Welcome to NJMS's IB MYP Year 3 Sciences 2020 2021 - Orientation Guide Ms. S. Evans Room #123 & Online
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Welcome to NJMS’s
IB MYP Year 3
Sciences 2020 – 2021
Orientation Guide
Ms. S. Evans
Room #123 & Online
NOTE TO STUDENTS: PLEASE KEEP THIS DOCUMENT IN YOUR SCIENCE NOTEBOOK FROM THE
FIRST DAY OF CLASS UNTIL INSTRUCTED BY MS. EVANS TO MOVE IT TO YOUR SCIENCE
PORTFOLIO.Ms. S. Evans
Year 3 Sciences Facilitator
August 5, 2020
Virtual Science Learning
Welcome!
Dear Parent(s) / Legal Guardian(s):
Please allow me to begin this letter by telling you that I am elated to have this opportunity to work with you
and your child. I will be teaching your child Year 3 Sciences at Northwest Jackson IB World Middle School. I am a
certified teacher in Biology and Chemistry for grades seventh through twelfth. I have taught middle school science
for twenty-two years, sixteen of which have been at Northwest.
I have implemented blending learning (i.e. a combination of face-to-face and independent technology-
based instructions) in my in-person classroom for the last three and one-half years. As we begin this new school
year, most of the world is continuing with or beginning virtual teaching and learning (i.e. online / technology-based
instructional methods). However, some of us are embarking on new challenges. As with attempting anything new,
there may be a lot of trial and error occurring and possibly numerous mistakes made. Fortunately, these are natural
factors of authentic teaching and learning. With integrity, perseverance, and patience; we will be successful through
this endeavor.
It is my goal to provide healthy virtual and in-person classroom environments for your child throughout
this school year. It is my intent to not only teach my students scientific content, but to also teach them how to think
critically, analyze and apply content, form original questions, and solve non-routine problems. My overall intention
is for my students to learn on a competitive level in my virtual and in-person classes academically, socially, and
emotionally. However, you may be asked to provide your child with various common household items for
experiments, activities, and projects during the school year.
Your child may be successful in my class if he/she follows all in-person classroom, virtual classroom,
PBIS, team, school, and district procedures and policies that are included or referenced in my orientation guide. I
highly encourage you to access all of the avenues of communication included in my course syllabus and to be an
integral part of your child’s learning experiences.
Once the school year begins, I will send emails and text messages to each eighth grade student’s parent(s),
step-parent(s), grandparent(s), and/or legal guardian(s) that are posted in the district’s database to ensure that
multiple lines of reliable two-way communication are open between caregivers and me. Once you receive the
individualized email and text message, please keep the SchoolStatus email and phone number. We should continue
to exchange emails through this one email strand throughout the academic school year. This will be the best way to
communicate with me in the event that you have questions or concerns. Students may email me through the Inbox
feature in Canvas.
Cordially,
Ms. S. Evans
Blended Science Learning
Welcome!Year 3 Sciences Course Syllabus
In-person Classroom Rules:
1. Be on time for class and prepared to learn.
2. Bring all required materials to class.
3. Be silent and orderly upon entering and exiting the classroom.
4. Raise your hand to request to speak or leave your seat.
5. Be respectful and courteous to yourself, staff, and peers.
* Follow the procedures and policies of JPS’s Code of Conduct.
Virtual Classroom Rules:
1. Use your JPS-issued Gmail account for all assignments and activities.
2. Use your full name for everything.
3. Ensure that your electronic devices are fully charged before the start of each school day.
4. Refrain from sharing the class link with or inviting others into the virtual classroom.
5. Dress appropriately.
6. Find a quiet and well lit area to work.
7. Refrain from sitting with your back to a window or other extremely bright lighting.
8. Refrain from recording class.
9. Keep your face visible on the camera.
10. Keep yourself muted until given permission to unmute.
11. Sign into class a few minutes before class start-time and remain in class for the entire 50-minute period
12. Be prepared (i.e. have assignments) for class.
13. Have all material handy.
14. Use earbuds and/or a microphone if necessary.
15. Be respectful during instruction, when others speak, and during discussions.
16. Be engaged.
Methods to be Utilized by Students to Master This Class:
1. Utilize required materials and proper resources to complete assignments.
2. Follow directions, checklists, and rubrics to complete assignments.
3. Complete and submit all inside and outside class assignments on time.
4. Complete reading assignments.
5. Review materials covered in class on a daily basis.
6. Study on a daily basis.
7. Keep a complete and organized homework agenda, notebook, science portfolio, and science journal on a daily
basis.
