Welcome to 7 th Grade!! Day Creek Intermediate School ~ “Where Failure is Not an Option!” Mrs. Merry’s ~ Room C-3 Math & Science Please… 1.Sign in. 2.Pick up the envelope with your child’s name on it and the handouts on the counter. 3.Please wait for instructions on using the Chromebook in front of you.

Mission Statement/Goals  It is our mission to provide your student with a nurturing environment that promotes independent learning and successfully teaches 7 th grade content and standards.  It is our goal that every child grow academically and be equipped with life skills to further their education.  We strive to make learning engaging and relevant to their lives.

Communication  Weekly Folders every Thursday Inside: Class work, homework, tests & quizzes (sign any tests or quizzes below 70%) Any important communication (must be signed by parent & student). Folders must be RETURNED signed by Friday morning!  Missing Work Check ESPRI daily/weekly for missing (MI) or absent (AB) work. Parents fill out & sign PACK Planner grade check every Thursday night. Students will receive a grade weekly for this.  Web page Teacherweb Make sure you are all registered TONIGHT on BOTH Mr. Evans & my Teacherweb. School web-site:  Fastest way to reach me  or call school  Office hours: Before or After school by appointment  PACK Planner School rules, procedures, grade level standards, Trimester Benchmark results (parent signature required–pgs ), Progress Report verifications (parent signature required–pg. 22), the weekly grade check logs (pg )

Teacherweb  I frequently send out Newsflashes with CRITICAL information about our classroom. Please register as follows on the Chromebook in front of you.  Click on link: px px  Select “Send to mobile device”  Put in your area code & phone number.  Select your cell service provider  Select “subscribe”.  Enter any additional devices (your student’s for example) OR e- mails you would like to receive announcements, updates, urgent notifications on.

Progress Reports & Homework  Weekly Grade Checks Progress reports are sent home in Thursday Folders at the 6 week mark in each Trimester (verify receipt by signing PACK Planner). Report cards are mailed home at the end of the Trimester (every 12 weeks).  Daily – Monday through Friday (Math on Friday’s) Approximately 30 minutes per subject, excluding special projects or unfinished class work. If one subject is longer than 30 minutes, the other subject will be less than 30 to balance time out.  PACK Planner Completed daily in class (required) It’s the student’s responsibility to write down their homework and note any unfinished class work or projects. One way to play an active role in your child’s education is to check the PACK Planner & Teacherweb against your child’s completed homework nightly, to see that all assignments have been completed accurately by the due dates. Homework for the week is posted every Sunday night. Occasionally there are changes, and that is why your student’s PACK Planner is most accurate.

Late & Absent Work  Late work will NOT be accepted for full credit. For 1 st Trimester: One additional day to turn the assignment in, but it will be for ½ credit (50%) For 2 nd & 3 rd Trimester: No LATE work accepted at all.  Absent Work If you know your child is going to be absent, me by Noon, and I will put their absent work up at the office for you to pick up after school. It is the student’s responsibility to check the “Absent Work Tray” upon return to class. All absent work is due the following Monday morning after the absence (must be turned 8:00am). Missed quizzes & tests will need to be scheduled for make-up before or after school the teacher.  Independent Studies For students who will be out of class 5 days or more.  Must be submitted to the office at least 5 days prior to scheduled absences.

Cheating/Plagiarism & Grades  Cheating & Plagiarism  The temptation to cheat or plagiarize can be a BIG problem at this age.  Cheating is marked by dishonest intent to GIVE OR RECIEVE unearned rewards.  Please read and DISCUSS with your student, sign, and return our Cheating & Plagiarism Policy in our parent packet.  Class work (20% of overall grade)  Grade taken on classwork assignments. For math, classwork grades are based on effort & participation and averaged each week into gradebook.  Homework (10% of overall grade)  Grade taken on homework assignments. For math, random problems taken for a grade daily, and weekly average entered into gradebook.  Quizzes (30% of overall grade)  Section quizzes in Science. Daily Quick Check Quizzes & chapter quizzes in math.  Tests (40% of overall grade)  1 per chapter in math & science  Possible spiral review test in math

Curriculum: Math  California Math Course #2 Based on Common Core Standards. Material covered: Ratios, Proportions, Percent's, Integers, Rational Numbers, Expressions, Equations, Inequalities, Geometric Figures, Measure Figures, Probability, Statistics Two separate workbooks & students MUST have a 3 ring binder to place workbook pages in. All work should be shown on separate lined paper, and final answers transferred to the workbook answer document. In the front of the folder will be the chapter ‘Math Record’. This will show all of your student’s current assignment, quiz, & effort grades for math. 250 minutes of math per week plus additional 100 minutes of PACK (math intervention, practice, or enrichment). Covering 1 lesson per day, every lesson builds on the previous days lesson, absences and incomplete/missing work will put your student very behind.

Curriculum: Math  Online Resources in Math The students will have access to the entire textbook online, as well as, other on-line tutor videos, practice quizzes, practice tests, extra help worksheets. For every chapter there will be an on-line chapter practice test that will be taken for a grade. Occasionally students might receive an on-line assignment that needs to be completed and submitted to me via the Internet. Your student’s access code is the same as last years, and will be reviewed and written in their PACK Planner the first week of school.

Curriculum: Science  Holt California: Life Science  6 Units & 18 Chapters: Scientific Method Cells Biology Hereditary & Genes Evolution Earth & Life History Living Systems Structure & Function in Plants & Animals Family Life & The Human Body System Investigation & Experimentation  Science Notebooks All Science work is completed in the student’s Science Journal. Students need to have a plastic folder with brads to place each chapters copies and workbook pages inside. All science grades will be in the folder and can be viewed at anytime.

GRADE FIRST AIDE (GFA)  Grade First Aide (GFA) On most tests & quizzes where a students scores below 70% may be redone as a Grade First Aid (GFA). GFA’s can raise a student’s non-proficient grade up to a 70% (proficient) score. For science, students will need to schedule a time to complete their GFA during lunch, before or after school. For math, students will need to complete the GFA packet and follow ALL the instructions. All GFA’s must be signed by a parent to receive a grade increase. GFA’s means that NO student should either of my classes, but students who choose not to participate in GFA could fail. So keep track of your students GFA’s on ESPRI – due date & notations made under “comment section”.

The surest path to high self-esteem is to be successful at something you perceived would be difficult. Each time we steal our students’ struggle….. We steal their opportunity to have an esteem-building experience. Dr. Silvia Rimm

Reminders  Please review our parent packet with your student.  Please review PACK Planner with your student.  Cell Phone Policy (turned off and on desk or backpack while on campus, not in pants/shorts pocket)  Tardies – Gates locked at 8:00am  Gum (not allowed on campus)  Dress Code Policy (no midriff or undergarments showing at any time, no halter top, no short shorts, etc.)  Please bring classroom supplies tomorrow morning!  Please complete and return the school information packet, as well as our classroom information forms by Friday, August 14 th.