Parent / Student Handbook • 2024-2025

2024-2025

PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK

MESSAGE FROM OUR GENERAL DIRECTOR

Dear Students and Parents:

I am delighted to be part of the EA community and share the 24-25 Handbook. I have read it and found it very informative. I hope you do as well.

We begin our 78th year as a premier academic institution in El Salvador. Our unique school with its history of excellence, is a source of honor and pride for those who have experienced it and contributed to its growth.

EA is a family built upon mutual respect and support. This handbook recognizes and reflects the strong values that bind us together. Please read it and use it as an invaluable guide. It contains a wealth of information. Please don’t hesitate to call us with any questions you may have.

So, it is with a re-invigorated dedication to our mission: - For a Whole Life, Connect • Create • Explore that I welcome you to our EA Handbook.

With best wishes for the upcoming school year,

Ms. Nelyda Miguel General Director

PARENT / STUDENT HANDBOOK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AGREEMENT

Collaboration between families and staff is a fundamental characteristic of Escuela Americana. Our collaborative willingness to establish and abide by important guidelines, policies, and rules binds us together in a very special effort that provides the model we wish our children/students to follow. For this reason, we make this signed agreement one of the conditions for both enrollment and continuing enrollment at Escuela Americana (“EA”).

As a family (Parent and Student) we have read and are aware of the Parent /Student Handbook and agree to abide by the rules and expectations, policies and procedures, codes, and guidelines contained in this publication.

I understand further that the final interpretation of policies and procedures rests with the Administration of EA and its Governing Body.

In addition, I understand that policies and procedures may change from time to time as decided by the EA Administration and its Governing Body, which will be opportunely informed to the students and parents.

Per the contract, parents commit to attending 4 or more Family Education Sessions/Workshops per school year, please see the calendar for dates and times.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

SECTION 3: LEARNING AT SCHOOL

SECTION 4: STANDARDS-BASED GRADING IN

Escuela Americana El Salvador

Escuela Americana El Salvador

ALL SCHOOL

ESCUELA AMERICANA CULTURE & IDENTITY

J GENERAL INFORMATION

Escuela Americana in El Salvador (“EA” or the “School”) was founded in 1946 and is an international co-educational institution for Pre-Kinder (3-year olds) through 12th Grade. The School is a non-profit association that has a tax-exempt charter issued by the Salvadoran government.

The academic programs are based primarily on the U.S. curriculum. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accredits the School as does the Salvadoran Ministry of Education. Escuela Americana is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the College Board. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the School and they set policy and yearly tuition, the administration and daily operation of the school is the responsibility of the General Director.

The Creative Curriculum through Grade 8 follows a combination of U.S. and Salvadoran programs with the majority of instruction in English. The curriculum in Grades 9-12 is that of U.S. college preparatory schools, as well as the Salvadoran Bachillerato program. All graduates earn the U.S. High School diploma and 95% earn the Salvadoran diploma as well.

The School is located in the western suburbs, specifically in Colonia San Benito and La Mascota, of San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador. The School’s lush 35-acre campus consists of two divisions: Elementary School (Grades PreK 3 – Grade 5); and Secondary School (Grades 6 – 12). The School has 132 classrooms; 4 computer centers; 2 libraries; 11 labs; 2 cafeterias; a double court gymnasium and multi-purpose building; an Arts Center with an amphitheater; 12 outdoor hard surface courts for basketball, volleyball, and handball; a 400-meter synthetic surface track; a Fitness Center; and 2 large athletic fields.

The School’s website is www.amschool.edu.sv, and information can be found there including the School’s calendar. The School uses MyEA as a portal for the school community, where parents can find important information regarding school happenings and academic information about their students. Power School is our student information system, and Google Classroom is used as a learning management system for course content for students. MyEA can be reached through the EA website and the EA App though it requires password access. Passwords are provided at the start of each school year.

The school year is divided into two semesters with four grading periods. Report cards are shared with parents on a quarterly basis.

WHOLE CHILD DEFINITION

For a Whole Life: Connect • Create • Explore

The ideal EA whole child is an individual who, guided by our core values and a clear sense of self and well-being, seeks to become a responsible member of society and an active global citizen. The EA whole child will continually strive to improve, be reflective and inquisitive, be accepting and respectful of others, and be genuinely inclined to serve their community. The EA whole child is equipped with communication, collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, informational literacy, adaptability skills, and a high level of self-efficacy; the whole child is committed to achieving his or her full potential.

COMMUNITY VALUES

Escuela Americana El Salvador

ESCUELA AMERICANA MISSION AND VISION

PORTRAIT OF A GRADUATE

• THINK: Be creative, critically thinking, problem solvers focused on a growth mindset and lifelong Learning.

• ACT: Be resilient and independent risk-takers who uphold high moral values.

• INTERACT: Be compassionate and respectful collaborators committed to efficient communication.

• BELIEVE: Be empowered, authentic, and balanced community members.

DEFINITION OF LEARNING

Learning is a lifelong journey of connecting experiences, creating meaning, and exploring challenges to be agents of positive change.

J ACCREDITATIONS

Escuela Americana is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Ministry of Education (MINED).

It is vital for private schools to be accredited by organizations that support the learning, growth, and development of institutions around the world. Accreditation demonstrates that Escuela Americana is an outstanding institution and we all should be very proud of our school.

NEASC is an independent, voluntary, nonprofit membership organization that connects and serves over 1500 public, independent, and international schools in the US and worldwide. Founded in 1885, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) has been working to establish and maintain high standards for all levels of education longer than any other accreditation agency in the United States. NEASC is made up of three Commissions that work in close partnership to ensure quality education for all students.

J BELONGING AND ACCEPTANCE

At EA we are committed to building and supporting an open welcoming community dedicated to the principles of respect, empathy, dignity, and parity. Living by this philosophy ensures that our students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be productive and responsible global citizens so they can excel and make an impact in an increasingly complex world. Acceptance and belonging go beyond tolerance. At EA we strive for acceptance, which takes place when we respect the individual traits of others, recognize the value of each person’s uniqueness, and genuinely welcome people different from ourselves into our community.

At Escuela Americana we recognize that all children and adolescents are equal before the law. Therefore, we welcome belonging and strive to build a community of dignity. We recognize the paramount importance that all students have the right to feel safe, secure, and respected when they come to school. As a community, our definition of belonging and acceptance includes but is not limited to characteristics such as; race, culture, gender, age, color, ethnicity, religion, preference, nationality, family situation, and chronic medical conditions. Acts of discrimination by any member of our community – including bullying, taunting, violence, disrespect, or intimidation, are obstacles to both learning and teaching. Article 57 of Ley Crecer Juntos states that students must receive an “education based on tolerance, mutual understanding, respect, and solidarity”.

These behaviors violate EA’s community values: Responsibility, Integrity, Courage, and Kindness. To that end, we condemn and strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination and harassment. Escuela Americana reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to discipline or dismiss any student or family whose actions violate this policy and will adhere to the Escuela Americana Discipline System.

This policy is in accordance with article 57 of Ley Crecer Juntos.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J PARENT OBLIGATIONS AND CONDITIONS

A positive and constructive relationship between the School and Family Member (defined as the father, mother, legal guardian, or any person in charge of the student) is essential to the School’s educational purpose and responsibilities of the School towards its students. If any Family Member engages in behavior, communications, or interactions on or off-campus, that is disruptive, intimidating, overly aggressive, or reflects a loss of confidence in or disagreement with the School’s policies, methods of instruction or discipline, or otherwise interferes with the School’s safety procedures, responsibilities, or accomplishment of its educational purpose or program, the School reserves the right to dismiss or expel the father, mother, legal guardian or any other person in charge of the student. The School may also place restrictions on the involvement of any of the previously mentioned people for other reasons that the School deems appropriate.

Any determination under this clause shall be at the School’s sole discretion. The School also reserves the right to withdraw an offer of enrollment or re-enrollment at any time, to offer re-enrollment with conditions, and to void the Enrollment Contract.

J EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Escuela Americana supports an active program of intramural and interscholastic sports, clubs, and other organizations. Academic and sports teams compete with local schools and in out-of-country tournaments. These activities are designed to promote participation, interaction, and competition as well as contribute to the physical, social, and emotional development of students.

Please see the appropriate Division Section for explanations and offerings.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

Escuela Americana is a secular, non-religiously affiliated school that recognizes and supports freedom of creed for all. It is our practice, when time and space permit, to allow school parents of various faiths, to offer religious instruction classes on campus. The general guidelines for such activities are as follows:

Students will not be released from scheduled classes to receive religious instruction. If space is available and the schedule permits, the School premises may be made available outside of regularly established school hours for the religious instruction of students enrolled at Escuela Americana who have written parental approval for participation.

School media and communications services may not be used for communication of religious activities other than for participation notice during the registration at the start of the school year.

ESCUELA AMERICANA COMMUNICATION & CARE

J IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERS

Main School Receptionist 2528-8300

General Director’s Office 2528-8301

Divisions Elementary School 2528-8200

Secondary School 2528-8250 | 2528-8275

Athletic Office 2528-8231

Admissions 2528-8220

Business Office 2528-8313

Name & Address Updates / Database Information Management 2528-8390

Elementary School Sports Program 2528-8231

Bachillerato Diploma Program 2528-8285

PowerSchool Questions 2528-8300

Website Questions 2528-8322

Human Resources 2528-8307

External Relations / Alumni Office 2528-8305

Counselors Elementary School 2528-8206

Secondary School 2528-8276 | 2528-8282

Nurse Elementary School 2528-8210

Secondary School 2528-8279

Libraries Elementary School 2528-8211

Secondary School 2528-8289

Trojan Store 2528-8293

Main School Fax 2528-8321

Business Office Fax 2528-8320

Athletic Office Fax 2528-8238

PrintEA Department 2528-8366

Extension Program 2528-8375

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J

INFORMATION ROUTES IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

OTHER INFORMATION ROUTES

When possible, emergency information will be addressed through the local media (Television: TCS Canales 2, 4, and 6, and Radio Station YSKL 104.1 FM) if necessary. Parents should tune into either for further instructions.

The school will be in contact with the Parent Association to start the telephone tree system, and messages will be posted on Social Media, the website, and EA App.

SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

GENERAL DIRECTOR

General Coordinator. Remains near the Central Office in order to give clear or further instructions.

