Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
Mrs. Tory Biasotti Arlington High School 1157 Route 55 LaGrangeville, NY 12540 tbiasotti@acsdny.org 845-486-4860Back to Top
How can I help my child if I don't speak Italian?
"How can I help my child even if I don't speak Italian?" This is a very frequently asked question every year at open house. You know your child best and not all of these suggestions will work well with every child, but maybe a few will help a little!! This is a tough age and a tough transition for the kids and for you as parents. It's a fine line between being interested and "always in my business"! Please know that I am here to help any way I can. Here are some of my suggestions: 1. Communicate and ask questions. Encourage the use of his/her daily planner to keep track of assignments. Some kids may still need you to check it or even have it signed. (Yes, really!) 2. Please ask to see his/her 3-ring binder. This is the required notebook for this class. PLEASE encourage (nag) him/her to keep it neat, labeled, dated, and organized. 3. Ask to see grades. ALL graded evaluations will be sent home for you to sign and return to me. If you haven't seen one in a while, try to remember to ask your child. 4. Make sure your child keeps track of his/her text book and dictionary. If you don't have a dictionary soon, please try to get one soon. (Try the internet if the stores are out. Walmart.com is cheap) Please make sure there is a protective cover on the text book as they are very expensive. 5. Please keep your child supplied with paper for the binder, writing utensils and basic craft supplies for occasional projects. Construction paper and markers... nothing major. 6. Encourage your child to meet with me after school if he/she is struggling. Anything below a 75 now when we're doing mostly review could be a sign of problems to come as the level of difficulty increases. I am here EVERY day after school until 3:00 at the earliest... usually it's more like 3:30 or so. I just need a little advance warning so I know to be in the classroom and not in the copy room. 7. Pay attention to how your child is studying. Is it active or passive? Is he/she barely looking at the words on the page? This is probably not enough for most students. Get as many body parts involved in the learning process as possible because this get more parts of your brain involved!! He/she should be writing out vocabulary and verb conjugations, making flash cards, lists, and charts. Say whatever needs to be memorized out loud... to a beat or rhythm is sometimes helpful. Find patterns and similarities to words or expressions they already know. Make as many connections as possible in those brain cells!!! 8. Ask your child to 'teach' you or a younger sibling perhaps. It will reinforce what they are doing in class and perhaps even be fun. 9. Do you have internet access? Maybe you could 'surf the web' for Italian sites to share with your child. (About.com is a great place to start.) 10. Maybe you could have a 'foreign film' night... rent an Italian movie and make/ order some Italian food and get the whole family involved! Please contact me with your concerns and even let them know that we do speak... it might keep them on the ball!Back to Top
After school sessions 1. Upon request of the student(s): for additional help at a time mutually agreeable to both student(s) and teacher. 2. When required by the teacher: for the student to make up an exam or work missed due to absence. 3. Detention: when assigned by teacher as punishment for improper conduct. I am more than willing to meet after school with any student who is caught up on all homework, behaves well in class, but is still in need of a little extra support or reinforcement. I stay after school every day. Some days I might only be available for 20 to 30 minutes, other days it's longer. Please take advantage of this BEFORE things get too far ahead of you!Back to Top
Tests, quizzes, homework, attendance, class participation, oral presentations and projects will all be considered when calculating a student's average. All grades will be given in the form of a fraction; i.e. 25/30. The top number is the number of points received, and the bottom number is the number of points possible for the particular grade. The more material covered by an evaluation, the more points it will be worth. Homework assignments are worth two points each and will be tallied and averaged in like a test. The final average will be computed by adding each of the four marking periods' grades and the final exam grade, then dividing by five.Back to Top
Homework policy: Homework is essential to the learning and memorization process. It is one way to practice and perfect the material presented in class. There will be an average of three written assignments per week which will be checked regularly, and sometimes collected. Answers to homework must be written out in complete sentences for full credit unless otherwise directed. Each homework is worth 2 points.There are two standing homework assignments for all returned tests and quizzes. 1)A parent must review and sign the grade and have your child return it to class for one point. 2) Students will be required to make corrections on all tests and quizzes so they learn from their mistakes. This is worth 2 points. Homework points will be included in the quarter's average. There will be a standing assignment to review notes, grammar and vocabulary every night.Back to Top
Periodically and at the discretion of the teacher, students will be offered opportunities to remediate a poor grade. This may include staying after for extra help sessions and then taking a new version of the grade in question. Additional opportunities may include making the necessary corrections as prescribed in the homework policy and choosing the lowest one or two (as my time permits) to earn partial credit back... up to half of the original points lost. These options will be available to students in "good standing" only meaning they have done all homework and taken all the notes in class AND have already shown the original grade to a parent as evidenced by the required signature.Back to Top