If you are absent...
It is YOUR responsibility to get your make-up work and turn it in on time.
- Check Google Classroom or with me for make-up work. You have 3 days to make up work. If you're absent more days, come to me for make-up due dates. Please note that you cannot make up work for unexcused absences.
- Again, you will have a zero on days where you have unexcused absences. This means that you must have doctor notes and parent letters up to date in the office. You are also only allowed so many parent notes.
- Tests and some classwork will need to be made-up within 3 days of an absence. Come to my classroom any time during the day (outside of your regular class time with me) to do this.
- Please note that this is the policy of the DeKalb County School System.
Late Work and Classwork
Students who turn in assignments up to a week late can make no more than a "B" on the assignment.
Students who turn in assignments from a week to two weeks late can make no more than a "C" on the assignment.
Students who turn in assignments from two weeks to three weeks late can make no more than a "D" on the assignment.
Students who are a month late or more on the assignment can make no more than half credit.
Absolutely no make-up work is allowed after the grading period ends.
Students are reminded frequently of missing work, attendance status, and grade average.
Some classwork cannot be made up because of group work or other circumstances that cannot be duplicated. Students with unexcused absences will get a grade of zero for grades that cannot be made up, so make sure parent notes and doctor notes are on file at the office.
Attendance: Students need to be in class consistently. If a student is regularly missing the majority of every week, and/or checking out/in during class on a regular basis, then they are not getting the instruction time they need and will likely not do very well on assignments and tests.
Tardies and checkouts will also count towards absences. Two (2) tardies/checkouts will count as one (1) absence.
Students who turn in assignments from a week to two weeks late can make no more than a "C" on the assignment.
Students who turn in assignments from two weeks to three weeks late can make no more than a "D" on the assignment.
Students who are a month late or more on the assignment can make no more than half credit.
Absolutely no make-up work is allowed after the grading period ends.
Students are reminded frequently of missing work, attendance status, and grade average.
Some classwork cannot be made up because of group work or other circumstances that cannot be duplicated. Students with unexcused absences will get a grade of zero for grades that cannot be made up, so make sure parent notes and doctor notes are on file at the office.
Attendance: Students need to be in class consistently. If a student is regularly missing the majority of every week, and/or checking out/in during class on a regular basis, then they are not getting the instruction time they need and will likely not do very well on assignments and tests.
Tardies and checkouts will also count towards absences. Two (2) tardies/checkouts will count as one (1) absence.
Formal Extension Request
Students need to email me if they wish to get an extension on a project or assignment. In the email, you need to tell me why you should be granted an extension of the assignment. I will respond to let you know my decision. Please understand that extensions can only be asked BEFORE the project is due. Extension requests will not be granted on the day an assignment is due.
Grading Policy and Conduct
*The below policy excludes Dual Enrollment students. See Dual Enrollment page.
Progress reports and report cards are sent out periodically. If you wish to keep track of grades any time, you can contact the office for PowerSchools access (I am uncertain if parental access is available at this time, but your teen should have that access to show you their grades). Parents/guardians are also given the opportunity to access our Google Classroom activities, and I will have individual grades and feedback included there; parents/guardians can also access your child's work through your Google Classroom access.
If you would like Google Classroom access, please email me (pjgifford@dekalbk12.org) and I will help you get set up. I will also be happy to send home progress grades any time you wish. I cannot send grades through email, but will be happy to send a report home with your teen.
One hundred points (100) will be set for a class participation/conduct grade every 9 weeks. Students who fail to follow class rules, fail to do as I ask, and fail to participate in class will have points deducted. Points deducted are determined by level of offense and repeated offenses. For example, if a student is caught on our school technology not performing their assigned tasks (like watching YouTube instead of writing their essay), 5 to 10 points will be deducted each time, depending on how many times I've had to tell them. Sleeping students will have 5 points deducted. And so forth. Students with excessive unexcused absences will have points deducted for those absences.
Online programs (like Vocabulary.com), tests, quizzes, and projects: These tasks require individual assessing and grading. Points will be earned as appropriate for the task.
Semester Finals: A final (semester test) will be given at the end of each semester in accordance with the schedule set by administration. This final could come in the form of a project, essay, or standard test.
Progress reports and report cards are sent out periodically. If you wish to keep track of grades any time, you can contact the office for PowerSchools access (I am uncertain if parental access is available at this time, but your teen should have that access to show you their grades). Parents/guardians are also given the opportunity to access our Google Classroom activities, and I will have individual grades and feedback included there; parents/guardians can also access your child's work through your Google Classroom access.
If you would like Google Classroom access, please email me (pjgifford@dekalbk12.org) and I will help you get set up. I will also be happy to send home progress grades any time you wish. I cannot send grades through email, but will be happy to send a report home with your teen.
One hundred points (100) will be set for a class participation/conduct grade every 9 weeks. Students who fail to follow class rules, fail to do as I ask, and fail to participate in class will have points deducted. Points deducted are determined by level of offense and repeated offenses. For example, if a student is caught on our school technology not performing their assigned tasks (like watching YouTube instead of writing their essay), 5 to 10 points will be deducted each time, depending on how many times I've had to tell them. Sleeping students will have 5 points deducted. And so forth. Students with excessive unexcused absences will have points deducted for those absences.
Online programs (like Vocabulary.com), tests, quizzes, and projects: These tasks require individual assessing and grading. Points will be earned as appropriate for the task.
Semester Finals: A final (semester test) will be given at the end of each semester in accordance with the schedule set by administration. This final could come in the form of a project, essay, or standard test.
Redoing Tests and Assignments
I do encourage students to sometimes retake tests and redo assignments they didn't do well on the first time (1) if there is time before the grading period ends and (2) depending upon how they utilized their time during class on the day of the assignment or on study/review days (for example, if they choose to sleep during reviews). If I decide to allow a student to redo something, I will leave the actual decision up to the student.
Cheating/Intentional Plagiarism
Students are repeatedly reminded about not copying from the internet. I want their words from their own brains, not some regurgitated response off the internet. Students who intentionally copy are committing plagiarism. Plagiarism WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Any student found to have plagiarized any part of any assignment (even if only on one question) will obtain a zero for the entire assignment with no chance to redo that assignment. This includes the act of spinning web content (changing some of the words and claiming that it's your own). I've been doing this many years. Do not underestimate my ability to know when you've written something or not.
Appeal Process
Any student dissatisfied with a grade, consequence, or other action taken in this classroom can submit an appeal for consideration. In this appeal, they should write in no less than two well-developed paragraphs why they should be granted an exception. Only one appeal per grade or infraction is allowed.