Regents Biology

Mrs. Van Tassell

Contact Information:

School Phone: 486-4860

Email: pvantassell@acsdny.org

www.teacherweb.com/ny/arlington/mrsvantassell

Course Information:

Textbook: Biology: The Study of Life

This is a year-long course that meets 7 periods each week. Students will have a double period every other day to allow for lab time. In June, students will take the Living Environment Regents Exam.

Attendance:

Students are expected to be in class and on time every day. If an absent is LEGAL, missed work must be made up within 5 days of returning to school. Students will not be allowed to make up the missed daily participation grades. A pass is required when a student is late to class.

Lab Requirement:

New York State requires every student to successfully complete at least 1200 minutes of lab time in order to take the Living Environment Regents Exam. Students failing to meet this minimum requirement will not be allowed to take the exam and will receive a zero as 20% of their final averages.

Materials Required:

· A 3-ring binder for this course only.

· A pen or pencil…I do not provide them.

NO FOOD IN THE CLASSROOM. WATER IS OK, BUT NOT DURING LABS.

• Do not go to the cafeteria during the break between periods on a lab day.
• If a student has no lunch period, he/she should see an administrator for a permanent pass to bring food into one of his or her other classes.

Grades & Grading:

Participation- a 5 point participation grade is given daily. Absent students cannot participate, so the points cannot be awarded.

Homework- Students will complete nightly homework assignments. No late homework assignments will be accepted. The monthly homework calendar will be distributed in class at the beginning of every month and is available online through my teacherweb site. The homework will be primarily from the textbook.

Final Exam- The Living Environment Regents Exam is the final exam for this course.

Grading- Grades are calculated on a total points system. Each assignment is worth a certain number of points. The marking period average is calculated using the following formula:

Student’s Total Points X 100 = average

Total Points Possible

Grades (by secret number) are posted in the classroom every couple of weeks. Students will always be aware of their current averages, missing assignments, and the last day to hand in late work.

Extra Help:

Wednesdays 2:20pm in Room 2329…Please be on time.

Other General School Information:

The AHS website can be found online at www.arlingtonschools.org. Click on our schools, then high school.

To schedule conferences or discuss changes to schedules, email, call, or stop by your House Guidance Office.

The “Lost & Found” is located in the Main Office. All found cell phones and ipods go to the Security Office.

For items left on the bus, contact the Transportation Department.

All morning announcements are broadcast throughout the day on the TVs within the building. There is a TV in the main office, cafeterias, and in other public areas for students to check announcements.

IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU, JUST ASK!