COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Attendance and Preparedness

Absences: Students must not be absent from class. Three absences will put a student on probation and will lower a student’s grade one level. All absences must be accompanied by a note from a doctor. Students who are mildly ill or injured should attend online class anyway and must complete a written analysis of the class they are observing to be handed in at the end of the class. Students who do not complete an analysis will be marked absent. Absences will adversely affect your progress in this class. Some activities and quizzes will be very difficult to make up on your own. For that reason, being in class everyday is imperative! In the case of an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to check with the teacher for missed work, notes and handouts.

Tardiness:Students will arrive in the classroom on time each day. Students should not bring any food to the classroom. After arriving, they should immediately enter the classroom, dressed in their uniform, and begin bell work. Students must be present and prepared for class no later than 5 minutes later. If a student arrives late, she or he will not be permitted to attend class and will be marked absent. Such an absence will count as a “cut”. Definition of Tardy: A student is tardy to class if the student is not in the classroom at the conclusion of the tardy bells. I will follow the tardy rules set forth by the school. 

NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!

Preparedness:Being prepared for class not only means being physically present and dressed properly, it also means being mentally and energetically prepared for class. After class, students should begin preparing themselves mentally and physically for class: find a quiet corner, think about goals you have for class, begin warming up your brain, focus.

 Please note: bathroom and water breaks are not permitted during class time unless due to medical condition (such students must bring a doctor’s note). Students should bring a water bottle for use during class and should take care of their bathroom needs before or after class. Any student who leaves class without permission should not return and will be marked absent.

Participation:This is a participation class. A major part of the grade will be a online classroom participation grade. This will be based on work in the online class, being prepared for class, attendance, and citizenship. Two unexcused absences will result in grade lowering one whole grade. Three tardiness will be figured as equal to one unexcused absence and will result in one half grade lower.

Citizenship: Four unsatisfactory marks in class will lower the academic grade by one whole grade. Students receive unsatisfactory marks for talking excessively, eating in class, or disrupting the class learning environment.

Behavior and Attitude: Negative behavior and attitude are not tolerable in the classroom. Students must work hard and respect every one of their teachers. If a student shows disrespect, has an attitude problem, or is consistently unprepared for class, his or her parent will be called in for a parent-teacher conference. The Department will not hesitate to dismiss a student who does not fulfill departmental requirements.

Tests: Two tests per marking period are generally scheduled. They account for approximately one half of the grade for that marking period.

• Quizzes and Tests: Written quizzes and tests over each objective/skill will take place on a regular basis. THERE WILL BE POP QUIZZES OFTEN SO PLEASE BE PREPARED.

• Making Up Missed Quizzes and Tests: It is your responsibility to make arrangements to make up missed quizzes and tests. You have ONE WEEK upon your return to school to make up any missed test or quiz for full credit. After that time, you will be penalized 50% of the points you earn.

• Participation: Students must actively participate in class in order to master the Spanish language. Class participation includes such factors as attendance, punctuality, preparation, maintenance of Spanish notebook, participation in classroom activities, cooperative attitude, good attitude, use of the language even if it’s mispronounced. You must use it to learn it!!

Homework: Two assignments in the notebook/homework each week; occasional extended project assignments; and follow-up reports to videos or movies, guests, and etc.

Homework/Daily Practice:

ü  Daily practice is a must for successful learning!

ü  All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class in the basket unless otherwise noted by the teacher. Unfinished homework will not be accepted for full credit.

ü  Any work missed due to absences needs to be made up within 5 days of your return to the classroom; you will receive a zero beyond 5 days. I will give you a friendly reminder but you are responsible for any missed work.

ü  If for some reason you need extra time, YOU NEED TO COME SEE ME ONLINE!!!!!

Reports and projects: Two major Spanish movie reports and/or projects during the year.

Communication:

It is a vital part of learning. There are two primary forms of communication.

• Email - Emailing me is the preferable method of communication. I will typically check email every day, throughout the day. Please put your IMMEDIATE CONCERN on the subject line and please be detailed. I will answer your email within 24 to 48 hours in some cases sooner. My Email address is cguzman@pfpcs.org

• Phone Calls- Please feel free to call with questions, but please be aware that I may not always receive a message immediately. If there is no answer, please leave a voicemail and I will return your call as soon as possible, within 24 to 48 hours during the school day and briefly after school. My number is 215-236-1300.

CLASS RULES

1. Respect your fellow classmates, your teacher, and the contents of the classroom at all times.

2. Come prepared to learn by bringing your textbook, notebook, dictionary, and pen/pencil.

3. Food and gum interfere with oral communication. Please leave these items in your backpack or locker. 

4. Ask for clarification the minute you are confused. There are no dumb questions.

5. Communication is the focus of this class, but not on cell phones. Follow the rules for cellphone usage.

What will happen if I choose to violate a class rule?

1st/2nd time: Verbal Warning/ call/ email parent

3rd time: Referral to the principal.

Lunch detention- 15 minutes and/or Afterschool detention- 1 hour or 60 minutes.

I have absolutely no tolerance. My tolerance level is -0%.

1. I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY VIOLATIONS TO MY RULES!!!

2. I WILL NOT TOLERATE DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR, FOUL LANGUAGE, OBSCENITIES, OUT OF ORDER TALKING OR ANY OTHER BEHAVIOR THAT IS CONSIDERED UNACCEPTABLE BY MY STANDARDS.

