Mrs. Claiborne- High School Science 

Course Syllabus   

West St. John High School  

Course: Chemistry                          Teacher: Mrs. E. Claiborne  

Term: 2025-2026 School Year         Email: [email protected]   

WSJH Vision Statement  

One hundred percent of West St. John High students will be accepted into college or prepared for a technical career.  

West St. John High School Believes:   

1. Each member of our school community plays an integral part in making student success a certainty.   

2. That all students are provided the necessary resources and opportunities to become successful Collaborative Workers, Adaptable Problem Solvers, Critical Thinkers, Involved Citizens, Quality Producers and Self-Guided Achievers.   

3. That all students are immersed in vigorous, standards-based curricula that promotes higher level thinking skills.   

4. That all students are capable of learning and as such, we educate the whole person, providing students the necessary support to achieve their fullest potential.   

5. That we value diversity, promote tolerance, and espouse understanding and compassion.   

6. That the aesthetic value of our campus is an important part of student achievement.  

Course Description:  

Students explore the fundamental principles of chemistry which characterize the properties of matter and how it reacts. Computer-based and traditional laboratory techniques are used to obtain, organize, and analyze data. Conclusions are developed using both qualitative and quantitative procedures. Topics will be followed up with labs, when applicable.   

Louisiana State Standards:   

1. HS- PS1-1Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.  

2. HS- PS1-2Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.  

3. HS- PS1-4Develop a model to illustrate that the release or absorption of energy from a chemical reaction system depends upon the changes in total bond energy.  

4. HS- PS1-5Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs.  

5. HS- PS3-1Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.  

Textbook(s) & Supplementary Materials Provided:  

1. KOGNITY Online Access  

2. KHAN Academy  

Homework: Students are expected to spend a minimum of 30 minutes each day for this course doing homework, studying, reading, and/or reviewing materials.A minimum of two homework assignments will be assigned Monday through Thursday, with additional assignments as needed. All homework is due at the beginning of the period. For absences, homework is due within ___2____ days of your return to receive full credit. Homework assignments are regularly posted on TEAMS.  

Make-Up Work: It is YOUR responsibility to find out the missing homework assignments from the TEAMS or from a classmate. Any late or incomplete assignments will receive a maximum of 50% credits. It is not the teacher’s responsibility to collect work from students who are truant to class.  

Grading Policy:                                                                  

Homework                                    5-10 points                                 

Classwork/Participation *          5-10 points                                  

Quizzes                                          25-50 points                                 

Tests                                               50-100 points                              

Course Binder                               50 points                                     

Projects                                          75-150 points                           

Final Exam                                     100 points   

*Participation: We at West St. John High School expect all our students to attend school regularly and arrive to all classes on time, ready to participate, learn and achieve. Participation consists of, but is not limited to, arriving at class on time with all appropriate materials, ready to be a positive and productive member of the class. Class participation will contribute to 15% of the student’s total grade.  

Rams Essential Behaviors: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be an Achiever,   

Be a Motivator, and Be Successful.  

Classroom Behavior Standards and Expectations:   

1. Respect your teachers, classmates, and school. All forms of disrespect (including foul language) will not be tolerated.   

2. Remain in your seat at all times, unless directed to move by a teacher.   

3. Focus your attention on the topic related to class lectures/discussions.  

Consequences of violation of class rules:   

1st Offense: Verbal warning   

2nd Offense: Student/teacher conference and detention   

3rd Offense: Parent phone call and possible parent/teacher/student conference and detention. Note: If the violation is severe, the teacher reserves the right to immediately remove the student from class.