Inspire Dance Syllabus

2015-2016
School-Wide Policies (Trends that you will see in every class)
Electronics
Electronic devices are prohibited in the classroom unless teacher provides permission
During Class Time: Electronic devices are prohibited when walking the hall or going to the bathroom
(Passing periods okay!)
DANCE CLASSES ONLY: Electronic devices are allowed during dance class to share music with the class or
when being the DJ of the Day. They are also allowed when choreographing at the teachers discretion.
Students who are found to be off task will lose their devise to the office.
Consequence:
Phone/Electronic Device will go to the office
Parent will be called to pick up Phone/Electronic Device
DANCE CLASSES ONLY: Electronics may only be out with prior instructor permission.
Tardy Policy
Excused Tardy: You MUST get a note/pass from the teacher then an additional note from Lisa in the office
DANCE CLASSES ONLY: Students should be in the changing room(s) by the time the tardy bell rings, but
tardies will be issued if a student is not present in the dance room when attendance is taken 5 minutes
after the tardy bell rings.
Unexcused Tardy: go to the office to get a pass and sign up for detention
(30 minutes after school or at lunch)
DANCE CLASSES ONLY: A student will be issued a cut for the day if they arrive more than 10 minutes after
the tardy bell or their tardy is unexcused by Lisa. If a student misses more than 10 minutes of a class
warm-ups they will not be allowed to dance that day.
Passes
Using the bathroom -- Teachers will provide their OWN passes
DANCE CLASSES ONLY: The bathroom passes are magnetic & can be found on the fridge. Only one student
will be allowed out of the class at a time and the Girls Locker Room bathroom & the boys bathroom
across the basketball courts should be used when available. Permission is needed, but not a pass to use
the girls locker room restroom.
If you need to leave the class for any other reason you must have a WRITTEN pass signed by your teacher
(This is usually a yellow hall pass)
Late to class
Going to the office
Call home (from the office)
Exceptions are for Safety/Emergency like a code red
Lunch
Open Campus: 10th -12th graders
Youve earned it! Dont lose it!
Closed Campus: 9th graders
Lunch Check-In: You have a 10 minute window (12:30-12:40) to
sign in at IC-1.
DANCE CLASSES ONLY: The Inspire Dance Studio is closed Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays unless you
have prior permission to use the room. Thursdays are considered open studio space (first come first
serve). Being in the dance room does NOT count as signing in for 9th graders. Keep the space clean and
respect the equipment. NO EATING LUNCH IN THE DANCE ROOM.
Late Work
Late work may be accepted during the CURRENT unit:
Late work can be turned in for partial credit at the teachers discretion
DANCE CLASSES ONLY: This will be decided on a case by case basis.
AFTER the unit test/project:
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED
Any missing assignment will turn into a ZERO/NO CREDIT
If a final unit project is missed students will have 1 week to set up a time to make up the missed work.

Exceptions:
Prolonged Illness or Injury (may need to do partial credit for PE)
Independent Study
Dance Class as an Elective:
Students that are taking dance as an elective will also be asked to complete the written assignments for
dance class; all writing is integrated into the curriculum.
Dance Class for PE Credit:
PE Dance 1A/1B, PE Dance 2, PE Dance 3, & PE Dance 4
Students will only be allowed to miss 200 minutes during each semester that is equal to 2 classes. 3
missed classes will be the maximum number of missed classes allowed before student will be required to
make up minutes. Students will also need to have documentation of a serious and compelling condition or
reason to have special considerations made. If a student is unable to complete their minutes during the
semester they will receive a grade for Dance and the PE credit will be dropped from their transcript.
Dance students do not need to complete ISPE recording cards; minutes will be tracked by
attendance records through Aeries.
Dance students do not need to complete ISPE written assignments; written work will be
assigned through the dance class curriculum.
If a dance student drops dance class mid-semester they will not receive PE credit or partial
credit.

