COURSE DESCRIPTION: A challenging college-prep course covering principles of biology in accordance with the California Content Standards. This course DOES meet requirements for admission to a four-year college or university such as UC or CSU. We will study nature of life, biochemistry, cell biology, cell energy, genetics, and evolution in Biology A.

REQUIRED:

3-RING BINDER

COLORED PENCILS

NOTEBOOK PAPER, PEN OR PENCIL

CLASS RULES:

1. Respect for yourself, each other, and the teacher—listen when anyone else is talking

2. No food in class without permission.

3. Keep language clean.

4. No cell phones, music players, cameras, etc. without permission.

5. Start the warm-up when the bell rings.

TARDINESS:

1. Every three times you are tardy will result in one point taken off your semester average.

2. Every five minutes you are late will result in a separate count of tardiness. (15 minutes late = 3 tardies).

3. If you miss any graded classroom activity because you have an unexcused tardy, you will get a zero for that assignment.

4. Students who have NO tardies will get to drop one quiz grade per quarter.

ABSENTEEISM:

You will only be allowed to make up work from absences if they are officially excused. Family or individual vacations without prior office approval and independent study plans are not excused and you will not be allowed to make up work from such absences.

HOMEWORK:

Expect homework every night. If you do not do your homework, you will get a zero. NO LATE HOMEWORK ACCEPTED. If you generally do not do homework, you will not pass biology. You will be responsible for study guides, notes, pre-lab assignments, lab reports, and projects.

LAB SAFETY: All students need to follow teachers’ instructions regarding lab safety. This may include wearing goggles, tying back hair, and washing hands before and/or after lab. It also means having a serious attitude and not horsing around. Failure to follow safety instructions will result in removal from lab and a zero for the assignment.

MAKEUP WORK:

Work can only be made up when your absence is EXCUSED. When you are absent, work that you miss will be assembled and placed in a folder under your last name. It is your responsibility to make up the work. You have one class period after you return to make up missed work and quizzes/tests. All missed work will earn a ZERO until it is made up. Unexcused TARDY is the same as an UNEXCUSED absence for work that you miss at the beginning of class.

TESTS AND QUIZZES:

Quizzes (every chapter) will be individual and worth 30-50 points. Unit tests will be given at the end of every unit, will be open-book/open-note book group effort and will be worth 100 points. It is expected that each group member will contribute to these tests or the format will be changed.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS: Please keep track of grades at http://livermorehs.schoolloop.com

I HAVE READ BIOLOGY DESCRIPTION AND POLICIES.

Student Name (print)_____________________________

Parent Name (signature)___________________________

Parent e-mail____________________________________

Parent contact number____________________________(which parent should I contact?)

What language is spoken at home:

Health concerns I should know about (allergies, diabetes, etc.):