DIVISION DIRECTORS

Coordinate activities in several gathering areas. Maintains contact with General Director via walkie-talkie.

ASST. DIVISION DIRECTORS

Check that everyone has left the buildings and then report to the Division Director.

SECRETARIES

If directed, begin the parent telephone tree.

OFFICE ASSISTANTS

Check all bathrooms.

TEACHERS

Keep students constructively occupied as they wait for their parents to arrive. Do not let them go near the buildings.

J CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Escuela Americana has a formal child protection policy, please see the website for the complete document.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Social Emotional Learning is: “The process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.” - CASEL

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, goal-directed behavior, personal responsibility, decision making and optimistic thinking.

The Social Emotional Learning Program will include the school’s Community Values that guide our community, Yale’s RULER Approach, Cultures of Dignity, and Community and Culture.

The RULER approach is a school-wide (PK-12) approach developed at the Center for Emotional Intelligence, Yale University. RULER aims to increase emotional literacy and create a space where emotions become central to learning and teaching. RULER’s services help leaders lead, teachers teach, students learn, and families support students. RULER promotes the development of five key emotion skills: recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating.

Teachers and counselors provide age-appropriate social and emotional learning opportunities throughout the year in their classrooms, in Morning Meeting time (Elementary), and during Community Time (Secondary). SEL skills and practices will be continuously reviewed with the support of the Head of Social Emotional Programming, RULER coach, teachers, Counselors, and Administrators.

J ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

1. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the language and transmitted information/files via email, texting, instant messaging, chatting, blogging, or online social networking/posting are truthful, appropriate, and respectful.

2. No inappropriate electronic communication will be tolerated, including derogatory, obscene, or harassing messages. Messages of an abusive or harassing nature will be regarded as a major violation and will be subject to a disciplinary response.

3. Chain letters and spamming of any kind are prohibited (chain letters are defined as any email message asking you to pass information or messages on to other individuals or groups via email).

4. Instant messaging, texting, blogging, social networking, and participation in chat rooms are prohibited in class except as part of an assigned, in-class activity that is supervised by a faculty member or administrator for academic purposes.

5. Forwarding or sharing images of any emails received from members of the school to other parents or members of the community is considered inappropriate behavior for any member of the EA Community.

Unauthorized recording of teachers and administrators without explicit consent is strictly forbidden,encompassing classrooms, offices, meetings, or any school-related events where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. Anyone found in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, recording private conversations without the consent of all participants is strictly prohibited on school grounds, during school-sponsored activities, or using school-issued equipment, applying to all students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors.

SURVEYING OUR STUDENTS

EA believes in optional surveying within our community about a variety of topics in order to prepare programming for students and families. If you do not wish your students to participate in surveys about social-emotional well-being, happiness at school, chemical awareness, athletics, college counseling, service, or mental health awareness please contact the Director of the Division in writing via email to notify each school year.

J PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

In an effort to establish thorough and efficient communication regarding student academic and/or behavioral issues, scheduled conferences between Parents and Teachers will be held.

While school-initiated conferences are frequently scheduled, Escuela Americana encourages teachers, parents, and students to request conferences when appropriate or necessary whether they be for changes in or concerns about a student’s academic, social, emotional, and/or disciplinary well-being. Parents should call the Division Receptionist to schedule appointments.

With regard to scheduling a Teacher Conference, the School’s experience suggests the following guidelines to follow:

• When a classroom problem occurs, the first approach should be to contact (e-mail or phone call) the Classroom Teacher.

• A scheduled in-person conference may often accomplish very positive results. The student’s well being is placed in the spotlight, and the personal feelings of both the teacher and the parent play subordinate roles. By scheduling in advance, the teacher has the time to gather records and the current academic standing of the student and to allot an appropriate amount of time for an effective meeting.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J PARENTAL RIGHTS, SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS, AND SCHOOL RECORDS

Escuela Americana has adopted policies regarding communication with students’ parents consistent with the dictates of Salvadoran law. In general, parents, whether custodial or non-custodial, are entitled to copies of communications and/or report cards and grades concerning the academic standing and progress of their child.

In cases of divorce or separation of parents, Escuela Americana defines the primary parents as the parent with custodial care of the child. The custodial parent is not necessarily the parent who is responsible for paying the tuition. A non-custodial parent is considered the secondary contact person for all EA purposes. A non-custodial parent is entitled to receive copies of all school communications upon request.

A non-custodial parent’s rights to such school communications, and visitations, cannot be limited by the desires of the custodial parent whether verbal or written. The only legal and procedurally authorized way to limit the communications of school records or visitations is through a court order. In the event that a legal court order is presented to Escuela Americana concerning custody or communications with parents, Escuela Americana will comply wholly with the text of the order of the court. The School will not interpret court orders, so any court order will be complied with in regards to the text contained therein.

J COMMUNICATION OF GRADES WITH MINISTERIO DE EDUCACIÓN, CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA (MINEDUCYT)

EA must report all grades earned by students to the MINEDUCYT, and as soon as Summer School opportunities have finished. The minimum required passing grade for EA is 65 and the MINED passing grade is 5 (scale 1 – 10) for grades 1st – 9th and 6 (scale 1 – 10) for grades 10 and 11. If, for any special circumstance, the student does not accomplish the minimum grade for the School requirements for one or more subjects during the school year but accomplishes a passing grade for the MINED and he/she needs to take the course(s) again during the following school year, the new grade(s) the student obtains will be used for school purposes only. Grades that have been reported to the MINED cannot be changed retrospectively.

J SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

All students are required to leave campus by 3:30 pm or directly after a special event and/or activity. Supervision by school personnel will be provided as follows:

• Students on campus between the hours of 7:00 am to 3:30 pm

• Students must report directly to their Homeroom teacher when they arrive at school at 7:30 am.

• NO unsupervised playground time is permitted throughout the school day

• A school-sponsored event where a student is on school premises participating with authorization

• During the time the student is being transported by the school during a school-sponsored activity/ event

• Students at the ECC or Cafetorium gates during dismissal from 3:00 - 3:30 pm

• Under no circumstances may students be in the Secondary Field parking area without their Secondary sibling.

• The wooded areas of the campus are off limits at all times during or after school hours without teacher supervision

• A student at Escuela Americana may not leave campus during the school day without parental permission and the Division Director’s permission. The student must sign out at the Reception desk before leaving the campus, other than at the end of the day.

SECONDARY SCHOOL

• Students are authorized to be on campus between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:30 pm, unless they are participating in afterschool activities, sports, or other events

• Student pickup should take place immediately following dismissal and/or at the conclusion of after school activities, sports, or other events

• Students are expected to follow the campus procedures upon arrival

• Under no circumstances may Secondary Student be in the Athletic Field Parking Area without expressed permission from the Secondary Office

• A student at Escuela Americana may not leave campus during the school day without parental permission and the Division Director’s permission. The student must sign out at the Reception desk before leaving the campus, other than at the end of the day.

J HEALTH INTERVENTION

At Escuela Americana, our Students’ health and well-being is our foremost concern. We take every step to integrate a holistic approach to their physical, emotional, and social health as an essential complement to their academic success. An updated “Brief Medical History Form” (pink form) must be kept on file. The first form will be completed as part of the admission process. The form must be updated at the start of each school year. An updated Immunization record is part of their medical form and the form must be completed and signed by a physician. The school employs certified nurses for the purpose of attending to the health needs of students. A student who feels ill during the day must get a pass from his/her teacher and go directly to the Nurse’s Office. Students are encouraged to see the nurse during Break or Lunch times in order to limit the disruptions to their learning. During class, a student must notify his/ her teacher and obtain a pass, unless it is an emergency; otherwise, they will not be seen by the nurse.

The nurse will determine whether to send the student back to class or to have the student go home. Students are not allowed to loiter in the Nurse’s Office nor to use it as a lounge. The nurse will not diagnose illnesses or prescribe internally ingested medications. The nurse may dispense medications that are brought in with a physician’s prescription and permission for administration. The nurse may provide minor first aid for cuts/abrasions, insect bites/stings, and mild head or stomach aches. The nurse may dispense over-the-counter, non-prescription medication for headaches and stomach upset without written permission of the child’s physician, as long as consent has been given in the school’s Medical form by the parent (s) or guardian. Otherwise, parents must be contacted, and consent obtained in writing before any medication can be given.

If a child needs to take medication sent from home, he/she will have to bring a note from home stating precisely when the child should go to the nurse to take this medication. Children will not be allowed to go to the nurse to take medication without a note from their parents. Students may not carry any type of medication with them or self-administer it.

Medications administered during school hours should be kept to a minimum. The student in need of medication to sustain his/her attendance in school may have a chronic health condition, an acute health condition, or a special health care need requiring prescription medication administered during school hours.

This policy is intended to cover these specific types of situations:

• Any new medical condition should be reported to the Medical Office

• A student with an acute condition may be required to take medications such as antibiotics for short periods of time. Every effort should be made so that medication can be given at home, before or after school hours.

• If prescription medications must be taken during school hours, a doctor’s prescription must be submitted to the nurse and signed by the parent before the medication will be given by the school nurse or her designee.

• Students with pre-existing health conditions will be allowed to keep needed, prescribed medications such as inhalers, Epi-pens, and Insta-glucose with them in the classroom for immediate administration if deemed necessary. An updated medical prescription and written permission from the student’s physician and parents must be included in the school’s Medical form.

• At no time shall the student self-medicate with any kind of medication without prior authorization as stated above and communication regarding such self-medication with the Division Director, Counseling, and the School Nurse.

• At no time shall a student provide medication of any kind to another student.

• All prescription medications will be kept in a locked cabinet in the Nurse’s office.

• Individual medication administration records will be maintained for all students receiving medications, whether prescriptive or non-prescription. The date, time, dosage, and mode of administration, as well as the name of the person administering the medication, will be recorded. Parents will be properly notified of any medication administered.

• EA wheelchairs are available on school property for emergency use only. In cases where a doctor prescribes a wheelchair, parents will need to make arrangements for a wheelchair for their child’s private use.

• The Ministry of Health has additional information regarding reporting requirements.

• The School will abide by the provisions of Article 19 of Ley Crecer Juntos in cases of medical emergencies that endanger the life or may cause irreparable damage to the student in case of innaction.

