St.

Elizabeth High School

Religion 12 ( Seniors )
Catholic Social Teachings Semester 1
& Vocations Semester 2
2015 2016 Course Syllabus

Course:

Religion 12 Catholic Social Teachings /

Vocations
Sister Beth Quire, OP
Room 114
bquire@stliz-hs.org
510.532.8947

Instructor:


Classroom location:
Instructor E-mail:

Phone Number:


Welcome to Religion 12! I hope you are well rested from the summer, had a
special experience at Kairos, I was moved by your sharing at the Homecoming. I
hope you are ready to jump into Senior Year. Religion is a class that allows you
to explore concepts that can influence the rest of your life.

Course Description: Religion 12 is made of two semester pieces. The first semester
focuses on The Catholic Social Teachings and the second focuses on Vocations. The
Catholic Social Teachings will actually overlap both semesters since as seniors you will also
be doing your Service Learning Project. In the semester focusing on the Catholic Social
Teachings, we will explore, the Seven Themes of the Catholic Social Teachings. You will
then get a chance to research one of them in depth. Culminating in an experience of service
connected with this area and a project to share about your experience with your classmates
and teacher. In the second semester our topic will be Gods Call. Each of us has special gifts
and a way to live our lives and share those gifts with the world, the Church and each other.
We call that our Vocation. We will explore the way others have followed Gods call in their
lives and explore what God is calling us to.

Course Objective: The objective of the Religion 12 Course is to deepen the students
understanding of the Catholic Social Teachings and how a life of discipleship calls us to live
this out in our daily lives. With an experience of trying out an action related to one of the
teachings the students will not only explore these from an academic and research
perspective, but also from a daily lived out experience. With the time exploring Vocation
the hope is to expose the students to the wide variety of options before them as they move
into their future to live out their faith wherever they find themselves in life.

Textbooks: Singer-Towns, Brian, Living in Christ Catholic Social Teaching Christian Life
in Society, Saint Marys Press, 2012.

Cooper, Jenna M., Sweeney, Fr. Luke, and Dailey, Joanna, Living in Christ
Vocations Answering Gods Call, Saint Marys Press, 2012.

_____________________, The Catholic Youth Bible, third edition, Saint Marys Press,
2012.

Materials and Supplies:
Textbook in class daily
2 Pens ( blue or black) 1 - # 2 Pencil w/ erasers and 1 Red Pen
1 Composition Book in class daily for journaling
1 3-Ring Binder at least 1 1 inch thick with Dividers ( at least 5 Dividers )
Filler / Notebook Paper 100 sheets to start
Scissors, and Glue
Markers or Colored Pencils

Community Agreement:
We will spend time the first week of classes deciding as a group what we need to make this
class work and then we will state our agreement clearly in writing and share it with the
parents.

Class Guidelines and Expectations: All of these are based on RESPECT for self and others.

1. REPORT CARD GRADE We understand that advanced notice will be given before tests
and that our grade will be calculated using the following percentage breakdown

Present and Fully Engaged Weekly Sheets

30%
Homework, Classwork, Notes, Journals, Binder
20 %
Projects, Quizzes, and Tests



50 %









2. PRESENT AND FULLY ENGAGED Religion classes contain more than just academic
material to be learned, they contain prayer, discussions and experiences. Students will
receive points for being fully engaged. Both students and teachers will verify this
grade. Using the following scale.
0 = Not Present for the Day
1 = Present, Not engaged
2 = Present, Somewhat engaged ( less than half of the class time )
3 = Present, Engaged more than half of the class time
4 = Present, Not Tardy, Engaged for the whole class time
3. CHEATING We understand that cheating is not a form of learning and we agree not to
cheat on homework, quizzes, tests or projects. Cheating on homework can be
defined as copying someone elses work. Cheating on a quiz or test can be defined
as sharing answers before / during a test or after a test to someone yet to take the
test. The first consequence of cheating is 0 on the homework, quiz or test and
parent notification. Cheating on a project could be turning in someone elses work
as your own.


4. DAILY CLASS PERIOD Typically we will begin with journaling, we will then pray as a
group, often led by a student. After we have done these we will proceed to
the topic or topics of the day in varying styles, discussion, presentation, group or
individual work.

5. HOMEWORK When the daily assignment, is to read it is expected that the student will
read for understanding and come to class with questions and/or responses to the
material. This can be accomplished in two ways. The students can choose to do this,
using a reading log or some other helpful tool and be prepared for the class
discussions. Or there could be regular quizzes to keep the students caught up. My
preference with Juniors and Seniors is to have discussions and not need frequent
quizzes. However, if that is necessary, quizzes will be discussed and started.

