Welcome to Ms. Cotta’s Chemistry Class!
Room: S 303
Periods: 1, 2, 3, 4 & 6
Website: www.mscotta.blogspot.com
E-mail: [email protected]
This school year we will study many aspects of chemistry including properties of matter, periodic table, atomic structure,
atomic bonding, radioactivity, and organic chemistry. It is essential in order to be successful at chemistry to have a strong
algebra foundation. This class will also require strong reading and thinking skills. It is essential that the student keeps up
with the work assigned and studies regularly. There will be a midterm and a final that will require students to review and
prepare in order to receive a passing grade in the class. All work and upcoming due dates are posted on Ms. Cotta’s
website on a regular basis. Also feel free to contact with questions via e-mail or calling the main office to schedule a
parent conference.
Required Materials (brought to class EVERY DAY!):
1) Binder with five (5) dividers
3) Loose lined paper (not in a spiral notebook)
2) Composition Book
4) Pencils and pens (blue or black ink only)
Grading Policy:
A = 100-90% B = 89=80%
C = 79-70%
D = 69-60%
F=less than 60%
Assignments are given the following percentages in your final grade:
Tests: 45%
Labs: 20%
Homework: 15%
Class Assignments: 10%
Projects: 10%
Class Rules:
1) Respect others & yourself
2) Be on time, prepared & ready to learn
3) No electronic devices used in the classroom, make sure cell phone are off
Students that continue to leave cell phones or other devices out will be confiscated and returned after the class
period. If the student continues to have electronic materials during classtime; the device will be collected and sent
to the SOTA office for the parent to pick up.
4) Take care of the classroom and all supplies and materials; no gum, food or drink
Students will not write on or destroy any materials in the classroom. If any material is found tagged or defaced,
the student will be expected to help clean and beautify the defaced area. Groups will be held responsible for their
table and area around it, all members will be held accountable for cleanup.
5) Have a positive attitude & do your best
6) Always reuse, reduce & recycle, recycling bins are next to trash can
Absences:
If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to make up the work missed. Student can see the teacher before school, after
school or lunch to pick up missing work. If class notes are missed, the student is responsible for asking another member
of their class for missing notes. Any missed test will be made up the following class. Homework and assignments can be
found on Ms. Cotta’s website, so check it often to make sure you are up to date or have any questions.
Homework:
Homework will be assigned every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Late homework or other assignments may be turned
up to two days late. This means if that the work is due on Monday, it may be turned in Wednesday but not Friday. The
late work will be deducted 20% for being late. After two classes, no late work will be accepted.
Tests:
Students will be given a test at the conclusion of each chapter and will be notified with at least two days notice of
upcoming test dates. Study guides will be posted on Ms. Cotta’s website to help review topics that will be found on the
test. It is also essential that the students’ review all work assigned including homework, labs and classwork/class notes.
Laboratories:
Laboratory activities are an essential part of the chemistry classroom. In order to create a safe working environment, all
students must follow directions, keep work area clean and be efficient and safe when working. All students will need to
sign a safety contract before participating in laboratory activities. Any student that is creating an unsafe environment by
not following directions or “goofing off” will not be allowed to participate in that laboratory and will receive a zero on
that assignment. The student will also receive an alternate assignment that will need to be completed.
Composition book and classwork:
All warm up assignments, exit questions and laboratories will be written in the students’ composition books. Composition
books will be kept neat and orderly with legible handwriting. Every Friday where a test has been given, composition
books will be collected and graded. For example, if a test is on Tuesday, students can expect to turn in their composition
book three days later on Friday. Other classwork such as reading assignments will be given on a regular basis and will
need to be turned in separate from the composition book.
Tutoring/extra help:
Students can visit Ms. Cotta for questions or help before or after school or lunch. Ms. Cotta will also hold after school
tutoring if students need additional assistance to keep on track. All students are welcome to attend tutoring sessions, but
some students will be required based on their class performance. Parents will always receive notices home if the student
is required to attend tutoring after school with dates and times noted on the paper.
Communication with parents:
I will call on a regular basis if your student is missing work or has behavior issues in class. Feel free to contact me or email me at the address on the other side of this paper. If you have concerns, please schedule a parent conference. Please
make sure that there are correct phone numbers on file, so we may contact you.
I look forward to working with the students and the parents this year to make it a highly successful year. Please do not
hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions.
Thank you for your help and support.
Ms. Cotta
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please detach and have parents sign, syllabus and return to class.
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Student name
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Student signature
Period
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Parent name
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Parent signature
Date