Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s),
Welcome to
a great year of learning about the beautiful world that surrounds us! I am excited for a new school year to begin
and to join with you in educating your student about the wonders of the world.
My name is
Christina Agurcia, and I am originally from Illinois. I graduated from Lincoln Christian College
with a BS in Bible and from Illinois State University with a BS in
Biology. I am certified by the State of
Illinois to teach a wide range of science subjects, including biology,
chemistry, and physics. As well, I have
taken graduate education courses in zoology, botany, chemistry, and
physics. To continue gaining knowledge
about pedagogical technique, I also have participated in teacher workshop
events, such as the ones offered by Discovery School and Escuela International
Sampedrana in San Pedro Sula, and most recently, this summer, a workshop on
environmental education hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society.
This will be my tenth year in the
teaching profession and my sixth year as the eighth through twelfth grade
science teacher at Discovery School.
Previously, I taught one year at a private school here in Tegucigalpa
and three years at a public school in the United States of America.
I am looking forward to developing
an excellent working relationship with you.
It is important that we keep in close contact about your students’
progress. Each week I will be updating a
blog, which will have information about the material being covered in class,
student activities and homework, as well, as upcoming dates for projects and
tests. The blog address is
www.dshighscience.blogspot.com. Students and parents should check the blog
weekly to follow your student’s class. On the blog, you will also find a weekly list
of the “In Crowd” (for Physical Science and Biology, only). This is a list of
students who have turned in all their assignments for the previous week. Students will receive positive recognition
for being part of the “In Crowd.” If you
do not see your student’s name on this list, please discuss the missing work
with him/her. As well, you can follow
your student’s progress through checking the online grading program,
Engrade. This program creates a
personal, secure account by which you can access your student’s grade and list
of outstanding work. Instructions for
accessing your student’s individual account, with their personal access code,
will be sent to your email and given out at Open House.
Classtime is valuable, and
therefore, a student should attempt be at school as much as possible. However, if a student is absent, he/she is
responsible to complete all make-up work.
Make-up work can be found in the “make-up” folder for his or her
class. Any missed notes can be copied
from a fellow student. If a student
missed a test/quiz/lab, she/he will need make an appointment to complete the
work. For excused absences, students are
given one day to make-up work per each absent day. For one or two day excused absences, the
students should be prepared to take any pre-scheduled test or quiz and submit
any large project upon returning to school. For a longer absence, the student
will not be required to take a test or quiz on the first two days after
returning to school. For preplanned
absences, a student is to notify the teacher in writing previous to the absence
(at least 3 days). The teacher will
assign work, giving a schedule to work to be complete before the absence. No credit will be given for unexcused
absences or absences due to suspension.
If you need to contact me
individually, the best way is through email.
My email address is
cagurcia@discoveryschool.edu.hn. The office will also take messages for
me. If you would like to meet with me, I
would be happy to schedule an appointment with you.
If your student has any concerns or
does not understand a topic, please encourage him/her to see me. I am available most days during snack and
lunch and can also be before or after school, by appointment.
Thank you for entrusting me in
joining you in the education of your student!
