September 7, 2011

Dear Parents and Guardians,
   
    Welcome to Algebra. By successfully completing this course students will earn their high school Algebra credit and cover the Performance Expectations in math for grade 9. Your support is an important piece to our success. Here are the guidelines and procedures for our class.   
    We are using the Glencoe Algebra 1 text. This is the uniform text used at both high schools. You can expect your student to have homework every day that we have class. This will be an extension of what was covered in class the day the assignment was given, or on previous days. Students should have a homework paper that contains practice problems done as a group in class, as well as some individual work completed before the end of class. By continuing their assignment on this paper, they will have models to look back on when needed.
    Because of the sequential nature of math, with one skill building on a previously learned skill, it is very important that students complete their entire assignment every day. I will accept late work one day after it was due and will give only partial credit for the assignment. Students who are absent are expected to complete make-up work within a reasonable amount of time. We will look at the length of the absence, the amount of work needed to be done, and set due dates for this. I suggest that a student have a classmate they can contact for assignments during a short term absence.
    Algebra grades will be based 40% on homework and 60% on quizzes and tests. I post grades on Skyward weekly. This is the communication that is used to keep you informed. Please review this frequently to keep up with your student’s progress. Printed progress reports will not be sent home.
    I post student homework on my website on a daily basis. Students should use this for both short and long term absences. The web site can be reached from the WMS site by going to teachers, Mrs. Valz, and the web link. In addition to assignments there are helpful links and other information.
    In keeping with State requirements students will take the End of Course (EOC) test for math 1 in June. Passing this exam is a high school graduation requirement.
    If you need to contact me, please either call my voice mail at 596-3000 ext.3136 or send E-Mail to jvalz@osd.wednet.edu. I look forward to working with you to make this a successful year for your student. 

                                                                                                                                                  Sincerely,


                                                                                                                                                   Joan Valz