Letter of Expectations

**This letter was sent home to parents the first day of school. 

The students were to have their parents or guardians  fill out the last page.

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Dear Students and Parents,                                               August 27, 2008

          It is my pleasure to welcome you to English 9.  During this school year, we will be studying various types of literature including prose, poetry, and drama.  We will also be studying elements of literature that are common to all and specific types of literature.  In addition to literature, we will be intensely studying styles of writing, as well as grammar and mechanics.  This course will require you (the student) to be responsible, organized, and diligent; however, I am confident that each of you will be successful. 

          Students, you will be doing a lot of reading this semester whether you are reading to yourselves, others, or listening to me read to you.  Be prepared to listen carefully.  You will enjoy the books that I have chosen for us to study.  Parents, I encourage you to look at everything your child brings home to read.  If there is any book that you do not want your child reading or feel the content will be inappropriate for your child, please contact me, and we will make arrangements to get another book for him or her. 

          In this class, your turned in assignments are not the only things graded.  I also grade your behavior, participation, and responsibility.  Each day you will receive a daily grade.  This grade will be averaged every week.  If you come to class unprepared, misbehave, or do anything else that disrupts the education of others, you will receive a grade of 0 for that day.  However, if you are prepared, participate, are responsible, and try your best, you will earn a 100 for the day.  These grades can either help or hurt you.  Remember that you make choices everyday.  You can choose to either work hard and earn good grades, or you can choose to not work hard and earn poor grades. 

          There are a few materials that you will need to be successful in this class.  You will need the following items:

1. a three-ring binder with dividers and notebook paper

2. pens and pencils

3. your assigned journal notebook

4. books/textbooks assigned to you to read

You will be responsible for bringing these items to class each day.  If you do not, you will receive a participation grade of 0. 

          Every other Friday you will be taking a notebook quiz.  As long as you keep up with materials given to you, keep them organized, and keep up with your binder, you will do fine on these quizzes.  Within your notebook, you will need the following labeled sections: Notes & Literature, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Returned Papers.  Make sure you keep items in your notebook throughout the year unless I tell you otherwise.  I will not be checking your notebooks, so it is up to you to keep them organized and neat. 

          In this class, you will be able to use the restroom if you have your hall pass.  You must give your pass to me discreetly, and I will sign it.  Do not ask me while I am in the middle of doing something.  Use your judgment here!!       

          If you are absent, you will need to see me before or after class to get your make-up work.  You will have 5 school days to make up the work.  After that, you will not be able to turn it in.  It is your responsibility to find out and turn in ALL missed work including quizzes, tests, projects, and papers.  You will need to give this work to me.  I will accept late work.  You can turn in an assignment late up to 3 days after the assignment is due; however, you will lose 10 points each day the assignment is late.   After those three days, the assignment will receive a grade of zero.   The only items that may not be turned in late are journals and homework. 

 There is to be NO open food or drink in this classroom.  If I see it out, it will be taken from you.  We are fortunate to have new carpet in our room; let’s keep it as nice as possible.   

          You will be allowed to retake one test per nine weeks.  You can only retake the test if you failed it.  You have five days, starting the day your test is returned to you, to retake a test.  See me so you can fill out the necessary form.  Your retest grade will count.  If you do not make it up on the day you say you will make it up, you will not have another chance to retake the test. 

          Students must earn an average of 68 or above to earn a unit of credit for this course.  The class counts as a required English unit.  Grades will be determined by percentages (out of 100).  The following explains the weight of each component:

          Daily/Homework/Participation                      10%

          Quizzes/Varied In-class Assignments            20%        

          Essays/Journals                                           30%

          Tests/Projects                                             40%

          Please note that plagiarism will earn you a zero for an assignment.  Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s words, ideas, or work as your own.  If you are to avoid plagiarism in your work, you need to avoid the following: borrowing the words, ideas, examples, opinions, and/or organization from a source (book, essay, article, Internet, another student’s work, etc.) without acknowledging the source; turning in someone else’s work as your own; and allowing someone else to revise and/or edit your assignments so that it is no longer your work. 

          When you enter class each day there will be an assignment posted on the chalkboard or on your desk for you to complete.  YOU NEED TO BE IN YOUR SEAT WORKING ON THE GIVEN ASSIGNMENT WHEN THE BELL RINGS!!!  If you are not in your seat when the bell rings, you will be considered tardy.  Your first tardy will be a warning.  Your second tardy will result in a detention and a parental contact.  The third tardy will result in an office referral. 

 While you are in class, you need to follow a few simple rules that will make our semester run smoothly.  These rules are as follows:

1. Show respect to everyone. 
2. Bring all materials to class, and enter the room quietly. 
3. Be in your seat when the bell rings, and begin working on the posted assignment. 
4. Stay in your seat unless given permission to move. 
5. No personal grooming, eating, drinking, or profanity is to be used in this class. 
6. Do not talk while I am talking. 

 If you choose to break a rule, the consequences will be as follows:

1. First time: Verbal Warning
2. Second time: Detention* and Parent notification
3. Third time: Referral written and student sent to administration

     Severe Disruption: Student sent immediately to administration.

*Detentions will be held after or before school in this room.  If the detention is not served, a referral will be written.  During the detention, you will be cleaning the room.  This will not be a chance for you to work on homework.    

           Rewards are as follows: daily praise, positive notes and phone calls home (random), various other positive perks (random), and the daily joy of learning. 

          I encourage you, parents, to visit me or contact me if you have any concerns, suggestions, or questions.  I am available during 7^th period (2:20-3:10).  My contact information is listed below.  I look forward to working with you and your child this school year.  Please sign the appropriate form at the end of this packet.  Students, keep this form in your binder under the Notes and Literature Section. 

Thank you,

Bridget Kennington

English Teacher

Lewistown Area High School

Phone: 717-242-1401                           Email: blk28@mcsdk12.org