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MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDELINES
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MISSION, VISION & CORE VALUES Nido’s Mission Vision Core Values
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MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION Principal's Message
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NIDO ADMINISTRATIVE & MS LEADERSHIP
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MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULES
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ACADEMIC MATTERS Academic Reports Grading and Assessment School Records Placement/Promotion/Retention/Non-Continuance
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING Advisory
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STUDENT SERVICES Counseling Office Lost And Found Student Study Team (SST) Student Learning Support Center
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STUDENT ACTIVITIES National Junior Honor Society Outdoor Environmental Educational Activities Student Leadership Team (SLT)
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CODE OF CONDUCT Procedures For Code Of Conduct Violations School Uniform And Dress/Appearance Code
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MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR CODE
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GENERAL INFORMATION FROM A TO Z Announcements and Bulletins Arrival And Departure From School Assemblies / Sports Events Backpacks
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Bells Cafeteria Cell Phones Distance Learning Hall Pass Homework Lockers Media Center Music Supplies PowerSchool P.E. Uniforms Skateboards, Scooters And Motorized Scooters Spanish As An Additional Language Placement Exam Tardiness Telephone Textbooks Transportation Tutors Valuables Visitors
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MIDDLE SCHOOL GUIDELINES The Middle School divisional guidelines includes policies and procedures specific to the Middle School (Grades 6-8). Please also view the School Community Life Handbook that includes school-wide policies and procedures such as: Rights and Responsibilities of our Community Members; Daily Procedures; Admission Requirements and Conditions; Behavioral Expectations and Code of Conduct In Our Community; Student Wellness and The School Community Life Committee (SCL); and Additional Support.
MISSION, VISION & CORE VALUES Nido’s Mission Nido empowers learners to connect authentically, explore with curiosity, and act with purpose. Connect. Explore. Act.
Vision The International School Nido de Aguilas strives to be an open and dynamic global learning center.
Core Values In keeping with its founding mission, Nido de Aguilas fosters: ● Engagement ● Ingenuity ● Adaptability ● Generosity ● Happiness
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MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION Principal's Message Dear Middle School Parents and Students, Welcome to the new school year! I am honored to be working with you, and I am eager to share in the excitement of our middle school program. I look forward to celebrating the growth that our students will experience over the course of the year and working together to support them during their middle school journey. We aim to create a learning environment that enhances each student's self-esteem, sense of belonging, and intellectual curiosity. We accomplish these goals by offering an in-depth study of the core areas of Humanities, Mathematics, Science, and Spanish. These core courses are supplemented by our Encore program and our Elective program. Our Encore program consists of Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Technology and in the three years of Middle School, students experience learning in each one of these areas. In our Elective program, students experience four different short courses in each grade level. These courses range from Film, to Codebreaking, to World Cultures and they are all connected to our Nido Mission: Nido empowers learners to connect authentically, explore with curiosity, and act with purpose. Connect. Explore. Act. Relationships are at the core of a successful learning community and to help foster a sense of community and enhance students’ self-esteem, we have an Advisory Program. Our advisory program helps develop relationships by providing students with one teacher and a small group of peers to support social and emotional learning. Our advisory program uses a scope and sequence from Caring School Community and draws from the work of CASEL. These guidelines contain important information about our school programs and policies. Please take time to read and discuss this information as a family. If you have questions or concerns at any point during the school year, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers, one of the school counselors, the Assistant Principal, or me. I look forward to traveling with you on this Middle School adventure! Sincerely, Sheena MacLeod
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Middle School Principal
NIDO ADMINISTRATIVE & MS LEADERSHIP Ken Kunin Gonzalo Blanc Paz Nagelach Eric Pivet
Head of School Business Manager Chilean National Plan Director Chief Financial Officer
Sheena MacLeod Dave Côté
MS Principal MS Assistant Principal
OFFICE NAME
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ROLE
PLATA, GLADYS
Secretary
SPENCER, PAULA
Counselor
HENG, YIK KUN
Counselor
VAN IERSEL, DIANA
Guidance Secretary
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULES Class Times
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
7:45 - 8:40
A
A
Ver horario abajo
A
A
8:45 - 9:40
B
B
B
B
9:45 - 10:10 10:10 - 10:30 10:30 - 11:25 11:30 - 12:25
Advisory
Advisory
Break
Break
C
C
C
C
D
D
D
D
Lunch
12:25 - 1:20
Lunch
1:20 - 2:15
E
E
E
E
2:20 - 3:15
F
F
F
F
Wednesday
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A Block
7:45 - 8:30
B Block
8:35 - 9:20
WIN Block
9:25 - 10:10
Break
10:10 - 10:30
C Block
10:30 - 11:15
D Block
11:20 - 12:05
Lunch
12:05 - 12:55
E Block
12:55 - 1:40
F Block
1:45 - 2:30
ACADEMIC MATTERS Academic Reports The school year is divided into two semesters. Full Report Cards are issued at the end of each semester, with a progress report in the middle of each semester. Report cards are emailed home at the end of each semester. Progress Reports are emailed home at the midpoint of each semester. Parents can also log in to PowerSchool whenever they wish to view their child’s current grades, attendance and teacher comments. At any point in the semester, if teachers have concerns about a student’s progress, parents will be contacted. Parent Conferences are held once each semester between parents, students and teachers to discuss student learning. Other conferences may be scheduled at the request of the parent or the school whenever necessary.
