Rationale: The purposes of an environmental science class are to learn more about the environment and to learn about the human impact on the environment and what we can do to impact the consequences. This particular course is intended for freshmen as a means to incorporate general science knowledge into practical and pertinent considerations of current problems.

Grading:  The final grade is based on the student’s completion of daily homework and class work assignments; on the student’s performance on frequent quizzes or tests; and on the student’s performance on the semester and final exams. Projects will be assigned throughout the semester; projects will count as test grades.

These components are balanced in the following manner: 
Tests, quizzes, project        75%
Class work, homework         25%

Scores are accumulated over each quarter. At nine weeks a progress grade is given. At the end of the semester a semester grade is given by using 90% of that grade and 10% of the semester or final exam grade. The final grade for the year is the average of the two semester’s grades.

Student responsibilities: The student is expected to come to class with the materials needed for class: book, notebook, workbook (log), loose leaf paper, pencil and pen, and calculator.

Students who are absent from school are expected to make up any work that is missed by the end of the week when they return. They should check in with the teacher before the school day begins on the day that they return. Exceptions are made for special cases if the teacher is consulted upon the return of the student.

Parents can monitor the progress of their children by asking to see the quizzes or tests as they are returned and by checking Edline at the North Catholic website (www.north-catholic.org).  Any parent who has any questions or concerns is encouraged to send a note in with their child or to email the teacher. Phone connections are sometimes difficult to complete, but a parent can also call the school office (321-4823 x229) and leave a message if the problem is not immediate. In addition, assignments for this class are posted on the teacher’s webpage.