Curriculum
English Courses
- ENG0210 - English I Syllabus
- ENG0210-English II Syllabus
- ENG023-ECE English Composition
- ENG0240 - Contemporary Literature
- ENG0278 AP Literature & Composition
- ENG0258 - AP English Language and Composition
- ENG0230 – American Literature
ENG0210 - English I Syllabus
Required Texts/Readings:
- Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
- The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
- Selected films, short fiction, essays, text excerpts, and poems
- Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course promotes literacy and academic achievement in English Language Arts through enriched experiences in literature, writing, speaking, and listening. The content explores the major concepts of Humanity, Archetypes, Conflict, and Perception through the close reading and analysis of selected novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry. Students gain perspectives and communicate their understanding and ideas through classroom discussion, oral presentations, and formal and informal writing experiences. Composition instruction focuses on using the writing process in creative, logical, and critical modes, as well as frequent practice in all aspects of the writing process. Preparation for the SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three ring binder or folder, pens/pencils, paper, highlighters, college-ruled composition notebook or loose-leaf paper within binder/folder.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. Ater a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All English courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings. Academic support is available at different times throughout the day in the Learning Lounge and teachers will be available at scheduled times during Shark Block.
Retakes/Extra Credit Policy
The MSMHS English Department follows a common policy and will allow retakes/extra credit at the discretion of the teacher.
Cell Phone
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration and it will be released to the student’s parent or guardian. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighting |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work. Cheating Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work.
Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Literary Elements and the Short Story September-October 2024
Unit II – The Novel (Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds) November 2024-January 2025
Unit III – Poetry January-February 2025
Unit IV – Novella (The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros) March-April 2025
Unit V – Drama (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare) May-June 2025
ENG0210-English II Syllabus
ENG0220 – English II
2024-2025
Required Texts/Readings:
The main texts with which we will be working are these:
Yann Martel, Life of Pi
Sebastian Junger, The Perfect Storm
William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Macbeth
Additional readings (poems, articles, etc.) will be assigned by the teacher depending on the unit of study.
Course Description: English II is designed to allow students to further develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Texts include novels, nonfiction, poetry, and short stories, all of which are of a higher level of complexity than the texts used in the English 1 course. The course includes instruction in critical analysis with an emphasis on the creative, logical, and critical aspects of reading, literary analysis, and composition. Students should expect to read challenging material, write for a variety of purposes, and engage in discussions. Preparation for the SAT is embedded.
Students who wish to earn Honors credit in English II must meet all expectations for the regular college prep course and successfully complete embedded honors level assignments throughout each unit. These assignments are designated as “Honors Extensions” because they are designed to “extend” your learning in a more intensive, in-depth manner.
Unit 1 will allow students to try multiple Honors Extension assignments and reflect on their present skill level and desire to be challenged. Near the end of Unit 1, students wishing to earn Honors Credit must make a full commitment to complete all Honors Extension assignments in the course for the remainder of the academic year. Students opting for college prep credit are also encouraged to try honors extension assignments as they are able. Even if you don’t earn honors credit by doing all of them, any effort you make to grow isn’t a waste of time and can make you more successful both this year and in future years.
Materials Needed: Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website. Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings. Mr. Ingmundson is in the Learning Lounge from 7:00 - 7:25 on B Days.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell Page 2 phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20% Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20% Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighing | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work. Cheating Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work.
Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – The Work of Poet September 2024
Unit II – Life of Pi October-December 2024
Unit III – Words and Meaning January 2025
Unit IV – The Perfect Storm February-April 2025
Unit V – The Tragedie of Macbeth May 2025
ENG023-ECE English Composition
ENG0239 – ECE English Composition
UConn Eng 1007: Seminar and Studio in
Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition
Required Texts/Readings:
- Jonathan Haidt, The Happiness Hypothesis
- The New York Times (subscription through MSMHS)
- Choice Novels
- Additional readings assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This First Year Writing course (required of all students at UConn and many other colleges), will focus on college composition through multiple forms of literacy, including rhetorical, digital, and information literacies necessary for twenty-first-century contexts. Working collaboratively, students will develop creative and intellectual inquiries through sustained engagement with texts, ideas, and problems. The course will emphasize the transfer of writing and rhetorical skills to academic and daily life. Students will spend 25% of class time in studio work, exploring and working collaboratively to produce multimodal compositions (may include podcasts, videos, etc.). Peer review and feedback will be an important element of the course. Students will design a digital portfolio that curates creations and skill-based micro-credentials they earn in coursework. Specific summer reading with a corollary written assignment is required. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder or Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before deadline set by UConn. After October 1 st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
● All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
● Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
● Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
● Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All English courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within Page 2 two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighting |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Happiness, Well-Being, and Personal Values September - October
Unit II –Understanding the Anthropocene October - November
Unit III – Ways of Knowing and Learning in a Changing World November - December
Unit IV – Material Culture and Meaning January - February
Unit V – Human Limits and Technology March - April
Unit VI - Leaving a Legacy May
ENG0240 - Contemporary Literature
Required Texts/Readings:
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz Various short stories/ essays/ poems
Course Description:
This course refines the students’ ability to compose personal and academic essays connecting to and analyzing readings of contemporary literature. Students specifically focus on the composition and completion of their college admissions essay, analysis of nonfiction/ fiction contemporary literature, and the close reading of contemporary poetry and plays. The course provides the opportunity for students to refine and build off of their composition skills in order to prepare themselves for their future in higher education. Through feedback cycles of editing, revising, and submission, students are provided multiple opportunities to reflect on their work, improve it, and progress throughout the course.
Materials Needed/ Suggested:
Three ring binder & 4 tab dividers (one for each unit of study) OR a two-pocket folder, pens/pencils, highlighters, college-ruled/composition notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s student/parent handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All English courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings. Academic support is available at different times throughout the day in the Learning Lounge and teachers will be available at scheduled times during Shark Block.
Retake Policy
All students will be allowed to retake quizzes/ tests and rewrite essays, so long as they ask for a retake. This course will have a consistent retake procedure, regardless of the teacher. A conference with the teacher, however, should be executed before a retake is permitted.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration and it will be released to the student’s parent or guardian. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighting |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 |
3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: The teacher has discretion to change the timeline throughout the year as needed.
Unit I Personal Narrative/college essay September-October 2024
Unit II The Novel November 2024-January 2025
Unit III Lyricism in Poetry January-March 2025
Unit IV Exploring Voices March-June 2025
ENG0278 AP Literature & Composition
Required Texts/Readings:
- Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
- Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five
- Jesmyn Ward, Sing, Unburied,
- Sing Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
- Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire
- Additional poems, stories, films, essays, and scholarly articles selected by teacher.
- Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
In this college level literature course, students will hone their analytical thinking and writing skills through deep study of poetry and fiction. Class will be conducted in seminar format, and students will be expected to participate actively in daily discussions. Students will read challenging material and write frequently, both AP style in-class essays and more sustained revised papers. Specific summer reading with a corollary written assignment is required. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement Exam in May. Preparation for SAT is embedded. Please note that there is a fee set by the College Board for students taking this course.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook and/or loose-leaf paper.
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2024. After October 1 st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before deadline set by UConn. After October 1 st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy. Late Work Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All English courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0–Dystopian Fiction: Comparative Analysis August-September 2024
Unit I – How Structure Delivers Theme: Reading Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five September–October 2024
Unit II – Genre Study: Poetry November-December 2024
Unit III – Regionalism in Jesmyn Ward’s Sing Unburied Sing January 2025-February 2025
Unit IV – The Protection of Self: Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God March 2025
Unit V – Drama: A Streetcar Named Desire April 2025 Unit VI– Contemporary Novel:
Choice Unit May-June 2025
ENG0258 - AP English Language and Composition
Required Texts/Readings:
- The Language of Composition - Renee Shea et. al.
- What The Eyes Don’t See - Mona Hanna-Attisha
- The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Things They Carried - Tim O’Brien
- Additional readings assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
In this college level course, students will develop and hone their reading, thinking, writing, and discussion skills through a study of rhetoric and argument. Written assignments will include essays that are analytical and persuasive, as well as personal and reflective. Class will be conducted in seminar format, and students will be expected to participate actively in daily discussions. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement Exam in May. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three-ring binder (or section in shared binder), Tab Dividers, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2024. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All English courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
● “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
● “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
● “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work. Cheating Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work.
Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating. Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Introduction to Rhetoric and the Rhetorical Situation September
Unit II – Introduction to Argument and Opinion Writing September - October
Unit III – The American Dream (Argument in Fiction: The Great Gatsby) November
Unit IV – Education and the American Dream December-January
Unit V – The Environment and America (What the Eyes Don’t See) February - March
Unit VI - The Individual in the Community March -April
Unit VII - Telling Our Stories (The Things They Carried) May - June
ENG0230 – American Literature
Required Texts/Readings:
- A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
- The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Selected Short Stories/Poetry
- Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course explores the major concepts of Cause and Effect, Migration, Social Inequality, Innovation, Change, Prosperity, Patterns, Conflict, and Community as evident in both nonfiction and fiction published at various times in American history. Through a variety of activities, close readings and informal as well as formal analyses, students develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of our national cultural identity against the background of world events. Composition instruction includes frequent practice in writing multi-paragraph essays in a variety of types, including documented papers. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook or loose-leaf paper.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All English courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating. Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – The American Dream September 2024
Unit II – Access to the American Dream October-November 2024
Unit III – Different Americas: American Poetry November 2024-January 2025
Unit IV – American Wars and the People Who Fight Them January-March 2025
Unit V – Innocence & Morality: Reading The Great Gatsby March-April 2025
Unit VI - This I Believe April-May 2025
Health and Physical Education
Health and Physical Education
Course Descriptions:
Physical Education
The physical education program places emphasis on developing a physically informed student. The goal of all physical education classes is to help students attain, understand and find joy in the importance of both an active mind and body. This is done by the introduction of teamwork, personal fitness, strategy and lifetime activities units taught throughout the year. These experiences may include team and individual activities, personal fitness goals and the State Fitness Assessment.
- Activities are used to develop:
- a lifelong appreciation for physical activity
- teamwork and cooperative thinking
- a positive attitude towards fitness and an active lifestyle
- fairness, leadership, character, communication, and individual fitness
Health Education
The Health education program includes a variety of topics on wellness, safety and mindfulness. The following units will be covered:
- Physical, Mental & Emotional Health Unit
- Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs Unit
- Safety Unit
- Relationships Unit
Materials Needed:
Physical Education - Students will not be changing out of the school attire, but are encouraged to wear athletic clothing to school on days they will have P.E. class. Students are required to wear sneakers to class for safety reasons.
What to wear for class?
DO’s:
- Comfortable athletic clothing that students feel comfortable moving around in
- Sneakers (including Converse are acceptable)
- Sweatshirts, coats, hats, sunglasses (when outside)
- Dress appropriately for the weather (we will be outside for Q1 & Q4)
- A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!
DON’Ts:
- Boots, anything with a heel (including wedges)
- Crocs (sport mode or not)
- Sandals or any open toe shoes Students are not required to, but encouraged to have:
- water bottle
- change of socks (in case it is wet outside on the field)
- change of shirt (if students feel like they may be too sweaty)
- deodorant (please make sure you are clean and tidy for your next class)
- Colder weather: coat, hat, pants, sweatshirt, gloves, etc. (wear attire that you will be comfortable in during hot or cold weather)
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
Health Late Policy:
Health assignments & projects will not have a late point penalty, but will not be given the opportunity to hand it in prior to two weeks after the due date or the end of quarter (whichever comes first).
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Missed P.E. Classes
Since Physical Education is almost entirely a participation course, students can miss up to 3 P.E. classes in each quarter (Q1 & Q4) without having to do any make-up classes.
You may be excused from those classes as long as a doctor's note is provided.
Cellphones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration and it will be released to the student’s parent or guardian. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
- Formative = Daily Rubric Points - up to 12 points per week
- Students will be giving themselves a self assessment at the end of each class with a quick reflection. Students must provide what they need to improve on in class that explains the grade they gave themself.
- Summative = Midterm & Final ○ Midterm: Health related presentation/project
- Final: P.E. related project MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- Daily Rubric Points (self assessed)
- Teacher Daily Points
- Quizzes in Health
- Midterm
- Final
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- Peer Assessments ○ Formative Assessments at the beginning/end of class
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- School Wide Rubrics
- Guided Notes for each topic in Health
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
- Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - P.E. & Health and Tentative Dates:
Note: The Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Quarter 1: Physical Education (outside) August - November Unit 1 – Teamwork (volleyball, soccer, capture the football, ultimate frisbee, basketball, pre-fitness test, other team building activities) Students will learn…
- Teamwork is a lifelong skill
- You need others to accomplish a goal
- There are various and valuable roles that all play a part of a group
Quarter 2 & 3: Health (inside) November - April Unit 2 – Physical, Mental & Emotional Health
- Health Introduction
- Nutrition & Wellness
- Healthy Food Choices
- Fitness
- Communicable & Non-Communicable Diseases
- Mental Emotional Health
- Stress & Mental Health
- Suicide Prevention
- Social Media
- Blue Zones
Unit 3 – Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs
- Tobacco & Vaping
- Alcohol
- Drugs & Psychoactive Drugs
- Opioids
Unit 4 – Safety
- CPR/AED
- Basic First Aid
- Safety (car, bike, home, weather, water, outdoors, etc.)
