Physics AP Contract
EL Paso High School
AP
Course Contract
Mr.
Robert Cervantes Rm. 418
El Paso High School Advanced Placement courses provide college
preparation for high school students who desire and are ready to begin to learn
the skills necessary to succeed in college level work. These students
demonstrate a strong curiosity about the subject and a willingness to complete
rigorous work. Advanced Placement courses at El Paso High School place greater
emphasis on higher-level thinking skills, cognitive concepts and processes, and
problem solving skills. Self-discipline, determination, and maturity are
essential for success in these classes. The decision to take an AP course
should be made by the student with the advice and consent of parents,
appropriate teachers, and counselors. Advanced Placement courses are taught
using college level note taking and lecture strategies that will prepare
students to be more successful in college classes. Students should expect
the pace and academic rigor of Advanced Placement classes to be more stringent
than regular classes at the same grade level.
Typically, successful AP students are task-oriented students as
well as proficient readers who are able to organize their time and who have
parent/guardian support. Students who are already over extended with academics
or extracurricular activities should seriously consider whether they have the
time to devote to an AP class or classes. Students should be prepared to have
homework in all AP classes. This homework is necessary in order for the
students to have the prior knowledge necessary to participate in classroom
activities/discussions the next day. These homework assignments will also help
AP students develop the habit of doing their own work so that they are prepared
to do their own work in college classes as well. Because El Paso High
School is part of a five-year grant that supports the development, enhancement,
and expansion of AP courses, students will be required to attend AP test prep
sessions and AP mock exams (often on Saturdays or district
half-days).
Currently, our campus is part of an AP Incentive Program, a
partnership between Texas schools, businesses, and the philanthropic community,
whereby a private donor provides training and incentives for students, teachers
and schools to strengthen AP participation and increase the number of AP® math,
science and English exams students take and pass. Through the rigorous
study that AP® math, science and English courses require, a greater number of
students are being prepared to enter college and succeed. Advanced Placement
Strategies™, Inc. (APS) provides professional management of the AP Incentive
Program™. Advanced Placement Strategies™, Inc. (APS) is a section
501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that works with Texas schools and the private
sector to manage Advanced Placement Incentive Programs™ for students, teachers,
and schools.
Grading and AP Class
Deadlines:
1. Successful AP students are expected to meet class deadlines
for assignments, tests and projects. A major project or paper will be accepted
late, but a penalty of thirty points will be assessed for each school day late.
No major paper or project will be accepted
LATE. This assignment will receive a 0. No
late daily class assignments will be
accepted.
2. Students who are absent from class due to school related
activities are expected to make up posted assignments/tests during the teachers
assigned tutorials upon the day the student returns to class. If a posted class
project is due on a day that the student is out of school, the project must be
turned in early or on the due date or the grade will immediately drop to a 70.
( I offer tutoring EVERYDAY during Morning.)
3. Students who are absent due to illness or family necessity
are given the number of days
absent plus one day to make up tests (that
were assigned while the student was absent)
and missed class work. (A
student who is absent from school may be required to take a
previously
announced test upon returning to school at the discretion of the
teacher.)
4. Students who are registered for an AP course are required
to take the May examination(s).
5. Students who take the AP exam may
be eligible for a semester exam waiver (contingent upon meeting district
attendance policy requirements).
6. Notice of AP examination fees will
be given to students prior to registration for the exam(s). Arrangements
for fee reductions will be made
accordingly.
7. The Student Must take the Saturday prep
secessions
Requirements
for admission to an AP Class:
1. Students must have passed the appropriate TAKS test during
the year prior to registering for an AP class. Because the TAKS test scores
will not be available until after registration is completed, the student may be
scheduled for an AP course in the spring, but his/her schedule will be changed
during the summer should he/she not pass the appropriate TAKS test for the
class.
2. The student will be notified in writing should his/her
schedule have to be changed because of TAKS/EOC
scores.
3. Student must have completed any pre-requisite class with a
75 or above average
a. Example: Students wanting admission to AP Physics must pass
the pre-
AP class with a 75 or above
average.
After
reading the contract, the parent and student should sign at the bottom
of
the
next page. Detach and return this page only to the teacher. The teacher
will
sign
and a copy will be returned to the student.
Teacher
Recommendation:
1. Teachers in courses that are pre-requisites to other AP
courses may recommend students for the next
course.
