Biology Syllabus - Bloom Trail High School

Email: hschwarz@sd206.org Bloom Trail phone #: 708-758-7000
Welcome to Freshman Biology! During this exciting year we will be learning about and studying a
variety of topics. The purpose of this handout is to inform you about this course and how I will
handle different areas. This is an outline and I may make changes where necessary during the year.
Classroom Requirements:
Students will be expected to complete work both inside and outside of the class. Student work is
used to demonstrate mastery of the subject. Work will consist of written work, projects, notes,
folders / binders, labs, and assessments. Students must bring their supplies to class daily in
order to be successful and complete their work. Students will be evaluated at the discretion of the
classroom teacher and the work a student completes (or does not complete) will impact their grade.
Bloom Trail High Schools Behavior Management Plan:
We will review, learn, and follow the behavior management plan used and supported by Bloom Trail
High School. I will implement the behavior management plan beginning the first day of school. All
of the information is posted within the room and we will review the plan periodically during class.
Rules:
1. Follow all directions and District 206 behavioral policies.
2. Wear ID at all times.
3. Use inside voice, keep hands and feet to yourself, no swearing, no name calling, harassing or
bullying.
4. No food or drink allowed in the classroom, except water.
5. Demonstrate positive interactions with your teacher and classmates at all times.
Class supplies (required daily):
1) Biology Textbook
2) three-ring binder for this class only and one package of three-ring binder
dividers
3) no. 2 pencils (for tests only) and pens - blue or black ink only (for all other work)
4) 1 – 3 subject spiral (or larger) - for this class only (or several smaller spirals)
5) 1 – 70 sheet spiral – for this class only
5) folder
6) loose –leaf notebook paper
Additionally students will benefit by having: highlighters, colored pens, and colored pencils.
Written Work Essentials
1. All answers are to be written in complete sentences, unless otherwise stated.
2. Spelling is correct.
3. Punctuation is present and accurate.
Labs and Lab Safety:
Attached are two copies of the General Lab Safety Contract. This needs to be signed by you and
your parent / guardian and returned. We will go over this contract during class. A copy is to be kept
in your folder / binder at all times. Before you are able to participate in labs you MUST
complete the following two requirements:
1. You and a parent / guardian must both read and sign the lab safety contract.
2. Before you are able to participate in labs you must take and pass a lab safety test with an
80 % or better. If your score is below an 80 % you will have to retake the test, after

school, and you will receive a zero on all labs until you pass the safety test.
Attendance / Make-up Assignments for Absences:
Good attendance will lead to good grades and poor attendance will lead to poor grades. I will review
the process for obtaining absent work in class during the first week. It is your responsibility to
obtain and complete absent work. Some work may need to be made up after school, such as tests,
quizzes, or labs.
Grading information:
Grading will be done using point based system. You will be able to monitor your grades on-line, on
your own time. Late work will be accepted, but there are rules. Late work is worth only 80% of the
student’s original score. Once an assignment has been graded and returned it will no longer be
accepted (approximately 1 week or less). Incomplete assignments may result in partial credit or a
zero based on the assignment. Tests will be announced in advance and quizzes will be both
announced and surprise. Expect 1 or 2 quizzes each week, including vocabulary, definitions, content,
prefixes and suffixes.
All assignments are to be written in pen. When the assignments are completed using loose leaf paper
a heading is required or your assignment will not be graded. The heading needs to be in the top
right corner either in the white area or on the first four lines. You are to skip lines between
numbered questions, definitions, etc. Sample heading below:
First and Last Name
BIO Period _____
Due Date
Name of the assignment
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Students are required to have a three-ringer binder with dividers for this class only. Having a binder
and using it correctly is part of the student’s grade and it will help students to be and remain
organized during this school year. Binders will periodically be graded.
Your final grade is a combination of tests, quizzes, binder, various assignments (written work
including vocabulary, questions, practice problems, worksheets, film activities, computer work, class
notes, quarterly projects, group work, folder / binders, notebooks, etc.), labs and various other
required assignments (including projects, written reports, visual reports and group activities). You
will also have cumulative exams.
Grading Scale: 90 - 100 = A; 80 - 89 = B; 70 - 79 = C; 60 - 69 = D; and 0 - 59 = E
Substitute Teachers:
If I am out and there is a substitute teacher, I expect that you will complete the assignment that I
have left for you. The assignment will be graded and absolutely no late assignments will be
accepted. Rules and policies do not change just because I am not here.
Remember to take responsibility for your education and remember not to
interfere with another student’s education. Cheating of any kind will result in a
zero for all students involved. Take responsibility for your grade today, the end of
the quarter is too late.