8. Keep homework agenda entries current and signed/emailed by a parent/legal guardian on a daily/weekly basis.
9. Complete, submit, and/or conduct activities, article summaries, research papers, lab reports, presentations,
short-term projects, and long-term projects; which includes Independent Inquiry Investigation entries, on
time.
10. Attend pullout sessions as directed.
11. Seek tutorial as needed.
12. Sign up for and attend make-up work sessions when independent practice class assignments are missed.
13. Follow all in-person classroom rules, virtual classroom rules, in-person classroom procedures, PBIS
expectations, and verbal directions.
Professionalism:
1. All forms, handouts, work, notebook, science portfolio, science journal, and projects must be kept neat, clean,
and professional. This can be accomplished by doing the following.
a. Do not handle work while eating.
b. Do not work on surfaces where there is grease, food, or liquids.
c. Do not keep beverages, food, or toiletries in your backpack.
d. Do not rip papers out of notebook or portfolio prongs.
e. Do not fold papers or shove them into your purse, pocket, or backpack.
f. Complete work in black ink especially when required OR use a pencil when black ink is not required.
g. Do not scribble or draw irrelevant things on your forms, handouts, work, notebook, science portfolio,
science journal, or projects.Participation Grades:
1. Maintain an orderly, safe, clean, and well lit (i.e. in the virtual classroom) workspace.
2. Have all materials needed to participate fully in class.
3. Make appropriate use of time.
4. Move silently, safely, swiftly, and orderly during ALL transitions inside and outside of the classroom.
5. Complete and submit assignments on time.
6. Be fully engaged in class by being focused on the work at hand, engaging in relevant conversations at
appropriate times, and participating in questioning-answering sessions sensibly.
7. Conduct self appropriately during instructional, whole group, cooperative learning group, pair-sharing, and
independent practice work. See classroom procedures for details on each of these practices.
8. Follow all other in-person classroom rules, virtual classroom rules, homeroom procedures, and classroom
procedures.
9. Adhere to all of the remaining PBIS expectations and verbal directions at any given time.
10. Follow the positive alternatives indicated in the JPS Code of Conduct.
Homework:
In-person & Virtual Classrooms
1. Assignments intended for review, extension, preparation for a future class, or to complete missed or
incomplete guided practice class work should be completed independently (i.e. not in homeroom or other
classes).
2. Students should not share answers, but may collaborate to help each other.
3. Homework may be taken, discarded, and/or reported by any adult who witness students cheating on the
assignment.
4. Parents may help their children with homework, but not do the homework for their children.
In-person Classroom Only
5. Students should ensure that their names/headings are on all homework assignments and the assignments
are stapled before leaving home.
6. Current homework assignments must be placed on the corner of the island before the tardy bell during in-
person class. Students should not hold up the line entering class or backtrack to the island.
Virtual Classroom Only
7. Students should ensure that their names/headings are on all written homework assignments before
scanning and uploading digitally.
8. Homework assignments must be submitted before virtual classes begin.
Science Homework Agenda:
In-person Classroom Only
1. The science homework agenda should remain bound in the original staple.
2. The current term’s agenda should remain clipped in first in the student’s science notebook.
In-person & Virtual Classrooms
3. The top of each page should be completed weekly.
4. The dates on which science homework assignments are given and the homework entries should be
written/typed daily in the correct sections.
5. Headers, dates on which homework assignments are given, and homework entries should be
written/typed daily in black ink.
6. Due dates should be written/typed in red ink.
7. Due dates are only given for assignments that should be worked on for an extended period of time.
Otherwise, homework assignments are always due by the next time the class meets.