Grading and Assessment Nido's Middle School uses a standards-based teaching and learning model to emphasize that learning is a process in which the goal is for each child to grow steadily in knowledge, skills and understanding. Students and teachers work in partnership to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned, assess their progress, and identify specific strategies to maximize their learning. Teachers use both formative and summative assessment to inform students of their learning and progress. Formative assessment refers to the ongoing process students and teachers engage in when they: ● Focus on learning goals; ● Take stock of where current work is in relation to the goal; ● Take action to move closer to the goal. Formative assessments are varied and may include: exit tickets at the end of a lesson, assignments, quizzes, teacher observations and conversations or conferences between teachers and students. Summative assessments are used to evaluate student learning, skill acquisition, and understanding at the end of a unit of study. Summative assessments are the teacher’s final opportunity to assess the summation of learning before moving on to new topics or skills. Each unit of study will have a minimum of two summative assessments.
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Absences from a Summative Assessment All students must take all summative assessments for each unit of study. ● ● ●
In the case of a family emergency, parents should contact the teacher on the morning of the assessment to explain the situation. In the case of medical absence, the student should present the corresponding medical certificate. In the case of absence due to traveling, the student or parent should inform the teacher in advance.
Arrangements will be made for students to take the summative assessment based on each context. Students with Accommodations Some students have accommodations as part of their IEP, and these accommodations will be implemented when summative assessments are taken. Standards based reporting is coherent with the International School Nido de Aguilas’ philosophy because it allows us to know and clearly communicate the achievement of each and every student which will maximize continual student learning. All assessments include a rubric where the standards assessed and the student's achievement in each of those standards is explained. In this way the students continually receive feedback on their learning to help them grow towards the intended standard. (See table on the next page.)
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Description
Attempting
The student does not demonstrate an understanding of the learning objectives. Performance is inconsistent, even with support.
Progressing
The student demonstrates some understanding of the learning objectives. Performance is inconsistent and varies with regard to accuracy and quality.
Approaching
The student demonstrates some understanding of the learning objectives. Performance shows greater consistency with respect to accuracy and quality.
Meeting
The student consistently demonstrates a thorough understanding of the learning objectives. The student applies key concepts, processes, and skills.
Exceeding
The student consistently demonstrates an in-depth understanding of the learning objectives. The student applies and extends key concepts, processes, and skills. Performance is characterized by high levels of quality and complexity.
Insufficient Evidence
The student has not shown enough evidence of learning for a judgment to be made.
Incomplete
If a student has insufficient evidence at the end of the unit of study, the student will have a period of two weeks to submit the necessary work. If, after this time, there is still insufficient evidence, the student will receive incomplete.
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Conversion for the Chilean Ministry of Education The learning standards are the learning objectives designated at each grade level and represent the learning objectives of Nido as well as the Chilean Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education specifies that evaluations must be transferred to grades on a 1 to 7 scale, 4 being the minimum passing grade for a course. Therefore, in order to formally report student performance to the Ministry of Education, a standard normal table has been developed to convert Nido de Aguilas’ assessments concepts to points and ultimately to a grade on the Chilean standard scale. On a numerical scale of 1 to 4, the equivalences are as follows: Attempting: 1 ○ Progressing: 2 ○ Approaching: 3 ○ Meeting: 4 ○ Exceeding: 4 ○ The final grade for each class will consider the average score of all the standards assessed in that specific class. The passing grade will be 1.5 points (equivalent to a 4.0 on the 1 to 7 scale). Score
Chilean 1- 7
1
3,5
1.5
4
2
5
2.5
5,5
3
6
3.5
6,5
4.0
7
Pass
7
Fail
3,5
This conversion will be done at the end of the school year.
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School Records Each student has a cumulative file into which is placed: a record of grades, progress reports, conduct reports, achievements, standardized test scores, teacher ratings, etc. These records are of great importance when a student transfers to another school or applies for college entrance.
Placement/Promotion/Retention/Non-Continuance The principal is responsible for making decisions regarding admission, placement, promotion, acceleration, retention and continuance from year to year. Provided students meet academic and behavioral expectations, it is assumed that their enrollment from one year to the next will continue. A student may be required to repeat a grade level if it is determined that his or her performance is unsatisfactory. However, if in the opinion of the school, the student is unable to meet academic (including English language) expectations, the option to repeat a year may not be offered. Full tuition and fees must be paid for any grade level that is repeated. Under Ministry of Education requirements, a student must have an attendance rate of over 85% and meet minimum academic grade point average requirements to be promoted to the next grade level.
