Dear parents and students,

Welcome to Stapley Junior High School. It is my goal this year to provide a positive and well-structured environment in my classroom. As a classroom teacher, I believe that every student can behave appropriately in my classroom, and that every student has the capability to succeed. I will, however, tolerate no student stopping me from teaching and/or any student from learning. Your support of the following rules and recommendations will help ensure this environment is present.

CLASS RULES: Students are expected to obey all school/district rules and class rules.
1. Be in your seat, with all studying materials (notebook, pen, pencil, assignment calendar) when the bell rings.
2. Do not bring gum, candy, food or beverages, or electronic devices such as pagers and headphones in the classroom (water is permissible).
3. For safety, keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself, and walk in the class.
4. Have respect...do not talk while others are talking.

GRADING POLICY: Your nine-weeks grade is determined by a combination of Tests, Quizzes and Homework/Classwork. This will break down approximately to the following: 65% tests and quizzes and 35% classwork and homework. (Please note: these are approximations only!).
Grades are assigned as follows: 90%-100% = A,
80%-89% = B,
70%-79% = C,
60%-69% = D,
59% and below = F.

The semester grade will be determined as follows:
90% (The average of the two nine-weeks)
+ 10% (The final exam)
= 100% (Semester Grade)

NOTEBOOK: Students are encouraged to keep all notes, returned work, and assignment calendar in a folder/notebook to aide with organization. A two-pocket folder with a center clip is highly recommended as it is both convenient and cheap.

REQUIRED MATERIALS: Students must bring the following materials to class everyday:
> 8*” x 11” white paper (NO SPIRAL PAPER).
> Two pens (blue and black ink only) and pencils (sharpened before class).
> Notebook


ATTENDANCE: Attendance is an integral part of success in both a child’s academic world and life after graduation. Tardies will not be tolerated and will be dealt with as a discipline issue. It is very important to note that Arizona State law requires students to be in school 90% of each semester. This means that after 9 absences per semester, credit may be withheld.
HOMEWORK: Homework is assigned approximately 4 days a week. Unless otherwise directed, homework will be due the day after it is assigned. Homework from the textbook will be graded randomly through the use of a “homework quiz” in which students will be asked to copy down selected problems from their assignments including the original problem, any necessary work, and the correct answer. Worksheets will be due and collected the day after they are assigned. It will be crucial for students to be organized with their homework. To aid with this students have access to a calendar of events both in the classroom and online at http://www.mpsaz.org/c3staple/jchuckel. Students will also have the opportunity to check their homework everyday before school from 8:30 to 8:55, during provided class time, and after school by appointment. Note: NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED!

COURTESY POINTS: At the beginning of every quarter each student will receive 6 “courtesy points” (cp’s) that can be used to “make-up” or “redo” any assignment or act as a hall-pass. Students may use 1 cp as a hall-pass or to make-up/redo any assignment worth between 0 and 25 points. It will take 2 cp’s for assignments worth between 26 - 50 points, 3 cp’s for assignments between 51 - 75, and 4 cp’s for assignments worth 76 points and up. If a student chooses to use cp’s on an assignment they will have 2 weeks from the assignments due date to turn it in using cp’s (no exceptions). Any unused cp’s at the end of each quarter will become extra credit as a reward for those that did not need to use their cp’s.

MAKE-UP: If the student has an excused absence, s/he will have the same number of days missed to complete any make-up work. Students do not need to use cp’s to make-up absent work if they do the work within the given time frame. If a student should require additional time, they may choose to use cp’s to give them up to two additional weeks in which to complete the assignment. Students are expected to get any work in advance if they know they will be missing school. NO make-up work from an unexcused absence will be accepted. Again, no late work is accepted!
It is the student’s responsibility to find out what was missed before or after class,
NOT DURING CLASS TIME. All tests and quizzes must be made up before or after
school, or by appointment only. Again, it is the student’s responsibility to schedule a
make-up test or quiz within the given time frame.

PROGRESS REPORTS: In order to increase communication between the school and parents/guardians , progress reports will be posted online every week. Students will be given a unique password at the beginning of the year that can be used to log into the grade program to view regular student achievement. Every few weeks students will be asked to have a parent/guardian print off a report and sign it or write me a quick note so I know that parents are aware of student progress. If a parent/guardian does not want their student’s grade to be posted online (password protected) they are asked to contact me at jchuckel@mpsaz.org or 472-2746 to make this request, in which case progress reports will be sent home with the student.

It is my hope that my students, and your child, will have the best educational experience of his or her life while attending Stapley Junior High School. If you have questions regarding my program or your child’s progress, please call me at 472-2746 or e-mail me at jchuckel@mpsaz.org. You may also want to visit my website at http://www.mpsaz.org/c3staple/jchuckel/index.html in order to keep updated on what we will be doing in class.

Thank you for your time and cooperation.

John Huckelberry