POLICIES & EXPECTATIONS

SUPPLY LIST  These supplies are REQUIRED from the first day of class to the last – if you/we run out of something you will need to replenish it..  EVERYDAY CLASS: #2 Pencils w/Eraser, Composition Book (no spirals), Map Pencils (min. 12 colors), Highlighter, Binder (3 ring), 3 Dividers (1. Vocabulary,  2. Maps,  3. Classwork & Handouts), 1 Pack Dry Erase Markers (1^st/2^nd Period Students Only), 1 SQUARE Box of Tissue (3^rd/7^th Periods Only), 1 Ream Colored Paper (5^th/8^th Period Students Only).     OCCASIONAL CLASS: Poster Board (you will have at least 1 week notice), Assigned Book (PreAP Only – announced by 12/1) HOME: Textbook (keep at home as a resource)       RECOMMENDED / OPTIONAL:  Agenda/Assignment Book, Pencil Bag

CLASS RULES   1) Be Prepared, 2) Be On-Time, 3) Be In Your Seat, 4) Be Polite & Mature, 5 Be Respectful & Tolerant. (people, policies, period, & property).  Breaking rules will result in consequences corresponding with the infraction.

GRADING   75% Tests/Projects + 25% Daily Grades = nine week average.  Each nine week grade average is weighted 40% of the semester grade, semester exams are worth 20% of the semester grade (40% nine week average + 40% nine week average + 20% semester final = semester grade).  Semester grades are averaged to determine the yearly average.  

TUTORING  I will be available to tutor students from M-Th 8:10-8:55 & 3:45-4:10 unless I have hall duty or a meeting.  This is the best time to contact me for make-up/late work/ questions

LATE POLICY   If an assignment is not turned in at the time it is collected, it will be considered late (even if it is turned in later that day during that same class period).  It may be turned in later that day or the very next day of school (note: NOT the following CLASS), for -25% late penalty.  If the assignment is not turned in by the end of that first late day, the assignment will receive a zero.  This policy does not apply to students who were absent (see make-up policy) unless their make-up work is turned in late without prior permission.

No name work is considered late and will receive a -10% penalty.

MAKE-UP CLASSWORK   If absent for any reason it is your responsibility to see the instructor on the day of your return to get missing assignments.  You will be given until our next class to turn in make-up work, after that it will be considered late.

Projects which are due on a day you are absent are still expected on the originally assigned due date –make arrangements to send it to school to avoid late penalties.  Absences on project presentation days need to be made up before/after school on the day of your return.

For prolonged and/or prescheduled absences, please make arrangements to pick up work from campus and/or check my website so you don’t get too far behind. 

MAKE UP TESTS   You will be required to make up any missed test on the DAY you return to school.  Arrangements must be made with the teacher to make the test up before / after school – no make-up tests will be administered during class time.

TEST RETAKES   Test Retakes will be offered to the Academic Classes ONLY (not PreAP).  The maximum score possible on a retake is 75%.  Students must make arrangements to come during before/after school tutorials the DAY following the return of their test – after that none will be allowed.

EXTRA CREDIT  I am unable to offer extra credit this year to PreAP students due to the Geography Dept. policy, I apologize for any misunderstandings.   The rationale behind extra credit is to help a hard working student with a low average raise their grade - not to replace regular assignments/ tests/ projects. Extra credit will involved greater effort from the student than completing regularly assigned work/ tests/ projects, and may include visits to exhibits in the greater Austin area, cultural performances, etc.

Extra credit opportunities will be offered at various points throughout a quarter on a “take it or leave it basis”.  The cut off to turn in extra credit will be 2-3 weeks prior to the end of that quarter (see class calendar in green binder for dates).

Mrs. Sierra's Background