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SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING In Middle School we support the growth and development of the whole student. Middle School is a unique stage of development and social emotional learning and overall well-being is fundamental. Advisory Our Advisory Program promotes a sense of community and relationships are at the core of a successful learning community. Our advisory program helps develop relationships by providing students with one teacher and a small group of peers for supporting social and emotional learning. Our advisory program uses a scope and sequence of Caring School Community and draws from the work of CASEL. Advisory class is a place where students learn the social skills needed for developing proficiency in each of the five social and emotional competencies identified by CASEL.
STUDENT SERVICES Counseling Office The purpose of the Middle School Counseling Program at Nido de Aguilas is to promote the intellectual (academic), emotional and social growth of all students in order that they may succeed in their education at Nido. We also wish to help students cope with the diverse changes and challenges they meet on a daily basis and to prepare them to meet the demands of a globally competitive world. We are committed to creating learning environments and developing programs which encourage students to understand themselves, to develop satisfying peer relationships, to accept personal responsibility for their own behavior, to understand the world of work, family and education, to make effective decisions, and to develop sound values and high ideals. We recognize the unique educational nature of an international school environment and seek to provide information and create discussion groups to address the needs of all students. The Middle School has two full-time counselors, who provide the following services: 1. Support Social Emotional Learning by teaching wellness lessons to all Middle School students
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2. Assist students in developing a better understanding of themselves, recognizing their individual strengths and weaknesses, and helping them make healthy choices, decisions, and plans. 3. Provide counseling to students with personal concerns. 4. Serve as consultants for teachers and administrators in matters relating to the student's school-related needs. 5. Provide support to students with educational and school-related needs. 6. Provide orientation for new students as well as cultural transition groups. 7. Facilitate the transition of Elementary students to Middle School, and of Middle School students to High School. 8. Support the development of the Advisory Program and collaborate with teachers who facilitate the advisory program. 9. Administer Entrance Examinations for students who are leaving Nido and moving to a new school. Confidentiality: Any student voluntarily seeking assistance with a personal problem from the school counselor is guaranteed confidentiality unless the counselor determines that there is a physical or emotional danger to the student, another student or the student body, at which point the counselor will advise the Principal of this potentiality. Lost And Found A lost and found closet is in the Middle School office. The school is not responsible for articles that are lost or stolen. Each student must make sure that his/her belongings are marked and kept in a safe place. Lost articles should be taken to the Middle School Office. Unmarked items not claimed within a reasonable period of time will be donated to a charitable organization. We recommend that all clothing, books and P.E. uniforms be marked with an indelible pen to identify ownership. Students should only bring money and other items necessary to meet daily needs and never leave money or valuables unattended at any time. If students choose to bring an iPad, a cellular phone, or other electronic devices, they must take great care to keep it safe, as the school will not be responsible for any lost items that are brought to school. Students who have lost articles should immediately report them to the Middle School office and complete a lost property report form to assist our staff in locating the items. Note: Items left in the covered court, gymnasium or soccer field areas will be turned into the lost & found located in those areas. Student Study Team (SST) The Student Study Team (SST) is comprised of a combination of teachers, counselors, psychologists, principals or other specialists who offer insight and expertise into students’ learning. Teachers refer students who are struggling academically, or emotionally to the SST. The SST team, with input from the student’s teachers and parents, may create an
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Action Plan, which might include learning strategies and interventions to help the student be more successful in Middle School. In order to create an appropriate plan, the SST may recommend additional testing to determine a student’s academic strengths and weaknesses. Parents are contacted prior to testing and results of the tests will be shared with parents (and students if deemed appropriate). In addition to an Action Plan, the SST may recommend a placement in the Learning Support Center and/or push-in support by a specialist in core academic classes. Student Learning Support Center The programs of the Middle School Learning Support Center provide support for students in various academic areas. These programs are designed to reinforce student learning and help develop the essential skills a Middle School student needs in order to meet the various goals of each course. Learning Lab is a class that provides support in core academic classes. In the Learning Support Center students receive individual and small group instruction. Additionally, the Learning Support teacher conducts close monitoring of the student’s classroom performance and frequently consults with the classroom teacher.
