Course Syllabus

Welcome to 

with

Mrs. Hoge

Office Hours: Wednesdays 2:30-3:15, Room 338

Classroom: 338

email: hogem@wellesleyps.org

 

Dear Students, Parents & Guardians,

Welcome to ACP Biology! I am thrilled to begin the 2026–2027 school year with you. This course is designed not just to teach biology, but to experience it – through hands-on investigations, problem solving, and connections to the world around us.

In ACP Biology, we use a phenomenon-first approach. That means instead of simply memorizing facts, we’ll start with real-world examples such as human health conditions, ecology and biodiversity patterns or biological mysteries, and work together to discover the science behind them. Additionally, we implement a thematic methodology that combats the common student lament of ‘why do we have to know this?’ The unit structure provides an inherent motivation for students to figure out the answers to common (or not so common!) human conditions, afflictions, and environmental phenomena. Students will quickly see the “why” behind what we’re learning, which makes the “how” and the “what” much more meaningful.

This year, expect less “knowing about” and more “figuring out.” Of course, we’ll cover plenty of important biology content, but equally important are the skills students will build:

• Critical thinking and Problem-solving
• Data collection and Analysis
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Scientific Writing and Communication
• Experimentation and Evidence-based Argumentation

These skills will be practiced in an engaging, hands-on classroom where students are expected to participate actively, take thoughtful notes, and ask questions whenever curiosity (or confusion!) arises.

To be successful, students should involve themselves by leaning into their curiosity, listen actively, and advocate for themselves as learners. Asking questions and participating meaningfully in our class activities is not only encouraged, it’s essential. I am here to support you, and I want students to feel comfortable reaching out whenever they need help.

Extra Help:

• Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:30–3:15 in Room 338 (Drop in! No need for an appointment!)
• By Appointment: Check my posted schedule, ask in class to meet or send me an email at hogem@wellesleyps.org.

I can’t wait to get started on this academic adventure with you. Together, we’ll explore how biology shapes life on Earth and why it matters to each of us. This year promises to be both rigorous and engaging as we explore biology through investigation and discovery!

With anticipation and excitement,

Mindy Hoge

Wellesley High School Course Overview and Expectations

ACP Biology - Mrs. Hoge

• Textbook:  OpenStax
• Teacher Email: hogem@wellesleyps.org
• Classroom: Room 338
• Office/Classroom: Room 358 & 338
  
• Course Overview
• Course Expectations

Materials 

• A 3-ring binder with loose-leaf paper - We’ll be taking notes, completing labs, and doing assignments that you’ll want to keep organized for tests and quizzes.
• Fully Charged Laptop - We’ll use our laptops for some of our daily activities, so it’s essential to have them ready to go!
• Pen/Pencil
• Headphones - for specific activities (not general use)
• Calculator
  

Canvas
All course curriculum will be posted on Canvas. You’ll find assignments, important announcements, slides, and resources here. I highly recommend that you download the Canvas app and enable push notifications so you don’t miss any updates. There will be a running Daily Agenda on Canvas which will have links to classroom activities, classwork, homework assignments and dates for upcoming tests. The announcement feature will be used for timely updates, so please allow for push notifications.

Classroom Expectations

Our classroom is a community of learners. To ensure a productive and respectful environment for everyone, we’ll adhere to the WHS core values: 

• Academic excellence: Always strive for your best work
• Cooperative and caring relationships: Include others; be kind; show empathy
• Respect for human differences: Learn from diverse perspectives; be open; respect others
• Commitment to community: Contribute positively to our classroom environment; actively engage

Please remember that the WHS Student Handbook policies apply to our classroom at all times.

Academic Honesty/Integrity
Academic honesty is a cornerstone of our classroom and a crucial life skill. Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty is unfair both to your learning and to your friends and classmates. I expect all students to complete their own work. Cheating includes the sharing/copying of completed assignments and using internet sources/AI tools without permission and/or citation. Dishonesty such as these examples “undercuts efforts to become a person of principle” writes Dr. Adam Grant, a NYT columnist and organizational psychologist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Grant continues “The heart of integrity is recognizing that the ends don’t justify the means. What we achieve may define our successes. How we achieve it determines our character.”