The nurse and teachers must report chronically sick children or any health-related concerns to the Medical Office. If deemed necessary for the student’s well-being and the safety of others, the parents will be contacted and asked to have a physician or health professional evaluate their children.

CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

The School recognizes its obligation to protect the rights of individuals with infectious diseases and to provide a safe environment for students, staff, and the public.

It is the policy of the Board to address all infectious disease-related issues in the context of overall human relationships and to establish a formal Committee for case-by-case consideration of infected individuals associated with the School. This Committee will consist of the General Director, a member of the Board, a member of the teaching staff, and the Medical Office.

J STUDENT ILLNESS GUIDELINES

The intention of this policy is to provide a healthy and safe environment for all of our students. Some illnesses and situations require a child to be absent from school to prevent the spread of infection to other children and to allow the child time to rest, recover and be treated for the illness. In order to help keep our children healthy, Escuela Americana requires adherence to the guidelines of this policy.

Children will not be allowed to attend school or school-related activities if they have anything contagious such as, but not limited to the following symptoms/diseases:

FEVER

May return to school when fever free (under 100ºF or 38ºC degrees) for 24 hours, without medication.

DIARRHEA / VOMITING

May return when symptom free for 24 hours.

STREP THROAT

May return after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment and no fever for 24 hours.

CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE)

May return 24 hours after treatment begins and eyes are free of discharge.

HEAD LICE

May return after treatment and removal of all live lice and nits from hair.

IMPETIGO / STAPH / METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA)

May return 24 hours after treatment starts; the wound must be covered with dressing taped on all 4 sides.

RINGWORM

May return after treatment begins; area should be covered while in school for the first 48 hours of treatment.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

(SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO - INFLUENZA, CHICKENPOX, MEASLES, MUMPS, PERTUSSIS, MENINGITIS, MONONUCLEOSIS):

May return when cleared by their medical provider.

If a medical provider recommends a student to stay home a certain number of days, the parent/guardian must comply with this recommendation. If a student arrives at school with symptoms, or during the school day begins to show symptoms indicative of a condition listed above, the school nurse will contact the parent/guardian so that the student can be picked up as soon as possible.

The parent/guardian needs to maintain direct contact with the school and the student’s teacher if the child is diagnosed with any communicable disease so the school can take appropriate steps to protect the entire student population.

Students who have been absent three or more consecutive days or have a chronic medical condition must provide the office with a physician’s note.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

The Division Head may approve pre-arranged absences for extraordinary situations where alternative avenues to satisfy attendance/academic requirements can be provided to accommodate student needs.

The Escuela Americana attendance policy states that students must be in attendance for 90% of the school year to receive academic credit, they may not have more than nine (9) absences for semesterlong courses and eighteen (18) absences for year-long courses. Both excused and unexcused absences contribute to this total. In the event a student exceeds a 10% absence limit each such case will be reviewed by a Division Director and a recommendation regarding promotion or retention will be made to the General Director. The decision of the General Director is final. Warning Notices will be communicated after students accumulate ten (10) absences and then fifteen (15) absences. In the case of semesterlong courses, a Final Notice will be sent after seven (7) absences which will serve as the Final Warning. These letters must be signed by the parents and returned to the attendance secretary. (See division section of Parent/Student Handbook for additional information.)

Attending school-sponsored events that occur during school hours are not considered absences. Leaving school for any part of the school day is considered an absence, as well as missing a full class period during that day for any non-excused reason. There are two categories for absences:

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Absences due to illness, participation in school-sponsored activities, and participation in government-recognized events in representation of the student’s country are generally considered excused.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Any other absence will be considered an unexcused absence, including family trips, nonschool sponsored events, or non-government sponsored activities. If the school is not notified of the reason for an absence, it will be considered unexcused.

Medical, dental or other appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours whenever possible. If students need to be absent for the day, arrive late, leave early, or leave and return during the school day, permission to do so must be requested the day before, or earlier, from the Division Director. This should be done only for medical reasons or family emergencies. Students who are absent from the school day may not attend after-school sporting events or practices.

J PROTOCOL FOR SICK STUDENT

A student who shows signs of a transmissible infectious disease

The main goal is to avoid the spread of contagion.

• The teacher or staff identifies a sick student, then excuses the student from the classroom, or area within the School. Then alerts the Medical Office.

• EA Medical Office will follow MINSAL guidelines and if necessary will send the students home.

• EA will clean and disinfect areas that the ill student occupied. Ventilate the area, wait as long as possible before cleaning to let possible virus particles settle (at least several hours), and use personal protective equipment (including any protection needed for the cleaning and disinfection products) to reduce any risk of infection.

• The Medical Office will share with the parent the requirements for returning to school.

Learn more in Appendix 1

J SPECIAL CASES OF SEVERE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND THREAT TO SELF/THREAT TO OTHERS

The School takes reports of concerns with mental health seriously and prioritizes student well-being. If a student discloses thoughts related to suicide or harm to others, it will notify the parents or legal guardians immediately as part of the school’s “Duty to Warn” Counseling protocol. If in School, the parents will be called to a meeting with the counselor. The student will be required to wait in the Counseling Office until the parent arrives. The student will be required to leave campus accompanied by the parent or legal guardian. If in distance learning, the counselor will notify the parent or legal guardian via telephone.

In such cases, the School will require that the student be evaluated accordingly by a mental health professional. The student may not be able to return to campus until the parents or legal guardians present a medical clearance that he/she is safe to return to campus to ensure his/her safety as well as the safety of others. The same applies in case a student is scheduled to travel with a School delegation, such as AASCA, France, or Leadership Experience, amongst others. The student may not participate in the trip until the medical clearance is presented. Student absence in the meantime will be marked as excused.

J INSURANCE

Accident and tuition guarantee policies are available for all students. For further information, parents should contact the Business Office.

J EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

GENERAL PLAN FOR FIRE OR EARTHQUAKE

In case of an emergency or a simulated drill (indicated by the alarm being sounded), students, teachers, and ALL other persons in the building(s) must follow this procedure. Exact evacuation routes have been devised and posted in each room. Everyone should be familiar with these routes.

• EARTHQUAKE

Students and teachers should protect themselves beneath or crouching beside their desks or tables to avoid injury from falling glass or ceiling tiles. The teacher should conduct a quick inspection to establish the safety of the room and follow the next steps:

1. Walk quickly, quietly, and in an orderly manner to the Elementary School sports field. Students should not stand still in the halls waiting for the teacher to come out and lead the line, as this causes delay. Students in the Secondary athletic area should assemble in a clear area of the field and wait for direction from an Administrator.

2. Adults should leave doors unlocked.

3. Teachers must take their emergency folders, instruct students to remain silent in their assigned area and take roll-call upon arrival. Any absent students should be accounted for and reported to the Database Collection Point.

4. Students in the Cafetorium or at recess should line up and follow their Supervisor’s instructions.

5. Those in the bathroom or hallways should walk directly to the Elementary School sports field, where they should line up with their classmates.

6. All administrative personnel should take their class lists with them. Those who have megaphones should take them.

7. Special care must be taken by teachers to see that physically injured children are taken to the field.

8. The “Pasarela” area is not to be used during any emergency. Students on the Athletic Field side should remain there and report to the soccer field area.

9. It is very important that all drills be treated seriously. All school personnel must go out to the sports field, and insist that visitors do the same.

• LOCKDOWN

In the case where there is an intruder or any other threat to the campus that requires school action, the following lockdown procedures will be used. An announcement of a special code will be made. That means one of the following three conditions exists:

• There is a threat outside of the school building.

• There is an intruder on campus.

• There is the need to clear the campus or a particular area for emergency response.

When LOCKDOWN NOTIFICATION is announced, the following steps are to be taken immediately:

• Building administrator will order and announce the special notification.

• Immediately direct all students, staff, and visitors into the nearest classroom or secured space. Teachers should scan outside of their classrooms quickly and bring any students or other members of our school community in the area into their classrooms.

• Classes that are outside of the building SHOULD NOT enter the building. Groups of students outside will seek a safe, out-of-sight location, far away from the buildings as appropriate.

• All classroom, office, and learning spaces doors should be closed and locked until the special code is announced.

• Move people away from windows and doors. Turn off lights and pull down blackout curtains.

• DO NOT respond to anyone at the door until the special code is announced.

• Keep out of sight.

• Building administrator will announce another special code to end the LOCKDOWN.

A LOCKDOWN may be initiated in non-threatening circumstances to keep people away from areas where there may be a medical emergency or disturbance. Immediately following the incident, messages will be sent to the families via the phone tree system to explain what has taken place.

The special code will be given by the General Director or his/her Designate in his/her absence and communicated through the Division Offices.

In all cases, faculty will use their best professional judgment with the safety of their students as their primary concern. If faculty and students find themselves at a distance from a building at the time of a lockdown, the faculty member should find the closest and most convenient space to gather the students, out of sight, and await further instructions. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE BUILDING IN A LOCKDOWN ALERT.

IN CASE OF AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY

In an earthquake, electricity would most likely be cut off, and consequently, the alarm would not ring. Individual teachers would have the responsibility of directing students to take cover under their desks or crouching beside their desks, followed by evacuation. If the teacher feels an evacuation is appropriate, be aware that planned routes might be blocked or dangerous. Teachers must use discretion in following or changing these routes as they lead their classes to the sports field.

Depending on the severity of the emergency, the General Director or administrator on duty will indicate whether students will be dismissed from campus and the communication procedure to parents will be activated.

Students will be discharged as parents arrive at either the Secondary School Lobby or Secondary Field Entrance. To avoid confusion, a bilingual employee will be available at each exit. Parents with multiple children might be required to pick up their children at more than one exit. To ensure the success of this dismissal plan and control of traffic, parents will not be allowed to enter the school grounds.

Teachers must stay with their class until released by the Division Director. Students who are not picked up will remain under the supervision of the Division Director or assigned teacher.

In case of an emergency, students with walkout passes will not be allowed to leave the campus through the pedestrian exits.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

EMERGENCY GUIDE

Instructions for evacuating students by automobile in an Emergency Situation. Please see the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt9VMbFvvFo&feature=youtu.be for a detailed simulation of evacuating students by automobile in case of an emergency.

J SPECIAL NOTES TO PARENTS

The safety of your children and the staff is critical to Escuela Americana. It is scary as a parent when you hear things like “bomb threat.” But neither your child nor this school nor any society is well served by panic reactions to natural disasters or provocations like threats. We always get the best information and the best advice to guide our actions, especially regarding safety issues. If we need you to pick up your child, be assured we will contact you. If the threat is a hoax, as almost all are, then it is better for your child to simply go forward with the rest of the school day as we get about our business.

