1. Heather Fournier Legacy High School 2010 ENGLISH I
Dear Parents and Students,
Welcome to English! The English department at Legacy High School takes pride in our school and works hard to ensure the best quality of learning for all
students.
Our philosophy is simple: all students have the ability to learn and to achieve if given the opportunity. To help students succeed in English, opportunities for
tutoring and making up work after absences are available before and after school. Students are encouraged to make an appointment for tutoring and for making up work.
Another aspect of student success is communication among parents, students and teachers. The Legacy High School phone number is 817-299-1000. My
personal email address is fourhe@mansfieldisd.org
.
Course Information:
2010 ENGLISH I
Prerequisite: None Credits: 1
This course covers grammar, literature, composition, vocabulary development, and spelling. Development of reading skills, writing, and
language concepts are stressed. Students focus on various types of literature including plays, novels, and poetry and develop writing
skills through multiple compositions.
NO FOOD OR DRINK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BOTTLED WATER, IS ALLOWED IN ANY ENGLISH CLASSROOM.
Adopted Texts:
Writing, Grammar, Usage & Mechanics Text: Elements of Language: Third Course
Literature Text: The Language of Literature: Orange Level
In an effort to keep parents informed of additional reading content of the English curriculum, the following is a list of novels and plays that
my classes may cover throughout the school year.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Odyssey by Homer
Princess Bride by William Goldman
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Materials Needed:
 Ample supply of notebook paper
 1 two-pocket folder with brackets in middle
 Blue and/or black ink pens (for all submitted work)
 Red pens (for all revision work)
 Highlighters (for all revision work and reading comprehension)
 2x2 post it notes (2 pads) OR 1 package 8x11 construction paper
 Tissue
Grading Periods (six weeks) (Student Handbook, page 11)
August 24 – October 2 October 5 – November 13 November 16 – January 14
January 19 – February 26 March 1 – April 16 April 19 – June 3
Grading Percentages (Student Handbook, page 7)
Regular English Class
Daily Work/Homework 15%
Quizzes 20%
*Projects/Test 30%
*Writing/Essays 35%
*Major assessment
A student is eligible for extra credit if he/she has successfully completed all regularly assigned work.
*Three 6 week grades (80 %) + final exam (20 %) = Semester grade
Number of Grades for Regular Classes (Student Handbook, page 8)
There will be a minimum of eight grades per six weeks, with a minimum of two of those grades counting towards major assessment/test
Test Retakes-Minimum Requirements
There are no retests or opportunities to redo daily assignments or major test and/or quizzes.
Test Retakes- Minimum Requirements:
• Teachers will provide students the opportunity to be successful. In the event students fail to exhibit proficiency on the major assessment or tests, they will be
encouraged to participate in the re-teaching/re-testing process designed and determined by the teacher.
• Students will be allowed to demonstrate proficiency of learning objectives by means of a retest for a maximum of 70% of the original score possible.
• Teachers will communicate this on the classroom syllabus.
o Students will have to make arrangements with the teacher to retake or redo a major test/assessment. (This does not include final semester
examinations.)
o All retakes must be completed prior to the end of each six week grading period.
o Students are encouraged to attend tutorials.
1

2. Heather Fournier Legacy High School 2010 ENGLISH I
o Mid term or final exams are not to be included in the retake/retest process.
No writing assignment will be accepted for any grade lower than 70%. Students must submit on time a completed writing assignment that meets the content and length
requirements. Students who earn a grade lower than 70% on the writing assignment will have no more than two opportunities to redo that assignment.