6. ALL RULES in the St. Elizabeth High School handbook apply to this class. Cell phones
and other electronics must be turned off, not silent and not vibrate. They must NOT
be seen or heard, ( FYI: I have been know to hear the vibration sound. ) if they are
seen or heard, the first time they will be confiscated and turned in to the Assistant
Principal. The only exception is if the teacher has specifically directed students to
use them for academic purposes. This will be specifically named if deemed
appropriate and is NOT to be presumed.

7. CONSEQUENCES will follow from our community agreement, the first week of school.
However, my typical style is that students will be warned verbally only once, then
the consequences will include time after school to discuss with the teacher and
consequences will fit the infraction, for example chewing gum will result in scraping
gum, talking will result in seat being moved and reading out loud after school for a
period of time, etc.
8. LATE WORK Is not ideal, however if circumstances necessitate it. All work for late
credit must turned in by the Test day or Project due date that ends the covering of a
Units material. Nothing will be accepted for late credit after we have taken the Test
or turned in the Project on a Unit.

9. QUIZZES because I see quizzes as a tool for learning, if the test average for a given set
of quizzes (covering the same material ) is higher than the quiz average. I will
replace the quiz scores with the point value corresponding to the test percent.
However, for this accommodation the student must come to see the teacher and
request it outside of class time.

10. ABSENCE OR MISSED CLASS - The student is responsible for any work that is missed.
It is the STUDENTS responsibility to find out what was missed with regard to topics
and assignments, the side white board is useful in this regard, as is talking to other
students and / or the teacher. You will have the same number of days to make up
your work as the number of excused days absent, plus two days. However, you will
need to complete assignments that you are present for upon your return on time. If

what was missed pertains to a project the student needs to see the teacher to
initiate an extension if needed and deemed appropriate by the teacher and student.
No extensions will be give the day before or the day a project is due. This must be
worked out ahead of time.

11. ABSENCE OR MISSED CLASS QUIZZES OR TESTS If you are absent on a quiz or test
day and your absence is excused, you will need to make arrangements to be present
for the make-up quiz or test day. Make-up quizzes and tests will contain more free
response questions and short answer questions and less choice type questions.
These will be held after school and you will be given at least 2 days notice. Because
the student has already missed class time, when tests and quizzes need to be made
up it will always be scheduled after school. However, if the absence is unexcused or
is related to disciplinary issues, you will not be permitted to make up the quiz or
test.

12. BINDER The student needs to be organized to do well in a class so students are
required to keep a BINDER and organize it. The following manner is suggested to
get full credit. If the student has a different method of organization that works for
him or her they are welcome to see the teacher to explain it and credit will be
assigned accordingly.

Title Page Open to the students creativity but must clearly contain
his/her name, class title and period


Course Syllabus


Assignment Page ( provided by the teacher but filled in by the student )
First divider: Notes in order by date, and clearly stating and drawing
attention to the Topic
Second divider: Reading Log in order by date, and clearly stating and
drawing attention to the Topic also referencing the pages
covered
Third Divider: Tests and Quizzes in order by Unit and Article
Fourth Divider: Copied Handouts and / or group work
Fifth Divider: Projects

13. JOURNAL: Students will journal in a separate composition notebook. Each entry should
have the date clearly written and preferably on the right hand column of the page.
Each entry should also state the question or quotation they are responding to or a
rewording of the question or quotation in the opening sentence. These journals will
be collected randomly, read by the teacher and scored. There will be class time for
journaling.



Grading: We will follow the schools grading scale:

A = 90 100% B = 80 89% C = 70 79%
D = 60 69% F 59% and below

Course Pacing Guide: ( This pacing guide is subject to change as we figure out the class
natural pace. )


Religion 12 Syllabus Acknowledgement Form

o Please fill out the following information and return by August 13th for Period 3
and August 14th for Period 5.
o Please print clearly



Printed Students Name: ________________________________

Student Signature: ______________________________________

Date: __________________

Email Address: _________________________________________

Cell Phone Number: _____________________________________

o Please sign below to indicate that you have read our class syllabus.


Printed Guardians Name:____________________________________

Guardian Signature:________________________________________

Date: ___________________

Email Address _____________________________________________________

Cell Phone Number: _____________________________________

Best Way to reach you e-mail or phone

Guardians, if you have any questions based on this syllabus please e-mail me at
bquire@stliz-hs.org

Thank you,

Sister Beth Quire, OP
Religion Instructor