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STUDENT ACTIVITIES Student activities bring together students of similar interests and skills and provide an opportunity for students and teachers to interact on an informal basis. Below is a sample list of after-school activities. Activities vary from semester to semester and will be communicated to parents and students at the beginning of each semester. After-School & Athletic Activities (sample list) FIRST SEMESTER (August – November) Girls & Boys Basketball Girls Field Hockey Boys Baseball Boys Rugby Cheerleading CrossFit Swimming Water Polo SECOND SEMESTER (February – May) Girls & Boys Volleyball Girls & Boys Soccer Girls & Boys Track & Field Girls & Boys Water Polo Girls & Boys Trail Running Dance CrossFit - Fitness Training Swimming ASAs may change on a semester basis. Students placed on level III Extended Academic Probation are ineligible for participation in after-school activities, student council and sports for the following quarter. **Students are not permitted to remain on campus after 3:30 pm unless involved in a supervised after-school activity**
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National Junior Honor Society Members of the National Junior Honor Society are selected on the basis of four qualities: scholarship, character, service and leadership. Qualifications for consideration for membership are as follows: 1. Students must have a minimum of meeting standard in all subjects consistently throughout Middle School. 2. Students must have attended Nido Middle School for at least one semester. 3. Students must be considered by teachers to be a positive role model, with a record of appropriate behavior and no disciplinary concerns. 4. Students who meet the above criteria will be invited to submit an application that will be reviewed by a faculty committee. 5. The application process requires the student to write an essay explaining what their contribution to NJHS would be and why they should be considered in terms of character, leadership, service and citizenship. 6. After the deadline for applications, a faculty committee will decide upon which students will join NJHS.
Outdoor Environmental Educational Activities The Environmental Education program is an integral part of the middle school curriculum. As such, all students are expected to participate in multi-night trips scheduled once a school year. The goal of Environmental Education is to enhance the standard curriculum by providing middle school students with diverse educational experiences. Professional environmental organizations and Middle School faculty serve as trip sponsors and chaperones. The trips promote academic growth through exploration and acquisition of particular skills. They also reinforce self-esteem and positive interaction among students and faculty within a unique environmental setting, as well as the exploration of cultural, historical, and physical environments. Parents will be notified in advance of the additional fees charged for transportation, food and lodging. The nature and purpose of specific Environmental Education trips may expose students to a degree of risk not typical of regular on-campus classes. Recognizing that trips involve travel, physical activity and exploration, all trips are subject to a risk and safety assessment. The following criteria have been established in order to assess and minimize the associated potential risks: ●
●
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Prior to departure a review of student health records will be conducted. Parents will be requested to inform trip sponsors of any special health related issues regarding their child(ren). Specific trips may require a student to submit a medical clearance certificate and/or a physical.
● ● ● ●
● ●
●
The name and passport or RUT number of each student participant must be on record at the school and a copy taken along with each travel group. Trips which require rigorous physical exercise or special skills may require mandatory pre-trip training or assessment. Trips will not include destinations for which the U.S. Embassy or Chilean government has issued an advisory discouraging travel. Trips must include written emergency medical evacuation procedures and insurance coverage for all participants. Trips shall not include activities for which appropriate insurance is unavailable. First aid kits, appropriate to the nature and destination of individual trips, will be available for all trips. Written procedures for access to emergency medical care, communication availability, travel condition alternatives, and emergency procedures will be in place and on file with the Principal prior to departure. Upon completion of an Environmental Education trip, an evaluation concerning any injuries/illnesses and/or any disciplinary matters will be made by the faculty sponsors, which will then be reviewed by the Outdoor Education Coordinator and if necessary, by the Principal.
Parents must take the following into consideration when authorizing their student’s participation in an Environmental Education trip: ● The nature and purpose of some trips may expose students to a degree of risk not typical of regular on-campus classes. ● At some periods during some trips, immediate and/or twenty-four hour telephone communications will not be available. Please note that students will be placed on one of these trips and changes will not be possible unless due to extreme circumstances. Student Leadership Team (SLT) Every student in the Nido Middle School who wants to be involved in the Student Leadership Team may do so. At the beginning of each semester an organizational meeting will be held for any students who are interested. Participants will maintain an acceptable level of academic performance and represent the school and the SLT in a respectful, positive manner. Additional opportunities for student leadership will occur throughout the year and students will be informed of these opportunities either by email or through the MS daily announcements. Students may volunteer for any leadership position.
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CODE OF CONDUCT Standards of acceptable behavior at Nido de Aguilas exist for the common good of everyone in our school. Students are reminded of their primary role as learners in this community. It is in the interest of the school to have rules, which ensure good conduct, self discipline and responsible behavior. The responsibility for student behavior rests within each individual student. The school faculty will monitor student behavior and deal with minor infractions. The school principals will deal with major infractions and multiple minor infractions. Nido de Aguilas protects the rights of each individual student to pursue an education free from disruption.
Procedures For Code Of Conduct Violations Please refer to the School Community Life Handbook.
