SEMESTER PROJECT

Throughout the semester you will be expected to complete one semester project. This project is required to pass Senior Government.

Project Choices (please select one):

1. 1. Go to a Meeting of a governmental organization.  This may include the RRISD school board, the Round Rock City Council, Williamson County Court, the Texas Legislature, etc…  You will need to get a meeting agenda or a signature from a board member. I will be glad to help you find a meeting to participate at.  You will write a summary of your experience and how it relates to what you have learned in government. You MUST include a picture of you at the event in your final project.

The summary will have four parts:

1. 1. What was discussed
   2. What did you notice about the proceedings and the processes of the meeting?
   3. What your opinion is about the experience
   4. What this ‘democracy’ as you would expect? Explain your answer.

1. 2. Get Involved in an Election Campaign: There are several campaigns already running now for the 2010 election; senators, representatives, state senators, state representatives, state board of education, municipal judges, city council, school board, etc… I have the contact information for many candidates. Get involved and volunteer (at least 10 hours)! You will need to have a signed letter certifying your hard work. Your summary must include:
   1. What were your duties?
   2. What was your general impression of the office/work done?
   3. Would you do this again?
   4. Was this ‘democracy’ as you would expect? Explain your answer.

1. 3. Read & Analyze a Book on contemporary politics, or American political history, that you and I agree upon in advance. You may peruse the political/historical section at a bookstore or the local library. Write a 750-1000 word book report in which you:
   1. Indicate something about the author(s) and their qualifications
   2. Summarize the book’s argument or thesis
   3. Offer a critique of the book’s analysis/conclusions, based on your knowledge from the course and readings
   4. Include your own reaction from the book

1. 4. Create a Notebook of current event articles throughout the semester that relate to government.  You may locate these articles in current magazines, the internet, newspapers, etc.  (1) Provide a copy of the article; (2) write review of the article; (3) and an explanation regarding how the article relates to what you have learned in government. Articles must be collected throughout the semester (there must be at least 1/3 of the articles dated from each six weeks in the semester). In addition, no more than half of the articles may be from the internet.

A – 15 articles                        B – 12 articles                        C – 10 articles

1. 5. Movie Reviews Create a notebook of movie reviews/analysis that you have completed throughout the semester. These documentary movies must relate directly to government. I have a list of acceptable movies and you may ask for approval for additional movies. You may watch movies with friends, however the reviews must be written individually. Possible sources for movies; the Round Rock Public Library, Netflix (rent or streaming), and Blockbuster. You must:   (1) Describe the movie; (2) write review of the movie; (3) and an explanation regarding how the movie relates to what you have learned in government. Reviews must be collected throughout the semester. Each review should be at least 1 page long.

A – 4 movie reviews

B – 3 movie reviews

C – 2 movie reviews

(Less than 2 movie reviews will not be accepted)

1. 6. Williamson County/YMCA Teen Court: Teen Court gives teens an opportunity to serve jury duty and to attend educational programs. Individual cases are defended and prosecuted by teen attorneys; the verdict is rendered by a jury of teens. Participartion in this Teen Court gives teens an opportunity to realize their roles in the community, instills a sense of pride and responsibility, and through the use of positive peer pressure, helps create a better community for all.

• All court and training sessions are held on Mondays 6:30 – 8:45 p.m. in the Williamson County Annex in Cedar Park – 350 Discovery Blvd. Appropriate dress and behavior from teens and adults is expected at all times.
• If you would like to participate in Teen Court as a court official or as a defendant, call one of the following numbers for more information: Judge Edna Staudt 512.260.4210 of Jamie Solis, Program Director 512.615.7411

1. 7. Volunteer: You may choose to volunteer at a place of your choice that relates to government.  You will write a summary of your experiences and how they relate to what you have learned in government.  Included in this summary will be a description of your experience, the person who supervised you and a phone number so I can verify your experiences.  I will be glad to help you find a place to volunteer. You must catalogue all the hours that you volunteer.

A – 12 hours

B – 10 hours

C – 8 hours

Today it appears our buddy Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee has made it into the news!

Limbaugh and Steele at a recent Fundraiser

He noted on CNN’s “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News” that he was the leader of the Republican party, not infamous radio host Rush Limbaugh. He also took the time to mention that Rush is an ‘entertainer,’ whose show is ‘incendiary’ and ‘ugly.’

Ouch.

Clearly a slip of the tongue, we’ll see how Rush Limbaugh responds! Rush, remember, is always looking for ways to get himself back in the news. News stories drive up his number of listeners – and that’s always a good thing!

The question is though: is Michael Steele really the head of the Republican Party? Of course, he’s the official head – but perhaps someone else is really in charge? In the time since President George W. Bush has stepped down, we’ve seen a scramble for power in the Republican party. Who came out ahead, if anyone? Is it Rush? Palin? Rick Perry? Someone in Congress?

WHAT IS THE CRITERIA TO EXEMPT EXAMS?

