All courses:

Due to the importance of being and active contributing members of a group for many of the projects marks will be earned based on the days present and working on a project.  For example, if a project takes ten class days to complete and a student only attends five they will receive 50% of the mark that the group received.

All marks are based on a scale where a “C” indicates that work is sufficient but needs in improvement; a “B” is proficient; and an “A” indicates exceptional work. Students will have many opportunities for feedback and to improve their work before they hand in a final project.

Supplies: All courses need a USB, headphones, binder, paper, pen and maybe colouring stuff.

 BLMS late assignment policy:

-    To get full marks, assignments need to be handed in by the assigned due date.

-    For every date late, after the assignment due date, 10% will be deducted from the mark (up to a maximum of 40%).  Weekends count as one day.

-    If a student is absent on a due date, a written excuse from a parent or guardian must be presented upon the student’s return, or the late-day deductions will apply.

-    A student’s mark cannot be lower than 60% given that the student deserves a passing grade on the assignment to begin with.  Any work getting a mark of less than 60% will receive that grade.

-    In order to be graded, all work must be handed in no later than 2 weeks after the given due date of the assignment.  Term marks are final.

BLMS Attendance Incentive –

Exams are normally worth 30% of students’ mark. To reach Academic Incentive, a student must meet the following criteria:

1)          Miss 5 or fewer classes in that particular subject (school activities exempted); AND

2)          Be in good standing (not owing for assignments, projects, etc.)

 The subject teacher will then apply one of the three following options to the student’s advantage:

1)          15% Final Exam, 85% Class Mark

2)          50% Final Exam, 50% Class Mark

Extra help is available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at lunch upon request. 

Digital Productions – period 1

This course is designed with the intention of learning how to use a wide range of digital media tools to communicate with an audience.  Students will explore editing photos, websites, video, audio, and animations.  The emphasis of this course is on continuous learning as a community of learners.  Students with limited computer skills can do very well in this course; however, students with irregular attendance are not likely to succeed as all the work is done in class using our software.

Tentative assignments

Sciences FI9 – period 2 and 3

The aim of the grade 9 science program is to develop scientific literacy.  Scientific literacy is a combination of the science-related attitudes, skills, and knowledge students need to develop.  These skills will allow students to become lifelong learners, and to maintain a sense of wonder about the world around them. To develop scientific literacy, students require diverse learning experiences that provide opportunities to explore, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, appreciate, and understand the interrelationships among science, technology, society, and the environment. (ACSC)

 Course Content: The grade 9 science program consists of two units:

 Unit#1: Space (6-8 weeks)                                           Unit #2: Reproduction (8-10 weeks)

a)      Star vs. Planet                                                  a) Cell Theory

b)      The Solar System                                            b) Cell Growth and Reproduction

c)      Effects of Planetary Motion                           c) Cell Division

d)      Rotation vs.  Revolution                                d) Zygotes and Development

                                                                                     e) DNA

 f) Cloning

 Marking Scheme:

 25% - Lab Work/Reports/Projects

30 % - Unit Tests (two to three per unit)

20 % - Quizzes (three to five per unit)

25% - Daily Assignments/Homework/Preparedness (having all materials required for class)

 Term 1: 35%                                     Term 2: 35%                                     Final Exam: 30%

Environmental Science 120 – period 5

This course is structured very differently than most courses currently being offered.  It structured around student interests and current environmental issues.  Students will consider the environment from the perspective of their own personal behaviours, government, Indigenous perspectives and sustainable development.  

Most importantly students should realize that this will be a project-based course where they choose their own environmental concerns and implement strategies to improve that problem.  They will need to be active learners. They will work from a scientific perspective to research, experiment and present their findings with respect to a current issue.

Tentative topics:

1. Introduction to the issues
2. Climate change and critical thinking
3.  Animals and ecosystems
4. Food production
5. Energy generation
6. Sustainable housing

Tentative assignments: