ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Teacher: Ms. Khella

Room: 216
Email: ckhella@flchs.org
Class website: envisci9flc.weebly.com
Telephone: 215-684-5916 (Main Office)
Course Description
Welcome to Ms. Khellas Environmental Science class at Franklin Learning Center! In Environmental
Science students will learn to use scientific skills to understand major environmental science concepts, see the
ways in which Earths systems relate to one another, and to analyze environmental issues and their solutions.
Ownership of knowledge acquired in the Environmental Science course will be demonstrated by successful
completion of the course, and will also contribute to success on the Biology Keystone Exam, which is
administered by the tenth grade.
This class is inquiry-based: that means students will be asking questions, solving problems, and
conducting hands- and minds-on experiments. Inquiry-based science allows students to mature as talented
scientific researchers and writers. Students will cultivate sophisticated decision-making skills that reflect deep
understandings of content, empathy for others, and a sense of stewardship of our natural environment.
Successful students will be prepared to think for themselves, collaborate with others, ask questions, engage fully,
and learn from mistakes.
Year Overview
Quarter Unit
1: Scientific Method & Environmental
Science
1
2: Basic Chemistry of our Planet
3: Our Planets Life
2

4: Population Dynamics
5: Ecological Principles

Forthcoming

Forthcoming

Grade Breakdown
Classwork 25%
Labs and Experiments 25%
Participation 20%
Homework 10%
Tests and Quizzes 20%

Materials
Required
Ream of copy paper labeled with your name
Unused notebook with removable pages (NO composition books)
Empty pocket folder (to be used ONLY for Environmental Science class)
Writing utensils black or blue pens; pencils

Suggested Classroom Donations

Glue sticks
Colored pencils, markers, colored
pens
3x5 Index cards
School-safe scissors

Workload and Academic Integrity

Expect regular homework, at least one lab report write-up per quarter, and regular assessments (both
traditional paper and pencil tests and quizzes and authentic assessments, including projects and presentations). Inclass participation is an ongoing assessment (and an important participation grade).
Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity; cheating is taken very seriously and will result in an
automatic zero and notification to the parent/guardian. I consider cheating to be any of the following: copying work
from another student, using the Internet for the purposes of cheating, plagiarizing material, discussing test questions
with students outside of class, or using any unauthorized devices or sources during a test/quiz.
Resources, handouts, and a blog listing homework updates and due dates can be found on our class website:
envisci9flc.weebly.com

Late Work
Assignments should be turned in on time. Homework is due at the beginning of each class period in the bin
and is considered late if not submitted at that time. Late homework must have the date submitted written on the top
edge and be placed in the late bin to be eligible for credit. Papers and projects are due at the beginning of the class
period on the assigned due date. Extensions, if eligible, must be approved before the deadline. All late work will be
penalized 10% for each day it is late. Work submitted five days late or more can earn a maximum of 50%. Work
submitted without a name will be recycled.

Absence and Lateness to Class

Students who are in class for instruction but absent on the day of a test or quiz are expected to take the test or
quiz on the day they return or schedule an appointment for a reasonable time. When absent, it is the responsibility of
the student to see the teacher individually (or to send an email) to get caught up as soon as they have returned to
class. This is an inquiry-based, hands-on, lab-oriented class, so if days are missed that were spent in the inquiry or
lab, those experiences cannot be easily made up. Students must schedule an appointment to complete an alternate
assignment.
Unexcused and excessive lateness and class cuts are considered serious disciplinary infractions and will
impede success in Environmental Science. Late students should sign their name in the late book and quietly sit in
their seat. Late students should expect to speak with the teacher to personally address this issue. Late students will
earn a zero on the warm up and may lose points on other assignments missed due to lateness. Assignments due to
cuts cannot be made up and will result in a zero.
For safety reasons, students are not permitted to leave the classroom during labs/investigative activities or
during tests. Students are not permitted to leave class to go to their lockers, to see other teachers, or to do other
errands at any time during Environmental Science.

Participation
Participation is worth 20% of the overall course grade. Participation is earned daily for being on time to
class, with all required materials, prepared to do the work at hand and actively engaged throughout the period.
Asking and answering questions, helping others, listening, reading, writing, problem solving, and participating in
projects, group work, and discussions will all contribute to your participation grade. Appropriate, respectful behavior
is expected at all times per the FLC Student Code of Conduct. Students are expected to show respect for themselves,
others, property and opinions.

Unauthorized Items
Electronics should not be seen or heard in our classroom. Violation of this policy will result in loss of
participation points and possibly other disciplinary consequences. Food and drink, except bottled water, are
prohibited in our classroom. Our room is our lab and we must take every precaution to keep our space clean and
orderly and avoid contamination of lab materials.

Catherine Khella
Franklin Learning Center
616 N. 15th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
8 September 2015
Dear Students and Families,
Welcome to the 9th grade and to Environmental Science! I am excited to get to know and work with
you this year and beyond. A little about me: I earned a BS in Health Sciences from Drexel University, and I
earned my MS Ed in Secondary Science Education at the University of Pennsylvania. Both academic
experiences invested me with a passion for teaching authentically, creatively, and through the lens of social
justice.
Prior to attending Penn I was a member of a D1 Varsity Rowing team at Drexel (with both national
and international golds), I briefly lived in Nicaragua, and I worked for the Education Law Center of PA
(ELC). At ELC, I worked with public school students and families to ensure equitable access to schools and
school services. I strongly encourage you to read up on your rights as a public school student, parent, or
guardian at www.elc-pa.org. In my work at ELC I felt as though I was missing opportunities to build
individual connections with students and families and I was motivated to become a teacher. Plus, I love how
the study of science illuminates our world, and I wanted the opportunity to share and build on that
perspective. Since leaving ELC, Ive taught at Dobbins High School and Boys Latin Charter School. I am
thrilled to join you at Franklin Learning Center, and I know this will be an excellent new chapter.
This year, we will study habits of mind to grow our capacity for learning and to acquire practices of
successful scholars. We will study Earths systems, life on our planet, ecology, population dynamics and
more. We will draw connections between content and current issues in our world, from chemistry to
conservation. To successfully reach these goals, you will be expected to collaborate in groups small and large,
to take risks, and to be organized and prepared in order to participate fully.
Should you need to reach me at any time, please dont hesitate to email me or contact me through the
schools main number at 215.684.5916. I would be happy to discuss your childs progress in person as well.
Family involvement in the classroom is welcome, and you can keep up with the goings on in our class
through Engrade and our class website (envisci9flc.weebly.com).
All the best,
Catherine Khella
Please detach, complete, and return this page to class indicating that you and your guardian have read the course syllabus and
agree to the rules/procedures of class.
Student Name:

Signature:

Student Email Address:

Parent/Guardian Name(s):
Parent/Guardian Signature:
Phone Number:
Comments, questions concerns:

Email: