AFNORTH INTERNATIONAL

SCHOOL

US Elementary Section

Parent & Student

Handbook

updated August 2017

[AFNorth Elementary School – US Section] Page 2

• Letter of Introduction

Table of Contents

3

• Mission and Accreditation 4

• Contact Information and School Hours

5

• Class Organization 6

• Information A-Z 7-21

• Academic Programs o Curriculum o Homework o Host Nation Program o Partner Language Program o Physical Education o Progress Reports/Report Cards o Study Trips o Textbooks

• After-School Activities • Allergies • Assessment Program • Attendance

o Absences o Highlights from DoDEA Attendance Policy o Late Arrival and Early Dismissal

• Concerns • Cycling • Discipline

o 7 Habits of Happy Kids© o AFNorth International School Code of Safety and Personal Conduct o Anti-bullying

• Dress Code • Drop Off/Pick Up • Equal Opportunity and Non-discrimination Policy • Health Services • Inclement Weather/Early Dismissal/Emergency Closures • Information Center • Insurance • Lost and Found • Lunch Program • Parent – Teacher Conferences • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

• Parental Contact Information and Student Identification • Parking • Personal Property • Registration and Withdrawal • Retention • School Advisory Committee (SAC) • Smoking • Student Council • Student Support Resources

o Student Support Team o Case Study Committee o Child Find o Gifted Education o English as a Second Language (ESL)

• Suspected Child Abuse and/or Neglect • Transportation • Volunteers/Visitors

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENTS SCHOOLS

ISLES DISTRICT AFNORTH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

UNIT 21606 APO AE 09703-1606

August 2017

Dear Parents,

Welcome to AFNORTH International School (AIS) – US Elementary Section. We are pleased to have you join our community! At AFNorth, we strive to maintain a caring and productive learning environment for each child. We are proud of our school and every student and employee who is part of it.

At AFNorth School we believe in providing a broad and balanced curriculum. The focus of our DoDEA curriculum is the development of basic skills in Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. In addition, we provide a variety of worthwhile creative, social and academic experiences; such as Art, Music, Physical Education, Computer Literacy and a choice of European Languages.

Each year we strive to make AFNorth an even better place to learn and grow. As part of this process, the teachers set classroom goals that will benefit each student in their class. In addition, the school works on a Continuous School Improvement Plan, which sets out goals for the school year and uses student achievement as success criteria. We are proud of the positive feedback we received from our Accreditation visit in the Spring of 2015. The visiting team was able to observe all the fantastic learning opportunities that our children are engaged in each and every day.

Research clearly shows that the best schools are those in which parents are actively involved and where parents and teachers are working together. So, we take our hats off to you for your support and encouragement in all that we do. We strongly encourage and invite parents to become involved in our school. Consider becoming involved in our Parent Teacher Organization or our School Improvement Team.

Regular open communication is important to us. Please contact us immediately whenever you have a question or concern. We hope that you will visit us often to see the exciting educational activities in which your child is involved.

The Administration, Faculty and Staff AFNORTH International School US Elementary Section

[AFNorth Elementary School – US Section] Page 5

DoDEA - Vision Statement Educate, Engage, and Empower each student to succeed in a dynamic world.

DoDEA - Vision Statement To be among the world’s leaders in education, enriching the lives of military-connected students and the communities in which they live.

AFNORTH International School - Mission Statement The mission of AFNORTH International School is to provide an education commensurate with the national requirements of its four founding nations – Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

We shall enrich this educational experience through our school’s internationally integrated organization, with programs making use of the European setting, and the multicultural nature of our student body. This will be in conjunction with the support of our military community.

AFNORTH International School – US Elementary Section

Actively Learning Finding Solutions Inspiring Ideas

We are accredited by AdvancED. To learn more about School Accreditation, visit the DoDEA Accreditation Web Page at: http://www.dodea.edu/Accreditation/index.cfm.

We completed our Accreditation Visit in the spring of 2015. Our next

accreditation Visit will be in 2020. Using school wide data, our current school improvement goals are:

Math: 75% of all students will demonstrate a proficiency in mathematics by scoring in the top two quarters, with no more than 5% scoring in the bottom quarter, by June 2020 as measured by the TerraNova3 and other common assessments.

Common Formative Assessment: We will collaborate to design and implement three quarterly Common Formative Assessments in both math and literacy for grades K-5 by June 2020 as measured by on-time completion and implementation of all assessments with quality and fidelity, as well as, analysis of student performance results.

AFI the Lion

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SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION

US Elementary Office: Phone: 045-527-8251 E-mail for Attendance: AFNO.Attendance@eu.dodea.edu

E-mail for Registration: afnorthES.registrar@eu.dodea.edu Principal Phone: 045-527-8251 E-mail: PrincipalAfnoES@eu.dodea.edu

Assistant Principal Phone: 045-527-8251

Nurse’s Office Phone: 045-527-8299

Bus Offices Phone: 045-527-8228 Special Transportation Needs: 045-527-8232

Library Phone: 045-527-8271

AFNORTH International School Director Phone: 045-527-8221 E-mail: directorate@afnorth-is.com

SCHOOL ADDRESSES

US APO AFNORTH US Elementary Section Unit 21606 APO AE 09703 - 1606

LOCAL AFNORTH International School Ferd. Bolstraat 1 6445 EE Brunssum The Netherlands

SCHOOL HOURS US Elementary Office Hours: 0745 - 1630 School day for students: 0900 - 1530

School Calendar available in US Elementary Office or on the school website.

Supervision commences with arrival of the school buses at approximately 0840.

Children should not be unaccompanied on school premises before this time. When a child arrives late he/she must be signed in at the Front Office by the

parent. An admittance pass will be issued. If you remove your child from school for any reason before the end of the school

day, please come to the Front Office to sign him/her out. You will receive a release pass to collect your child from his/her classroom.

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CLASS ORGANIZATION Classroom teachers work in consultation with administration and support services personnel to create socially and academically appropriate class groupings. It is our professional responsibility to ensure balanced classes that maximize learning for all students at AFNORTH. Teachers have a wealth of collective knowledge regarding how individual children learn and socialize. Many factors are taken into consideration in an attempt to ensure the best placement for each student: Gender (male/female ratios) Special needs information Language considerations Student abilities, learning and work styles Social dynamics and interactions among students Family related issues (siblings, etc.) Parents often ask if they can request a specific teacher. In special circumstances, parent input can be given by writing a letter to the principal stating specifics about any special needs that should be taken into consideration. Any letter requesting a specific teacher by name will be discarded and will not be honored in order to preserve the integrity of our placement process. Providing a parent input letter does not guarantee placement into any specific class. The deadline for receipt of special needs input letters for students who are currently enrolled is close of business on 1 June. Special needs request letters for students who are new to the community and enroll after 1 June are due no later than one week after enrollment. Letters received after the deadline will not be considered. Class placements are posted just prior to the start of the school year. We acknowledge that there are some students and/or parents who may initially be concerned with their class placement. Part of a new school year consists of making new friends and building a relationship with the class teacher. We seek parental support in helping students understand the importance of class formations that are most conducive to learning. Our experience leads us to believe that once children get over any initial anxiety about a new school year, they quickly make new friends and grow comfortable in their new class. Any changes will only be considered after four weeks of school. Concerns should be submitted to the Principal in writing. Changes are not guaranteed.

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ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AFNORTH International School offers many kinds of learning opportunities for students. Students here are exposed to activities and insights to which students at other schools do not have access. The facility is a marvel. The international mix of staff and students provides unique interactions that are not available to them elsewhere. There are excursions and field studies that students will experience. At the core of learning is the basic curriculum – Reading and Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. AFNorth faculty and staff are committed to differentiated instruction that promotes individual student success. As with any educational program, a strong school-home partnership makes a huge impact on student achievement. We hope you will become involved with your student’s success! Curriculum The school curriculum is outlined in the DODEA instructional standards and objectives (available at www.dodea.edu). The textbook does not define what is taught in the school; the objectives/standards do. The subject areas of Reading, Math, Language Arts, Social Studies and Science are taught at each grade level. Physical Education (sports and swimming), Partner Language, Host Nation, Art, and Music instruction are also offered to our students. DoDEA curriculum committees select textbooks, library books, and supplementary instructional materials, which support the curricula. The materials are the same as those used throughout DoDEA, and in many school districts across the United States. Students that are enrolled in the IY1 program are taught with British Curriculum. Please contact the B/C office for more information. Homework Instruction by a teacher takes place primarily in a classroom and is limited by time and location constraints. In order to extend the learning process, both in time and in place, homework is sometimes assigned. Homework is defined as work or activities assigned to students by the teacher to do outside-of-class time in order to extend the instructional program for a class or for individual students. Assigned homework serves both the teacher and the students in the following ways:

• to reinforce skills taught in class • to increase understanding and retention • to enrich classroom instruction • to encourage responsibility

Homework assignments are meant to be reasonable in terms of time and effort requirements placed on students, but they should give students the opportunity to stretch and grow academically. Homework is not intended t o be given before the concept or skill has been taught in class and the students have had a chance to practice.

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Parents will be contacted if their child is consistently having homework difficulties. By seeing what homework your child is doing, you will be more informed about your child's learning at school. Please do not hesitate to contact your child's teacher if there are questions or concerns. The amount of homework will of course be different depending on the age of the child. Listed below is a general guideline for the amount given by each year level. Please bear in mind that these guidelines are not absolutes. The amount will vary nightly. However, if your child seems to be spending a great deal more time doing homework, you should contact the teacher. Pre-K (IY1) and Kindergarten 10 minutes of daily reading to or with someone

1st to 2nd Grade 15-20 minutes daily

3rd to 5th Grade 30-40 minutes daily There will be some long-range projects to be completed in 2nd through 5th Grade. Host Nation Program The overall objective of intercultural education is the development of open-mindedness toward other individuals, groups and cultures. The primary emphasis of our Host Nation program is to provide an appreciation and understanding of the culture of our host country, The Netherlands. The AFNorth Host Nation classes aim to ensure that our students will: feel comfortable when making contacts within the Dutch community learn important history, culture, and traditions of The Netherlands be able to identify and appreciate the similarities and differences between the U.S.

culture and that of The Netherlands host nation acquire basic skill in the Dutch language that will help when students are in contact

with persons in the local community Partner Language Program AFNorth has offered the Partner Language Program to our students since 1981. This program teaches English to German speaking students and German to English speaking students within our school. The primary objective of the program is to develop a positive attitude towards and instill an understanding for the Partner Languages within our school. This objective is reached through a communicative language program that follows a structure of thematic core topics which recur at regular intervals. Linguistic structures and appropriate vocabulary will overlap in a rising spiral as they are constantly encountered and reinforced throughout the different year levels. With no specific time line set, the program guarantees foreign language growth for every child entering at any time during the school year.

