• Welcome to high school! 

    Not only will you learn various cool skills, but you will also get to develop the life skills necessary to become a productive member of society as an adult. I believe in student accountability. This means that you will need to learn to become responsible not only for your course progress, but also for your actions, both inside and outside the classroom. Here are a couple of things that you can expect of me:

    • I always start the year by giving you, the student, the benefit of the doubt that you are a good person.
    • I will treat you as a professional from day one.

    My expectation is that you will act professionally in this class. That does not mean that you can't have fun, because learning is better if you're enjoying it. However, we do need to set up some ground rules, so here are the rules of the class:

    Classroom Behavior Expectations and Consequences

    This is a professional course that teaches you skills that you will be able to use as soon as you learn them. This means that the potential for you to get a job as a junior engineer or graphic designer is quite possible. Here are a few examples:

    • Representatives from TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) evaluated the BCHS Engineering Program two years ago. They have stated that if you pass all four years of the program, they will waive the two-year college degree requirement necessary to gain employment as a technician in their factory. These jobs pay roughly $20 - $25 per hour.
    • There are two 10-day technical boot camps conducted by the Maricopa County Community College District: one to become a semiconductor technician with Intel, and the second to create wiring harnesses for the aircraft Boeing builds. Both jobs also pay roughly $20 - $25 per hour.
    • Many prior Graphic Design students have gone on to conduct freelance work in advertising and page layout design. A few students have gone on to start their own photography businesses specializing in portrait and wedding photography.

    If you do land a job in the industry, you will be expected to conduct yourself professionally in your workplace.

    This is your workplace. While you are here, it is my expectation that you will act professionally. Causing a problem (excessively informal, rude, or insulting behavior) in the workplace will result in the following progression, unless deemed necessary to advance:

    1. Warning provided to the student.
    2. Second warning and parent contact.
    3. Parent contact and workplace intervention.
    4. Referral to administration and parent contact.

    All the guidelines and consequences presented in the Deer Valley Unified School District’s Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook are applicable to all students in this class.

    Lab Rules

    Please:

    • Put your phones in your backpack.
    • Put your backpack in the back of the classroom.
    • Be good to the computers and they’ll be good to you.
    • No food or drink (water only) – No gum, please.
    • Do not draw on the desks or monitors.
    • Let me know and sign out when / if you need to leave the classroom.

    Cheating and Plagiarism

    Sometimes you will think that the assignments are difficult, and that you will never understand the concepts taught. I get it. Please ask for help, either from me or your peers. But please, please, please turn in your own work.

    Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Knowingly using information or property of another, or knowingly sharing academic information to gain an unfair advantage will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, the following:

    1. Email communications to you and your parents discussing the infraction.
    2. Loss of credit for the assignment or test.
    3. Referral to Administration for Academic Dishonesty.

    Technology Use

    We use computers in this class to learn.

    Unfortunately, it is a proven fact that your cell phone (the one in your hand right now) is a distraction. Your parents and friends will want to text you; your social media apps can't live without you; the list goes on and on. And before you know it, the bell is ringing and you're a day behind in your classwork because you didn't use your time wisely.

    Unauthorized use of hardware or software, damage to technology equipment, or theft will result in disciplinary action. Students are responsible for the protection of their passwords and may not allow others to use their passwords.

    My policy regarding the use of electronic devices within the classroom is:

    • Cell phones: unless otherwise indicated, phones will remain inside the student’s backpack.
    • Chromebooks: unless otherwise indicated, Chromebook will remain inside the student’s backpack.
    • Headphones: unless otherwise indicated, headphones will remain inside the student’s backpack. When it is allowed, you may listen to music via the computer if you are working on a project; however, you must use your own headphones.

    If you have any questions, please contact me.