Journalism (Ceralbus & The Bulldog)
Guidelines - 2010-11

The purpose of the class is to develop each student’s reporting, reading and writing abilities while mastering vocabulary, spelling, critical thinking, studying, research and technological skills. As your instructor, it is my job to guide, nurture, assist and provide you with opportunities to gain the knowledge and tools you will eventually need to produce a school newspaper, and to assist with publication websites. It is, however, your job to learn by taking advantage of the opportunities provided for you. I can share my knowledge, assist you and show you the path but I can not really “teach” you what you need to learn. It is you who must do the “learning,” therefore, the harder you work, the better you master the skills.
                                                                   It is your job to learn. This is why you are here.

I am serious about you understanding why you are here. You, your parents, and I, are all paying for your class time. None of us can afford to waste it, especially you. Therefore, our classroom will be our workplace. I am the manager and you are an employee. It is your job to complete the assignments, quizzes, tests, and projects required in your effort to gain the required knowledge. You will be paid accordingly with a grade, but most of all, in the attainment of knowledge that can never be taken from you and will be used by you for the rest of your life.

A Word About the ESLRs
I support Burbank High School’s Expected School-wide Learning Results, known as ESLRs. They are posted in our workspace and may be reviewed daily during class. You will be required, and given points accordingly, to complete one of the following statements at the end of each week using ESLR definitions:
1. I am an academic achiever because....
2. Examples of my critical thinking today were....
3. I was an effective communicator when I....
4. I am a responsible citizen because I....
5. I am learning to be a lifelong learner by....

The Staff Contract - IMPORTANT!
Being a member of the journalism staff requires a commitment. In order to avoid unnecessary conflicts concerning expectations and responsibilities, please read the following contract between you and BHS Journalism carefully:
1. I understand that as a member of the staff I will be responsible for working after school, weekends and during school vacations if necessary to meet my deadline obligations.
2. I realize working on our publications requires a professional attitude. I will strive toward fairness, accuracy and good judgement in covering school year activities.
3. I understand our publications require teamwork, and I will work hard at performing my role as a team member.
4. I understand that I am responsible for paying for the damage (through improper use or neglect) or loss of any and all journalism-owned equipment checked out to me for use in completing my journalism assignments even if I loan it to another staff member unless I have advisor's permission.
5. I understand that if, at any time, I fail to meet these standards, my grade will be impacted accordingly and I will be dropped from the staff.
My signature on the response form to these guidelines constitutes my acceptance of this contract. In addition, my parent's signature on the response form indicates that my parent has read this contract and agrees to support the program as detailed.

My parent's signature also indicates that I have permission to leave campus on journalism-related errands, and that my parent(s) relieve the school of responsibility during such errands. My parent(s) also understand that I may be asked to participate in workshops or conferences away from school. Again, they will relieve the school of responsibility and give their permission for attendance as stated in any and all field trip release forms presented to them for approval/signature. My parent(s) also understand, by their signature, that if I should break school or conference rules while participating, that my parent(s) will assume immediate responsibility and see that I am returned home at once. Should this happen we understand that my grade will be impacted and I will be dropped from the staff.

Grading Policy
If needed, you will be required to periodically submit a printed copy of your online grade report with a written explanation or notation of any grading questions or issues you may have. Proof of your point must be attached to the grade report in order for me to revise an assignment's score. Semester finals are worth 15-20 percent of the semester grade. Journalism GRADE VERIFICATION SHEETS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO EACH PROGRESS REPORT. GRADE POINTS WILL NOT BE ENTERED IN GRADEBOOK UNLESS A GRADE VERIFICATION SHEET IS SUBMITTED. Grades will be assigned based upon the following grading scale:
      A = 90 - 100% B = 80 - 89% C = 70 - 79% D = 60 - 69% F = 59% or less

Checking Student Progress
You and your parents/guardians will be able to check your assignment status 24-7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) via the Internet. Beginning September 30, you will be able to locate the class link via my homepage by typing in the following URL:                            
                     http://www.annenews.com
If you have a question or request, you can contact me anytime via my homepage or email:
                     anneburnett@burbankusd.org