- Guest Speaker: Firefighter Paramedic PSA Project
Unit 5 – Relationships
- Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships
- Gender & Sexuality
- Male & Female Reproductive Systems
- Sexual Activity, Contraception & Consent
- STDs & AIDS Prevention
Quarter 4: Physical Education (outside) April - June Unit 6 – Personal Fitness
- Fitness Components
- Heart Rate
- Creating a personal fitness goal
- CTPFA
MEDICAL CONCERNS:
If you have a medical condition that prohibits you or you need specific modifications in order to participate in Physical Education class, please come and talk to me privately. Students who have medical conditions concerning participation in class, must speak to me before I begin teaching class.
If you are sick or injured and need to be excused from physical education class, you need to notify the school nurse. Any notes from parents or doctors must be given directly to the school nurse, so it can be documented for safety purposes.
Mathematics Courses
- MTH0170 - Real World Math
- MTH0145 - Precalculus Honors
- MTH0130 - Pre-College Algebra and Trigonometry
- MTH0120 - Geometry
- MTH0169 - AP Statistics
- MTH0179 - AP Calculus BC
- MTH0158 - AP Calculus AB
- MTH0130 - Algebra II
- MTH0135 - Algebra II Honors
- MTH0110 - Algebra I
MTH0170 - Real World Math
Required Texts/Readings:
No required textbook! I highly recommend Khan Academy for math support.
Course Description:
This course focuses on mathematics applied to solving practical problems in a variety of disciplines in the world around us. Mathematical topics include but are not limited to probability, statistics, financial mathematics, linear programing, cryptography, problem solving and logic puzzles, and voting theory. Students will use problem solving skills to collect and analyze data to help make informed decisions about real world mathematical issues. A solid understanding of math including algebra, basic geometry, statistics, and probability provides the necessary foundation for students interested in careers in business and skilled trade areas.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Paper, College-ruled Composition Notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool. Otherwise, there is no late work penalty.
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
If you do not finish an assessment during the block, you will not be allowed to finish it during study hall or during the next class, except in exceptional circumstances.
Extra Help:
I am available to meet with students throughout the day, before school, and after school. If you want to meet with me at any of these times, please have a conversation with me and we can figure something out! After school works better than before school, although I am not available to meet with students on Wednesdays after school due to our faculty-wide meeting.
My “off blocks” are as follows:
3B - my prep block (I will be in the library)
3A - my Learning Lounge block (I will be in U128)
1A - our math PLC block (I may be available, depending on the day)
Math support is also available in the Learning Lounge and during some Shark Blocks
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings and Tentative Dates
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Collecting, Expressing, and Analyzing Data September/October
Enduring Understandings
- Careful planning is essential to obtaining valid data and clarifying the question leads to the appropriate methodology.
- Data can be expressed in a variety of methods.
- Data is used to find patterns and make predictions.
Unit II – Bivariate Data November
Enduring Understandings
- After we collect and analyze data, we can use it to make predictions about the future
Unit III – Probability December
Enduring Understandings
- Probability models are useful tools for making decisions and predictions.
- The notion and behavior of a random variable is foundational to understanding probability distributions.
Unit IV – Spending, Credit, and Loans January/February
Enduring Understandings
- Credit comes in a number of different forms, each with advantages and disadvantages.
- Credit cards are convenient financial tools that are easy to use and obtain by all.
- Loans are put in place to allow for purchases to be paid back over time.
Unit V – Insurance and Taxes March/April
Enduring Understandings
- Insurance is a promise that in the event of a loss, payment will be made.
- Taxes are collected by the government for the purpose of operation.
Unit VI – Saving, Investing, and Retirement May/June
Enduring Understandings
- Banks and other financial institutions offer a variety of services in depository and non-depository institutions.
- Banks offer a wide range of services for savings in a secure environment.
- It is important to invest in options where the return will beat inflation.
MTH0145 - Precalculus Honors
Required Texts/Readings:
No required textbook as of now! We do follow a textbook, so copies are available for instructional support if you want. I also highly recommend Khan Academy for instructional support.
Course Description:
Honors Pre-Calculus is designed to prepare students for a rigorous college level calculus course and/or Advanced Placement Calculus offered at the high school level. Students are expected to demonstrate individual initiative, independent study, and a high level of commitment to the study of mathematics. The study of trigonometry includes right triangle and oblique triangle trigonometry, trigonometric and circular functions, graphing, identities, equations, vectors, and polar coordinates. Technology is an integral component of the course and helps to build a deeper understanding of the concepts of trigonometry and functions. In addition, technology allows the course to focus on exploration, problem solving, and multiple representations to build a deeper understanding of algebraic techniques. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
*A graphing calculator is required for this course.
Materials Needed:
3-Ring Binder, Folder, Pens/Pencils, College-ruled Composition Notebook or Loose-Leaf Paper
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit Page 1 summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool. Otherwise, there is no late work penalty.
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
If you do not finish an assessment during the block, you will not be allowed to finish it during study hall or during the next class, except in exceptional circumstances.
Extra Help:
I am available to meet with students throughout the day, before school, and after school. If you want to meet with me at any of these times, please have a conversation with me and we can figure something out! After school works better than before school, although I am not available to meet with students on Wednesdays after school due to our faculty-wide meeting.
My “off blocks” are as follows:
3B - my prep block (I will be in the library)
3A - my Learning Lounge block (I will be in U128)
1A - our math PLC block (I may be available, depending on the day)
Math support is also available in the Learning Lounge and during some Shark Blocks.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings and Tentative Dates
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0 – Prerequisites September
Enduring Understandings
- Mathematical expressions and equations can be written in a variety of different ways.
- Quadratic, absolute value, and fractional equations can be solved in a variety of methods.
Unit 1 – Functions and Graphs September/October
Enduring Understandings
- Relations and functions can be represented in a variety of ways.
- There are a set of functions, called families, in which each function is a transformation of a special function called the parent.
- Functions can be adapted to solve real world problems.
Unit 2 – Polynomial and Rational Functions November
Enduring Understandings
- The degree of a polynomial helps describe the behavior of a graph and the number of algebraic solutions.
- A rational equation, or inequality, can describe the behavior of a graph; conversely, a graph can describe a rational equation, or inequality. Graphing utilities are used to better understand rational functions.
Unit 3 – Exponential and Logarithmic Functions December
Enduring Understandings
- Logarithms and exponents have corresponding properties.
- You can use logarithms to solve exponential equations; and conversely, you can use exponents to solve logarithmic equations.
- Natural logarithms have similar properties to logarithms and exponents; we use base e.
Unit 4 – Circles and Triangles January
Enduring Understandings
- The equation of a circle can be manipulated in order to identify the center and radius.
- Right triangles help to solve real-world problems.
Unit 5 – Trigonometric Functions February/March
Enduring Understandings
- Angles are the domain elements of the trigonometric functions.
- Reference triangles allow the ability to find solutions in all quadrants.
- The graphs of sine, cosine, tangent, and their inverses are unique because they are continuous curves that repeat themselves.
Unit 6 – Analytical Trigonometry (we might skip this) April/May
Enduring Understandings
- If you know three parts of a triangle, you can solve any triangle using the Law of Sines and/or the Law of Cosines.
- The interrelationships among the six basic trigonometric functions make it possible to write trigonometric expressions in various equivalent forms.
Unit 7 – Piecewise Functions, Limits, and Derivatives May/June
Enduring Understandings
- Piecewise functions are function that are defined over a set of intervals.
- A derivative is a measure of how fast a function is changing
- The limit of a function is the value approached by f(x) as x approaches a value or infinity
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Writing for Success: The Common App Essay September 2023
Unit II – Racial Injustice and the Law September-November 2023
Unit III – The Native American Experience November 2023 – January 2024
Unit IV – Japanese Internment January-March 2024
Unit V – Independent Research: Marginalized Groups in America March-June 2024
MTH0130 - Pre-College Algebra and Trigonometry
Course Description:
This course extends Algebra II topics and introduces major topics of trigonometry. It serves as a bridge between Algebra II and Pre-Calculus Honors and is designed to prepare students for post-secondary mathematics. Topics covered include rational equations, radical equations, right triangle trigonometry, the unit circle, graphs of trigonometric functions and their transformations, trigonometric identities, equation solving and applications of trigonometric functions (including inverse trigonometric functions). The use of the graphing calculator is an integral component of the course and helps to build a deeper understanding of the concepts. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 Calculator (or better), MSMHS Laptop
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. Ater a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
● Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
● Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
● Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
● Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0 - Foundations September
- Review of Algebra 1 content and concepts.
Unit 1 – Systems of Equations September - October
Enduring Understandings
- To solve a system of equations, find a set of values that replace the variables in the equations and make each equation true.
- Systems of Inequalities can be solved by graphing. The solution is the set of all points that are solutions of each inequality in the system.
Unit 2 – Quadratics October - December
Enduring Understandings
- Any quadratic function in vertex form can be converted to standard form and vice versa. In standard form, the values of a, b, and c provide key information about its graph.
- To find zeros of a quadratic function, you must set the equation equal to zero. The x-intercepts tell what the zeros are because this is where y = 0. There are many ways to solve a quadratic equation.
- A basis for the complex numbers is a number whose square is -1. Every quadratic equation has complex number solutions; some of these solutions may involve imaginary numbers,
Unit 3 – Polynomials January
Enduring Understandings
- A polynomial function has distinguishing “behaviors”. Its algebraic form gives information about its graph and its graph gives information about its algebraic form.
- You can divide polynomials using steps that are similar to the long division steps that you use to divide whole numbers.
- The degree of a polynomial equation tells you how many roots there are in an equation.
Unit 4 – Rational Expressions February
- Enduring Understandings
- Basic properties and operations with fractions must be used to simplify, multiply, divide, add and subtract rational expressions.
- When solving an equation involving rational expressions, multiplying by the common denominator can result in extraneous solutions.
Unit 5 – Radical Expressions and Rational Exponents March
Enduring Understandings
- Corresponding to every power there is a root. If the power of the radicand is greater than the index, the expression can be simplified.
- All radicals can be multiplied and divided when either the radicand is the same or the index is the same. Only radicals with common radicand and index can be added or subtracted.
- Radical expressions are the opposite of exponents; radical expressions can be written and simplified in an equivalent form using rational exponents.
- Radical equations can be solved by isolating the radical and squaring both sides of the equation. The process may introduce extraneous solutions.
Unit 6 – Exponential and Log Equations April
Enduring Understandings
- The exponential function y = b x is one to one, so its inverse x = b y is a function. To express “y as a function of x” for the inverse, write y = logx.
- Logarithms can be used to solve exponential equations, and conversely, exponents can be used to solve logarithmic equations.
- The function y = e x and y = lnx are inverse functions.
MTH0120 - Geometry
Course Description:
This course will enable the student to gain an understanding of the basic structure of Euclidean geometry and to develop powers of spatial visualization and reasoning, while building knowledge of the relationship among geometric elements. Topics covered include congruence, construction, polygons, trigonometry, conics, three-dimensional shapes and probability. Stress will be placed on the deductive role in the study of mathematics and the student will be led to discover and appreciate the need for precision of language in mathematics. Algebraic skills will be constantly developed, used and strengthened. The methods of coordinate geometry will be emphasized and the presentation will integrate the important concepts and skills of algebra and geometry. Common Core State Standards are followed. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 Calculator (or better)
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. Ater a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 – Foundations of Geometry September 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Formulas can be used to find information about a figure.
- Number operations can be used to find and compare the lengths of segments and measures of angles.
- Special angle pairs can be used to identify geometric relationships and to find angle measures.
- The angles created by two parallel lines and a transversal form special pairs.
Unit 2 - Triangles October 2024
Enduring Understandings
- There are special properties that can be applied to triangles.
- Pythagorean Theorem can be used to find the missing side of a right triangle.
- Special right triangles have properties that allow their side lengths to be determined using the ratios of the side lengths.
Unit 3 – Trigonometry November 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Trigonometric relationships can be used to solve right triangles.
Unit 4 - Transformations December 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Figures in a coordinate plane can be mapped onto each other using a translation, reflection, rotation, or dilation.
- Ratios and proportions are used to determine the lengths of sides in similar polygons.
- Using ratios, proportions, and properties of dilations between two polygons, you can determine if the polygons are similar.
Unit 5 - Circles January 2025
Enduring Understandings
- You can find the arc length and area of a sector using the arc measure and radius.
- The intersection of the tangent to a circle and the radius have a special relationship.
- Using the center and radius of a circle, you can write its equation.
Unit 6 – Analyzing 2D and 3D Shapes February – March 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Using the relationship between the sides, angles, and diagonals of a polygon, you can classify quadrilaterals and other polygons.
- To find the surface area of a three-dimensional figure, find the sum of the areas of all the surfaces of the figure.
- You can find the volume of a prism, cylinder, pyramid, and cone when you know the area of the base and the height of the figure and spheres when you know the radius.