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Physical Education Physical education is an important part of the school curriculum. Swim lessons are included in the physical education program at AFNorth for children in 2nd through 5th grade. The instruction is provided by certified swim instructors. Student behavior is monitored during the swim lessons by our staff member(s). Each class will be scheduled for swim lessons one day per week for half of the school year. Classroom teachers will notify parents of the schedule. Please remember to send your child’s swim kit with them each week. SWIM KIT: towel, swim suit, bathing cap (optional), and rubber sandals or swim socks (required for students with warts/verruca). PE is a part of weekly schedule for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Students need to have approved tennis shoes for participation. Street shoes are not allowed on the Gym floor. A PE kit is required for each student in 2nd through 5th Grade. PE KIT: shorts or sweat pants, a tee shirt, and non-marking, clean, soft-soled shoes. ALL students are expected to participate in all PE/swimming sessions. If an illness, or injury, arises and your child cannot participate, please send a note to your child’s teacher explaining the reason for non-participation. Progress Reports/Report Cards Progress reports using the DoDEA Report Card are sent home four times a year, with the first one coinciding with Parent-Teacher Conferences in November. The subsequent report cards will be sent home no later than one week after the end of the quarter. Five weeks into each quarter, teachers may send progress reports to parents/sponsors. The progress report serves to inform parents of students’ at-risk as well as grade-level performance. Study Trips During the school year, various educational trips are scheduled to complement classroom learning. These activities are an essential part of the curriculum in Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, Physical Education and other disciplines. Appropriate pre- and post- assignments are given. ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE. When the activity is to an off-campus location, parents will be asked to sign a permission form authorizing their child to attend. Students who do not return these forms cannot be permitted to accompany the class. Students with documented behavior difficulties will have special accommodations that may include a parent or other designated adult attending the study trip with the child. Textbooks Textbooks and consumable workbooks will be issued to every student for each class. If a book is lost, the parent is responsible for replacement costs.

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AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES In addition to community activities (Girl/Boy Scouts, Brownies Daisy Scouts, etc.), there are a variety of school-sponsored after-school activities (1545-1645) offered to the students in 2nd through 5th grade from September through November. Parents will be notified of activities and sign-up procedures soon after the start of school. These activities will be scheduled throughout the week and activity buses are provided for students residing within the AFNORTH school-bus area. Students will ride the activity bus or be picked up by parents promptly at the end of the activities (1645). Because of liability concerns, students may not remain on the school grounds after school dismissal, unless they are participating in an after-school activity or accompanied by parent or designated adult.

ALLERGIES In order to provide a safe environment for all students, staff and other members of our community, AIS has a Nut-Aware Policy. It must be emphasized that ensuring the safety of people in the school at risk for anaphylaxis requires the cooperation of the entire community. While it is impossible to guarantee that the school environment will be completely free of potential hazards, risks can be minimized by compliance with reasonable guidelines. All students, staff and volunteers must refrain from bringing any products to school that contain peanuts, nuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, nut butter, nutella, etc. Any student bringing such products to school will take the food to the Office and parents will be notified. All parents/guardians, students, staff and school volunteers are asked to read product labels as some food products, although not readily known to contain nuts, may be prepared in the same factories as foods containing nuts, and therefore be capable of triggering an anaphylactic reaction. Students with Severe Allergies Parents/guardians of students who have severe allergies are responsible for informing the school, in writing, that their child is at risk of anaphylaxis. They must provide a copy of the medical diagnosis and Care Plan from the medical treatment facility. This must be provided to the Nurse’s Office upon registration and renewed at the beginning of every school year. The parent/guardian will provide the Nurse’s Office with any required emergency medication. The medication must be brought to the Nurse’s Office in its original container labeled with the student’s name and prescription. Parents/guardians are responsible for teaching their children who are at risk for anaphylaxis to identify foods that may contain the allergen and to take appropriate action by notifying an adult immediately.

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ASSESSMENT PROGRAM In accordance with DoDEA requirements, there are several assessments administered to students to measure their academic progress. Benchmark Assessment System (BAS) – Reading Comprehension Assessment for students in

Kindergarten – 3rd Grade Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) – Reading Comprehension Assessment for students in 3rd – 5th Grade Beginning/End of Year Assessments in Math – for students in Kindergarten – 5th Grade TerraNova 3 – Standardized Assessment administered in Grades 3rd – 6th National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – administered to 4th Grade every other

year; usually in February. The TerraNova Standardized Achievement Tests are intended to measure higher-order thinking skills as well as basic and applied skills in a variety of content areas. Staff, faculty and administration seek to continuously improve the quality of student achievement in the classroom and the TerraNova assessment assists with that task. Students perform better when they are well prepared for testing. Here are some steps that can help your child: Ensure that he/she gets enough rest. Make sure that your child goes to bed on time

during the testing window. Prepare a nutritious breakfast each morning. Congratulate your child on how well they are prepared! When they come home, let

them express feelings about the test. Show support and understanding. Do not schedule any appointments (medical, dental, etc.) during the morning hours of

the test week, as this period is used for testing. It is a good idea to keep most family routines/structures intact during this time. It is also helpful to eliminate late evening excursions with the family.

