Saugus High School

Biology 2 A/B Course Outline

Mrs. Schertz

661-297-3900 ext: 4171 kschertz@hartdistrict.org

Website: www.sauguscenturions.com/kschertz

This is a one-year College Prep course, which satisfies the university requirements for a laboratory science class. The topics covered include the following:

• Scientific Method
• Cell Biology
• Genetics
• Evolution/ Natural Selection
• Ecology
• Physiology

TEXTBOOK: Biology by Miller and Levine. Published by Prentice Hall. I have a class set in my room so students do not need to bring it each day.

GRADING: Grades are done on a point scale. Approximate points are listed below:

Tests---100-200 points

Labs/Projects 20-200 points

Homework/Classwork 5-50 points

Quizzes—10-50 points

Final Exam is 20% of the final grade each semester.

A+=98%+ B+=88-89% C+=78-79% D+=68-69%

A=93-97% B=83-87% C=73-77% D=63-67%

A-=90-92 B-=80-82% C-=70-72% D-=60-62%

Below 60% is a failing grade

I do not accept late work without an excused absence .

When a student is absent, it is their responsibility to ask me for missing work. They need to get missing notes from a lab partner or classmate. Students need to make an appointment with me to make up any tests or quizzes on his/her own time. Students have one day per day absent to turn in missing work for full credit.

Make up for tests and labs is at a designated lunch period. Students have one week to make up tests/labs before receiving a zero.

MOVIES: On occasion I will show excerpts of movies or whole movies that reinforce a concept learned in class. For example, I might show 20 min. of “ Jurassic Park” where genetics is presented or 20 minutes of “The Lion King” were the Circle of Life (an ecology concept) is discussed. Other examples are global warming in “An Inconvenient Truth”, genetic engineering in “Gattaca”, Aquatic Biomes in “Finding Nemo” and viruses in “The Andromeda Strain” or “Osmosis Jones”. Saugus High School Policy states that parents are to give consent when a PG or PG-13 movie is shown. Please sign the bottom of this form as your consent or give me further instructions about your wishes. I only show what I believe will enhance my curriculum and understanding of the Biology standards. Students are so in-tune with multi-media that I believe an excerpt from a movie to re-enforce what is taught in class can be interesting and helpful to my students and I edit out any questionable material. I also provide study guides to help the students understand the science behind what they are seeing.

Lab Supplies:

We use many items in Biology that are used up (consumed) by students and cannot be saved from year to year. We ask each student for $5 to help defray those costs and a tax-deductible receipt will be issued. Checks can be made out to “Saugus ASB”. Some of the items include:

DNA extraction kits

Plants and soil

Chemicals

Art supplies

Dissection specimens

CLASSROOM RULES: 1. Be on time 2. Be polite 3. Be prepared 4. No food, drink or gum 5. No cell phones audible or visible in class 6. No profanity 7. Follow all lab safety rules

8. Students are not allowed to wait by door at the end of the period. 9. No earphones in ears.

• I will follow Saugus High School’s policies on Cheating, Cell Phones, Dress Code, Tardy Lock Out, and Absence policy.
• I will follow the Saugus High School’s Step Program for classroom discipline as well as assigning detention for rule violations. Non-cooperative, defiant, or threatening students will be immediately sent out of the class with a campus supervisor.
• Lab safety is of utmost importance. District policy states that students must pass a lab safety test before they can participate in lab. Students will be suspended from class for violating lab safety rules and can possibly lose the privilege of labs altogether if problems persist.

BATHROOM (Out of class) POLICY:

Students receive 3 bathroom passes per semester. I mark off on my roster when they ask to leave class. When these 3 are used up, students will owe me a 20 min. detention after school for each extra pass. I find that 3 passes are plenty for students who use them wisely-for true emergencies. These passes are also used for students who need to “get a drink”, get something left behind at lunch, call their parents etc. If students do not use all their passes, they will receive 10 extra credit points for each unused pass at the end of the semester.

MATERIALS: Students will need:

1. #2 pencils for scantron quizzes and tests
2. Notebook and paper for notes
3. Colored pencils (some homework involves coloring)

TARDINESS: Students need to be in their seats and ready to work when the bell rings. Tardy students will be sent to Tardy Lock Out area.

I anticipate a great year at Saugus High. Please contact me with any concerns or questions. I prefer email correspondence, but am happy to answer voice mail messages.

Thank you,

Mrs. Schertz

I have read, understand and will abide by the course outline for Biology 2A/B--Mrs. Schertz for the 2010-2011 school year.

Student Name __________________________________

Student Signature__________________________________

Parents/Guardians: Please read and sign at the bottom.

• I have read and understand the guidelines in this course outline for Biology 2 A/B—Mrs. Schertz.
• I give permission for my student to watch PG or PG-13 movies as is described above. Please state any questions, concerns, exceptions, instructions or if you do not want your student to see these movies, please state at the bottom of this page.
• I have read and am aware of lab safety expectations.

Signature______________________________________ date ______________

Printed Name _________________________________

Phone number/s___________________________________________________

Email________________________________________________________