Parent Letter for Students of Mike Scally

Park City Public Schools – 2007 to 2008

 

Dear Parents/Guardians:

 

I am happy to be teaching your son or daughter this year in Park City Schools. Attached are the procedures I use in my classes and expect my students to follow. NOTICE! THESE RULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. REVISIT THIS SITE FOR UPDATES!

 

Grading:

 

I use “weighted” grades, which means that some categories are worth more than other categories. My grading procedures will follow the following format:

 

DAILY GRADES – APR (Attendance, Participation, Readiness) = 6 pts.; Daily Bell Assignments, Quick Paragraphs, Journals = 3 pts.; Daily Quizzes (American History)

 

WEEKLY GRADES – Assignments (A minimum of two per week) = 25 pts. + more; Quizzes = 50 + more; BI WEEKLY GRADES – Tests and Projects = 100 + more.

 

Extra credit assignments will be made available at midterm and the week before the end of the term (extra credit assignments will NOT be retroactive – so students need to work hard and get extra help.

 

I have put a classroom web page online where you can see what your son or daughter will be doing each day. NOTE: Assignments on the web page are abbreviated due to space considerations and may be changed at any time. View them online at: http://www.geocities.com/mkscally.

 

Contacting Me:

 

Please email me at

<[email protected]>. I am available at any time and hope to hear from you all. Please read and sign my attached Classroom Procedures, and have your son or daughter return it as soon as possible – they will receive a grade for returning it within a week.

 

Let’s have a great year!

 

Sincerely,

 

Mike Scally

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Scally’s Classroom Procedures

Based upon The First Days of School by Harry & Rosemary Wong

 

 

Absentees

 

EXCUSED ABSENCES, when you know you will be absent.

 

1.       Make up your work in advance. If you don’t you will not receive credit for it.

A.      Place your advanced work in the proper class period folder BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

B.      Be sure your papers are properly headed and dated          

2.       Excused absences must be excused at the Main Office in order for students to receive credit for assignments completed while absent.

 

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

 

1.       Unexcused absences cannot be made up.

 

Asking Questions in Class

    

1.       Think before you raise your hand.

2.       Raise your hand to show common courtesy.

3.       Wait to be called upon before speaking.

4.       Please speak in a moderate voice.

5.       PLEASE ASK - just use your manners.

 

Assignment Directions

 

1.       Copy the assignment directions (write them immediately below the title).

2.       Follow correct paper formatting if given with assignment.

 

Assignment Due Dates

 

1.       Assignments are due the day after they are assigned UNLESS you are told differently.

2.       Place homework in the appropriate folder when you first enter the classroom. Assignments one day late are worth a MAXIMUM OF 50% of the original assignment’s value.

3.       Assignments more than one day late WILL NOT BE GRADED.

 

ELECTRONIC ASSIGNMENTS

 

1.       If you submit your assignments via computer, they are STILL due at the beginning of your class period. Hand in a hard copy if you have left the original on your home computer.

2.       Back up your assignments two ways. A. Keep a hard copy. B. Save electronically.

3.       You are encouraged to submit assignments electronically. Send to my email address.

 

                        

 

Assignment Headings

 

1.       Write/type your name, class name, class period, and date in upper right hand corner of the first page of the assignment.

2.       Title your assignment. Use the one given on the directions.

 

Beginning the Class Period

 

1.       Be in your seat when the bell rings or you are tardy.

2.       Begin your Bell Assignment.

3.       Hand in your Bell Assignment.

4.       Copy your lesson/assignment from the overhead or from the projector.

5.       Begin your lesson/assignment or wait for the teacher to begin.

 

Dismissal at the End of the Class Period

 

1.       Clean up your area before you leave. For example, align your desk; remove any papers, pens, pencils, backpacks, etc.

2.       Wait in your desks for the bell to ring. Do NOT crowd by the door.

3.       Please keep your voices low.

4.       Leave in an orderly manner.

 

Entering the Classroom

 

1.       Go directly to your desk in an orderly manner and have your seat. You may speak to one another BEFORE the bell rings.

