Course Syllabus

AP Physics 1

Central Academy for Technology and Arts

Mrs. Calandro, Room 619

miranda.calandro@ucps.k12.nc.us 

Welcome to AP Physics!  

Course Information:

AP physics 1 is a COLLEGE level course.  This class will meet for 90 minutes per day only during fall semester.  As such, students must attend special cougar time review sessions in the spring AND to complete extra review practice during those sessions and outside of the school day to prepare for the AP exam in May. 

AP Physics will be a very fast paced course and the Advanced Placement curriculum will be covered.  Please expect a heavy workload as we have only one semester to cover everything from mechanics to circuits.  For a full course description, please visit:  https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap-physics-1-course-and-exam-description.pdf?course=ap-physics-1

Rules and Expectations:

  • Be RESPECTFUL.
  • Be PREPARED.
  • Be PRESENT and PUNCTUAL.
  • Be POSITIVE.
  • ALWAYS TRY YOUR BEST!
  • Our goal in this course is for youto be successful. I am here to help you along the way, but you are ultimately responsible for your actions and your success.

Things that absolutely will not be permitted in our classroom include use of cell phones (unless specically permitted during instruction), electronic devices, foul language, disrespectful, violent or bullying behavior, cheating, plagiarism and horseplay.

Grading percentages and overview

Tests/Lab Notebooks/Projects:             50%

Quizzes:                                                25%

Classwork/Homework:                          25%

 

Additional Course Information

  • Tests will be given at the end of every unit. Quizzes will be given as necessary to address chapter content OR basic knowledge critical to success in this course.
  • We do many laboratory experiments in this course. All laboratory assignments will be recorded formally in a specific format in the laboratory (composition) book per
  • Projects will be assigned as necessary.
  • Homework is given weekly and classwork will be assigned daily as needed. Some assignments will be paper-based and others will be digital or using online learning labs as appropriate.
  • There is a huge lab component to this course. Labs in this class are likely to take multiple class periods and the number of labs we will have time to complete throughout the year will be approximately 6-10, though we will do as many as time allows.
  • Tentative schedules for content, course updates, announcements, assignments, etc. will all be posted on our class Canvas website. Please check regularly (at least daily during the week).

Required Materials

EACH day, you will need to bring your composition notebook (NOT SPIRAL-BOUND), chromebook and charger, binder, writing utensils and paper. Composition books will be needed by Tuesday, September 3rd. Additionally, if you have a calculator that you would like to use on a regular basis, please bring it to class daily.  Otherwise, calculators will be provided for use in daily instruction.

***These are OPTIONAL items that we use consistently in our classroom:  paper towels, hand soap, tissues and whiteboard markers.  If you can make a donation of one of these items, it would be greatly appreciated!  

Canvas Platform and Google Drive

Many assignments may be submitted on our new "learning platform," Canvas.  Assignments can be submitted a variety of ways including, uploading files, typing into text boxes, and sharing Google documents/presentations.  Students not having used Canvas before should alert the teacher and they will be shown how to submit assignments on Canvas.  Individual assignments will indicate which method of submission on Canvas is expected.  If students need a refresher or have questions, they can access the Canvas Student Guide for specific instructions. It is the student's responsibility to ensure assignments are submitted on time and to contact the instructor if there is a problem.  The Canvas Learning Platform logs every student log-in on Canvas which provides teachers with a list of when students log-in to Canvas using their user ID. 

Canvas is sometimes used to grade assignments as well, however, the grades in Canvas, while accurate to that assignment, are NOT the teacher’s gradebook.  The teacher’s gradebook includes categories of assignments that may be weighted differently and may include grades for assignments that did not use the Canvas Learning Platform. Therefore, students and parents should always check their child’s true average on the Parent Portal on Powerschool.   

Additionally, some assignments may be submitted through Google Drive.  Examples of such assignments could include project papers, weekly current events, presentations, etc.

Late Work/Absence Policies - please READ carefully!

  1. Late assignments will NOT be accepted!From homework to projects, if it’s late, it’s late.
  2. In the event you are absent, it is your responsibilityto get the missed (regular class) assignments and complete and return them to me within two days of your absence.
  3. Please note that assignments that were due on the date of your absence will be due upon your return (homework, etc.); it is YOUR responsibility to turn these items in to me upon your return.
  4. Tests and quizzes will be made up upon your return to class (unless multiple days were missed). This can be done during the class period in the hallway OR you may choose to remain afterschool with me (quizzes ONLY).
  5. Labs MUST be made up within three daysof your absence.

PLEASE NOTE that the CATA policy for grades is as follows: 

  • Any late work that cannot be made up at all is recorded as a 0
  • If a student has the opportunity to make up work then, the grade is recorded as a

There is absolutely no food allowed in the classrooms.  Students may not bring in food. 

TARDY POLICY (new this year): 

At CATA, instruction is very important. All students are expected to be in their classrooms and ready to receive instruction before the tardy bell rings for each class. Following the tardy bell, students who are not in class must report to the front office for a tardy pass if they tardy to first period.  During the rest of the day teachers will mark student tardy in the PowerSchool Attendance System.   Only students with a Tardy Pass will be admitted after the tardy bell rings for first period. 

Tardies will be recorded as unexcused unless an excuse can be verified by staff. Tardies will be handled according to the CATA handbook.

Tutoring:

If you find yourself struggling, please sign up to come to tutoring!  There are two boards posted in my classroom on the bulletin board in the back – one for morning tutoring and one for Cougar Time.  Additional tutoring will be available Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:15 – 8:40.   

Laboratory Expectations:

While conducting laboratory experiments and all other class activities, I expect nothing but your best effort and behavior at ALL times.

Labs are an integral part of a science class.  They are meant to be interesting and fun, but they must be handled seriously.  Horseplay, not complying with directions, mishandling or misuse of equipment and/or facilities and other unbecoming and irresponsible behavior will result in an automatic zero for the laboratory grade, office referral and parent contact.

Our classroom is connected to a large laboratory area which we will use often and will share with other classes. All areas must be cleared away, cleaned and materials disposed of properly before your group may leave the lab area. Also, the drawers are NOT to be used as trash cans or lockers, the equipment (even if sitting on counter tops) are NOT toys and are NOT to be used or handled unless instructed.  Storage and laboratory areas are off limits unless instructed otherwise.  This is for your safety and the safety of others in our classroom. The available outlets are for laboratory use only and are NOT to be used for plugging in chromebooks or cellular phones.

CATA’s laboratory safety sheet is found on the CATA website.  Please read and sign off that you have read and understand CATA’s lab safety rules and the details of the course as listed in this syllabus.

I look forward to working with each of you this school year!

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due