This year is going to be a great year for all of us! There will be a lot of changes to look forward to both here at school and in your life, AND you are just one step closer to high school.

Eighth graders, there have been a few changes, but most of the rules are the same as we had last year. So just to refresh your memory they are listed below. Seventh graders, you will be introduced to them.

Class Procedure

Please be in your seats at the time class is to start with everything you will need for class.

You are expected to provide your own pens and pencils. I do not loan out writing instruments. Any pencils or pens I find on the floor or the tables I will put in the pencil basket, so if you need one that would be the place to look first, and if they are all gone then try to borrow one.

State law says that if you are ill, at the doctor or dentist, or have a death in the family you will have an excused absence. Make sure you bring a note from home the day you come back and take it to the office and get an admit slip to bring to class. If you must miss school for any reason other than the ones listed above, your absence will be considered unexcused. If you know that you will have an unexcused absence, make sure you get a PRE-ARRANGED absence sheet from the office at least three days before your absence. You must have this sheet signed by all your teachers and your parents and turned into the office at least 24 hours before your absence begins. This will give you an excused absence and you can turn your work in for credit. Otherwise, your work will be marked as a zero. You are allowed no more than six days of pre-arranged absences during the year.

If you are absent, you are responsible for asking me about make-up work. I will not chase you down to give you the work you missed. Check with me and we will set up a time for you to take any missed quizzes or tests.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

It will be your responsibility to turn your papers in on time. I will tell you when they are due and write it up on the board, the rest is up to you. I WILL NOT CHASE YOU DOWN TO MAKE YOU TURN IN YOUR WORK!

All papers must have the following heading: Name
Page Number
Assignment number

No extra credit work will be given on an individual basis. Sometimes I will give it to the whole class. You can also get up to five points extra credit in all my classes on tests if you will turn in any notes you have taken to prepare for the test.

If you do not understand something on an assignment, please ask me for help and I will do everything I can to help you. If you want to stay after school or come in early just let me know.

I will accept no late work for full credit unless you have an excused absence. If you do not have your assignment ready to turn in when it is due, bring it in the next day. However, you will receive a grade of no higher than a C for that assignment. After the second day, turn your work in and you will at least receive some points – it is better than a zero. And because I grade on a point system, every point is important.
COMPUTERS

There is to be NO food, drink, candy or gum anywhere near the computer at any time.

The computer must be treated with tender loving care. If you have a problem with the computer, please tell me and we will see if it can be fixed. Please, do not take your frustration out on the machine!

ETC . . .

Please remember to ask me for help whenever you need it, that is why I am here. I want you to call me at home if you need help in the evening while working on your homework. I will be at school by 7:30 a.m. and will stay until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday for anyone who needs extra help. This will not be a play time, social hour or babysitting service, just a time for help with your work.

Use the restrooms and water fountains in the high school and portable next door. Do not go to the elementary for any reason unless you ask permission or have an assigned class there.

The VCR and TV are to be used only when the teacher is present in the room.

Walkmans, CD players or radios cannot be played in the portable or on any field trips with me. Don’t ask!

There will be no pop allowed in the room at any time. Drink it outside. If you have a half-finished can, it will also remain outside.

I allow snacks between classes. However, I do not want to have to tell a student to put his/her food away more than once or find students eating during class.

During the school day, backpacks, gym bags, and band instruments will be put neatly by the lockers, on the shelves or in the back of the room. You are to keep the area around your desk and any pathways clear of “STUFF”.

You will clean around your desk and place your chair on top of your desk at the end of the day. For each item left on the floor that was your responsibility to put away, you will lose your lunch free time for one day.

You will be given three hall passes each quarter. These are to be used for the classes you have with me to go to the restroom or get something from another classroom. For every hall pass you give me at the end of the quarter, you will get 10 extra credit points to add to any class you have with me.

After one unexcused tardy in any class you have with me, you will get to spend the next lunchtime in detention.

I do not allow students to tell each other to “shut-up.” You will get one warning for the year, but after that you will write sentences. We will begin with 25 and add 25 each day if you do not turn them in the first day they are due. After two days you will get to eat your lunch in detention.