In the case of an evacuation, and particularly with younger students, we typically will not tell them that there has been a threat. We handle older students a little differently, but younger students usually lack the maturity to handle such information and simply get very, very upset. They are typically told that it is simply a drill, which, in fact, is usually the case. We will tell parents what is going on, but we ask that you treat that information with judgment and perspective.

Please note that the use of cell phones by students during evacuations is highly discouraged until specifically authorized by School Officials. Cell phone usage by students during an emergency interferes with vital communications and directions to students, and cell phone radio waves can cause particular problems in the event of a bomb threat.

In the event of an emergency, as soon as safety, order, and accountability are established, students will be permitted to use their cell phones to contact their parents. Parents, please do not call your child’s cell phone during an evacuation. We will have them contact you, or contact you ourselves, as soon as possible in the event of a real emergency.

OTHER PRECAUTIONS

In the event of gunfire and/or explosion, all individuals in classrooms are instructed to sit against the wall, away from windows, and await further instructions from an Administrator.

J HAZARDOUS WEATHER POLICY

Lightning is a life-threatening weather condition. For the safety of the EA community, all outdoor activities will be canceled immediately when there is thunder or lightning – whether it is raining or not.

In planning for outdoor events where the possibility of thunderstorms exists, event planners should be prepared with alternate plans for the event. It is the responsibility of the adults working with an event to ensure that when thunder is heard or lightning is seen that the activity is ended and that those in attendance move to safety until the storm passes.

Safe shelters in a thunderstorm include areas under roofs and automobiles; trees or sitting in the stands are not safe shelters. An event may resume 30 minutes after the last lightning is viewed or thunder is heard.

Rain unaccompanied by a thunderstorm does not necessitate the cancellation of an EA event. The advisability of continuing an event when raining is a determination that will be made by the Administrator or responsible school personnel at the event.

In the case of a thunderstorm at a time of school dismissal, students will be retained within the school (including classrooms and other safe areas) until the storm passes and students can be dismissed safely. In such an event, the School gates will be closed and no cars will be allowed in or out until the storm passes.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

ESCUELA AMERICANA FACILITIES

J FOOD SERVICE / CAFETERIA

The main goal of Escuela Americana’s food services is to contribute to the student’s overall health and well-being so they can be more productive academically and in their physical activities. Our food service offers balanced, nutritious meals within an accessible price range and in a comfortable environment. Our cafeteria services will offer daily food options that students can choose from. There are two main cafeterias, one serves the Elementary School and is located in the Elementary School Cafetorium. In Secondary School there are two cafeterias, located in the 8th-grade and 6th grade building areas.

Students should purchase items from the cafeteria only during authorized times, namely, during break and lunch times. If a purchase is necessary at any other time during the school day, the student must obtain written permission from the appropriate Division Administrator. Purchases in the Cafeteria will only be allowed using the School ID. Students will not be allowed to just give their ID number to the cashier, they must present their ID.

J IMPORTANCE OF ON-CAMPUS ATTENDANCE

At Escuela Americana we believe schools should provide a safe, success-oriented, and caring environment. Research shows that there is an irrefutable connection between classroom attendance and achievement and learning. School success is predicated on three basic principles: attendance, participation, and involvement in the classroom. Class discussions, experiments, labs, and research are just a few examples of classroom activities that cannot be replicated through make-up work. The student must be in class to experience these types of activities. Therefore, every effort should be made to see that students attend every class every day of the school year.

J CAMPUS LIMITS

A student at Escuela Americana may not leave campus during the school day without parental permission and the Division Director’s permission. The student must sign out in the Division Office before leaving the campus, other than at the end of the day.

Campus limits are generally known as within all walls and fences surrounding the EA structure.

Regarding the upper parking lot, students are not to be in the parking lot during school hours, including the time between classes and lunch periods. Students who need to go to the parking lot during school hours must first obtain permission from the Division Director. Wooded areas around the upper field and

other parts of the campus, as well as maintenance areas behind and around buildings, are off-limits to students at all times.

The penalty for being off campus without proper permission is a Major Infraction and may result in long term suspension.

The penalty for being in the parking lot without proper permission is a Major Infraction.

ACCESS TO CAMPUS AFTER SCHOOL

It is strictly prohibited for students to return to campus once they have left for any reason, including but not limited to breaks, emergencies, or personal reasons without permission from the Division or Athletics Director. This policy will be enforced through a variety of means, including monitoring of campus entrances and exits, regular checks of student attendance, and communication with students and their families. Any student found in violation of this policy may face disciplinary action.

FOOD DELIVERY

Food delivery is strictly prohibited during school hours, including breakfast, lunch, and any scheduled breaks. Any exceptional circumstance must be approved by the Division Director.

All after school hours deliveries must be inspected by security before any student has access to them.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J CARE OF THE CAMPUS

The entire EA community is responsible for the care and cleanliness of our campus, not just our maintenance and cleaning service teams. Intentional or careless abuse of property is not allowed. Students will be required to help clean up and maintain the appearance of the School. In some cases where items are defaced or vandalized, students will be responsible for payment to repair or replace the damaged item(s).

Certain occasions may call for large banners or class projects to be displayed in areas other than the ones designated. In such cases, permission from the Division Director is required. The maintenance staff will be available to help assist with the placement of the banner or project. Outdoor signs and posters are not to be displayed on any walls or buildings without the prior approval of the Division Director. There are restrictions as to the content, size, number, and duration of the display.

J ITEMS FROM HOME / PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT

Items from home often create a nuisance or undue distraction at school. Personal entertainment items such as (but not limited to): headphones, playing cards, toys, computer games, skateboards, bicycles, and other riding equipment are not permitted at school without prior approval. Any items that are brought from home to school for an approved purpose should be clearly marked with the student’s name and returned home at the end of the day or project display.

Students are not permitted to bring personal entertainment systems on campus without permission. The reasons for this rule are basic. Those items are often easily broken, easily taken, and run counter to our expectations for student interactions during the course of the school day. Students who use such items in transit to the School should safely store them before getting out of the bus, van or car. The School is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

If observed on campus, those items are subject to confiscation. In the case of confiscation, the item will be turned in to the student’s respective Division Office to be stored in a secure location and the parents will be notified immediately to pick up the item.

Sanctions will be applied to the students for violating this policy and ongoing violations will face escalating consequences. EA is not responsible for the condition or any damage done to confiscated items. Confiscated items can be reclaimed from the Division Office though, in the case of patterns of violation of this rule, the item will not be returned until a meeting between the student, his or her parents, and Division Administrators takes place.

In general, pets are not allowed on campus. Approval from the General Director is required.

In addition, students should not bring large sums of money or other items of value to the School. In any of these above cases, the School cannot and will not assume responsibility for any items brought to school.

Possession of any personal items without authorization will result in confiscation by any Escuela Americana personnel and will be given to the appropriate Division Director’s secretary. Confiscated items will remain in the office for at least 24 hours before being returned to one of the student’s parents.

• LOST AND FOUND

Please put your child’s name on all personal items that your child will bring to school: gym bags, sneakers, clothes, lunch boxes, etc. All items found in the school are kept in the Lost and Found in the closest Division Office as well as the Athletic Office. All unclaimed items, including school uniforms, will be donated to charity at the end of each quarter.

The School will not assume responsibility for the lost personal effects, but students taking items from the Lost and Found that don’t belong to them and without the owner’s permission will be subject to disciplinary consequences.

J TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES

Escuela Americana is committed to preparing its students for working, living, and learning as modern leaders and since what is considered high-tech, top-of-the-line today, is often passed next month, we seek to create an environment where students, faculty, and staff, effectively and responsibly, utilize innovative technology. Technology enhances the way we teach, learn, and communicate with one another and the rest of the world here at Escuela Americana.

Excellence in technology education promotes higher-order thinking and problem-solving skills, motivates students, and provides alternative pathways to learning. Faculty members benefit from the exchange of new methodologies, resources, and ideas to implement the curriculum.

Technologically, the entire campus has Internet access. Each classroom connects to the school’s network. Students and faculty have access to major research programs by accessing numerous magazines, newspapers, and articles. The Secondary School has Digital Design computer labs, where specialized programs are used for instruction.

Every student from 6th through 12th Grade must have their own personal electronic device. The school requires the following specific devices: Macbook, laptop, or Chromebook.

The minimum requirements expected from the device to ensure student learning is:

• An 11-inch-diagonal screen.

• A protective cover.

• Properly labeled with a battery life of 4 hours minimum.

• A keyboard.

• Camera, and wifi capability.

• The ability to open, download, and edit text documents, PDFs, multimedia presentations, charts, and images.

• The ability to open, record, and edit videos.

• Access digital content from any learning management system.

• Capable of performing online assessments and following online courses.

• Allows class note-taking

Students in Grades 3-5 will have access to Google Classroom for their weekly assignments. It is highly recommended they have access to their own device for their weekly homework to complete these assignments.

The Parents or Legal Guardian acknowledge and accept that the use of cellular phones and electronic devices allowed by the School for the functions and uses indicated above are the responsibility of the student and that the School is not responsible for the loss or damage of such devices.

GOOGLE CLASSROOM ONLINE LEARNING COMMUNITY

Google Classroom is an innovative learning management system for creating, hosting, and editing online learning resources. It is a secure, worry-free platform that EA has adopted as a mechanism for online learning and to facilitate communication between teachers and students.

The Parent Portal through MyEA allows authorized parents and guardians to log in to their accounts and review all teachers’ communication. This may include access to Zoom links, schedules, Newsletters, Announcements, and/or highlights.

We encourage parents to engage with their young learners and maintain awareness of their upcoming work. For parents to access the Parent Portal they need to log in to MyEA Platform.

POWERSCHOOL AND GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

PowerSchool is a web-based student information system that EA has adopted as a mechanism to facilitate communication between the School, its faculty, students, and parents. Parents can access their child’s report card through his/her child’s account, also report cards will be sent to parents by email.

