Welcome

January 24, 2005

1. Fish Wrap #1
Answer these questions about the class expectations
1. How many days do you have to turn in make up work?
2. What is the late work policy?
3. What happens if you come to class without your textbook?
4. Do I write bathroom passes?
5. In your opinion, what is the most important policy on the expectations sheet? Explain.
2. Go over expectations (see below)
3. Begin partner interviews (handout)

Class Expectations for Newspaper I
Mrs. Kelly Prestipino, Instructor
Fall 2005

Welcome to The Hoof Print. I hope you had a wonderful mini vacation and you are as excited as I am about this coming semester! I look forward to working with each of you.
Newspaper students are expected to be self-motivated, enthusiastic, eager, and school spirited. All 88 minutes of newspaper are to be devoted to newspaper class only. We expect our newspaper not to be published, but to be published well. The purpose of this class is to prepare you to work as an experienced writer on the newspaper staff. Most of the material in each publication will come from the staff; however, excellent articles from newspaper I students have the potential to be published (for major extra credit) as well. It should be your goal to work to get at least one article published.
The desk with your name on it will be your home for the semester. Let me know if you are having a problem with your home; I will make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, you should be in your seat, working on the Fish Wrap assignment, before the bell rings. You are expected to keep all Fish Wraps in a section of your notebook. You should expect periodic Fish Wrap tests or quizzes.
Since a pleasant and successful school year depends on a good class environment, the following guidelines need to be followed:
1. Excellent Attendance: You cannot learn if you are not in class. Your attendance is imperative. If you are absent, you must have an excused absence in order to receive full credit for make-up work. An unexcused absence is any absence for which you do not submit an excused note.
2. Punctuality: Students should be in their seats, working on the Fish Wrap, when the bell rings. The tardy policy will be strictly enforced.
3. Responsible Student Behavior:
---Make-up work is your responsibility. I will not remind you to get the work or complete assignments. You should make time to get the assignments before school, after school, or during lunch, not during class time. Work should be completed and turned in to the make-up box within 2 days. If there are extenuating circumstances as to why the work cannot be completed, please talk to me before the end of the two days. Hopefully, we can work something out.
---You also cannot learn if you are not prepared for class every day. It is important that you bring all necessary materials to class with you and you are ready to learn. This includes your textbook.
---Assignments are due on or before the due date. Late work will be penalized 10 points for each day that it is late. Abuse of this policy is unacceptable.
---Many assignments in Newspaper class are expected to be typed. If it is announced that an assignment should be typed, it should be turned in upon your arrival on the due date. Students will not be permitted to type or print anything before class begins or during class on the date that it is due.
---Your textbook is your responsibility. If you choose to leave it in this room, you will be held accountable for it. If you do not have your textbook in class on a day that it is to be used, you will be given one warning. After that, you will serve one lunch detention for each day that you are without a textbook.
4. An Orderly and Safe Environment: You have five minutes between classes to go to the restroom, your locker, or the office. This is sufficient. In the case of an emergency, you have one bathroom pass for your use. You must keep up with it; you will not receive another one. You may turn it in at the end of the semester for five bonus points on a test. I will not write any additional passes.
5. Protection of Personal and Public Property: Please help to keep the room neat. The custodial staff works diligently, and I do not want to add to their burden. Put yourself in his or her shoes. No food, candy, or drinks are allowed in the classroom.
6. Healthy Bodies and Minds: Internet access is limited to school related activities only.
7. Honesty: Students are expected to tell the whole truth 100% of the time, even when unsolicited. Plagiarism is dishonest. If anything is found to be plagiarized, you will receive a zero on the assignment.
8. Respect for Self and Others: So that we can all have a good year, you are expected to show mutual respect to each other. The same holds true for me. Remember the Golden Rule. Please help to create an environment where everyone feels free to voice his or her opinions without ridicule.
9. Safe Transportation to and from School
10. Learning from Mistakes and Successes: Repeated errors or inaccuracies are unacceptable in a newspaper class. To err is human, but to err again is irresponsible.

Supplies
Required Optional
Blue or black pen Colored Pencils
Paper Markers
Three ring binder Highlighters
At least one floppy disk Scissors
Glue Stick
Grading System

30% Articles
30% Tests and Major Projects
20% Quizzes and Minor Projects
20% Classwork and Homework


93-100=A
85-92= B
77-84=C
70-76=D
0-69=F

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I am looking forward to working with you and your child in their pursuit of academic excellence. Please know that I will do my best to help your child succeed in his or her Newspaper I course. Should you need to reach me, please feel free to call and leave a message for me at school (773-3838) or email me at kprestipino@wcpss.net. I will respond as soon as possible. I hope to meet each of you at Open House and I welcome you to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have in the future.

Sincerely,
Kelly Prestipino