Veterinary Medical Applications

M.B. Lamar High School

3325 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77098

Instructor: Ms. Brynn M. Wittie

bwittie@houstonisd.org

Course Description
To prepare students for careers in the field of animal science, students will attain
academic skills and knowledge related to animal systems, the workplace, and
develops the knowledge of the industry. Students will be placed in a variety of
settings to assist in various medical applications. Students will be exposed to a
wide range of scientific principles, such as genetics, anatomy, physiology/nutrition,
diseases and pests, and management practices. Learning activities are varied, with
classroom, laboratory and field experiences emphasized. Level 1 CVA certification
can be offered thru this course.

Content:
- SAEs & Record Books
-

Employability Characteristics
Safety in the Industry
Scientific Methods & Lab
Activities
Anatomy & Physiology of
Livestock Species
Digestion & Nutrition
Growth & Development

Molecular Genetics & Heredity

Reproduction & Breeding
Diseases & Parasites
Livestock Harvesting
Evaluating Livestock
Marketing & Policies and Issues
in Animal Science
Career Research

Enrollment in this course gives students the opportunity to join

Lamar FFA. It is highly encouraged that students take advantage
of this membership in a premier leadership organization.
Information about Lamar FFA will be presented in class on multiple
occasions, and more can be found at lamar.ffanow.org

Middle Years Program MYP

Lamar High School utilizes a broad and exciting array of approaches to
learning such as Health and Social Education, Human Ingenuity, Community
and Service and Environments, daily journal writing, reading current events,
group projects, chapter quizzes, oral presentations given by students and
guest speakers. These approaches to learning will result in learners that will
show characteristics of the IB learner profile (risk-takers, open-minded,
reflectors, knowledgeable, caring, communicators, balanced, thinkers,
principled, and inquirers).

Supervised Agricultural Experience: Learning by

Doing
Each Agricultural Education Student is required to develop an SAE, one for
EACH semester. In junction with the IB Program, the students SAE will be
the Prescribed Minimum Task for agriculture courses. While working on an
SAE project, students learn to apply the concepts and principles taught in
their agriculture classes to real-world problems and scenarios. A student
selects an SAE project based on his or her interest. SAEs are a key
component of agricultural education and will be discussed more in depth
during class.

Supplies
Pens & Pencils All Day, Every day.
Paper. Loose leaf paper and/or spiral notebooks are great resources.
Folders, Binders, etc.. Are up to you. Organization is a must, but you
are welcome to choose & personalize your methods. But you do NEED
to have a concise method. There will be daily questions &/or journals
that you MUST keep for a grade.

Classroom Expectations
1. RESPECT. EVERYONE, ALL of the time, NO EXCEPTIONS.
2. Strive for Excellence in EVERYTHING that you do!
3. Cell phones, iPads, Laptops, etc.. Are ONLY allowed during
class time IF instructed to use it. If I see it when it is not
required, I will take it up. This is your one & only warning.
4. Everyone must complete ALL work that is assigned. Taking
ownership of your assignments & learning is EXPECTED.
5. EVERYONE must help with maintaining the order of the room.
6. No outside food is allowed in the classroom. You are allowed to have
____________.
7. Do not be ______________ or _______________________________. This is a
school expectation that I will uphold in my classroom. Strictly.

8. Leaving the classroom during class will be prohibited and constantly

monitored. Please complete all outside of class activities between
classes, or after class.
Ex.____________________________________________________________________

*** The Lamar High School disciplinary guidelines will be followed

for any student who *** ** violates these or any rule in the student
handbook. The referral process **
* can be found in the Student Handbook. *

Late, Missing or Incomplete work

-

Late work is defined as not being submitted on the day that it is due, as
assigned by the teacher. Work will be accepted until the end of the school
day, and online assignments will be accepted until 11:59pm of their due
date.
Work that is turned in Incomplete, without an excuse, will be graded as-is
Students may submit late work up until 4 DAYS before the end of the
grading period, work will be graded as-is, and will be docked the full 20%
of the grade that is allowed per Lamar Policy.
After the 3rd late or missing assignment, a detention will be issued.
If students do not complete, submit, or finish an assignment (both inclass and online assignments), they will NOT receive a Zero (0) or M for
missing. Instead, their calculated grade will become more heavily
dependent on those assignments that they do complete.
o Example-

HOW IT
WOULD BE:
Grade Received:
Grade
HOW I DO
weight/worth:

IT:

Grade Received:
Grade
weight/worth:

ASGMT ASGMT ASGMT

#1
#2
#3
100
90
85

ASGMT Averag
#4
e:
0 (or M)

ASGMT 1/4ASGMT 1/4

ASGMT 1/4ASGMT1/4
#4
#1
#2
#3
100

90

85

(Not
Received)

1/3

1/3

1/3

0%

Could help youOr it could hurt you

68.75
Avera
ge:

91.67

HOW I DO
IT:
Grade
Received:
Grade
weight/worth:

ASGMT
#1

ASGMT
#2

ASGMT
#3

100

90

50

Avera
ASGMT #4 ge:
(Not
Received)

1/3

1/3

1/3

0%

80.00

Grading System
The MYP criterion based assessment system will be used.
A. Inquiring & Analyzing
25%
B. Developing Ideas
20%
C. Creating the Solution
25%
D. Evaluating
20%
Objective Testing
10%
**Please see your Course outline for specific Assignments & Cycle/Semester
Grades**

Class DoJo
This year I will be utilizing a behavioral management tool known as Class
DoJo. DoJo is an online system that helps me keeps track of students
behavior. Each student will be entered into the class as a member and
during class, their behaviors will be recorded on the system. If the student is
being productive, participating, on task & courteous, the student will receive
a thumbs up, For every 10 thumbs-up a student will receive an extra
credit point to apply to any grade that they choose. However, if a student is
given thumbs down for being off task, not listening, bullying, or any other
negative behavior, after 2, there will be a call or email directed to a
parent/guardian. After 3, the student will receive a detention, and 4 will
result in a write-up for behavior.
- Parents & students are given the opportunity to participate in this online
system to manage their behavior. Once the class is created, emails can
be set-up to receive automatic notifications. Please notify Ms. Wittie if
you choose to participate in this.

CVA Training & Certification Program

Certification is provided thru cooperation with the Texas Veterinary Medical
Association. The TVMA Veterinary Assistant Training Program is standardized
and documents the basic skills and competencies required for animal care
and assistance. The program will educate veterinary assistants in the
essential skills and knowledge needed to become effective contributors to
the veterinary medical care team.
In order to receive CVA Level I certification, certain standard
requirements must be met. These include:

90 days (or 500 hours) of work experience under the supervision of a

DVM or RVT & Ag Teacher
Mastering all required Level I material

Gaining and demonstrating the hands-on skills listed on the Skills

Validation Checklist

Exam Application and Skills Validation Checklist completed and

approved by the DVM or RVT

Successful completion of the certification examination (70%)

To be certified under the TVMA program, the applicant must successfully
demonstrate 100% of the required skills and competencies. Some of the
required skills may not be regularly practiced in the clinic where the
applicant has gained experience. However, it is the applicants responsibility
to develop all skills listed. Once the supervisor is satisfied that the applicant
understands how to perform the skill correctly, they may check the skill off
the checklist.
Upon supervised completion, the Exam Application, Skills Validation
Checklist, and payment must be sent to the TVMA office for processing. The
certification exam will then be sent to the supervising DVM or RVT, and must
be administered within a one-week period. The completed exam and answer
sheet must then be returned to TVMA for processing, after which the results
will be mailed back to the clinic. Any applicant who passes the exam will
receive a congratulatory letter and certificate. We hope the newly designated
CVA will display the certificate in a prominent place and will take
considerable pride in their new designation. In the unfortunate event of an
applicant failing the exam, the applicant will be eligible to re-take the exam
as many times as needed and at a discounted price.
Once the applicant has successfully achieved Level I certification, they must
complete six months at Level I before they are eligible to sit for the Level II
exam*. This is a standard time requirement that also applies to those moving
from Level II to Level III*

Agreement/Contract
Name of Student: ___________________________________
Name of Parent/Guardian: ____________________________
Email of parent/guardian: _____________________________

I, ___________________________, the parent of ________________________ have

read the course syllabus and understand all the terms and conditions for my
child to enroll in Veterinary Medical Applications.

I, ___________________________, (student) have read the course syllabus and

understand all the terms and conditions for enrolling in Veterinary Medical
Applications. I agree to abide by the class rules and expectations. I agree to
have a fun-filled learning experience!

I, ____________________________, the parent of _______________________

understand that agricultural classes involve FFA, Supervised Agricultural
Experience Programs, and Agricultural Education. My child will need to form
some type of project and complete it within the first two (2) cycles.

Parent Signature: ______________________________

Date: ___________

Student Signature: _____________________________

Date: ___________

***This contract is due back to

Ms. Wittie by Friday, August 29th.
***