J LIBRARY AND MEDIA CENTER

The Library Media Centers (LMCs) operate within a collaborative learning community of students, teachers, administrators, and parents to provide students with the information literacy skills essential to becoming lifelong, independent learners. The LMCs are organized around a student-centered program that provides authentic, creative learning activities that support the teaching process and a broad range of support services that foster competencies in acquiring and using information and ideas, as well as reading for pleasure.

The Escuela Americana Library Media Centers are housed in separate facilities, which are centrally located in the Elementary School and Secondary School. The Elementary School library serves students in grades PK through 5th. The Secondary Library serves grades 6-12. Each Library Media Center has been designed to meet the needs of its users promoting activities such as seminars and exhibits, and providing the use of materials and equipment.

The materials include excellent collections of general reference materials, which are regularly updated. There is also online access to licensed resources (Encyclopedia Britannica, SIRS Mandarin, and Grolier) In general, the curriculum is supported for each grade level with resources found in the library.

Students are encouraged to use the library as often as possible to read, study, and research information in order to become independent learners and users of information. Books and library resources must be used responsibly. Any damaged or lost materials must be replaced by the student or family.

Students with overdue books, unpaid fines, or any other library obligation are ineligible for reenrollment or to receive transcripts until all books have been returned, lost books paid for, fines paid, and any other obligation met.

J USE OF VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

As a general rule, no one may take photos or videos while on the grounds of Escuela Americana without authorization from the school and full consent from those being photographed, including digital imagery or video. There must be a valid educational rationale for such technology to be allowed on campus, such as accomplishing a particular assignment for a course here at Escuela Americana. EA reserves the right to use cameras and other surveillance methods on the campus to ensure school safety and security.

Only authorized personnel have access to surveillance equipment on campus. Surveillance footage will only be used internally and will not be shared.

J ACCESS TO PHONE

Elementary and Secondary 6 - 8 students are not allowed to have or use cellphones or smartwatches of any type or brand during school hours. Students who decide to bring their cellphones or smartwatch must keep them off AND in their backpacks at all times upon their arrival to school until 3:10 pm.

The Administration has access to telephones in the office for emergency cases such as illness or injury. Students are not to make personal calls to request their forgotten homework, books, projects, P.E. uniforms, lunch boxes, etc., and parents should not call or text students during school hours. All communication between students and parents during school hours must go through the Elementary or Secondary Office.

Messages from home will be delivered to students in class when there is an emergency or a crisis.

We appreciate your efforts to make daily arrangements with your child whenever possible before he/ she arrives at school in the morning.

J ACCESS TO PRINTEA

PrintEA provides printing services for all of its divisions and departments. Students can have their work printed at PrintEA for a fee and paid only through their IDs with the Trojan Bucks.

J TRAFFIC REGULATIONS

The morning and after-school traffic situation can become hectic at times. Patience and politeness are requested from all drivers.

If the following procedures are followed, the traffic flow will be faster and more efficient. Also, if you send your children to school with a driver, please inform the driver of these rules.

• Make sure that your vehicle displays the school sticker.

• The speed limit on campus is 5 miles per hour (10 km per hour).

• Please obey the people controlling traffic. They are there to help avoid traffic problems.

• Do not park in restricted areas.

• Drivers at the Secondary Field parking lot should wait in the designated area or inside the vehicle.

• Armed individuals are not allowed inside school grounds.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE

• Please leave and pick up PK3, PK4, Kinder, and Grade 1 students near the Early Childhood Center (ECC) entrance, via Lane B (the middle lane)

• Students in Grades 2 - 5 should be let off at the Cafetorium door. Pull up as far as possible before you stop to let children out. That way several cars can let off children at once. Enter via Lane A (the curb lane).

• Do not cut in line. Please maintain your position in line.

• Please allow teachers and staff to pass in front of you when they are entering the teacher’s parking lot.

• During pick-up time, be sure to have your name sign visible or give the walkie-talkie attendant the name of your child.

• Do not get out of your car. Your child will come to you.

• For the safety of children and teachers, no parents should drop off or pick up students in the faculty parking lot.

MAIN SECONDARY ENTRANCE

• When dropping off in the Main Lobby Area, please ask your drivers to pull forward in the main drop-off area before they let the students out. If cars pull around to the speed bump in front of the “Caja” before letting students out, the number of cars we can move efficiently, quickly through the drop-off will increase dramatically.

• Please do not stop in front of the stairs of the Middle School building to drop off students, they should pull all the way around as directed by the security.

AV. EL ALMENDRO ENTRANCE

• The gate at Avenida El Almendro by the Pasarela will be open only in the mornings as an alternative entrance to drop off students.

• Vehicles must enter through the gate and follow the street until they get to the main lobby where they can drop off the students.

• The exit will be through Calle 3 only.

ATHLETIC FIELD ENTRANCE /GYM PARKING LOT RULES

Only students in grades 10-12 are allowed to drive and park on campus. All students wishing to drive to school and park must complete an application and be approved by the Athletic Department.

Students will be allowed to park in the Gym Parking lot area after submitting a copy of their driver’s permit. Parking on campus is a privilege, not a right. Please keep this in mind and abide by the following guidelines and rules:

1. Students must possess a valid driver’s license.

2. After completing mandatory procedures, students will be required to buy a sticker that must be displayed on the car’s front windshield at all times.

3. The green spaces numbered 1-55 have been assigned for seniors. The blue spaces numbered 1-30 have been assigned for underclassmen.

4. On a “first-come, first-served” basis, please park only in the areas that have been assigned to your grade level: green or blue spaces.

5. Respect guards and authorized personnel.

6. Inside parking lot facilities, respect traffic signals and follow the traffic lines for proper entering and exiting of the parking lot.

7. Please keep in mind that the speed limit on campus is 10 km per hour (5 miles per hour).

8. Students are not to be in the parking lot during school hours, including the time between classes and lunch periods. Students who need to go to the parking lot during school hours must first obtain permission from the Secondary School office.

9. Should students not abide by the school’s parking and traffic rules, they may be denied the privilege to park on the Escuela Americana premises.

10. Late arrivals: Students must report to the Division Office to obtain the Late Arrival slip that will allow them to enter class.

J RIDE SHARING (UBER) POLICY FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS

While not endorsing the practice, the school recognizes there may be instances when families find it convenient for students to use a third-party ridesharing service (e.g., Uber). The decision to do so rests exclusively with each family, and parents are strongly encouraged to review the operating policies and safety records of these services prior to student use.

Escuela Americana does not have a relationship or agreement with any ridesharing service and will not screen, monitor, or otherwise review or assess the safety of any ridesharing service or any ridesharing driver or vehicle. If you allow your child to be dropped off or picked up at school by a ridesharing service, you expressly acknowledge that Escuela Americana and its employees have no responsibility for your decision and have no responsibility or liability to you or your child related to the ridesharing service.

With that said, any parents who decide to allow their child to be dropped off or picked up at school or at any school-related activity by a ridesharing service, and any student that is dropped off or picked up at school or any school-related activity by a ridesharing service, must meet the following requirements:

• The School must be notified in advance of the day(s) in which the student will use these services.

• The Parent/Guardian must sign a permission slip/release form authorizing the use of this service by their child(ren).

The Geo locations for Uber pick up are: “Track Escuela Americana” and Secondary School Lobby entrance “Escuela Americana”.

CARPOOL

Due to the amount of cars visiting campus each day, many families have organized carpool arrangements to help multiple families and students arrive/leave together each day. Please communicate the names of the parents/drivers your child(ren) can carpool with the Division Offices at the start of each school year. If you need to update the names of those permitted to transport your child(ren) please contact your Division’s Office.

J LATE ARRIVALS & TARDINESS

All students are expected to be at school by 7:50 am and required to be in class by 8:00 am. Any pattern of late arrivals or tardiness will have consequences that escalate over time. After 4 late arrivals to school (tardies) the student(s) will have 1 absence. Specific consequences are spelled out in each division section of the handbook.

J PARENTS AND VISITORS ON CAMPUS

In order to ensure the safety and security of our students while on campus, we will be implementing new campus entrance measures when parents and visitors want to come into our campus both during school hours and after school hours. Every parent will be issued a digital Escuela Americana ID that includes a personalized QR code that can be easily downloaded into the cell phone. As parents come into the campus, they must show their Digital ID and their QR code will be scanned to allow entry. Visitors will be issued a Visitor ID that must be visibly worn at all times while on campus.

Parent volunteers and visitors are welcome on the EA campus. However, for security and safety reasons we ask that visitors and parent volunteers call ahead to the Division or Main Office to arrange their visit. Parent volunteers must be authorized, and admitted upon presentation of their digital ID. Invited guests must be authorized, admitted, and given a visitor pass by the security personnel that must be visibly worn at all times while on campus.

Parents are welcome on campus, but should not visit teachers’ classrooms unless they have an appointment or have been invited previously by the teacher. Also, parents should avoid congregating in groups on campus as this practice can affect the use of space by students.

J FORMER STUDENTS ON CAMPUS

EA is a welcoming community for all current and former members of the community. However, maintaining an environment conducive to good order and learning is important in any educational setting.

Therefore, we do not allow former students on campus during the class day or during athletic practices and after-school activities unless specifically invited to be on campus by the Division Office, by the Alumni Office or to conduct official business with the school.

Any current student who would like to invite a former EA student or a relative visiting the country to come to school must submit a request from their parent(s) and must receive approval from the Division Office before bringing the former student to school.

All Alumni will be issued a digital ID that must be presented to enter our campus and are expected to follow all EA rules while on campus. Failure to comply will result in the loss of the privilege to be on campus. Alumni may not bring friends who are not EA community members to use our facilities.

Alumni have the privilege of using Escuela Americana’s track and field under the following schedules:

MONDAY - FRIDAY

5:00 to 7:00 a.m 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Alumni can use the Fitness Center during special hours by paying a $150 yearly fee.

FITNESS CENTER SCHEDULES

MONDAY - FRIDAY

5:00 to 7:00 a.m

6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

SATURDAYS

6:00 a.m. to 12:00 m.

Parking is available at the Athletics entrance only upon presentation of the digital ID.

J ESCUELA AMERICANA EXTENSION (EAX)

Escuela Americana Extension (EAX) encompasses the following areas: Languages and Continued Education. EAX has a team of experts that works in the creation of new services and the implementation of a wide range of courses offered in each program. EAX offers courses in a variety of computer systems and programs to individuals, institutions, and businesses. It also offers continued education courses to EA staff and various courses to other EA community members such as parents.

