Santiago High School

HOME OF SCHOLARS, ACHIEVERS AND CHAMPIONS

Biology - Mrs. Stitz Room P202
Contact information, Email: catherine.stitz@cnusd.k12.ca.us
On your cell phone, Remind.com: send a text to: 81010 with the message: @biosti
ON your computer, subscribing to email alerts: biosti@mail.remind.com Leave the subject blank.
Website: http://stitzscience.weebly.com
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I am excited to have the opportunity to teach you/your child. My goal is to encourage an enthusiasm for Biology while preparing you/your
son/daughter with critical thinking skills and proper lab techniques. Please read through our class outline. If you have any questions or concerns,
please do not hesitate to call/email me.
Course Objectives
Topics to be covered: First Semester
The science of Biology-the scientific Method
Ecology- energy flow-cycles of matter
The role of climate-What shapes an ecosystem?
How populations grow-limits to growth- human growth
A changing landscape-renewable and nonrenewable energy
Life is cellular-eukaryotes/prokaryotes-diversity of cellular life
Topics to be covered: Second Semester
The science of Biology-the scientific Method review
Genetics/Gregor Mendel/Punnet squares/Gene maps
Manipulating DNA-Cell Transformation/Gen Eng.
Human Heredity-Human Chromosomes
Evolution-Darwin presents his case
Genes and Variation-Evolution as genetic change
The Process of speciation

Photosynthesis
Chemical Pathways/Krebs cycle & Electron Transport
DNA-Chromosomes-Replication-RNA-Protein Synthesis
Cell Growth/Cell division/Meiosis
Properties of water-Carbon cmpds, chemical rxs. & enzymes
Bacteria/Viruses/Diseases caused by bacteria and viruses
Life is cellular-eukaryotes/prokaryotes-diversity of cellular life
Infectious Disease- The immune system and disorders
Human body systems-Nervous and immune system.
Divisions of the Nervous System
The Circulatory System-blood and the lymphatic system
The Respiratory system/Process of Digestion/Excretory

Materials required
Biology Textbook- Dragonfly on the cover
Science Notebook (minimum 100 pages)
Extra Paper
Pen/pencils
Index cards (for vocabulary flashcards)
Highlighter
Colored pencils and/or crayons
Access to Internet and computer (may use school library if needed)
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Classroom Rules and Procedures
1. Be in assigned seat or location ready to work when the tardy bell
5. Profanity, rude gestures, cruel teasing, bullying, or put-downs are
finishes.
not permitted.
2. Bring class materials and completed assignments every day.
6. Follow the teachers directions.
3. Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself.
7. No cell phone use allowed in the classroom.
4. Food and drink are not permitted in classrooms.
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Discipline Policy and Consequences- Observe the schools rules
Step 1: Verbal warning and stay after class
Step 2: Change in seating arrangement and/or parent notification. 30- 60 minute detention/ or Teacher Conference and/or possible administrative
contact.
Step 3: Administrative referral which will most likely result in Saturday School.
Tardies: You are to be in class on time, no excuses! When the bell rings, you are expected to be in your assigned seat, ready to work.
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Make Up work/Absences: Late work will be accepted until the Exam date for that Unit/Chapter with a penalty of reduced credit.
Attendance is crucial to your success in any class. It is imperative that you are in class everyday, and are ready to work. However, I understand
that Life happens. So in the unlikely event of the inevitable occurring, this is the following procedure that will take place: come into tutoring
or office hours to make up your assignments.
Class work/homework- if you are absent on the day an assignment is given, check the absent box by the door to see wat you missed. It is your
responsibility to pick up any assignments that you missed the day you were absent. Also, check the class website for the agenda for that day.

There are edpuzzle videos assigned on a weekly basis to introduce and review material from the week they are assigned and due. They are
always due on the Sunday at the end of that week.
Exams- come in during office hours. You will only have one retake/makeup per quarter for your exams. If you want to take an exam early due to
the inevitable, you may do so just check with me first.
Quizzes- Quizzes will be taken during the beginning of the class period. Make ups are held during tutoring.
Quia.com- I use the www.Quia.com online resource to post online quizzes and exams. Students will usually have 1 quiz per week and
occasionally an exam. The Quia assessments will count towards assessment category. Please make sure to sign up for your Quia account quickly.
If you do not have computer/internet access at home, you can use the classroom computers, school library before or after school, or you may also
use your Smartphone. Directions for setting up your account will be discussed in class.
Labs- if you are absent on the day of a lab, the following are the steps necessary for you to make up points from a lab.
(1.) See me to get a hold of the lab write-up.
(2.) You need to discuss the lab with a student that was here and find out what the lab was about.
(3.) You need to write up the lab.
(4.) You need to research the concept being studied in the lab, and gather information on that concept from other sources such as the Internet,
your textbook, and other resources. Make copies of that information.
(5.) Finally, you need at least a one-page summary of your research. This one page summary must be typed in 12-point font, Times New Roman
and needs to be single-spaced. The summary needs to be in your own words.
Projects- if you are absent on the day of a project and you have not made arrangements with your instructor, the highest percentage of points that
you are able to receive is a 90%. On the day of the project, your group is counting on you to be there. If you are not there, the entire groups flow
is thrown off.
Student supplies
Students will need one notebook for each semester in this class. Additionally, suggested items include colored pencils, scissors, glue, and
miscellaneous supplies for many of our hands-on projects.
Grading will include:
Tests (20%) /Final Exam (10%) /Quizzes (10%): Total Assessments=40%
Measured by objective tests over content and process areas of the course, and many quizzes and exams this year will be taken on Quia.com.
Retakes are already set up on this resource. All tests will be announced in advance. Test will include multiple choice, true/false, essay, and short
answer. Tests are normally 100 points that are criterion-referenced. Performance Tasks will assess the students comprehension of several units.
Students will need to demonstrate their knowledge through these tasks quarterly.
Homework/Classwork/Group participation (30%)
Homework and classwork are assigned every class meeting. All work will be completed in your Science notebook. Group participation is
measured by teacher observation, student participation and cleanliness of your seating assignment.
Laboratory work, Notebooks, and Projects-Notebook checks will be reviewed every Chapter/Unit Test (30%)
All students are required to participate in lab, take notes, and write a lab report for each lab completed in class.
Grades/Citizenship: Your grade in class will be based on points accumulated by you from the above areas of work. Within each area, the
following grading scale will apply. Citizenship will be determined on behavior, participation, effort, motivation, respect and
attendance in class. If your grade is borderline at the end of the semester and you have demonstrated effort and come in to
tutoring/office hours, I will round your grade up.
100 % - 90 % = A
89 % - 80 % = B
79 % - 70 % = C
69 % - 60 % = D
59 % - less = F
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Grades will be updated weekly and accessed through Q Parent connect. Please, if you have any questions, do not hesitate in contacting
me. Communication through email is the best way to communicate with me.
My philosophy:
I believe all my students can behave appropriately in my classroom. I will tolerate no student stopping me from teaching and/or any student
from learning.
Please sign below to acknowledge that you and your parent/guardian have read through and understand the course syllabus. By signing
you agree to follow the classroom and school rules. Return to your teacher

Student Signature and Date ______________________________

___________

Parent Signature and Date _______________________________ ___________

Parent Email Address ___________________________________

Parent Phone Number __________________________________