each student: they are for in-class use only. Students will have several in-class opportunities to complete text assignments before the due date. If a student requires additional time to complete the text assignment they may either finish during 5th period or sign-out a book to be used at home. The book must be returned with the assignment.
NOTES:
A complete set of the course notes are provided on my Google classroom. They provide 100% of the course content! I still expect you to write notes in an organized personal Earth Science notebook during each lesson, when you're in attendance. If you are out sick, or not able to attend school, please continue to read and copy the notes for the day(s) you missed. You can pick-up with copying notes from where you last left off. If you're not sure what notes to copy during your absence you can always email me with questions!
Some helpful information to join a GOOGLE CLASSROOM: HERE
REVIEW BOOKS:
ALL students should purchase a Earth Science Review Book from a local bookstore or online source. The review book may be from ANY publisher... as long as the title of the book includes "Earth Science, The Physical Setting." Most books typically range from $10 to $15. BE SURE to get the ANSWER KEY with the review book. The review book purchase is optional and is not a requirement for the class, but provides the student (and parent!) with an additional resource to prepare for chapter exams and the NYS Regents Final. It also serves as an excellent resource to use with me during review classes / 'extra help' time. I hope you will purchase one!! If you purchase one now- you'll have the 'notes' for the entire course!! You can find an example here: Review Book
GRADES:
Individual student grades are posted in the VCS School Tool Portal. Grades are generally updated/posted every week (sometimes less, sometimes a little more, but grades will always be updated prior to a 5 week or 10 week marking period). Chapter test grades will usually be posted the following day.
Parents: please check school tool periodically (at least every few weeks) and pay particular attention to any missing lab grades (0%-not turned in, or 1%-incomplete) to encourage your child to get those missing labs completed ASAP. Students with 0% or 1% lab grades will NOT be able to earn Regents Course credit for graduation! They must have passing lab grades... please refer to the PARENT SIGNED lab letter (copy below) for additional details.
Students are encouraged to snap a picture (or write a copy) of the daily AGENDA posted each day on the whiteboard. Parents- please ask to see the picture(s) to hold them accountable, if needed, for their daily assignments and upcoming due dates.
Please note these often confusing School Tool (ST) problems:
1) The date connected with an assignment in ST is irrelevant and only represents the general calendar date that I posted or transferred assignments from the previous years list.
2) AN ASSIGNMENT THAT HAS NO NUMBER GRADE OR SYMBOL (it's blank) HAS NOT YET BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE STUDENT! Please go back and re-read that! Most assignments listed in ST are transferred from the previous years ST assignment list but due to slight changes from year to year certain assignments will not be completed. Sometimes new ones are added. At the END of each quarter assignments with NO grade will be deleted. Simply: if there is an assignment listed in ST with no number or symbol or comment in the box you can IGNORE it- it is NOT impacting your average. One more time: If an assignment in ST does not have a grade posted, or comment in the box- IGNORE that assignment; it is not impacting your grade average!
3) A 0% grade means that you did not turn-in the assignment (or turned-in a blank paper... forgot to write your name? ugh!)
4) A 1% grade posted for a lab assignment means the lab was turned in by the due date but the lab is incomplete and will be returned to you for corrections. Once you correct the incomplete lab and turn it back in, it will be graded, but marked 'late'
5) Homework is not accepted late (except of course for legal absence). Missing labs, quiz or test grades may be completed and turned in at ANY time- the sooner, the better!'
DAILY ASSIGNMENTS and DUE DATES:
Each school day that we meet, the daily agenda including assignments and upcoming due dates will be posted on the classroom whiteboard (you will NOT find that info in the Google Classroom). I will review the agenda with you everyday in class, but It is the students responsibility to read the daily agenda, and record the assignments / due dates in your personal "to do list", your calendar, your daily planner, etc. Where and how you record that information is up to you! Digital copies of the paper LAB assignments provided to students in-class, and ALL the chapter NOTES, will be posted in the Google Classroom.
EARTH SCIENCE GOOGLE CLASSROOM:
From this point forward, ALL future teacher/student contact, assignments, information, news, etc, will be provided to you either in-class (the 'whiteboard' daily agenda!), VCS email (CHECK YOUR VCS EMAIL often), or via your Earth Science Google Classroom. Again, in the Google classroom you will only find the daily notes, as well as digital copies of the LABS (if you need to print a new copy).
All students should already have access to the Google Classroom (IF you're on my class roster, and have a current VCS email account). If you're not able to access the Google Classroom, please let me know.
The class code for your Earth Science Google Class (for digital LAB copies) is: uyjghbx
CLASS NOTES Join Link Below:
https://classroom.google.com/c/MTUzNDk4NTcxMTg4?cjc=7s7y5sr
The class code for your Earth Science NOTES is: 7s7y5sr
OFFICE HOURS:
I am available to meet with you every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during 5th period (2:20 to 3:00) for make-up work, review, lab help... ANYTHING you need. You do not need an appointment- just stop-in.
STUDENTS THAT HAVE INCOMPLETE LABS/ASSIGNMENTS OR HAVE FAILING GRADES MAY BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THESE OFFICE HOURS for extra help. !!!!
CONTACT ME:
EMAIL is preferred and I will generally respond to you before the SCHOOL day ends! If not, the next day. But if you don't hear back from me within 24 hours I'm probably unexpectedly out of the building or may have overlooked your email.
Please re-send your email: [email protected]
I can provide you with an email response much faster than a phone call, but if you need to speak with me, please call and leave a voicemail message. Once I get your voice message, I will return your call. Dial: 924-3252 extension 6221.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ANYTIME, FOR ANY REASON.
Related Files
Parent / Student Letter- Lab Requirement (for students & Parent / guardian to read):
parent_student_lab_letter.pdf | |
File Size: | 33 kb |
File Type: |
General Expectations and Grading (already reviewed in class- for students):
expectations_and_grading.pdf | |
File Size: | 76 kb |
File Type: |
VCS Science Safety Contract (for students to review):
safety_contract_victor_science_department.pdf | |
File Size: | 295 kb |
File Type: |
COPY- Earth Science Reference Table (lost yours? print a new copy):
2011_esrt.pdf | |
File Size: | 2309 kb |
File Type: |
COPY- Parent / Student Signature Sheet (DUE NEXT CLASS. Lost yours? print a new copy):
student_-_parent_signature_sheet.pdf | |
File Size: | 439 kb |
File Type: |