The EAX Language Program offers in-house and off-campus English and Spanish courses to individuals and businesses. The English teachers are part-time staff members of EA. The Program offers courses ranging from Beginner proficiency levels to Conversational English and Spanish. Classes are offered on a cyclical basis and serve students ages 6 to adults.

THE CONTINUED EDUCATION PROGRAM

Offers EA Faculty and the community a rich array of educational opportunities via services, training, seminars, and workshops, as well as web-based learning. This program enhances the use of English through technology and ESP (English for Specific Purposes) for Call Centers and provides an assessment instrument to certify the English level of our customers and business personnel.

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ESCUELA AMERICANA DESIRABLE BEHAVIOR

J CODE OF CONDUCT

Escuela Americana’s Code of Conduct is the basis upon which we construct our lives in this learning community. The Code informs our actions and our policies in fulfilling our educational mission. The Code of Conduct is not, however, a disciplinary system. It is a set of expectations and values that frames our lives together.

We proudly commit ourselves to: Uphold honesty, responsibility and respect, Reject meanness; ease other’s pain, Listen to others; work together, avoid offensive behavior, Use appropriate language, tell the truth; be genuine. Overcome the temptation to steal or cheat; Act honorably, decide when to follow and when to lead; Be a positive influence on others, Be patient, consider consequences, and Care for our school and community.

It is and shall remain a privilege, not a right, to be an Escuela Americana community member. Therefore, I accept, understand, and agree to live within the spirit of the Code of Conduct. If my behavior puts my well-being or the well-being of others at risk, or has a negative consequence for our Escuela Americana, the school has a right to intervene.

J HONOR CODE

Embedded in the Code of Conduct and an important part of Escuela Americana’s history is the Honor Code. The EA Honor Code is a clear statement of fundamental expectations that forms the foundation of academic and personal integrity. Compliance with the EA Honor Code is a fundamental expectation for all EA community members, and failure to comply with it will result in disciplinary sanctions. The EA Honor Code states:

I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I tolerate those who do.

J COMMUNITY VALUES

J BRINGING DISREPUTE TO EA

EA has a long and rich tradition of educational excellence and outstanding citizenship among its students, alumni, parents, faculty and staff, Board, and the wider community. Actions by any member of the community that bring discredit or shame to EA endanger the good name and reputation of the school and all of its members. In such a situation and following this Handbook, the Bylaws, and other legal provisions, EA reserves the right to apply sanctions up to and including separation from the Community.

Bringing disrepute to EA can be an issue when students exercise poor judgment in violating school expectations - for example smoking or consuming alcohol, or other negative behaviors, including social media representation, on or off-campus.

Students are reminded not to wear a school uniform or other school items in any manner could be perceived as negatively representing the school.

J STUDENTS SELLING ON CAMPUS

Students are not permitted to buy, sell, or barter with their personal effects or any type of items on campus at any time. This includes items/tickets for non-school-sponsored events.

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J BULLYING POLICY

At Escuela Americana (“EA”) we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students, with an education based in tolerance, mutual understanding and solidarity. Bullying is strictly prohibited, and we are dedicated to promoting respectful behavior, empathy, and positive relationships among our students.

We are dedicated to fostering an optimal learning environment for all students, within a caring and safe community. Our mission revolves around promoting our community values such as responsibility, integrity, courage, and kindness. As part of our commitment, we strive to create a comprehensive educational program that encompasses students, staff, and parents, focusing on recognizing and preventing bullying incidents.

Bullying incidents will be addressed seriously with appropriate interventions determined by Division Directors. The intervention process will include age-appropriate consequences for the bully/ bullies and support for the student who has been harmed.

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by one (or more) person(s) toward another that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is typically repeated multiple times. Bullying may inflict serious harm or distress on the targeted youth which would be determined based on the professional judgment of the school-based team.

There is a “power imbalance” between students (i.e., one student is older or larger than the other, one student speaks a language better than the other, one student has many friends while the other may have few, etc.)

There is a “one-sided” quality to the description, that is only one child (or group of children) is doing something negative, and the other child is not. The action or behavior has a repetitive nature (although not always to the same person). A case of repeated bullying will only be determined once the first incident has been reported and classified as bullying. It is done intentionally or with deliberate intent to hurt or harm.

Refer to Appendix 2 to learn more about types of bullying

WHY IS BULLYING HARMFUL?

Some people think bullying is just part of growing up and a way for young people to learn to stick up for themselves. However, bullying can and does make young people feel lonely, unhappy, frightened, and even sick. It makes them feel unsafe and think there must be something wrong with them. They lose confidence and may not want to attend school.

To learn about the difference between being rude, mean, or bullied, refer to Appendix 3.

EXPECTATIONS

EA aims to create a school community where students feel safe, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. By creating a partnership between parents and the school, we can cultivate an environment that nurtures growth, empathy, and kindness, leaving no room for bullying.

EA’s Role in Addressing Bullying and Harassment

• Creating an Inclusive Environment: At EA, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and promotes acceptance. While the school cannot mandate friendships, we are dedicated to educating and promoting dignity and kindness among our students, both inside and outside of school.

• Responsible Digital Citizenship: We emphasize responsible digital citizenship, urging students to use technology platforms and social media responsibly. We encourage parents to delay introducing their children to social media platforms as long as possible after 8th grade and to monitor the use of these platforms with parental control. The school has a strict phone policy on campus for the student community. Online bullying or harassment is treated with the same seriousness as in-person incidents. The school does not typically intervene in social media incidents that occur outside of school hours unless they have a negative impact on student safety or the overall school environment.

Refer to the Electronic Device section to learn more about EA’s phone use policy and social media policy.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

We provide ongoing education to students, staff, and parents/guardians on bullying prevention, recognizing signs of bullying, and fostering positive relationships.

Refer to Appendix 4 to learn more about EA’s Social Emotional Program, Ruler, and EA’s Family Education Program.

SCHOOL-WIDE INITIATIVES

Regular anti-bullying campaigns, assemblies, and workshops are organized to raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and instill a sense of responsibility among students.

PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Students are encouraged to participate in peer mentoring programs where older students offer guidance and support to younger peers, fostering a sense of belonging and creating a safe space for all. Counselors will individually meet with all students involved to develop a comprehensive plan for addressing the issues, and parents will be notified of the steps implemented by the school.

TECHNOLOGY

Escuela Americana has invested in technology to also combat bullying and the pressure to vape. EA has installed more than 50 detectors throughout our campus in areas where students can be vulnerable at times. This system connects with the school’s monitored camera system across campus, which includes over 250 cameras, to capture real-time incidents.

Refer to the Appendix 5 to learn more about this cutting-edge technology for bullying prevention and the prevention of vaping incidents among young people.

EA takes a proactive approach to address bullying and harassment, ensuring appropriate interventions based on the developmental maturity of students. We collaborate with parents, teachers, and administrators to create a safe and supportive environment that fosters positive relationships and empowers students to make responsible choices. Counseling and external support may be recommended to ensure the well-being of the students involved.

ADDRESSING BULLYING AND HARASSMENT IN EACH DIVISION

• EARLY

CHILDHOOD

Teachers observe and support young children in forming positive relationships. We teach students problem-solving, emotional expression, and responsibility for their actions. Ongoing communication with parents helps address recurring peer relationship challenges.

• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Students are taught effective communication, conflict resolution, and mediation. Open discussions on conflicts and seeking positive solutions are encouraged. Continued issues may involve meetings with students, teachers, and parents, behavior plans, or in-school suspensions.

• SECONDARY SCHOOL

Interventions in the Secondary School are based on the severity and frequency of incidents. Effective consequences and teaching appropriate behaviors are used to address bullying. Support is provided to victims through prevention and reparative strategies. Interventions may include meetings with parents, students, teachers, and administrators, action plans, behavior reflections, suspension, academic probation, and counseling referrals, and possible expulsion from school.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Depending on the severity and frequency of the bullying incidents, the following disciplinary actions may be taken:

• Verbal/written warning to the bully

• Parent/guardian notification and meeting

• Major Infraction

• In-school suspension

• Loss of privileges

• Behavioral contract

• Referral to counseling or intervention programs

• Temporary or permanent transfer to another class or school, if deemed necessary

All disciplinary actions are taken in accordance with the Student Handbook.

Refer to Appendix 5 to review the procedure to follow in case of a bullying situation and to the code of conduct section.

IMMEDIATE ACTION AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN ADDRESSING BULLYING

THE PARENT’S ROLE

If parents have concerns or suspicions regarding their child being a victim of bullying, witnessing bullying incidents, or even participating in bullying behavior, it is crucial to take prompt action and involve the school. Adult intervention plays a vital role in breaking the cycle of bullying.

Here are the steps parents should take:

OPEN COMMUNICATION AT HOME

Start by having an open and supportive conversation with your child, and talk about empathy and kindness and their meanings. Create a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing their experiences and concerns. Listen attentively and validate their feelings.

SETTING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Parents play a crucial role in setting a safe environment both on and off social media by actively monitoring their children’s online activities and maintaining open communication. By being aware of their child’s social media interactions and regularly checking in with them, parents can identify potential issues early on and intervene when necessary. This proactive approach allows parents to create a supportive and secure digital space for their children, fostering responsible online behavior and protecting them from potential risks.

MODEL MORAL COURAGE TO YOUR CHILD

Setting a safe environment for your children where they can feel heard and be able to express their concerns to parents and speak out if they are being bullied or know of other students who are being bullied or bullying other students.

Consistently demonstrating integrity, standing up for what is right, and addressing ethical dilemmas with honesty and empathy. By actively living their values, engaging in respectful conversations, and taking action to address injustices, parents can inspire their children to develop their own moral compass and act courageously in the face of adversity.

DOCUMENT INCIDENTS

Encourage your child to keep a record of any bullying incidents, including dates, times, locations, and descriptions of what occurred. This documentation will provide valuable information when discussing the issue with the school.

CONTACT THE SCHOOL

Reach out to the appropriate school personnel, such as the Counselors, Assistant Directors, or Division Directors. Share your concerns, provide any relevant information or documentation, and request a meeting to discuss the situation further. Encourage your child to name the person or persons involved and demonstrate courage to address the issue.

ATTEND MEETINGS

Participate actively in meetings scheduled with school administration and attend the Family Education Forums created by the school. Be prepared to share your observations, concerns, and any evidence you have collected. Collaborate with the school to develop an appropriate action plan to address the bullying situation. (At EA parents are required to attend 4 education sessions each school year).

