7th Grade Science Track 4 Dolphins

Lufkin Road Middle School

2016-2017
Welcome to a new year at Lufkin! As we venture into 7th grade, we will be
exploring and diving deeper into a lot of science content. This class will
inegrate study skills, such as note-taking and analyzing informational text, as
well as hands-on labs, projects, and other activities to engage every learning
style. It is my ambition as a Science teacher to challenge you as students to
become great thinkers and to provide real world opportunities for you to
learn about the incredible weorld we live in! It is my goal to have each
student excited to come to class, and learn our topics in a way that they can
apply it to any future endeavor. Here is a run down of some things you may
find helpful for your success in Science.
Curriculum: This year we will be covering the following big ideas in
science:
*Forces & Motion

*Weather
*The Cell
*The Human Body

*Genetics

Grades: Lufkin Middle School uses a letter grade system. Check

PowerSchools and Canvas frequently to be in the know with your grades,
and when important deadlines are coming up!
A = 100%-90%
B = 89%-80%
Practice = 15%
C = 79%-70%
D = 69%-60%
F = <60%

Classwork/Independent
Tests/Labs/Projects = 60%
Quizzes = 25%

Classwork: This year students will have 2 notebooks for science. The
composition notebook will be their lab notebook. This will generally stay in
the classroom, unless students need to finish a lab write-up that wasnt
completed in class. They will also use a spiral notebook as the Interactive
Science Notebook (ISN). Here they will be getting inputs from me such as
notes, data, handouts, etc, and in turn they will be creating outputs of their
learning in a variety of forms (picture diagramming, reflection writing, flow
charts, word webs, etc). This will go home with students each night as a
study resource to help students prepare for quizzes and tests, or simply
review what was done in preparation for the next days lesson. Canvas will

be updated weekly with my PowerPoint to help student keep track of what

should be where in the ISN.
Independent Work: Each month students will be completing a Current
Event assignment to relate what we are learning in class to what is being
talked about in the media. You can find the assignment on Canvas as well as
in everyones ISN. These will be due on the 3rd Wednesday of each month
(while we are tracked in!). The first one will be completed in class so
students get an understanding of the expectations of the assignment.
Beyond this monthly assignment, work that is not completed in class may
become independent practice at home so that we can stay on track! Any
work that is checked solely for completion will not affect the students grade;
however, it will still appear on PowerSchools in the Homework category as
a record of completion.
Absences: If a student misses school, it is their responsibility to complete
any missing work for that day(s). Before school, Lightning Time, and lunch
are times when students can find out what they missed. I will also have
folders for each day of the week where students can find what they missed,
as well as a class copy of our ISN. It is the students responsibility to make
sure thye have all of the work they have missed. Labs and tests must be
made up immediately upon return!
On Time: With 50 minute class periods, it is imperative that students are on
time to class daily. What does that look like? It means that within the 3
minute passing period, students should have time to use the restroom, get
water from the fountain, and make sure they have all the supplies needed for
the day including notebooks, sharpened pencils with erasers, and their
agenda! Silent lunches will be given to students who are considered tardy
or unprepared for class. Too many tardies may result in further disciplinary
actions.
I am so excited to begin this year with all of you! Together we will learn,
grow, and explore the world around us!
If you have any questions of comments along the way, please dont hesitate
to contact me through email or phone. I always try my best to respond within
24 hours.

Thank you,

Melissa Dempsey, NBCT

7-4 Science Teacher
Science Department Chair
Lufkin Road Middle School
mdempsey@wcpss.net