Dance Class Attendance Policy & Grading (approximately 50% of the

final dance grade):
MARK
X
A
E
compelling)
T

MEANING
Present
Absent or Cut
Excused Absence
Tardy

POINTS FOR THE DAY

10 (earned)
-10
0 (with a note submitted to the office serious &
5 (or nothing with an excused note from the office)

L
office)

Leaving Early

NOTE: Arriving after 15 minutes is a cut or absence

5 (or nothing with an excused note from the

W
notes

Watch

NOTE: Leaving with more than 15 minutes left is a cut or absence

-10 (or 0 with copious class notes or guided observation
(If watching class no talking or electronic devices are allowed.)

Making Up Minutes: To make up minutes the absence or watching class MUST BE excused in Aeries via a
note or call to the Inspire Office or school related (i.e. field trip or class event). Students can get an ISPE
card from the Inspire Office to track activity minutes. 80 minutes per each day missed or class watched. A
max of 400 minutes can be made up per semester. All standard ISPE activities are accepted, but dance is
encouraged. A watched class must also be excused with a parents note verifying that they are aware of
the student not participating for the day and the reason behind the watching of class. This note can be
submitted on the day the student watched or stapled to the ISPE form. All minutes must be made up prior
to Finals Week: Fall Semester -- Friday, December 11th & Spring Semester -- Friday, May 20th. Makeup
minutes are turned in to the basket in the Inspire Dance Studio NOT the Inspire Office like other students
on ISPE.
Blue Days: Students will be allowed one (1) free pass day per semester. No questions asked; no notes
needed. They must be on time and present for attendance then may watch class quietly or join a study hall
to be productive. If Blue Days are not used during the semester, students will have an extra 5 points
issued at the end of the semester; think extra credit! There will be a blue binder students can check to
see when and if they have used there Blue Day. Relaxing on the couch is acceptable - I understand that
sometimes we just don't feel in the mood to dance and that is OK! If more than one student is sitting out,
they need to separate from one another in the dance room.

Behavior & Attitude (25% of the final dance grade given daily with
the Attendance Grade):

Ways to earn additional points: volunteering, demonstrating, knowing the answer to a question, doing
something that benefits the entire class, etc... Students will receive points in increments of 2-5 points for
each task completed.
Ways to lose additional points: behavioral issues, bad attitude, not trying, disrespectful, disrupting the
positive learning environment, etc Students will lose points in increments of 2-5 depending on their
actions.
All behavior points will be given or taken away at the discretion of the instructor. Point values will double
when we have guest teachers or instructors.
Easy ways to lose 5 points (this is the short list):
Not dressing down
Laughing at someone or talking badly about
Not putting hair up & securing it
another
Chewing gum
Leaving class without permission
Bringing food into the dance room
Making other students feel uncomfortable
Walking across the floor instead of trying a
Leaving trash in the dance studio
dance move
Disrespecting the dance studio space or
equipment

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities (25% of the final dance grade):

These will be graded in a few different ways.
Expectations will be based on class placement, age, previous training, and the performance compared to
other class members.
Skill Tests: 2-3 written & 2-3 movement tests over the year
360 Evaluations of self, others, the instructor, etc (this will be an evaluation method used on various
projects and possibly when we have guest instructors)
Students will earn points for their participation in choreographic assignments. These will be assigned
based on the students current knowledge, skills, & abilities.
Students will be ask to articulate in writing what they have learned through exit slips and free write
prompts.
NOTE: All items on this syllabus are subject to change at the instructors discretion.
Have passion in all that you do!

& remember a little dancing goes a long way...Life's short so why

not DANCE?!

In the word of a famous song & Mr. PopeIf you have the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you
DANCE!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------Syllabus Agreement:
I have received a copy of the 2015-2016 Dance Syllabus. I have read the syllabus and been given an
opportunity to ask questions about it. I understand and agree to the requirements of said syllabus.
Student Signature: ___________________________________________________ Date:____________________
Period:________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________________________ Date:____________________