Unit 7 – Probability and Statistics April – June 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Data can be organized into different types of graphs so that trends can be seen.
- Probability helps to predict long term events over time.
MTH0169 - AP Statistics
Course Description:
This course is rigorous and requires students to think about designs of the studies which produced the data they are analyzing and to consider the possible effect of outlying observations on their conclusions. This course follows the national AP Statistics curriculum. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data and to provide students with an opportunity to earn advanced placement and/or college credit in mathematics. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement exam given in May. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
*A graphing calculator is required for this course.
Please note that there is a fee set by the College Board for students taking this course.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 Calculator (or better)
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2022. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not Page 2 bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 - Exploring One-Variable Data September
Unit 2 - Exploring Two-Variable Data September
Unit 3 - Collecting Data October
Unit 4 - Probability, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions November
Unit 5 - Sampling Distributions December
Unit 6 - Inference for Categorical Data: Proportions January
Unit 7 - Inference for Quantitative Data: Means February
Unit 8 - Inference for Categorical Data: Chi-Square March
Unit 9 - Inference for Quantitative Data: Slopes March
MTH0179 - AP Calculus BC
Course Description:
This course includes all topics covered in Calculus AB plus additional topics focusing on the calculus of functions of a single variable. AP Calculus BC is the study of limits, derivatives, definite and indefinite integrals, polynomial approximations and (infinite) series. Though this is considered a study of single-variable calculus, parametric, polar, and vector functions will be studied. Consistent with AP philosophy, concepts will be expressed and 12 analyzed geometrically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement Exam in May.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 7 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 (or better) Graphing Calculator
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2022. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell Page 2 phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 – Limits, Continuity and Derivatives September 2024
Unit 2 – Application of Differentiation September - October 2024
Unit 3 – Integration and Accumulation of Change October – November 2024
Unit 4 – Differential Equations November – December 2024
Unit 5 – Application of the Definite Integral January 2025
Unit 6 – Parametric Equations and Polar Coordinates February 2025
Unit 7 – Infinite Sequences and Series March - April 2025
MTH0158 - AP Calculus AB
Course Description:
This course is rigorous and requires students to understand an abstract approach to the theorems and applications of calculus. Calculus AB follows the AB syllabus of the Advanced Placement program. The goals of the AP Calculus sequence is to provide students with a rigorous course in differential and integral calculus prior to their entrance to college and to provide students with an opportunity to earn college credit in mathematics. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement exam given in May. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 (or better) Graphing Calculator
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2022. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 – Limits and Derivatives September 2024
Unit 2 – More Derivatives October - November 2024
Unit 3 –Applications of Derivatives December 2024
Unit 4 – The Definite Integral January - February 2025
Unit 5 – Applications of Integrals March - April 2025
MTH0130 - Algebra II
Course Description:
This course will enable the student to gain a richer understanding of the algebraic structure of the real number system. While the emphasis of the course is on manipulative skills, considerable attention is given to mathematical structure and logic. The content of the course included first degree, linear, and quadratic equations and inequalities, system of equations, data interpretations, matrices, polynomial and fractional expressions, exponents, radicals, complex numbers, conic sections, and inferential statistics. Mathematical modeling, problem solving and multiple representations are stressed. Common Core State Standards are followed. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 Calculator (or better)
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
● “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
● “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
● “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work. Cheating Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
- Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0 - Foundations September
- Review of Algebra 1 content and concepts.
Unit 1 – Systems of Equations September - October Enduring Understandings
- To solve a system of equations, find a set of values that replace the variables in the equations and make each equation true.
- Systems of Inequalities can be solved by graphing. The solution is the set of all points that are solutions of each inequality in the system.
Unit 2 – Quadratics October - December Enduring Understandings
- Any quadratic function in vertex form can be converted to standard form and vice versa. In standard form, the values of a, b, and c provide key information about its graph.
- To find zeros of a quadratic function, you must set the equation equal to zero. The x-intercepts tell what the zeros are because this is where y = 0. There are many ways to solve a quadratic equation.
- A basis for the complex numbers is a number whose square is -1. Every quadratic equation has complex number solutions; some of these solutions may involve imaginary numbers,
Unit 3 – Polynomials January Enduring Understandings
- A polynomial function has distinguishing “behaviors”. Its algebraic form gives information about its graph and its graph gives information about its algebraic form.
- You can divide polynomials using steps that are similar to the long division steps that you use to divide whole numbers.
- The degree of a polynomial equation tells you how many roots there are in an equation.
Unit 4 – Rational Expressions February Enduring Understandings
- Basic properties and operations with fractions must be used to simplify, multiply, divide, add and subtract rational expressions.
- When solving an equation involving rational expressions, multiplying by the common denominator can result in extraneous solutions.
Unit 5 – Radical Expressions and Rational Exponents March Enduring Understandings
- Corresponding to every power there is a root. If the power of the radicand is greater than the index, the expression can be simplified.
- All radicals can be multiplied and divided when either the radicand is the same or the index is the same. Only radicals with common radicand and index can be added or subtracted.
- Radical expressions are the opposite of exponents; radical expressions can be written and simplified in an equivalent form using rational exponents.
- Radical equations can be solved by isolating the radical and squaring both sides of the equation. The process may introduce extraneous solutions.
Unit 6 – Exponential and Log Equations April Enduring Understandings
- The exponential function y = b x is one to one, so its inverse x = b y is a function. To express “y as a function of x” for the inverse, write y = logbx.
- Logarithms can be used to solve exponential equations, and conversely, exponents can be used to solve logarithmic equations.
- The function y = e x and y = ln x are inverse functions.
MTH0135 - Algebra II Honors
Course Description:
The Honors Algebra II course examines the concepts and techniques of advanced algebra and discrete mathematics. The emphasis in the course’s development is on the logic and structure of algebra operations and manipulations and on the concept of a function. Linear, quadratic, polynomial and rational functions are discussed with regard to their relationship to algebraic operations and manipulative skills. Topics discussed include equations, inequalities, inferential statistics, data interpretation, matrices and conic sections. Technology is integrated throughout the course. The goals of Honors Algebra II are the development of competent algebra technicians, thinkers, and problem solvers. Common Core State Standards are followed. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
- Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 Calculator (or better)
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0 - Foundations September 2023
- Review of Algebra 1 content and concepts.
Unit 1 – Systems of Equations September - October Enduring Understandings
- To solve a system of equations, find a set of values that replace the variables in the equations and make each equation true.
- Systems of Inequalities can be solved by graphing. The solution is the set of all points that are solutions of each inequality in the system.
Unit 2 – Quadratics October - December Enduring Understandings
- Any quadratic function in vertex form can be converted to standard form and vice versa. In standard form, the values of a, b, and c provide key information about its graph.
- To find zeros of a quadratic function, you must set the equation equal to zero. The x-intercepts tell what the zeros are because this is where y = 0. There are many ways to solve a quadratic equation.
- A basis for the complex numbers is a number whose square is -1. Every quadratic equation has complex number solutions; some of these solutions may involve imaginary numbers
Unit 3 – Polynomials January Enduring Understandings
- A polynomial function has distinguishing “behaviors”. Its algebraic form gives information about its graph and its graph gives information about its algebraic form.
- You can divide polynomials using steps that are similar to the long division steps that you use to divide whole numbers.
- The degree of a polynomial equation tells you how many roots there are in an equation.
Unit 4 – Rational Expressions February Enduring Understandings
- Basic properties and operations with fractions must be used to simplify, multiply, divide, add and subtract rational expressions.
- When solving an equation involving rational expressions, multiplying by the common denominator can result in extraneous solutions.
Unit 5 – Radical Expressions and Rational Exponents March Enduring Understandings
- Corresponding to every power there is a root. If the power of the radicand is greater than the index, the expression can be simplified.
- All radicals can be multiplied and divided when either the radicand is the same or the index is the same. Only radicals with common radicand and index can be added or subtracted.
- Radical expressions are the opposite of exponents; radical expressions can be written and simplified in an equivalent form using rational exponents.
- Radical equations can be solved by isolating the radical and squaring both sides of the equation. The process may introduce extraneous solutions.
Unit 6 – Exponential and Log Equations April Enduring Understandings
- The exponential function y = b x is one to one, so its inverse x = b y is a function. To express “y as a function of x” for the inverse, write y = logx.
- Logarithms can be used to solve exponential equations, and conversely, exponents can be used to solve logarithmic equations.
- The function y = e x and y = lnx are inverse functions.
MTH0110 - Algebra I
Course Description:
This course will enable the student to reach an understanding and appreciation of some of the algebraic structures exhibited by the real number system. Importance is placed on the development of manipulative skills and on the use of variables in problem solving situations. Students are introduced to the techniques for solving linear, quadratic and systems of equations, solving inequalities, manipulating radicals, graphing, and manipulating polynomial expressions. Throughout the course there will be an emphasis on problem solving, the use of technology, and real-world applications. Common Core State Standards are followed. Preparation for SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 6 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, TI-84 (or better) Graphing Calculator
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit Page 1 summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Math courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 – Equations and Inequalities September - October 2024
Unit 2 – Proportional Reasoning November 2024
Unit 3 – Linear Functions December 2024 - January 2025
Unit 4 – Systems of Equations February - March 2025
Unit 5 – Exponential Functions March - April 2025
Unit 6 – Quadratic Functions May - June 2025
Science Courses
- Advanced Aquarium Research Honors
- SCI0818 - AP Biology
- SCI0715 - Chemistry Honors
- SCI0909 - AP Computer Science Principles
- SCI0750 - Aquaculture and Resource Management
- SCI0755 - Aquaculture Business and Entrepreneurship
- SCI0870 - Aquarium Science
- DCI0810 - Biology
- SCI0715 - Chemistry Honors
- SCI0828 ECE Environmental Science/ UCONN NRE 1000E: Environmental Science
- SCI0889 - ECE Horticulture and Design
- ECE Marine Science: Introduction to Oceanography
- SCI0820 – Environmental Science
- SCI0780 - Honors Physics
- SCI0770 - Human Anatomy & Physiology
- SCI0610 - Integrated Science
- SCI0730 - Marine Science
- SCI0640 - Marine Studies II
Advanced Aquarium Research Honors
Required Texts/Readings:
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course will allow students the opportunity to experience authentic and relevant research on the coral reef ecosystem. Students will investigate the impacts that humans have on coral reefs by analyzing current research, conducting experiments on coral growth and breeding marine ornamental fish. In addition, students will explore the aquarium industry and will take an in depth look at the public and private sector by visiting these unique facilities. Furthermore, students will be intimately involved in the ornamental fish aquaculture research being conducted in the MSMHS Aquaculture Research Lab.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. Ater a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
● No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
● Students may lose points for late/incomplete projects as per teacher discretion
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
SCI0818 - AP Biology
Required Texts/Readings:
Biology for the AP Course. Morris et al. 1st ed. BFW Publishers 2022.
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course will prepare students to take the National Advanced Placement Biology Exam. Students will be expected to apply effective strategies for problem solving by gathering information, analyzing and interpreting data, thinking critically, and communicating solutions. Students will be expected to employ technology appropriately to facilitate learning, research, and communication. A significant portion of the course will include laboratory investigations recommended by the College Board, which directly relate to the topics being studied with an emphasis on AP Biology’s Four Big Ideas: Evolution, Energetics, Information Storage and Transfer, and Systems Interactions. Students taking this course are expected to take the corresponding national Advanced Placement exam in May.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Tab Dividers, Pens/Pencils, Paper, MSMHS Laptop
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for Page 1 the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2024. After October 1st, there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy. Late Work Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be Page 2 required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Evaluation
Classwork, Labs, and Assignments
There will be short participatory classwork assignments, in class discussions, labs, reflections and take home assignments throughout the course with variable point value ranging from 10 to 100 points.
Quizzes
Monday Notes Quizzes will be worth 20 points and must be completed in the allotted time. Notes Quizzes will be timed for 20-30 minutes, and written notes may be used for the final 5-10 minutes of the quiz. Quiz corrections will be allowed and submitted within 2 weeks of the date the assessment was returned to the student.
Free Response Question (FRQ) Quizzes will be worth 10 points and must be completed in the allotted time (20-30 minutes). Corrections or revisions will be allowed and submitted within 2 weeks of the date the assessment was returned to the student.
Unit Tests and Projects
Unit tests and projects will be worth 100 points and will be given for each unit of study. Missed tests must be made up in the study hall within one week of the original test date (or date of student return to school). Corrections or revisions will be allowed and submitted within 2 weeks of the date the assessment was returned to the student.
Midterm and Final Exams
The midterm and final exams are worth 200 points. The final exam will be comprehensive. Students are responsible for all assigned text material, material presented in class, as well as any reading assignments. Seniors with a cumulative grade of A- will be exempt from the final exam.
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher.
Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I –Chemistry of Life Quarter 1 Enduring Understandings
- The structure and functions of living organisms are based on the chemistry of atoms and molecules.
- The carbon atom is the foundation of all organic molecules, and its versatility gives rise to the molecular diversity of life.
- The highly complex organization of living systems requires constant input of energy and the exchange of macromolecules.
Unit II –Cellular Structure and Function Quarter 1 Enduring Understandings
- The structure and functions of the cell allows organisms to carry out all of the properties of life.
