September 22, 2009 - Opening of School E-Mail to Parents and Students
Hello Parents and Students!

I’m sending out this first e-mail of the year to all of my students and their parents through my class website. I hope you will read this e-mail carefully as it contains a great deal of useful information. You will be receiving e-mails from me frequently throughout the year with class and school notices to keep you informed!  You are receiving this e-mail at the address that was supplied on the Student Information Form that students completed as their first homework assignment for the class.

1. Communication – The best way to keep in contact with me is through e-mail at lippm@duvalschools.org. Phone contact is NOT recommended! My e-mail is always on and available both at work and at home and I reply quickly to e-mails as soon as I read them.

2. OnCourse – Student grades are now being kept through an online gradebook known as OnCourse.  The SnapGrades website is no longer being used at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.  Students should have received their OnCourse login instructions through their B4 period teacher late last week.  Parents who did not sign up for OnCourse at Open House are unfortunately required by Duval County district policy to personally come to our Guidance Office during school hours to sign up for online parent access.

3. Class Website – I maintain a robust class website at http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/lipp/ or http://www.da-arts.org/lipp. This website contains a wealth of information, including a calendar, daily classwork and homework assignments, downloadable handouts, announcements, and a variety of other information. Students are expected to refer to this website when they are absent to determine make up work. Parents are also recommended to read the class syllabus and rules for specifics on routines, expectations, and procedures. These “Download” documents are located in the “General Info” section for each subject.  The class website can also be reached through links on my OnCourse webpage or the staff directory on the school's website (www.da-arts.org).

4. Make Up Work – It is very important that all students and parents understand that make up work due to absence (for ANY reason) remains the COMPLETE responsibility of the student. There are numerous avenues for students to determine needed make up work, including the class website, OnCourse, and assignment lists posted in the classroom. I will NOT provide that information when asked, nor will I ask for completed make up work. Please note that make up work must be completed in the required timeframe (the following class period for work assigned during the absence). Book checks must be made up immediately upon return to school. Tests are scheduled weeks in advance, so missing the class period prior to a test does not excuse a student from taking the test. Late work (either regularly assigned or make up) is NEVER accepted under ANY circumstances. MOST IMPORTANT: It is NEVER a teacher’s responsibility to re-teach 90 minutes worth of material that a student has missed due to absence for ANY reason! It is the student’s responsibility to get the missed notes from another student, read the textbook, and attempt the material before asking the teacher for additional assistance.

5. Extra Help – Help sessions are scheduled regularly during the week immediately afterschool (3:45 p.m.) on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  No appointment is necessary, but students must arrive by 3:45 p.m. to receive help.  On occasion, my community theatre and music obligations may limit my availability for afterschool help, but I will notify students when those circumstances occur.

6. Pre-Calculus Textbooks – There are still a number of students without a Pre-Calculus textbook.  These books have apparently been ordered, though they are currently on "back order," and we teachers have received no assurance as to when they will be received.  Please trust that the Pre-Calculus teachers share in your frustration and hope that this situation is corrected VERY soon.  All homework exercises and answers from the textbook are currently being copied for these students until the books arrive.

7. New Test Correction/Retake Policy - The test retake policy stated on the Course Syllabus has changed.  I will be allowing students to do test CORRECTIONS rather than offering afterschool RETAKES.  Upon return of a test, students will have UNTIL THE NEXT CLASS PERIOD to turn in corrections for problems missed in return for HALF of the points lost.  In order to receive these points, students must return the original test, along with the following for each question - a full and correct solution with all work neatly shown PLUS a WRITTEN explanation (in complete sentences) as to what was done incorrectly the first time it was answered.  Again, a question must be COMPLETE, CORRECT, and must have a WRITTEN explanation (in complete sentences) of the original error to receive the half-points back.  I will discuss this in detail with the students when the first test has been graded and returned.  This opportunity will be available to every student on every test regardless of how well or poorly he or she performed on the it.

I’m looking forward to a terrific year!

September 24, 2009 - E-Mail Reminders to Parents and Students
Hello again, students and parents!

PROGRESS REPORTS - Progress Reports for the First Nine Weeks will be distributed to students at the end of the day on Friday, September 25. Parents should expect them to be carried home that day. For Pre-Calculus classes, the Progress Reports include ONLY the first quiz and the Student Information Form that was part of the homework for the very first class. This Progress Report does NOT include the first Pre-Calculus test that was completed this week.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - Mr. Lipp is currently performing one of the lead roles in the Theatre Jacksonville production of Oscar WIlde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." The play runs this weekend and next on Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., and Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. (September 24-27 and October 1-4). Tickets for the performances at the theatre in San Marco are only $10 and can be reserved by calling the theatre at 396-4425. Mrs. Canning, a faculty member in our English Department, also stars in the production. For more information, check out the theatre's website at www.theatrejax.com.

