This older Handbook is presented only as a reference.
Please contact the school for the SY2003-2004 Handbook.
AFNORTH International School
Parent-Student Handbook
School Year 1999-2000
Welcome!
Dear Parents:
Welcome to AFNORTH International School. We are pleased to have you join our community. At AIS 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. We are excited by the truly international mix of students in every class, which includes American, Canadian and British children as well as several from other countries. Staff at all year levels include American, Canadian and British teachers.
At AFNORTH School we believe in providing a broad and balanced curriculum. the focus of our international curriculum is the development of basic skills in reading, language arts, 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 AIS an even better place to learn and grow than it was the previous year. As part of this process, the teachers set classroom goals that will benefit each student in their class. In addition, the school works on an international School Improvement Plan, which sets ut goals for the school year and uses student achievement as success criteria. We invite parents to become involved in our school improvement process. Research clearly shows that the best schools are those in which parents are actively involved and where parents and teachers are working together.
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
of AFNORTH International School
|
IY1 IY2 IY3 IY4 IY5 IY6 M1 M2 |
Pre-Kindergarten Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 |
YR Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 |
HOMEWORK
Introduction
Yes, we have homework at our school! The type and amount is
determined by the teachers, and increases as the child progresses through
the school years.
There are as many opinions regarding homework as there are teachers, parents, and students. But what we do know is that homework is important.
WHAT IS 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 assigned.
Homework is defined as work or activities assigned to students by
the teacher to do outside-of-class time in order to further the instructional
program for a class or for individual students. Assigned homework
serves both the teacher and the pupils in the following ways:
- to reinforce skills taught in class
- to increase understanding and retention
- to enrich classroom instruction
- to encourage responsibility
Parents will, of course, 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 curriculum at school. Please do not hesitate to
contact your child's teacher if there are problems.
HOW MUCH HOMEWORK
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 more time doing homework, you should
contact the teacher.
IY1 10 minutes nightly with homereaders
or library books
IY2 15 minutes nightly including
homereaders and home projects
IY3 15-20 minutes a night
IY4 15-20 minutes a night
IY5 30 minutes nightly--4 nights
a week
IY6 30-40 minutes a night--4
nights a week
M1 30-40 minutes nightly
M2
45-60 minutes nightly
There will be some long-range projects to be completed in IY4-M3.
INCLEMENT WEATHER/EARLY DISMISSAL
During periods of inclement weather (severe icing of roads, snow,
fog), roads may be too dangerous to afford safe transportation for students.
In the event the weather deteriorates during the school day, efforts will
be made to contact the sponsor if school is dismissed early. Parents
are urged to plan an alternate address or baby-sitter to whom the child(ren)
may go. This will prevent the child(ren) from returning to a locked
or empty house. If school is canceled before the busses begin their
routes, an announcement will be made over the radio early the morning.
Check these stations: AFN
89.2
BFBS 90.2 and 87.7
CFNB 91.5
CONTACT INFORMATION
Directorate Office
045-527-8220
Director, Assistant Director
US Elementary Office
045-527-8251
Principal, Assistant Principal
AFNORTH International School
US Elementary Section
Unit 21606
APO AE 09703
Canadian Office
Principal
045-527-8200/1
AFNORTH International School
PO Box 5053
Station Forces
Bellville ON
K8N5W6
British Office
Headteacher
045-527-8240/1
AFNORTH International School
British Section
RHQ AFNORTH
BFPO 28
AFNORTH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION
Contracting Parties
| Canada
Department of NationalDefense (DND)
|
Germany
Germany Ministry of Defense (MOD)
|
United Kingdom
Services Children's Education (SCE)
|
United States Department of Defense Dependents' Schools (DoDDS) which is a part of Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) |
Board of Governors
| Canada
Director Dependents' Schools Overseas |
Germany
MOD Bonn |
United Kingdom
Chief Executive, SCE |
United States
Appointee of DoDEA Director, Superintendent, Kaiserslautern District |
International Directorate
Director
Assistant Director
Executive Services Coordinator
Assistant for Administration and Services
| Canada
Principal: CDN Section M1, M2
|
Germany
Principal: German Section Computer Science Deputy Principal
|
United Kindom
Headteacher: UK Section IY1, IY2, IY3 Deputy Head Teacher
|
United States
US Elementary Section IY4, IY5, IY6 Media Centers Assistant Principal Principal, US/CDN High School, US Middle School
|
ABSENCES AND ATTENDANCE
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 stating
the reason for the absence. Absences can be excused for illness,
family emergencies, religious observances, family trips, school-sponsored
trips, and medical appointments, which cannot be arranged during non-school
hours.
Excessive absences can have an extremely negative effect on a student's academic progress.
ADDRESSES:
Children should always carry some type of identification (indicating
name, address, and telephone number).