- Living systems are organized in a hierarchy of structural levels that interact.
- Cells have membranes that allow them to establish and maintain internal environments that are different from their external environments.
Unit III –Cellular Energetics Quarter 2 Enduring Understandings
- An organism’s metabolism transforms matter and energy.
- Cellular respiration converts chemical energy into energy that can be used by the cell.
- Photosynthesis converts solar energy into chemical energy available for respiration or fermentation.
Unit IV – Cell Communication and Cell Cycle Quarter 2 Enduring Understandings
- Cells communicate by generating, transmitting, receiving, and responding to chemical signals.
- Somatic cells divide in an orderly process, producing two identical daughter cells.
- Heritable information provides for continuity of life.
Unit V –Heredity Quarter 3 Enduring Understandings
- Meiosis reduces the number of chromosome sets from diploid to haploid in the production of gametes.
- The laws of probability govern Mendelian inheritance, although inheritance is often more complex than can be predicted by simple Mendelian genetics.
- Chromosomal basis of inheritance is complex due to linked genes and alterations.
Unit VI – Gene Expression & Regulation Quarter 3 Enduring Understandings
- DNA provides the instructions for life’s operations.
- Genes code for specific proteins, and the expression of genes is strictly regulated in organisms.
- Differential gene expression leads to the different cell types in multicellular organisms, while abnormal regulation of genes can lead to problems with human health.
- Sequencing genomes provides scientists with evidence of shared ancestry and evolution.
Unit VII – Natural Selection Quarter 4 Enduring Understandings
- Descent with modification by natural selection explains the adaptations of organisms and the unity and diversity of life.
- Genetic variation among populations makes evolution possible.
- Life continues to evolve within a changing environment.
- The evolution of prokaryotes, followed by the evolution of eukaryotes, led to a vast array of complex organisms on Earth.
- The colonization of land by plants and fungi transformed terrestrial environments, enabling them to support a variety of microscopic and macroscopic organisms.
Unit VIII – Ecology Quarter 4 Enduring Understandings
- Population size and distribution is driven by ecological and evolutionary factors.
- Interactions within a community may help, harm, or have no effect on the species involved.
- Energy flow and chemical cycling occur in an ecosystem.
- Human activities are altering trophic structures, energy flow, and natural disturbance.
SCI0715 - Chemistry Honors
Required Texts/Readings:
Chemistry: The Central Science, 15th edition
Course Description:
This is a college-level course designed to conform to the Advanced Placement Chemistry Program. Appropriate lab experiences are used which emphasize qualitative, quantitative, and instrumental methods of analysis. Students taking this course are expected to take the corresponding national Advanced Placement exam in May.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder/Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, Notebook, scientific calculator
Advanced Academic Programs:
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2022. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0 – Lab Safety and Measurements September
Unit 1 – Atomic Structures & Properties September
Unit 2 – What’s the Grade (Compound Structure & Properties, Properties of substances & Mixtures) October Unit
4 – Chemical Reactions November
Unit 5 – Kinetics December
Unit 6 – Thermochemistry January
Unit 7 – Equilibrium January - February
Unit 8 – Acids & Bases February - March
Unit 9 – Thermodynamics & Electrochemistry March - April
Unit 10 – Environmental Chemistry May - June
SCI0909 - AP Computer Science Principles
Required Texts/Readings:
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the central ideas of computer science, fostering computational thinking and inviting students to understand how computing changes the world. Students are encouraged to apply creative processes when developing computational artifacts and while using simulations to explore questions of interest. There is a focus on using technology and programming as a means to solve problems. This course highlights the relevance of computer science by emphasizing the vital impact advances in computing have on people and society.
Materials Needed:
Designated Notebook/Binder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, MSMHS Laptop, Flash-drive, headphones
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests Page 1 must be completed by the first week of September, 2024. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Introduction to Mobile Apps and Programming September 2024 Enduring Understandings
- Computing enhances communication and interactions, but also had global effects, both beneficial and harmful on people and society
- Programs can be developed to solve problems for creative expression, to satisfy personal curiosity, or to create new knowledge
Unit II – Algorithms October - November 2024 Enduring Understandings
- Algorithms are precise sequences of instructions for processes that can be executed by a computer and are implemented using programming languages
- Programs are written to execute algorithms and are developed, maintained, and used by people for different purposes
Unit III – Digital Graphics and Images November-December 2024 Enduring Understandings
- Computer programs process information to gain insight and knowledge, however there are tradeoffs when representing information as digital data
- Models and simulations use abstractions to generate new understandings and knowledge
Unit IV – Procedural Abstractions January 2025 Enduring Understandings
- Multiple levels of abstraction are used to write programs to solve a variety of problems
- Programs can be developed to solve problems, however there do exist limits to what computers can solve
Unit V – Communication Through the Internet February 2025 Enduring Understandings
- The internet is a network of autonomous systems that is ever changing
- Cyber security is an important concern for the internet and the systems built on it
Unit VI– Big Data March-April 2025 Enduring Understandings
- Computing large amounts of data facilitates the exploration and the discovery of connections throughout information
- There are a variety of ways that data can be used, manipulated and represented within mobile apps and across the internet
Unit VII – Computer Science Innovations April - June 2025 Enduring Understandings
- Computer Science is a growing field that is in need of talented and creative problem solvers who are looking to innovate with technology
- Programming is only limited by the effort put forth by the programmer
SCI0750 - Aquaculture and Resource Management
Required Texts/Readings:
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
In this course, students will be introduced to advanced aquaculture topics revolving around the idea of resource management. Topics will include sustainability, natural resource conservation, marine ecology, and food management. Students will investigate the sustainability of the food industry and work with the schools aquaponics systems.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- Students may lose points for late/incomplete projects as per teacher discretion
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I: Introduction to Sustainability
There are many different farming techniques used throughout the world which may or may not use sustainable practices Agriculture can impact society in many different economic and environmental ways
Unit II. Aquaponics
Aquaponics systems can create a mutually beneficial environment for all aquatic organisms in a particular system If designed correctly, nearly any plant, aquatic or terrestrial, can be grown in an aquaponics system
Unit III. Fisheries Management
There are various species that are harvested for consumption using various methods. Fish stocks need to be harvested and or produced sustainably.
Unit IV. Oyster Aquaculture
Oysters play a vital role in oceanic waters, providing filtration, and a food source to various organisms. Oysters are aquacultured through a variety of culture methods in order to boost populations and provide a food source Oysters have been a major food and monetary source throughout the history of Connecticut
SCI0755 - Aquaculture Business and Entrepreneurship
Required Texts/Readings:
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course offers students an immersive introductory experience in the world of aquaculture business. It explores the entrepreneurial characteristics needed in opening and maintaining a sustainable aquaculture business. Students will develop their own industry-specific product or service in order to identify challenges and opportunities in the aquaculture market. Students will lead the management of the MSMHS coral growing operation and gain hands-on experience in product financing, marketing, and sales. This course allows students to lead activities that will provide them with applicable skills necessary to succeed in a constantly changing aquaculture workplace
Materials Needed: Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- Students may lose points for late/incomplete projects as per teacher discretion
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – What does it mean to be an Entrepreneur? September-October 2023
Unit II – Marketing Your Business November-December 2023
Unit III – Financial Management January-March 2024
Unit IV – Business Operations and Logistics April-June 2024
SCI0870 - Aquarium Science
Required Texts/Readings:
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course examines the present-day aquatic animal husbandry industries. Students will explore the physical, chemical and biological processes occurring in the aquarium environment. Students will be responsible for the ownership of their own aquarium and will master the proper set-up and maintenance of home aquaria. Furthermore, students will examine the relationship between a variety of organisms in a balanced coral reef aquarium and make comparisons to the natural environment.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- Students may lose points for late/incomplete projects as per teacher discretion
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1. Introduction to Aquaria
There are a variety of necessary equipment and skills that are needed to set up and maintain an aquarium. There are various water quality parameters that students need to monitor to ensure a healthy aquarium.
Unit II. Aquarium Husbandry
Unchecked water quality parameters can lead to an unhealthy aquarium. Various equipment and products are used to maintain an aquarium.
Unit III. Aquarium Vertebrates
There are a variety of common vertebrates that are kept in aquariums, but they each require very specific conditions. Behavioral factors such as aggression, feeding, breeding, and territoriality must be considered when selecting organisms to coexist.
Unit IV. Aquarium Invertebrates
There are a variety of invertebrates that can be kept in aquariums. Invertebrates can provide both positive and negative impacts on other aquaria
Unit V. Exhibit Design
There are factors to consider when designing an exhibit. Aquarium size and style has an effect on many factors in the tank.
DCI0810 - Biology
Course Description:
This course has been designed to prepare students for college biology courses. Students will be expected to apply effective strategies for problem solving by gathering information, analyzing and interpreting data, thinking critically, and communicating solutions. The topics will include the most recent discoveries in biology including bio-molecules, cell structure, energy conversion and utilization in cells, cell reproduction, movement of bio-molecules in cells, the structure of nucleic acids, protein synthesis, and genetics. This is a laboratory science course; lab techniques will be taught and learned as students complete laboratory investigations in each major topic studied. Students will be expected to employ technology appropriately to facilitate learning, research, and communication.
Materials Needed:
Pens/pencils, college-ruled composition notebook, two pocket folder, laptop
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. Ater a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 – Characteristics of Life September 2024
Unit 2 – Matter and Energy September-November 2024
Unit 3 – DNA and Cell Cycle November 2024 – January 2025
Unit 4 – Genetics January-March 2025
Unit 5 – Evolution March-June 2025
SCI0715 - Chemistry Honors
Required Texts/Readings:
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
Chemistry Honors is for students interested in exploring science and engineering pathways. This course will investigate interactions around different energy and matter, incorporating higher level mathematical relationships and reasoning. The necessary math skills include algebraic manipulation, graphing, and data analysis. This fast paced, college prep, laboratory-oriented course helps grow student skills in science literacy and develop a lifelong awareness of the potential limitations of science and technology. Students will develop understanding and skills in fundamental concepts, practical applications, laboratory techniques and mathematical applications. Topics include atomic structure, chemical reactions, chemical quantities, kinetic theory, and thermodynamics. This course will prepare students to take AP Chemistry.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder/Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, Notebook, scientific calculator
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0 – Lab Safety and Measurements September
Unit 1 – Atomic Structures & Properties September
Unit 2 – What’s the Grade (Compound Structure & Properties, Properties of substances & Mixtures) October
Unit 4 – Chemical Reactions November
Unit 5 – Kinetics December
Unit 6 – Thermochemistry January
Unit 7 – Equilibrium January - February
Unit 8 – Acids & Bases February - March
Unit 9 – Thermodynamics & Electrochemistry March - April
Unit 10 – Environmental Chemistry May - June
SCI0828 ECE Environmental Science/ UCONN NRE 1000E: Environmental Science
Required Texts/Readings:
Environmental Science for the AP Course, 3rd ed., by Andrew Friedland and Rick Relyea, W.H. Freeman and Company, 2019.
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to explore human interaction with the environment. Content includes, but is not limited to, forms of pollution, conservation, environmental policy, land use, population dynamics, and major forms of energy. Laboratory investigations of selected topics in the content also include the scientific method, measurement, lab safety, and dimensional analysis.
Please note that there is a fee set by UConn for students taking this course.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 3-ring pocket folder, Pens/Pencils, Loose-leaf lined paper
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before deadline set by UConn. After October 20th, there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior
Expectations All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. Ater a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Evaluation
Classwork, Labs, and Assignments
There will be classwork assignments, in class discussions, labs, and take home assignments throughout the course with variable point value ranging from 10 to 50 points. Each unit will have 2 short answer responses/reflections worth 10 points each based on the notes, readings, films, or class work completed in the prior 2 weeks. These written responses/reflections will be completed in class during the allotted time (15-20 minutes). Handwritten notes and classwork may be used to complete the assignment. Short answer responses/reflections will be given on a bi-weekly basis, as the schedule allows.
Quizzes
Each unit will have 2 Notes Quizzes worth 20 points each based on the notes and readings from the prior 2 weeks and must be completed in the allotted time. Notes Quizzes will be timed for 20-30 minutes, and written notes may be used for the final 5-10 minutes of the quiz. Quiz corrections will be allowed and submitted within 2 weeks of the date the assessment was returned to the student. Notes quizzes will be given on a bi-weekly basis, as the schedule allows.
Unit Tests and Projects
Unit tests and projects will be worth 100 points and will be given for each unit of study. Missed tests must be made up in the study hall within one week of the original test date (or date of student return to school).
Midterm and Final Exams
The midterm and final exams are worth 200 points. The final exam will be comprehensive. Students are responsible for all assigned text material, material presented in class, as well as any reading assignments.
Grading Overview
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Items | Quality | Point |
---|---|---|
Assignments/labs (variable points) | 10 | 500 |
Classwork Assignments | 10 | 200 |
Discussions, Reflections | 20 | 200 |
Quizzes | 6 | 240 |
Tests | 5 | 500 |
Midterm Exam/Project | 1 | 200 |
Final Exam/Project | 1 | 200 |
Total | 2040 |
Academic Integrity:
To support academic integrity, MSMHS may use a technology tool for plagiarism prevention such as Turnitin.com. Students are required to submit major papers to this service and receive guidelines and training in its use if requested by the teacher. All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Objectives Overview
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Discuss the field of environmental science, environmental indicators, and the scientific method.
