Mrs.

Doerfler's Syllabus &

Classroom Procedures
Information Technology
Dear Student and Parent/Guardian:
About me: I'm Elizabeth Doerfler. I grew up right here in Butner, went to South Granville High School (class of
'95), then Appalachian State University. I came home from college in 1999 and went to work for J. F. Webb
High School in Oxford as a high school English teacher. I got my Masters from UNC-CH in Literacy and then
decided to become a School Librarian, so while still teaching English for Webb, I became their Media
Coordinator and got a Masters in Library Science from East Carolina University. I have also taught for Granville
Online for the last five years. I came to FLA in August of 2014 and am still so excited to be at Falls Lake
Academy as the Computer Education teacher, the School Librarian, and the Technology Facilitator. Go
Firebirds!
About my students and their parents/guardians: My students are the masters of their own educations. They
are empowered to make good choices in what they want and need to know. I hope to help them learn how to
find answers to what they don't know and to explore the topics that interest them, while exposing them to new
ideas. Parents/ Guardians are informed partners in their students' educations. They are invited to participate
in the curriculum design, the creation of new knowledge, and the celebrations of student learning.
About the Course:
Over the three-year Info Tech sequence students will learn skills about the following skills and topics:
Keyboarding
Ethical Use of Information
Document Formatting (MS Office)
Computer Literacy
Google Docs and other cloud-based
Managing Technology
programs
Using Web 2.0 Tools
Research Skills (Finding answers, Creating
Media Literacy and Propaganda
and Refining Questions, Notetaking, Print
Financial Literacy and Budgeting
and Web-based sources Synthesis of
Social Media
Information, Creating Surveys)
Computer Usage:
Students will utilize 21st skills in communication and collaboration while adhering to conventions of standard
English. Students will be expected to participate in online discussion boards, create projects with interactive
Web-based tools, and learn intermediate technology skills. Support will be given to all students so that prior
discomfort with technology will not hinder their overall success in class.
Newsletter:
Each week, I send home a newsletter to parents/guardians. This year, I will also send it to students. PLEASE read
through the newsletter. It always contains valuable information about both what is happening in class, student
assignments, and campus news.
Web Page/Jupiter
My class webpage can be found as a link through the school website and should be checked often. It has many
valuable resources for your class. Due dates and grades will be on Jupiter.
Open Door Policy:
I will be available anytime to help you in any way. If you need assistance on an assignment (for my class or any
other), I will be glad to help you. It is that simple. If you would like to talk about anything, a problem, a joy,
please feel free to talk to me. Please understand that anything you say to me will be held in complete
confidence (with the exception of abuse, which I am obligated by law to reportsafety supercedes
confidentiality). I will always be here for you, while you are in my class or out of it. I can be reached through
e-mail at elizabethdoerfler@fallslakeacademy.com, or you may reach me at school, (919) 964-9003, or at my
home, (919) 939-7658. You may call me anytime; however, please be respectful of the other people in my
household. Whenever, whatever, I am here for YOU!

Computer Rules
1. Students should always be on task and may only visit websites and use applications as instructed by the
teacher.
2. Students should be careful and conscientious when using technology.
3. No food in the computer lab. None. Students may have bottles of water, but they should be kept closed
except for discreet sipping and should never be set on the tables with the computers.
4. Students should ALWAYS follow guidelines of the Falls Lake Academy Internet Safety Policy.
General Classroom Rules and Procedures:
1. Words Matter: What we say and how we say it matters.
Respect Matters: Each student and teacher will be respectful of others in their words and actions.
Actions Matter: What you do and the choices you make MATTER and YOU are responsible for them!
2. Try. Try. Try. Do your best, not for me, but for you. Take advantage of your opportunities. Seize the
time to learn.
3. I ask that students refrain from using their cell phones, i-Pods, or any other electronic device while in
class. Devices should be turned in to the red pockets at the beginning of class. Parents, please do not
arrange to text/call your student while they are in class.
4. Wait outside the room in a quiet line until instructed to enter. Come into class, sit into your assigned
seat, and immediately log in to your computer.
5. Do NOT tamper with another students computer at any time. This will be an automatic referral. Do not
unplug or reconfigure computers unless instructed to do so.
6. Absolutely no horseplay, running, hitting, jumping, or other physical play in the computer lab.
7. You are expected to follow all school rules. This includes dress code, profanity, food/drink, etc. Use your
student handbook to be familiar with these rules.
8. At the end of each class:
1. Push in chairs.
2. Put keyboards up.
3. Log off computers
4. Clean up your work station
5. Wait to be dismissed.
Supplies:
You are expected to come to class every day prepared. This includes your agenda, a flash drive, paper, a
pen/pencil, and any assignments. If, on occasion, you forget something, or if you need something out of the
ordinary, like a hole-punch, there will be such supplies available for you. You may use these, just please make
sure things get put back where they belong.
Homework/Notebook:
There is sometimes assigned homework; however, if a student does not manage his/her class time, class
assignments become homework. No notebook is required, though students should have a method of keeping up
with handouts and classwork, such as a folder.
Make-up Work
Make-up work is your responsibility. If you miss class, please see me before/after class to get your assignments.
If you miss a test or quiz, we will schedule a time for you to make it up. Assignments can also be found on the
class web page. The time-frame for make-up work will be the policy stated in the Falls Lake Academy
Parent/Student Handbook. The teacher will not remind students that they have missed an assignment.
Remediation
Remediation sessions will be held once a week after school. I will vary the day so that not to always compete
with the same academic subjects remediation. These sessions will be held for students who need individual help
as well as students who need to complete typing time to meet their bi-weekly requirements.
Attendance
Woody Allen said, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." Be here. Almost universally, students who attend
class do better than those who don't. Students should be on-time to class; tardies will result in disciplinary
action. Excessive absences will result in consequences. For more information, please see the Student-Parent
Handbook.