8. Parent’s/legal guardian’s signature should be obtained on a daily basis (EMAILED TO ME WEEKLY)
and not all at once so that a guardian is continuously aware of what is assigned throughout the term.
9. The science homework agenda should be submitted at the end of the term before exam week for 3 ALL–
OR–NONE homework grades.
10. Unannounced notebook checks will include science homework agenda checks.
Virtual Classroom Only
11. Parent’s/legal guardian’s should email child’s completed Science Homework Agenda in a PDF format every
two weeks and not all at once so that I know whether or not a guardian is continuously aware of what is
assigned throughout the term.
Science Journal:
1. A thread-bound 9¾” X 7½” tablet with non-perforated sheets and full graph lines pages is required.
2. All activity reports will be written and graded in this graph composition book.
3. Students should follow the lab report rubric in preparation for assessments.
4. Only black ink should be used to write in the graph composition book.5. No blacking or whiting out is allowed in a science (lab) journal. Simply draw a single horizontal line through a
mistake.
Science Portfolio: (For In-person Classroom until further notice)
1. A 1½ inch hardback binder with clear covers on the front, back, and spine is required. Please do not purchase a
binder in which the spine is partially blocked by staples, which will block an insert. A specific color for the
entire (i.e. inside and outside) binder is required as a science portfolio (a year-long project) in each science
class. Please see the supply list for your class’s required color.
2. ALL completed units of work will be transferred to this science portfolio.
3. The portfolios will be kept in class, updated when units are completed, and checked periodically.
4. Students should follow the science portfolio rubric in preparation for portfolio checks, which will count as
independent work grades.
5. Students will be allowed to bring their science portfolios home to study for semester exams and their eighth
grade science state standardized test.
6. Each student is responsible for keeping up with ALL material from the first day of class until the last day of
class. The students will receive an overall science portfolio test grade at the end of the school year.
Online Science Textbooks:
1. Open the Google Chrome browser to access the JPS EdTech website.
2. Type go.jpsms.org in the URL bar.
3. You should see the large slogan, Innovate | Educate | Learn.
4. Scroll down to find the Popular Link, JPS Pearson/Savvas Textbook, on the right and click on it.
5. Type your entire lunch number (i.e. with the zeros) for your Username.
6. Type your birth date (MMDDYYYY) with numbers only for your Password.
Independent Inquiry Investigation: (No project should be recycled from previous school years or from
another person. No project should be copied and pasted from the Internet.)
1. 5 Topics (Typed summaries giving background information and specific experimental steps. All of this
information should be in student’s own words. At least one topic must be approved by me before a student
advances to the next step.) – Due: September 14 & 15
2. Experimental Design – Due: October 13 & 14
3. Research Plan – Due: November 16 & 17
4. Research Paper (3 Content pages minimum) – Due: November 30 & December 1
5. Formal Report – Due: December 14 & 15
6. Abstract – Due: December 14 & 15
7. Display Board OR Digitally Created and Printed 3’ x 5’ Poster – Due: December 14 & 15
8. Log Book – Due: December 14 & 15
9. Oral Presentation – Due: January 7 & 8
Tests:
1. Students will take teacher-produced digital tests in Canvas, Google Forms, and Google Drive.
2. Students should have pencils with erasers and a pencil sharpener to complete all class, district, and state
standardized tests.
3. Students should actively study for tests daily.
4. Students should get plenty of sleep regularly, but especially the night before a test.
5. Students must keep his/her eyes on his/her own desk or computer and not talk, while a test is being
administered. Failure to comply may result in a fifty.
Location for Access to District Grades and Averages:
Active Parent
Active Student
My Organization Methods for Grading:
1. The date that are listed on each term’s assignment outline list are the dates used in Active Parent and Active
Student to keep assignments organized in this same order. These dates do not reflect the dates that the
assignments were assigned, due, completed, or submitted.
2. Due to time restrictions or informal assessments that determine no need for some assignments, assignments may
be omitted from the course of the work but not deleted from this list. Additionally, assignments will be added to
the list as lessons are developed or modified throughout the term.
