Government

Mrs. Rayburn & Mr. Kramer

Phone number: 526-3372, ext. 6512
E-mail: rayrho@holmen.k12.wi.us or kraken@holmen.k12.wi.us
Website: www.MrsRayburngovernment.weebly.com
Quizlet site: Rayburngovernment
Goals The goal of this class is to help students understand the history of the United States government and
gain knowledge about how our national, state and local governments work and affect us everyday.
Main topics covered
The history and purposes of
governments
The formation of the United States
Government
The U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights,
and amendments
The Legislative Branch (Congress)

The Executive Branch (President)

The Judicial Branch (Courts)
State and Local Government
Political Parties
Budgets and spending
Current government events

Basic Rules Be Safe, Be Responsible and Be Respectful

1. Be on time. After three tardies, you will be referred to the office and other consequences will
result. Any work missed because of unexcused tardies cannot be made up.
2. There are no cell phones, i-pods, headphones, etc. allowed to be used in class without specific
permission from the teacher. Please place your cell phone in the organizer on the wall as you
enter the room. If your phone is NOT placed in the organizer and I see it during class, I will take
the phone until the end of the day. For any additional offense, these will be given to the office
and require a parent to pick them up.
3. Take notes when given and listen and participate in all discussions.
4. Dismissal is verbal wait for permission to leave and stay in your seat until dismissed.
5. Be respectful of others, the room, and yourself.
6. Please do not ask to go to the bathroom during videos, lectures, tests, or group work. You need
to use that time to listen, learn, and work!
7. When leaving the room, you must ask, sign out, and take a pass. Sign in when you return.
8. All handbook rules will be enforced.
9. Bring materials, including your textbook everyday! There will be occasional book checks, worth
10 points each. Your textbook must be covered to receive all points. You must have a folder for
this class that contains only the work for this class.
Absences
If you are absent, YOU are responsible for getting any missed notes or work and for handing in
any assignments due on the day of the absence. If you have an excused absence, you will have one the
number of days absent, plus one for you to complete missing work or tests. Any work or tests not
made up in that time frame may result in zeros. Unexcused absences result in zeros on all homework
and assignments. If you are absent for a field trip or other event, talk to me BEFORE you leave to hand
in assignments, get assignments or make arrangements to make up missed work. All missed tests will
need to be made up before school, after school, during lunch, or study hall.

Over

Tests
We will have a test or quiz in class almost every week. Every student will be allowed to retake
any test that is not open note during the course of the term. In order to retake the test you must complete
the chapter review in its entirety and hand it in prior to the re-take. You will have one week from the
return of the test to take a re-take. There are no retakes on quizzes. The highest grade you can receive on
a retake is 91% (B+).
Current Events
It is important that students realize that government affects their entire life. The best way to show
this is to follow the government on a daily basis. As a result we will discuss current events every day. In
addition, students will be required to complete one current event summary per week. Summaries are due
every Wednesday at the beginning of class. Each one will be worth 25 points. Students will be asked to
present their current event orally at least once during the term. This will also be worth 25 points. This
presentation can be done any day of the week, but cannot be a topic that another student has already
discussed. Additional current events can be completed for extra credit up to 5 points per summary with
a maximum of 25 points.
Late work/Extra Credit
In general, late work will not be accepted for credit. The only exception being homework that
has not been corrected in class or handed back. Daily homework is that work handed one day late will be
accepted for half credit, unless it has already been discussed or graded in class. Any work that we have
gone through in class or is more than one day late will not be accepted for credit. The work will only be
checked off as done (0 credit), but needs to be made up if you would like to earn any extra credit. Extra
credit is only allowed if all other work is handed in. Extra credit is only offered to the class as a whole.
Options include extra current events (see above) and attending any government meeting (ask me if you
are interested).
Grading
The Holmen High School grading scale will be used (shown below).
A+
(100-98%)
= 4.33
C
(79-76%)
A
(97-95%)
= 4.00
C(75-74%)
A(94-92%)
= 3.67
D+
(73-71%)
B+
(91-89%)
=3.33
D
(70-68%)
B
(88-86%)
= 3.00
D(67-65%)
B(85-83%)
= 2.67
F
(Below 65%)
C+
(82-80%)
= 2.33

= 2.00
= 1.67
= 1.33
= 1.00
= .67
= No points

Infinite Campus
Grades can be accessed on line through the Infinite Campus program on the Holmen High School
website. If you are not sure how to access it, please contact the front office.
Please sign and return the bottom portion of this sheet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Student and parent acknowledgement I have read the policies in the syllabus and understand them. I
have been given the opportunity to answer any questions regarding these policies. If you have any
questions, please contact Mrs. Rayburn at 526-3372, ext. 6512.
Student Name (printed)__________________________________
Student Signature ______________________________________ Date ______________
Parent signature ________________________________________ Date _______________
Parent e-mail address ____________________________Parent Daytime Phone Number ___________