School Uniform And Dress/Appearance Code Nido does not require Middle and High School students to wear a school uniform. Students and their parents are asked to comply with what Nido considers to be an appropriate dress and personal appearance code for this school ("Dress/Appearance Code"). It is our belief that a school culture which recognizes that “dressing for the occasion” is something our students are capable of discerning builds a healthier ethos around body image and lends itself to more productive discussions around the related issues. The Dress/Appearance Code is based on such considerations as: ● creating a comfortable learning environment for teachers and students; ● following generally accepted standards for students of Middle School and High School age; ● concern and respect for different cultural expectations; ● preparing students for a level of professionalism that may be expected in their future places of employment. The following serve as guidelines as to what is considered appropriate: Student must wear: ● Shirt ● Bottom (pants/ sweatpants/ shorts/ skirt/ dress/ leggings) that allow a full range of motion —sitting, standing, reaching, and running— without requiring perpetual readjustment. ● Shoes
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Athletic uniforms and footwear specified by the PE department are required when participating in P.E. class and activities requiring their use.
Students may wear: ● Religious headwear ● Hats and sunglasses (must be worn outside of the classroom) ● Hoodie sweatshirts ● Tailored or altered clothing (i.e. small rips or frays in garments) ● Tank tops ● Athletic Attire Students cannot wear: ● Clothing items that contain violent language or images, images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity), and/or hate speech, profanity, or pornography. ● Visible underwear ● Ripped clothing ● Shirts that show bare midriffs ● Bathing suits ● Pajamas or bedroom slippers (except on school spirit/dress up days)
The PE uniform must be worn on days when the student is participating in physical education classes or sports-related After School Activities. PE Uniforms are available at: ● Scolari (located at Balmoral 163, Las Condes, phone +56-2-2212-8540)
In a situation where a faculty member is concerned about the way a student is dressed, the faculty member may approach the student in a discreet way or approach a counselor or another faculty member who will initiate a conversation with the student. Faculty and staff will use body-positive language in explaining the code and be sensitive in addressing any code violations. A parent meeting may be scheduled, and disciplinary consequences may be assigned for students who repeatedly dress inappropriately for school.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL HONOR CODE Rationale Nido de Aguilas combines high academic standards with a concern for basic truths and principles. Our Middle School values honor, respect and integrity. We aim to nurture conscientious, ethical, empathetic students who make decisions for their own good and the good of the community. The honor code is designed to educate our students about these principles AND to hold our students accountable to them. Definition of Academic Dishonesty Students must present only their own work for assessment and grading. Therefore, academic dishonesty is defined as completing and/or submitting work that is not entirely a student’s own, or assisting another student in submitting dishonest work. Examples of Breaking of the Honor Code The following list provides common examples of unacceptable practice. The list is not exhaustive and each case will be judged upon its own merits by the classroom teacher and, if need be, by the administration. ● Asking for an answer or giving someone an answer inappropriately on an assessment ● Copying from another source (student or book) i.e. plagiarism ● Allowing another student to copy from your work ● Sharing test answers or questions with those who have not taken it yet ● Bringing in unauthorized information on your hands, clothes, or paper to use on tests ● Putting your name on someone else's paper for a grade ● Forging a parent’s signature to validate work ● Unauthorized collaboration on an assignment ● Data falsification (e.g. fabricated, altered or copied data on a lab report) Plagiarism Plagiarism is defined as the presentation of another’s words or ideas as one’s own and without proper citation. When students plagiarize, they usually do so in one of the following ways: ● Using the words or original ideas of another without proper citation ● Failing to use quotation marks when citing a source ● Paraphrasing another’s work without citing the original source Examples of common sources of plagiarized materials include work by other students, journal articles, books and the Internet. It should be noted that even non-deliberate failure to acknowledge a source might constitute plagiarism. Forgetting a footnote or reference is not an acceptable excuse.
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Measures Taken to Prevent Breaking of the Honor Code The Nido de Aguilas Middle School takes numerous measures to prevent breaking of the Honor Code: ● We conscientiously educate students on the honor code through classroom lessons on academic honesty and plagiarism, reminders posted prominently in classrooms, and an honor code oath that students are required to sign before submitting tests and major assessments. ● We clearly communicate the purpose of each assignment, making clear how cheating does not benefit students, classmates or teachers. ● We teach students time-management skills so that they do not feel compelled to cheat. ● We actively monitor the classrooms during the assessments. ● We administer multiple versions of some assessments to students in the same course and/or class. Consequences of Breaking the Honor Code First Violation ● The student will write a reflection detailing why he/she chose to be academically dishonest and how he/she can avoid this behavior in the future. ● The teacher will refer the incident to the principal to be kept on file. ● The student will have to redo the assignment (or portion), or an equivalent assignment for a maximum of 70%. ● Parent is contacted. ● The offense is recorded in PowerSchool. Subsequent Infractions ● The student will have to redo the assignment, or an equivalent assignment. There will be no credit given for the re-do. ● The incident will be referred immediately to the principal. ● Per National Junior Honor Society bylaws, the student will be temporarily or permanently suspended from the club. ● Based upon the severity of the incident and the student’s prior record of academic dishonesty, the student will also be subject to disciplinary action, as outlined in the School Community Life Handbook.
