Honors Biology

1. Honors Biology Welcome!! 

2. Welcome!  • Welcome to Honors Biology! I hope you are as excited as I am to begin this rigorous yet rewarding journey. • This class is designed to prepare you for the high level science curriculum that Aurora High School has to offer. • Be prepared to work diligently, cooperatively, and creatively inside and outside the classroom. • I have established some Course Guidelines which are essential to ensure your success in the upcoming school year.

3. Who is your teacher? • Miss Pavicic • 6th year at Aurora High School • I teach both Biology and Honors Biology • Bachelor of Science in Biology from John Carroll University. • Master of Life Science Education from Ursuline College • Other things I do… • National Honor Society • Avid marathon runner • 3rd of six kids • ?

4. Course Topics • Introduction to Biology • Ecology • Biochemistry and Enzymes • Cells • Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration • Nucleic Acids • Mitosis and the Cell Cycle • Genetics • Proteins • Evolution • Classification • Current Issues in Biology • *Course Topics are aligned with Pre-AP Biology Curriculum

5. CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS • Be respectful to your fellow classmates, teacher, and yourself at all times. • Be in your seat and prepared for class to begin before the bell rings. • Bring your textbook, binder, and writing utensils to class EVERY DAY. These three items are a MUST. • Be an active participant in class, and ALWAYS raise your hand when asking questions or responding. • Use appropriate classroom language. Profanity and improper language will not be tolerated. • Lab rules and procedures must be followed and will be strictly enforced. • Absolutely no cell phones are permitted. Procedure as listed in the student handbook will be enforced upon their presence. • Using the restroom, going to the office, visiting a counselor, etc. should only be done if urgent. Unless requested by an administrator, teacher, or counselor, you must use a homework pass upon leaving the classroom. Once all homework passes have been used, you will be required to • All rules as stated in the student handbook will be enforced. • Have a positive attitude! • **As Honors students, it is my expectation that you ALL will follow these rules. Consequences will be put in order in the event that they are disobeyed.

6. GRADING • GRADING • 60% Tests • 30% Labs and Quizzes • 10% • **There will be no extra credit opportunities available • The district grading scale will be used. (No class curve) • A 100-89.5 B 89.4-79.5 C 79.4-69.5 D 69.4-59.5 F 59.4-0

7. Late Work • Late work due to an excused absence will be accepted without penalty if it is turned in on the day you return to school.    • You will receive two Late Passes per quarter. You may use these passes to turn in late work without a penalty. • All other late work will be a zero. This will be strictly enforced.

8. Attendance • To ensure success in Honors Biology, it is essential that you attend class on a regular basis. If you are absent, you are responsible for making up all work/assignments missed. • Using the restroom, going to the office, visiting a counselor, etc. should only be done if urgent. Not being in class for the entire 50 minute period will disrupt your ability to be successful, and may be disruptive to your classmates.

9. Extra Help • I LOVE helping my students! I am very flexible and available on most days. Please contact me verbally or via email if you would like to meet with me so we can arrange a time.

10. Academic Dishonesty • Cheating will be detrimental to your success in Honors Biology and will not be tolerated. The following acts of cheating will result in disciplinary actions as outlined in the student handbook: • Passing calculators during a test, quiz, or other assessment. • Copying someone else’s test, quiz, homework, assignment, or report. • Allowing someone to copy from your test, quiz, homework, assignment, or report. • Looking at notes during a test, quiz, or other assessment. • Sharing questions from a test with students who have yet to take the test. • Listing someone else’s data without giving credit, or worse, making up data to fit the expected answer.  It is acceptable to present your own data, to state the reasons that you feel the results should be disregarded, and then to present another student’s data (making sure the source is acknowledged). • Using opinions, facts, ideas, charts, data and direct quotes from research papers, newspapers, magazines, textbooks, websites, or another person without citing the source. 

11. Assessments • Unit Summative Exams are given once per unit (about twice per quarter) and will reflect the standards of the Pre-AP Biology curriculum.  • They will be detailed and comprehensive, including multiple-choice, calculation problems, and extensive essay/discussion questions.   • Quizzes and frequent formative assessments will be given to allow for proper intervention to help ensure your success on the Unit Summative Exams. There will be no retakes. • Laboratory work will be directly aligned with the topics discussed in class. • Homework will be given almost every day. Please review my Late Work policy

12. The Honors Biology course provides a rewarding curriculum that will enable you to become successful, well rounded young adults prepared for the higher level science courses at Aurora High School. I am very excited to experience this journey with you, and am looking forward to an excellent school year! 