Supervision

All AIS teachers and administrators understand that they are in loco parentis at school and during school events, and thus responsible for supervising and protecting students from harm at all times. As such, we pledge to:

  1. Model responsible behavior
  2. Be alert at all times, and aware of our duties
  3. Always maintain healthy and safe procedures and practices
  4. Report the need for repairs to potentially dangerous conditions
  5. Never abandon students in a classroom, even for a brief moment
  6. Properly supervise students while walking to/from an off-campus venue
  7. Supervise students during assemblies, performances and other presentations
  8. Promptly report accidents and incidents to allow corrective action to be initiated
  9. Be responsible for seeing that school activities are conducted in a suitable manner
  10. Perform risk management assessments prior to seeking approval of special events
  11. Stay aware of potential hazards and the procedures to follow in case of an accident
  12. Never abandon supervision duties without arranging a qualified alternate supervisor
  13. Inform students about potentially dangerous objects being used within the classroom
  14. Always report dangerous conditions in the school at once to the principal of the school
  15. Use sound judgment when deciding what level of supervision is necessary in the classroom
  16. Ensure the safety of the students, even when I am not specifically scheduled for supervisory duty
  17. Consider the age, number and maturity of the students to determine appropriate levels of supervision
  18. Ensure that appropriate use is made of all safety devices and personal protective equipment in the school
  19. Never ask students to run errands or other activities that place them outside the school during school hours
  20. Manage behavior of students in classrooms, common areas, the playground and during excursion activities
  21. Clearly define the role and limitations of an assisting parent or adult visitor before the commencement of their duties
  22. Never allow a student to leave a lesson unless there is an emergency, in which case the student MUST wear a hall pass
  23. Never transfer any supervision responsibilities to a parent, visiting adult or non-licensed teacher, except in an emergency

Student Behavior

How Students should act in class

AIS students are expected to be in class and sitting quietly at the start of each period. Notebooks and Student Diaries should be open and pens should be in hand. Tabletops should be free of clutter; backpacks and other items should be stowed neatly on the floor. Students are expected to be adaptive: if the teacher is speaking then students should remain quiet and respectful. If the teacher sets activities then students should be lively. Students should feel safe in asking the teacher questions and they are encouraged to do so whenever they require further explanation and/or when they are curious about a topic. Additionally, students are expected to be self-directed: the teacher should not have to remind them to open their notebooks, clear their tables, stay on task, etc.

School uniform

The AIS uniform consists of a red AIS polo shirt, navy blue socks & black shoes with a flat sole. Boys wear beige pants or shorts, and girls wear beige skirts. Uniforms must be purchased from the school bookstore. Each Friday is a “school spirit day” when students wear jeans and a “We Y AIS” shirt. If a student can’t wear a uniform he/she must bring a letter from home.

Hair styles & fashion accessories

Students are expected to appear prim & proper at school. Boys must maintain their hair above the ears, eyebrows and collar. Hair coloring is not allowed. Jewelry is not an appropriate part of school dress. Students should not come to school with “attention-catching” fashion (hairstyles, makeup, nail polish, hats, accessories, etc.).

Code of student conduct

AIS students are expected to act as ethical, respectful and positive contributors at all times (both in and out of school). They should always display school pride, embody the school’s values and set a standard of excellence.

Politeness and courtesy

· We walk in the school building; we do not run
· We do not shout or make excessive noise
· We do not bring junk food into the school
· We obey adults and report all problems to our teachers
· We follow the directions of adults
· We make new people feel welcome
· We keep the school clean and tidy
· We do not swear or speak rudely
· We respect other people
· We never – ever – bully!
· We greet each other with a smile
· We say “good morning”, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’

Academic dishonesty

“Academic dishonesty” includes cheating, plagiarizing, submitting work from another course, possessing stolen exams, falsifying records, receiving help from others on graded work, feigning illness to miss a ‘graded in-class assessment’ (to prevent students from gaining an unfair advantage). If a student develops a pattern of being absent during graded assessments the school will discuss the issue with the parents/guardians and apply disciplinary action as appropriate.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is when another person’s words or ideas are used without a citation. Plagiarism is a major offense because it undermines the principle of trust and it prevents students from acquiring thinking & writing skills needed for college. The penalty for plagiarism in high school includes an automatic grade of B- . 

