English 9, English 9 Honors, and English 9 GT Howard High School Ms. Laarni C. Lucero E-mail: laarni_lucero@hcpss.org Website: http://lucero.freeshell.org Dear Parent/Guardian: This letter is to help you become familiar with the requirements for your child’s English class this year. The following information will help you make sure your son/daughter will have an excellent year. Additional information, such as a class syllabus, assignments, and upcoming events, can be found on the class website. Please read the following information, sign on the bottom, and have your child return the last page to me. 1. Behavioral Expectations are Defined. A small number of clearly defined behavioral expectations are defined in positive, simple, rules. Howard High School’s “Lions Code of Conduct” is: * Be Respectful * Be Responsible * Be Ready * Being respectful means raising your hand when you want to speak or get help. * Being respectful means using a person’s name when you talk to him or her. * Being responsible means knowing and following classroom and school rules on a daily basis. * Being ready means to be prepared with assignments and materials. 2. Appropriate Behaviors are Acknowledged. Once appropriate behaviors have been defined and taught, they need to be acknowledged on a regular basis. HHS has designed a formal system that rewards positive behaviors. “I Noticed” are immediate forms used by the individual teacher, at their discretion, as a tool of encouragement and a student motivator. “PAWS” are awarded to encourage and reinforce positive behaviors demonstrated on a consistent basis. Teachers can award “PAWS” to students, whether they teach them or not. 3. Behavioral Errors are Corrected Proactively. When students violate behavioral expectations, clear procedures are needed for providing information to them that their behavior was unacceptable, and preventing that unacceptable behavior from resulting in inadvertent rewards. Students, teachers, and administrators all should be able to predict what will occur when behavioral errors are identified. Lions Code of Conduct Classroom Hallway Other Readiness ?Arrive on time and be ready to work. ?Be prepared with assignments and materials. ?Take an active, positive role in classroom activities. ?Follow and respond appropriately to adult directions. ?Believe success is possible. ?Move to class promptly by the most direct route. ?Have pass or agenda. ?Vacate the hallways. ?Follow and respond appropriately to adult directions. ?Arrive on time. ?Have all appropriate materials ready. ?Follow and respond appropriately to adult directions. Responsibility ?Know and follow classroom rules. ?Accept positive and negative consequences. ?Clean up your space. ?Know and follow school rules. ?Accept positive and negative consequences. ?Use appropriate volume and language. ?Know and follow school rules. ?Accept positive and negative consequences. ?Clean up your space. Respect ?Follow and respond appropriately to adult directions. ?Use appropriate language and tone with self, teachers and others. ?Respect others’ personal space and property. ?Use appropriate non-verbal communication that shows you are on task. ?Follow and respond appropriately to adult directions. ?Use appropriate language and volume. ? Respect others’ personal space and property. ?Avoid being a distraction to classrooms along your route. ?Follow and respond appropriately to adult directions. ?Use appropriate language in any communication with others. ? Respect others’ personal space and property. Sequence Contact Person Consequence 1st Offense Classroom Teacher Teacher discussion 2nd Offense Classroom Teacher Class detention with parental contact 3rd Offense Mr. Foerster Ninth Grade Team Leader Assigned Consequence with Parental Contact 4th Offense Mr. Foerster Ninth Grade Team Leader Assigned Consequence with Parental Contact 5th Offense Mr. Covington, Assistant Principal Assigned Consequence with Parental Contact 6th Offense Mr. Covington, Assistant Principal Assigned Consequence with Parental Contact 7th Offense Mr. Covington, Assistant Principal Assigned Consequence with Parental Contact Late Work: All assignments must be returned on the designated date to receive full credit. If returned one day late, the maximum possible score is 50%. No work will be accepted two or more days late. Only excused absence or prior arrangement can change this. Projects: One class project will be assigned per quarter. Each project is worth 100pts. Grading: The grading system is based on points. e.g. If a student has 70 points out 150, he will receive an F. .Your student’s grade will be determined on a strict ladder. i.e. A=90%-100%, B=80%-89%, C=70%-79%, D=60%-69%, F=less than 60% Attendance and Tardiness: It is imperative that each student attend class on a regular basis. Any student with unlawful absences constituting 5% of the school year will have his/her name submitted to the principal for consideration of denial of credit. Please refer to Howard County Public School System Policy 2050. Any tardy student must have a note that includes a reason, time, and date of the tardiness, signed by a staff member. Students must use their handbooks for hall passes. Excessive tardiness will result in detention, a call home, or a disciplinary referral to the administration. Progress Reports: When you have questions concerning your child’s scholastic average, ask to see their progress reports. Howard County will give your child official progress reports on 10/5, 12/14, 2/29, and 5/12. I will send home detailed progress reports of my own every other week for you to sign. Materials: * A 3-ring binder with one section for English * A spiral notebook for journals and notes * The following different colored pens: * Red * Black * Purple * Green * Blue * A folder for research projects * Post-it notes and highlighters Thank you for your cooperation, Laarni C. Lucero Retain this letter for your records. Student Name: ____________________ Period: _______ Please complete the information below and have your child return it to English Class. In signing, you are verifying that you have read and understood the rules, consequences and procedures for this course. _____________________________________ ____________ Student’s Signature Date _____________________________________ ____________ Parent/Guardian’s name (please print) Date ______________________________________ ____________ Parent/Guardian’s Signature Date Home Phone Number________________________ Cell Phone Number________________________ Work Number________________________________ E-mail address________________________________ My child has access to a computer and printer at home Yes_____ No______ Detach this page and return to Ms. Lucero. ?? ?? ?? ?? 4