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GENERAL INFORMATION FROM A TO Z Announcements and Bulletins All notices of club meetings, social events, school activities and general information are included in the Daily Announcements. Students are expected to read these announcements every day to be well informed. All posters and signs displayed throughout the campus must be approved by the MS office. Every Friday, the MS Principal sends parents an update of learning and events taking place in the Middle School. Nido de Aguilas sends a weekly update with news and events every Monday. This is an excellent way to communicate, so please keep the Middle School office informed of any changes in your email address. Parents are also encouraged to check the Nido website at www.nido.cl for up to date school information.
Arrival And Departure From School Students are encouraged to arrive at school by 7:35. The official start of class is at 7:45, so an arrival after this time is considered late, and students are expected to get a late pass from the middle school office before attending class. If a student is demonstrating excessive morning tardies then his/her parents will be notified and an action plan will be created between the student and the middle school administration. For those who take transportation other than that provided by the school approved school bus provider, the parent accepts responsibility to ensure that students arrive on time each morning and that children are picked up from school within 15 minutes following the end of the school day or any approved after school activity. The school expects students to follow the instructions of their parents regarding the time and form of transportation used. The school monitors all elementary students to ensure that they either ride the appropriate school bus or are picked up by a parent or authorized adult at the end of each day. However, the school is NOT responsible for monitoring whether or not middle and high school students abide by the wishes of their parents regarding transportation. Whether they take the school bus, use private transportation, take a taxi, or leave the campus with a friend or on foot, this is a matter of communication between the student and his or her parents. All students leaving before the end of the school day must obtain an exit pass prior to leaving campus. Passes will be issued by the MS office or by the nurse's office to parents or to students with parent notification. After obtaining the pass, students/parents must exit through Guardhouse No. 2, located near campus access stairs. The parent or student will submit the exit permit, which will be stamped and returned. The parent or student must then submit the stamped exit permit at Guardhouse No.1 in order to exit the school campus.
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Assemblies / Sports Events During Assemblies all students are expected to be courteous to performers and speakers. Applause is the correct and courteous way to show approval of a program or a speaker. Yelling and whistling are not in good taste and will be dealt with accordingly. Appropriate behavior is expected of all students at sports events. Attending events in other school divisions: Middle School students may attend events in other school divisions if these events are after school and Middle School students have been invited to participate. Middle School students will not be excused from classes to attend events in other school divisions without approval of the middle school administration.
Backpacks All backpacks and bookbags are to be kept in lockers. Backpacks will not be permitted in hallways or in classrooms without teacher approval.
Bells Bells ring at the start and end of each class to help students be on time. Bells will ring five minutes before advisory, and five minutes before the first period after lunch.
Cafeteria Nido offers nourishing hot and cold lunch service for Grades 3—12 through our cafeteria provider, Newrest, a company present in over 57 countries and a global leader in multi-sector catering and specializes in out-of-home food service. MS students can order and purchase food from the cafeteria and food trucks with a credit or debit card, or parents can pre-order online.
Cell Phones Cell phones are permitted in the Middle School; however, they should be off and out of sight throughout the academic day (from 7:45 am -3:15 pm). Teachers may confiscate phones and bring them to the Middle School office if students do not abide by these rules.
Distance Learning In the case of school disruption and campus closure, the Middle School schedule and programming will change to reflect Nido's distance learning plan.
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Hall Pass In order to facilitate the proper atmosphere needed for teaching and learning, students should not be in the hall unless they have permission from their classroom teacher. There is a special pass for the Nurse's office.
Homework In Middle School homework may be given for three main reasons: ● reading either to further thinking about a topic being studied in class or independent reading ● practicing skills or learning that have been taught in class ● finishing work that was not completed in class Typically, students will spend no more than approximately 60 minutes per day doing homework. If a student is absent, he/she may obtain class work and/or homework by checking Google Classroom or by contacting the teachers via email.
Lockers Nido provides academic lockers and a lock for each student in grades 6, 7 and 8. Lockers for physical education classes will also be provided; however, students are responsible for bringing their own sturdy locks. Please refrain from purchasing small luggage locks since they are not resilient enough for the rough and frequent use that students impose on them. The student is responsible for all the contents in his/her assigned locker. It is advisable not to keep money, jewelry, or other valuables in the locker. Students should not share their locker combination with anyone for their own security. Students should store all notebooks, textbooks and personal items in their lockers during class periods. School materials and personal items should not be left outside of the lockers at any time during the school day. Students are discouraged from bringing valuables to school. If they do bring anything valuable, it is their responsibility to keep them safe while they are on campus. If a student decides to purchase and use their own lock, then it must be registered in the middle school office prior to using it.