Saving/Submitting Work:
Please download and save this syllabus to your flash drive. That way youll have it even if you cannot get online.
All work should be saved on your H: drive AND your flash drive.
When you submit any assignment digitally, please use the following structure for saving your document/file:
Firstname Lastname NameOfAssignment
Examples: Beth Doerfler Biopoem; Beth Doerfler Essay 1; Beth Doerfler VocList1; etc.
ALL papers turned in should be labeled in the upper right hand corner of the paper with the following
information: First and Last Name, Date, Class Period, and A/B day.
Grading Policy
Grade
A
B
C
NY

Description
Mastery
Proficiency
Needs Work
Not Yet

Percentage
90-100
80-89
70-79
Below 70. This is not a passing grade.

The grade ratio for each quarter is as follows:

Major Assignments
50%
Minor Assignments
40%
Homework
10%
Middle School Discipline Policy
OFFENSES
The Code of Student Conduct can be found in more detail in the student handbook and on the student discipline
form. For the purpose of clarity below are the offenses and their punishments:
The following offenses will be dealt with by Middle School Team:
insubordination/repeated disobedience
aggressive behavior
flagrant/ repeated disrespect
public displays of affection
unexcused tardies/absences
lack of focused work/improper use of class
making threats
time
The following offenses will result in immediate referral to the Principal or Assistant Principal:
weapons of any kind
fighting/physical abuse (hitting, kicking, slapping, biting, spitting)
stealing
bullying
CLASSROOM CONSEQUENCES
* PARENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED ONCE OFFENSES MOVE BEYOND FIRST SILENT LUNCH.
1st Offense
Warning
2nd Offense
Silent Lunch
3rd Offense
Silent Lunch w/ Parent Contact
4th Offense
Administrative Referral to Office
Severe Disruption: The student will be sent immediately to an administrator. Severe disruption is defined as
overt refusal to follow the teachers instructions, fighting, vandalism, and behavior which prohibits the class
from functioning.
*****************************************************************************************
Changes and/or corrections to the syllabus and/or classroom policy will be made at such time as it is deemed
necessary by the teacher. Students and Parents will be notified immediately of any changes.
*****************************************************************************************
I look forward to having a super year!

Please return this sheet signed and dated by August 15, 2016.
For Student
RECIEPT OF SYLLABUS
I, __________________________________________________, have received the
syllabus/classroom procedures for Mrs. Doerfler's Information Technology class. I have read
the syllabus/classroom procedures, and I understand that I will be held accountable for all
assignments as stated in the syllabus. I understand the rules, expectations, and procedures
of Mrs. Doerfler's class. I pledge to follow the rules and procedures, and do my very best at
all times.
Signature: _________________________________________

Date: _______________

For Parent/Guardian
RECEIPT OF SYLLABUS
I, ________________________________________________, parent/guardian of
________________________________________________, have received the
syllabus/classroom procedures for Mrs. Doerfler's Information Technology class. I have read
the syllabus and understand that my student will be held accountable for all assignments
and procedures as stated in the syllabus.
Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________________________
Print Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _________________

* Weekly newsletters will begin the Sunday after the first day of school. If you do not
receive a newsletter from me, please contact me at
elizabethdoerfler@fallslakeacademy.com