FOLLOW SCHOOL PROCEDURES

Familiarize yourself with the school’s policies and procedures for addressing bullying incidents. Work in partnership with the school to ensure that you collaborate in any way the school needs while the investigations are conducted so that the appropriate measures are taken to protect your child’s well-being.

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD

Offer emotional support to your child throughout the process. Reassure them that you are there for them, believe in their experiences, and are committed to resolving the situation. Encourage them to continue reporting any bullying incidents to both you and the school.

SEEK EXTERNAL SUPPORT

If necessary, seek additional support from external resources, such as community organizations, counseling services, or support groups specializing in bullying prevention. They can provide guidance and additional tools to navigate through the situation.

EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO COMBAT BULLYING AT EA

Students have the power to make a positive impact and reduce bullying incidents at EA. By taking an active role, students can contribute to creating a safe and inclusive school environment.

Here are some strategies students can employ:

REPORT INCIDENTS

If students experience or witness bullying, it is essential to inform their teacher, counselor, Assistant Director, or Division Director promptly. By reporting incidents, students help responsible adults intervene and address the situation effectively.

REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM HARM’S WAY

When confronted with bullying, students should prioritize their safety and well-being. Walking away from bullies can help de-escalate situations and avoid further harm.

EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE

It’s important for students not to react strongly to teasing or bullying incidents, as bullies often seek reactions. By showing that they are not easily upset or affected, students can undermine the power dynamics and discourage further bullying.

ASSERTIVENESS

Students should practice being assertive when facing bullying. They can confidently and firmly tell the bully to stop their behavior, asserting their boundaries and making it clear that bullying is not acceptable.

FOSTER FRIENDSHIPS

Building positive friendships with classmates creates a supportive social network. By nurturing these relationships, students strengthen their collective voices against bullying and create an environment where kindness and empathy prevail.

SPEAK UP FOR OTHERS

Students can be allies to their classmates by speaking out against bullying. By offering support, standing up for others, and showing solidarity, they contribute to a culture where bullying is not tolerated.

Remember, each student has a vital role to play in creating a safe and inclusive school community. By actively engaging in these strategies, students can foster a culture of respect, empathy, and kindness, helping to decrease bullying incidents at EA.

EA follows an anti-bullying policy that outlines our expectations and procedures to prevent and address incidents of bullying within our school community.

BULLYING PREVENTION POLICY

Escuela Americana aims to provide a safe school environment where all students and employees are treated with respect and dignity and are free from bullying, intimidation, and harassment. Bullying is a violation of the Escuela Americana community values and will not be accepted. Escuela Americana is committed to educating staff, students, and parents to develop positive relationships to ensure that everyone’s right to learn and work in a safe environment is respected. Bullying incidents will be addressed seriously with appropriate interventions determined by Division Directors.

All students, school employees, vendors, and visitors (including parents) to campus buildings, buses, athletic fields, or locations off school premises involving school-related activities (such as field trips) are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the words and spirit of this policy.

ESCUELA AMERICAN RECOGNIZES SEVERAL TYPES OF BULLYING:

VERBAL BULLYING

PHYSICAL BULLYING

SOCIAL OR EMOTIONAL BULLYING

CYBER BULLYING

Bullying includes name-calling, insulting remarks, verbal teasing, frightening phone calls, violent threats, extortion, taunting, gossip, spreading rumors, racist slurs, threatening electronic communications, and anonymous notes.

Includes poking, slapping, hitting, tripping or causing a fall, choking, kicking, punching, biting, pinching, scratching, spitting, twisting arms or legs, damaging clothes and personal property, threatening gestures, setting fires, and assault with a weapon.

Bullying includes excluding someone from a group, isolating, shunning, spreading rumors or gossiping, arranging public humiliation, undermining relationships, teasing about clothing, and looks, and aggressive stares.

Includes sending offensive/humiliating/threatening messages or images via computer or mobile phone.

While the focus of this policy is on prevention, bullying acts may still occur. Students or employees of EA who have been bullied, parents whose children have been bullied, or other students who observe bullying behavior are encouraged to make a verbal and/or written complaint to a member of the school staff. Intervention by adults and bystanders is an important step to prevent escalation and resolve issues in the earliest stages.

At all times, reported incidences will be documented, tracked, and handled according to the procedures determined by each division. Disciplinary actions (for bottom-line behaviors) will be predetermined at each division and will reflect the severity and intensity of the bullying incident. Students will be encouraged and supported to make restorative action to their peers. The purpose of the disciplinary measures is to assist a student to reflect on their behavior and to be provided with an opportunity to learn and improve peer relationships.

This anti-bullying policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure its effectiveness and make any necessary adjustments. Feedback from students, staff, and parents/guardians will be sought and taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

J SUBSTANCE POLICY

Drugs, alcohol, vaping, tobacco products and e-cigarettes have profound negative effects on the physical and mental development of children and young adults. For this reason, Escuela Americana is a drug, alcohol, vaping, and tobacco free campus. These products are not permitted on campus or at any event in which the school participates. In addition, students in possession or under the influence of these items are subject to our most severe disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal from the School.

The EA community of professional educators realizes that the use of these products can lead to dependency that is very difficult if not impossible to manage alone. In addition, peer pressure can play a particularly powerful role in influencing youth towards the abuse of these products. The school wants to help.

Therefore, EA takes a counseling approach in two very specific ways:

1. EA will provide drug and substance education.

2. EA’s Counselors will help students and families find professional counseling in the community to deal with situations of abuse or dependency when the family or student brings those situations to our attention.

VAPING

Escuela Americana implements cutting-edge technology to identify instances of vaping. This advanced system comprises vaping detectors, a comprehensive communication network, and a high-quality camera surveillance system. Whenever vaping activity is detected, the system promptly notifies the administration and records on camera.In the event that a student is found to be involved in a vaping incident and is captured by the vaping and camera system, they will be subject to a major infraction. Refer to the Appendix 6 to learn more about this technology.

J PREVENTIONS FCD

Escuela Americana is proud to partner with FCD Prevention Works (http://fcd.org), an international nonprofit provider of school-based substance abuse prevention services. FCD has worked worldwide to provide students, and the adults who care for them, with the knowledge, understanding, and skills they need to make intelligent, healthy choices about alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. Escuela Americana periodically conducts the FCD Student Attitudes and Behaviors Survey with our Secondary students. Using the results of these surveys, EA implements intensive workshops for students and their families. If you do not wish your student to have the opportunity to participate in this optional survey please contact the Division Director via email and notify the school in writing each school year.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Escuela Americana (“the School”) is committed to the school’s core values of personal integrity, responsibility, courage and kindness. The school’s Acceptable Use Policy is designed to students and employees (“users”) clear and concise guidelines regarding the appropriate use of electronic devices and the Internet. The use of the school network and equipment is a privilege, not a right. It is the underlying premise of this policy that all users of electronic devices and the internet practice good judgment and responsible use, while demonstrating respect, safety and honesty. Use of technology in and out of school must further follow the EA Disciplinary Policy.

USER RESPONSIBILITIES AND RULES

1. Responsibility: Students are responsible for taking care of any technological equipment issued to them. This includes but is not limited to, iPads, laptops, Chromebooks, and other devices.

2. Safekeeping: Students should keep the devices in a safe place when not in use. They should not leave devices unattended or lend them to others without authorization.

3. Handling: Students should handle devices with care, avoiding dropping them or exposing them to extreme heat or cold. They should also avoid touching the screens with sharp objects or dirty hands. When using laptops or Chromebooks, students should be especially careful with the keyboard, as it is a sensitive component that can easily be damaged.

4. Keyboard Care: Students should avoid eating or drinking near technological equipment, especially laptops and chromebooks, as spills can cause serious damage to the keyboard. They should also avoid pressing the keys too hard or using the laptop with dirty or greasy fingers. If a key becomes stuck or unresponsive, students should report the issue to their teacher or school technology staff.

5. Tag Care: Students should not remove or damage any tags or labels attached to the devices, as these are used to track and identify the equipment. If a tag becomes damaged or detached, students should report the issue to their teacher or school technology staff.

6. Respectful, safe behavior on devices and the internet should be followed at all times, upholding the EA Disciplinary Policy.

7. Responsible use of the school network will prevent the transmission of computer viruses and malware. All methods of “hacking” and tampering with the school network are strictly prohibited on both individual and school devices.

8. While students are on campus, they must access the internet through the school network. Hot spotting or accessing through their own data plan is strictly prohibited.

9. Attempting to subvert or avoid any access-control-software or firewalls that may be operating or

installed at a future date is prohibited. Assisting others in violating these rules by sharing information or access is also considered a violation to EA’s Disciplinary Policy.

10. Downloading programs or files that may change the school’s network or which violate copyright laws is prohibited.

11. Downloading, printing, transmitting, or viewing objectionable material (including pornography, obscene language, sounds, or imagery that offends or tends to degrade others) is strictly prohibited. *The administration invokes its discretionary right to determine what qualifies as objectionable material.

12. Illegal activities are strictly forbidden, including threats, harassment, stalking, and fraud.

13. Respect the rights to privacy of all other users. Students may not at any point touch another community member’s device or use someone else’s account without permission

14. Taking photographs or audio or video recordings of other community members may only be done for academic purposes as determined by the teacher and with the consent of all parties involved.

15. Use of an assumed or anonymous Internet identity is prohibited - all use must be under one’s own account. You are responsible for the use and access of your own account and equipment, and may not attempt to capture another’s account information.

16. Sharing other students’ personal information, such as home address or phone number, is prohibited.

*Administration reserves the right to check any electronic device on campus and network-use, if there’s reasonable suspicion of misuse. The Parents have agreed to any search of the student´s property in the Enrollment Contract.

CONSEQUENCES

Failure to abide by the school’s Acceptable Use Policy will result in disciplinary action as determined by the School Administration, including but not limited to the temporary or permanent loss of the privilege to use electronic devices and/or the internet at the school. The EA Disciplinary process further outlines Consequences.

J GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES

1. Employees and students Grades 6-12 may bring their own electronic devices from home, including laptops, tablets, or phones for school-related purposes only in the classroom or library.

2. The use of student-owned devices during non-instructional time (i.e. Secondary passing/lunch breaks) is up to the discretion of Division Directors who may set additional limitations on “permissible times of use” for their respective divisions.