ATTENDANCE Absences For the safety of our students, contact the office and your child’s teacher by email or phone by 0900 if your child will be absent. State the reason for the absence and the possible number of days the student will be out of school. If you are requesting classroom assignments or other academic support materials, the teacher must receive notification at least one school day in advance. In the event that a child does not have a planned absence from school and is reported by the classroom teacher to be absent, the office staff will initiate the following procedures: By 10 AM of the day of the unplanned absence, the school will contact the parent to

report the child's absence.

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If the school is unable to contact the parent they will begin contacting all names on the contact list.

A student who has been absent from school is required, upon his or her return to school, to present a signed note from his/her parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence. Highlights from the DoDEA Attendance Policy: School attendance is important and in order to receive the best education, students need to Be Here! DoDEA's system-wide attendance policy for students is consistent with those found in many public schools throughout the United States. School attendance issues have been identified as a serious issue for children throughout the country and military children are no exception. DoDEA's attendance policy provides specific guidance on attendance, absences and identifies support services for students at-risk for not fulfilling the grade or course requirements. It's not surprising that regular school attendance correlates directly with success in academic work, improves social interaction with adults and peers and provides opportunities for important communication between teachers and students. Regular attendance also has a cumulative effect of establishing life-long positive traits — responsibility, determination, respect for rules of society -- that are critical for developing career readiness skills, success in college and in life.

• All students are required to attend school for 180 instructional days per school year. • Academic penalties will not be imposed for excused absences. • Whenever a student needs to be out for more than three days, the teacher will provide

a Student Educational Monitoring Plan to lessen the impact of a student missing instruction in class.

• Excused absences can include: Personal illness Medical, dental, or mental health appointment Serious illness in the student's immediate family A death in the student's immediate family or of a relative Religious holiday Emergency conditions such as fire, flood, or storm Unique family circumstances warranting absence and coordinated with

school administration College visits that cannot be scheduled on non-school days

• Reasonable amounts of time surrounding deployments and reintegration providing missed schoolwork is obtained in advance and completed upon return.

• The policy establishes a balance between the need for military families to spend time together following deployment, while emphasizing the importance of education. We have and will continue to be as flexible as possible in accommodating the precious time families have together but flexibilities and accommodations have limitations, especially when they impact student performance and attendance at school.

• Procedures for monitoring daily student attendance and communicating with families are established in this policy.

• Students at-risk will be monitored by the Student Support Team and school

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administration to include the identification of supports and interventions. • Many families—both military and non-military—underestimate the importance of

regular school attendance for young children (Kindergarten and First Grade) but even missing just 5 percent of Kindergarten—that's just nine days—can be an indicator that a child will fall behind by the Fifth Grade.

• Children take their cue from their parents when it comes to the importance of school attendance. To have a quality education experience, you need to be here.

• There are times when a student needs to miss school - everyone understands that. But attendance is important. To have a quality education experience, you need to Be Here.

• Attendance—what parents should know: o Parents can team up with teachers to make sure students are in school and ready to

learn. o How parents can help: Schedule medical and dental appointments outside of school hours. Schedule vacations during school breaks. Schedule Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves to coincide with summer

breaks or other scheduled school breaks. When moving, check school calendars to be aware of important school dates

(beginning/ending of school year; testing dates, breaks, etc.). Make it a habit to contact their child's teachers/principals to arrange to pick up

missed school work, either in advance if the absence is known, or the same day their child is absent.

Late Arrival and Early Dismissal Students who arrive late, or are picked up early, must be signed in or out at the front office. Parents MUST phone the school in a timely manner to notify staff of a change in after-school arrangements/transportation. For bus changes, the office must be notified through a written note to the attendance e-mail box before 2:00 PM. This is especially important for notifying the transportation office. When parents are aware of a scheduled appointment or early pick-up, the classroom teacher should be notified in advance through a written note or e-mail. CONCERNS Although it is our aim to promote an open, honest, and trusting home-school relationship which supports student learning, there may be the occasional time when a parent feels unhappy about the arrangements that have been made for their child’s education. Concerns are usually settled quickly and informally with the classroom teacher. However, if you feel the situation has not been solved to your satisfaction, please contact the school administration. We work hard to make sure our school is a warm, inviting, positive environment for all.

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CYCLING

For safety reasons, bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, or similar vehicles are not permitted to be ridden when the parking lot is closed to all vehicles except buses. Please WALK your bicycles where pedestrians are present. The Bicycle Stand area is off limits to students during the school day.

