Welcome to Meet the Teacher Night! PJH South September 16, 2013

School Expectations

GRIT Initiative  The board and superintendent goals include an emphasis on the concept of GRIT  Students, teachers, and parents with GRIT embrace hard work, critical thinking, and difficult challenges.  Grit is defined by leading educational researcher Angela Duckworth as “ perseverance and passion for long-term goals. ”  Pearland ISD campuses will emphasize grit through a district-wide set of expectations and lessons.

Leading the Diamondback Way Based on the acronym GRIT, the Diamondback Way is a set of guiding principles for Pearland Junior High South students, teachers, staff, and parents: G ive your best effort every day R eal leaders build relationships I ntegrity in everything you do T enaciously pursue your dreams

Diamondback Expectations  These school-wide expectations are posted in every classroom and various places in the school as a reminder of appropriate behaviors. S S – Safety First O O – Own Your Actions U U – U Make Your Own Choices T T – Treat others like you would want to be treated H H – Have respect for yourself, others and your school

NO BULLYING ZONE  Bullying (including cyber bullying) is strictly prohibited.  Examples: threats, taunting, teasing, name calling, rumor spreading, destruction of property, physical assaults  New link on PJH South webpage to report alleged bullying

Attendance  Our philosophy - students must be present to learn  Encourage your child to strive for perfect attendance  Following an absence, the student or parent must submit a signed parent excuse note or doctor’s note to the attendance office (Mrs. Colchado)the following day.

Make Up Work  Students will receive credit for satisfactory make-up work after an absence  Upon returning to class, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the teachers for make-up work.  Students have 3 days to complete makeup work.  Students absent for 4 or more days are given one day for each day missed to complete makeup work.

Dress Code Highlights  Jeans are allowed (no rips/tears/holes in jeans, no shorts)  School-approved spirit shirts (PJHS, PHS, DHS, THS) and college/university shirts are allowed  College/University Hoodies are allowed (campus decision)  No SHEER Fabric.

Academics

Teacher Webpages  Teacher contact information (phone & )  Teacher conference time  Tutorial times  Class assignments and due dates  Other resources for course content

Grading Policy  Daily Work - 40%  Tests/Projects – 60%  Daily work includes classroom activities, homework, quizzes, in-class writing samples, or other in-class activities.  Major Grades include long-term projects, in-class assessments, and tests  At least two daily grades are taken each week  At least one major grade is taken every two weeks  Grades are updated in Skyward weekly

South’s Recipe for ACADEMIC SUCCESS  Participate/Ask Questions  NO ZEROS  Attend Tutoring  Correct tests below 70

Tutorials  Morning (8:05 – 8:30 AM)  After school (3:45 – 4:15 PM)  Tutoring days/times are posted in each classroom and on each teacher’s webpage  If a teacher is not available for tutoring due to a meeting, coaching assignment, etc., the student may go to any other teacher for tutoring  Tutoring is always recommended but becomes mandatory when a student is failing

Other Academic Supports  Computer Lab Open each morning at 8:05 for students who need computer, internet, or printer access to complete homework, projects, Math Apps, etc.  Study Hall - In the cafeteria each morning starting at 8:05  COMING SOON!!! NJHS Peer Tutoring – In the cafeteria study hall area each morning starting at 8:05

ZAP (Zeros Aren’t Permitted)  All assignments are expected to be turned in by the due date designated by the teacher  When a student fails to turn in an assignment on time, the teacher assigns the student to ZAP detention  ZAP detention is Friday from 3:45 – 5:30 PM  Students have until Thursday at 12 Noon to turn in the assignment to avoid ZAP detention  A Connect-Ed automated call-out is sent to all ZAP students parents on Thursday evening.  Students who fail to attend or refuse to work in ZAP will be assigned to ISS the following Monday

Late Work  One day late – 11 points off  Two days late – 20 points off  Three+ days late – 30 points off  Students will also be assigned to ZAP to complete the assignment

If your child fails a class…  No pass, no play for extra- curricular activities  Mandatory Tutoring  Not allowed to attend games after school

Promotion Requirements  To be promoted from one grade level to the next, a student must attain an overall average of 70 or above for the year in all courses taken.  In addition, 8 th grade students must pass STAAR Reading and Math (Student Success Initiative)

Advisory & Lunch

What is Advisory? MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday Daily D-Back Study Hall Daily D-Back Math Academic Vocabulary Daily D-Back Social Studies Academic Vocabulary Daily D-Back Science Academic Vocabulary Daily D-Back Study Hall Students are assigned to an advisor teacher on their academic team. Advisory meets after 6 th period. Student planners will be checked daily by the Advisory teacher Students view Daily D-Back video announcements and participate in academic vocabulary, study hall, character building, or STAAR remediation activities.

Lunch  Parents may add money to their child’s lunch account or apply for free or reduced lunch from the Pearland ISD webpage.  Click on the PARENT ONLINE icon  Click on the FREE or REDUCED LUNCH icon

Mobile Learning & BYOD

Mobile Learning Students will see this poster in every classroom. Red light means wireless devices will not be used, and should remain out of sight. Yellow light means wireless devices might be used. Devices should be face down on the desk or out of sight. Green light means wireless devices will be used. Devices should be turned on and on the corner of the desk awaiting teacher instructions.

Rules of device use:  Devices are to be silenced and put away unless given permission to use it by district personnel.  Devices should be charged prior to bringing to school.  Students must log in and use the Pearland ISD filtered wireless network during the school day and only use their own account and login.  Students should secure their devices at all times. The school is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.  Please return the electronic device form to your child’s advisory teacher.