3. Grading Key for Assignments in Active Parent and Active Student
NM (No mark) – The assignment is not yet due or the teacher is in the process of reading the
assignment. An “NM” does not affect the average. I (Incomplete) – The assignment is work in progress or the student missed class and needs to make up
the assignment within a week of missing class. An “I” is averaged in as a zero.
50/F – Grades have been entered for the assignment. The student did not submit the assignment;
however, the 50/F is the final grade for the assignment.
51/F – The student actually made a 50/F or less on the assignment
4. Color-code Key for Assignments Listed in Each Term’s Assignment Outline
Blue – Grades have been entered
Half blue and half black –– in progress of grading and/or recording
Red – Assignment is due immediately
Green – Work in progress
Black – Future assignments
District Grade Distribution:
10% – Homework
40% – Daily
50% – Tests
District Grading Scale:
A – 90-100
B – 80-89
C – 70-79
D – 60-69
F – 0-59
IB MYP Grading Scale: (For projects, reports, presentations, activities, notes, homework, etc.)
Points – Equivalent % Scores
8 – 100
7 – 94
6 – 88
5 – 81
4 – 75
3 – 69
2 – 63
1 – 56
0 – 50
Conduct Grade Key:
E – Excellent
S – Satisfactory
I – Improvement Needed
U – Unsatisfactory
District Pacing Guide:
Please see the curriculum section of the Jackson Public School District website for an outline of when content is
intended to be covered in class. When the final draft of the JPS pacing guide is available, I will also post it on my
JPS website and in Google Classroom.
Cheating Policy:
In the event one is discovered to have cheated on an assignment, he/she will receive a zero and will be asked to redo
the assignment in detention. The student will receive a 20% reduction in his/her grade on the redone assignment.
Makeup Work Due to Excused Absences | Excused Dismissals | Field Trips | Excused Out of Class Policy:
In-person & Virtual Classrooms
1. Obtaining makeup work due to an excused absence from class is the responsibility of the student.
2. Homework assignments are posted in Google Classroom and on my JPS website.
3. An assignment that is already received by a student before being absent should be submitted when the
student returns to class.
4. If a student misses an assignment that has to be completed under teacher supervision, the student may
complete the assignment with me during a scheduled makeup work session. Parents are required to sign up
for a makeup work session.
5. If a student has a planned absence, such as an early dismissal, a field trip, or being held in the office; then
any assignment that is due that day must be submitted before the student leaves the school that day.6. Late work will be accepted according to the district’s policy.
Virtual Classroom Only
7. An assignment that is already received by a student before being absent should be submitted by the time
the student returns to class.
8. If a student has a planned absence, such as an early dismissal, a field trip, or being held in the office; then
any assignment that is due that day must be submitted before the student miss the science class that day.
Electronic Devices Policy:
In-person Classroom Only
1. District-permitted electronic devices should only be taken out of students’ backpacks when they are given
direct instructions to take them out for instructional purposes.
In-person & Virtual Classrooms
2. Students must only access assigned class-related content on reputable websites when using district-
permitted electronic devices.
3. Students should not access any social media or text during instruction-related use of district-permitted
electronic devices.
Possible Rewards (For following rules, procedures, expectations, and policies):
1. Verbal praise
2. Homework pass
3. Class treat/small token
4. Class certificate
5. Attending school PBIS event
6. Student of the month
7. Positive email, text, or call to parent
Consequences for Violations:
1. Warning
2. Contact Parent & Separation within Class (for in-person classroom) | Typed and Submit Reflection (for virtual
classroom)
3. Contact Parent, After School Detention (for in-person classroom) & Referral to Counselor
4. Contact Parent & Student – Team Conference
5. Contact Parent & Referral to TST
6. Parent – Teacher Conference
7. Office Referral
* NOTE: Fighting, belligerent disrespect, abuse directed to a teacher, bullying, or other serious
offences will be referred to the office immediately.
