Course Syllabus

Course Information, Expectations, and Guidelines    

Comp Skills Instructors:      

Mr. Rall, Ms. Ervin, Mr. Soria Roman, Ms. Everett

Course Overview:

Compensatory Skills is designed to provide students with individualized remediation and compensatory skills in their academic area(s) of need as identified through the eligibility process and their IEP. The first half of class will engage students in one or more subjects including Language Arts (Reading and Writing), Math, Social and Emotional Growth, and Executive Functioning. They will also meet briefly with teachers bi-weekly to discuss academic successes and challenges in school. Please understand this is a class with assignments to be completed for a grade and one-half credit.  The second half of the class time will be used to help the student meet IEP goals support students with work in academic classes.

Student Behavior  

• Students are expected to abide by the PWCS “Code of Behavior” during all lessons and during participation in office hours. 
• Participation in instruction or online activities will be monitored by teachers and administrators. All conversations must be respectful and appropriate and relevant to the lesson. Any instances of bullying or harassment will not be tolerated. 
• Students shall be appropriately dressed during school hours as determined by the dress code. Student dress and overall appearance must meet basic standards of health, safety, cleanliness, and decency. Students are not permitted to wear or display items which represent drugs, alcohol or tobacco products, gang membership, or which promote violence. Dress/appearance/hygiene which disrupts or interferes with the learning environment will not be tolerated. 

Units of Study:

Quarter 1 ·       Get to Know Me/Orientation ·       Goal Setting ·       Language Arts ·       Math	Quarter 2 ·       Language Arts ·       Math ·       Social Emotional Learning ·       Executive Functioning
Quarter 3 ·       Language Arts ·       Math ·       Social Emotional Learning ·       Executive Functioning	Quarter 4 ·       Language Arts ·       Math ·       Social Emotional Learning ·       Executive Functioning

Standards of Learning:

There is no SOL exam given for Comp Skills. However, every topic of study is related to developing lifelong skills. All Comp Skills students will take an end of the year assessment to determine what skills have been taught throughout the school year.

Textbook:

Work for class may be utilized from Executive Functions (A Blueprint for Success) Hish School 2^nd Edition.

Student will also use textbooks from their academic courses or online tools such as Nearpod.

 COURSE GRADE DESIGN

Grades will be calculated based upon the following assessment categories.  A percent score will be awarded for each assignment.

Summative – 80%

• Will consist of common assessments, essays, projects, reading reflections, vocabulary, grammar, and formal presentations that align to the learning targets.
• Will be accepted late with non-academic consequences. A grade of NHI (Not Handed In - equivalent to zero) will be placed in the grade book during the time that the assignment is missing. Full credit will be given for assignments that meet all requirements and are submitted before the cut-off date for the unit of study. The NHI will be permanent (equivalent to zero) if the cut-off date is not met. 

Formative – 20%

• Will consist of individual and collaborative class activities, informal presentations, self and peer evaluation, writings, discussions, and quizzes or exit slips.
• Will result in an NHI (Not Handed In - equivalent to zero) if not submitted.

Effort and conduct are assessed continuously and are reported on both interims and report cards. A rubric for each of these reporting categories has been developed and will be discussed with students during the first week of school.

	Unsatisfactory	Satisfactory	Outstanding
Effort	Seldom completes assignments and work on time Seldom demonstrates care and attention in work Seldom asks for help when needed Seldom is workspace and desk organized Seldom has required materials Seldom participates in class activities and discussions Seldom gives the best effort on assignments, projects and assessments	Usually completes assignments and work on time Usually demonstrates care and attention in work   Usually asks for help when needed  Usually is workspace and desk organized   Usually has required materials Usually participates in class activities and discussions Usually gives the best effort on assignments, projects and assessments	Always completes assignments and work on time Always demonstrates care and attention in work  Always asks for help when needed  Always has workspace and desk organized   Always has required materials Always participates in class activities and discussions  Always gives the best effort on assignments, projects and assessments
Conduct	Seldom demonstrates a caring, cooperative and respectful attitude toward others  Seldom works quietly/independently on assignments Seldom demonstrates safe behavior Seldom on task and uses time productively	Usually demonstrates a caring, cooperative and respectful attitude toward others  Usually works quietly/independently on assignments Usually demonstrates safe behavior Usually on task and uses time productively	Always demonstrates a caring, cooperative and respectful attitude toward others  Always works quietly/independently on assignments Always demonstrates safe behavior Always on task and uses time productively

 NHI = 0 - Used to identify an assessment or practice that was NOT TURNED IN.
AB = 0 - Used to identify an assessment that a student MISSED DUE TO AN ABSENCE, regardless of type of absence.
EX = Exempt - Used to identify a task or assessment that was not given to your student.  This may include enrichment or re-teaching tasks that did not apply to your student but may have applied to other students in the class. This does not negatively affect the marking period grade, nor does it raise the grade.  

Mastery Learning Policy: 

All summative assessments (tests, formal writing assignments, projects, etc.) are announced well in advance. It is our goal each student demonstrates mastery of content. It is the expectation of the Gar-Field High School each student earns at least an 80% on assessments.  Any student not reaching this goal will be given the opportunity of reassessment.  He/she is expected to complete a remediation assignment and/or to attend an after-school remediation session as planned by the teacher. There, the student will build skills necessary to study and review the learning assessed and be scheduled for re-assessment.  The student may also be required to submit a reassessment request form to remediate and redo a summative assessment. Students must complete all formative assessments for that unit before they will be permitted to reassess. 

Attendance:

Parents/guardians must submit an excuse note from the parent (doctor) to the Attendance Office within FIVE (5) business days of the absence. Excuse notes can be submitted to our attendance email: 

gfhs-attendance@pwcs.edu.

Students who arrive late to school must check in at the main office through Door 1 with their excuse note and proceed to their class.

Students must have a written note or email from the parent/guardian to be dismissed early, walk home, ride a different bus, or ride in an Uber. Telephone calls will not be accepted for early dismissal.

Late Work:  

Students are expected to submit work on time.  Remediation and missing assignments must be submitted during the unit of study in which they are assigned. Extenuating circumstances will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Students who are unable to submit an assessment on the due date set by the teacher may be required to complete a Late Assignment Request form to request an extension. This form must be submitted on the due date for the extension to be granted.

Re-Assessments:

Students who do not reach mastery (80%) on any summative task can arrange with their teachers to reassess those tasks. Students may ONLY reassess if it is within the same interim period and they have completed the assigned remediation activity. The reassessment grade will replace the original grade in the grade book.

 

School and Classroom Expectations

Be respectful

Students are always expected to be respectful to other students and adults. 

Be responsible

Students are expected to bring materials for class, to put forth their best effort, and always adhere to the PWCS Code of Behavior. Academic dishonesty will result in referral.

Be safe

Gar-Field has a zero-tolerance policy towards fighting.  Inform any adult of safety concerns.

 

Supplies: 

• 1 subject notebook
• 1 ½ inch binder
• Folder with prongs/pockets
• Pens/Pencils

 

School Website:                                                           www.Gar-Field.org

Teacher Contact Information                                    Phone Numbers: (703) 730-7000

Christopher Rall – RallCJ@pwcs.edu                                  ext. 0542                                

Eunice Ervin - Ervinex@pwcs.edu                                       ext. 0403

Noel E. Soria - Roman-SoriarNE@pwcs.edu                      ext. 0561

Melissa Everett - everetmm@pwcs.edu                             ext. 0622