- Explain human population growth and their limits, and how they have altered the environment.
- Discuss the forms of energy and the basic components of the environment.
- Explain growth models and biodiversity in ecology.
- Discuss the formation of the earth, soil, and water, and its impact on food production.
- Describe uses of resources for production of energy, and its impact on pollution.
- Explain waste and waste management.
- Discuss human and animal health in relation to environmental issues.
- Describe climate change and environmental sustainability.
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I –The Living World Quarter 1
Enduring Understandings
- The field of Environmental Science is interdisciplinary and explores the interactions between natural and human systems.
- Environmental science explores human interactions with the world and the impacts we have on our environment while environmental ethics and economics involve values which are shaped by our cultures and worldviews.
- Energy and matter cycle through a functioning ecosystem in a systematic and predictable way.
Textbook Chapter(s): 1, 3, 4 (Modules 12-13), 6
Unit II – Biodiversity and Evolution Quarter 1 - 2
Enduring Understandings
- Biodiversity is measured in terms of species richness and relationships among species can be illustrated using a phylogeny.
- Genetic diversity is created through mutation and recombination.
- Evolution can occur through artificial or natural selection and random processes.
- Environmental change can alter the distribution of species and cause extinctions.
Textbook Chapter: 5
Unit III – Human Population Quarter 2 Enduring Understandings
- Population growth rate can be predicted or determined using specific demographic characteristics.
- Human population growth has social, economic, and environmental factors which interact to impact the environment.
Textbook Chapter(s): 7
Unit IV – Earth’s Systems and Resources Quarter 3
Enduring Understandings
- Earth’s systems are powered mainly by radiation from the sun, geothermal heating from the planet’s core, and gravitational interactions among Earth, the sun, and the moon.
- Healthy soil is vital to successful agriculture.
- Groundwater, surface water, and atmospheric water are the major water sources; humans alter the availability of water.
Textbook Chapter(s): 2, 8-11
Unit V – Energy and Pollution Quarter 3-4
Enduring Understandings
- Since the industrial revolution, nonrenewable fossil fuels have become our primary source of energy.
- Conventional energy alternatives and renewable energy sources can provide a solution to the problem of energy demand in our increasing population.
- Anthropogenic air and water pollution includes primary and secondary pollutants from point and nonpoint sources.
- Solid waste everywhere is increasing as a result of growth in population and in consumption.
- Identify and understand risks of pollution to human and animal health in relation to the environment. Textbook Chapter(s): 12-13, 14-17 Page 6
Unit VI – Global Change and Sustainability Quarter 4
Enduring Understandings
- Our planet is changing due to human activities in predictable patterns.
- Human land use affects the environment in many different ways.
- Human activity and population growth are fueling climate change in irreparable ways.
- Achieving sustainability requires sound environmental science and economic analysis.
Textbook Chapter(s): 18-20
Evaluation of the Course
Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate instruction in this course using the University's standard procedures, which are administered by the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE).
Additional informal formative surveys may also be administered within the course as an optional evaluation tool.
UCONN Student Conduct Code
All students have the responsibility to uphold the University of Connecticut Student Conduct Code. Violations of the Student Conduct Code related to this course will be brought to the attention of the student and possibly the Dean of Students with appropriate actions. The UCONN Student Code can be found at https://community.uconn.edu/
SCI0828 ECE Environmental Science / UCONN NRE 1000E: Environmental Science
SCI0889 - ECE Horticulture and Design
Required Texts/Readings:
Arteca, Richard. (2015) Introduction to Horticultural Science 2E. Independence, KY: Cengage Learning.
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course introduces students to the science and practice of propagating and maintaining plants; basic concepts of plant structure, growth, and function; integrated pest management; horticulture effects on the environment; landscape design and careers in the horticulture field. Embedded throughout the year will be floral design techniques and business skills connected to the floral industry.
Materials Needed:
Folder, Notebook, Pens/Pencils, Highlighters, Calculator, MSMHS Computer
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities.
UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before deadline set by UConn. After October 1 st , there will be Page 1 no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
In this course, you have the opportunity to earn 7 credits at UConn. Therefore, retakes of exams, tests, papers , flower designs and projects will not be permitted. Please study with this in mind and seek extra help in a timely manner.
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all assignments designated as a quiz. Retakes/revisions on any quiz must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a quiz must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a quiz that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late most summative assessments*, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
* Time sensitive assignments may be subject to a five point per day late penalty. These assignments will be identified ahead of time and class time will be set aside to help with timely completion.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Reporting of final grades:
Students will be taking three UConn courses within this MSMHS course. The following table outlines which quarterly grades throughout the year will be reported as the final grade for each UConn course. All grades will be based on the grade earned and reported in PowerSchool.
Assignments will be coded in PowerSchool as either Horticulture or Floral Design to determine the final grades for each UConn course.
SPSS 2520 S1 grade – Average of Q1 and Q2 assignments coded Floral Design
SPSS 3530 S2 grade – Average of Q3, Q4 assignments coded Floral Design and Final Exam.
SPSS 1110 - Average of all quarter assignments coded Horticulture and Midterm Exam.
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Biology of Plants Quarter 1
Unit II – Growing Plants Quarter 2
Unit III – Maintaining Plants Quarter 3
Unit IV – Importance of Plants Quarter 4
ECE Marine Science: Introduction to Oceanography
Required Texts/Readings:
Trujillo, A. & H. Thurman. (2011) Essentials of Oceanography 10E. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course covers the geology, chemistry, physics and biological processes of the world’s oceans. The first half of the course will focus on the formation of the Earth, beach erosion and ocean chemistry. The second half of the course will focus on ocean circulation, waves and biological productivity. Students will examine marine conservation issues as well as impacts the ocean has on their lives.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 6 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Notebook or Paper, Highlighters, Calculator, MSMHS Computer
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before deadline set by UConn. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
In this course, you have the opportunity to earn 4 credits at UConn. Therefore, retakes of exams, tests, papers and projects will not be permitted. Please study with this in mind and seek extra help in a timely manner.
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all assignments designated as a quiz. Retakes/revisions on any quiz must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a quiz must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a quiz that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late most summative assessments*, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
* Time sensitive assignments may be subject to a five point per day late penalty. These assignments will be identified ahead of time and class time will be set aside to help with timely completion.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – One Ocean September - October 2024
Unit II – Local Water October - December 2024
Unit III – Deep Ocean January – February 2025
Unit IV – Coastal Processes February - March 2025
Unit V – Coastal Resilience April 2025
Unit VI - Ocean Atmosphere Connection May-June 2025
SCI0820 – Environmental Science
Required Texts/Readings:
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This college prep course will offer students learning opportunities across the curriculum in the field of science. Furthermore, students will develop an understanding and appreciation for living systems (including themselves) and the skills and knowledge needed to address biological issues that are important and relative to their lives and the society in which they live. Such issues include, but are not limited to, the origin of biodiversity, ecology, biogeochemical cycles, scientific ethics, climate change, air pollution, water pollution, urbanization, impacts of human population on the environment, environmental problems and sociobiology.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder/Folder, Pens/Pencils, Paper, Highlighters, Notebook
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 – An Introduction to Environmental Science September
Unit 2 – Ecology October - November
Unit 3 – Humans and the Environment November – January
Unit 4 – Earth’s Resources January-March
Unit 5 – Toward a Sustainable Future March-June
SCI0780 - Honors Physics
Course Description:
This course will use data-based instructional strategies to develop student conceptual understandings. Honors Physics will stress both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of modern physics, force and motion, the conservation laws, the properties of matter, oscillations and waves, sound, and electricity and magnetism. Given the quantitative nature of solving problems and interpreting data, a strong mathematics background is essential for success in this honors level endeavor.
Materials Needed:
Scientific Calculator, Pens/Pencils, Notebook, MSMHS Laptop.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Science courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teachers have discretion to change this schedule throughout the year.
Unit I – Modern Physics September 2024
Unit II – Forces and Motion October-December 2024
Unit III – Conservation Laws December 2024-January 2025
Unit IV – Properties of Matter January-February 2025
Unit V – Oscillations and Waves March-April 2025
Unit VI – Sound April-May 2025 Unit VII – Electricity and Magnetism May-June 2025
SCI0770 - Human Anatomy & Physiology
Course Description:
This course will enable students to develop an understanding of the relationships between the structures and functions of the human body systems. Students will engage in many topics and competencies related to truly understanding the structure and function of the human body. Students will complete investigations to understand and explain the behavior of the human body in a variety of scenarios that incorporate scientific reasoning, analysis, communication skills and real world applications. Activities completed throughout the school year include dissections of the heart and brain, creating rehabilitation plans for individuals with muscle strains, completing a urinalysis of patients and investigating various diseases and disorders that impact the human body.
Materials Needed:
Pens/pencils, 3-ringed binder w/pocket folders, dividers, laptop
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 – Foundations of A & P September 2024
Unit 2 – Energy and Maintenance September - October 2024
Unit 3 – Transport and Exchange October – December 2024
Unit 4 – Regulation, Integration, and Control January-March 2025
Unit 5 – Human Development March-April 2025
Unit 6 - Support and Movement May - June 2025
SCI0610 - Integrated Science
Course Description:
Integrated science is mostly a physical science course which develops fundamental knowledge, skills and scientific thinking for many other areas of science. It introduces students to inquiry based learning, problem solving and critical thinking. It is required for all freshman students.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 3-Ring Pocket Folder, Pens/Pencils, Loose-Leaf Paper. Non earbud headphones.
Textbook / Required Reading
This course will have digital and paper references and required readings. Classroom textbooks will stay in the classroom. A supplemental resource will be on www.ck12.org. Student will join a class assignment page through google classroom.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration and it will be released to the student’s parent or guardian. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings and Tentative Dates:
Unit 1 – The Nature of Science Quarter One
Introduced in First 3 weeks. Embedded and built upon through the year
Enduring Understandings
- Scientific knowledge is created and communicated using a process called the scientific method and is based on evidence.
- Scientists and engineers engage in specific practices when investigating the natural world or designing solutions to problems.
Unit 2 – Forces and Interactions Quarter One
Enduring Understandings
- Laws of motion and gravitation are used to explain the effects of forces on the motion of objects.
- The total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system.
Unit 3- Energy Transformations & Thermodynamics Quarter Two
Enduring Understandings
- Energy transformations occur in many systems with varied efficiency.
- All energy pathways can be traced back to the sun
Unit-3 Quarter Two/Three Quarter Two
Enduring Understandings
- Electrons flow through conductive materials based on their atomic structure with different levels of resistance.
- Magnetic strength depends on the composition of a metal or the presence of electrical energy.
Unit 4 - Elements, Electricity and Magnetism Quarter Two
Enduring Understandings
- Atoms are the building blocks of matter.
- Electricity can be produced by moving a conductor in a magnetic field or moving a magnetic field over a conductor.
Unit 6 – Waves and The Electromagnetic Spectrum Quarter Three/Four
Enduring Understandings
- Mechanical waves need a medium to travel through while EM waves can travel through a vacuum of space.
- Wave properties of electromagnetic radiation such as frequency determine how it interacts with matter. Many helpful modern technologies rely on electromagnetic waves.
Unit 7 – Astronomy & Space Technology Quarter Four
Enduring Understandings
- The creation of the universe and stellar bodies can be supported with at least 3 pieces of evidence
- Physical laws can explain the interactions of astronomical bodies and how they change.
- Knowledge of our galaxy and solar system have increased with the advancement of technology over time.
Late Work
All teachers will accept late work prior to the end of the appropriate quarter by a designated date; 50% is the maximum penalty for a late submission. In order to be accepted, the work must be complete and meet all assignment requirements.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings. Academic support is available at different times throughout the day in the Learning Lounge and teachers will be available at scheduled times during Shark Block.
Retake Policy
All students will be allowed to retake assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments). This course will have a consistent retake procedure, regardless of the teacher. The retake procedure for this course is ___________________________.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school-related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
SCI0730 - Marine Science
Required Texts/Readings:
Marrero, M. & G. Schuster (2012). Marine Science: The Dynamic Ocean. New York: U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc. Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a survey of the world’s oceans. Students will explore ocean features, marine organisms and their habitats, environmental issues in ocean chemistry, and the ocean’s influence on our weather and current events. This course will incorporate laboratory investigations and use student generated questions to problem solve as active citizens in a coastal community.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 5 Tab Dividers (one for each unit of study), Pens/Pencils, Notebook or Paper, Highlighters, Calculator, MSMHS Computer
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating. Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – One Ocean September - October 2024
Unit II – Local Water October - December 2024
Unit III – Deep Ocean January – February 2025
Unit IV – Ocean and Weather March - April 2025
Unit V – Ocean Acidification May-June 2025
SCI0640 - Marine Studies II
Required Texts/Readings:
Students will be given a paper copy of the Connecticut Department Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) textbook of the Connecticut Safe Boaters Guide as well as the Boater’s Guide magazine for students to review and obtain their Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.
