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    Bryan Rossi Room # CC309

    Voice Mail #623-376-3240

    dvusd.org/mrhs-rossi

    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 . 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 ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp Student Norms and to the ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp 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.

    Grade Book Weighting: (District Wide)

    80% Assessment

    20% Coursework

    Mountain Ridge does not allow extra credit

    Grading Scale

    100% - 90% 

    89% - 80% 

    79% - 70% 

    69% - 60% 

    59% - 0%

    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 is provided on a weekly basis both by MRHS and individually by instructors. These office hours will be posted in my classroom, website, and/or Canvas at the start of each week. I will demonstrate to the students how to find my availability each week. 

    Make-up Policy:

     

    Absences: 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. 

    Missing Work 

    An assignment is considered missing work when it is not submitted by the due date. 

    Missing work will be treated as such:

    • The assignment will be marked with the “Missing” special code in the gradebook

    • A zero (“0”) will be entered as the score for the assignment in the gradebook 

    • No Evidence (NE) will be entered for the standards attached to the assignment

     

    Late Assignments Policy:

    In order for Late Work to be accepted, students must meet the following parameters:

       ¡ñ         Assignment is not due within the class period

       ¡ñ         Assignment is not a timed activity (such as a Quick-Write Essay)

       ¡ñ         Assignment is not a Long-Term assignment (over multiple weeks)

       ¡ñ         Assignment is turned in by the end of the instructional unit. 

    All units are weekly and will lock Sunday night at 11:59pm

    Classwork Policy: In-class assignments may be due by the end of the class period. You will receive time to complete in class.

    Test Retakes –  Assessment Category Only

    The student completes another assessment of the same learning targets. The assessment to be retaken may be in the same format or a different format and will be at the same difficulty level. The higher of the two scores will be entered in the gradebook.

    To earn a retake opportunity, a student must complete all of the following:

    o   Consult with the teacher

    o   Submit a reassessment plan or application, if required by the teacher

    o   The reassessment plan will include completion of  all formative coursework related to the content/skill assessed by the student

    Reassessment Plan

    • The student must initiate contact with the teacher within 5 school days of the assessment score being posted.

    • The student must communicate with the teacher to create a reassessment plan.

    • Assignment is not a Long-Term assignment (over multiple weeks)

     

    Daily Device Use (Chromebooks)

     

    Students should come to school with their Chromebooks 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 a phone call home and progressing to office referrals for repeated or more serious offenses. See the Student Rights and Responsibilities consequence chart in the handbook for more specific descriptions of infractions and consequences.



     AI Statement

     

    In Deer Valley Unified School District, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible education while ensuring their safety, privacy, and well-being. As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance learning experiences, we may incorporate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom for students. However, it is important to approach this technology with caution and adhere to responsible data privacy practices.

     ¼â½ÐÊÓƵapp has determined that the use of Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, is prohibited unless clearly specified by your teacher. Specific guidelines will be provided in the assignment details. If you are unsure if the tool or website you are using is an LLM or if it is permitted on a specific assignment, please contact your teacher before submitting your work.

     

    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 Chromebook 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.