DISCIPLINE It is DoDEA’s policy that discipline be maintained consistently and appropriately in the school settings and during related activities. Students are encouraged to grow in self-control, develop a sense of positive regard for fellow students, and demonstrate pride in the school community. Students are responsible for conducting themselves in a manner that does not violate the rights or safety of others. Students and staff share the responsibility of developing and maintaining a caring climate within the school environment that is conducive to productive learning. It is important for all AFNorth students to feel and be safe at school. Bullying, aggressive behaviors and inappropriate language are not tolerated. Our staff practices positive reinforcement to help children avoid misconduct. 7 Habits of Happy Kids© AFNorth Elementary students are taught the 7 Habits of Happy Kids© principles in order to help them develop 21st Century Leadership and Life Skills that will enable them to be productive citizens now and in the future. Our schools should not merely be focused on improving test scores, but should provide opportunities for students to develop their full potential. The 7 Habits of Happy Kids© teachers and reinforces:

•Leadership •Responsibility •Accountability •Problem Solving •Adaptability •Communication •Initiative and Self-Direction •Creativity •Cross-Cultural Skills •Teamwork

*You can find more information at www.theleaderinme.org

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7 Habits of Happy Kids© By: Sean Covey

Based on the work of Dr. Steven Covey

Habit 1 — Be Proactive You're in Charge

I am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.

Habit 2 — Begin with the End in Mind Have a Plan

I plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen.

Habit 3 — Put First Things First Work First, Then Play

I spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.

Habit 4 — Think Win-Win Everyone Can Win

I balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in others’ Emotional Bank Accounts. When conflicts arise, I look for third alternatives.

Habit 5 — Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood Listen Before You Talk

I listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am confident in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.

Habit 6 — Synergize Together Is Better

I value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than anyone of us can alone. I am humble.

Habit 7 — Sharpen The Saw Balance Feels Best

I take care of my body by eating right, exercising and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I find meaningful ways to help others.

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The 7 Habits of Happy Kids© is used in conjunction with the AFNorth International School’s Code of Safety and Personal Conduct to ensure an effective learning environment is maintained.

In the event that students make choices that are outside of the expected behavior, a progressive discipline system is in place with consequences of increasing severity, depending on the specific incident. Students will be expected to complete a written statement describing the action and may then be interviewed by the school principal/counselor. Any witness(es) to the adverse incident may be asked for a written or verbal statement; this ensures that a global view of the situation can be considered before consequences are assigned. Consequences can range from talking to an administrator, calling parents, missing recess, or suspension/expulsion. Consistent effort will be made to match consequences appropriately with the misconduct, taking into consideration the frequency and severity of previous occurrences. Parents will be notified in a timely manner when students display misconduct, and may be expected to attend a related conference. If a student persistently violates school rules, displays disrespect for peers and adults, or commits a serious breach of conduct, parents will be contacted and a serious consequence may result. Throughout their tenure at AFNorth, students are responsible for: showing respect for all adults and peers, displaying acceptable behavior throughout all locations in the school to include the

playground and on the bus, accepting reasonable and appropriate consequences if responsibilities are not fulfilled,

and respecting all school and personal property.

AFNorth International School Code of Safety & Personal Conduct

I will be safe at all times by: Walking in the building and to and from the buses Using the stairs one step at a time Keeping hallways and doors free to traffic I will show respect for all others and myself in the school by: Always being courteous Following the directions given by any staff member Using a normal voice inside the building I will show respect for my surroundings by: Taking care of my property Treating school property and the property of others as if it were my own Giving consideration to the environment in and around the building. I will strive to do my best work

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ANTI-BULLYING AFNorth Elementary prohibits acts of bullying or harassment. A safe, protective and respectful learning climate is critical for students to learn, grow and succeed. Bullying or harassment is conduct that disrupts both a student’s ability to learn and our school’s ability to educate students in a safe environment. Bullying or harassment is a pattern of incidents involving real or perceived intimidation, written, graphic, verbal, nonverbal, electronic communication, or a physical act or gesture that is directed at another student, parent, volunteer or staff member which:

• is physically damaging to person or property, real or perceived, • causes emotional distress, real or perceived, and • interferes with a safe, protective and respectful learning climate, and/or disrupts the

orderly operation of the school’s mission. Other Examples include: Verbal: name-calling, teasing, threatening, or saying things to make someone feel bad Social: spreading rumors, leaving people out on purpose, making fun of another’s differences, ganging up on others Physical: hitting, kicking, pinching, biting, shoving, destroying property on purpose Cyber bullying: using email, Facebook (and other social media), blogs, gaggle, cell phones or other digital technology to harm others These behaviors are considered bullying or harassment whether they take place on or off school property, at any school-sponsored function, or in a school vehicle. We are committed to: Teaching students to respect others Closely supervising children at school Watching for signs of bullying and address the issue when it happens Using counseling classes for group instruction Assigning appropriate consequences for bullying

Bullying will be addressed on an individual, case by case basis at AFNorth International Elementary School. Examples of consequences include:

• Admonishment/Warning • Loss of privileges and/or recess • Reflection writing and apology letter • Temporary removal from the classroom • In-school suspension • Out-of-school suspension • Legal action • Expulsion or termination

It is imperative that students report any perceived instance of bullying or harassment to his/her teacher, counselor, or an administrator.

