GSE Algebra 1 Syllabus

Prerequisite: 8th Grade Mathematics

Teacher: Ms. G. Robinson Room: 4121

E-mail: gina.robinson@atlanta.k12.ga.us Phone: (678) 688 - 6401

Tutorial Day: Wednesdays, 4 – 5PM MsRobinsonsMathClasses.Weebly.com

As a stakeholder (parent and student) of North Atlanta High School, I will adhere to the
academic honesty policy provided in the handbook and consistently and frequently
monitor Infinite Campus for attendance and academic performance. Students MUST bring
their personal laptops or APS provided device DAILY.

ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS
● Attendance will be taken every class period at the start of class where students will be
marked present, absent, or tardy by the teacher.
● For excused absences/tardy(such as for doctor’s visits or illness), please submit the
necessary documentation to our attendance office on the 2nd floor within 3 days of said
absence/tardy.

Textbook
The textbook assigned for this course will be available for in-class use and is online in both
ebook and PDF forms.  Possessing a personal copy is not required. The text used is available
online via MYBACKPACK. To access, log into mybackpack.apsk12.org, find the app Big Ideas
Math.

Textbook: Big Ideas  

Materials (required)
● Paper ● Personal or APS Provided device. You
● Pencils MUST bring daily.
● 3-Ring Binder ● Desmos graphing calculator will be used

**Students are required to keep a binder, organized by units in chronological order. Note-taking
and organization are essential skills to college and career readiness. Students WILL HAVE random
notebook checks, so students must bring their binders to class every day.

Course Overview:
Algebra 1 is the first course in a sequence of three required high school courses designed to ensure
career and college readiness. The course represents a discrete study of algebra with correlated
statistics applications. Applied with various instructions ranging from common assessments,
major tests, projects and presentations. Teaching and learning will focus on the following
mathematical concepts (units):

MYP Information
This course is part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at North Atlanta
High School which aims to help IBMYP learners to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers,
communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. The
learning experiences will allow students to gain analytical skills to promote informed
decision-making, engage in teamwork and collaboration, frame their own inquiries, pursue
personal aspirations, set challenging goals and have persistence to achieve them. Students will
work towards a deepening of their conceptual understanding as they approach concepts from a
range of perspectives. As concepts are studied throughout the year, the following global contexts
will be in constant consideration: identities and relationships, orientation in time and space,
fairness and development, globalization and sustainability, scientific and technical innovation, and
personal and cultural expression. IBMYP Assessments aim to support and encourage student
learning by providing feedback and promoting deep understanding of subject content by
supporting students in their inquiry in real-world contexts. Specific assessment criteria with
subject objectives will be provided. All four MYP objectives will be assessed at least twice each
year of the program in all subject groups. Students will be assessed on a 0-7 IB scale in order to
receive a Final IB grade at the end of the MYP course. The Final IB grade will not affect students’
transcript grades and it is for IB reporting purposes only. Additionally, a year-long IBMYP Personal
Project will be produced by the end of the 10th grade year. The personal project enables students
to engage in a culminating practical exploration through a cycle of inquiry, action, and reflection.
Timelines and descriptions of tasks will be provided during advisement. The IBMYP Personal
Project will be included as a Formative Assessment grade for 1st semester and a Summative
Assessment grade for 2nd semester in Core MYP 10th grade courses only (English, Science,
Mathematics, and Social Studies).

Semester 1 Grading Policy:

*All paper assignments should be completed in pencil and written legibly. *

A. Assignment Categories:
 Summative Assessments 45%
Common Assessments, Unit Tests, Midterm Exam, Major Assignments, Projects, Quizzes

Formative Assessments 45%    

Homework, Classwork, Minor Assignments, Quizzes, Notebook Checks

Final Exam 10%    

Semester 2 Grading Policy:

*All paper assignments should be completed in pencil and written legibly.*

B. Assignment Categories:

Summative Assessments 50%

Common Assessments, Unit Tests, Midterm Exam, Major Assignments, Projects, Quizzes

Formative Assessments 50%    

Homework, Classwork, Minor Assignments, Quizzes, Notebook Checks

Georgia Milestones EOC (End of Course) Assessment: At the end of Semester 2 in Algebra 1, each
student will complete the Georgia Milestones EOC assessment to determine if he/she meets the
standards outlined for Algebra 1. You must take the EOC to get credit for the class. The score
earned on this assessment is 20% of the course grade for the term. There are no exceptions to this
rule and the state does not allow for students to “opt out”.  Students who do not sit for the
Milestone EOC will NOT receive credit for the course and this will negatively impact their
graduation. 

Final Exam
C. APS Grading Scale:
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 F 0-69

APS policy requires the classroom teacher to give a deficiency notice to a student whose
average is 74 or below at any time during the term.
o When a deficiency is issued, it is the responsibility of the student to sign the
deficiency and take it home to be signed by the parent or guardian.
o Students who receive a grade below ‘C’ as a final semester grade without receiving a
deficiency notice may petition for a grade change
o Students can petition for a grade change no later than the last day of the following
semester.
 
D. Opportunities for Re-teaching and Re-testing
● Students that score below an 80% on any Summative Assessment (ONLY a
Summative Test or Quiz) will have an opportunity to participate in the required
re-teaching and re-test on that test. The highest grade a student can earn on a re-test
will be 80%.
NAHS Academic Integrity

MAKING UP MISSED ASSIGNMENTS

It is the students’ and parents’ responsibility to make arrangements for make-up work due to
absences. Students should check Google Classroom. Students should complete and submit missing
work ASAP. Failure to comply with this procedure will result in a grade of zero (0) being given for
all graded assignments missed during the absence.

*All Make-up/ Late Work must be submitted via the Google form posted under Make-up/Late work
policy in Google Classroom. After that, the grade will be updated.

LATE WORK
Late Work Policy: Students with late assignments or unexcused absences are expected to submit
missing assignments before the end of the grading period. Please see the guidelines below: 
a) All assignments are due 6 days before final exams in order to qualify for final exam
exemption.
b) All missing assignments will be recorded in Infinite Campus with an “M” for missing. Every
assignment in the grade book must be assessed with a grade or a code.
c) Assignments turned in after the due date can earn a maximum of 80%. Beginning the first
late day, late work will be assessed a 20% deduction off the grade earned for every 10
calendar days the assignment is late, as presented below:

Calendar Days Late  Maximum Grade 

1 – 10  80% 
11 – 20  60%
21 – 30  40% 
31 days and beyond  20%

d) Students who were absent and missed a summative assessment are expected to
submit/take the assessment before the end of the grading period. Students have a 2-week
grace period to take the missing assessment for full credit. Missing assessments taken after
the 2-week grace period will be assessed a 20% deduction off the grade earned for a
maximum grade of 80%. 
 
 To better understand how the 20% deduction works, look at this example: 
 
Graded Assignment = 76 
Late Deduction = 20% 
76 X .80 = 61 
61 is the grade that is recorded in IC.  

*All Make-up/ Late Work must be submitted via the Google form posted under Make-up/Late work
policy in Google Classroom. After that, the grade will be updated.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS VIRTUAL/DISTANCE LEARNING

*(If NEEDED at some point during the school year)

1. Be Prepared and on Time. Be on Zoom (with your camera ON) with all your supplies ready to
learn at the start of class.

2. Manage Time Wisely. You don’t need to miss live class time. Please utilize time between classes
to use the restroom, etc.

3. Take Pride in Your Work. Be proud of what you accomplish, work hard, and do your best work
- all with a positive attitude. Also – always exercise academic honesty and DO YOUR OWN
WORK!

4. Challenge Yourself. Don’t give up when the work is difficult. Willingly attempt to understand
and solve all problems.

5. Be a Team Player. Work together towards success for every member of our class. Please offer
assistance to those who need it and do not be afraid to ask for help.

6. Be Kind and Courteous. Negative comments, put-downs, and talking while someone is
speaking will not be tolerated. Demonstrate respect for yourself and others.

7. Refrain from EATING and Drinking During Live Sessions. Only water in a clear container will
be allowed.

8. Only Use the Technology Needed for Class During Class Time. Students should actively
participate in live lessons and only the technology needed for class should be used during class
time.

9. Abide by all the policies outlined in the North Atlanta Student Handbook.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS FACE-TO-FACE

1. Be Prepared and on Time. Be in your seat with all your supplies ready to learn when the bell
rings.
2. Manage Time Wisely. There will be NO PASSES OUT! Please utilize time between classes to use
the restroom, etc.

3. Take Pride in Your Work. Be proud of what you accomplish, work hard, and do your best work
- all with a positive attitude. Also – always exercise academic honesty and DO YOUR OWN
WORK!

4. Challenge Yourself. Don’t give up when the work is difficult. Willingly attempt to understand
and solve all problems.

5. Be a Team Player. Work together towards success for every member of our class. Please offer
assistance to those who need it and do not be afraid to ask for help.

6. Be Kind and Courteous. Negative comments, put-downs, and talking while someone is
speaking will not be tolerated. Demonstrate respect for yourself and others.

7. Leave all food and drinks outside the classroom. Only water in a clear container will be
allowed in the classroom.

8. Bring your personal laptop or APS provided device to class daily.

9. Turn off electronic devices (that are not being used for class). There will be NO USE OF
CELLPHONES during class. Electronic devices should be stored safely away at all times, not to
be seen or heard.

● 1st offense – Warning and phone confiscated until end of class period.
● 2nd offense – Parental Contact and phone confiscated until the end of class period.
● 3rd offense – Discipline referral, phone confiscated and submitted to administrator.

10. Abide by all the policies outlined in the North Atlanta Student Handbook.
Hello Parents,

As the instructor, I plan to facilitate an exciting and active learning environment in which
students feel free to participate, express their ideas and take academic risks. The expectation is for
each student to come prepared and eager to learn. Guiding students with thought-provoking,
open-ended questions and real-world applications, I will assess student learning to enhance the
learning experience and ultimately, increase student achievement. I look forward to an exciting,
academically challenging, and productive school year.

Progress reports will be sent home for all students during each term. This is to inform of
your child’s status so the appropriate actions can be taken for the student to improve. Also, I ask
that you take advantage of our online resources. Please check Google Classroom frequently.
Students can add their parents if they have your email address.

I also encourage parents, as well as students, to join Remind 101 for reminders about assignments
and activities. Join Remind by:
a. texting the code listed above to 81010, or by
b. downloading the free app (recommended) and entering the class code with their
corresponding class period.

Additionally, the school system provides Infinite Campus, an online grade book where you can
view your child’s assignments, grades, and attendance. These resources are made available as a
means for you to become actively involved in your child’s education.

Please sign the syllabus acknowledgement page electronically (via Google Form) indicating
that you have read and understand ALL classroom rules, policies, procedures, and course
guidelines for GSE Algebra 1/Algebra 1 Support. If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact e-mail at gina.robinson@atlanta.k12.ga.us.

Regards,
Ms. G. Robinson