Media Center The Nido Media Center program expands the learning experience beyond the classroom walls into the world. The Media Center is a central nucleus for teaching, developing, experimenting, practicing, creating, working, learning and playing. In a welcoming and collaborative environment, reading, discovery, imagination and creativity come to life. Awe and curiosity are essential for personal, academic, social and cultural growth. As a research site for older students and as a "curiosity and exploration laboratory" for younger children, the Media Center provides opportunities to develop research-based
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skills and habits of mind that will allow students to continue their individual search for learning during their lives. The Media Center hours are from 7:15 am - 5:15 pm from Monday through Thursday and 7:15 am - 4:30 pm on Fridays. General Guidelines ● MS students may check out 3 books for a period of two weeks. ● Books may be renewed for up to 14 days. ● Students may check out magazines for 14 days. ● Students may not check out books if 1 or more books are overdue. ● Parents may check out 5 books for a period of 14 days. ● Staff may check out books for a period of 30 days. ● Students are required to pay for lost or damaged books. The Media Center subscribes to a number of password protected e-book collections and databases. These resources are available at all times: ● ● ● ● ● ●
Capstone Interactive Library (English and Spanish Books) CultureGrams EBSCO (Research Database) JSTOR (Research Database) SIRS (General Reference Database) NewsBank (News Database)
Ask the media center staff for usernames and passwords.
Music Supplies For instruments that require a mouthpiece, purchase of mouthpieces is optional but encouraged. Students who rent instruments will be expected to sign a rental agreement at the beginning of the year.
PowerSchool PowerSchool is Nido’s student management and grading software. It is a powerful communication tool that permits students and parents to actively monitor academic progress. By logging onto Nido’s PowerSchool, students and parents can view current grades, attendance and teacher comments. At the beginning of the school year, we provide each student and his/her parents with a username and password to log on to Powerschool. We also provide a user handbook for parents.
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P.E. Uniforms Students are expected to comply with the PE uniform policy. Uniforms are available from several suppliers, and the prices and quality may vary with each supplier. Alternative Nido uniform vendors include: ● Scolari store located at Balmoral 163, Las Condes, phone +56-2-2212-8540 Students should mark all P.E. Uniforms as well as shoes clearly with their name so that they can be returned if lost. P.E. uniforms are to be worn in P.E. classes only!
Skateboards, Scooters And Motorized Scooters Skateboards, scooters and motorized scooters are not allowed on campus. Please do not bring these items to school during the school day or on Saturdays and Sundays during special school events. Bikes are permitted for students participating in the ASA mountain biking program. They must be locked and stored on the MS bike rack and should not be used at any other time other than for their specific activity, between 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm.
Spanish As An Additional Language Placement Exam Spanish as an Additional Language (SAL) students will all be required to take a Spanish placement examination to determine appropriate placement. Grade 8 SAL students will take a placement examination during the second semester to assist the high school with their placement in grade 9 Spanish classes. An advanced SAL student who is placed in the Chilean National Program in Middle School may be placed in a different Spanish program in the High School for grade 9.
Tardiness Students should make every effort to be at school by 7:35 am The first bell rings at 7:40 and the first class starts at 7:45 am. If a student arrives late to school he/she must report to the M.S. Office before reporting to class. Unexcused lateness to class usually results in teacher consequences being applied. For instances of excessive tardiness, please refer to the School Community Life Handbook.
Technology The use of technology is an important part of the middle school academic program and we have a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Program. Grade 6 students ● Every 6th grade student needs a MacBook Air - M1, 2020 ○ Model Number - A2337 ○ Processor- Apple M1 (APL1102) 3,2 GHz ○ Hard drive (Storage) - From 256GB
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RAM Memory - From 8GB Operating System - From MacOS 11.0 (Big Sur) Protective case - It is best to choose a full protective case that is “drop proof”. A carrying bag alone does not offer sufficient protection. Example. Headphones (or earbuds) to remain at school or be brought every day Questions about Macbook specifications can be directed to byod@nido.cl ○ ○ ○
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Grade 7 and Grade 8 students ● Every student needs an iPad (iPad Air or iPad Pro, 2019 or newer). ● iPad Tech requirements: ○ At least 32GB memory ○ 9.7” screen recommended ○ Durable iPad cover required (such as Griffin Survivor or Otterbox) ○ Stylus and Keyboard (recommended) ● Headphones (or earbuds) to remain at school or be brought every day ● Questions about iPad specifications can be directed to byod@nido.cl Students are not to use their device during break or lunch. If they need to access their device for academic purposes during this free time, then they must seek permission from an adult. Students are prohibited from using a virtual proxy network (VPN) at school since it exposes them to inappropriate content that would otherwise be restricted by Nido’s firewall.