2. Teachers in courses that are pre-requisites to other AP
courses may also recommend that a student not be admitted into the next AP
course. Teachers who are concerned about the ability of an AP student to move
to the next level will send a list of the names of those students to the
counselors in the spring prior to course selection so that counselors can
discuss problems and concerns with the student and the student’s
parents.
Teachers
will typically not recommend students who:
a. Fail the TAKS test for the current AP
subject
b. Consistently fail tests
c. Consistently come to class unprepared (not having completed
homework assignments)
d. Do not complete and turn in class assignments on
time.
3. Recommendations for AP courses serve as a guide to help
students and parents determine the student's ability to be successful in AP
classes.
4. The absence of the teacher recommendation does not restrict
students from taking future AP courses if they desire to accept the challenge
and apply themselves.
Enrollment
by Parent Request:
1. El Paso Independent School District has an open enrollment
policy for Pre-AP classes.
2. Parents may request that students be admitted to Pre-AP
classes regardless of whether or not their student(s) meet the above
criteria.
Removal
from Pre-AP Classes:
3. Students who are failing during the first few weeks
of class will be scheduled for a mandatory parent/teacher conference and can be
removed from Pre-AP and placed into a regular class at that time.
All class transfers must be approved by appointed counselor and
administrators.
Student:
I agree to take full responsibility
course.
course.
Parent/Guardian:
curricular questions or concerns arise. If the situation remains unresolved, I
will request an appointment with the teacher.
for each
class will be required.
Teacher
• Student and parent will be advised within the first six weeks
if the student’s progress is
not adequate.
• Student progress will be reported with the normal progress
and
report card cycles.
Student
Signature:
___________________________Date:_________________________
Parent
Signature:
____________________________
Date:__________________________
Teacher
Signature:
___________________________
Date:_________________________
The teacher will sign the contract at the beginning of the
year, and a copy of this contract will be sent home to the
parent.
EL Paso High School
AP
Course Contract
Mr.
Robert Cervantes Rm. 418
El Paso High School Advanced Placement courses provide college
preparation for high school students who desire and are ready to begin to learn
the skills necessary to succeed in college level work. These students
demonstrate a strong curiosity about the subject and a willingness to complete
rigorous work. Advanced Placement courses at El Paso High School place greater
emphasis on higher-level thinking skills, cognitive concepts and processes, and
problem solving skills. Self-discipline, determination, and maturity are
essential for success in these classes. The decision to take an AP course
should be made by the student with the advice and consent of parents,
appropriate teachers, and counselors. Advanced Placement courses are taught
using college level note taking and lecture strategies that will prepare
students to be more successful in college classes. Students should expect
the pace and academic rigor of Advanced Placement classes to be more stringent
than regular classes at the same grade level.
Typically, successful AP students are task-oriented students as
well as proficient readers who are able to organize their time and who have
parent/guardian support. Students who are already over extended with academics
or extracurricular activities should seriously consider whether they have the
time to devote to an AP class or classes. Students should be prepared to have
homework in all AP classes. This homework is necessary in order for the
students to have the prior knowledge necessary to participate in classroom
activities/discussions the next day. These homework assignments will also help
AP students develop the habit of doing their own work so that they are prepared
to do their own work in college classes as well. Because El Paso High
School is part of a five-year grant that supports the development, enhancement,
and expansion of AP courses, students will be required to attend AP test prep
sessions and AP mock exams (often on Saturdays or district
half-days).
Currently, our campus is part of an AP Incentive Program, a
partnership between Texas schools, businesses, and the philanthropic community,
whereby a private donor provides training and incentives for students, teachers
and schools to strengthen AP participation and increase the number of AP® math,
science and English exams students take and pass. Through the rigorous
study that AP® math, science and English courses require, a greater number of
students are being prepared to enter college and succeed. Advanced Placement
Strategies™, Inc. (APS) provides professional management of the AP Incentive
Program™. Advanced Placement Strategies™, Inc. (APS) is a section
501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that works with Texas schools and the private
sector to manage Advanced Placement Incentive Programs™ for students, teachers,
and schools.
Grading and AP Class
Deadlines:
1. Successful AP students are expected to meet class deadlines
for assignments, tests and projects. A major project or paper will be accepted
late, but a penalty of thirty points will be assessed for each school day late.
No major paper or project will be accepted
LATE. This assignment will receive a 0. No
late daily class assignments will be
accepted.