About Confidentiality
As a student utilizing the newsroom, you may be exposed to confidential school newspaper, yearbook, and website information. You are, therefore, required to respect the confidential status of such information at all times unless advised by Ms. Burnett that it is not necessary to do so. In other words, what happens in the newsroom (room 1141) stays in the newsroom.
Basic Rules  
1. Be prepared: Bring your pen, paper, notebook, homework, assignments, and books (as notified) to class daily.
2. Be respectful: Be kind and polite. Respect everyone’s right to voice his/her own opinion. Raise your hand and wait to be called upon before speaking. Do not talk or interrupt while the teacher or someone else is addressing the class. Respect all school property and the property of others. Take care of our computers.
3. Be attentive: Pay attention and keep all unnecessary items away from our work area. No gum, food of any kind, or drinks, except bottled water, are allowed in class. Again, no gum, food of any kind, or drinks, except bottled water, are allowed in class. 100 points will be deducted from overall score for one violation, 300 points for second violation, 600 points plus class suspension for third and each successive violation. No combs, makeup, money, toys or electronic items are allowed to be used in class without teacher's prior permission.
4. Be on time: Be sitting in your assigned seat, ready to work when the bell rings. Be in the newsroom aferschool, on weekends and/or during vacation breaks when required. If you agree to be somewhere, be there early or on time, NEVER LATE OR NOT AT ALL. In an emergency, ALWAYS notify appropriate person.

Citizenship
Students are required to be responsible citizens and promote academic achievement. Since journalism students serve as the staffs of the school newspaper and newsletter, all students are expected to embrace the highest standards in representing Burbank High School. Students are to behave and dress in a professional manner, especially when interviewing subjects, attending meetings, and/or selling advertisements for the publications.

• Burbank High School has established a discipline policy. Students are expected to comply with these standards. In addition, students are required to comply with the Burbank Unified School District Acceptable Use of Technology Policy.
• Students are expected to act in a courteous and appropriate manner. They are to listen quietly and follow directions. To participate in classroom discussions, a student must raise his/her hand and wait to be called upon by the discussion leader.
• Students are to behave in the above manner and follow class rules when the teacher is absent and a substitute or another teacher is in charge of the class.

