This document contains information about a Living Environment class taught by Mr. Walajtys including: objectives to explore life processes and develop critical thinking skills; a philosophy of hands-on learning; expectations for attendance, preparedness, and classroom behavior; grading policies and procedures; and requirements for labs, notebooks, and the Regents exam.

1. Living Environment
Teacher: Mr. Walajtys
Room: 205 (lecture) 204 (lab)
Phone: 518-587-7070
E-Mail: walajtys@saratogacatholic.org
Text: Miller & Levine: Biology
Objectives
What is life and how do things live? The ability to function as a living organism is
complex and extremely fascinating. Over centuries, scientists have discovered astounding
things about the way living organisms function and interact. There are many unsolved
mysteries, however, and there is so much more yet to be learned and discovered; what we
know about life and living organisms is little when compared to what we do not know. In
this class we will explore all of the components of life (and what it is to be alive) and
work to unwrap its mysteries. You will be responsible for knowing basic principles in
Biology and how they relate in a meaningful way to life's processes. The goal of the
course is to develop you into applied, critical thinkers. You will be able to analyze basic
information in Biology and apply its significance to yourselves and the world around you.
My Philosophy
I believe learning is an activity. I would rather see all students involved in trying out
ideas and doing “hands-on” activities, than for the teacher to stand in front of the room
and lecture or to assign terms to define. Granted, due to time restraints of a classroom
setting, we will have to have lectures and notes, and terms to define. However, it is my
approach to this course to make learning as “hands-on” whenever possible, and it is the
enthusiasm of the students that can lift us beyond the basic course content and procedures
and take us to deeper understanding, expanded knowledge, new skills, and questions we
previously never thought to ask.
Expectations
Students are expected to come to class on time and prepared. We are unable to learn and
be successful if we are not prepared to do so. Classroom guidelines are as follows:
Basic Classroom Rules
1. Attendance, Promptness, Preparedness, Politeness.
(Be where you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there, doing what
you are supposed to be doing.)
2. Be in your seat ready to learn when the bell rings.
(In your seat, notes open, homework out, and ready to receive instruction)When the
teacher is talking, be sure you are not.
3. No food or drink in the room (including gum or candy)

2. 4. No cell phones or music players.
(If this rule is violated I will follow the protocols listed in your student handbook.)
5. Students will obey safety rules and codes. If you are messing around in the Lab or
lab area, you will be expelled from class. No Excuses.
6. Be sure that your language will make your mother proud.
7. Treat everyone with respect.
8. Follow all rules outlined in the student handbook.
9. Be good.
Failure to meet these expectations may result in any or all of the following
consequences based on the severity of the infraction:
1. warning
2. class detention
3. referral to principal
4. call home to parents
Procedures
1. All materials distributed in class should be kept for the extent of the school year.
Don’t throw anything away.
2. All daily homework assignments are listed on the side board.
3. Tests will occur at the end of each major unit.
4. An absence tray for each class will be located somewhere in the room. If you are
absent, it is your responsibility to check the folder for any needed make-up work.
5. If you are absent the day of an assignment’s due date, or the day of a quiz or test,
you have the amount of time equivalent to your absence to complete any
evaluations. If you miss school on only the day a quiz or a test is given, you will
be expected to complete it when you return to class. If for some reason you are
unable to do this, you must speak with me and we will discuss the earliest
possible date at which you can take a make-up quiz or exam. If you fail to make
up a quiz or an exam in a reasonable time frame, your grade will become a zero
for that evaluation.
6. Most quizzes will be announced.
7. Cheating in any form will result in a zero for all parties involved. Labs will be
conducted in groups but each member is expected to hand in their own lab report.
Material Requirements
1. (1) 3 ring binder, designated for science only.
2. 1 subject notebook with holes so it can be placed inside the binder.
3. pencil or pen (blue or black ink… please)

3. Grading Policy
The grading in this course is based on a total points system. Students will accumulate
points by completing assignments and correctly answering questions on assessments.
Their average at the end of the quarter will be determined by dividing the total number of
points earned by the total number of points possible.
Additional Expectations
Quizzes/Tests: Tests will be given generally at the end of each chapter or unit. Test
retakes and opportunities for extra credit on tests will be given at the sole discretion of
the teacher. Quizzes will be given approximately 1-2 times per week.
The Regents Exam: You no doubt are aware that you will take a regents examination at
the end of this course. Passing this test in June is required for you to receive regent’s
credit for this course. Students who fail this exam may have to take the course over again
in high school.
Lab Requirement: In order to take the Regents exam in June you must have 1200
minutes of documented labs on file. All labs must be kept in the class room for the entire
year for this purpose. If you lose any amount of labs to bring you under the 1200 minute
mark you will not be allowed to take the regents and you will have to repeat the course
next year for credit. Summer school is not an option here!
Lab/Projects: Some of these labs will have formal reports, whereas others might be a
series of short answer and calculations or presentations.
Notebooks: Notes will be generally taken in the packets that I hand out. Your note books
will be used for “Do Now” assignments and additional notes. I reserve the right to inspect
your notebooks at any time for evaluation. I may grade some or all of the notebooks at
any time.
Late Assignments: Assignments will be completed on time. Late assignments will not be
accepted without a formal excuse.
Attendance: Class attendance is essential. You cannot participate in class discussion and/
or activities if you are not present. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out
what assignments you missed and when they are due.
Tardiness: Lateness to class without a formal excuse will not be tolerated. This behavior
may result in parent contact, detention and/or loss of class participation grade.

4. Class Website: You may access the class notes from the internet,
(http://www.slideshare.net/walajtys) If you are absent from school this will make it easy
for you to keep up to date on the notes.
Extra Credit: Generally one large assignment will be offered each quarter. At any point
you may discuss with me an extra credit assignment of your choice.
Extra Help: I am generally available for extra help every day after school. If I am
available at other times I will let you know and if I am suddenly unavailable after school
I will let you know as well.

5. Student Information and Parent Contact Sheet
Students Name:___________________________________________________________
Class:______________________________________________ Grade:_______________
Parent(s) Name(s): ________________________________________________________
Address:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
___
Home Phone:______________________________
Mom’s Cell:_______________________________
Dad’s Cell:________________________________
Do you have reliable internet access at your home? YES_______ NO_______
If yes, please fill out whatever information applies…
Parent E-mail 1:
(Which parent?)_______________________(E-mail)_____________________________
Parent E-mail 2:
(Which parent?)_______________________(E-mail)_____________________________
Which is the preferred e-mail address to send e-mails to, regarding your child?
_______________________________________________________________________
_
Student’s E-mail: _________________________________________________________
Continued on back

6. Is it ok to contact you at work if it is ever at all necessary? YES_______ NO_______
If yes, please fill out whatever information applies…
Name of parent: __________________________________________________________
Place of business #1 _______________________________________________________
Work phone #1 ____________________________
Name of Parent: __________________________________________________________
Place of business #2 _______________________________________________________
Work phone #2 ____________________________
Confirmation of Reading/Understanding Course Syllabus
I, __________________________ (student) and_________________________________
(parent/guardian) am aware of and have read the course description, class expectations,
evaluation policy, extra credit policy, homework policy, and quiz/test make up
procedures in Mr. Walajtys’ Science class for the year 2008-2009.
Signature (student) _____________________________________ Date ____________
Signature (parent) ______________________________________ Date ____________