Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known" - Carl Sagan
Go to Google Classroom to view all of this year's Assignments. Please check back here often to view displays of student work (coming Soon)!!!
Important Classroom Information (Letter of Expectations - 2023/2024):
September 7, 2023
Dear Parents and Students:
Welcome to Earth Science at Liverpool High School! I am Mr. Williams, and I am really looking forward to a successful year full of learning and academic growth. The objective of this letter is to give you an overview of what this Earth Science course is about while also articulating my goals and expectations for the year.
I would like to start by addressing the elephant(s) in the room: cell phones. Although they are a useful tool, it is clear that cell phones have also become the most detrimental distraction facing the modern student. Fortunately, the LHS community has been proactive in implementing a collective effort to address the detrimental distractions presented by cell phone use in school. Students simply cannot achieve at their highest possible levels while simultaneously being allowed to use their cell phones in the classroom. Please take the time to review the LHS cell phone policy attached at the end of this letter.
Moving onto academics, my classroom strives provide students with frequent opportunities to read and respond to meaningful texts relating to the earth sciences. The readings will never be long, but they will tend to relate the concepts that we are learning in class to current events in the real world. Some of the readings will be on printed paper, while others will be digital files posted on Google Classroom, which students will access with their Chromebooks. The Earth Science Regents exam is quite often more of a reading comprehension exam than a science exam, and I have found that more experience with reading and analyzing complex texts leads to improved exam scores at the end of the year. But more importantly, the reading and writing activities that we complete in class will promote the literacy skills that students will need in order to succeed in the world beyond school. My ultimate goal is for students to cultivate their 21st century skills (i.e. collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity) as they engage with the big ideas about our planet.
The Earth Science course consists of three broad areas of study: Geology (study of earth and its surface features), Astronomy (study of space), and Meteorology (study of atmosphere, weather, and climate). In this class, students will develop a clear understanding of how these three strands interconnect within the natural systems that surround us.
Students will examine Earth Science through a series of laboratory activities, class lectures/notes, video clips, readings, collaborative projects, and problem-solving activities. Some of the laboratory exercises will be physically “hands-on”, while others will rely on interactive websites or pen/paper.
Communication: If at any point you have questions or concerns, you can contact me through email at [email protected]. If you would like more general information about our Earth Science classroom, or to view a copy of this letter, please feel free to visit my website: http://williamslhx.weebly.com/
Grading Policy – Academic Classes (and 4th Quarter Honors)
• Unit Tests (about 2 per quarter) 40% (of quarterly grade)
• Labs (about 10 per quarter) 30%
• Quizzes/Homework (about 15 per quarter) 30%
Grading Policy – Honors Classes Only
1st and 2nd Quarters
• Unit Tests (about 2 per quarter) 25% (of quarterly grade)
• Labs (about 10 per quarter) 25%
• Quizzes/Homework (about 15 per quarter) 25%
• Symposium Assignment (1 per quarter) 25%
3rd Quarter
• Symposium 50% (of quarterly grade)
• Unit Tests 20%
• Laboratory Reports 20%
• Quizzes/Homework 10%
Lab Policy and Regents Exam: A student must pass at least one Regents Exam in the sciences as a requirement for earning a NYS Regents Diploma. This course will culminate in a Regents Exam to be administered on June 20th, 2024. Furthermore, The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires that each student must satisfactorily complete at least 1200 minutes of laboratory exercises throughout the school year in order to be eligible for the Regents examination. I will assign many more lab activities than the minimum required, and therefore my students will have no problem satisfying the laboratory requirement as long as they regularly attend class and complete assignments in a timely fashion.
Assignments and Late Policy: Successful students will need to regularly complete assignments in a timely manner. Assignments and due dates will be posted on my “Homework Calendar”. Each assignment is due before the start of class on its due date. Most of my homework assignments are meant to be short tasks that allow students to check their understanding in preparation for upcoming assessments. These types of homework assignments will be graded, but they will NOT be included in the student's average. However, if students do not complete these assignments, their quiz/test grades (and their overall averages) will reflect a lack of preparation. Assessments will include the same questions/concepts that were assigned for homework. Students must be diligent about homework completion in order to succeed on class assessments. Other “homework” tasks will simply require students to spend some additional time outside of class to complete activities/labs that were started (but not completed) during class time. These assignments will be graded and included in the student's average. Labs and graded assignments that are turned in after their assigned due dates will receive a 25% grade reduction.
