Welcome!

Welcome to Mrs. Dennis's Science Class! I am absolutely certain that we will have a wonderful year together. In fact, a number of exciting projects and activities are planned for this school year.

Here are a few things to know about your teacher:

This is a picture of me cooking fried green tomatoes. Yes, even queens must eat.
 * I am starting my thirteenth year here at AHS.
 * I teach eighth grade science.
 * I prefer to be called either Mrs. Dennis or Mrs. Anna.
 * Five of my six children graduated from this school. I have four grandchildren currently attending AES and one grandson in seventh grade here at AJHS.
 * I am married and live in Enville.
 * I absolutely insist on good manners in my classroom and I have zero tolerance for hateful or rude behavior.

Our curriculum, which consists of life, earth and physical sciences, will be comprised of the following units:


 * The Cell (this is a review of what you learned in 7th grade)
 * Mitosis and Meiosis
 * The Structure and Function of DNA
 * Protein Synthesis
 * Genetics
 * Diversity
 * Earth's Resources
 * Saving Mother Earth
 * Earth's Origins
 * Laws of Motion
 * Gravity and Force
 * Periodic Table
 * Atoms and Atomic Theory

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">We will cover a great deal of information each day, and, since we are a computer-based class, <span style="background-color: #f8ed0d; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">attendance is essential. We will not work out of textbooks (except on rare occasions), so most of your work will be done on computers. You will be able to work at home if you have the internet and a word processing program. A jump drive comes in very handy for homework assignments.

Each day you will be expected to come to class completely prepared. The following are materials that you must have:


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Pencil and/or pen (only blue or black ink is acceptable)
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Notebook paper
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">One or more pocket folders
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Jump drive
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Earphones (You may use some from another electronic device that you may have at home; otherwise they may be purchased fromj Wal-Mart for as little as two dollars.)

<span style="background-color: #fffd00; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Because this is a lab class, a breakage fee of $5.00 is required of each student. If you are part of the free/reduced program, see me privately as soon as possible. Otherwise, the fee should be paid within the first two weeks of school.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">Rules and Expectations

I have only one rule in this class: RESPECT.

This means respect for


 * Yourself
 * Your teacher
 * Your classmates
 * School property
 * Your property
 * Your classmates' property

Heading the list of unacceptable behaviors is [|Bullying]. You know what bullying is, but how much do you know about [|cyberbullying]?