Please ensure office records indicate current home, duty and emergency contact address and telephone numbers.
It is important that the school be informed immediately if there
has been a change of address, telephone number or emergency contact infromation.
In the event it is necessary to contact a sponsor and his/her contact information
is no longer valid, the sponsor will be contacted through his/her commander.
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
In addition to community activities (Scouts, Brownies, Cubs, etc.), there
are a variety of school-sponsored after-school activities (1530-1645) offered
to the students 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 take the activity bus or be picked up promptly at the end of
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 designated adult.
CURRICULUM
AFNORTH International School offers many kinds of learning opportunities
for students. Students here are exposed to activities and insights that
students at other schools don't have. Yes, the facility is a marvel.
Yes, the international mix of staff provides students with perspectives that
are not available to them elsewhere. And yes, there are some excursions
and field studies that students could never dream about if they were at other
schools. But at the core of learning is the basic curriculum--reading
and language arts, math, science, and social studies. These curricula
areas are taught everywhere. So if that's true...What is it about AFNORTH
curriculum that sets it apart from the basic learning students receive at
other service schools or at schools in students' home countries? How
is the curriculum set up so that students receive the best learning objectives
of the three participating nations---Britain, Canada, and the US?
Every few years, a specific curricular area is chosen to be examined by the staff in the school. Two or three teachers from each of the three nations are chosen to work on a committee that has as its purpose the revision of that curricula area. Meetings are conducted over a period of several months. At those meetings they look at the "National" requirements of each nation. For example, the US teachers bring the DoDDS curriculum and the US standards. The British teachers bring the British National Curriculum, with an emphasis on Key stages 1 and 2. The Canadians bring the curriculum of Ontario, which, as the largest province, has had its curriculum approved by the Canadian Forces schools as a guide. the committee members look through the curricular guides and select those objectives considered essential at each year level and those objectives common to all three nations. What we have discovered is that the curriculums of the three nations are very similar, so that there is an extremely high degree of congruence between the AFNORTH curriculum and that of each of the three nations. The result is that AFNORTH School has a curriculum that is "the best of three worlds."
Therefore, the basic skills areas of reading/language arts, math, science
and social studies are taught using AFNORTH School objectives derived from
guides of each of the three nations. Each teacher has a copy of the
AFNORTH objectives and uses textbooks and supplementary materials to support
those objectives. The textbook does not define what is taught in the
school; the objectives do! In that way, it can be ensured that all teachers
and students---whether US, British, or Canadian---are taught and learn the
same thing at each year level.
Does it work? Outside agencies that come to inspect the curriculum
continually report that AFNORTH School has as rich and varied a program as
they have seen. Most families returning to their host nation or to another
service school find that their children are more than well equipped to handle
the new school situation, indeed, ahead in many instances. Thus the
AFNORTH curriculum and the process used to develop it, while being unique
to this school, serves teachers and students well. The bottom line is
that the AFNORTH curriculum does provide for a rich and varied educational
experience for all of its students. That is what makes AFNORTH School
so rich and strong.
DISCIPLINE
Basic discipline is governed by the school's "code of Safety and
Personal Conduct which is reproduced below. National offices will
deal with more serious breaches of conduct.
CODE OF SAFETY AND PERSONAL CONDUCT
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. I will strive to do my best work.
Parents and teachers agree that discipline is important for learning. When teachers spend time correcting behavior, they have less time to teach. Good behavior begins at home. Here are ten ways parents can help improve discipline:
- Know and support the school rules.
- Show your child you are interested in what he/she does in school. Ask about school activities.
- Talk to teachers about your child's behavior in school.
- Stress the importance of good discipline with your child.
- Be a good role model for your children.
- Show your children you respect them. Encourage them to respect others.
- Give your kids a chance to take part in making decisions about things that affects them.
- Be sure your child eats properly. Poor nutrition can cause discipline problems.
- Watch your child's behavior at home.
- If discipline problems occur, talk with your child. Ask why she/he is misbehaving and listen to the answer.
Students and parents are permitted to check out books and certain reference materials from the library. It is expected that books will be returned with reasonable promptness on or before the due date. Where deemed appropriate, a student will be billed for a lost or damaged textbook/library book. Care of material is part of the student's responsibility in using library facilities fully and properly. Students are encourage to regard the library as an integral part of the school, to use AV equipment, to understand the cataloging system, and generally enjoy and comprehend the workings of the center. Additionally, there is an area for parent/teacher materials. Please feel free to browse through those and/or check them out. The library is open during the school day until 1600.
LOST AND FOUND
Students seem to be more casual than adults about the value of clothes.
This is why our "Lost and Found" clothes bin is usually full of unclaimed
items. We urge you either to attach name tags or write your child's
name on a piece of clothing so we can help prevent unnecessary losses.