Course Description:
In this full-year course, students will go into an indepth exploration into mariner skills and careers on the water. Students will learn the rules of the road on the water and understand navigational aids, reading nautical, tide and current charts. Students will learn to become competent navigators through a study of small boat handling navigation and then move into skills onboard commercial vessels. Voyage planning will be practiced in the classroom through the use of our state of the art boat simulator as well as with field trips to New England Science and Sailing. Furthermore, students will investigate the pathways of maritime universities, marine conservation and commercial shipping. Students will explore the ongoing efforts of environmental protection organizations.
Materials Needed:
Designated binder with MSII section, pens/pencils, paper, highlighters, and MSMHS Laptop
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings
Unit 1 – Connecticut Safe Boating Quarter One
Enduring Understandings
- It is essential for boaters to be aware of their surroundings at all times in order to operate a vessel safely
- Every watercraft is different in the way it handles. It’s important to get to know your boat’s features and limitations for safe operation.
Unit II – The Legal Requirements of Boating Quarter One/Two
Enduring Understandings
- Boater’s of Connecticut are required to take a safe boating course to operate a watercraft with an extended version for training on towing water skiers or operating a jet ski.
- All mariners of powered and unpowered vessels are expected to know the laws associated with watercraft operation.
Unit III – Conservation of our Waterways Quarter Two
Enduring Understandings
- Invasive species including accidental releases from aquaculture can lead to degradation of food webs and damage to private property.
- Marine protection acts have been put in place due to a series of events and or collected data on human environmental impacts.
- Marine sanctuaries and protected marine areas require conservation professionals, law enforcement and public communication.
Unit IV - Nautical Charts & Navigation Quarter Three
Enduring Understandings
- Mariners apply safe boating practices to plan a route on the water.
- The ability to read and understand nautical charts is key to navigating local and foreign waters.
- Navigation is a skill that is essential for all boaters. Recognizing hazardous, monitoring weather, tides and currents are essential to a safe voyage.
Unit V - Ocean Tides, Currents & Bathymetry Quarter Three/Four
Enduring Understandings
- Knowledge of local tides and currents is essential for safe navigation along our coastline.
- Ocean currents are influenced by many factors from bathymetric shapes to global systems.
Unit VI – Weather Systems & Instrumentation Quarter Four
Enduring Understandings
- To understand local weather, one must understand global weather patterns and forces
- Ocean vessels have a variety of technologies that increase safety in navigation and expands our ability to study the ocean.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
For all science courses at MSMHS, a grade penalty may be issued for presentation or projects not completed on due date as they are used to teach the class. Late projects will not be allowed to revise and resubmit.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Social Studies Courses
- Art 0929 - AP Art History
- SOC0369 - AP Microeconomics
- SOC0359 - AP Psychology
- SOC0338 - AP United States History
- SOC0399 - Black and Latino Studies
- SOC0310 - Civics & Environmental Stewardship
- SOC0320 - World Maritime History
- SCO0330 - United States History
Art 0929 - AP Art History
Required Texts/Readings:
The History of Art: A Global View
Barron’s AP Art History
Smarthistory Resources (online)
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
In this rigorous, college level course, students will investigate the diverse artistic traditions of cultures from prehistory to the present and will develop an in-depth and holistic understanding of the history of the world through art. Students will learn and apply skills of visual, contextual, and comparative analysis to engage with a variety of art forms, processes, and products. The course will offer unique interactions with art professionals through guest lectures and field trips to museums, including a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement Exam in May.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, 10+ Tab Dividers, Pens/Pencils, Paper
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2024. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Social Studies courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
- No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Introduction to APAH (Global Prehistory and the Pacific) September
Unit II – Art of the Indigenous Americas and Africa September - October
Unit III – Art of South, East, and Southeast Asia October
Unit IV – Art of the Ancient Mediterranean November
Unit V – Art of West and Central Asia and Europe to 1400 December - January
Unit VI - Art of the Early Modern Atlantic World 1400-1750 January - February
Unit VII - Art of Europe and America 1750-1900 February - March
Unit VIII - Art of Europe and America 1900-1980 March
Unit IX - Global Contemporary Art April
Unit X - Art Creation May
SOC0369 - AP Microeconomics
Required Texts/Readings:
Foundations of Economics- Bade & Parkin
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This Advanced Placement course provides students with an understanding of economic principles to analyze and predict the decisions of producers and consumers in allocating their resources for optimal production and consumption. In addition to learning the basic principles of economic study, students will learn to examine different economic systems through the use of common models such as the supply and demand graph. AP microeconomics will give students tools to understand decisions of businesses and also themselves as consumers. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement Exam in May.
Materials Needed:
Laptop, Blue/Black Pen and Pencil, Highlighters, Notebook, Binder, Textbook Optional, but highly recommended: colored pencils/ markers
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests Page 1 must be completed by the first week of September, 2022. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before the deadline set by UConn. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. Ater a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool. No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating. Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s Page 4 prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Basic Concepts (4 weeks)
Unit II – Supply and Demand (4 weeks)
Unit III -Production, Cost, and the Perfect Competition Model (6 weeks) Midterm Exam
Unit IV- Imperfect Competition (5 weeks)
Unit V – Factor Markets (4 weeks)
Unit VI – Market Failure and the Role of the Government (3 weeks) AP Exam
Unit VII- Are You Buying What I’m Vending? (4 weeks) Final Project
SOC0359 - AP Psychology
Required Texts/Readings:
Myers’ Psychology for the AP Course Additional readings will be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course is intended to expose students to the social science of psychology. Through this rigorous course, students gain a better understanding of human behavior and mental process. Students become acquainted with the breadth of the field and obtain practical, useful, information, as well as a wealth of knowledge that will hopefully excite their curiosity and increase their understanding of peoples’ thoughts and actions. This course exposes the students to psychology and its methods, biological influences within psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, and clinical psychology. Students taking this course must take the corresponding national Advanced Placement Exam in May. Please note that there is a fee set by the College Board for students taking this course.
Materials Needed:
Charged laptop, pen/pencil, AP Psychology Workbook (provided by teacher)
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2024. After October 1st, there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before the deadline set by UConn. After October 1st, there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
Additionally, all Social Studies courses will abide by the following late work policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 0 Research Methods and Data Interpretation Sept 2024
Unit 1 Biological Bases of Behavior Oct- mid Nov 2024
Unit 2 Cognition Nov- Dec 2024
Unit 3 Development and Learning Jan 2025
Unit 4 Social Psychology and Personality Feb 2025
Unit 5 Mental and Physical Health March-Apr 2025
SOC0338 - AP United States History
Required Texts/Readings:
Divine, Robert A., et al. AMERICA Past and Present AP Edition. 9th ed. New Jersey: Longman, 2011. Murphy, Daniel P. 5 Steps to a 5: AP U.S. History. New York, McGraw Hill: 2020.
Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course provides a challenging, accelerated approach to exploring U.S. History from the pre-colonial period through the beginning of the 21st century. It simulates a true college experience with diversified readings and discussion material, in-depth writing activities, and analysis and synthesis of information. All enrolled students must take the Advanced Placement examination in May. Preparation for the SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder, Pens/Pencils, Highlighters, College-ruled Composition Notebook or loose leaf paper.
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2022. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
Additionally, all Social Studies courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments. MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above.
Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I: Period 1 (1491-1607) September 2024
Enduring Understandings
- A historian’s interpretation of history must include a clear synthesis of events that is well-supported with evidence from multiple perspectives.
- As native populations migrated and settled across the vast expanse of North America over time, they developed distinct and increasingly complex societies by adapting to and transforming their diverse environments.
- Contact among Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans resulted in the Columbian Exchange and significant social, cultural, and political changes on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Unit II: Period 2 (1607-1754) September - October 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Europeans developed a variety of colonization and migration patterns, influenced by different imperial goals, cultures, and the varied North American environments where they settled. They competed with each other and American Indians for resources.
- The British colonies participated in political, social, cultural, and economic exchanges with Great Britain that encouraged both stronger bonds with Britain and resistance to Britain’s control.
Unit III: (1754- 1800) October - November 2024
Enduring Understandings
- British attempts to assert tighter control over its North American colonies and the colonial resolve to pursue self-government led to a colonial independence movement and the Revolutionary War.
- The American Revolution’s democratic and republican ideals inspired new experiments with different forms of government.
- Migration within North America and competition over resources, boundaries, and trade intensified conflicts among peoples and nations.
Unit IV: Period 4 (1800-1848) November- December 2024
Enduring Understandings
- The United States began to develop a modern democracy and celebrated a new national culture, while Americans sought to define the nation’s democratic ideals and change their society and institutions to match them.
- Innovations in technology, agriculture, and commerce powerfully accelerated the American economy, precipitating profound changes to U.S. society and to national and regional identities.
- The U.S. interest in increasing foreign trade and expanding its national borders shaped the nation’s foreign policy and spurred government and private initiatives.
Unit V: Period 5 (1844-1877) January 2025
Enduring Understandings
- The United States became more connected with the world, pursued an expansionist foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere, and emerged as the destination for many migrants from other countries.
- Intensified by expansion and deepening regional divisions, debates over slavery and other economic, cultural, and political issues led the nation into civil war.
- The Union victory in the Civil War and the contested reconstruction of the South settled the issues of slavery and secession, but left unresolved many questions about the power of the federal government and citizenship rights.
Unit VI: Period 6 (1865-1898) February 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Technological advances, large-scale production methods, and the opening of new markets encouraged the rise of industrial capitalism in the United States.
- The migrations that accompanied industrialization transformed both urban and rural areas of the United States and caused dramatic social and cultural change.
- The Gilded Age produced new cultural and intellectual movements, public reform efforts, and political debates over economic and social policies.
Unit VII: Period 7 (1890-1945) February - March 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Growth expanded opportunity, while economic instability led to new efforts to reform U.S. society and its economic system.
- Innovations in communications and technology contributed to the growth of mass culture, while significant changes occurred in internal and international migration patterns.
- Participation in a series of global conflicts propelled the United States into a position of international power while renewing domestic debates over the nation’s proper role in the world.
Unit VIII: Period 8 (1945-1980) March- April 2025
Enduring Understandings
- The United States responded to an uncertain and unstable postwar world by asserting and working to maintain a position of global leadership, with far-reaching domestic and international consequences.
- New movements for civil rights and liberal efforts to expand the role of government generated a range of political and cultural responses.
- Postwar economic and demographic changes had far-reaching consequences for American society, politics, and culture.
Unit IX: Period 9 (1980- Present) April 2025
Enduring Understandings
- A newly ascendant conservative movement achieved several political and policy goals during the 1980s and continued to strongly influence public discourse in the following decades.
- Moving into the 21st century, the nation experienced significant technological, economic, and demographic changes.
- The end of the Cold War and new challenges to U.S. leadership forced the nation to redefine its foreign policy and role in the world.
Unit X: Historical Research May- June 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Historians seek to discover, analyze, and evaluate events in order to deepen our understanding and enhance our appreciation for the human experience.
- Communicating with clarity and precision helps express mastery of content knowledge.
SOC0399 - Black and Latino Studies
Required Texts/Readings:
Short readings may be assigned by the teacher throughout the year.
Course Description:
The course is an opportunity for students to explore accomplishments, struggles, intersections, perspectives, and collaborations of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino people in the U.S. Students will examine how historical movements, legislation, and wars affected the citizenship rights of these groups and how they, both separately and together, worked to build U.S. cultural and economic wealth and create more just societies in local, national, and international contexts. Coursework will provide students with tools to identify historic and contemporary tensions around race and difference; map economic and racial disparities over time; strengthen their own identity development; and address bias in their communities.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder or two-pocket folder. Pens/Pencils, highlighters. Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
Additionally, all Social Studies courses will abide by the following
Late Work Policy:
No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I- Social Construction of Race September 2024
Enduring Understandings:
- African culture has impacted the development of culture throughout world civilizations.
- Racialized global conflict and change in the world has been shaped by multiple factors. Semester one will primarily focus on the study of Puerto Rican/ Latino history.
Unit II- Early Beginnings: Who are we? September- October 2024
Enduring Understandings
- The perceptions and realities of Puerto Rican and Latino peoples can be influenced by their individual and collective identities.
- Latino populations often develop different understandings in identity outside of the Black-White binary.
Unit III- The Relationship between Puerto Rico and The United States October- November 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Colonizing Europeans left behind a single perspective of their historical encounter with Indigenous peoples.
- Within American history lies various forms of anti-Latino treatment including language suppression, and scientific experimentation.
- In spite of oppression, Latino people have contributed to American history.
- The development of Latin American societies was impacted by a period of social and economic “transformation” sparked by colonialism.
- Latin Americans and Puerto Ricans constructed identities as a result of historic and economic experiences of enslaved Africans in those areas.
- The Puerto Rican nation was shaped by the role of many groups in addition to the impact of the United States on the area.
Unit IV- Resistance and Defiance November- December 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Power structures within the United States have influenced the oppression of people and voices in the Latino world.
- The arts have served as a form of resistance, strength and community building.
- Populations of Puerto Rican and Latin Americans have migrated to Connecticut.
