“I like crossing the imaginary boundaries people set up between different fields—it's very refreshing. There are lots of tools, and you don't know which one would work. It's about being optimistic and trying to connect things.” -- Maryam Mirzakhani, Fields Medal Winner
Contact Alicyn Henkhaus | Room 128 The best way to contact me: ahenkhaus (at) hightechhigh (dot) org Leave a voice message here: (760) 759-2700 extension 56206
We will use Google Classroom to access digital resources and turn in digital assignments. Students will receive the invitation through their High Tech High email account.
Overview My background is in Engineering, so I love the opportunity to teach Math and Physics together! At High Tech High we offer Integrated Math courses. This means that throughout your time here, you will continue to develop your skills in Algebra, Geometry, and Statistics every year. I love math. I am going to find ways to connect anything and everything to the projects that we are working on. However, our first semester will have a bigger focus on Algebra, and the second semester will have a bigger focus on Geometry. We will be learning and using Statistics throughout the year, especially in connection with Physics labs.
There is so much that we could potentially explore in Physics. If there is something you are really interested in or curious about, please let me know! Our goal in 9th grade is to develop the skills and practices that scientists use as much as it is to learn more about how the world (and universe!) works. Our first semester will focus on energy, forces, and motion. Second semester we will focus on waves and electricity.
The ultimate goal of 9th grade, in all of your classes, is to help you become a more independent learner. Math and Physics are really just the context that you will use to think critically and solve complex problems, work collaboratively, communicate effectively, learn how to learn, and develop academic mindsets.
Office Hours Students and families are welcome to visit me with or without appointments during these hours. If you would like to meet with me at another time, please email me to set up an appointment. Tuesday: 3:30-4:30 pm Thursday: 11:40-12:20 (at lunch)
Grading Students must meet with me when submitting work (late or revised) more than 2 weeks after the original due date, but I have pretty generous policies. (See below!) There will be two categories of assignments in PowerSchool: Content and Work Ethic. Assignments in the Work Ethic category cannot be revised. This category is meant to capture things that foster a productive team environment (collaboration, making productive use of work time, being a good audience, etc). Work that goes into the Content category can be revised for up to full credit. You can revise work as many times as you want, whenever you want. Because you have this opportunity to revise your work, there will not be extra credit options. My grading rubrics are broken down into Basic, Advanced, and Challenge level work.
Improving/Revising Work -- Content assignments can always be revised and improved, with the opportunity to earn full credit. Work Ethic assignments cannot be revised.
Late Work -- If you do the work, I want to give you credit for it. Turn it in! You will always have the opportunity to receive full credit for Content assignments.
Make Up Work -- If you miss class, you are still responsible for all assignments that were collected or given while you were gone. You should come to office hours or set up a meeting with me to make up Work Ethic assignments. If you know that you will be absent, please see me as soon as possible so that we can come up with a plan.
Below 70% is NOT considered passing at HTHNC. Students who receive a grade below a 70% at the end of a semester will be required to make up the course work in Summer School. Only TWO semester courses may be made up during this time; neglecting to pass THREE semester courses could result in the student having to repeat the grade.
Absences & Tardies If you miss class time, it is your responsibility to check in with me. Please arrange to have this check in outside of class time, and if possible to check in before you will miss class. (I know that isn’t always possible!) Assignments will be updated on the class calendar. Students are expected to attend all Exhibitions, Student Led Conferences (SLCs), and Presentations of Learning (POLs).
Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty Any form of cheating will be reported to the Dean of Students and will result in immediate action. Penalties entail receiving an automatic zero on the assignment and you will be required to write a reflective piece about the incident, which must be signed by your parents and will be placed in your permanent student file. Incidents such as these are reportable to colleges and universities (even if it occurs in the 9th grade). It is against High Tech High policy (and the law) to use another person’s work as your own. Using another person’s ideas or summaries is also a form of plagiarism.
Procedures/Policies All policies of HTHNC, as stated in the student handbook, will apply and be enforced in this classroom. Careful attention should be paid specifically to dress code, academic dishonesty and appropriate computer usage. This is a friendly reminder that no gum is allowed on campus. Cell phone use during school hours without permission may result in your phone being taken away and retrieved at the end of the school day.