Tardy Policy (Student Handbook, page 37)
The following tardy policy will be enforced each semester:
First Block – A Day and B Day
F Two “free” tardies for unforeseen delays
F 3rd and 4th tardy = 1 Detention Hall
F 5th tardy = 2 Detention Halls
F 6th tardy = AC Placement
F 7th and additional tardies = excessive tardies*
Tardies All Other Blocks
T No “free” tardies
T 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tardy = 1 Detention Hall
T 5th tardy = 2 Detention Halls
T 6th tardy = AC Placement
T 7th and additional tardies = excessive tardies*
* Excessive tardies may result in an alternative placement. Five or more tardies within a 6-month period may result in truancy charges being filed with the juvenile
courts. (TEC 25.095)
NOTE:
N Tardies are cumulative per semester.
N “No show” to D Hall will result in additional disciplinary action which may include AC Placement.
N Two tardies in one day = 1 day AC Placement.
Attendance (Student Handbook, page 33)
Regular school attendance is essential for the student to make the most of his or her education—to benefit from teacher-led activities, to build each day’s learning on
that of the previous day, and to grow as an individual. Absences from class may result in serious disruption of a student’s mastery of the instructional materials;
therefore, the student and parent should make every effort to avoid unnecessary absences. Two state laws, one dealing with compulsory attendance, the other with
attendance for course credit, are of
special interest to students and parents.
Attendance School (AC) (Student Handbook, page 33)
Students are required to attend Attendance School to make up excessive absences whether those absences are excused or unexcused. One attendance school day
covers one day of absence on either an A day or a B day.
The following policy will be enforced each semester for each single block A/B scheduled class:
T 5th absence on an A day or B day = one Attendance School
T 6th absence on an A day or B day = second Attendance School
t 7th absence or more: It is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate Assistant Principal for an attendance review.
The following policy will be enforced each semester for each double blocked A/B scheduled class.
(Each period of a double-blocked class is assessed as a single attendance period. Absences of one period within the double-block framework = 1 absence.
Absences of both periods within the double block framework = two absences.)
A 10th absence = one Attendance School
A 11th absence = two Attendance Schools
X 12th absence or more: It is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate Assistant Principal for an attendance review.
In the event of an unavoidable extenuating circumstance, the parent should contact the appropriate Assistant Principal for an attendance review. This must be done
within two days of the student’s return to school; adequate, dated documentation must be presented.
School Related Absences (Student Handbook, page 33)
School related absences are excused, and students are counted present in class. Students MUST notify teachers in advance of an absence. The Make-up Policy applies to
these absences. Students may miss no more than five days per semester for school related activities.
Make-up Policy (Student Responsibility) (Student Handbook, page 32)
Students with excused absences will have the total number of days associated with the absence from school plus one day to turn in make-up work. Parents may call on
the second day of an absence to request make-up work. Parents are asked to allow twenty-four hours before picking up make-up assignments. It is the student’s
responsibility to obtain make-up work! If a student misses an exam or a quiz, the student must make an appointment with the teacher to complete the assignment at
school.
Academic Dishonesty (Student Handbook, page 38)
Academic dishonesty—cheating or plagiarism—is not acceptable. Cheating includes the copying of another student’s work—homework, class work, test answers, etc.
—as one’s own. Plagiarism is the use of another person’s original ideas or writing without giving credit to the true author. A student found to have engaged in academic
dishonesty will be subject to loss of credit for the work in question, as well as disciplinary penalties, according to the Student Code of Conduct.
 Cheating on daily work will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment.
 Cheating on quizzes, tests or projects will result in a grade of 0 and the parent, associate principal and/or academic principal will be contacted.
Plagiarism Policy (Student handbook, page 38).
If a student is suspected of plagiarizing or copying an essay, the following process must be followed:
 Consult another teacher (i.e. previous teacher)
2

3. Heather Fournier Legacy High School 2010 ENGLISH I
 Consult previous writing samples
 Conduct a computer search
 Confront student
 Call parent
 Contact and send a copy of the information to academic principal, Chris Englert and Cynthia Carter
 Punishment: Grade of 0 – The Student will not be permitted to re-do the assignment.
Late Work Policy (Student Handbook, page 9)
 NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED for daily work, essays, projects, etc. in any English classroom.