- Contributions of Puerto Rican and Latino people have been excluded due to the misconceptions and negative beliefs normalized about them. Midterm Exam Semester two will primarily focus on the study of African American/ Black history.
Unit V – How African Americans Persisted: Slavery and Freedom Stories January 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Africans, African Americans, and their descendants have struggled to gain freedom, equality, and social justice.
- In multiple ways, slavery became embedded in American culture and legislation.
- The interpretation of slavery can be influenced based on the racial and cultural context of the interpreter.
Unit VI – Agency and Resistance January- February 2025
Enduring Understandings:
- Africans and African descendants worked individually and collectively to spark revolutionary change to their existence.
- Perspectives of freed and enslaved Africans shed light of experiences ranging from enslavement to freedom to activism.
- Africans and African descendants worked individually and collectively to spark revolutionary change to their existence.
- Reconstruction politics had impacts of White and Black Americans following the Civil War.
Unit VII – Equality, Protest, and Power March- April 2025
Enduring Understandings:
- In the movement for equality, various tactics were used to accomplish missions towards equality with varying success.
- Individuals, groups, and institutions in the United States have both promoted and hindered people’s struggle for freedom, equality, and social justice.
- Women of color played a role in the women’s rights movement.
- In varying degrees of impact, historical, contemporary, and emerging means of changing societies promote the common good and protect rights.
Unit VIII - Freedom Art Gallery (PBL) April- May 2025
Enduring Understandings:
- Having freedom does not always mean a person is truly “free.”
- Artistic/creative mediums act as a form of expression, truth telling, and educational tools that can be accessed by all.
Final Exam
SOC0310 - Civics & Environmental Stewardship
Required Texts/Readings:
Short readings may be assigned by the teacher throughout the year.
Course Description:
This course will focus on the need, purpose, and structure of government, the law-making process, an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and current events. Emphasis is placed on the roles of the government at the federal, state, and local levels. Each major unit of study will also highlight the roles of government and citizens in maintaining the environment and solving environmental problems. Students will work to develop skills in reading, writing, and accountable talk through argumentative writing assignments and class discussion.
Materials Needed:
Three Ring Binder or two-pocket folder. Pens/Pencils, highlighters.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
Additionally, all Social Studies courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Communities and Social Justice September - October 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Establishing a resilient and equitable community provides greater opportunities for growth, accountability, and advocacy.
- Education gives people the power to dismantle injustices in communities.
- Being an informed follower can be just as powerful as being an informed leader.
Unit II – Citizenship and Environmental Stewardship November- December 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Good citizens meet civic responsibilities to society and the natural environment.
- Organizations and documents are established and created in order to proclaim the natural rights of all peoples. Midterm Exam
Unit III – Government and Political Participation January- February 2024
Enduring Understandings
- People exchange some of their freedom for protection from the government.
- The relationship between citizens and their government varies by the political/economic system they live under.
- Political parties are essential to American democracy because they provide individual citizens with voices to enact change.
Unit IV – The Constitution and the Bill of Rights March- April 2024
Enduring Understandings
- The Constitution is the supreme law of the land and provides the structure for the federal government.
- In order to protect citizen’s rights as outlined in the Bill of Rights, the powers of the government must remain limited.
Unit V – Three Branches of Government April- May 2024
Enduring Understandings
- The roles and powers of the President granted in the Constitution have expanded over time. The President of the United States is indirectly elected by his/her citizens.
- The large system of the federal bureaucracy makes the executive branch the largest of the three branches of government, operating at the federal, state, and local levels of government to ensure that laws are carried out.
- Congress is a bicameral system of representative government that preserves democratic values and represents the needs of the people at the federal, state, and town levels.
- The lawmaking process is intentionally cumbersome in order to ensure that each law is thoroughly considered.
- A two-party system may cause Congress to polarize and become much less effective in performing its duties.
- The Supreme Court’s primary duty is to interpret the Constitution.
- School law continues to evolve as students use the judicial system to challenge the rules of their institutions.
- The Judicial system strives to maintain democratic values by presuming innocence until one is proven guilty.
Final Exam
SOC0320 - World Maritime History
Required Texts/Readings:
Readings to be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
Throughout history the sea has served as a barrier, a highway, a source of commerce, an arena for warfare, and stage for discovery and exploration. This course will explore topics in World History to understand the international maritime culture that links peoples, nations, economies, environments, and cultural aesthetics. The following topics will be explored: world geography and early exploration; life at sea and the evolution of ocean-going vessels; transportation and commerce across the sea; conflict and the struggle for power on the oceans; and finally, an intensive examination of the history, economics, and impacts of whaling. Throughout each unit, students will gain an understanding of how the history of the world has been shaped by interactions with the sea.
Materials Needed:
Laptop, charger, pens, pencils, highlighters, spiral notebook, 2 pocket folder or binder Optional, but highly recommended: colored pencils/ markers, personal scissors, glue sticks
Advanced Academic Programs
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the Early College Experience (ECE) program at the Marine Science Magnet High School are intended to challenge and prepare students for the rigors of college. Students enrolled in courses designated as both AP and ECE must be enrolled in both programs and pay both fees associated with the courses to receive MSMHS credit. AP and ECE classes are assigned a higher weight to the GPA scale, assist students with earning college credit, and strengthen student transcripts during the college admissions process. In order to receive these added academic benefits, it is expected that students will subscribe to the understanding that the academic rigor and teacher expectations will be higher than that of the Honors level.
Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Students who are enrolled in an AP class must register and take the Advanced Placement Exam in the spring; exceptions to this will be made on a case by case basis by administration. Payment for the AP tests must be completed by the first week of September, 2022. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program.
UConn Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) provides students with the opportunity to take university courses while in high school. These challenging courses allow students to preview college work, build confidence in their readiness for college, and earn college credits that provide both an academic and financial head-start on a college degree and other postsecondary opportunities. UConn ECE instructors are high school teachers certified as adjunct professors by the University. Payment of the tuition for ECE is made directly to UConn and must be completed before deadline set by UConn. After October 1st , there will be no refunds for the courses taken within the program. UConn ECE students must successfully complete the course with a grade of C or above in order to receive University credit.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool. No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment.
No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may Page 2 require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating. Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
SCO0330 - United States History
Required Texts/Readings:
Readings will be assigned by the teacher throughout the year.
Course Description:
This course is designed to give students a general overview of U.S. History. Students will explore the major historical events in the history of the U.S. from the colonial antebellum period to modern times. Through readings, writing and critical thinking assignments, video/film, projects and simulations, students will gain an understanding of major historical figures and events, and the causes and consequences that have shaped our nation’s history, and particularly its role in the world. Preparation for the SAT is embedded.
Materials Needed:
Charged Laptop, Pens/Pencils, highlighters Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake / Revision Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
Additionally, all Social Studies courses will abide by the following Late Work Policy: No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the summative assessment. No points will be deducted for late summative assessments, BUT summative assessments submitted late cannot be revised, and summative assessments not submitted within two weeks of the deadline or by the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, will receive a 0.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school, however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in a number of ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
MSMHS uses the following language for communicating how assignments will be scored and represented in PowerSchool:
- “Graded” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, is entered in PowerSchool and is included in the quarter average.
- “Scored” – The assignment is evaluated for accuracy (not completion), is given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
- “Recorded” – The assignment is marked as completed or not completed, not given a numeric score, may be entered into PowerSchool, but is not included in quarter average.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers,
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Unit Title and Tentative Dates:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit 1 Manifest Destiny and a Growing Nation September-October
Unit 2 The Civil War and Reconstruction October-November
Unit 3 The Rise of Industrial America November-December Midterm Exam
Unit 4 World War I January - February
Unit 5 The Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression February - March
Unit 6 The U.S. and World War April - May Final Exam
Spanish Courses
ECE Spanish
Required Texts/Readings:
Spanish is Fun book II. Published by Perfection Learning corporation, 2015 Heywood Wald and Lori de Ramirez
Developing Writing Skills in Spanish. Published by Routledge, 2012 Javier Muñoz-Basols, Yolanda Perez Simusia and Marianne David.
Spanish Conversation, Third Edition. Published by Mc Graw Hill Jean Yates, PhD.
*Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
At the beginning of this course there is a review of the topics covered in Spanish I. Spanish II builds on the foundation of Spanish I and continues to develop the four language skills begun in Spanish I. There is more emphasis on reading and writing skills as well as the study of the differences and similarities of Spanish speaking cultures.
Materials Needed:
Binder; lose leaf paper, college-ruled; pens/pencils; highlighters and MSMHS Laptop.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake all interim and unit summative assessments.
- Retakes on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake a unit summative assessment must have completed all assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative (ex: projects) that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake.
- Retakes are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive full credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Spanish Courses will abide by the following late work policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the unit summative assessment.
- Unit summative projects must be turned in within 2 weeks of the due date in order to receive credit, or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. Unit summative projects must be turned in on time in order to have the opportunity to revise or re-do.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school; however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways: homework, class work, papers, projects, and summative assessments. Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers, or translators.
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating. Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Outline Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I La Naturaleza September 2024
Conversation
Ask and answer questions.
Describing people, places, and things using conocer and saber.
Cápsula cultural
Los insectos son buenos para su salud (¡Y son deliciosos!)
Grammar
Uses of interrogative words
The uses of the verbs conocer and saber
Unit II La playa October 2024
Conversation
Using stem-changing verbs express daily activities.
Cápsula cultural
Una playa diferente todos los días
Grammar
Stem-Changing verbs
Unit III En la joyería November 2024
Conversation
Express points of view agreeing and disagreeing with classmates.
Cápsula cultural
El oro el metal deseado.
Grammar
Negative and affirmative expressions.
Unit IV El fin de semana December 2024
Conversation
Give advice to different kinds of people.
Cápsula cultural
Papá, ¿me das mi domingo?
Grammar
Formal and informal commands.
Unit V Por la mañana/Por la noche January 2025
Conversation
Talk about the daily activities using reflexive verbs.
Cápsula cultural
La bicicleta: el automóvil de los niños
Grammar
Reflexive Verbs.
Adjectives and adverbs
Passive SE
Unit VI Una historia policíaca February 2025
Conversation
Talk about what you did on a specific day in the past.
Cápsula cultural
¡Auxilio, policía!
Grammar Preterit tense; regular and irregular verbs.
Unit VII Las vacaciones March 2025
Conversation
Talk about what you used to do.
Talk about what you used to do vs what you did.
Cápsula cultural
La vacaciones en Hispanoamérica
Grammar
Preterit vs Imperfect tense.
Unit IX ¿Cuál será tu profesión? April 2025
Conversation
Talk about the future
Cápsula cultural Desayunando con los pingüinos
Grammar
Future tense including irregular verbs
Unit X La ecología May 2025
Conversation
Making requests and offers.
Expressing doubts and uncertainty.
Talking about future events.
Cápsula cultural El ecoturismo
Grammar
Present subjunctive
Unit XI La personalidad June 2025
Conversation
Talk about personality and character traits.
Cápsula cultural
Su personalidad y los signos del zodiáco
Grammar
The conditional tense
Spanish I
Required Texts/Readings:
Boyles, Peggy Palo, et al. (2011). Realidades 1. Glenview, IL: Pearson Prentice Hall.
*online access code to be provided *Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
This course will introduce students to the Spanish language and its culture. Basic Spanish grammar and vocabulary, as well as listening, speaking, reading and writing skills will develop during this course. In addition, the study of Spanish speaking cultures will be emphasized.
Materials Needed:
Spanish Binder, Notebook/paper, Pens/Pencils, Highlighters, MSMHS Laptop.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Spanish Courses will abide by the following late work policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the unit summative assessment.
- Unit summative projects must be turned in within 2 weeks of the due date in order to receive credit, or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school; however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways: homework, class work, papers, projects, and summative assessments. Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers, or translators.
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating. Other Academic Misconduct Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Outline
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I Para empezar September 2024
Conversation
Exchange basic greetings, expressions of courtesy.
Respond to classroom directions. Tell time. Narrative Writing Identifying parts of the body.
Talk about things in the classroom.
Grammar
Use the Spanish alphabet to spell words and phrases.
Ask questions about new words and phrases.
Unit II Mis amigos y yo. September-November 2024
Conversation
Activities people like and don’t like to do.
Personality treats.
Descriptive Writing
Definite and indefinite articles.
Self quiz. A
migo por correspondencia
Grammar
Infinitives.
Negatives.
Expressing agreement or disagreement.
Adjectives.
Definitive and indefinite articles.
Unit III La escuela November 2024 -January 2025
Conversation
The school day.
The classroom.
Expression of location.
Expository Writing
Tu sala de clases
Grammar
Subject pronouns.
Present tense or -ar verbs.
The verb “estar”.
The plural of nouns and articles.
Unit IV La comida January-March 2025
Conversation
Foods and beverages for breakfast and lunch.
Activities to maintain good health and ways to describe food.
Journalistic Writing
¿Qué te gusta comer?
Para mantener la salud.
Grammar
Present tense of -er and -ir verbs.
Me gustan, me encantan.
The plural of adjectives.
The verb ser.
Unit IV Los pasatiempos. March-June 2025
Conversation Rimas infantiles.
