English Department Policies

Contents of this page:

Missed Work Policy

Students who have missed class for any reason must make up the missed work either after school or in a study hall. Work must be made up be fore the end of the marking period in which the work is assigned.

Lost or Damaged Book Policy

A student who loses a book or who damages a book so it can no longer be used must replace the book or pay the replacement cost. The funds go to the English Department Account. Books are to be covered by students if directed to do so by the teacher.

Return of Book Policy

A student must return a book which is due before he will be issued the next assigned book. Books not returned by the end of the year will result in withheld credit for the course.

Emergency Substitute Plans

All teachers are to keep on file in the English Office a set of emergency lesson plans along with reliable class lists.

Grading

The English department believes students should be graded objectively against standards established for each course. We believe, regardless of course, that an "A" signifies excellence an exemplary product, that demonstrates more than just proficiency. A "B" signifies accomplishment, work that, while not exemplary, demonstrates work of substantial merit that is usually result of a quality effort. A "C" indicates that a student's product meets or satisfies the performance standard, although it may do so with proficiency but without the character evidenced in "B" or "A" work. A grade of "D" indicates that work or effort is rudimentary; falling short of the performance standards established for each course. We expect students who earn "D" to improve through greater commitment to academic achievement and attention to the teacher's directions, guidance, and support. A student who demonstrates little or no evidence of work or effort fails.

The department feels that it is important to make students recognize that there are standards which they must meet. We believe that grading a student "against himself" rather than assessing his work against performance and product standards places a teacher into such a highly subjective evaluative role that the grade earned has no meaning to anyone viewing it. We believe, therefore, that a grade should be an indicator of how well a student performs in light of course and product standards established in a manner consistent with our department outcomes and our curriculum.

Warnings

All students who are in danger of receiving a D or an F for a marking period must be sent a warning.

Curriculum

All teachers are expected to follow the curriculum as established for the course they've been assigned to teach.

Library Assignments

Students are required to use the library in connection with certain core assignments. They are at times expected to do this work outside of class, through study halls, or, if necessary, after school. A student will be held responsible for work which must be done in the library, even if he is not allowed to use the library because of some infringement of their policies.

Progression to Next Course in the English I-IV Sequence

Every student must pass the prior required English course English to move on to the next course in the English sequence. Failure necessitates summer school or approved tutoring. Because of the sequential nature of the English I-IV program, students cannot take two courses in the English sequence simultaneously, unless approved by the English department chairman and Guidance Services.

Class Attendance

School procedures are strictly enforced. During class time students must demonstrate satisfactory involvement with class activities. The conversations about reading and writing that occur in class cannot be reproduced through a classmate's notes or a teacher's patient or tolerant recollections of "what happened yesterday." The interaction of a group at work cannot, obviously, be made up or recreated. Therefore, students are expected to be present in class to participate in the learning that goes on. Following an absence, it is a student's responsibility to ask for and secure any make-up work.

Time

Work each week outside of class is expected, the amount depending upon the particular course. Often, work involves long-term writing and reading assignments.

Preparation of Papers

Longhand papers (in blue or black ink) are acceptable, but typing or word processing of finished pieces is strongly encouraged. Students should turn in prewriting and drafts with their finished pieces when directed to do so by the teacher. The development of student writing is important to trace and reflect on in subsequent conference conversations. Papers are due at the time indicated by the teacher. Papers turned in after the designated time are considered late and thus are subject to late penalties as specified by the teacher of the course.

Behavior

Standards for proper behavior involve respect for peers (other learners) and the learning situation as set up by the teacher. Learning is the central activity in the classroom student actions are expected to contribute to and support the plan for learning. When student actions detract from the learning situation for example, disruptive behavior during other students' conference time an offending student's grade will reflect the negative impact of his / her behavior on the learning of other students in the class.

Cheating

Cheating, including plagiarism, on any assignment is automatically as signed a failing grade of zero for the offending piece or pieces. In addition, the matter will be brought to the attention of other school authorities concerning possible further action such as suspension or denial/ forfeiture of credit. A student who willfully supplies material to a cheater for copying is considered subject to the same penalties.

Procedure for Selection of New Books and Other Instructional Materials

The department chair will require three members of the department to read any new book and to preview other instructional material (such as a film and audio or video title) that have been proposed for use before they are purchased. The teacher or teachers wishing to use the book or instructional material would initially tell why the book/instructional material is appropriate for the curriculum and, when applicable, indicate its readability level.

Criteria for acceptance of the book or material would be:

Appropriateness to the curriculum
Readability

Keeping in mind that English at Mt. Ararat School is a compulsory course, here is a suggested checklist for use by reviewing teachers:

Does the book / instructional material have sufficient literary, aesthetic, or other merit?
Do you foresee any problem with the community over this proposed instructional material?
If your child was in this class, would you object to its use
Are the ideas and themes in this material appropriate for this grade level and course?

