If there is a question that is not listed on this page that you would like to
ask, please email me.
- How long do students have to make up missed work?
- What should I be doing to prepare for college?
- What else?
- What is WSHS's policy for plagiarism?
- Will all work assigned during one grading period be applied to that grading period?
- How are grades averaged?
- Why didn't you accept my
How long do students have to make up missed work?
If the assignment was given on the syllabus, well in advance, then it is due
on the due date whether the student is present in class or not. If nothing
else, he or she can email a copy in good faith and bring me a hard copy when
the student returns to class. If the assignment was an in-class assignment,
the assignment should be turned in within three days with an excused absence form.
I have the right to refuse work from unexcused absences.
Test must be made up within five days of a missed absence. Even if a student's
class does not meet on a given day, there is no reason why said student can
not come after school and make up the test. Wednesdays are reserved for
faculty meetings, but if one is not scheduled then a student can stay that
day. Otherwise, I'm available every other day after school for make up tests.
Out of courtesy, students should place a note on my desk when they return
from an absence letting me know what day they plan to stay and make up the test.
Make up work is a burden to the teacher and to all the other students who must
wait on their grades until the absent student makes up the assignment, so
students should show the utmost responsibility in this area.
What should I be doing to prepare for college?
Hopefully, you have updated your resume over the summer and have your
materials ready to get to the teachers and guidance counselors as soon as
possible to begin writing your recommendations. If you have not registered to
take the ACT or SAT, this should be your next course of action.
What else?
Make sure you have a working email address that has a professional tone to it,
preferably your name like my gmail account. No college is going to take
someone seriously whose email address is hotpants@yahoo.com. Also, make sure
that for this year at least your phone message is short and to the point. When
a college admissions officer calls, he or she does not want to sit through a
litany of your favorite songs. Does your Facebook or Myspace account need
cleaning up? Remember, if you can access an account, so can anyone else.
What is WSHS's policy for plagiarism?
Plagiarism is taken very seriously in academia because it is stealing ideas
and/or words from another person. Please review the student handbook carefully
on this and share the contents with your parents. Plagiarism will result in a
zero on the assignment, and a conduct grade for that grading period of no more
than an "N". It is also grounds for expulsion from the National Honor Society.
You will more than likely have to meet with your parents, teacher, and a
guidance counselor. Remember, copying someone else's homework, or letting him
or her copy yours, is plagiarism as well. You have signed a plagiarism
contract and are expected to abide by it. If you have questions or concerns
about this issue, please see me before a problem arises. When in doubt, ASK ME!
Will all work assigned during one grading period be applied to that grading period?
In an ideal world, I would be able to hand papers back immediately. However,
there are 140+ of you and one of me; think how long it took you to write that
four-six page literary analysis and then multiply that hundred times over. Add
to that daily assignments and the vast number of interruptions throughout any
give school year, and you should be able to understand my predicament.
However, I promise that most of your work will be returned in a timely fashion.
How are grades averaged?
Grades are weighted according to the scales on your syllabus. I can assure you that not a grading
period will go by without a major paper or project being assigned. It is to
your advantage to put extra effort into these assignments as they will
generally count for thirty percent of your grade.
Why didn't you accept my
Due to the legal ramifications, it is not recommended that teachers interact with students on social networking sites.
Online communication should remain on a professional level until after graduation.