Academic Standards and Expectations

Heading

• A proper heading includes first and last names, date, class period, and a complete description of the assignment.
• The heading should be located on the first blue line of paper.
• The heading should be written entirely within the margins.
• There is to be no box around the heading.
• Students should skip a line after the heading.

Paper

• Paper should be the standard white, wide ruled, loose-leaf notebook paper.  Spiral-bound paper is not to be used.
• If papers are stapled, there should be one staple in the upper left hand corner.

Writing Tools

• Students must use a pencil for math, so that corrections can be made.
• Writing must be dark enough and large enough to be legible.
• Students should use either dark blue or black ink (no glitter or sparkle ink) for final copies of work to be turned in.
• Typed work is also accepted. If submitting typed work, students must use size 12 Times New Roman or Arial fonts.  The work must be single-spaced and left-aligned.

Posters

• The poster must be the appropriate size for the specific project.
• Posters will have minimum 1” margins.
•  All borders and items displayed on posters must be matted, cut in straight lines, and glued neatly.
• Appropriate fonts/lettering should be used and centered as needed.
• A proper heading must be included on the back of the poster.

Work Submitted

• Students must submit work with no doodles, no artwork, no notes to friends, and no bubble letters.  Professional, businesslike appearance is the goal.
• Final copies/products may not be written in pencil.
• Cursive handwriting must be used for final copies.
• Top, side, and bottom margins must be observed.
• Whiteout should not be used.  Corrections should be made with one-line strike-throughs.
• All answers submitted must be in complete sentences.
• Pronouns may not be used to start a sentence.  (Example:  It was the larger dog.) Sentences may not begin with “because”.
• Capitalization and end punctuation must be used for every sentence. 

Work not meeting these standards will have points deducted.  In cases where the work is below minimum expectations it will  be returned to be redone.  It that case the assignment will be treated as late work.

Late Work Policy

Punctuality is a habit students must learn in order to be successful in their later school experiences.  Our late work policies are not designed to be harsh; rather they are designed to teach students to be organized and responsible.

All students are required to record every homework and class assignment.  All teachers will write the assignments on the board and set aside specific time for students to record assignments, test dates, project timelines, special events, etc.  It is the students’ responsibility to record the information in their planners.

Students are expected to turn in work on time and at an acceptable level of quality.

“On time” means when the teacher asks for the assignment, and not “by the end of the period or day”.

Late work may be turned in the following time the class meets with a 30% penalty.  After the second day the assignment will be marked “zero”.

In the event of absence, a student has five school days to complete the make-up work.  In the case of extended absences, or in special circumstances, additional time may be granted.

Work that was due on the day of an absence is due the day the student returns to school.

Since all tests are announced at least four days in advance, students who miss the day before the test should be ready for the test when they return.

We appreciate our conscientious parents who call asking for make-up assignments when their children are absent.  However, we also expect the teachers to be actively teaching during the day. Therefore, we will not be able to honor these requests until the following day.