September 30, 2009 - E-Mail Reminders to Parents and Students

Hello again, students and parents!  This e-mail contains some new information as well as some information from my first two e-mails that I felt was important enough to be repeated.

ONCOURSE – Student grades are now being kept through an online gradebook known as OnCourse.  The SnapGrades website is no longer being used at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.  Parents who did not sign up for OnCourse at Open House are unfortunately required by Duval County district policy to personally come to our Guidance Office during school hours to sign up for online parent access.  Progress Reports for the first nine weeks were distributed to students last Friday, September 25, and should have been brought home that evening.  The first nine weeks ends on October 23 and all classes still have AT LEAST one more quiz and test grade, along with test corrections next week for the first test, plus homework and book checks.

CLASS WEBSITE – I maintain a robust class website at http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/lipp/ or http://www.da-arts.org/lipp. This website contains a wealth of information, including a calendar, daily classwork and homework assignments, downloadable handouts, announcements, and a variety of other information. Students are expected to refer to this website when they are absent to determine make up work. Parents are also recommended to read the class syllabus and rules for specifics on routines, expectations, and procedures. These “Download” documents are located in the “General Info” section for each subject.  The class website can also be reached through links on my OnCourse webpage or the staff directory on the school's website (www.da-arts.org).

MAKE UP WORK – It is very important that all students and parents understand that make up work due to absence (for ANY reason) remains the COMPLETE responsibility of the student. There are numerous avenues for students to determine needed make up work, including the class website, OnCourse, and assignment lists posted in the classroom. I will NOT provide that information when asked, nor will I ask for completed make up work. Please note that make up work must be completed in the required timeframe (the following class period for work assigned during the absence). Book checks must be made up immediately upon return to school. Tests are scheduled weeks in advance, so missing the class period prior to a test does not excuse a student from taking the test. Late work (either regularly assigned or make up) is NEVER accepted under ANY circumstances. MOST IMPORTANT: It is NEVER a teacher’s responsibility to re-teach 90 minutes worth of material that a student has missed due to absence for ANY reason! It is the student’s responsibility to get the missed notes from another student, read the textbook, and attempt the material before asking the teacher for additional assistance.

EXTRA HELP – Help sessions are scheduled regularly during the week immediately afterschool (3:45 p.m.) on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  No appointment is necessary, but students must arrive by 3:45 p.m. to receive help.  On occasion, my community theatre and music obligations may limit my availability for afterschool help, but I will notify students when those circumstances occur.  In fact, there will be no afterschool help on Thursday, October 1.  Please remember that help sessions will NOT be devoted to RE-TEACHING class material.  Students expecting help must come PREPARED with all classroom supplies (book, notes, assignments, etc) and SPECIFIC problems with which they need help.

TEST CORRECTIONS - The test retake policy stated on the Course Syllabus has changed.  I will be allowing students to do test CORRECTIONS rather than offering afterschool RETAKES.  Upon return of a test, students will have UNTIL THE NEXT CLASS PERIOD to turn in corrections for problems missed in return for HALF of the points lost.  In order to receive these points, students must return the original test, along with the following for each question - a full and correct solution with all work neatly shown PLUS a WRITTEN explanation (in complete sentences) as to what was done incorrectly the first time it was answered and how the problem is correctly solved.  Again, a question must be COMPLETE, CORRECT, and must have a WRITTEN explanation (in complete sentences) of the original error and proper solution to receive the half-points back.  I will discuss this in detail with the students when the first test has been graded and returned next week.  This opportunity will be available to every student on every test regardless of how well or poorly he or she performed on it.  IMPORTANT – Questions left completely blank, in spite of repeated requests and classroom signs NOT to leave ANY question blank, will NOT be eligible for correction.

MAKE-UP TESTS AND QUIZZES – All make-up tests and quizzes will now be given DURING class time IMMEDIATELY upon a student’s return to school after an absence.  Make-up tests will no longer be given during afterschool help session time.

PRE-CALCULUS TEXTBOOKS – I am happy to report that all students now have a Pre-Calculus textbook.  I know the delay was as frustrating for you as it was for me.  Students are expected to bring their book EVERY day to class.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST - Mr. Lipp is currently performing one of the lead roles in the Theatre Jacksonville production of Oscar WIlde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." The play closes this weekend with performances tomorrow night, October 1, at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings (October 2-3) at 8 p.m., and Sunday afternoon, October 4, at 2 p.m. Tickets for the performances at the theatre in San Marco are only $10 and can be reserved by calling the theatre at 396-4425. Mrs. Canning, a faculty member in our English Department, also stars in the production. For more information, check out the theatre's website at www.theatrejax.com

October 6, 2009 - E-Mail to Parents and Students Concerning Test Corrections

Test corrections are underway this week for the first test of the year.  A-day students had Test #1 returned to them today (Tuesday, October 6) and corrections are DUE on Thursday, October 8.  B-day classes will receive Test #1 tomorrow (Wednesday, October 7) and those corrections are DUE on Friday, October 9.   Since test corrections are ELECTIVE credit, these corrections are DUE on Thursday or Friday, for A-day and B-day respectively, REGARDLESS of class attendance.  No A-day test corrections will be accepted after Thursday, October 8, and no B-day test corrections will be accepted after Friday, October 9.

