Aviation High School - Long Island City, New York

Humanities Department Student Contract

English Department Mission Statement:

In keeping with the New York City Department of Education’s mission statement, the Aviation High School English Department’s curriculum encourages all students to “live rich, literate lives and to be active and informed citizens.”  Our curriculum is aligned to the New York State Common Core Learning Standards to provide our students with the critical reading, writing, and speaking skills required to become College and Career Ready and lifelong learners.  

Our curriculum offers students a wide range of rigorous texts that span the classical to the contemporary.  Students develop strategies for reading a rich “variety of texts, make informed judgments that are grounded in evidence and communicate their thinking through oral, written, and artistic expressions.”

We work to instill in our students a joy to communicate.  We encourage our youngsters to think independently, creatively, and to voice their individual opinions through verbal and written communication.

Here are some “fast facts about the English Department” at Aviation HS:

• All students take four years of English
• Students take the English Regents at the end of their eleventh year

Advanced Placement and College Now Course Offerings:

We offer two Advanced Placement courses:

• English Language and Composition (Eleventh Year)
• English Literature and Composition (Twelfth Year)

In conjunction with LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) students may enroll in College Now courses. College Now course offerings depend on student interest and available funding.

The following criteria will be considered when calculating student grades:

20 % for Participation, Notebook and Classwork

20 % for Homework

60 % for Exams, Essays, and Projects

Each marking period is independent.  At the end of the year, a student’s final grade will be determined by the average of all six marking periods.

Teachers will distribute rubrics for classwork and homework at beginning of the semester.

Attendance and punctuality are extremely important. Students must attend class every day.  Extended family leave for personal matters is not a legitimate excuse for missing class and will have a negative impact on a student’s grade. 

Excessive absences and tardiness will negatively affect a student’s grade.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide proper documentation.

Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses.  Cheating and plagiarism may result in a zero for the assignment, and may result in failing the marking period.

Exams, Essays, & Projects:

• Major exams, essays, and projects are scheduled ahead of time. If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to schedule a make-up exam with their teacher.

Homework:

• Homework is assigned on a regular basis.
• Absence from class is not an excuse for missing homework.
• Late homework may be accepted, but will result in grade reduction.
• Homework will be graded on the following categories:
• Completion & Accuracy
• Effort & Legibility
• Supporting Evidence
• Conventions

Classwork/participation:

• Students are required to be prepared every day with the proper text and materials, and are expected to actively engage in group discussions, work, and projects. 
• Classwork and/or participation will be graded on the following categories:
• Focus and Engagement
• Discussion and Listening
• Respect for Others
• Preparation