AIS Teacher guidelines for plagiarism prevention
Design the grading rubric to reward:
· Conciseness
· Original opinions, creative solutions, persuasive arguments
· Process of information collection, NOT Yield of information
· Good character (motivation, integrity, cooperation, etc.)
· Correct referencing (APA system)
Confirm that the work is genuine by:
· Requiring students to use Grammarly.com
· Including oral question period to ensure student understanding
· Having students evaluate sources in terms of quality, credibility, etc.
· Grading work done in class (i.e., don’t grade homework)
· Scaffold students in class, give ongoing feedback, be part of the process

Violations

Minor violations Major violations
Sleeping at school Violations of Philippine law
Running in the hallway Failure or refusal to attend a detention
Junk food at school Defying authority and/or lying to teachers
Tardy (< 5min) Habitual misbehavior (disruption of instruction, tardiness, failure to submit reply slips, etc.)
Very tardy (> 5min) or tardy to first period Hazing, ‘initiating’ or joining fraternities, fighting with – or assaulting – others
Coming to class unprepared for lesson Threatening, bullying, intimidating or harassing (verbal or online abuse/humiliation/ridicule etc.)
Disruption of lesson Cheating (copying, plagiarism, missing a ‘graded in-class assessment’)
Bringing toys/electronics to school Speaking negatively about a gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
Wearing attention-catching fashion Setting off a false fire alarm (or opening an emergency exit without cause)
School uniform infraction Forging signatures, including parental signatures
Using rude or indecent language or gestures Willful and malicious damage to school or personal property
Public displays of romantic affection Stealing or attempting to steal school or personal property
Improper use of computers Cutting class and/or leaving the school grounds without permission
Improper use of cell phone Bringing prohibited items to school (e.g., pocket knives, weapons, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, etc.)
Out of class without a hall pass Any other actions deemed serious by the school
Any other actions deemed inappropriate

Consequences for major violations (or persistent misbehavior)

Serious discipline matters will be referred to the AIS Principal. The consequences imposed may vary according to the circumstances as well as the age and track record of the student. In some cases the matter may be sent to the AIS Discipline Committee, which consists of the AIS Principal and three head teachers. The AISDC is authorized to take strong disciplinary action against students committing major offenses and against students showing a persistent disrespect for rules and/or others.

Anti-Bullying Policy

What is bullying? Bullying is defined in several different ways. At AIS, it is, “the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively impose domination over others”. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential prerequisite is the perception, by the bully or by others, of an imbalance of social or physical power. Direct bullying involves physical aggression, such as shoving, slapping, scratching, poking, choking, punching, kicking, beating, biting, pinching, pulling hair and throwing things. Indirect bullying is characterized by attempting to socially isolate the target, which may be achieved through: name calling, mocking, refusing to socialize with the target, coercing others to bully the target, arguing others into submission, manipulation, gossip, lies, rumors, false rumors, staring, giggling, laughing at the target, saying certain words to trigger a reaction from a past event and criticizing the target’s manner of dress and other socially-significant markers (i.e., class, religion, gender, disability, sexuality, sexual preference, etc.).

Definitions

Bullying: any acts (direct or indirect) that are intentionally cruel, usually repeated, and with a social or interpersonal power imbalance.

Social meanness: Any unkind or cruel act that involves hurting, teasing, excluding, rumoring and ganging up on a victim.

Cyber-bullying:  Any social meanness achieved through technology (Internet, email, blogging, cell phones electronic devices, etc.)

