Course: Living Environment                                     
Teacher: Mrs. Hughson
Email: jhughson@gstboces.org
 

1. TEXTBOOK:  you will use several texts throughout this course
2. PREPARATION FO R CLASS:
   1. Pen and/or pencil DAILY
   2. 3-ring binder for notes/hand-outs

 3.     COURSE DESCRIPTION:

• Regents-level Living Environment-also known as Biology.  You will be studying and learning the curriculum and standards given by the New York State Department of Education.  Topics that you will be learning about include the study of cells, ecology, body systems, genetics, evolution, the scientific method, and human impact on the environment.
• Lab: Lab class will be help every other day to reinforce what is learned in class and to participate in some hands-on learning opportunities.
• Regents Exam: qualified students will take the Regents exam in JUNE

 
 

4. CLASSROOM RULES

• High school, not middle school!!!!!!
• Be on Time To Class!!! (3 lates will be a write-up and then every late after that). Speak with me if you have a special circumstance that will cause you to be late to class. We will start class when the bell rings, we have a lot to do!
• Code of Conduct will be followed for all rules and dress code.
• Language-you must be respectful to your classmates and teacher. No instigating of picking on others.  You will be respected if you give respect! Swearing and name calling will NOT be allowed!!!! There is NO fighting in this classroom.
• Be Prepared!!!!! You must bring all materials that you need to class, this may include a pen, pencil, paper, novel or literature being read, your binder, and any other papers that are needed for class.
• Participation: You will be graded on your participation in class, this includes showing up, participation in class discussions, completing class work while in class and out of class. You are expected to be involved in all activities for this class! You will have notebook checks that occur periodically.
• Responsibility: You will be required to be responsible for any school property that you will have in your possession, such as novels. You are expected to care for school property as you would anything else that you have that you value highly. If you lose school property, such as a novel or textbook, you will have to pay to replace it.

5. Grading Policy

Grades are determined by a point system. Each assignment will be worth a set of number of points. Lab grades will be graded this same way.
 

• Participation: 10%
• Classwork/Homework: 45%-Due no later than 3:00 on the day it is due, lose 10 points each day it is late unless stated that assignment will not be accepted after day it is due. Labs are part of this category.
• Quizzes/Tests: 30% You may have unannounced quizzes throughout the week to see how you are doing with the material.
• Projects: 15% (may not occur every marking period, everything else would count more)
• Labs: will be counted as a grade in their own category

 
LAB REQUIREMENTS:
 

1. Each student is required to attend lab class and participate with a positive attitude. Behavior other than that required for class will not be tolerated in the lab environment.

 
 

2. Lab Safety Rules:

Each student is required to follow all rules for lab.Safety is the first priority and extremely important in the lab environment!!!!!Failure to follow these rules may result in you being removed from lab class!!! 
 

3. Each student is required to perform each lab activity and to submit a written lab. Each lab will be graded. Labs that are graded unsatisfactory will be returned to the student and corrections will need to be made to earn a satisfactory grade and be counted towards the required 30 labs (1200 minutes) towards taking the Regents exam. If you do not have the required minutes/labs by June you will not be taking the Regents and may need to repeat the class. There are 4 labs that are required for New York State. These labs must be completed.