Virtual Classroom Supplies
Pencils
BLACK pens
RED pens
Highlighters (Yellow, orange, and pink)
Color-assorted color pencils*
Markers
Manuel pencil sharpener*
Ruler
Color-assorted construction paper*
Scissors*
Graph* composition book (THREAD-bound, 9 ¾” X 7 ¼” tablet with non-perforated sheets and full pages of
quad-ruled lines)
Binder OR Three-prong two-pocket folder
Loose leaf paper
Index cards WITHOUT* lines Note: The supplies that are marked with an asterisk
Earbuds OR Headset (Optional) (*) are supplies needed for this class in addition to
Download a free PDF scanner app* the ones appearing on the district’s supply list.
Avenues of Communication with the Teacher:
Two-way Communication
1. Parents: SchoolStatusIn the event that I need to contact a parent, I use the district’s application called School Status to email, text, or
call a parent. The contact information in School Status is the information that parents provide during
registration. There is no outside source to access the app until a teacher contacts a parent. However, once JPS
database is established for the school year and I meet all of my students, I will send emails and text messages to
all parents, stepparents, legal guardians, and grandparents that are in the database. This contact must serve as
your direct link to me for the remainder of the school year.
Emailing
My email address will appear as my district’s outlook email address. When emailing, parents should use
the email I sent to reply to using their child’s first and last name and the current topic of concern on the
subject line of the email. These methods will prevent an email from appearing to be spam or overlooked.
Texting
Teachers are not informed of the number that is assigned to us through the app, but it has appeared to
consistently be the same number within a school year. Therefore, you should use the number that come
with my text to text and call me.
Calling
Calls do not come directly to my phone; however, you may either call and leave a voicemail or send me a
text requesting a return phone call.
2. Parents & Students: Parent-Teacher Conferencing
If a parent would like to have a conference, please call the eighth grade counselor, Mrs. M. Johnson, to
schedule a conference at 601.987.3609.
3. Students: Canvas
Students must use the emailing feature in Canvas called the Inbox. in the event he or she has a question or
concern. It is located on the navigational bar on the left side of the Canvas’s webpage screen.
One-way Communication
4. Two Google Classrooms
Students are required to sign in to access designated materials on classroom.google.com through their district
email only. The access code to my first Google Classroom account, NJMS – IB MYP Sciences: Year 3 & MS
CCRS – Content and Skills is fmepua5. The access code to my second Google Classroom account, NJMS – IB
MYP Sciences: Year 3 & MS CCRS – Distance Learning is pq73ue4.
Note:
If a student’s district email has never been accessed, it can be accessed by going to gmail.com, signing in
using the child’s MSIS followed by @jpsms.org for the username and the child’s birthday (2 digits for the
month, 2 digits for the day, and 4 digits for the year with no symbols or spaces) for the password. He/she
will be prompted to accept the policies and then change his/her password if he/she is signing in for the first
time. Students should click accept and if they change their passwords, they must change it to something
they will remember. If a student has used his/her email in a previous year(s), then he/she should continue to
use the password that he/she has already created.
5. Students Emailing, Posting, or Sharing Designated Assignments
Students are required to submit only designated assignments in the required format (PDF) with the given
subject in Google Drive.
6. My JPS Webpage
Parents may obtain class orientation resources and the Independent Inquiry Investigation resources from my JPS
webpage, https://www.jackson.k12.ms.us/Page/8589. Students may also obtain these resources from Google
Classroom.
7. Remind
Parents should sign up to receive important notices and reminders from me via Remind.com. When signing
up, parents should create an account that indicates their full first name and full last name (i.e. No initials,
nicknames, or just last names are accepted). This is needed to ensure that confidential information is not sent to
any outside people; however, unknown names will not be accepted. Multiple people may sign up for one child.
Please see my Remind flyer for detail instructions on different ways to access my account NJMS – IB MYP
Sciences – Year 3 (2020-2021). The access code to my Remind account is 43ed3bh. Students must also sign up
for Remind with their full first name and full last name. They may either use their district Gmail or their cell
number.
8. Science Homework Agenda
A parent/legal guardian must sign his/her child’s science homework agenda for each science class day during
in-person class sessions or email a PDF format of the document during virtual class sessions every two weeks.
There will be a timeline posted for specific dates. There is some form of homework given every day.See you all online!!!
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