If you feel your child is missing a certain item, you are encourage to
come and check the clothes bin. There are several "Lost and Found"
bins around the school. Valuable items are stored in the Office of
the Director.
LUNCH
For students in IY1 to IY4, a packed lunch and drink are needed daily.
A nutritious mid-morning snack is recommended. Warm lunches are available
for IY5 to M2 students in the cafeteria, and packed lunches provided by cafeteria
services are available for students in IY1 to IY4 (when purchased with a school
lunch ticket).
For US families, information about reduced/free lunch tickets can be obtained from the Schools Officer at Schinnen.
MEDICAL
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. Since nurses have training in sickness
and illnesses, the school will always defer to their decision whether or not
a child needs to go home.
The school nurse does not in any way replace the national medical services. Parents should note that the nurse must not be used as a clearinghouse between the pupil's home and the medical services. Any home-related sickness or injury should be handled by the parent directly with the appropriate national medical system.
Any medication treatment to be carried out by the school nurse during school hours must be coordinated or accompanied by written directions from the prescribing doctor. In such cases, the parent should personally contact the school nurse (for example, inhalers for asthma).
In the event of any injury, first aid is administered by the school nurse. If in the opinion of the nurse, 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.
Pupils 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.
P.E./SWIM KIT
A PE kit is required for each pupil in year levels IY5 to M2. It
must contain: shorts or sweat pants; non-marking, clean, soft-soled
shoes; and a tee shirt. Please place these in a bag with the child's
name on the kit and across the front of the tee shirt.
Pupils in IY4-M2 require a swim kit to include: a towel, swim suit, and bathing cap (for long hair). Rubber sandals or swim socks are required for pupils with warts. Lesson schedules will be provided by the classroom teacher.
REGISTRATION AND DEPARTURE
To be eligible to attend AIS, a child must be 4 by 31 October of
the current school year to enroll in IY1; 5 by 31 October to be eligible
for IY2; and 6 by 31 October to be eligible for IY3.
A child registered after the first day of school will report to his/her new teacher the day after registration. This delay allows the teacher to prepare books, desk, etc., for the new student.
The school requests written notification a week in advance to prepare relevant records for parents to hand carry to the new school.
SCHOOL DAY
Supervision commences with arrival of the school buses at approximately
0840.. Children should not be present before this time. Parents
dropping off children should ensure supervision is available prior to leaving.
The school day lasts from 0900-1400 for students in IY1-2. For students in IY3-M2, the school day is from 0900-1530. If you remove your child from school for any reason before the end of the school day, please come to the national office to sign him/her out. You will receive a release pass to collect your child from his/her classroom.
SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT
AIS offers an opportunity for parents and other interested community
members to be actively involved with the school. The parent volunteer
program provides the school and its pupils with a variety of valuable services
in the classroom and throughout the school, thus enriching programs offered
to the children.
Research points out that 12 years of 180 six-hour days in school add up to only 13 percent of a student's waking, learning time during the first 18 years of life. The rest, 86 percent, is spent out of school, primarily at home. Because students spend so little time in school, every moment counts. Parent volunteers do make an impact on enhancing school programs, so their presence is important. When parents help, all children benefit.
When parents act as tutors for their children:
- students become more motivated
- their skills improve
- the parents' self-image is enhanced in the eyes of the child
STUDENT PROGRESS
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 progress
report, which is sent home three times yearly, parents have the opportunity
to discuss their child's progress at any time by making an appointment
with their child's teacher. Pleas note given teaching schedules,
conferences are held by appointment only. Please notify the teacher
or national office to make an appointment before coming.
Official parent-teacher conferences are scheduled after the first marking period. School classes will be dismissed early (1230) on these days (see school calendar). Work samples that illustrate the child's progress along a developmental continuum 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 understand that not every issue can be resolved
to the satisfaction of all parents, but we will always inform them of the
reasons for why a particular decision was made.
