Expectations of Students

Students are expected to have excellent attendance, to come to class prepared to work and on time, to do assigned tasks as and when instructed, and to cooperate with both teacher and classmates. Learning occurs best in a warm, friendly, supportive environment but this requires that students cooperate and show self discipline.

Missed Tests, Examinations and Late Assignments

Students are expected to display honesty, integrity and responsibility with respect to tests and other work to be evaluated. Routine appointments should be scheduled outside of school time where possible and should not be scheduled to conflict with tests. Students MUST see their teachers ahead of time if they know that unavoidable circumstances (school sports, field trips, etc.) force them to be absent for a test so that arrangements can be made to write the test early. Parents should contact teachers directly, by telephone, if a student is absent for a test. Students who can demonstrate that an absence was legitimate and unavoidable will be given a chance to write a makeup test, normally on their first day back. Students who are repeatedly absent for tests are not, normally, demonstrating responsible behavior. Unauthorized absences for any assessed activity will result in a mark of zero. Please tell your teacher ahead of time if you know that you will be absent so that arrangements can be made to help you make up the work. Students are responsible for all assigned work, including work assigned on days they are absent. Students must see their teacher about how to deal with missed lab work or assignments. Once marked work is returned to the class, late assignments will no longer be accepted. Exceptions may be made for major individualized assignments where the potential for copying the corrected work of others is not an issue. See your teacher if you feel you will be unable to meet the final deadline for this type of assignment. If you miss the final examination due to illness or injury a medical certificate must be presented. Normally in these situations the examination is written after you have recovered. Unapproved absences for examinations result in a mark of zero for the exam. It is important that your parents are aware of exam policy so that family vacations, for example, are not scheduled during this time.

Homework Policy

Homework is usually assigned each day in science class and is intended to average twenty to thirty minutes per night although this depends a lot on how hard and fast you work in class and at home. Homework could include questions from the textbook, completion of lab reports, problem solving or independent assignments. Failure to complete and hand in assigned work is the leading cause of failure in science class.

Department Links

Many assignments for individual courses may be accessed through the Denison website (http://denison.fdns.net) by clicking on Library and then Departments, then Science.