M. Bielamowicz

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    Grades Taught:
     12
    Conference Period: B3 12:20-1:50
    Location: Rm 323
    Email: mbielamo@houstonisd.org
    Phone: 713-741-2410

Course Offerings

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     DeBakey High School for Health Professions

    Practicum in Health Science II

    Advanced Anatomy and Physiology

    Instructor: Marie C. Bielamowicz, DC

    2022-2023

    Room 323

     

    Course Syllabus

     

     

    Course Description, Goals, and Objectives:

     

                    This course is a 12-week rotation for seniors intended to help students gain an understanding of the organization and complexity of the human body and become familiar with the location and function of major body organs.   Students will define medical terminology as it relates to the human body, diagnosis, pathology, and treatment of the major body systems.  The students will be able to describe biological and chemical processes that maintain homeostasis; analyze forces and effects of movement, torque, tension, and elasticity on the human body; associate the disease process with changes in homeostasis; identify changes in structure and function due to trauma and disease; and identify normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology.  Students will work in laboratory groups to use comparative anatomy in our sheep brain and heart dissections as well as the complete cat dissection.  All laboratory activities will require critical thinking skills and allow for hands-on investigation.

     

    Required Materials:

    • 2-inch 3 ring binder notebook
    • Loose leaf notebook paper
    • Pens (black or blue) and #2 pencils
    • Other materials will be requested as and when needed
    • Textbooks will be used exclusively in class with a class set.  Students will not be issued a textbook.  However, a student can request a textbook to check out temporarily, if needed.
    • The most important things the student should bring to class every day are their full attention, enthusiasm, participation, and curiosity.  All the previous materials in this list and everything I provide in class of are no use without them.

    Course Outline

    1.  Laboratory Safety
    2. Medical History, Ethics, and Infection Control
    3. Orientation
      1. Overview of Anatomy and Physiology
      2. Levels of Structural Organization
      3. Homeostasis
      4. Language of Anatomy-Regional Terms
    4. Skin and Body Membrane
    5. Skeletal System
    6. Muscular System
    7. Nervous System-W/Sheep brain dissection
    8. Endocrine System
    9. Blood and Cardiovascular-W/Sheep heart dissection
    10.  Respiratory System
    11.  Digestive System
    12.  Cat Dissection
    13.  Major Project (TBA)

    Health Science

    Grading and Conduct Policy

     

    1. GRADES     
    1. Cheating will not be tolerated, and all penalties will be strictly enforced.  See Code of Conduct.
    2. Late work will have 30 points deducted from the score the work would have earned had it been turned in on time.   A zero will be recorded for work turned in more than 2 school days after the assignment was originally due.
    1.  P olicy for 22-23 Freshmen regarding late work:
      1. In cycle 1, work turned in one class day late will incur a 10-point penalty
      2. In cycle 2, work turned in one class day late will incur a 20-point penalty
      3. In cycles 3 and beyond, work turned in once class day late will incur the standard 30-point penalty
      4. Work turned in more than one class day late will earn the standard zero
      5. This applies only to 22-23 freshmen.
    1. Broken or damaged supplies due to student negligence will be paid for by the student.
    2. If you were absent for any daily work or quizzes, it is your responsibility to arrange and complete make up work within five (5) days.  Consult with your teacher to create a plan for making up missing work in the allotted time. Major exams will be made up during the next class meeting if possible or at the soonest time agreed upon by the student and instructor.
    3. A comprehensive final exam will be given at the end of each rotation or semester.
    4. If a student receives a failing grade on a major grade, he/she may request a re-do or re-take of the assignment/test.
    1. The request must be made in writing to the instructor on the day the failing major grade was issued.
    2. The re-do/re-take must be completed within two school days of receiving the failing grade.
    3. The re-do/re-take score will be an average of the original and new score with a maximum possible score not to exceed 70.  Regardless of the average of the two scores, a student will not earn a grade higher than a 70 for a re-take/re-do.
    4. Re-do/ re-takes are not allowed for non-major grades, common assessments, or for any major grade that is administered in the last week of any grading cycle.
    5. The re-do/retake can only be done before school, after school, or during lunch Monday through Thursday for in-person setting   The redo/retake will be conducted via a plan agreed upon by you and the instructor. If we revert to a totally online setting, a retake can be scheduled at a time and in a manner agreed upon by you and your teacher.
    1. All tests, quizzes and Scantrons are never to leave the classroom nor should they, in whole or in part, be copied/recorded in any manner via online administration (photo/video/hand recorded/verbally shared/any other means). These items are part of official records that are kept on file. Review of any test or quiz can be arranged with your instructor.
    2. All students are different, and each has their own way of learning.  Therefore, several methods will be used to evaluate a student’s performance.   Grade breakdown will be as follows:
      1. 40%    Tests
      2. 30%    Projects and Major Classwork
      3.  20%    Quizzes
      4. 10%    Participation/Warmups/Engagement

