Horticulture - Tech Prep

Introduction to Horticulture – Tech Prep

ïï Extra credit points will be given to students who have this introduction in their notebooks on the first day of each semester.

Welcome to the world of plants!

Introduction to Horticulture is a year-long class for science or occupational credit. Students may take one or both semesters. Students completing the course with a grade of B or better all year can earn 4 quarter-hours of credit through South Puget Sound Community College. Major topics include: historical development of the horticulture industry; career development, job hunting and communication skills, and workplace ethics; greenhouse maintenance and management; taxonomy; plant anatomy, growth, and development; plant reproduction and propagation; and the plant environment. Students will use the classroom, greenhouse, campus, and community as a lab to develop skills related to plant propagation and care. Horticulture job skills such as propagation, transplanting, and cultivation will go hand-in-hand with textbook learning. Field trips and community service projects may also be a part of the class. Students will have the opportunity to participate in Horticulture Club (FFA).

EXPECTATIONS: Horticulture students are expected to:

Turn in a contract, signed by the student and parent, before being allowed to participate in labs and outside activities. The contract is due the first Friday after school starts. A field trip permission form and medical release form, good for all year, will also be handed out.
Organize all work in a 3-ring binder, with this sheet as the introduction. Notebooks are graded at midterm and the end of the semester. Students will use classroom sets of texts and reference materials, so all tests will come from the returned work kept in the notebook.
Be dressed to participate at all times, and prepared to go outside or into the greenhouse. Appropriate dress means no open-toed or platform shoes and no skirts. Aprons will be available. Students who are not appropriately dressed will not participate or receive credit.
Be in their seats at the bell with materials (pencil, paper, completed or in-progress assignments). Students will not be allowed out of class after the tardy bell rings. Tardy means not in your seat when the bell rings. Truant means you are more than 10 minutes late without an excuse, or not where you are supposed to be. See student handbook for discipline.
Demonstrate respect and support for one another, including listening when others are speaking, such as the teacher.
Follow safety rules at all times “. Students who do not abide by the safety rules will be removed from class and lose credit.
Participate in all activities and remain on-task until the bell rings.
Clean up all work areas at the end of activities.
Return all tools and equipment to their proper place after use (clean if necessary).
Refrain from inappropriate behavior and offensive language.
Make up written work, including labs, within two days of an absence. No make up work is accepted for unexcused absences. Missed greenhouse days cannot be made up.
Turn in assignments on time. Assignments are usually due at the beginning of the period. Late assignments will not be accepted.
Work 10 hours/semester outside of the class on a new skill (SAE). More information will be presented on this later. It is possible to satisfy this requirement through a Culminating Project related to horticulture.

Earn Leadership points for community service and job readiness skills.

NO CELL PHONE, IPOD, OR OTHER ELECTRONICS during class. Steps: (1) warning 1st time; (2) confiscated until end of class; (3) confiscated to end of day, sent to in-school suspension, loss of points.

WORKPLACE ETHICS POINTS:

All students begin the semester with 50 points for workplace ethics. Appropriate discipline action will also be taken for each violation. Points are deducted as follows:

Unexcused tardy -1 pt. each

Unexcused absence -2 pt. each

Discipline problem -5 pt.

Safety infraction -5 pt. (see below)

Electronic device in sight -5 pts.

CHEATING POLICY:

Students caught cheating will receive a grade of 0 and parents will be notified. This includes copying another student’s assignment as well as tests. If cheating occurs a second time during the trimester, the student will be suspended from the class with a failing grade.

GRADES:
Grades are based on participation, tests and quizzes, daily work, and projects. Grade scale is as follows: A=93%; A-=90%; B+=87%; B=83%; B-=80%; C+=77%; C=73+; C-=70%; D+=67%; D=60%; F=less than 60%. The grade is based on an accumulation of points. Students who successfully complete all experiments, assignments, and greenhouse work, but are unsuccessful in testing, can still achieve a passing grade.

“ LAB SAFETY:

You are expected to honor the lab safety rules listed on the Flinn Safety Contract. Infractions result in immediate discipline, which could include being sent to the office, a parent conference, loss of points, or campus service. Especially important are:

Follow all directions. If you don’t understand them, ask your lab partner or the teacher.
Know where all safety equipment is located.
Wear goggles for eye protection whenever instructed to do so.
NO DANGEROUS ACTS OR MISUSE OF MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT WILL BE TOLERATED. This includes the greenhouse, nursery compound, and field sites as well as the classroom.
Federal regulations prohibit eating or drinking in any science lab/classroom/field site. This includes water bottles and gum chewing. Also, cosmetics cannot be used in the classroom. Because contamination is possible, lunch sacks and water bottles should be brought to class only if in a backpack.
Appropriate clothing must be worn – no open-toed shoes or sandals in the classroom, greenhouse, or outside. Aprons are available to protect clothing.
No student is allowed in ANY science classroom until the teacher is present. Wait at the door until permitted to enter.
If you break equipment, you pay for it.

FFA ACTIVITIES:

Students must join the National FFA to participate in FFA activities, including Leadership Camp and Career Development Events (CDEs). Permission forms with information and expectations will be available before these activities. FFA is a nationally recognized youth leadership organization, and membership looks good on scholarship, college, and job applications.

Contact me at 596-8267 or by e-mail at kwatts@osd.wednet.edu. I hope to have a website with assignments posted soon.

Kathy Watts, instructor.