M.E.S.S.

Excel
Welcome to M.E.S.S. Excel!
I. Introduction
M.E.S.S. Excel is a tutoring program in the summer designed to help students grow
academically and view the world in different ways. It allows them to approach thinking in
a more hands-on way. Also, living in the 21st century, technology plays a key and
significant role in our lives. Students will learn and create technological assignments
(websites, PowerPoints, animation-filled presentations [Prezi]) which allows students to
interact with academics in a more effective way in which they are comfortable with and
also better equip the students with proper tools for survival. M.E.S.S. Excel is an
advanced and enrichment-based tutoring program taught by a student who has already
faced the rigorous endeavors presented by elementary and middle schools. He would like
to teach others 2-3 grade level advanced topics through the passion he has for a strong
education. He also hopes to teach students helpful study techniques along with the actual
teaching for proper success with the challenges presented by primary and secondary
education.
M.E.S.S. Excel offers an environment containing group teaching in all four core subjects
and basics of Spanish, if interested. Students may also choose which subjects they would
like to be tutored for and may even choose to have a cumulative tutoring session which
includes teaching in all five subject areas (includes basic Spanish). Note: Subject areas
may have to further broken from the Sixth Grade ex. Biology, Physics, Algebra I and II
Trigonometry, Chemistry, etc.
M.E.S.S. Excel tests students during the first week for proper academic leveled-placement
(Accelerated, Intermediate, and Advanced). Additionally, students will receive quizzes and
unit tests to gauge student growth and learning gaps. Report Cards will be handed out at
the end of August. Report Card grades will be used to monitor growth and topic
understanding.

II. Grading Breakdown

The grading system that will be followed is the Point System. (Points Earned/ Points
Possible)
Ex: Student Name: John Smith; Subject: Biology
Assignment Name
Cell Organelles Test
Photosynthesis Test
Plants Test

Grade
100/100
98.5/100
65/66

Total Grade: (100+98.5+65)/ (100+100+66) = 263.5/266 = 99.06%

III. Classroom Supplies (Label all materials with your name.)
Students will be expected to come to every class prepared with:
1. A Blue or Black Pen and a Pencil w/eraser
2. A 3-Subject Ruled-Notebook (or 3 individual notebooks)
3. 1 Folder
a. Pocket A: Will Be for Homework
b. Pocket B: Will Be for Classwork/ Printed In-Class Notes
4. Tabs/Dividers (Optional)
IV. Classroom Discipline and Attendance
Classroom Discipline
Students at all times should be in an engaging environment in which they are able to take
academic risks. Therefore, discipline will play a significant role in day-to-day functions and
logistics. Discipline will be handled in a tiered fashion. The first step is some type of warning
whether it be verbal or nonverbal for minor disruptions. If the obnoxious or un-friendly behavior
persists, the student will then earn a loss of an academic or social reward let it be homework
passes or competition prizes. If the student still continues, he or she will earn a discussion with
their parents regarding their behavior after-class. Lastly, if the behavior continues, the student
will be expelled from the enrichment class.
Attendance
All students must try with their best abilities to at least attend 70% of all of the classes. It is
understood that it is the summer and family vacations, friend-times, etc., do occur so please try to
notify in advance when students are not available. Regardless, the class takes place only 2 times
a week for one month, so it would be in the best interest of the student to try to be present for
most of the classes.

V. Classwork Policies
Students will do a variety of classwork in different mediums throughout the course. They may do
laboratory activities, internet projects, written paperwork, presentations, etc. The type of
classwork will depend on the subject and topic being taught. Students are expected to pay
attention and be focused during the time of classwork. Classwork should be turned in, if possible,
at the end of class and no late work will be accepted.

VI. Homework Policies

Short-Term
Students will do a variety of homework, again in different mediums throughout the course. They
may be internet projects, written paperwork, presentations, voice-recordings, etc. at home and
have it prepared for the next class or specially given due date. The type of homework will
depend on the subject and topic being taught but will almost directly correlate with the classwork
done at class. Homework will be checked for at the beginning of class and should be
immediately turned in, if possible, and no late homework work will be accepted unless in the
case of sicknesses, vacations, etc.
Long-Term
Every two weeks, students will be assigned to write a report/paper on a given topic and the essay
will be turned in and graded for accuracy, grammar/conventions, word choice, and ideas. The
essay will not always be an English language arts essay but can be a scientific essay or a
historical essay. This assignment is to help and improve students analytic/creative writing skills.
The topic will be given for students in class and is expected to be typed and emailed to me by
11:59 pm of the night before the due date or at least neatly hand-written or typed in the form of a
hardcopy on the due date to be collected in class.

VII. Quiz/Test Policies

Students will be administered a variety of quizzes and tests. They almost frequently are in the
form of written paperwork that will be immediately graded but may also be internet projects,
presentations, voice-recordings, etc. which will be needed to be done at home and have it
prepared for the next class or specially given due date. They may be given in-class time if it is a
project assessment which fit in the categories mentioned above. Regardless, students must
exhibit their best performance on quizzes and tests and no cheating is allowed ever. Group
projects may be assigned but cheating is never allowed!

VIII. Contact
Communication between class and home is important for the students success. Please feel free
to contact me with any concerns. Email is the easiest way to reach me (ysreyas1@gmail.com),
but do not hesitate to give me a call on the telephone (781-281-0239). Generally, I will reply to
an email within 24 hours unless it is the weekend. I do not always check my email on the
weekend. Also, telephone calls are a less convenient way to contact me as I may not always be
there to receive the call but I will try to get back to you almost immediately.

X. Website and Homework Posts

A website has been created in which announcements and student homework will be posted.
Announcements will consist of upcoming events, flyers, class closings, etc. Homework will be
posted on the Homework page. Under the homework page, a brief explanation of the
homework policy will appear and under that will be two sections. Each of the section will be for
each of the tiers, Gr. 3-5, and Gr. 6-8. Under each tiers section will be a subject heading naming
a specific subject and an Adobe PDF. The PDF will contain all of the students homework for one
specific subject. In case of homework mishaps, please scroll down to your name in the PDF and
please complete the homework. The bi-weekly paper/essay topic will also be posted directly
under all of the PDFs. The website address is: http://messexcel.weebly.com/

XI. Closing
Please do take into consideration this course is only for a month. Rigorous and advanced topics
may not be taught fully and not all topics may be covered. I hope this course does a proper job of
allowing students to grow academically, mentally, socially, and behaviorally. I wish you all the
best of luck in this course and I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,
Sreyas Yennampelli