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This policy is to protect all children from bullying and protect students’ civil rights for a safe, protective and respectful learning environment. It is imperative that anyone who witnesses perceived bullying behavior report such behavior to AFNorth Administration. We are committed to making our school a safe, welcoming place for our children. We will treat each other with respect at all times.

DRESS CODE AFNORTH International School (AIS) expects all members of its population to dress in an appropriate manner that reflects the values of home, school, and community. The guiding principles upon which this code was developed are:

• No dress will interfere with the learning process at AIS. • Everyone associated with AIS is a valued member of our community and dress is a

reflection of a person’s pride in herself or himself. Inappropriate dress includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Headwear worn inside the school buildings • Any clothing that exposes midriff, underwear or cleavage,

etc. • Any garment with profanity, promoting drugs or violating

school or host country rules and regulations • For health and safety reasons - rubber shower shoes, untied

shoes, or bare feet. Students must wear shoes with a back • Jewelry must not be worn during PE lessons

AFNORTH does not have a school uniform but Spirit Wear (Tee-shirts and Sweatshirts) is available for purchase through the PTO.

DROP OFF/PICK UP

Parents are urged to pick up and drop off their children along the school side of Ferdinand Bolstraat, observing existing parking regulations. This street is supervised by Dutch Marechaussee. There is also a Meeting Point inside the school gate where students can wait safely.

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EQUAL OPPORTUNITY and NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY AIS will provide equal employment opportunity for all persons. Discrimination because of race, color, creed, national origin, sex (including sexual harassment), handicapping condition, marital status, age, religious affiliation or political affiliation is forbidden. We will do all in our power to promote the full realization of equal employment opportunity in accordance with applicable laws and government regulations.

HEALTH SERVICES AFNORTH School employs school nurses to give care and first aid to any child who becomes sick or injured while at school. In the event a child becomes ill or needs further medical attention, parent(s) will be notified to pick up the child immediately. The nurses will decide whether or not a child needs to go home. Any medications to be administered by the school nurse during school hours must be accompanied by written directions from the prescribing doctor. In such cases, the parent should personally contact the nurse when medicines are involved. No child should self-medicate without the knowledge of the school nurse (e.g. inhalers, epi-pens, headache medication). In the event of a minor injury, first aid is administered by the school nurse. If the injury is serious enough, the parents will be notified to take the child home or to the hospital emergency room. In case of extreme emergency, the child will be transferred by ambulance to the hospital and parents will be notified ASAP. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY FOR THE SCHOOL TO HAVE A CURRENT ADDRESS, HOME PHONE, DUTY PHONE, AND THE ADDRESS/PHONE NUMBER OF ANOTHER ADULT TO NOTIFY IN CASE NEITHER PARENT CAN BE CONTACTED. Students who are well enough to attend school are expected to be well enough to take part in all school activities, including outdoor recess breaks, PE classes, swimming, etc. A doctor’s note will suffice for exceptional circumstances. If children are too ill to fully participate, they should be kept home until they are well.

INCLEMENT WEATHER/EARLY DISMISSAL/EMERGENCY CLOSURES During periods of inclement weather (severe icing of roads, snow, fog), roads may be too dangerous for safe transportation for students. In the event the weather deteriorates during the school day; efforts will be made to contact the sponsor through e-mail if school is dismissed early. If school is canceled before the buses begin their morning routes, an announcement will be made over the radio early in the morning.

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Please monitor: AFNORTH School website: www.afnorth-is.com AFN radio station: 99.7; 96.9; or http://www.afneurope.net/Stations/Benelux/ In the event that a situation arises that requires the school to close early during the school day, every effort will be made to contact parents/guardians. Contact will be made via phone, e-mail, social media, and through the School Liaison Office on GK.

INFORMATION CENTER Students and parents are permitted to check out books and certain reference materials from the library. It is expected that books will be returned on or before the due date. Parents will be asked to replace a lost or damaged textbook/library book. Care of materials is part of the student's responsibility in using library facilities. Students are encouraged to regard the library as an integral part of the school. Additionally, parents are welcome to check out materials from the library which is open during the school day until 1600.

INSURANCE All parents are strongly encouraged to purchase Dutch/German liability insurance. The regulations in The Netherlands are different from those at home. This inexpensive insurance can be purchased from your home/car insurance company.

LOST AND FOUND We urge you to write your child’s name on clothing and other belonging so we can help prevent unnecessary losses. If your child is missing a certain item, you are encouraged to come and check the “Lost and Found” clothes bin. There are several bins around the school. Valuable items which have been found are stored in the Office of the Director. Items which are lost on the bus are returned to the Bus Coordinator’s office.

LUNCH PROGRAM For students in Pre-K (IY1) and Kindergarten, a packed lunch and drink are required daily unless families opt for the cafeteria service delivered to classrooms. A nutritious mid-morning snack is also recommended. Warm lunches are available for purchase through the caterer, Sodexo, for children in 1st Grade – 5th Grade in the cafeteria. Weekly menus are available online at https://sites.google.com/afnorth-is.com/sodexo The “A la Carte” line is available to secondary students only.

