Chemistry 

Weddington High School

Mrs. Calandro, Room E101

miranda.calandro@ucps.k12.nc.us 

Welcome to chemistry!  

Course Information:

This course is designed to provide an introduction into the major topics of chemistry, including atomic theory and structure, the Periodic table and trends, chemical bonding and nomenclature, molecular geometry, the mole, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, kinetic molecular theory, gas laws, solutions, acids and bases, radioactivity, kinetics and thermochemistry.  

For the complete North Carolina essential standards for chemistry, please visit: http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/docs/acre/standards/new-standards/science/chemistry.pdf (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)

The course prerequisite for this class is math 2 with physical science recommended. 

Rules and Expectations:

• Be RESPECTFUL.
• Be PREPARED.
• Be PRESENT and PUNCTUAL.
• Be POSITIVE.
• ALWAYS TRY YOUR BEST!

Things that absolutely will not be permitted in our classroom include use of cell phones, earbuds, electronic devices, foul language, disrespectful, violent or bullying behavior, cheating, plagiarism, horseplay and any other prohibited behaviors as defined in our code of conduct.

A Few Important Course Expectations:

1) Our goal in this course is for you to be successful. I am here to help you along the way, but you are ultimately responsible for your actions and your success. 

2) You may need to study and practice more in this class than you have had to in the past.  In order to be successful, many students find tutoring is needed at some point in the semester, so be prepared for coming to tutoring sessions.

3) We have a lot of content to cover and many activities and labs in a single semester.  Be ready to learn from bell-to-bell! 

4) Our time in class is extremely valuable!  Make every attempt to be present, be prepared, be on time and give it your best effort each day!  

5) Cell phone use is not permitted at any point during our class time UNLESS for a lab (only to be used as a timing device). At all other times, phones must be turned off and stowed away in a backpack or purse.  They should not be checked during class, only during class transitions, lunch and before/after school.  If you are concerned that it will be difficult focus with your phone in your possession, there is a place provided for cell phones in our classroom.  Otherwise, they must be kept in a backpack or purse.  

• If a phone is out during class, it will be taken (this includes being on a charger).  The first time, I will give it back at the end of class.  The second time, it will be given back at the end of class and parents will be contacted.  The third time, the phone will be taken to the front office. Anytime thereafter, the phone will be sent to the front office and an office referral will be sent. 

6) No ear buds or headphones may be used in class UNLESS necessary. These must also remain in your backpack, purse or pocket. 

7) Chromebooks are to be used only for instructional purposes and will not always be needed during our class time.  They should be out ONLY if being used that class period and otherwise stowed away.  They are not to be used for games, movies, binge watching TV shows, etc.  Failure to use chromebooks appropriately will also result in parent contact and office referrals. 

8) DO YOUR OWN WORK!  Any honor code violation (including AI, apps, copying another student's work, plagiarism, etc.) will result in an automatic zero and may result in parent contact and office referral.

Grading percentages and overview

Tests/Projects:                                       40%

Quizzes/Labs:                                         30%

Classwork/Homework:                         30%

Additional Course Information:

• Homework is given daily and classwork will be assigned as needed. 

• Tests will be given at the end of every unit.
• Quizzes will be given often – at the end of a chapter, after labs, and as needed to address content needs.
• We do not have a physical textbook for you to take home.  We will use our interactive notebooks and OpenStax Chemistry textbook as our major resources in this class. 
• We do many laboratory experiments in this course. Some will be physical labs, some model labs and some using simulations such as phET (depending on the content).
• Projects for honors chemistry may include the Periodic table project (1st grading period), the mole project (2nd grading period) and global science (3rd grading period), however these may shift due to any changes made to our schedule.  

Required Materials - bring daily!

1. chromebook and charger
2. one composition notebook (lab notebook)
3. one spiral bound notebook with tabs OR with sticky tabs 
4. Paper, highlighter and writing utensils

Suggested supplies (not required):  scientific or graphing calculator, graph paper, colored pencils, glue stick, scissors and ruler

Canvas Platform and Google Drive

Assignments will be submitted on Canvas or via Google Drive.  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 GuideLinks to an external site. 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.

EmpowerED Family Portal Link:  https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/domain/2917 (Links to an external site.)

Late Work/Absence Policies

1. Late assignments will NOT be accepted!  From homework to projects, if it’s late, it’s late.  

2.    A zero (0) grade represents work the student may NOT makeup

     A one (1) grade represents work the student MAY makeup (late points may be taken)

3. In the event of an absence, all missed work (including homework, classwork, quizzes, tests and labs) must be submitted within 2 days per day of absence.  Any work due prior to the day of the absence must be turned in immediately upon return.  If a student is absent on the test review day or the day before a quiz, but present for all content and returns on the day of the test or quiz, the assessment will be taken. 
4. Two places to check for missing assignments due to absence are our class Canvas page and missing work folders in the classroom. 

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, taking equipment from the lab, eating, drinking, throwing or any other unbecoming and irresponsible behavior will result in an automatic zero for the laboratory grade, office referral and parent contact.

Our classroom is a lab classroom.  All areas must be cleared away, cleaned and materials disposed of properly before your group may leave the lab area. Also, the drawers, sinks, counters, cubbies, cabinets, etc. 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 phones or other personal electronic devices. 

Flinn's student laboratory safety sheet provides the specific guidelines we use as a department and these are found under the "modules" tab in the "resources" section.  Please read and sign off that you have read and understand lab safety rules and the details of the course as listed in this syllabus.  

A few housekeeping items:

1) Restroom policy - students may use the restroom after the first 15 minutes or before the last 15 minutes of class.  You must have a pass, and students may be allowed out one at a time.  There is a sign-out process that we will discuss further in class.  

2)  If students are out of class more than 15 minutes (except emergencies or being called out of class by administration or guidance), they will be marked absent for the period.  

3) The door to our classroom must be shut and locked at all times.  The same applies to external doors and all other classroom doors.  

4)  Whiteboards are used for problem solving and for various activities throughout the semester.  Feel free to use as necessary for any classwork tasks, but you may not use them to doodle and you must be responsible with all items you borrow and put them back where you got them.

5)  BE COURTEOUS AND DO YOUR PART TO KEEP OUR CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL BUILDING NICE AND CLEAN!  Do not leave trash of any sort on desks, in sinks, cabinets, drawers, etc.  No drawing or doodling on desks, walls, chairs, cabinets, or anything else.  

6)  The teacher dismisses class, not the bell.  No one may be dismissed until all materials are put away and cleaned up and all other end of class tasks are completed and no one may line up at the door prior to the bell!

Tutoring:

I am here to help YOU!  If you find yourself struggling, please come see me. I have availability outside of the school day on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:10 - 3:30.

If you have any questions, concerns or need anything, please reach out.  I look forward to working with you and having a happy, fun and safe semester!  :)