3. I WILL NOT TOLERATE RUDE REMARKS THAT DEMEAN ANY CULTURE AT ALL

INCLUDING MINE (HISPANIC). IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DEMEAN MY CULTURE AND MY LANGUAGE, DO IT AT YOUR OWN TIME NOT DURING MY TIME.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

1. RESPECT- Always show respect to others in the classroom. When the teacher or other students are speaking, listen actively.

2. RESPONSIBLITY- Always come to class prepared with your homework completed, your binder, paper, pens, and pencils. Your grade is your responsibility. How prepared you are affects your grade.

3. ATTITUDE- Approach this class with a good attitude. You are in charge of your attitude! It’s not what happens to you that determines your attitude, but how you react to it.

4. PARTICIPATE- I expect my students to participate in all class activities and discussions. Even if you are not the one speaking, I expect eye contact no sleeping! - Be prepared to answer if I call on you.

5. HONESTY- I expect all work to be your own. Copying from another source (another student, Internet, etc.) has no value to me as a means of determining your progress, and no value to you as a learning experience, and will result in a zero.

PASSES

1. Students are expected to use the bathroom and go to their locker before or after class during the FIVE MINUTES between class. NO EXCEPTIONS! FOR EMERGENCIES COME TALK TO ME WHEN YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE ROOM.

CELLPHONES:

In an effort to promote appropriate use of technology while keeping the integrity of the classroom instruction intact, all electronic communication devices will allow students to use their phones before the school day begins and after the school day ends. Students and parents/legal guardians should understand that possession of these devices could pose a risk of loss or theft. The district encourages students to properly label their devices and take steps to keep them safe. The school/district will not be liable for lost or damaged devices. In addition, the district will not be responsible for the condition of any confiscated devices upon its return to the owner. Students may utilize these devices under the following circumstances: Before and after school or class.

IN MY ONLINE CLASSROOM:

1. YOU MAY NOT USE YOUR CELLPHONE BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER CLASS AT ALL.

2. WHILE YOU ARE WORKING, YOU MAY NOT USE THEM.

3. I DO NOT WANT SEE YOUR CELLPHONE AT ALL. IF I SEE IT, I WILL REPORT IT.

IF YOU FAIL TO FOLLOW THE RULES MENTIONED ABOVE, THE CONSEQUENCES ARE AS STATED IN STUDENT HANDBOOK.

EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT BEHAVIOR:

• Regular attendance is very important to the success of your child.
• Repeated absences and Late arrivals will not be tolerated unless given substantial notice ahead of time. (It tends to disrupt the progress of the classes.)
• Parents will be notified by me, if any students are absent or late for class more than three times and the child may be dropped from the program if it consists or given detention.
• The class size unless otherwise specified will be limited to 25 students or less per class. 
• Participation from the parents and other teachers will be greatly appreciated.
• NO CELL PHONES WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOM. 
• Students will maintain an environment of mutual respect for each other, their teachers, themselves, school and individual property. 
• Students will not threaten, haze or otherwise harass students through slurs (put-downs) or invade them in any way (example: fighting, kicking). 
• Use of clean language is mandatory as well as the absence of obscene acts or gestures. 
• Possession of any controlled substance is prohibited.
• Students will not engage in any theft of personal or school property. 
• Students will not cause or attempt to cause damage to school property or private property, including defacing school property with graffiti.
• Students will not engage to commit or attempt to commit a sexual assault or sexual battery to another student.
• Students will not engage to commit sexual assault or harassment of a staff member. 
• Students will put forth their best effort in all academic school programs.
• Students will put forth their best effort in all academic school programs.
• Disruptions in class will not be tolerated. Disruptions include: talking after a call for focus, unruly or unsafe behavior, and refusal to follow directions of the instructor. 
• Students who cannot behave will be asked to leave the classroom for 10 minutes. It is then their responsibility to recover what information has been missed during that time. 
• If a student is asked to leave the classroom a second time during the semester, their grade will drop one letter. The grade will drop a letter each subsequent time a serious disruption occurs and the student is asked to leave.
• There will be NO IPODS or MP3 Players allowed in the classroom or theater without the instructor's permission. This is a safety as well as a concentration concern. Any headphones used improperly will be confiscated for the remainder of the day. 
• Students may not leave the classroom without permission of the instructor. 
• Students may not use the phone without permission of the instructor. 
• Students are expected to keep the classroom space clean at all times.
• Students are responsible for the proper functioning of their classroom space. Supplies must be put away properly.
• Students will not be excused from work even if they do not assignments.
• Students must be aware of security issues in the classroom. Students must take responsibility for securing tools, the equipment and facilities. The instructor is to be notified if areas need to be locked.
• Negative behavior and attitude are not tolerable in the English Department. 
• Students must work hard and respect every one of their teachers. 
• If a student shows disrespect, has an attitude problem, or is consistently unprepared for class, his or her parent will be called in for a parent-teacher conference. The Department will not hesitate to dismiss a student who does not fulfill departmental requirements.
• Each student must come to class on time and prepared. This means having paper and pencil to take notes, and bringing any projects that are in progress.
• Each student must participate in all field trips and shows each semester.
• Students are expected to pass in assignments on time. Assignments will be graded 10 percentage points lower for each day they are late.

• Students must be aware of security issues in the classroom. 
• Students must take responsibility for securing tools, the equipment and facilities. The instructor is to be notified if areas need to be locked.