I want to welcome you to the 2019-2020 academic school year at Forest Heights STEM Academy and share with you some information about the Spanish I , Spanish II, French I and II courses.
High School Credit Forest Heights STEM Academy offers Spanish I, Spanish II and French I and II high school credit for all students enrolled in the class. Credits are earned in half unit increments. Credits are calculated using the following formula: 1st 9 weeks grade (40%) + 2nd 9 weeks' grade (40%) + semester exam grade (20%)= Semester grade. Therefore, it is important that students complete all assignments and study to the best of their ability from the very first day. Foreign language credits earned in middle school will fulfill high school graduation requirements and will be used in calculating student’s high school GPA. Forest Heights STEM students will follow the Foreign Language Curriculum set by the Little Rock School District with the same level of rigor as students in high school.
Late Work Late work will not be accepted. However, if a student is absent or suspended the Little Rock School District policy will be followed and extra time given according to the LRSD handbook.
Home work Classwork and home work are designed and selected to intentionally build a gradual knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. They are building blocks for success. Students are expected to devote a minimum of thirty (30) minutes per day to complete homework and /or study vocabulary and material covered during class. Homework and assignments are to written by students in their agenda books. They can also be found at: msmignot.weebly.com Assignments due on line will be posted to Google classroom. Assignments in the online text book can be found at: Passport.emcl.com
Course format The courses are taught in thematic units, centered on the usage of real texts and materials. Students will read, write, listen, and speak during each of the units. Culture is at the center of each unit and focuses on customs and practices of one or more Spanish/French speaking countries.
After-school Tutoring After-school tutoring is available on Thursdays from 2:45 to 3:45 pm. Parents can request tutoring for their student either via e-mail or personal note no later than Tuesday of the same week. Students are to be picked up at the end of the tutoring session.
Parental Involvement I invite parents to visit their student’s Spanish/French class and share in their knowledge of the language or culture. Also, we will need your help during our annual Food Day. Your student will cook an authentic dish, video the process and serve a Hispanic/French dish as a culminating exercise to our food unit. More details will be sent closer to the event.
Classroom expectations Students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to actively participate in the learning process. Students are expected to have the following supplies daily: one 3 inch binder, one composition note book, paper, pencil, sharpener, and highlighter. The text book is on line and some activities will be completed and graded on line. The classes are taught in the target language, for the most part, in order to help students develop their language skills.
I am looking forward to a successful academic year. Please feel free to contact me at any time during the year concerning your student’s needs.