Mrs. Schwarz’s Freshmen Biology Class 2011 - 2012
Student Name:
_______________________________ BIO Period ______
Due Date: 1 st and 2 nd on Thursday, September 1 and 4 th on Friday
September 2 nd .
Do you wear contacts? ________
Are you color blind? _________
Glasses? ________
Do you have any allergies? _________ If yes, please list: __________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Student Questions:
1. Tell me what you learned about during your 8 th grade science class.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. What was the name of your 8 th grade science class? ___________________________
3. What is the “scientific method”?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. Have you dissected? __________ What? ___________________________________
5. Do you know how to graph? __________ Can you tell me what the “independent
variable and dependent variable” are? ________ What are they?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. List any lab equipment you have used (microscope, beakers, etc.).
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

7. Will you bring your supplies to class and be prepared for class on a daily basis?
________________ Why is this important to bring all of your supplies daily?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
8. Do you have all of your supplies? ____________ Is your binder set up? _________
I may take class pictures during the year and display them in the room or on the internet.
Please read and sign below: I give permission for my students name and image to
be on the internet.
SIGNATURE
DATE
Parent / Guardian: _____________________________________
(print)
_____________________________________
________
We have read / reviewed the attached information for Mrs. Schwarz’s Freshmen Biology class
and retained the sheet titled “reference”. Please print and sign your name.
SIGNATURES
DATE
Student: __________________________________________ ________
home phone number: __________________________________
Parent / Guardian: _____________________________________
(print)
_____________________________________
(sign)
________
Parent / Guardian email: _____________________________________________________
Parent / Guardian home phone number ___________________________________________
Parent / Guardian cell phone number ____________________________________________
Parent / Guardian alternate phone numbers: ______________________________________
(Please state whether the alternate phone numbers are work or other.)

REFERENCE: Parents / Guardians please keep this sheet for your reference.
Mrs. Schwarz’s Freshmen Biology Class 2011-2012
Due Date for signature sheet and lab safety contract: 1 st and 2 nd on Thursday, September
1 and 4 th on Friday September 2 nd .
Please take this information packet home and go over the information carefully with your parents /
guardians. When finished, please sign and return the required pages to me, on or before the due
date. This is a grade; all pages must be returned at the same time. You will keep your copies
in your folder / binder all year.
Lab Safety Contract and test: The lab safety contract must be signed by students and their
parents / guardians. The guidelines in the contract must be followed at all times. Students MUST
also take and pass a lab safety test with an 80% or higher in order to participate in labs. Until all
safety requirements are met students will not be allowed to participate in lab and they will receive a
zero on each lab they miss.
Grades: You may view your daughter / sons grade on-line by going to the school’s web page at:
www.bloomtrail.org. You will then click on grades followed by parent access. You will need your
daughter / sons ID number and the phone number used during the school registration process. Once
you have done this you will be able to monitor your daughter/ sons progress all year long. When
viewing grades if you see an NTI this means an assignment was not turned in and the grade is a
zero (this may include assignments that were not made up from an absence). If you see an NPC this
means that the assignment was not properly completed, needed to be re-done, and had a new due
date. This grade is a zero unless turned in correctly by the new due date. If you see ABS this means
the student was absent and needs to make up the assignment. This grade is a zero until it is made
up. If you see REF this means the student stated they would not complete the assignment or
participate, they refused. This grade is also a zero. Lastly, if you see an “X” this means the
assignment was excused.
Phone Numbers: Please keep your phone number current with the school by making any changes
through the registrar’s office.
Bloom Trail High Schools Behavior Management Plan: We will review, learn, and follow the
behavior management plan used and supported by Bloom Trail High School. I will implement the
behavior management plan beginning the first day of school.
Class supplies (required daily): Biology Textbook, three-ring binder (for this class only), one
package of three-ring binder dividers, 1 – 70 sheet spiral, 1 – 3 subject or larger (or several smaller)
spirals, no. 2 pencils (for tests only), pens - blue or black ink only (for all assignments /written
work), folder, loose leaf notebook paper. Additionally students will benefit by having: highlighters,
colored pens, and colored pencils.
Parent / Guardian Involvement in Class: Periodically I may send a brief activity home that will
require your signature or comments. This is meant to keep you informed as to what is going on in
class.
Parents / Guardians please feel free to contact me at anytime. You can access my email through the
school web site. Please include daughter or sons full name in the subject line of the email.
Thank you,
Mrs. Schwarz - hschwarz@sd206.org