The Pony Express

Grades and Expectations

 

Adviser:  Becky Boyd               Phone: 744.5043          email: becky.boyd@sps.lane.edu

 

Newspaper – the pulse of the campus, the representation of the school, the embodiment of a professional publication, or in other words, the Pony Express.  Get your creative juices flowing and welcome to the Pony Express staff.

 

Grades are based on the following:

Weekly Assessment                  40%

Meeting Final Deadlines            35%

Quality                                     25%

 

Weekly assessments are done in coordination with the editors.  Meetings are held at the beginning of each week to set goals for each student.  At the end of the week students are graded on the success of meeting those goals.  Attendance is also factored in.

 

Meeting final deadlines is simply if the student met the deadline or not.  Handing things in on time is imperative when putting out a newspaper.  In extenuating circumstances extensions are available.  This is an ALL or nothing grade.

 

Quality is based on accuracy and high quality work.  This includes well written copy and captions, quality photos, interesting quotes, effective interviewing, fact checking, spell checking, name checking, and correctly filing all materials. 

 

 

Rules

  1. Respect yourself and others
  2. Do quality and accepted work
  3. Be a self-starter
  4. Be on time, stay for duration of class
  5. Meet deadlines and goals
  6. Leave class only for official newspaper business using your hall pass
  7. Only call other students out of class for official newspaper business
  8. Don’t prevent others from doing their job
  9. No equipment leaves the room without being properly checked out

 

Expectations

It is expected that each student will do his/her best work.  Newspaper is a lot of work, but newspaper can also be fun: to maintain that environment students should employ high-quality time management skills.  The ultimate goal is a timely product that reflects the school in an accurate and professional manner.

 

 

Attendance

Newspaper is a productions class.  When students are not here work cannot be completed, so attendance is essential.  Mrs. Boyd will be following the school attendance procedure closely and dealing with attendance issues on a case-by-case basis.

 

Staying on staff

Being a part of the Pony Express is a privilege.  Permission to remain on the Pony Express will be based on a staff member’s performance.  If a student’s performance is not up to expectations the adviser and the editors will meet with her/him to talk about solutions and help her/him to improve.  If the student’s performance does not improve, she/he might be asked to leave.

 

Press Law

Plagiarism, slander, and libel will not be tolerated in this class.  A student’s negative actions in this area could result in a lawsuit from an outside party.  Therefore, any student knowingly doing any of the previously listed things will be asked to leave the class.

 

Nuts and bolts

  1. Put all materials away at the end of class.  This includes papers or any items around the computer.
  2. Eating around or near the computers is prohibited at any time.  After school eating is room 140 is allowed only when you eat at the desks without any computers.
  3. Cameras and equipment cost money.  If you damage or lose a camera or other piece of equipment you will be responsible to replace it.

 

Rules for working after school

  1. You are never to allow a non-journalism student into room 140.
  2. No one is to stay and work alone.  A teacher must be present at all times.
  3. Don’t waste time.

 

I have read and understand the grades and expectations sheet.

 

______________________________                        ____________________________

Parent’s signature                                                         Student’s signature

 

 

______________________________                        ____________________________

Parent’s written name                                                   Student’s written name