• Students MUST frequently check my Homework Calendar (accessible through my website) to keep track of assignments/assessments due dates.
Class Materials (You are expected to bring the following materials to class each day):
• CHROMEBOOK
• Two-pocket folder (you will use this to house your copy of the Earth Science Reference Tables)
• Spiral Notebook or Composition Notebook (at least 100 pages)
Class Rules:
• ATTEND CLASS EACH DAY ON-TIME AND READY TO LEARN.
• ABIDE BY SCHOOLWIDE CELL PHONE POLICY.
• RESPECT ALL PEOPLE AND PROPERTY IN OUR CLASSROOM.
My primary goal as an educator is for ALL of my students to feel socially and emotionally engaged with the learning process so that they are able to effectively learn Earth Science. I am committed to providing a positive and authentic learning experience for all of my students. My mission is to challenge students without overwhelming them. The bottom line is that I am here to support student success in any way that I can, and I expect students to consistently put forth their best efforts throughout the learning process. I look forward to working with you all this year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Williams
Earth Science Teacher
[email protected]
LHS Cell Phone Policy
Students may use cell phones and earbuds/headphones at the following times:
Students may not use cell phones and earbuds/headphones at the following times:
When students enter an academic class, they are expected to place their cell phone in the cell phone pocket holder or their backpack.
Students may ask to use a phone in one of the offices if the need arises. If a family member needs to make contact with their child(ren), they should call the school.
In all cases the school/school district is NOT responsible for theft/damage of cell phone/electronic devices.
If a student’s cell phone is out during one of the above times, the phone will be confiscated by the teacher. The following steps will be taken:
First offense: Teacher sends parent email with a warning. Phone will be returned to the student at the end of the class.
Second offense: Teacher will send the student with the phone to the Principal or Dean’s office. Principal or Dean will call the parent and document it with a referral in SchoolTool with a warning. Student can pick up the phone at the end of the day.
Third offense and all following offenses: Teacher will send the phone to the principal’s office. Principal or Dean will call the parent and write a referral in SchoolTool. Parent can pick up the phone at the end of the day.
Dear Parents and Students:
Welcome to Earth Science at Liverpool High School! I am Mr. Williams, and I am really looking forward to a successful year full of learning and academic growth. The objective of this letter is to give you an overview of what this Earth Science course is about while also articulating my goals and expectations for the year.
I would like to start by addressing the elephant(s) in the room: cell phones. Although they are a useful tool, it is clear that cell phones have also become the most detrimental distraction facing the modern student. Fortunately, the LHS community has been proactive in implementing a collective effort to address the detrimental distractions presented by cell phone use in school. Students simply cannot achieve at their highest possible levels while simultaneously being allowed to use their cell phones in the classroom. Please take the time to review the LHS cell phone policy attached at the end of this letter.
Moving onto academics, my classroom strives provide students with frequent opportunities to read and respond to meaningful texts relating to the earth sciences. The readings will never be long, but they will tend to relate the concepts that we are learning in class to current events in the real world. Some of the readings will be on printed paper, while others will be digital files posted on Google Classroom, which students will access with their Chromebooks. The Earth Science Regents exam is quite often more of a reading comprehension exam than a science exam, and I have found that more experience with reading and analyzing complex texts leads to improved exam scores at the end of the year. But more importantly, the reading and writing activities that we complete in class will promote the literacy skills that students will need in order to succeed in the world beyond school. My ultimate goal is for students to cultivate their 21st century skills (i.e. collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity) as they engage with the big ideas about our planet.
The Earth Science course consists of three broad areas of study: Geology (study of earth and its surface features), Astronomy (study of space), and Meteorology (study of atmosphere, weather, and climate). In this class, students will develop a clear understanding of how these three strands interconnect within the natural systems that surround us.
Students will examine Earth Science through a series of laboratory activities, class lectures/notes, video clips, readings, collaborative projects, and problem-solving activities. Some of the laboratory exercises will be physically “hands-on”, while others will rely on interactive websites or pen/paper.