School expectations:

No Bullying: Don’t scare, threaten or push anyone around to get your way. At AIS, everyone has a right to feel safe.

 No Teasing: Call people by the name they want. Don’t use names or labels that hurt feelings. At AIS, everyone has a right to be spoken to kindly.

 No Exclusion: If you see someone being left out or sitting alone, invite them to join you. At AIS, everyone has a right to belong.

 No Rumoring: Don’t tell stories about people that may hurt. If gossip comes your way don’t pass it on. At AIS, everyone has a right to a good name.

 No Ganging up: Don’t join a group to tease or torment someone else. At AIS, everyone has a right to be treated as an equally valued part of the whole.

Proactive steps with students:  Aguinaldo International School pro-actively addresses issues related to social meanness through our Character Education Program. Through this program our students learn about healthy character traits in relationships with peers and the school community. The school uses developmentally appropriate modules in advisory classes as well as special information sessions for students and parents. Our aim is to prevent bullying and other forms of unkindness from happening in the first place. Our school Guidance Department is instrumental in implementing this curriculum and helping to ensure that AIS continues to be a supportive learning environment for all of its students. Additionally, the Guidance Department runs an annual Parenting Workshop to provide parents and guardians with character development strategies to use with their own children.

 Elementary School (Grades 1-3) When the school is aware of a social meanness incident, the perpetrator and the target are brought together for conflict resolution. If there is tension or social meanness in a dyad, both children are assisted in developing effective communication skills. In the elementary school, we focus on solution and principled communication rather than laying blame. Positive feedback from the involved adults is expected to occur at least three times as often as corrective feedback. If the problem is more entrenched, then we contact each individual child for a group intervention (occasionally), or more commonly, they come in for individual counseling.  In most cases, the child’s parents are notified, especially if there has been a disciplinary intervention before referral to counseling.  In instances when disciplinary measures are needed, the Principal provides this. For a child that frequently displays acts of meanness, he or she is taught (and practices) friendships skills, assertiveness, and effective communication skills. Students are provided supportive counseling and determine the motivation, if that is important to effect positive change.  If a child has been the target of social meanness or bullying, again we offer assertiveness training, examine their friendship skills, offer supportive counseling, and frequently consult with their parents. We help the student understand that the social meanness is not their fault, but that they can have a great positive effect on these situations by increasing their own use of assertiveness and effective communication.

Middle School (Grades 4-7) The School Counselor is the first person to contact for students needing help with social meanness and the beginnings of bullying.  Often students refer themselves for support, though teachers and parents can also refer students who may need support.  The counselor will help students address issues with other involved students to resolve the conflict.  Often, this is all that is needed. If the social meanness continues where the behavior is repetitive and targeting, the Counselor will encourage and support the student who is the victim to bring the issue to the Principal’s attention (the Counselor may be the one to speak with the Principal if the student is unable to do this themselves). The Principal will be involved in the following cases of bullying behavior:

  • Physical safety of students becomes an issue.
  • Behavior that is repetitive and targeting to specific students or a group of students and it is not resolved through counseling efforts.
  • A victim or parent brings the situation to the principal. The Principal than decides if it is a counseling issue or discipline issue.

High School (Grades 9-12)

Peer Counseling: Peers and teachers select peer counselors that are deemed to be honest, fair, inclusive and responsible. Peer counselors receive skill training on character, leadership, communication, listening, conflict resolution, etc.

Wellness Week: Peer counselors help facilitate activities with the school counselor to promote thoughts, ideas, and discussion around what healthy lifestyles and choices look like.  Topics include: health, fitness, emotional wellbeing, substance use, bullying, healthy relationships, etc.

Advisory: During the year, the HS Counselor and advisors use advisory periods to present on such topics as: relationships, respect, appropriate technology use, learning styles, transitioning into school and tips for university life (healthy relationships, roommate issues, tolerance for diversity, etc.).