 Work is due upon teacher demand, during the period in which the student has the English class.
Essay Policy
 Essays count for thirty-five percent of a student’s overall grade.
 Every essay must have a handwritten rough draft and a final copy.
 Failure to turn in an essay will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment.
 All essays are due on the scheduled date assigned by the teacher. Essays are due during the class period in which the student takes the
English class.
 Students will complete a reflection sheet for each essay submitted.
 Students aware of the due date for an essay, one week prior to that date, must submit the assignment regardless of absenteeism.
Student may either submit their essay electronically, via email or have a responsible party take the essay to the English teacher.
The English department will strictly adhere to the Absence and Tardy policies listed in the Legacy High School Student Handbook.
Telecommunications Devices (Cell Phones, Pagers, Beepers) (Student Handbook, page 41)
The District prohibits the use of all telecommunications devices, including cellular phones and pager/beepers, at all schools during the instructional school day, from the
morning entry bell to afternoon dismissal bell. Students shall be allowed to possess such devices; however, such devices shall not be visible and shall remain turned off
during the instructional school day. Students who violate this policy shall be subject to established disciplinary measures. The first time a telecommunications device is
confiscated, it may be subject to a $15.00 return fee. The second time a telecommunications device is confiscated , it is at the discretion of the Assistant Principal when
the phone will be returned. It may be returned at the end of the school year, and then, only to a parent or guardian after paying a $15.00 return fee. District employees
shall confiscate any telecommunications devices found in use in school buildings during school hours. Parents shall be notified within two school days after the
telecommunications device is confiscated. Confiscated communications devices shall be held by the District for a period of 30 days after notification has been made.
Parents may obtain the release of the devices for the $15.00
Quizzes and Tests:
Students will have periodic quizzes and tests at the end of instructional units, over information given in class and/or assigned reading outside of class.
*Course Calendar/Schedule 1st Semester
1st Six Weeks Assignment
Paragraph Structure/ short
Writing
answer
Literature Short Stories
Unit I/ literature/ 2nd Six Weeks Assignment
Unit I Test
grammar/ reading skills
Descriptive/narrative Essay
Writing
based on House on Mango Street
Literature House on Mango Street
Unit II/ literature/
Unit II Test
grammar/ reading skills
3rd Six Weeks Assignment
Descriptive/narrative
Writing
Creation Myth
Literature The Odyssey
Unit III/ literature/
grammar/ reading Unit III Test
skills
*May change based on the progress of the class.
The second semester schedule will be distributed in January 2010.
3

4. Heather Fournier Legacy High School 2010 ENGLISH I
Course Specific Requirement:
Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) Criteria
 Students are required to read an independent novel each six weeks. Magazines, newspapers, children’s books, and graphic novels are not
allowed for SSR because they do not help develop fluency. They will read outside of classroom as well as in class for 15 minutes.
 In class reading time (SSR) will count as a quiz grade each six weeks. The student will also have an out of class assessment assigned that
will be considered a major assessment grade.
 Students will visit the library as a class at the beginning of the year. After this, they are to visit the library independently upon finishing a
book.
 In the event that a student forgets to bring his/her novel to class, they may check out a book from my personal library; however, options are
limited and it is on a first come, first served basis. Any book checked out from my library will not leave the classroom.
 Students are encouraged to read a book they will enjoy.
 Understand that reading is thinking. Do nothing to distract yourself or other readers.
 Read as well and as much as you can. Every reading session, your goal will be to complete five pages.
 If you are unprepared, decide to read something other than a book, talk, fall asleep, or do not comply to classroom rules during SSR time,
you will be docked 5 points each time. Your grade SSR grade will start as a 100 for each six weeks and will stay that way so long as you
follow the rules!
I have read, understand and will adhere to all of the information given in the course syllabus.
Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature
Date Date
Phone:
Email:
4