Any student who made less than a 99% on the test is eligible to regain half of the points lost (except for extra credit questions) up to 99%. In order to receive these points, students must return the original test, along with the following for each question to be considered - a full and correct solution with all work neatly shown PLUS a WRITTEN paragraph explanation (in complete sentences) as to what was done incorrectly the first time it was answered and how the problem is correctly solved. Again, a question must be COMPLETE, CORRECT, and must have a WRITTEN explanation (in complete sentences) of the original error and proper solution to receive the half-points back.

Beginning with the next test, questions left completely blank, in spite of repeated requests and classroom signs NOT to leave ANY question blank, will NOT be eligible for correction.  The explanation "I didn't know how to do the problem" or any other similar explanation will NOT be accepted as a reason why a problem was done incorrectly, and no points will be awarded for any question with that explanation.

October 8, 2009 - E-Mail to Parents and Students Concerning Afterschool Help Sessions

Since we are no longer doing test RETAKES in Algebra II or Pre-Calculus that require afterschool time, Mr. Lipp will be holding afterschool help on TUESDAYS ONLY at 3:45 p.m.  There will be no more Thursday afterschool help sessions beginning this week.

October 18, 2009 - E-Mail to Students Concerning Test Corrections

Hello students,

I have been working on grading the test corrections for your first test this weekend.  I want to point out a few expectations for these test corrections.  I have been slightly lenient on this first round of corrections, but I will NOT be on subsequent tests.  If I am giving you the opportunity to regain points that I actually feel you should not get back, you WILL do what is expected of you and I will be STRICT about the points I decide to return.

1.  All corrected problems must be done on separate paper (not on the original test) and must be IN ORDER.  I will not hunt for problems or jump around in the test.

2.  The test corrections must be stapled to the ORIGINAL TEST.  Without the original test I have no way of knowing which problems you got wrong and how many points you lost.

3.  The explanation "Same as #___" is not a satisfactory paragraph of complete sentences.  You will receive NO credit.  If it is indeed the same as a previous problem, you need to RECOPY that explanation.

4.  Beginning with Test #2 in all classes, any problems left blank OR just have the problem recopied OR there is just nonsense written as a solution will NOT be eligible for corrections.  Only problems that are honestly attempted will be eligible for correction.  Extra credit problems are also not eligible for corrections.

5.  EACH problem must be accompanied by a PARAGRAPH (that means at least a few sentences) in COMPLETE SENTENCES explaining (a) what you did wrong, and (b) how the problem is correctly completed.  This is IN ADDITION to showing the complete and correct mathematical solution.

6.  The paragraph explanations MUST be DIRECTLY ADJACENT (that is right below or above) the mathematical solution.

I have graded ALL work EXCEPT the test corrections for Test #1 in Algebra II classes (Periods A2, B1 and B2).  All grading is up to date in Algebra II Honors and Pre-Calculus and is reflected in OnCourse.

I am copying all e-mails that I send to you and/or your parents in the "Announcements" section of the class website.  If you miss e-mails or want to double check the information in them, you can always refer to the class webpage.

November 16, 2009 - E-Mail to Students and Parents Concerning Make-Up Work and Afterschool Help

Hello Parents and Students,

I wanted to send out a quick reminder e-mail concerning absences, make-up work, and afterschool help.

First, make-up work for absences (for ANY reason) is the SOLE responsibility of the student.  I will not provide make-up work, discuss what needs to be completed with any student who has been absent, or follow up on its collection.  There is a folder in the classroom containing worksheets and graded assignments for students who have been absent and there are THREE sources for determining what graded work must be completed - OnCourse, the class website, and written master lists in the classroom.  Students have until the period FOLLOWING their return to turn in make-up work ... no late work will be accepted beyond that time.  Missed book checks must be made up IMMEDIATELY upon return to class.

Second, students who have been absent are SOLELY responsible for obtaining notes from another student and attempting the problems assigned.  I keep NO written notes that students can access.  Afterschool help will NEVER be devoted to reteaching 90 minutes worth of material to every student who is absent, regardless of the reason for the absence.

Finally, students staying after for the regular weekly help session must come prepared with all classroom materials and SPECIFIC PROBLEMS with which they need help.  General questions requesting reteaching, such as "I don't know how to factor," will not be answered in afterschool help.  Students asking for help must have evidence that they have attempted to understand the material already taught in class, including copied notes and specific problems that they have tried and need further assistance with.

Thank you.