Communication: If at any point you have questions or concerns, you can contact me through email at [email protected]. If you would like more general information about our Earth Science classroom, or to view a copy of this letter, please feel free to visit my website: http://williamslhx.weebly.com/
Grading Policy – Academic Classes (and 4th Quarter Honors)
• Unit Tests (about 2 per quarter) 40% (of quarterly grade)
• Labs (about 10 per quarter) 30%
• Quizzes/Homework (about 15 per quarter) 30%
Grading Policy – Honors Classes Only
1st and 2nd Quarters
• Unit Tests (about 2 per quarter) 25% (of quarterly grade)
• Labs (about 10 per quarter) 25%
• Quizzes/Homework (about 15 per quarter) 25%
• Symposium Assignment (1 per quarter) 25%
3rd Quarter
• Symposium 50% (of quarterly grade)
• Unit Tests 20%
• Laboratory Reports 20%
• Quizzes/Homework 10%
Lab Policy and Regents Exam: A student must pass at least one Regents Exam in the sciences as a requirement for earning a NYS Regents Diploma. This course will culminate in a Regents Exam to be administered on June 20th, 2024. Furthermore, The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires that each student must satisfactorily complete at least 1200 minutes of laboratory exercises throughout the school year in order to be eligible for the Regents examination. I will assign many more lab activities than the minimum required, and therefore my students will have no problem satisfying the laboratory requirement as long as they regularly attend class and complete assignments in a timely fashion.
Assignments and Late Policy: Successful students will need to regularly complete assignments in a timely manner. Assignments and due dates will be posted on my “Homework Calendar”. Each assignment is due before the start of class on its due date. Most of my homework assignments are meant to be short tasks that allow students to check their understanding in preparation for upcoming assessments. These types of homework assignments will be graded, but they will NOT be included in the student's average. However, if students do not complete these assignments, their quiz/test grades (and their overall averages) will reflect a lack of preparation. Assessments will include the same questions/concepts that were assigned for homework. Students must be diligent about homework completion in order to succeed on class assessments. Other “homework” tasks will simply require students to spend some additional time outside of class to complete activities/labs that were started (but not completed) during class time. These assignments will be graded and included in the student's average. Labs and graded assignments that are turned in after their assigned due dates will receive a 25% grade reduction.
• Students MUST frequently check my Homework Calendar (accessible through my website) to keep track of assignments/assessments due dates.
Class Materials (You are expected to bring the following materials to class each day):
• CHROMEBOOK
• Two-pocket folder (you will use this to house your copy of the Earth Science Reference Tables)
• Spiral Notebook or Composition Notebook (at least 100 pages)
Class Rules:
• ATTEND CLASS EACH DAY ON-TIME AND READY TO LEARN.
• ABIDE BY SCHOOLWIDE CELL PHONE POLICY.
• RESPECT ALL PEOPLE AND PROPERTY IN OUR CLASSROOM.
My primary goal as an educator is for ALL of my students to feel socially and emotionally engaged with the learning process so that they are able to effectively learn Earth Science. I am committed to providing a positive and authentic learning experience for all of my students. My mission is to challenge students without overwhelming them. The bottom line is that I am here to support student success in any way that I can, and I expect students to consistently put forth their best efforts throughout the learning process. I look forward to working with you all this year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Williams
Earth Science Teacher
[email protected]
LHS Cell Phone Policy
Students may use cell phones and earbuds/headphones at the following times:
- Academic Advisement
- Lunch periods
- Passing time in hallways
- Study halls
Students may not use cell phones and earbuds/headphones at the following times:
- Academic classes
- In the main office
- When leaving a classroom to use the restroom
When students enter an academic class, they are expected to place their cell phone in the cell phone pocket holder or their backpack.
Students may ask to use a phone in one of the offices if the need arises. If a family member needs to make contact with their child(ren), they should call the school.
In all cases the school/school district is NOT responsible for theft/damage of cell phone/electronic devices.
If a student’s cell phone is out during one of the above times, the phone will be confiscated by the teacher. The following steps will be taken:
First offense: Teacher sends parent email with a warning. Phone will be returned to the student at the end of the class.
Second offense: Teacher will send the student with the phone to the Principal or Dean’s office. Principal or Dean will call the parent and document it with a referral in SchoolTool with a warning. Student can pick up the phone at the end of the day.
Third offense and all following offenses: Teacher will send the phone to the principal’s office. Principal or Dean will call the parent and write a referral in SchoolTool. Parent can pick up the phone at the end of the day.