Life Science News
Dr. Beck
Welcome to the Village at La Paz Intermediate!
Welcome new students and parents to La Paz Intermediate School. This will be a time to make new
friends, as well as learn new and exciting things. As a teacher, I am very excited about this year in
Science, and I hope that my students will grow in all aspects of their lives.
Parents, I ask that you participate actively in your child‟s education, as I believe your role is a very
important one. I encourage you to go over your child‟s lessons and homework with them regularly. If you
have any questions about your child‟s progress, please don‟t hesitate to email me.
Classroom Standards
To ensure a productive learning environment, the positive behavior
system (PBS) that La Paz has implemented school-wide will be
supported and reinforced in the classroom. Across campus and
especially in our class, the basic expectations for all students fall
into three main categories: Responsibility, Respect, and
Material Requirements Readiness. Therefore, all students will be expected to:
Being prepared for class is very
important. That is why I expect 1. Listen to and follow all directions.
every student to come to class 2. Bring all required materials to class each day (see material
with the following supplies: requirements, also look in your planner).
3. Be seated, writing homework in planner when the bell rings.
□1. A 1” 3-ring binder for 4. Listen quietly when the teacher or another student is
Science papers and notebook speaking. Any activity that serves as a distraction or disruption is
check.. inappropriate and unacceptable.
□2. White lined paper. 5. Participate in class in a cooperative and contributive manner.
□3. Two notebook dividers with 6. Follow the district‟s academic code of honor. Cheating will
tabs labeled “Class Rules” and result in a zero for the assignment and an N or U in citizenship.
“Items to Save.” 7. Each student is to do his/her own work, unless otherwise
□4. Scissors. directed by the teacher.
□5. Colored pencils and covered 8. If absent, go to cubby box and get assignments you missed.
sharpener. Make up any missed sci-logs in your composition book. Sci-logs
□6. Two pencils and two pens. may be copied from a homework buddy.
□7. A simple calculator. Homework buddy:______________________ phone#__________
□8. A cloth-bound composition Homework buddy: ______________________phone#__________
book. 9. Check your grade online at least once a week to be sure all
□9. 2 packs of 3X5 index cards assignments are turned in.
□10. Two red pens for correcting
Daily consequences for breaking the rules:
These materials are due and 1st offense – Verbal warning. Beautify Our Room Committee.
will be checked for a grade on: 2nd offense – A 20-minute lunch detention or trash duty.
__________________________ 3rd offense – Parent contact and lunch detention or office
. referral..
.
This just in… Students say they like tests!!
Assessments are tests of your knowledge and accomplishments.
A summative assessment (Chapter test) will be given at the end of each chapter. Summative
assessments will typically be worth 100 points. If a student is absent, the test must be made up the very
next day they return to school. I believe in the honor system so students will grade their own tests in class
using a red pen if time permits. Some tests, such as finals, will be machine graded.
Formative assessments (Quizzes) will be given every week to two weeks, depending on the length of the
section. Some quizzes will be announced ahead of time, and some will be surprises, to make sure the
required material has been read. Formative assessments usually will not count as a grade. They are used
as a tool to assess the student‟s understanding of the material at that time.
Grading Scale
I follow a standard format for grading. The Standard Scale is as follows:
100 - 98 = A+ 97- 93 = A 92 – 90 = A-
89 – 88 = B+ 87 – 83 = B 82 – 80 = B-
79 – 78 = C+ 77 – 73 = C 72 – 70 = C-
69 – 68 = D+ 67 – 63 = D 62 – 58 = D-
57 and below = F
Extra, Extra
The Grades are Online!!!!!
You can go to the district website, log on, and check your grade for each class.
Now for an update on
Dr. Beck‟s Homework Policy!!!
1. Late work due to an absence must be made up according to Saddleback Valley Unified School District
guidelines. You are given two days for every day absent to turn in absent work.
2. If you are absent, please write „Absent‟ at the top of your paper along with the „Date‟ you were
absent from class. Put your late papers in the gold basket on Dr. Beck‟s desk in your period‟s folder.
3. All homework, class assignments, and projects are to be turned in on the specified due date at the
specified time for full credit. The grade for late work will be reduced immediately by 50 percent.
Homework is assigned to give students the chance to practice reading and writing new vocabulary and
to think through new ideas. Doing homework at the last minute before it is due in class is not
effective. Take time at home to put in the energy to learn and you will reap the rewards!
4. Students need to write their full first and last name, item #, and period on their papers. Failure to
complete this requirement will result in a 10% reduction of the assignment score. If there isn‟t any
name and the paper is claimed from the “No-name Basket,” the paper is considered late.
5. You will have one week, or up until the test for that section, if it is less than one week away, to turn in
the late assignment before the grade drops to a zero.
6. Homework assignments will be posted every 2 to 3 days on Dr. Beck‟s webpage. You can look at
homework assignments at the following website: http://www.svusd.org/p_home.asp?tid=1619
7. Students and Parents…DO NOT THROW AWAY ANY SCIENCE PAPERS!!! They will be
needed for the notebook check at the end of each trimester! Notebook checks are worth 100 points.
Science Ethics Policies
LA PAZITIVE TEST TAKING PROCEDURES
1. Nothing on your desks except test taking materials (pencils and a cover sheet) and your RC book.
2. Review and initial test taking rules before starting test.
3. ABSOLUTELY no communication with peers, verbal or otherwise, at any time during the test
taking period. No exceptions!
