Living Environment Course 

Saugerties Sr. High School 2021-2022 Academic Year 

Instructor: Mrs. Scanlon / Mrs. Bernier 

Phone (school): (845) 247- 6550

e-mail (school): ascanlon@saugerties.k12.ny.us / web page: saugerties.schoolwires.com

9TH PERIOD EXTRA HELP: Tuesdays and Thursdays- Room 204

Instructional Philosophy 

The Living Environment (formerly known as Biology) is a science that stresses inquiry and explores living organisms. Both the presentation of content and the development of process skills will be critical components of this course. A separate period every other day is required for lab completion.

Necessary Daily Course Materials

3-Ringed binder, pencils, pens, colored pencils (optional)

Textbooks

 You will be given a “Biology” text book that should be used at home for the entire year. Students are not expected to carry the book back and forth to school. 

Living Environment Regents Exam 

You will be taking a Regents exam in June which counts as a 5th quarter. We will be preparing for this test all year. Lab hours must be met before taking the exam. Passing this test with a 65 or above is required in order to receive a NYS High School diploma. 

Course Major Themes/Topics 

1. The Process of Scientific Inquiry; Science Lab Skills 
2. Unity and Diversity in Living Things  
3. Reproduction and Development
4. Genetics
5. Maintaining Dynamic Equilibrium
6. Evolution: Change over Time
7. Living Things and the Environment (Ecology) 

Evaluation 

Tests (30%) - Tests will be mostly multiple choice and short answer Regents type questions. 

Quizzes (25%) - Usually based on homework and class notes. 

Homework and Classwork assignments (15%) - These will be dealt with in a variety of methods. These methods include spot checks, collection, discussion without collection, and unannounced quizzes based upon assignments.

Lab (30%) - This will be evaluated by the lab instructor and the score will be calculated with the class average at the close of the marking period. 

YOU MUST KEEP A LAB FOLDER WITH ALL OF YOUR COMPLETED LAB WORK! (THIS MAY CHANGE WHILE WE ARE VIRTUAL) 

** New York State mandates that a minimum of 30 periods of laboratory work be completed in a year, as well as several labs which are tested on the Regents examination. All labs or lab activities we do must be completed successfully in order for the student to take the Regents examination. As part of this requirement, four required laboratory activities must be completed in order to be allowed to participate in the Regents examination at the end of the course. If the lab requirement is not met, students will be denied entrance into the Regents exam in June and will be repeating the course. 

Additional Student Expectations

1. Cell phones are a distraction to learning. They must be put in the calculator holders during instruction or silenced and put away. If I see it out, a referral will be written. NO EXCEPTIONS
2. You are responsible for getting the notes for any time you miss due to absence(s).
   These notes are available from me during 9th period or from other students.  If you are absent on the day of a quiz or test, you have one week to make it up. 
3. I reserve the right to inspect your notebooks at any time for evaluation. I may grade
   some or all of the notebooks at any time.                     
4. I expect all students to participate in all laboratory activities.
5.  I expect your work to be your own.
6. If you know you are going to be out of school for an extended period, please arrange
   with me at least two weeks in advance means to obtain the work you will be missing.
7. A separate laboratory folder is required for official documentation of completing
   laboratory work in order to take the regents examination. Place all corrected lab reports
   in this folder. You may have access to your folder at most times, but the folder
   and corrected reports are NOT to be taken from the science lab without the permission
   of the science instructor. The NY State Education Department considers
   your lab folder to be a legal document, so treat your folder with respect. 
8. I expect you to have required materials present in any class or lab.

Make-up of Quizzes/Tests

Anyone can have a bad day. I will allow make-up of quizzes/tests within the following parameters:

1.  Requests for this are submitted in writing, bearing a parent/guardian signature and date
   which declares the parent/guardian knowledge of the unsatisfactory grade
2.  The retest grade will be averaged together in equal amount with the original grade
3. The student will have 5 class days from the day of the original test to take the makeup test

Homework Policy

1) Make-ups of undone or incomplete homework will not be allowed except for extenuating circumstances in the opinion of the instructor only.

PLEASE SIGN BELOW AND KEEP AS THE FIRST PAGES IN YOUR BINDER:

I, __________________________ (student) and ___________________________________ (parent/guardian) am aware of and have read the course description, evaluation policy, homework policy, lab policy and quiz/test make up procedures in Mrs. Scanlon’s Science class for the year 2021-22. 

Signature (student) __________________________________       Date __________________

Signature (parent) ___________________________________       Date__________________