English Department Position Statement on Potentially Objectionable Instructional Materials

The English Department of Mt. Ararat High School believes that selected materials that address contemporary and/or mature themes and issues can help students to think critically about and understand our world, its culture, and human experience. For this reason, the English department allows students to read, view, consider and discuss literary texts, articles, videos, films, and performances which do not always look on the light side of life and may, therefore, include content and/or language that some will judge questionable or unsuitable.

The English department recognizes that a particular item may be objectionable to a student or parent for moral or religious reasons. Furthermore, should a student or parent, after having first encountered an item, decide that they do not wish to continue with it for some reason moral or religious, they may exercise the option of substituting another item of comparable merit and instructional value. The student or parent who objects only has to make the request of the teacher.

Should the case arise that a parent feels strongly that a particular item not be handled at all by the English Department with any students whatsoever, then a form is available from the English department head entitled "Citizens' Request for Reconsideration of a Book or other Instructional Materials." This form is submitted to the English Department Head, who will convene a committee of English teachers to reconsider the materials based on the citizen's request. After this meeting, the committee will report to the citizen their view as to whether the material should be deleted or retained and will provide the department head with a copy of their report. The citizen obviously retains the right to accept or reject the committee's decision and to appeal that decision to higher administrative authority.

Complaint Procedure Involving Books and other Instructional Materials

Allow the student to experience alternative material of comparable value, e.g. read another book.
Attempt to resolve the complaint informally (this is not a good time to engage in a heated discussion about the merits of a book, text, or film). If your informal discussion does not resolve the issue, refer the person to the English department chairman.
Another informal discussion will take place between the department chairman and the person lodging the complaint. If this does not resolve the issue, the person will be asked to complete the "Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of a Book/Instructional Materials."
No action to review challenged material will be taken until a written request for review is filed.
Once a written request is filed, a committee of English teachers will meet and, within seven days from the date of the request, will decide whether the request for reconsideration should be approved or denied.
The person filing the complaint will be notified of the committee's decision and of the right of appeal in the event the request for reconsideration is denied by the English department.

English I-IV Core Assignments and the Resolution of Incompletes/Make Up Policies

Core Assignment Make-up Provisions / Mt. Ararat HS English Department
While the English department will not offer a three-week “summer school” program this year, some students may be eligible to complete their English courses by making up a maximum of two core assignment deficiencies (deficiencies may involve incomplete or substandard quality work). This work will need to be addressed and submitted for teacher scoring in association with “Make-up Periods” designated for the resolution of “incompletes.” By successfully addressing a limited number of deficient core assignments, eligible students may complete an English course they would otherwise fail and move on to the next English course.

Eligibility
Who is eligible?

• A student with up to two (2) deficient core assignments may address and submit completed work for scoring during the two designated make-up periods.
• If one or both of a student’s deficient core assignments are from quarters 1-3, one must be addressed and submitted for scoring in connection with the 3rd quarter core assignment make-up period. No more than one core assignment may be addressed and submitted for scoring in connection with the 4th quarter core assignment make-up period.
Note: a core assignment deficiency involving the English II “I-Search” MUST be addressed during the 3rd quarter make-up period.

Who scores the core assignments once they are done?
• All 1st-through-3rd quarter make-up core assignments are scored by a student’s current English teacher. When possible, 4th quarter make-up core assignments are scored by the student’s current English teacher. However, if end-of-the-year circumstances result in the unavailability of a student’s current English teacher, the English department head will designate a Mt. Ararat high school teacher to score submitted work.

What about an ineligible student?
• A student with more than two deficient core assignments or a student whose failure is due to other factors (e.g. failing grade average, attendance) is ineligible to use the core assignment make-up provision. In order to move on to the next course in the high school English sequence, a student who fails English will need to complete coursework through a state-approved summer school provision, such as those offered by Gardiner and possibly other school systems in the region (Bath, Yarmouth). A student who has failed English should consult a guidance counselor for information on regional summer school opportunities.
• For the subsequent year, a student whose failure is not successfully addressed must re-enroll in the course failed. A student who fails English I is automatically enrolled in English I-R.

Work Plan

The regular classroom teacher (or other department member as determined by the department head) will write a work and assessment plan for the summer school teacher to administer. Only students who have a completed plan written and approved by the English department head prior to the beginning of summer school may participate. The plan will specify specific tasks and products, connected to the learning results intended for students in the particular course of study which the student failed. Tasks will involve successful completion of the specific products the student failed to complete during the regular academic year. The student's academic plan and completed work will be kept in a portfolio, which will be made available for review by the student's subsequent English teacher at Mt. Ararat.

