Course Contract/Syllabus

AP Physics 1
Teacher: Andrew Gibas
Email Address: andrewgibas@iusd.org

Student Name: Samuel German

Permanent ID Number: 191080762

Course Contract Duration (check one):

☐ Fall Semester Only (August 20th, 2020 to January 15th, 2021)
☐ Spring Semester Only (January 18th, 2021 to June 4th, 2021)
(check this)☐ Yearlong Course, Fall and Spring (August 20 th, 2020 – June 4th, 2021)

Counselor approval is required to drop. For all IUSD Virtual Academy@San Joaquin program policies
and procedures, please view the program of studies.

About the Program:

The IUSD Virtual Academy@San Joaquin is an optional, voluntary program through Irvine Unified School
District. Students will complete coursework online, and attend live web-based meetings each week.
Teachers will schedule one web conference each week for office hours, to be available for students to
ask questions and obtain content support as needed. The dates and times of the web conferences will
be arranged by the instructor.

Course Description
AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their
understanding of Physics through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics such as Newtonian
mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy, and power; mechanical waves and sound; and
introductory, simple circuits.
Twenty-five percent of instructional time is devoted to hands-on laboratory work with an emphasis on
inquiry-based investigations. Investigations will require students to ask questions, make observations
and predictions, design experiments, analyze data, and construct arguments in a collaborative setting,
where they direct and monitor their progress.

Semester A
Students explore principles of Newtonian mechanics (including rotational motion); work, energy, and
power; mechanical waves and sound; and introductory, simple circuits. The course is based on six Big
Ideas, which encompass core scientific principles, theories, and processes that cut across traditional
boundaries and provide a broad way of thinking about the physical world.

Semester B
Students establish lines of evidence and use them to develop and refine testable explanations and
predictions of natural phenomena. Focusing on these disciplinary practices enables teachers to use the
principles of scientific inquiry to promote a more engaging and rigorous experience for AP Physics
students.
Course Objectives
● Objects and systems have properties such as mass and charge. Systems may have internal
structure.
● Fields existing in space can be used to explain interactions.
● The interactions of an object with other objects can be described by forces.
● Interactions between systems can result in changes in those systems.
● Changes that occur as a result of interactions are constrained by conservation laws.
● Waves can transfer energy and momentum from one location to another without the
permanent transfer of mass and serve as a mathematical model for the description of other
phenomena.
● Use representations and models to communicate scientific phenomena and solve scientific
problems.
● Use mathematics appropriately.
● Engage in scientific questioning to extend thinking or to guide investigations within the context
of the AP course.
● Plan and implement data collection strategies in relation to a particular scientific question.
● Perform data analysis and evaluation of evidence.
● Work with scientific explanations and theories.
● Connect and relate knowledge across various scales, concepts, and representations in and
across domains.
Materials
● Canvas online access
● Access to the Buzz Platform (teacher will provide the link and log in)
● Notebook to keep content and weekly class meeting notes
● Pens or Pencils
● Daily/Weekly planner (highly recommended)
Note: Labs will be virtual and will not require any additional materials.
*If you are unable to obtain these materials, they will be provided for you. Please let your teacher
know if this is the case.

Assessment Methods
Methods of evaluation may include:
● Written assignments
● Quizzes and Tests
● Projects
● Oral presentations
● Online discussion posts
● Collaborative activities through web meetings.

Grading Policies
Students are expected to keep up with the course schedule and pacing provided by the teacher. Grading
policies will be communicated to students at the start of the term and will be consistent with policies in
Irvine Unified School Districts. Grades will consist of two general weighted categories of 60%
Assessments and 40% Assignments. Assessments will consist of quizzes, tests, etc and assignments will
consist of labs, practices and other submissions all accessible through Canvas.

Web Meeting Days and Times: To be determined

Weekly, online meetings will be mandatory for collaborative activities, speaking requirements for world
languages, content support, guest speakers, and test proctoring. The teacher will provide dates for the
meetings. Students will need to complete an alternate assignment for any missed sessions. If a student
misses two online meetings, an evaluation of enrollment will be made to determine if the student
should remain in the program. Three tardies will be recorded as one absence.

Manner, Time, and Frequency of Assignments:

The course objectives will be consistent with the guidelines established in the IUSD Virtual
Academy@San Joaquin Course Catalog for high school independent study. Students are required to have
weekly contact with their teachers on or before the assignment due dates. More frequent contact may
be required as necessary to support student success. Students must keep up with the pacing mapped
out for them in their assignment schedules.

Parent Agreements:

● I grant permission for my student to enroll in the IUSD Virtual Academy@San Joaquin program,
an optional alternative educational program offered by the Irvine Unified School District.

● Continuity of learning is of high priority when considering a school change or when returning to
a neighborhood school. School changes may take place at the academic term changes (semester
or trimester) to support successful transitions. Students will retain priority at their
neighborhood school or prior approved school of choice. If a family wishes to transition back to
their neighborhood school, they should contact the school counselor or administrator.
 ● I understand that I am responsible for monitoring my student’s progress and current grade
status online as described in the course syllabus, and check for assignment completion and
quality of work on a regular basis.

Note to parents regarding IEP/504 accommodations: Although every effort is made to ensure
communication with the student’s school of residence regarding any IEP or 504 accommodations, please
inform the teacher and the IUSD Virtual Academy@San Joaquin administrator if your child has any
accommodations in place.

IUSD Virtual Academy@San Joaquin Student Expectations:

● I will complete the orientation to virtual learning which will be provided by IUSD Virtual
Academy.

● I agree to submit all assignments on or before the due date. With prior approval, and when
circumstances justify, the instructor may extend the maximum length of an assignment period.

● I agree to attend online meetings as designated. For any missed meetings, I will be responsible
for any material missed, and complete an alternate assignment.

● I understand that I am responsible for monitoring my progress and current grade status online
as described in the course contract/syllabus.

● I will abide by the district’s Academic Integrity Policy, Dress Code Policy, and Code of Conduct
policy.

I have read all pages of this course contract/syllabus and agree to the conditions, including the academic
honesty and code of conduct policy in the program of studies. This agreement will be in effect during the
appropriate academic term (fall, spring, quarter, or year-long course).

Signatures: Please sign this agreement and return it to your teacher through their Canvas course. You
may sign manually and scan or take a picture of this agreement and upload it. Or, to sign digitally from
Google Docs, select Insert>Drawing. Then choose the scribble tool and sign your name.
Student Signature: _

___________________________________________Date: 8-24-20_________

Parent Signature:
______________________________________________Date:8-24-20_____________
(If other than parent, circle one) emancipated minor/ caregiver/ guardian/other)

Teacher Signature: ____________________________________________Date: _____________