Students will be given an outstanding rating in citizenship for excellent conduct, cooperation, class contribution, and observance of school rules. However, wasting your time or anyone else’s will not be tolerated. Students will be given unsatisfactory ratings for repeated violations of class or school rules, disruption, failure to bring materials, continual failure to complete assignments on time, and/or failure to stay for detention. All responses to class disturbances are at teacher’s discretion, ANY REFERRAL IS grounds for dismissal from the journalism staff.
Ethics
Students will be required to learn and adhere to journalistic ethical standards as established by the Society of Professional Journalists. Plagiarism, conflicts of interest, dishonesty, libelous statements, failure to respect or protect school equipment, and irresponsibility will not be tolerated in this class. You are expected to be a responsible citizen and behave honorably. Cheating or violating journalistic ethics in any form AND/OR THE APPEARANCE OF CHEATING (including plagiarism) will result in a failing grade and an unsatisfactory citizenship grade for the semester, notification of your parent(s)/guardian and being dropped from class.
Dress Code
The school dress code will be observed at all times in our classroom. Parents and students should be aware that open-toed sandals and platform shoes are especially dangerous at school. Students are urged to wear appropriate footwear to school.
Room Cleanup
Due to the shortage of custodians and the increasing need to minimize damage to our room and our equipment, classes will take turns cleaning the classroom every Friday as needed. This includes picking up trash, sweeping and mopping the floor, cleaning desktops and computers, removing trash from desks, disposing of any gum found anywhere in the room, disposing of recycled paper, newspapers etc. All students will participate in the cleanup - there are no exceptions. This weekly exercise is an implementation of the BHS ESLR encouraging students to be responsible citizens by preserving and protecting school property paid for by tax dollars.
Tardies/Absences
A tardy is recorded on the attendance record each time a student is not in his/her assigned seat, ready to work when the bell rings. I will follow school policy. Please don’t be late to class. Please don’t make me mark you tardy! Remember, you are to be inside the classroom and seated when the bell rings. Students not seated will be marked marked tardy. If a student ever leaves the classroom without instructor’s permission, he or she will be given an unexcused absence and a referral. Such an act constitutes defiance allowing the student to face the same penalties noted in these guidelines for violation of school rules.
Attendance and Make-up Policy
Students are expected to develop life skills in good attendance and punctuality and must take responsibility for making up missed work in a timely manner under the following guidelines:
• Attendance in class is extremely important since class is where learning takes place.
• The student is responsible for making up all work missed due to absences and meeting deadlines on time.
• Missed deadlines can not be made up.
• All tests are to be made up immediately upon return to class by arrangement with the teacher.
• Students with unexcused absences can not make up missed deadlines, other work, quizzes, or tests.
• Late assignments will only be accepted the day after they were due.
About Cheating/Plagiarism
• You are expected to be a responsible citizen and behave honorably. Contented produced for and printed in the school newspaper must be truthful, factual, and balanced. Students will be expected to adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics. Cheating in any form, especially plagiarism, and/or the appearance of cheating will not be tolerated and will result in a zero grade for the assignment and being dropped from class with an unsatisfactory (U) citizenship grade for the semester.
Class Materials
Students are responsible for bringing the following necessary materials to class every day (except as noted):
1. Textbook (covered), when requested to do so.
2. Pencils, two #2.
3. Pens, blue or black ink.
4. A notebook with a calendar, assignment, and grammar section or separate notebooks.
Internet/Computer Use
Students will experience a high level of academic learning in this class through the use of technology. Students will utilize the Internet for research and may publish online versions of school publications. Students will be required to adhere to the Burbank Unified School District’s Acceptable Use of Technology Policy. Students and parents need to be aware that students may be required to access the Internet during and outside of school as needed. As a student, you are expected to do your job by focusing on your specific assigned tasks at all times while working on the Internet. All students will have computer access in class.

Please note: No student last names, personal addresses, phone numbers, class schedules or personal email addresses will be allowed when publishing on the web. Your signatures, student and parent/guardian, signifies that you have reviewed these guidelines and constitutes your permission for student’s likeness and/or first name or ID # to be used on the Internet for a student project or as part of my grades web page.
Assignments
Students are expected to demonstrate effective communication and critical thinking skills by turning in all class work on time, with the correct heading, typed and filed correctly in the correct computer file.
•Daily Exercises - Grammar “Caught Ya’s” and/or editing worksheets may be assigned and are to be completed during the beginning of each class period. IF YOU MISS ONE, YOU CAN NOT MAKE IT UP IF IT HAS BEEN GRADED.
•Work File - A manila folder to be provided to each student to keep in the classroom file.
•Regular Assignments - These will consist of interviewing, research, editing, rewriting, learning photo and graphic software, photography, distributing and anything else assigned to or required of you to produce and distribute the publications.

Permission to View Videos in Class
In addition to our USC Annenberg video text, various video and audio reports on or about journalism may be used as part of our regular curriculum. Your signature on these guidelines grants permission for your student to view/listen to one or more of the videos and/or audios in the context of our journalism curriculum.

PTSA
Student's parents are encouraged and expected to join the PTSA since they support our program by donating necessary equipment. Extra credit points are given upon presentation of a current PTSA membership card.

The California Standards: The Essential Skills You Are Expected to Learn
The lesson plans presented in our journalism class are designed to help you master the essential state educational standards listed in the state’s educational code covering the mastering of grammar, writing, oral and written expression, technological, reading. and critical thinking skills. THESE STANDARDS ARE POSTED IN OUR CLASSROOM. The material to help you will be presented in class, how hard you work at attaining and mastering the required skills is up to you.

Submitted by
Ms. Burnett — Teacher, Burbank High School
Advisor, The Burbank Bulldog & Ceralbus
Room 1141
818.558.4700 ext. 51141
anneburnett@burbankusd.org

Click here to submit required response form--DUE: September 3, 2010