Students may exempt up to three semester exams each semester.  Students who have an 85 or better average and no more than 2 absences in a class may exempt the exam for that class.  Three tardies equal an absence and are cumulative across all class periods.  An exam in a full year course may be selected either first OR second semester.  A student is limited to 3 exemptions per semester and may only exempt the same class once each school year. (Example, if exempt English at midterm, cannot exempt English at year end.)

Accordingly, students are:

• exempt- if have 0 absences in a class period and 8 or less tardies in all periods (cumulative tardies);
• not exempt- if have 0 absences in a class period and 9 or more cumulative tardies;
• exempt if have 1 absence in a class period and 5 or less cumulative tardies;
• not exempt if have 1 absence in a class period and 6 or more cumulative tardies;
• exempt if have 2 absences in a class period and 2 or less cumulative tardies;
• not exempt if have 2 absences in a class period and 3 or more cumulative tardies;
• not exempt if have 3 absences in a class period.

Studious Students who Studied

HOW DO STUDENTS DECLARE EXEMPTIONS?

A new exemption policy will be used for semester finals this year.  This policy change makes the students responsible for declaring their exemption(s) and turning the information in on time.  The students must follow the following steps between January 5 and January 7:

1. Pick up attendance summary from the Counseling Center either before school or during any lunch period.

2. Pick up exemption forms at the Obligation table in the student center either before school or during any lunch period. Students with outstanding obligations may not exempt any exam.

3. Staple attendance summary to the exemption form.

4. Obtain signature from the teacher for any class that the student may exempt.  Students may need to leave the form with the teacher and come back later to pick it up because teacher will check the student’s grade.  If student meets the exemption criteria, the teacher will sign the exemption form and have it available for student to pick up.

6. Exemption forms must be turned into the Counseling Center by Wednesday, January 7th.   NO EXCEPTIONS!

WHEN ARE EXAMS?

MONDAY, JANUARY 12
9:05-11:05 1st Period Exam
11:05-11:13 Passing Period
11:13-2:03 3rd Period/Lunch/Study Hall**
2:03-2:10 Passing Period 
2:10-4:10 4th Period Exam

TUESDAY, JANUARY 13
9:05-11:05 2nd Period Exam
11:05-11:15 Passing Period
11:15-1:15 3rd Period Exam

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14
9:05-11:05 5th Period Exam
11:05-11:15 Passing Period
11:15-1:15 6th Period Exam

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15
9:05-11:05 7th Period Exam
11:05-11:15 Passing Period
11:15-1:15 8th Period Exam

WHAT ABOUT LUNCH?

Lunch schedule for Monday, January 12th.

**11:05 -11:40 1ST  LUNCH
11:40 -11:48         Passing Period
11:40 -12:15 2ND LUNCH
12:15 -12:23         Passing Period
12:15 -12:50 3RD & 4TH  LUNCH
12:50 -12:58         Passing Period
12:58 -2:03 Study Hall in 3rd Period Class

RELEASED FOR LUNCH BY BUILDING WHERE HAVE THIRD PERIOD
1ST Lunch 600
2nd Lunch 700
3rd & 4th Lunch 100, 200, 300, 500 800, 900, Portable
Athletics & P.E.

Lunches for Tuesday, January 13th-Thursday, January 15th
SACK LUNCHES WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE CAFETERIA ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.  Anyone desiring a sack lunch should obtain a ticket in the cafeteria each morning before 9:05. Students may pick up lunches at 11:15.  Lunches may be eaten in the cafeteria, if the student does not have a next period exam, or may be taken home after the last period exam. Please note, lunches should not be eaten on the buses.

OTHER EXAM PERIOD RULES

Students who exempt one exam on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and because of transportation issues have to be in school all day, MUST go to and remain in the supervised study hall in the cafeteria during the exam period for which they are exempt.

Students who exempt both exams on a given day MUST (district policy) come to school that day and sign an attendance register in the Counseling Center.

Students must remain in their classes or in the supervised study hall in the cafeteria until the end of each exam period

STUDENTS CAN ONLY TAKE THE EXAMS AT THE PERIODS DURING WHICH THEY ARE SCHEDULED.  They will not be allowed to mix and match exam periods from one day to another.

Buses will run their regular high school routes on Monday, January 12th.  On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, students will be dismissed at 1:15.  However, any student whose parent allows him/her to leave the campus early will not be allowed to return to campus to catch the bus. Parents must make their own early dismissal transportation arrangements.  Students who are excused from exams may not be on the campus of RRHS or any other campus. Please do not request other campuses to release younger children to their RRHS brothers or sisters before the end of the school day.

Our New Principal will come to Round Rock High School for the first time tomorrow, December 5th!

Dr. Philip Warrick, the new principal for Round Rock High School, will officially start on December 5.  Dr. Warrick will be meeting with the staff that morning at 7:30 a.m. and will meet with student and student groups throughout the day.

All of RRHS– Staff, Parents, and Students– are invited to attend a Meet & Greet Reception in honor of Dr. Warrick on Friday evening, December 5 from 5 pm to 7 pm.  Dr. Warrick will speak briefly at 6 pm.  The reception will be held in the RRHS’ Commons Area in the 100 Building. Stop in and meet the new leader for RRHS.

Dr. Philip Warrick