Schedule and Attendance Plan

The teacher will be present for three hours held each day, from 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM. The timing of the workshop sessions provides flexibility for the students on a daily and weekly basis. For the first five days, students must attend for the full session each day. After that, their attendance plan must accumulate to a minimum of thirty hours. Students will, however, be expected to fulfill this attendance plan as written and approved by the teacher at the end of the first week. The attendance plan may be modified only with the approval of the teacher. One variation from the attendance plan, accompanied by a physician's note, will be allowed. Some students may be required by the teacher to work for 45 hours, or for the full three hours per day for the three week session. Any student who does not maintain his or her planned attendance schedule will be dropped from the program. Note: Summer School will not be in session on July 4.

Makeup when Failure is Attendance or Average Based

Students who fail English due to attendance or a failing average will follow a prescribed work plan based on make up of time as well as enrichment work consistent with their academic proficiency. The current English teacher will approve work plans for each student whose enrollment in summer school is to address an attendance or average-based failure and provide the department head with a copy of the plan. Attendance for three hours each day summer school is in session is mandatory for any student making up a credit forfeited due to excess absences or a failing average. During the Summer School, one (1) absence is allowed, and only when a physician's note attesting to the student's illness is presented to the Summer School director.

Individualized Educational Plans

Students whose failure in English is accompanied by an Individualized Educational Plan as determined by a Pupil Evaluation Team meeting must present their IEPs to the summer school teacher on the opening day so that the plan may be referred to in designing the student's summer work.

Refunds

There will be no refunds in instances of student failure to meet attendance or work plans. Refunds will only be granted under the authority of the Director of the Summer School.

Location

The workshop program will be held in rooms 236 and 235 of Mt. Ararat High School. This will enable students to take advantage of the English department's Grantroom and enjoy convenient access to the library when it is open.

Completion

Students who successfully demonstrate proficiency in areas specified by their work plans will receive credit for the failed course. Except in the case of incompletes, summer work will not change the grade earned during the regular year. However, the student will be able to proceed to the subsequent year's work in the fall. Summer work will not lead to restitution of eligibility or affect the student's GPA.

English Department Position on Making Up Failed Courses through Tutoring

Any arrangements to make up a previously failed Mt. Ararat English course must receive prior approval of the student's teacher and the department head. As part of the approval process, a work plan that specifies 1) the core assignments of the failed course to be made up and 2) any additional assignments to address the student's academic deficiencies must be prepared and presented to the department head. All completed work will become part of the student's make-up portfolio.

Only a person certified to teach secondary English may conduct tutoring.

The tutor must submit the complete portfolio of the student's core assignments and written report to the department head for approval before credit is awarded. The student will able to enroll in the subsequent course in the English sequence only after this requirement is met.

The English program is a four year sequential program, Therefore, students cannot earn make up credit through tutoring while simultaneously enrolled in a subsequent English course, e.g. a student cannot receive tutoring for credit in English II while enrolled in English III.

English requirements and Foreign Study

I. If, while studying abroad, a student enrolls in (and successfully completes) a comprehensive English course, one comparable in scope and intent to the English courses offered for State of Maine English credit at Mt. Ararat High School, credit earned will meet graduation requirements just as an English course taken at another Maine high school would meet our requirements even though its curricular content might be somewhat distinctive. When possible, the syllabus should be presented to the English department head for review in advance of departure for study abroad. If this is not done, a syllabus must be presented upon return, prior to the granting of any equivalent credit.

II. If a student does not enroll in (or does not successfully complete or present the syllabus for) a course that meets the comprehensive English course standard, then the student will complete the essential writing and reading assignments associated with the Mt. Ararat course missed. If it is known before departure that the school does not offer a comparable comprehensive English course, the student will meet with a grade level teacher to agree upon an Independent Study in English to be completed prior to return to Mt. Ararat.

A student who needs to meet this requirement registers for an Independent Study and completes the form in advance of the trip unless circumstances known to guidance make this impossible, in which case registration will take place upon return following consultation between the guidance counselor and English department head. Upon return to Mt. Ararat, the student will be assigned to a Writing Center period and teacher to review his or her work. The Writing Center teacher will determine if additional work is necessary in order to meet Mt. Ararat's English course requirements.

For students considering AP: The English department head will consider and recommend a course sequence for an AP student following consultation with the student, parents, counselor, and English teachers. When a student who is abroad for English III wishes to enroll in the Advanced Placement English sequence upon return, a semester of AP English Language and Composition may be taken concurrently with AP English Literature and Composition. A student may elect to take a full year of AP English Language and Composition instead of AP Literature and Composition only if the third year credit has been completed abroad and 2) the senior paper is completed with an assigned Writing Center period. Summer work assigned in concert with applicable AP courses must be completed.