Items on the syllabus are subject to change and the instructor's interpretation of policies is final.

North Salinas High School Physics Syllabus*

INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Vallin
CONTACT INFORMATION
Room 101
jose.vallin@salinasuhsd.org

TUTORIAL
Lunch and the first 30 minutes after school

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Physics is the science that explores how the universe works. It is the most fundamental science and covers a huge range of topics.
Some of the topics we will explore include motion, heat, sound, light, electricity, magnetism and modern physics. Though these
areas of study appear to be separate topics, you will soon discover that they are all connected to each other.

The course is based around hands-on investigations and solving problems. Class activities will center on developing your critical
thinking skills. My goal is that you will leave the class encouraged to experience and discover the physics going on around you
every day.

Students successfully completing physics with a grade of A, B or C will satisfy the laboratory science admission requirement (d)
for the University of California and California State University systems.

TEXTBOOK
Foundations of Physics by Tom Hsu (CPO Science 2009)

REQUIRED MATERIALS
A scientific calculator, a spiral/composition/lab notebook, a ruler, a planner, graph paper, pencils, erasers, pens, color pencils
(optional), and textbook. I will tell the class the day before if they need to bring their book to class the following day.

CLASSROOM RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
Below are specific rules that apply to this class, though proper behavior is not limited to just these rules. You are expected to be
respectful to the instructor, school staff and your classmates. You are also expected to follow the school rules and to comply when
directed by the instructor. Consequences for not meeting expectations can consist of a warning, parent contact, referral to a
counselor or an administrator depending on frequency and/or the severity of the offence. Any act of defiance will result in an
automatic U in citizenship grade.

Be in your assigned seat before the bell rings
Be responsible ask for help
Stay on task and do your best
Arrive prepared and ready to learn
Follow classroom rules and daily routines
*Use cell phones as learning tools
Practice empathy treat others the way you want to be treated
Leave the classroom facilities and equipment in better condition than when you arrived
Encourage and help others
Use academic/public language

ABSENCES
If you are absent from school, you are required to make up any work that you missed. You are responsible to obtain class notes
from a fellow classmate and complete all work for the days you are absent. It is your responsibility to take care of the above items.
I will not remind you, nor will I do it for you.

TARDY POLICY
You are required to be in your assigned seat and ready to work when the bell rings. If you do not meet these criteria, you are
considered tardy. Tardiness will only be excused with official school passes or direct notification from a NSHS staff member, no
exceptions.

Items on the syllabus are subject to change and the instructor's interpretation of policies is final.

HALL PASS POLICY
You are expected to arrive to class prepared allowing you to be in class during the entire period. However, if a situation arises
which requires you to take care of a personal need during the class period, you will be permitted to leave class for no more than
five minutes. Students will be considered to be tardy if they leave class during the first ten minutes of class. Therefore, make sure
you take care of important items (getting items from your locker, using the restroom, etc.) before class! Students will not be
permitted to leave class during the last ten minutes of the class.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is defined as the false presentation of another person's work as your own. This can include copying homework,
communicating during exams and providing information about exams to students who have not yet taken the exam. If you are
caught cheating, you will earn no credit on the assignment and automatically earn a U grade for citizenship. In addition, your
parents, teachers and counselor will be notified.

GRADING
Your grade will be determined by how well you express your understanding of the material through writing and speaking using
formal English and by your performance on tests and quizzes. How well you maintain your scientific journal will also contribute
to your grade to a lesser degree.

The grades are weighted as shown below. Note that tests are heavily weighted toward your grade. Simply completing your work
will not be enough to earn an A or a B in this course. You must work hard to truly understand the material so that you will be
prepared to perform well on the exams. If you just copy your friend's work or ask others for the answers without thinking through
the material yourself, you will not learn the material and thus not earn a good grade.

Scientific Journal (20% of grade)
Journals will be checked every Friday. The journal must have a table of contents. Every page of the journal must be numbered.
Handouts must be either taped or stapled on a page of the journal or kept on a separate binder or manila folder. Every handout
must have your name, the date that it was given, and the period of the class.

Tests (40% of grade)
A test or quiz will be given at the end of each chapter. If you plan to be absent on the day of a test or quiz, you need to give me
prior notification so that a make-up test can be scheduled. Students may be allowed to re-take a test or quiz after correcting it.
Students who are absent on the day the original test or quiz without prior approval are not eligible for re-taking a test. The grade
of the original test and the re-take will be averaged. The test given during finals week cannot be made up except for a major
emergency where your parent/guardian contacts Mr. Vallin. Tests which are not taken will earn an F grade.

Classwork and Homework (40% of grade)
Classwork will consist of writing activities such as expository paragraphs, scientific reports, and practice assignments (i.e., end of
chapter questions and/or worksheets). The homework will often be finishing class assignments that you did not have time to
complete. Homework may be written, but sometimes the homework will be reading or studying. Incomplete/incorrect graded
activities will not be accepted. If you need assistance completing a graded activity, at your request, Ill be available during lunch
or after school to provide you with the support that you may need. If there is a serious problem, which makes it impossible to
complete assigned work, talk to me immediately to make a plan for getting your work in. Late work will not receive full credit
unless there is an excused absence. If you have a family emergency, that is, the death or serious illness of an immediate family
member, talk to me immediately to make a plan for your work. Family vacations are not considered emergencies, and no make-up
work will be given.

CITIZENSHIP GRADE
Your citizenship grade is based on your participation, attendance and behavior. You can earn an Outstanding (O), Satisfactory (S),
or Unsatisfactory (U) grade. The table below gives a general guideline on how your citizenship is determined. Your overall
citizenship grade will be an O if you earned an O in all categories. Your overall citizenship grade will be a U if you earned
a U in any of the categories.

Outstanding (O) Satisfactory (S) Unsatisfactory (U)
Participation
Always participates, arrives
prepared, actively volunteers.
Generally participates, arrives
prepared.
Rarely participates, constantly
arrives unprepared.
Attendance
No unexcused absences or
tardies.
Less than a combination of five
tardies and unexcused absences.
Combination of five or more
tardies and unexcused absences.
Behavior No incidents, great attitude. Overall good behavior. Multiple/Extreme incidents.