    *Note on Engagement/Warmups/Professionalism Grade:  This 10% of your overall grade will be determined by your participation in classroom activities and completion of work apart from substantial assignments.  Short assignments, videos, warm-ups, surveys, brainstorming activities, and games are examples of what will fall under this category. You are expected to demonstrate professional standards and employability skills such as the ability to cooperate, contribute and collaborate as a member of a team (our classroom).  Behavior that detracts from the team’s ability to conduct business and be productive may cause you to lose points from assignments in this category.  

     

     

    1. Tardy Policy (Per Semester)

     

            Being Tardy will not affect numerical grades, however it will affect your conduct gradeYou must be in your assigned seat when the tardy bell rings.  If you are not in the classroom when the tardy bell rings, you must obtain a permit from the office in order to enter the classroom.    TARDY POLICIES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED!!!  The tardy policy as indicated on the DeBakey HSHP website. 

    Offense                                                 Consequence  

     

    *1st Unexcused Tardy                                         Warning – sign tardy log

    *2nd Unexcused Tardy                                        ½ hour after-school detention (Thursday)

    *3rd Unexcused Tardy                                        1 hour after-school detention (Thursday) – Written notification to student and parent

     

    *4th Unexcused Tardy                                        2 hours Saturday detention

                                                                                    Required parent conference

                                                                                    Growth Plan

    *5th Unexcused Tardy                                        Detention during an in-school activity (i.e., Fall Festival, Talent Show, etc…)

                                                                                    Parent Notification

                                                                                    Disciplinary Probation (with requisite office conduct of “P”)

    *6th Unexcused Tardy                                       Disciplinary Probation

                                                                   

    A. Safety Violations

                1.   Unauthorized or improper handling of instruments or equipment or supplies.

                2.   Failure to wear proper attire on daily basis (i.e., lab coat, standardize school attire, proper shoes etc.).

                3.   Failure to follow safety instructions given by teacher.

                4.   Failure to replace equipment and supplies in their designated areas.

                5.   Failure to clean up immediate surroundings and laboratory work areas.

                6.   Failure to disinfect all contaminated areas.

       B. General Violations

                7.   Failure to bring required items: books, laptops, and notebooks to class on a daily basis.

                8.   Failure to take required notes.

                9.   Failure to participate in class activities.

                10. Failure to follow teacher’s instructions on assignments (including working on outside assignments).

     

     

    III. Conduct

          Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Conduct is a separate grade.  Points will not be taken from your numerical grade for conduct violations, however poor conduct grades will prevent you from running for elected offices, going on clinical rotations and field trips, receiving scholarships and being accepted into AP classes.  Continued conduct violations will result in dismissal from this school.  CONDUCT POLICIES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED!!!

    CONDUCT OFFENSES

    The following is a list of the most common conduct violations that are listed on the conduct log. After 3 conduct violations the student will receive an “S” in conduct.  After 4 conduct violations the student will receive a “P” in conduct and be sent to the office for discipline. After 5 or more conduct violations student will be sent to the office for discipline. Punishment may include parent conference, detention, office “P” or “U”, probation and review for exit.  Please note that any one offense can be so egregious as to trigger a drop in conduct or official disciplinary action.

    Common Violations

     

    a.         Failure to be in assigned seat (including leaving class without permission, & not signing out to leave)

    b.         Use of insensitive/profane language

    c.         Chewing gum, eating or drinking in class

    d.         Applying makeup or combing hair in class

    e.         Sleeping in class or putting your head down or feet up on desk 

    f.          Talking while test is in progress

    g.         Writing or passing notes while teacher is lecturing

    h.         Talking while teacher is lecturing or others are presenting (raise your hand if you wish to speak)

    i.          Horseplay or game-playing (of any variety)

     

    j.          Talking too much or too loud

    k.         Disrespecting Instructor or others (this includes taking items off teacher’s desk without permission)

    l.          Failure to return required parent signature documents. (I.e. policy acknowledgement form, progress reports etc.).