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Setting Up a New Lunch Account: New Accounts are opened in the Business Office. Instructions will be provided to register the account and link bank information. Monitoring Your Account Online: You can access your children’s lunch accounts at home. This means that you can make payments, look up the balance, review purchases, and set up an automatic deposit when the account reaches a specific balance. https://qpay.quarto.nl/Portal/Account/Login/0 Heating Lunches at School To ensure student safety, it is AFNORTH policy that only Middle School and High School students are permitted to use the microwaves in the cafeteria to heat up meals. Students’ items which would typically be served hot should be brought in a thermos. Soft drinks/soda should not be brought to school.

PARENT – TEACHER CONFERENCES In keeping with the philosophy of appropriate practices for all students, each child will be evaluated according to individual progress in the acquisition of specific skills. In addition to the DoDDS Report Card, which is sent home four times per year, parents have the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress at any time by making an appointment with their child’s teacher. Please note conferences are held by appointment only. Please arrange an appointment with the teacher or through the Front Office. Parent-Teacher-Student conferences are scheduled for all parents after the first marking period in November. School classes will be dismissed early (12:25) on these days (See school calendar for specific dates). Academic progress, classroom behavior/work habits, and work samples that illustrate the child’s progress will be discussed. We strongly suggest that parents contact us immediately with any suggestions or concerns they may have. The school will attempt to resolve all issues. We believe that the home-school relationship is important to student success.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO) The PTO is a group of committed volunteers supporting the school in many ways to enhance the educational experience for our students. In addition to raising money to provide materials and resources for the benefit of everyone, the group organizes activities which help to bring parents together and promote good communication between parents and staff.

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We encourage you to become a member of PTO! PARENTAL CONTACT INFORMATION AND STUDENT IDENTIFICATION

Children should always carry some type of identification, (indicating name, address and telephone number). Official school identification is required to enter the campus. Please ensure office records indicate current home, duty and emergency contact address, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. It is important that the school be informed immediately if there has been a change of address, telephone number or emergency contact information. In the event of an emergency and it is necessary to contact a sponsor and his/her contact information is no longer valid, the sponsor will be contacted through his/her unit commander.

PARKING Private vehicles are permitted to park ONLY in the defined parking spaces on the school ground's parking lot in front of the school. Park between the white lines in designated parking places only. For safety reasons the school parking lot is closed to private vehicle traffic from 0835 to 0900 - while buses are arriving and unloading, and from 1510 to 1545 or on early dismissal days from 1210 to 1245 and Early Release days from 1330 to 1415 - while buses are loading and leaving. From 1340 to 1415 hours the last two rows closest to the street may be used for private vehicle traffic because the rest of the parking lot is closed to private vehicle traffic - while buses are loading and leaving. Bus coordinators and traffic wardens are responsible for the arrival, loading and departure of the school buses. Please follow any directions given to ensure the safety of our children.

PERSONAL PROPERTY The school cannot be held responsible for the loss or damage to items of personal property brought onto the premises. This includes but is not limited to: iPhones, cell phones, iPods, iPads, Kindles, Nooks, and any other electronic device. Please ensure that your child develops the habit of looking after their own belongings. Children should not carry money in school except when required for their lunch and/or school sponsored activities. This should be put in a sealed envelope with their name, teacher’s name, and the intended purpose stated on the front.

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REGISTRATION & WITHDRAWAL To be eligible to attend AIS, a child must be 4 years old by 1 September of the current school year to enroll in IY1; 5 years old by 1 September to be eligible for Kindergarten; and 6 years old by 1 September to be eligible for 1st Grade. Children who register after the first day of school will begin classes the day after the registration process is complete and the time guidelines below are met. This allows the teacher time to prepare for the new student. If a student registration is completed by 11:00, we can then make classroom placement decisions and notify the receiving teacher. The student will start the next day. (e.g. Monday-Tuesday) If a student registration is completed after 11:00 we will make classroom placement decisions and the child will start two days later so that the teacher has adequate time to prepare for the arrival of the child. (e.g. Monday-Wednesday) When a family is leaving AFNORTH, the school requests written notification a minimum of 10 school days in advance to prepare relevant records for parents to hand carry to the new school.

RETENTION When it is the in best interest of the student, he/she may be retained in order to strengthen his/her foundation for readiness for the next grade level. After a careful analysis of the student’s individual progress, achievement, and remedial interventions that have been documented and shared with parents, a mutual agreement between the parents, teacher and administrator will be made regarding retention. DoDEA Regulation 2000.3 (Reference b).

SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE The AFNorth Elementary/MHS School Advisory Committee (SAC) is an elected committee composed of an equal number of parents and professional school employees at AFNorth. The Installation’s School Liaison Officer (SLO), the school principal and a member of the teacher’s union are part of the SAC as non-voting members. The committee’s purpose is to advise the administration on matters that are within the jurisdiction of the school and DoDEA. SAC meetings will be held a minimum of four times during the year with the meeting dates/times announced in our school newsletter. Parents may contact the SAC chairperson two weeks prior to each meeting with items of interest/concern and request that such be placed on the meeting’s agenda. SAC meetings remain open to the community and parents are strongly encouraged to attend.

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SMOKING

Smoking is forbidden in all areas of AFNORTH International School campus.