- 3 large glue sticks
- 1 box of crayons
- 1 set of washable markers
- 1 set of colored pencils
- 1 box of tissues
- 2 glue sticks
- 1 box tissues
- 1 pack pencils (#2 with erasers)
- 1 set of water colors
- 1 set colored pencils (8)
- 1 box of crayons (8)
- 1 pack tripod pencils
- 1 box of 24 crayons
- 1 box of 24 colored pencils
- 1 bottle white liquid glue
- 1 large 940g) glue/Pritt stick
- 1 box tissues
- 10 #2 standard yellow pencils
- 1 pair non-scuff shoes for gym
- 2 erasers, pink, white or green
- 1 box tissues
- 2 erasers
- 2 large glue sticks
- 1 bottle liquid glue or gel
- 1 packet of colored pencils (8)
- 1 set of felt-tip markers (8)
- 1 box tissues
- 1 supply box (small, to fit desk)
- 1 box of crayons (8 minimum)
- 1 pack of felt-tip markers (thin, 8 minimum)
- pencils with erasers
- 1 hand-held pencil sharpener
- 1 large eraser
- 1 ruler displaying 12"/30cm
- 1 pair of good quality scissors
- 1 large glue stick
- 1 roller-ball pen with blue or black ink
- .3 pencils with erasers at ends
- 1 rubber eraser
- 1 hand-held pencil sharpener
- 1 ballpoint or fiber-tip pen (blue or black ink)
- 1 red pen or pencil
- 1 ruler displaying 12"/30 cm
- 1 bottle of glue or glue stick
- 1 box of colored pencils (8 minimum)
- 1 pencil box or pencil case
- 4 pencils with erasers
- 1 rubber eraser
- 2 pens
- 1 ruler
- 1 box of markers or crayons (8 minimum)
- 1 bottle of white glue
- 1 package of loose-leaf paper (NOT spiral)
- 1 hand-held pencil sharpener
- 2 glue sticks
- 12 pencils (distributed as needed)
- 1 pair of pointed scissors
- 6 pocket folders
- 1 box of colored pencils or markers (8 minimum)
- 1 ruler displaying 12"/30 cm
- 1 zip bag for supplies
- 1 compass
- 1 protractor
- 1 box of tissues
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, German, physical education, and other disciplines. Appropriate pre- and post-assignments are given. All students are expected to participate. Whenever possible, study trips should not be used by parents or teachers as a reward for good behavior or non-participation as a punishment.
When the activity is to an off-base 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 whose behavior is az threat to their own or someone else's safety must be accompanied by a parent or adult designated by the parent.
Study trips lasting longer than a day will use different established
criteria for the selection of students to participate.
TESTING PROGRAM
In accordance with national requirements, there is an annual standardized
testing program for students. For those students registered in the US
and Canadian sections, there is the CTBS (Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills)
in year levels IY5 through M2. For British students, there are formalized
tests in IY3 (Keystage 1) and M2 (Keystage 2). These are the SAT's.
The purpose of this testing is to determine group and individual achievement to develop comparative analysis, and to provide data for school curriculum development as well as to guide classroom instruction.
TEXTBOOKS
Textbooks and expendable workbooks will be loaned to every student
for each class. If a book is lost, the student must pay for it.
Workbooks become the property of the student when completed.
VISITORS
Visitors are always welcome at the school. You are always
encouraged to come discuss your child's progress. Please, however,
coordinate your visit before hand (preferably by sending a written note
with the child to the teacher). Normally, teachers will not have
time to conduct individual conferences during school hours.
If you are coming to pick a child up, to bring a child back to school, or if you are coming to volunteer, please check with your national office to receive a visitor's pass, or the appropriate permission slips.
When visiting the school, parents may not use the parking lot during
bus loading and unloading. Such actions are extremely hazardous and
unsafe for children. The parking lot is closed form 0840 until 0900
and from 1515 until 1540.
DEVELOPING A RESPONSIBLE AND SAFE CHILD
To help your child develop a sense of responsibility about school,
you may wish to implement these ideas:
Establish a School Box
The box can be a plastic dishpan, a basket or a box. Put your
child's name on the school box. The child should place all materials
that need to go to school in the school box. This eliminates the
frantic searches before school because homework, lunch money and permission
slips are all in the school box and ready to go. It's a good idea
to have a school box for each school-age child in your family.
Set up a Mini-Office
Make a "kit" in a drawer or box containing pencils scissors, paste,
stapler and other supplies your child may need for school projects and
homework. If possible, designate a learning area where your child
can do homework.
My Book Shelf
Find a place where your child can keep his/her collection of books.
This will encourage your child to take good care of books.
My Library Card
Help your child get a card for the base library. Let your
child be responsible for keeping the card in a safe place.
Important Dates
Help your child be better organized by giving him/her a personal
calendar. Jot school holidays, appointments, book report due dates
and family birthdays on the calendar.
Foster independence and a sense of responsibility by helping your child to be organized and ready to meet responsibilities at school.
HELPING YOUR CHILD TO BE SAFE
Take time to go over safety information with your child,
- Discuss with your child how to travel safely to school. Talk about pedestrian, bicycle, car and bus safety.
- Make sure your child knows your phone number.
- Teach your child how to dial for help in an emergency.
- Tell your child your rules about coming home from school. For example, is it all right to go to a friend's house? Where should he/she go if school is dismissed early?
- Talk to your child about how to respond to a phone call or a knock at the door is he/she is home alone.
- Tell your child what to do if he she/he misses the bus.
- Talk to your child about what to do in case of a fire in your home.
- Tell your child your rules about using tools and appliances and cooking when he/she is home alone.
- Discuss what your child should do if he/she is approached by a stranger.