2.       If you need to speak to the teacher please raise your hand.

3.       Begin your Bell Assignment, even if the bell hasn’t rung yet.

 

Emergencies

 

1.       Behave in an orderly manner.

2.       Remain quiet.

3.       Listen to the directions of the teacher.

4.       Follow the teacher’s directions.

5.       Leave the room in an orderly fashion.

6.       Follow the emergency procedures posted near the classroom door.

 

Extra Credit

 

1.       Extra credit assignments will be available at MIDTERM of each grading term.

2.       Extra credit will not exceed 10% of the overall point total achievable.

3.       Extra credit is NOT retroactive, so get the assignments at the beginning of the grading term.

4.       Extra credit assignments are due on the dates posted. Be sure to properly head your extra credit papers and place them in the appropriate folder.

 

Getting Help

 

1.       Raise your hand to get the teacher’s attention.

2.       Don’t ask a neighbor for help.

3.       Wait patiently. Once your hand is upraised, the teacher will help you when time allows.

4.       Check the teacher’s schedule posted on the classroom door.

5.       Speak to the teacher or email the teacher to schedule a conference.

 

 

 

Leaving the Classroom

 

1.       Students who leave the classroom without permission are considered ABSENT.

2.       Absent students are referred to the Main Office.

TEACHERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING WHERE STUDENTS ARE AT ALL TIMES. SO AN INFRACTION OF THIS PROCEDURE IS SERIOUS.

 

Listening and Responding to Questions

 

1.       DO listen and DO respond to teacher & student questions.

2.       Please raise your hand when you want to speak.

3.       Please wait to be called upon.

4.       Please use appropriate language/ideas in class.

 

Notebooks

 

1.       Keep your notebook updated, as they will be checked/graded periodically.

2.       Keep it in chronological order in a three ring binder.

3.       Divide them in the following manner: Completed assignments, notes and handouts, quizzes and tests.

 

Parents/Guardians Communications

 

1.       Your parents/guardians will be phoned periodically, for positive as well as negative

reasons. Parents/guardians are your most important educational resource.

2.       If you know your parents’ email address please give it to me and please share mine with them.

 

Quieting for Class

 

1.       When the bell rings for class you are expected to be quiet and busy on your bell assignment.

2.       If you have questions please raise your hand.

3.       Do not ask a neighbor for advice or help.

4.       Please help establish an atmosphere in which all may concentrate.

 

 

Tardiness

1.       If you are not in your desk when the bell rings, you are tardy.

2. Three recordings of tardiness equal one detention.
3. Detention will be served in the classroom.
4. Your parents will be called whenever you receive detention.

 

Tests

 

1.       Before you receive your test, clear your desk of any books, papers, clothes, etc. Place them under your desk please, NOT in the aisle.

2. Keep your eyes on your own test.
3. No talking.
4. Raise your hand if you have a question.
5. When finished turn your test upside down and I will pick it up.
6. AFTER your test has been picked up you may work on something else.
7. Please remain quiet until all your classmates have finished.

 

Turning In Assignments or Papers

1.       As soon as you enter the classroom, place your completed assignments/papers in the appropriately marked folder on the teacher’s desk.

2.       Assignments not turned in at the beginning of the class period are late and will be worth a maximum of 50% of the original amount. This includes assignments turned in during the class period.

3.       Assignments completed via the computer must also be turned in via my email address at the beginning of your class period.

 

 

Working Cooperatively

 

1.       Periodically we will use cooperative learning groups. Please do not socialize too much or too loudly.

2. Each member of a cooperative learning group has their own responsibilities that will be spelled out in the assignment directions. Please be responsible enough to do your own work and allow your group members to do theirs.
3. Throughout the term you will work with one another. Make an effort to get along with others. DO NOT TELL ME THAT YOU CANNOT WORK WITH SOMEONE. THAT IS NOT A LEGITAMATE EXCUSE.
4. Work together with all group members in order to complete our best efforts.
5. Undue noise and mischief will curtail cooperative learning group assignments.

 

 

 

 

Students:

 

Please take this form home with you and discuss it with your parents/guardians. Please fill out the above information and return it to Mr. Scally as soon as possible. You will receive a grade for completing this form.

 

Thank you,

 

Mike Scally

Email: [email protected]

 

 

Student’s Full Name (PLEASE PRINT): _______________________________

 

      Student’s Email Address: __________________________

 

Parent/Guardian’s Signature: ___________________________

 

Parent/Guardian’s Email Address: ___________________________

 

 

Date: _______________________