Government

Bryan Rossi Room # CC309

Voice Mail #623-376-3240

dvusd.org/mrhs

US and Arizona Government

Course Description:

This course is an introduction to the United States and Arizona political systems.  This course will provide students with information that will help them to take an active role as a citizen in this country.  This course is aligned with Arizona College and Career Ready Standards and/or national content standards and supports school-wide efforts to increase student achievement.

 Course Standards:

This course will follow the ADE History and Social Science Standards, found here. The anchor standards that embedded in the course are the following:

SP1: Change Continuity and Context

SP2: Multiple Perspectives

SP3: Gathering, using and interpreting evidence

SP4: Causation and argumentation

C1: Civic virtues and democratic principles

C2: Individual rights, roles and responsibilities

C3: Civic and Political institutions

C4: Process, rules and laws

G2: Human-environment interactions

G3: Human population and movement

H2: Conflict and Cooperation

H3: Influence of Economic, Political and Religious Ideas and Institutions.

Classroom Rules and Consequences:

All students will adhere to the DVUSD Student Norms and to the DVUSD Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. In order to maintain a fantastic learning climate in our class, students will be expected to adhere to the following guidelines in class.

Respect others. “Others” includes fellow students, the teacher, substitutes, guests… everyone.

Be prepared.  Students will come to class on time with all required materials, and a charged iPad.

Follow school rules.  All school rules, as outlined in the student handbook, will be enforced.

Grading:

Assessments 60%

Coursework 30%

Community Service 10%

Mountain Ridge does not allow extra credit

Report Cards

In an effort to conserve resources and harness the capacity of our electronic grade reporting program (PowerSchool) district schools will no longer print hard copies of report cards unless requested by individual parents. To request a hard copy of your student’s report card, please contact the front office at 623-376-3000.  To receive your PowerSchool login, please stop into the office with a valid photo ID. 

Power School Online Access:

Grades and attendance may be accessed 24 hours a day online with your PowerSchool access code.  Access codes are available in the Counseling Office or Front Desk Monday – Friday 7:00 AM– 3:30 PM. You may check student progress regularly on the PowerSchool site using the same login for one or more students.  For Mountain Ridge parents/guardians without home computer access, a computer with guest log-in capability is available in the Counseling Conference Room.

Academic Assistance/Office Hours:

In addition to the Academic Prep times built into our schedule each week, additional assistance/tutoring can be scheduled by appointment.

 

Attendance:

After an absence, a student has one school day for each day missed to make up work/tests, regardless of the number of days absent. If many days were missed, please schedule an appointment with me to formulate a plan for the completion of make-up work. Make-up work for extended absences (over 3 days) may be requested through the Counseling Office and picked up there.

 

Late Assignments Policy: Mountain Ridge students have within the current unit of study to turn in assigned work for full credit, as determined by the teacher, level, and department on campus. The length of the unit of study and due dates will be clearly communicated to students by the teacher.

Classwork Policy: In-class assignments may be due by the end of the class period.

Daily Device Use (iPads)

Students should come to school with their iPads charged and ready to use in each class every day.  Devices may not be used to record or take photos of other people without their consent.  Consequences for classroom disruptions and misuse of devices will follow a progressive discipline model, beginning with confiscation of device/s during class and progressing to office referrals for repeated or more serious offenses. Students who have devices out during testing, may lose credit on their assessment. See the Student Rights and Responsibilities consequence chart in the handbook for more specific descriptions of infractions and consequences.

Retake Policy:

Students will have the opportunity to either retake or complete test corrections for summative assessments one time for each unit. In order to qualify for a retake opportunity, students must complete all assignments for the assessed unit to a level of mastery (80%) before retaking or remediating the unit assessment.

Community Service:

Community service is a LONG TERM PROJECT and includes a 10 hour volunteer commitment at a non-profit in the community. This project is due at the beginning of the hour on the day it’s due. If you will not be in class, your project must still be turned into the office by the start of the class period. This project will be accepted any day prior to the assigned due date to avoid any possible complications. 

 Materials:

Students should have lined paper/notebook, pen and/or pencil, a composition book dedicated solely for Government, and a charged iPad every day in class. Not having the materials could result in a student being unable to complete assignments and as a result, their grade may be negatively impacted.

Suggestions for Success: 

Take notes

Complete all assignments

 Ask questions

 Do not miss class

Think positive, you can do it!

Integrity and Character Counts: 

Integrity is vital to the learning environment.  Cases of cheating and plagiarism will be handled in accordance with the MRHS student handbook.  While there are many different ways to cheat or plagiarize, please be aware that activities such as sharing material, copying work, falsifying community service hours and posting information on a website are considered cheating.  Students who choose to cheat and or plagiarize will receive no credit for that work(This includes the Community Service long term project) and will face further consequences as outlined in the Student Handbook. Cheating on any part will result in a zero for the entire assignment or project.