Unless specifically designated as a group assignment, assume all work is original and individual and that you may NOT use LLMs/AI tools unless specifically indicated in the assignment. If a violation should occur, guidelines outlined in the student handbook will be followed (parents and the appropriate assistant principals will be contacted, notation will be made in the student file, and appropriate consequences will be assessed) 

Attendance/Tardies

It is essential that you are in your seats and ready to work when the bell rings (phones in the cubbies and notebooks out before the bell rings!). This is particularly important on lab days (7:30 am start time) which often begin with crucial safety instructions and background information. 

If you know in advance that you will be absent or tardy from class, please let me know. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to catch up on any missed work. Please reach out to me as soon as possible to get a plan in place. The best place to check for assignments and homework and links is the Daily Agenda in Canvas. Canvas is updated daily and all classwork and due dates will be posted there. 

Policy on attendance and tardies outlined in the student handbook will be followed, including appropriate consequences.

If I ever need to be absent, I will make every effort to let you know beforehand via a Canvas Announcement. Links to any substitute work will be in Canvas and linked to the announcement. 

Evaluation
Students will earn term grades based on the quality and accuracy of their work, weighted as follows:

Assessments (Tests/Quizzes): 50%       Assignments (Classwork, HW, Labs, Projects): 50%

Year Grades are weighted by term as indicated below:. 

Q1: 22%   Q2: 22%   Q3: 22%     Q4: 22%     E1: 12%*

*E1 = Plant Project, Midterm & Final Exam grades

*Tests & Quizzes:

Tests will always be announced in advance. You can expect at least two larger assessments and a quiz or two per term. You are expected to take the test on the day that it is scheduled.  Please discuss all accommodations in advance of the scheduled assessment date. 

*Test Corrections: 

It is often so helpful to learn from mistakes and miscues. Test corrections are available for all students after assessments and up to 25% of the total credit lost may be made up and added to the assessment score. This is a great way to improve your understanding and your grade! Corrections are not available for homework or labs.

*Late Work Policy: 

All unit work must be submitted by the due date listed in the Daily Agenda on Canvas. To keep you on track, I'll aim to align due dates with our class periods (so nothing should be due on a drop day). Once I have graded and entered assignments into PowerSchool, late penalties will be applied (approximately a 10% deduction per day).

Please note: All assignments for a unit must be completed and submitted before the Unit Test. Work submitted after the unit test is not able to be evaluated and accepted.

*District Curricular Accommodation Plans: District accommodations (DCAP) are available to all students, and in the 26-27 school year, WHS is committed to moving this forward with fidelity.  While some accommodations can be offered at the moment, others require advanced notice. For example: Extended time on an in-class assessment is a collaborative decision made by the teacher, student, and family to meet individual student needs.  The WHS guideline is up to 25% extra time.  This accommodation relies on proactive student communication prior to the date of the assessment.  The student and teacher must establish how the accommodation will be provided. 

Technology (phones/laptops/headphones)

As per the school-wide policy, please turn off your cell phone and place it in the designated cubbies at the front of the classroom. We may occasionally use phones as a tool (for example, the camera is great for data collection during labs!), but they will otherwise remain in the cubbies, including during any bathroom, drink or movement breaks.

Laptops will be used to support our in-class work. Please ensure you are using your laptop for school-related activities only. Engaging in prohibited activities like texting, playing games, or watching videos is distracting and a violation of the district's acceptable use policy. Please use the "Do Not Disturb" feature on your laptop to minimize distractions.

In our collaborative learning environment, being fully present is important. For this reason, personal headphone use is not permitted unless I give you explicit permission. There may be times when it's appropriate, but please ask me first.

Extra Help & Office Hours

I'm here to support you! I have scheduled office hours on Wednesdays from 2:30 PM to 3:15 PM in Room 338. You can also find me in the science office in Room 358. My weekly schedule will be posted outside our classroom door. Drop-ins welcome! 

Communication (Student-teacher and Parent-teacher)

To provide opportunities for students to practice face-to-face communications, students should always try to speak with me in person during class or drop by for office hours before resorting to email. 

And Parents/Guardians please feel free to contact me via email at hogem@wellesleyps.org, as email is the best means of communication.