4. Keep your answers covered and keep your eyes on your own paper.
5. Raise your hand if you have a question or you need to get out of your seat.
6. Once the tests have been passed out, you may not get into your backpack.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN A “0” ON THE TEST AND AN ETHICS
VIOLATION.
LA PAZITIVE HOMEWORK PROCEDURE
Responsibility is doing your homework, completing it on your own and asking for help if you need it.
It is your responsibility to write your homework assignments in your planner each day.
Respect is not asking for or giving answers to anyone.
Readiness is having your homework completed on time.
LA PAZITIVE LAB PROCEDURE
Responsibility is completing a lab, writing it yourself and asking for help when needed.
Respect is not copying the written work of others from books, the internet, or another student. Make
sure you are properly citing sources.
Readiness is having the lab completed and turned in by the due date.
LA PAZITIVE GROUP WORK/PROJECTS PROCEDURE
Responsibility is completing group projects, equally contributing to the assignment and doing your
part.
Respect is not asking anyone to do your work for you and not doing the work for others.
Readiness is having your project at school and completed on the day it is due.
Parents model responsibility by helping edit, but not writing or rewriting their
student’s work.
Parents… please remember that our goal is to give our children the best education they can
get. I am looking forward to working with you and your child. Please feel free to contact
me if you have any concerns or questions.
beckb@svusd.org
Village student receives award for outstanding
behavior… Villager of the Month!!!
La Paz Intermediate School has a long history of students who show respect, responsibility and readiness
in many different situations. We like to reward those students who demonstrate the 3 R‟s. In the Village,
we plan activities and awards for students with grades of C and above and no N‟s or U‟s in citizenship.
One of these is the trip to the San Diego Zoo in March.
As you progress through the year in Science, you will find that your efforts and attitude can have a real
and significant effect on certain aspects of your education, such as achievement, self-esteem, and your
grade. The key to doing well in these aspects of your life is the three R‟s: Readiness, Respect, and
Responsibility. In other words, showing your willingness to always do your best and to show a genuine
concern for yourself, other students, teachers, and other La Paz staff members, both in and out of the
classroom. Show yourself, your friends, and your community how proud you are of this amazing school!!
We‟re all in this together!! Let‟s make it a great year hare at La Paz!!
Family
Student
Community
Teachers
Friends
******You‟re invited! Please mark your calendar for Back to School Night on Thursday,
October ____ at 7 p.m. See you there! *******
Parents,
Please read the information in this packet and make sure your son or daughter understands
the information also. By signing and returning this page, you are stating that you read the
„Science News‟ packet. This packet will also be on my website. Just go to the “Life
Science Homework” page, and scroll all the way down to “Documents.” Click on the
document you would like to review.
Again, please email me if you have any questions regarding my class and/or policies.
Thank you for your support!!
Sincerely,
Dr. Boni Beck
Student‟s Name Science Period ___
Parent‟s signature
Parent‟s email address
Date
(******Please turn over, read, and also sign eighth grade science honors policy→)
September, 2009
La Paz Eighth Grade Honors Science Designations
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Next year your son or daughter will be entering the eighth grade. Correct placement in science as
an eighth grader is important. The usual placement for eighth grade students includes physical
science, however there is an accelerated class of honors physical science. To help you plan for this
placement we have summarized the criteria for eighth grade placement into honors physical
science. We suggest that you and your child discuss the list of criteria below and set appropriate
goals for placement. As in the past, advanced placement in ninth grade science is available to all
eighth grade students if they meet the high school criteria.
Honors Designation
Seventh grade students have the opportunity to earn honors credit in their science classes.
Throughout the year, honors candidate students will be assigned differentiated assignments. These
assignments will have more strenuous requirements that must be accomplished by those students desiring
to earn honors credit. There will be an accumulative honors grade, which will be based on all honors
assignments throughout the year. This honors grade will be separate from the regular Science class grade,
which can be viewed by checking the grades online. A seventh grade science student will be
recommended for 8th grade honors science the following year only if he or she meets all of the following
criteria:
Qualifies to enter algebra or geometry in 8th grade math.
No less than an overall 95.0% GPA in seventh grade science each trimester.
No less than 93.0% GPA in seventh grade honors science assignments for the entire year.
No missing assignments.
Successfully completes honors essay questions on each assessment as well as Honors Chapter
packets.
Successfully completes the honors component of differentiated assignments throughout the year.
(Examples are cell project, animal project and others)
Has a total summative assessment (test) accuracy of 93% or above in science each trimester.
7th grade students sometimes will be given the opportunity to improve their test scores (test
corrections). However, honors student‟s initial test score, not the retake score, will be used to
calculate this overall average requirement of 93%.
Citizenship mark of Satisfactory or Outstanding throughout the year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Beck , The Village ---------Mr. Keith, The Tribe ---------Ms. Ernsbarger , The Camp
La Paz Science Department
Do not cut_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
□ Yes, my son/daughter would like to be placed on the honors candidate list and will do
the extra honors assignments and test essays.
□ Please do not place my son/daughter on the honors candidate list.
Parent signature _______________________________________________ Date ___________________
Student signature ______________________________________________ Date ___________________