STUDENT COUNCIL

Children have an important part to play in making decisions about the life and work of the school. One of the ways in which students have a voice and make sure that their views and ideas are listened to is through our Student Council. The Council, with representation from 2nd – 5th Grade, meets regularly under the guidance of a member of staff to discuss important school issues and ideas.

STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES As an inclusive school, it is the policy of AIS to teach students according to their age, aptitude and abilities, and to ensure full access to the curriculum for all students. At any time in their school career, students can have additional support needs which can be addressed in a number of ways. Within each class, all children are given group or individual work to suit their ability. When a child is highlighted by a teacher as having particular needs, steps will be taken through the internal referral system to have the child assessed. Recommendations will be made and support given where needed. Student Support Team (SST) This is a team of education professionals and parents who meet together to discuss the unique aspects of the child who is having difficulties. The team consists of the Chairperson, the Guidance Counselor, Administrator, classroom teacher, and parents. Depending on the needs of the child, various other members could include the school nurse, a Reading Specialist, a Math Specialist, ESL teacher, or any other professional that may be needed. The amount of time that the SST is involved with a particular student depends on the progress of the student. If we find that the strategies and interventions are working and the student begins to be successful with grade level expectations, then the child will no longer be monitored by the SST. If the child is making progress, but is not yet academically on grade level, the SST will continue to monitor the child. If strategies and interventions are not having the desired outcome, then the child may be recommended to the CSC for further consideration/assessment. Case Study Committee (CSC) When it has been determined that a child should be assessed for a disability, the Case Study

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Committee convenes to discuss the concerns and develop a plan for assessing the student. This is the first step in testing the child to see if he or she is eligible for additional assistance as a student with Special Needs. This is Special Education. Again, the parents are an integral part of this team. In this very formal arena, there are certain timelines that must be adhered to and documentation that must be completed. All of the rights and regulations are explained to the parent during the first meeting and then a copy of these parent rights are presented at the beginning of each meeting. During this process, parents can expect their child to be assessed with a variety of tools, attend a meeting to discuss the findings, and determine whether the child meets the criteria for Special Education assistance. If the child is found to have a disability and is eligible for services, there is a meeting to develop an Individual Education Plan/Program (IEP). The child will then receive services as agreed upon by the CSC members in order to help the child progress academically or behaviorally. Every step of the process is explained to parents from the beginning stages through completion. Child Find Child Find is an ongoing process used by DoDEA to locate and identify children and youth, ages birth through 21 years of age, who may be eligible to receive special education and related services due to developmental delays or disabilities. DoDEA is responsible for locating, identifying, assessing, and evaluating (with parent consent) children ages 3-21 who may have a disability to ensure they receive needed special education and related services. Child Find screenings may identify delays that would support eligibility for services in a variety of areas. If you have a concern about the developmental milestones of one of your children, please contact the school. Questions and concerns should be addressed to the AFNorth Principal. Gifted Education Gifted and talented students are defined as children and youth who give evidence of high performance capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who require services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop such capabilities. The goal of the DoDEA Gifted Education Program is to identify students with high potential and exceptional performance and to develop challenges that match their strengths within core academic areas. Children who are found eligible for services through the Gifted Education Program are provided a variety of service options to meet their individual needs. For further information, please contact the Gifted Education Teacher by calling the school. English Second Language (ESL) The DoDEA community encompasses a diverse population; therefore, a program has been designed to increase English language proficiency for students who have a second language influence. DoDEA strives to create a learning environment that encourages assimilation into the second language and culture while maintaining respect for and pride in their cultural and linguistic heritage. The English as a Second Language (ESL) program delivers comprehensive instruction so that these students can attain the goals and outcomes as set forth in the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan. The English as a Second Language (ESL) program in DoDEA supports research-based best practices and is aligned with national program and English language

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proficiency standards. Please contact the ESL teacher if you would like additional information about this program.

SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT At AFNorth, we take the welfare of our children very seriously. Our staff members are required by law to report any observed marks, injuries, unusual behaviors, verbal reports from students that may be indicators of abuse or neglect to military and DoDDS authorities. Parents will not be notified before this action is taken. It is the responsibility of the military authorities to examine the child, contact the parents, and determine what course of action should be taken.

TRANSPORTATION

The vast majority of students travel to and from school by bus. It is important that they have their bus pass with them on every journey. Should there be any change to your child’s routine regarding buses you must notify the teacher and the bus office in writing. Additional information is available from the Bus Coordinator’s Office.

VOLUNTEERS/VISITORS Visitors and volunteers are always welcome at the school and are actively encouraged to become involved with the school. Your support and participation provides the school and our students with a variety of valuable services in the classroom and throughout the school, thus enriching the programs offered to the children. All volunteers are required to be registered and gain clearance through the Front Office before serving in the classroom or as chaperones on school sponsored trips. If a visitor is not in possession of a NATO ID, please contact the Front Office to receive the relevant paperwork at least one week in advance of your visit. If you are visiting, or you are coming to volunteer, please sign in at the US Elementary Office. When visiting the school, parents may not use the parking lot during bus loading and unloading. The parking lot is closed from 0835 until 0900 and from 1510 until 1540.

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