Telephone The Middle School telephone number is +56 2 2339-8133. Students may use the Middle School Office phone free of charge with permission from the Office. If a student brings a cellular phone to school, he/she is responsible for any damage or loss of the cellular telephone. During the hours of the school day, it must be turned off or on silent mode and out of sight. If the cellular phone becomes a distraction during class, it may be confiscated until the end of the day. Students may use the features of the cellular phone or smartphone only with permission from the teacher.
Textbooks The school provides textbooks or textbook access online for all students. Each student is required to assume total responsibility for the care of these books. Teachers will assess damage other than that caused through normal use. Students will be charged the replacement value for lost books and the appropriate value for a damaged book.
Transportation While the school assists with the coordination of the transportation, the buses are privately owned and operated by the bus providers. The choice to use one of the school buses is an individual agreement between the bus provider and the parent. Fees are stipulated by the
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bus provider and approved by the school. Expected behavior from students: ● Show courtesy, safety and proper conduct at all times. ● Follow and respect instructions given by the driver. ● Remain seated at all times with a seat belt fastened. ● Respect others and the property of others. ● Refrain from eating and drinking on the bus. ● Refrain from throwing objects inside and outside of the bus. ● Refrain from requesting the driver to turn on the radio. Report to the school any observations, and complaints related to safe, orderly transportation of students (forms for this are available at the school). It is important to have procedures in place to assure a timely, safe arrival to and from school. To ensure this, we are including the following expectations: ● Be ready for the morning pick-up at the appointed time and place. Buses should be at the school by 7:30 am ● Return to the departure site and promptly board buses to ensure the timely departure of buses at 3:25 pm or 5:05 pm (after school activity bus). Early Years and Elementary School students who normally ride the bus must inform their classroom teachers during morning attendance every time they do not intend to take the bus home after school. For example, if students are riding home by car with parents or with friends, they must inform their teacher that they are not riding the bus in addition to turning in the necessary permission forms. Middle/High School students taking the school bus to visit friends must bring a note from parent/guardian authorizing the visit and inform the Transportation office before 1:30 pm. Late bus slips must be submitted prior to 1:30 pm. Failure to comply with this requirement will not guarantee space on the bus for the extra passenger. The transportation coordinator will honor no special transportation requests on early dismissal days. Using Transportation on a Special Day Students who do not normally take the bus can use the service on fixed bus routes, paying a fee for the trip. To visit the home of a friend who normally takes the bus, students must have a permission slip from both parents. The notes should include the complete name of the host student and his/her guest, the date of the visit, and the signature of the parent. Students should turn in permission notes to their classroom teacher during morning attendance, and should make special bus arrangements if they are planning to ride the bus. Children may not use the school telephone for arranging after school visits. The
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transportation company only allows one guest, and transportation is subject to availability of space on the bus. There is a fee charged to friends who are not registered for transportation services. The transportation coordinator will honor no special transportation requests on early dismissal days. After-School Activities Bus Elementary School Students, who need to ride the after school activity bus (and who are already part of the transportation system) must inform their teachers during morning attendance. Students who arrive at school after the morning attendance is taken, must inform their divisional office, before 11:00 am, that they intend to ride the After School Activities Bus. Middle and High School Students must complete the late bus slip and put it into the box for transportation by 1:30 pm. Student requests will be checked from the daily attendance logs. Students who report to a late bus without following proper procedures will be transported home, however, continued failure to follow the After School Activities bus procedures will result in a suspension of privileges. Emergency Requests for Change of Pick-Up or Drop-Off Address Last minute requests to change transportation arrangements create many complications. We ask for the cooperation from parents for these requests. In an effort to facilitate the communication of the emergency requests, we kindly ask you to submit the following information in writing: ● The original pick-up or drop-off address. ● The new pick-up or drop-off address (please be sure to explain which address is the original and which is the new). ● An emergency telephone number that can be used to clarify instructions, if necessary.
Tutors Requests for tutors should be made through the middle school counselors. Tutoring should not conflict with school hours and school responsibilities. Students may not be tutored by teachers that teach them in class or teach the same grade level. Parents should notify the subject area teacher if his/her child is receiving tutoring in that subject.
Valuables The school expects students to exercise honesty and to respect the property of others. Nevertheless, students should not bring personal items of value to school that are not essential for learning. These items include cell phones, iPads, laptops, DVDs, valuable jewelry, or more cash than is necessary for lunch or other miscellaneous expenses at
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school. Students are expected to keep personal items in their lockers, to keep them locked and not to share their lock combinations with anyone.
Visitors Students may not bring visitors to school during regular school hours unless prior permission, the day before the visit, has been granted by the Middle School Office. Visitors are subject to all student regulations and are limited to one day. The Nido student should bring his/her visitor to the Middle School Office on the morning of the visit to meet the principals and to obtain a special pass.
Updated July 2022
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