Message for BRVGS AP Biology Students

Dear BRVGS Sophomores (and parents of BRVGS Sophomores),

I hope that you are all doing well as we start this week. I wanted to catch up to let you know where things are headed with BRVGS AP Biology activities for the remainder of the year. Please read this carefully and please respond to the survey below as soon as you can.

For AP Biology, you will all be finishing your Funding Our Future project with an individual OR group activity (that will be up to each student individually - more on that below). You will also do one of two things for the remainder of the year:

  • Your first option is that you can work on preparing for and taking the AP Biology Exam. I STRONGLY encourage you to do this for several reasons: it will not cost you anything, it is great preparation for other challenging courses, and you might be able to get credit for college... AND (once again) it will make your AP Bio teacher very happy! BRVGS is preparing a series of exam Prep activities that would need to be completed for you to get credit for this option.

  • Your other option, if you choose not to take the exam, is that you can do a series of "deep-dive" biology learning activities. Your teachers and I are working on those activities and will have more info on that by the end of the week - but we are generally looking at about 5 to 8 hours of work per week for the rest of the school year for those activities (about the same as the time you would be expected to put in for AP Exam Prep).

Please respond to the BRVGS AP Biology AP Test Survey (even if you have already let your teacher know) to let us know which option you will choose to do going forward from here.

Many of you have contacted me or your teachers with questions regarding your semester project. You will have the opportunity to finish the project in one of several ways:

  • Students can complete slideshow presentations in collaboration with some or all of their team (depending on availability and internet, team member cooperation, etc.) with required information

  • Students may (in collaboration with team members or individually) create an ad to solicit funding for for your proposal

  • Student individuals may write a detailed, multi-page letter to the Gates Foundation, requesting funding for your group's proposal

  • Students wishing to raise their project grade can do so by providing additional materials in support of your group's position There may be some other opportunities for finishing this - please check in with your teacher if you have other ideas

These assignments would be added to your group's Project Website and evaluated for satisfactory completion. Please note that your project completion and assignments will not be given and "A, B or C " type of grade (unless you do such a high level of work that it has the potential to improve your overall grade) - but the Project assignment and Exam Prep OR other required activities must be successfully completed for you to be considered to have completed the AP Biology as a graduation credit for BRVGS.

For now, please complete the survey above and keep an eye on your BRVGS email. I hope to have specific info to you for assignments to you by the end of this week. Please let me know of any questions in the meantime, and take care, everyone - Mr. Carraway

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