Welcome!

1. Welcome! To ESCP-8 2008-2009

2. What are we going to learn in ESCP-8? • During this course we will look at the Earth and space as you have never seen it before. We will explore our universe and our solar system, their beginning, their present status, and what the future has in store for them. We will also take an in-depth look at our Earth, its beginning and its future.

3. Space is truly the final frontier! Scientists are only now taking their baby steps into exploring the vast regions of our universe. The future of all the species that inhabit our Earth lies in space. We will learn what these scientists have discovered in their explorations. I am looking forward to a great year of exploration with you.

4. WOW! • That sounds like a lot of stuff to learn! • It is, but very important stuff. • How are we going to learn all this information? • To begin to learn all this you must first meet my expectations. Meet them and everything else will fall into place. • Let’s take a look at my expectations.

5. What does Mr. Miller expect from me? • I expect: • You to be in your seats in the classroom before the bell rings. If you arrive after the bell rings you will need a yellow admit for being late. If you do not have one, you will be marked tardy for class. Being tardy 2 times in a week will result in a one hour after school detention.

6. I expect: • You to use the restroom and get a drink between bells, not stand in the hallway talking to your friends. After the bell rings, you will not be allowed to go to the restroom for the first 35 minutes of class. Too often I see students standing in the hallway talking and as soon as the bell rings for class to begin their hands go up to use the restroom or get a drink.

7. I expect: • You to stay in your seats during class unless given permission to move around the room. Getting up and moving around the classroom disrupts other students and the learning process.

8. I expect: • You not to talk during class. If you are talking to your neighbor, you and your neighbor are not paying attention to the lesson or listening to me and may miss some valuable information, like a test date.

9. I expect: • You not to write notes in class, except those I give you for testing purposes.

10. I expect: • You not to eat candy in my class. I do allow chewing gum until it becomes a problem.

11. I expect: • You to show complete and absolute courtesy to your classmates, other teachers, and myself. There will not be any bullying, name calling, fighting, lying, or disrespect in my classroom or in the hallways. These incidents will be handled with a write-up to the principal. They will not be tolerated!

12. In most cases, not meeting the above expectations will result in a warning the first time, an hour detention the second time, a two hour detention the third time, and a write-up to the principal each time after the third time. If you have not learned a rule by the fourth time you are corrected for it, you are being defiant and it is time for the principal to step in. • Let’s look at some other expectations I have.

13. I expect: • Homework to be completed and turned in on the date it is due. • Homework that is one day late will lose 50% of its points before being graded. • Homework that is two days late will lose 75% of its points before being graded. • Homework that is three days late will receive a zero grade.

14. Students that make a habit of turning in homework late or not at all will be put on the homework detention list. • Homework detention will be served when assigned. Remember, you are there because you created the situations by not doing your homework.

15. I expect: • All homework assignments to be completed when turned in. I DO NOT accept incomplete assignments. It does not matter if one question or ten questions are left blank, incomplete assignments will result in 2 hours detention with the homework detention teacher to redo the assignment.

16. I expect: • You to come to me when you are absent to find out what work you missed and need to make-up. It is easier for you to keep track of what you missed than for me to try and keep track of what 20 different students missed. It is your responsibility. If you do not come and see me, after an appropriate amount of time, the missed assignments will receive a zero grade.

17. There is more to learning in a classroom than the classroom material. • Learning also includes responsibility and accountability for your actions.

18. Classroom Detention • If you receive classroom detention with me it will be served after school. I DO NOT do morning detentions. Usually in the mornings I have things to do that take me out of the classroom and I cannot be there with you. All detentions are in the afternoon. Detentions are given without regard to jobs, sport practices, or sport events. If you get detention you are expected to be there. • IF YOU CANNOT DO AFTERNOON DETENTION, DON’T BREAK THE RULES!

19. Don’t get me wrong! • I like to have fun. • I like to joke. • I like to laugh. • You do your job and I will do mine and we will have a great year!