    m.        Failure to follow class policy on cell phones and electronic devices

    n.         Failure to follow all cyber safety rules

    o.         Other offense (See Student handbook)

     

    Common Violations in Online Settings

    1. Appearing on camera in an incomplete or inappropriate state of dress
    2. Engaging in inappropriate behaviors verbally and/or visually
    3. Willfully allowing audio or visual of someone else engaging in inappropriate behaviors or in a state of undress
    4. Allowing non-class participants into an online meeting
    5. Disruption of online activities
    6. Impeding the efforts of the instructor and/or other participants (muting, dropping from meeting, interruption with the intent to impede, etc)
    7. Using a false excuse for not attending class at the prescribed time. It is understood that genuine schedule conflicts may exist for students. You are strongly encouraged to discuss with your teacher any reasons that may prevent you from attending during class so he/she can be of the greatest assistance in developing a plan that works for you.
    8. Online bullying, intimidation, harassment, shaming or any other negative or hostile interactions with other students, faculty, or staff.

     

    Expected Remote Learning Behaviors

          1. Be on time
          2. Make sure you are in a quiet environment-free of distractions
            1. Turn off TVs, music, etc.
          3. Your focus should be on class
            1. Students should not engage in activities that are not related to the lesson/course
          4. Dress in school-appropriate attire
          5. Be seated upright, preferably on a chair and at a table
          6. Keep your camera on at all times
          7. Mute your audio
            1. Raise your virtual hand, wait until your teacher calls on you, then unmute yourself
          8. Chat is for questions/comments relevant to course content
            1. Remember that this is public and a record of the chat is kept and archived.
          9. Create accounts on apps and join meetings using only your HISD email

    Ex: S1234567@houstonisd.org You will not be able to attend meetings as a “guest”

          1. Open communication in a timely manner with instructor if you are not attending class synchronously. Be proactive and clear in your communication.
          2. Kind and respectful conduct toward others audibly, visually, and in written form.

     

    Expectations for Students in Health Science Rotations

     

    The Health Science department and administration have compiled expectations and requirements for student behavior in a classroom setting as well as any off-campus class functions.  There is also a rubric attached that teachers and administration will use in assessing student behavior.

    1. Adult supervision is provided at the required ratios.  The nature of clinical rotations or any class exercise off-campus dictates that students must be able to function with enough autonomy and self-monitoring to allow the adult chaperones to evenly spread their attention and focus among the group.  Any one individual who requires extensive monitoring or direct eye-on supervision will naturally move the attention of the adult away from every other student in their charge.
    2. Expanding on that, the supervising adult(s) need to have confidence that students will not create hazardous or disruptive situations that will endanger patients, staff, other students, equipment, themselves, or invite any undue level of liability for the facility, the school, or its representatives.
    3. Students need to be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in written form.  This includes matters of body language, tone, respect, and relevance.  Situations will arise in which a student is called upon to respond to questions or scenarios.  Communication is the key to success in this area.
    4. Students need to be ready and willing to accept, follow, and institute the rules, regulations, and guidelines of all figures in authority, be they teachers, administrator, facility director, medical staff, etc.… and be able to follow multiple directives simultaneously.
    5. Students must be able to recognize that they are responsible for their own actions and regulate them accordingly

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I can be emailed at:

     

    mbielamo@houstonisd.org

     

    My conference period is 8th which is 2:00 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. on B Days.  I can also be reached during the “office hours” portion of the schedule at 11:10-11:55 each day.  You, of course, can email me at any time and I will respond as soon as I can.

     

    Thank you for your cooperation so that I can better serve you and your student.

     

    Sincerely,

     

     

    Marie C. Bielamowicz, DC

     

     

     

    Student/Parent Grading Policy Signature Form (in-person instruction only)

     

    I have read and understand the grading policies of the Health Science Program.  In addition, DeBakey High School students that are tardy will not be allowed in class without a permit from the office.

     

    I understand that I need to stay on task with homework, class assignments, study my health science notes every night in order to be successful, and that I may be required to take an unscheduled quiz at any time.  I also understand that my class can be videotaped for educational or promotion of school purposes.

     

    _____________________                  ___________________________                               ___/___/___

    Printed Name of Student                    Student’s Signature                                                             Date Signed

     

    Parent/Guardian printed name ___________________________        

     

    Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________

     

    Parent/Guardian preferred contact number:________________________

     

    Parent/Guardian email address: _________________________________

     

    Please fill out this form, detach it from the packet and have the student return it to me the next time he/she attends this class.