New Student Orientation: Peer Counselors host orientation at the start of the school year. They are assigned two new students as buddies, as the two new students ware likely to bond together.

Social meanness & bullying incidents: Self, peers or teachers refer students to the counselor.  The counselor helps them develop appropriate skills to resolve the conflict through individual and/or group work.  If discipline measures are needed, the Assistant Principal is involved.

Health

Health benefits:

New students receive a free medical checkup from the AIS/EAC doctor during the 1st term of school, and all students receive free dental checkups during the first quarter of each school year. In the event of an emergency, students are taken to Medical Center Manila for free emergency treatment (up to existing limit).

Injuries:

AIS teachers have first aid training and they routinely treat minor injuries with soap, water, antiseptics, bandages and ice. If an injury is serious then the child will be taken to Medical Center Manila (parents will be contacted).

Illness:

Parents should not allow sick children to go to school. If a child becomes ill at school, the parents will be called, and the child will be dismissed. Parents should notify the school immediately if a student has contracted a communicable disease. If more than one case of a communicable disease occurs in a single area of the school, the school will follow isolation and quarantine regulations as prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Guidelines on how long a child should stay at home if ill

Illness Advice Illness Advice
Diarrhea Exclude when stool is watery Chicken Pox Exclude from school for 5 days or until rash/lesions dry up
Fever Exclude until condition cleared Vomiting Exclude if the child has vomited 2+ times in past 24 hours
Head lice Exclude until condition cleared Tuberculosis Exclude until doctor certifies the child is non-infectious
Hepatitis A Exclude 1 week Conjunctivitis Exclude 24 hours after treatment begins
Measles Exclude 4 days Ringworm Exclude until after treatment begins
Rash Exclude if accompanied by a fever Rubella Exclude 7 days (after rash disappears)
Cold Exclude if symptoms are severe Strep throat Exclude 1 day (after treatment begins)

Medication:

Self-medication is not allowed at AIS unless a doctor has diagnosed the student. In such cases, parents must give AIS written consent absolving the school of responsibility for the consequences of taking (or not taking) the medication. Teachers are not allowed to administer medication even if the parent has provided the teacher with a written permission form. However, the school clinic can administer medications after the parent completes the medication waiver form (the medication must be clearly labeled with the student’s name, name of medication, dosage and time to be given).

Food & drink:

Students need to bring a water bottle every day. In addition, we require parents to send children with only nutritious food. Please avoid foods with high sugar content (e.g. candy, cookies, chocolate, soda, potato chips, etc.) as they do not sustain energy and often make children agitated. Each month our teachers will feature some healthy foods that provide energy throughout the day. Parents are encouraged to support the teachers by providing children with featured snacks like raw fruits & vegetables, rice & whole grain crackers, whole wheat breads, pili nuts, sunflower seeds, tuna, etc.

Sleep:

Research shows that most students do not get enough sleep and as such their learning potentials are diminished. Sufficient sleep is vital for growth of body, optimal brain development, ability to focus & remember, well being and happiness. The amount of sleep required varies from person to person and generally decreases with age. A general guide is provided here. Please note that our teachers will track student sleepiness. In cases when students are routinely tired we will contact parents. Here are some tips to help your child get enough sleep: 1) maintain a strict bedtime, 2) do NOT allow students to stay up late to complete homework, 3) no TV on school days, 4) no homework within an hour of bedtime, 5) no fast food/junk food, 6) no access to cell phones, computers or electronic devices after bedtime, 7) register your child in after-school activities for regular exercise.

Typical sleep requirements for optimal learning

Pre-school Elementary School High School Adults
10-11 hours per night 9-10 hours per night 8-10 hours per night 7-9 hours per night

Hygiene & cleanliness:

AIS has housekeeping personnel on each floor. In addition to regular housekeeping duties they are required to inspect, clean and sanitize the comfort rooms every hour.