Student Incentives “Catch Them Doing Well”

Gold Criteria  % in every course  2. ONE absence or less in each class period for the 9 weeks  3. No discipline referrals  4. No teacher or school detention

RCR – RIGHT CHOICE RALLY The RCR is a celebration of the academic success from each grading period.  Students participate in team chants and cheers, there are teacher-student team competitions, team awards, and trophies.  Individual awards are given to students from each team  Right Choice Rallies reward those students who are making the right choices every day… we celebrate our academic success and recognize those students who set a good example for others.  Parents of RCR Award winners are invited to attend

Ms. Johnson’s

Website: Phone: Conference Time: 10:30-11:10 Contact Information

Enrichment Hours Tues.8:05 - 8:34 Wed.8:05 - 8:34 Thur.3:45-4:15 Additional times by appointment

Grading Policy Major grade: Quizzes, tests, (some) labs, projects (60%) Daily grade: Guided practice, homework (40%)  “Practice Helps Prepare” *Science Lab journal REQUIRED*

Term 1-- Lab Safety and Scientific inquiry Chemistry Atomic structure Periodic table (reactivity) Chemical Formulas, Reactions, and Equations Term 2-- Stars & Galaxies Seasons Moon phases & Tides Force and Motion Semester 1 overview

Are being taught accelerated curriculum  Less time to get the “Basics”  More time to extend teaching to higher level State Level-- Connect Valence electrons----to Reactivity PreAP— Connect Valence electrons----to Reactivity--- to Bonding Pre-AP students… Regular vs. PreAP Science classes…

Things We Could Use More of Dry erase markers (pretty please) Zip lock bags (sandwich sized)

ENRICHMENT HOURS Monday 8:05 – 8:34 Thursday8:05 – 8:34 Wednesday/Friday (I will have some weeks. Will be told to students every week) No afternoon during Volleyball season. If I am not available for some reason, students can see Mrs. Evans, or Mrs. Devillier.

WARM-UP: Review of prior week’s Math Apps I WILL STATEMENT/AGENDA: Main objective and assignment DISCUSS PRIOR NIGHT’S HW: To clear any confusion before moving forward INTERACTIVE NOTEBOOK: Notes, class work/examples HOMEWORK: This will be assigned ALMOST EVERY DAY! ABSENT FOLDER: Missing work, notes, and extra copies CLASS ROUTINE AND PROCEDURES

Your child will have a weekly online assignment posted to Skyward –These assignments are district prepared spiral reviews designed to help prepare for the STAAR test. Assignment window: Wed at 8am – Tues at midnight I will post a PDF file every Wednesday for students that fail to complete assignment on Skyward during the assigned week, or need to do corrections. These are due NO LATER than Friday of that same week. MATH APPS

Your child can obtain a textbook by contacting Ms. Tucker in the Assistant Principal’s office. Your child can access an online version of their textbook by following the link on my teacher webpage. TEXTBOOKS

Most grades will be posted over the weekend and returned to students Monday. Students may correct all assignments and test for up to a 70. Students have 3 days to make corrections after paper is returned. CORRECTIONS AND GRADES

READING

INFORMATION   - please make note of the additional c in my .  - my mother and sister also work for the school district and we have the same initials.

READING INFORMATION  STUDENTS WHERE GIVEN LITERARY TERM/ELEMENTS THAT THEY WILL SEE YEAR ROUND. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE WORD AS WELL AS PROVIDE AN EXAPLE. STUDENTS WILL SEE THIS INFORMATION ON TEST AS WELL AS IN THE READINGS WE WILL BE COVERING.

BOOKS AND SHORT STORIES  RAYMOND’S RUN (BOTH)  SCARLET IBIS (BOTH)  THAT WAS THEN THIS IS NOW (REG)  FAHRENHEIT 451(AP)  MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAMS (BOTH)  KNIGHT (BOTH)  THE PEARL (OUTSIDE READING AP)

CLASS MATERIAL  FOLDER OR BINDER  SPIRAL OR COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK  HIGH-LIGHTERS

TUTORING  MONDAY AND TUESDAY AM  AFTER SCHOOL BY APPOINTMENT

CLUBS AND SPONSERS  CROSS COUNTRY  TRACK & FIELD  STEP CLUB

Objective: To prepare the students to become participating and contributing members of our constitutional democracy. Materials: Spiral and writing utensil Tutorials: Tuesday and Friday: 8:05-8:33 Thursday: 3:45-4:30 Webpage: This is an important tool with the following resources  Course calendar  Copies of assignments will be posted  A version of the textbook  Extra credit assignments  Links to helpful webpages Melissa Clark U.S. History

Course Description Eighth grade students are able to select and use different forms of writing for specific purposes such as to inform, analyze, or entertain. Students produce final, error-free pieces of written composition on a regular basis. Eighth grade students present oral and written reports, including presentations strengthened by visuals and media.

Materials Spiral/composition book Workbook (provided) Loose notebook paper Pens/pencils Highlighters USB storage device (optional)

Assignments Grammar Activities – Parts of Speech (nouns, verbs, etc.) – Phrases and Clauses – Punctuation & Capitalization – Sentence Structure

Assignments Writing Projects – Essays – STAAR Open Ended Response Questions – Creative Writing – Poetry – Drama/Plays – Research Projects

Online Assignments Vocabulary – Knowsys Vocabulary – 5 Online Assignments every week – Each assignment should take about 5 min. – Open on Friday, Close Thursday night – Quizzes Friday

Regular English Classes Most work will be completed in class. Homework will only be assigned if classwork is not finished during the class period. Online Knowsys Vocab. – 5 activities a week – 8 th grade level words

Advanced Classes Most of the actual writing will be done at home and brought into class. Written homework will be assigned once a week. Extra class time will be spent on intense grammar instruction and upper level writing prompts. Online Knowsys Vocab. – 5 activities a week – SAT level words

Please feel free to contact me any time!