Un estudiante nuevo.
Journalistic Writing
Una invitación.
Grammar
The verb ir.
Asking questions. Ir + a + infinitive.
The verb jugar.
Disclaimer: The teacher reserves the right to change this syllabus at any time.
Spanish II
Required Texts/Readings:
Boyles, Peggy Palo, et al. (2011). Realidades 1. Glenview, IL: Pearson Prentice Hall. *online access code to be provided
*Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
At the beginning of this course there is a review of the topics covered in Spanish I. Spanish II builds on the foundation of Spanish I and continues to develop the four language skills begun in Spanish I. There is more emphasis on reading and writing skills as well as the study of the differences and similarities of Spanish speaking cultures.
Materials Needed:
Binder; lose leaf paper, college-ruled; pens/pencils; highlighters and MSMHS Laptop.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative (ex: projects) that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Spanish Courses will abide by the following late work policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the unit summative assessment.
- Unit summative projects must be turned in within 2 weeks of the due date in order to receive credit, or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. Unit summative projects must be turned in on time in order to have the opportunity to revise or re-do.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school; however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways: homework, class work, papers, projects, and summative assessments. Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
The following table shows the letter grades equivalent to numerical grades and GPA.
Letter | Numerical Equivalent | GPA Equivalent | Honors Weighting | AP/ECE Weighing |
---|---|---|---|---|
A+ | 97-100 | 4.3 | 4.52 | 4.73 |
A | 93-96 | 4.0 | 4.20 | 4.40 |
A- | 90-92 | 3.7 | 3.89 | 4.07 |
B+ | 87-89 | 3.3 | 3.47 | 3.63 |
B | 83-86 | 3.0 | 3.15 | 3.30 |
B- | 80-82 | 2.7 | 2.84 | 2.97 |
C+ | 77-79 | 2.3 | 2.42 | 2.53 |
C | 73-76 | 2.0 | 2.10 | 2.20 |
C- | 70-72 | 1.7 | 1.79 | 1.87 |
D+ | 67-69 | 1.3 | 1.37 | 1.43 |
D | 63-66 | 1.0 | 1.05 | 1.10 |
D- | 60-62 | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.77 |
F | 50-59 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers, or translators.
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Outline Note:
Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I Para empezar. September 2024
Conversation
Asking questions.
Narrative Writing
Me gustan, me encantan.
Grammar
Present tense or -ar verbs.
Preset tense of -er and -ir verbs.
The verb estar.
Unit II Fiesta en familia. September-November 2024
Conversation
Mi familia.
Descriptive Writing
Un restaurante muy bueno.
Grammar
The verb tener.
Possessive adjectives.
The verb venir.
The verbs ser estar.
Unit III La casa. November 2024-January 2025
Conversation
La personalidad de un dormitorio.
Expository Writing
Se vende casa o apartamento
Grammar
Making comparations.
The superlative.
Stem-changing verbs: poder and dormir.
Affirmative tú commands
The present progressive tense.
Unit IV De compras. January-March 2025
Conversation
¿En qué puedo servirle?
Journalistic Writing
Un regalo para mi…
Grammar
Stem-changing verbs: pensar, querer, and preferer.
Demostrative adjetives.
The preterite or -ar verb
The preterite of verbs ending in -car and -gar
Direct objet pronouns.
Unit V Experiencias y Medios de comunicación. March-June 2025
Conversation
Mi viaje.
¿Que dan esta semana?
Journalistic Writing
¿Puedes ayudarnos?
La computadora en mi vida.
Grammar
The preterite of -er and -ir verbs.
The present tense of decir.
The personal a.
Acabar de +infinitive.
Gustar and similar verbs.
The present tense of decir, pedir and servir.
Saber and conocer.
Spanish III
Required Texts/Readings:
Boyles, Peggy Palo, et al. (2011). Realidades 1. Glenview, IL: Pearson Prentice Hall. *online access code to be provided
*Additional readings may be assigned by the teacher.
Course Description:
At the beginning of this course there is a review of the topics covered in Spanish I. Spanish II builds on the foundation of Spanish I and continues to develop the four language skills begun in Spanish I. There is more emphasis on reading and writing skills as well as the study of the differences and similarities of Spanish speaking cultures.
Materials Needed:
Binder; lose leaf paper, college-ruled; pens/pencils; highlighters and MSMHS Laptop.
Classroom Attendance, Academic and Behavior Expectations
All MSMHS students are required to uphold the attendance, academic and behavioral expectations outlined in the school’s Student/Parent Handbook which can be found on the MSMHS website.
Retake Policy
- All students will be allowed to retake/revise all interim and unit summative assessments (with the possible exception of ECE assessments).
- Retakes/revisions on any summative assessments must be completed within 2 weeks of when the assessment was returned to the student or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first.
- Students who want the opportunity to retake/revise a unit summative assessment must have completed all scored and graded assignments before taking the original summative assessment or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. In addition, any part of a unit summative (ex: projects) that is done outside of class, must be complete and turned in on time in order to be eligible for a retake/revision.
- Retakes/revisions are re-evaluations of learning; therefore, students earn the new grade not an average of the two grades, regardless of whether the new grade is higher or lower than the original.
*Note: There are no retakes/revisions for Midterms or Finals. Students with IEP or 504 accommodations for extended time should work with their teacher and/or case manager to determine appropriate application of their accommodations to this policy.
Late Work
Missing graded work/formative assessments must be completed, fully and accurately, before the unit summative assessment due date or the end of the quarter, whichever comes first, in order to receive credit. Any missing work will receive a 0 in PowerSchool until it is turned in before the summative assessment. After a unit summative assessment, work cannot be made up and will remain a 0 in PowerSchool.
All Spanish Courses will abide by the following late work policy:
- No points will be deducted for late work leading up to the unit summative assessment.
- Unit summative projects must be turned in within 2 weeks of the due date in order to receive credit, or before the end of the quarter, whichever comes first. Unit summative projects must be turned in on time in order to have the opportunity to revise or re-do.
Extra Help:
Students interested in receiving extra help from teachers, or in meeting with their teacher before or after school, need to schedule a mutually agreed upon time to meet with their teacher. Teachers may require specific procedures for requesting appointments for extra help. Please know that teachers will be unable to meet with students on Wednesdays due to regularly scheduled faculty meetings.
Cell Phones
Students are permitted to bring cell phones to school; however, they must be stored in the designated location in each classroom throughout the block, including study hall. Students may not bring cell phones with them when they leave the classroom for any reason. Students may also be required to turn smart watches or other devices to designated locations during class at the request of the teacher. Students found to have violated these expectations will be required to turn their cell phone into school administration. Repeated offenses may result in escalated consequences. Cell phones may not be used in restrooms for any reason. Cell phones may be used before, during lunch, or after school hours.
Grade/Grade Reporting:
Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways: homework, class work, papers, projects, and summative assessments. Overall evaluation in a course is measured in several ways in the form of formative and summative assessments.
Course grades are calculated by using the following percentages:
Q1 = 20%
Q2 = 20%
Midterms = 10%
Q3 = 20%
Q4 = 20%
Finals = 10%
Academic Integrity:
All work submitted by students should be a true reflection of their effort and ability. If submitted work or tests are not, then the student has manifested unacceptable academic behavior.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as intentionally or unintentionally presenting another’s work as your own. Any source material (electronic, written, verbal) accessed to complete an assignment must be cited. Plagiarism includes the following:
- Copying verbatim or blending source material with your own without proper attribution,
- Paraphrasing source materials or borrowing ideas, terms, or concepts without acknowledging the source,
- Inventing sources or false attributions for sources,
- Supplying/selling your work to another or purchasing/copying another’s work.
Cheating
Cheating is defined as copying all or part of an assignment or assessment or allowing another to copy your work. It is also doing someone’s work or having someone else do your work. Cheating includes the following:
- Using unauthorized materials, devices, or assistance of any kind to complete your work or assessment, including on-line transfers, or translators.
- Collaborating on a task without the teacher’s authorization, as well as providing or receiving information so as to give/gain an unfair advantage,
- Aiding another in cheating.
Other Academic Misconduct
Other forms of serious academic misconduct include:
- Altering grades,
- Stealing or obtaining test/assessment materials or answers,
- Submitting the same (or nearly the same) work for more than one class without disclosure or approval,
- Falsifying information on school related documents and forms.
ANY behavior that can be defined as cheating/plagiarism represents a violation of mutual trust and respect essential to education at MSMHS. Students suspected of cheating should expect to be questioned by their teacher. Students violating this rule are subject to the following penalties:
- Re-do of the assignment, notification to parents/caretakers; disciplinary consequence, written summary of event and action taken given to administration.
- If a student is found to have cheated/plagiarized a second time or is involved in a particularly serious act of cheating/plagiarism, the student will be referred to administration for appropriate penalties beyond those listed above. Additional penalties include such consequences as notification to award and scholarship committees; suspension from class or school and notification to the student’s prospective colleges; loss of or disqualification from honors/privileges and positions (e.g. NHS, school leadership position).
Course Unit Outline - Enduring Understandings:
Note: Teacher has discretion to change throughout the year.
Unit I – Repaso September 2024
Para empezar
- Talk and write about yourself and your friends.
- Listen and read about what people are like and the things they do.
- Talk about what you and other people are like.
- Tell where you and other people are from.
- Talk about things you and other people do.
- Talk about how often you do certain things.
Unit II– La Escuela October 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures.
- Listen and read about classes and classroom rules using affirmative and negative words.
- Talk and write about classroom activities and schoolwork.
- Exchange information about what you do in class using stem-changing verbs.
- Understand the meaning and role of coats of arms in the Spanish-speaking world.
- Compare school rules and customs in the Spanish-speaking world and the U.S.
Unit III– ¿Qué haces después de las clases? November 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures.
- Listen and read about students’ after-school activities.
- Talk and write about your extracurricular activities.
- Exchange information about what you do after school using the formula Hace + time expressions.
- Understand the differences between schools in the United States and the Hispanic world.
- Compare extracurricular activities, sports and dance in the United States and Latin America.
Unit IV– ¿Cómo te preparas? December 2024
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures.
- Listen and read about daily routines.
- Talk and write about your daily routine and getting ready for a special event using reflexive verbs.
- Exchange information about your typical morning routine.
- Review of the verbs Ser and Estar.
- Understand why ponchos are worn in the Andes.
- Compare parties and special events in the Spanish-speaking world with those in the United States.
Unit V– ¿Qué ropa compraste? January 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures.
- Listen and read about clothing people bought using the preterit of regular verbs.
- Talk and write about shopping trips using demonstrative adjectives.
- Exchange information about when and where you bought what you are wearing using adjectives as nouns.
- Understand “La Parranda” in Spanish-speaking countries.
- Compare shopping in the Hispanic world and the United States.
Unit VI– ¿Qué hiciste ayer? February 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures.
- Listen and read about where people went, what they did, and what they received as gifts using the irregular preterit verbs ir, ser, tener, estar and poder.
- Talk and write about whether you fulfilled certain obligations and what you bought in the past.
- Exchange information about whether you did certain things you had to do using direct object pronouns.
- Understand the popularity of open-air market in the Spanish-speaking world.
- Compare famous buildings and neighborhoods in Spanish-speaking countries with those in the U.S.
Unit VII– ¿Cómo se va …? March 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures
- Listen and read about driving advice using irregular affirmative tú commands.
- Talk and write about giving directions and driving.
- Exchange information about how to get to places near your school.
- Understand the importance to one’s neighborhood in Spanish-speaking communities using present progressive irregular forms.
- Compare driving requirements in the Spanish-speaking world and the United States.
Unit VIII– Cuando éramos niños April 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures
- Listen and read about favorite childhood toys and elementary school experiences.
- Talk and write about what you were like as a child and your experiences in elementary school using the imperfect tense of regular verbs.
- Exchange information about what you were like as a child using the imperfect tense of irregular verbs and indirect object pronouns.
- Understand favorite nursery rhymes and songs from Spanish-speaking countries and the United States.
Unit VIII– Celebrando los días festivos May and June 2025
Enduring Understandings
- Communicating with others in another language encourages further understanding of others and other cultures
- Listen and read about family celebrations.
- Talk and write about how your family used to celebrate holidays and your best birthday using the preterit and the imperfect when describing a situation.
- Exchange information about where, with whom and how you used to celebrate holidays as a child.
- Understand how some Hispanic families celebrate special days and holidays using reciprocal actions.
- Compare holidays and celebrations in United States and the Hispanic world.
LEARN magnet schools taught me about the importance of acceptance and the value of being around those who are different from me.MSMHS Alumni
School-Wide Rubrics
MSMHS graduates will design and implement solutions to complex problems through:
- Thoughtful questions
- Critical analysis of relevant and reliable evidence
- Flexible, creative, and strategic thinking
- Collaboration and interdependence
Based upon the MSMHS Core Values and Beliefs About Learning, the school-wide analytic rubrics are used to assess students' level of proficiency in the school's graduation competencies of communication, problem solving, and self-directed learning. In May, MSMHS seniors must create and present a Senior Capstone Portfolio which shows evidence of growth, proficiency, and reflection in all competencies and completion of community service hours before graduating from MSMHS.