2. Students who are absent from class due to school related
activities are expected to make up posted assignments/tests during the teachers
assigned tutorials upon the day the student returns to class. If a posted class
project is due on a day that the student is out of school, the project must be
turned in early or on the due date or the grade will immediately drop to a 70.
( I offer tutoring EVERYDAY during Morning.)
3. Students who are absent due to illness or family necessity
are given the number of days
absent plus one day to make up tests (that
were assigned while the student was absent)
and missed class work. (A
student who is absent from school may be required to take a
previously
announced test upon returning to school at the discretion of the
teacher.)
4. Students who are registered for an AP course are required
to take the May examination(s).
5. Students who take the AP exam may
be eligible for a semester exam waiver (contingent upon meeting district
attendance policy requirements).
6. Notice of AP examination fees will
be given to students prior to registration for the exam(s). Arrangements
for fee reductions will be made
accordingly.
7. The Student Must take the Saturday prep
secessions
Requirements
for admission to an AP Class:
1. Students must have passed the appropriate TAKS test during
the year prior to registering for an AP class. Because the TAKS test scores
will not be available until after registration is completed, the student may be
scheduled for an AP course in the spring, but his/her schedule will be changed
during the summer should he/she not pass the appropriate TAKS test for the
class.
2. The student will be notified in writing should his/her
schedule have to be changed because of TAKS/EOC
scores.
3. Student must have completed any pre-requisite class with a
75 or above average
a. Example: Students wanting admission to AP Physics must pass
the pre-
AP class with a 75 or above
average.
After
reading the contract, the parent and student should sign at the bottom
of
the
next page. Detach and return this page only to the teacher. The teacher
will
sign
and a copy will be returned to the student.
Teacher
Recommendation:
1. Teachers in courses that are pre-requisites to other AP
courses may recommend students for the next
course.
2. Teachers in courses that are pre-requisites to other AP
courses may also recommend that a student not be admitted into the next AP
course. Teachers who are concerned about the ability of an AP student to move
to the next level will send a list of the names of those students to the
counselors in the spring prior to course selection so that counselors can
discuss problems and concerns with the student and the student’s
parents.
Teachers
will typically not recommend students who:
a. Fail the TAKS test for the current AP
subject
b. Consistently fail tests
c. Consistently come to class unprepared (not having completed
homework assignments)
d. Do not complete and turn in class assignments on
time.
3. Recommendations for AP courses serve as a guide to help
students and parents determine the student's ability to be successful in AP
classes.
4. The absence of the teacher recommendation does not restrict
students from taking future AP courses if they desire to accept the challenge
and apply themselves.
Enrollment
by Parent Request:
1. El Paso Independent School District has an open enrollment
policy for Pre-AP classes.
2. Parents may request that students be admitted to Pre-AP
classes regardless of whether or not their student(s) meet the above
criteria.
Removal
from Pre-AP Classes:
3. Students who are failing during the first few weeks
of class will be scheduled for a mandatory parent/teacher conference and can be
removed from Pre-AP and placed into a regular class at that time.
All class transfers must be approved by appointed counselor and
administrators.
Student:
I agree to take full responsibility
- to show a commitment to academic
excellence.
- to complete summer assignments as required by grade level
and content area.
- to attend class regularly.
- to attend AP test prep sessions and AP mock exams (often
on Saturdays or district half-days)
- to do my own work in order to improve my ability to
reason, analyze, and understand.
- to organize my time and study habits to complete
successfully the above named AP
course.
- to confer with the teacher and take immediate action if I
begin to fall behind in the
course.
Parent/Guardian:
- I agree to help my son/daughter organize study time in
support of class assignments.
- I agree to encourage him/her to communicate with the
teacher when discipline or
curricular questions or concerns arise. If the situation remains unresolved, I
will request an appointment with the teacher.
- I understand that the coursework for AP classes is
stringent and that outside study
for each
class will be required.
- I understand that my son/daughter must
attend AP test prep sessions and AP mock exams (often on Saturdays
or district half-days)
Teacher
• Student and parent will be advised within the first six weeks
if the student’s progress is
not adequate.
• Student progress will be reported with the normal progress
and
report card cycles.
Student
Signature:
___________________________Date:_________________________
Parent
Signature:
____________________________
Date:__________________________
Teacher
Signature:
___________________________
Date:_________________________
The teacher will sign the contract at the beginning of the
year, and a copy of this contract will be sent home to the
parent.