Para leer esta página en español, use el botón de traducir en la parte superior derecha. Para leer los archivos de Google Doc del Sr. Sinopoli en español, haga clic en el enlace "ES" después del enlace normal.

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Computer Science Update #1: August 30, 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

My name is Mark Sinopoli and (as of the end of the first day) I will be teaching your student one of the Computer Science courses at Maynard High School (MHS) this year.  I hope that you and your student have some level of excitement about this!  This is my 33rd year of teaching and the last 13 of those years have been in Maynard.  My experience involves teaching both Computer Science and Math from Pre-Algebra to AP Calculus.

I am very excited for the year as well, since we will also be making the application for the Innovation Career Pathway in Information Technology.  You can learn more at the Department of Elementary and Secondary web page about it at their website:

• Innovation Pathways at DESE: https://www.doe.mass.edu/ccte/innovation-pathways/default.html

The Computer Science courses at MHS are primarily focused on "Software Development" so that will be our target as we hope to be awarded this designation beginning in Fall 2024.

Here is a list of the classes that I am teaching by Block and Semester.  All classes will meet in Room B215 which is the MHS Computer Lab.  Each class below has a link to the syllabus for that class.  Please check your student's schedule (both semesters!) to see which class they are taking and which syllabus applies. In the list below, each course name is a link that will open a viewable Google Doc. (These are Mr. Sinopoli's links.)

• Block A: 

  • Semester 1: Web Development - (ES) - (PT)

  • Semester 2: Game Development - (ES) - (PT)

• Block B: AP Computer Science Principles (Full Year) - (ES) - (PT)

• Block C: AP Computer Science A (Java) (Full Year) - (ES) - (PT)

• Block F: 

  • Semester 1: Applications of Computer Science - (ES) - (PT)

  • Semester 2: Robotics - (ES) - (PT)

• Block G: 

  • Semester 1: App Development - (ES) - (PT)

  • Semester 2: Java Programming - (ES) - (PT)

I use Google Classroom to organize most assignments.  Students can view the announcement of an assignment there, but most assignments are completed in another area, like Code.org, Replit.com, Unity.com, Vex.com, or the College Board website.  Occasionally there will be an assignment to complete through Google's products (like Google Docs or Slides).  I also have a "Course Info" Google Sheet, which contains the yearly calendar, course outlines, etc.  The webpage is listed below:

• Course Info: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yPqhkH5eJprLMOw0NbUc606ot7J5iqLFBRSXzIEjyho/edit?usp=sharing

It is a dynamic document that I make changes to as the year goes on.  This year I am also keeping a "Link Page" Google Doc of important links for students.  It is all public information.   The web page, which is primarily for students, but also has some information for parents, is shown by its hyperlink below:

• Links Page: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DWa4yBg1_IbD3-lCHUQ9QROp2STn2T1GDuN7FNidXYA/edit?usp=sharing

Grades are determined by a 60%-40% split by category.  I use the terms Major and Minor to describe the category of an assignment by the importance that I give to it.  Please check our grade management website, Aspen, located at this address:

• ASPEN: https://ma-maynard.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do to check on your child's progress.

I will be showing examples of this information (for Semester 1 classes) at Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 19th from 6 to 8 pm.  Parent Conferences for Quarter 1 will be held on Wednesday, November 15th starting at 2 pm and on Thursday, November 16th starting at 6 pm.  Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.  

Sincerely,

Mr. Sinopoli