3. All personal device usage falls under the “Acceptable Use Policy” designated for all users while on school property.

4. There is no school liability for damaged or lost and/or stolen personal devices that are brought and being used at the school. Students and employees are responsible for the safety and tracking of their personal devices and belongings.

5. Students and employees are responsible for the maintenance of their own devices. Neither teachers nor school technical support personnel will operate, configure, or repair students’ personal devices.

*Administration reserves the right to check any electronic device on campus and network-use, if there’s reasonable suspicious of misuse.

J SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Social media is any form of online publication/application that allows interactive communication including but not limited to social networks, apps, blogs, photo sharing platforms, websites, and forums. Examples of these varieties of social media include but are not limited to Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Flickr. Interactive communications/electronic messages include the creation, storage, exchange, validation by “liking” and management of text, images, video, voice, email, and fax over a communication network facilitated by the Internet or other broadcast mechanisms.

While social media/electronic messaging can provide innovative educational opportunities that allow us to communicate and share information in meaningful and exciting ways, these tools can also provide a forum for unkind words or images that can quickly circulate and inflict untold harm on innocent victims. Evidence of this potential negative impact upon any community has been regularly documented through numerous heartbreaking media accounts as well as educational research.

All members of our community should be mindful that infractions outlined in the EA Parent-Student Handbook prohibiting certain types of communication and actions also apply to social media and messaging. Any postings or messages that negatively impact the school community or its members may be met with disciplinary consequences equal to those applied when / where the statements are made person to person to person while on campus. These consequences may include, but are not limited to: formal apology, parent conferences, detentions, suspension, dismissal, and/or referral to legal authorities.

Some specific violations of school policy that may require the application of these discipline consequences for inappropriate use of social media both on/off campus include:

• Threatening/Demeaning participation within an electronic community.

• Violations of school policy while participating in any school sponsored activity.

• Behaviors that endanger members of the EA Community or school property.

• Behaviors that disrupt the educational opportunities for our students.

• Behaviors that bring disrepute to the EA Community.

• Infractions involving the “EA Acceptable Technology Use Policy” such as “sexting” and accessing inappropriate websites.

Additionally, all members of the community are expected to adhere to the following guidelines when using social media platforms:

RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION

All communication on social media platforms should be respectful and not contain any discriminatory, derogatory, or offensive language. Cyberbullying or harassing behavior will be subject to EA’s disciplinary actions.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

All community members are personally responsible for their behavior on social media platforms, even if it occurs outside of school hours or off-campus. This includes posting or sharing content that may reflect negatively on the school community.

PROTECTION OF PRIVACY

All community members should respect the privacy of others and not share or post personal information without permission.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students should not use social media to cheat or plagiarize, and should not use social media to share confidential or sensitive information related to the school or its students.

RESPONSIBLE USE

All community members should use social media in a responsible manner that is consistent with our community values (RICK) and the mission of the school. This includes avoiding the use of social media during class time or when it may interfere with their work or responsibilities.

It is important for all members of the school community to understand and follow these guidelines to ensure that social media is used in a safe and responsible manner that reflects positively on the school and its members.

J SCHOOL USE OF STUDENT NAMES AND PHOTOS

As part of our efforts to recognize and promote our students’ activities, talents, and achievements, Escuela Americana will use student images, in either pictures or video, and in diverse media. These may be internal communications (school newsletter, website, internal publications, or other materials) or external (national newspapers, magazines, brochures, electronic media, and other materials.) The student’s image will be used either in whole or in part, in original or modified form, alone or in conjunction with other images and visual or written material. The parents have granted express consent to use these images in the Enrollment Contract.

Escuela Americana will not use the students’ names in combination with their pictures in public external media without parental consent. If a parent prefers that his or her child’s name not appear in school publications, the parent should notify the Institutional Advancement Office or the Division Director.

Any use of images, will be in accordance to Article 77 of Ley Crecer Juntos.

J USE OF SCHOOL MATERIALS

Members of the School Community are responsible for items authorized for checkout or borrowed from EA. Costs incurred for the repair or replacement of an item lost or damaged is the responsibility of the person who checked or borrowed the item(s).

J USE OF SCHOOL NAME AND LOGO

Any use of the school’s name, symbol, or logo must be approved in writing by the General Director or Director of Institutional Advancement provided under the laws of El Salvador concerning copyright infringement, including Grade Level and Club t-shirts.

Original logos and names can be provided by the Institutional Advancement Office when approved.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

ELEMENTARY

PK3 - 5TH GRADE

J ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GENERAL INFORMATION

ELEMENTARY PROGRAM

At the Elementary level we focus on your child’s social-emotional, age-appropriate developmental needs, physical fitness, and academic needs to encompass the whole child. Throughout your child’s time in the Elementary program, he/she will be provided a variety of engaging standards-based activities and lessons as part of our rigorous curricular program.

SCHOOL HOURS

PK 3

8:00 am - 12:20 pm Starting 2nd Semester optional 8:00 am - 3:10 pm

PK 4 - Grade 5 8:00 am - 3:10 pm

Approved Late Arrival Ends 10:00 am

Early pick-up Ends 1:00 pm

Late Pick-up Begins 3:45 pm

COMPETITIVE SPORTS

Variety of Sports (Grades 1-5 Only) 3:10 pm - 4:30 pm

Late Pick-up Begins 4:45 pm

EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS

On days when students are scheduled for Early Dismissal, including Wednesdays, the following departure times and schedules apply:

PK3 - Grade 1 12:20 pm Early Childhood Gate

Grades 2 - 5 12:20 pm Cafetorium Gate

Late pick-up Begins 12:40 pm

Approved Early pick-up Ends 11:00 am

LATE ARRIVAL

We believe students need to be at school on time. Our school day begins at 8:00 a.m. with our Morning Meeting. During this time, children are introduced to what will happen during the day and build positive connections with their classroom community. This provides a venue to work on any social emotional skills development. If students arrive after 8:00 a.m. they will miss out on this very important time which can lead to a less productive and engaged student.

A child will be considered late if he arrives at school after 8:00 a.m. This late arrival will be documented by the Director, Assistant Director or Office Staff member on duty. Late students will receive a verbal reminder about our arrival policy, as well as a Late Arrival ticket.

After 3 Late Arrival tickets have been issued per student, the student(s) will be suspended from campus for one school day and must remain at home. Continued late arrival patterns resulting in multiple missed school days may result in your child(ren) being retained or dismissed from Escuela Americana for the following school year.

*This policy applies only to students without pre approved Late Arrivals from the Director or Assistant Directors.

ARRIVAL POLICY

All students are expected to be at school by 7:50 a.m. and required to be in class by 8:00 a.m. Students arriving after this time will be marked tardy. Patterns of late arrival and tardiness will require meetings with the Elementary Director and could result in student retention depending on the severity and frequency of missed classes.

Students arriving late to school due to scheduled appointments must arrive before 10:00 a.m. Early dismissal from school is permitted before 1:00 p.m. No early release will be approved after 1:00 p.m. If your child has an afternoon appointment, please plan to pick up your child by 1:00 p.m. or at the regular 3:10 p.m. dismissal time.

LATE DISMISSAL POLICY

Our school days are mentally and physically rigorous for our students. By the end of each school day at 3:30 p.m. your child has been mentally and physically active for almost 8 hours and in need of appropriate rest and relaxation to recharge for the next school day. It is imperative that all students are picked up from campus by 3:30 p.m.

Late pick-up by parents/guardians of their child(ren) after 3:45 p.m. will be documented by the Director, Assistant Director or Office Staff member on duty. Late parents will receive a verbal reminder about our dismissal policy to the parent/guardian, as well as a Late Pick up ticket. After 3 Late Pick Up tickets have been issued per family, the student(s) will be suspended from campus for one school day and must remain at home. Continued late pick up patterns resulting in multiple missed school days may result in your child(ren) being retained or dismissed from Escuela Americana for the following school year.

SUPERVISION

Students are required to leave campus by 3:30 p.m. or directly after a special event and/or activity.

Supervision by school personnel will be provided as follows

• Students on campus between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Students must report directly to their Homeroom teacher when they arrive at school at 7:30 a.m. NO unsupervised playground time is permitted throughout the school day

• A school-sponsored event where a student is on school premises participating with authorization

• During the time the student is being transported by the school during a school-sponsored activity/ event/field trip

• Students at the ECC or Cafetorium gates during dismissal from 3:10 - 3:30 p.m.

• Under no circumstances may students be in the Secondary Field parking area without their secondary sibling.

• The wooded areas of the campus are off limits at all times during or after school hours without teacher supervision

• A student at Escuela Americana may not leave campus during the school day without parental permission and the Division Director’s permission. The student must sign out at the Reception desk before leaving the campus, other than at the end of the day.

DAILY SCHEDULES

Elementary students will follow an 8-day block rotation. Teachers adjust their schedule to integrate projects and include more time for experiments or special projects. Reading, math and writing are included in each day’s schedule, with Science and Social Studies included throughout the 8 day rotation. Specials’ blocks are 40 minutes each day and Spanish is 45 minutes (PreK3 and PreK4) and 60 minutes (Kinder-Grade 5) daily. All Elementary students will have two recess breaks throughout the school day, during the mid-morning and lunch recess.

Homeroom classes begin with a 30-minute Morning Meeting activity. Morning Meetings have four key components: Greeting, Sharing, Activity, and Message. Two Social Emotional Learning blocks have been scheduled for every grade level during the 8-Day Cycle in order for students to enjoy non-academic community building time with their Counselor and their teachers. The RULER Program will be provided during the SEL blocks.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS

Throughout the year the Escuela Americana faculty members participate in Professional Development (PD) days. These dates are clearly marked on the Elementary calendar, and may occur throughout the year as an “asynchronous” learning day for students. On these dates, school will be in session for teachers and administrators, and not in session for students. Our professional development days provide a valuable opportunity for faculty to collaborate and further enhance the quality of teaching and learning at Escuela Americana.

J ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM

PREK3 AND PREK4

Research has shown that young children learn best by doing. The Creative Curriculum is built on theories of development in young children, that all children learn through active exploration of their environment and therefore the environment plays a critical role in learning. The Creative Curriculum includes developmentally appropriate goals and objectives for children within four main categories of interest: social/emotional, physical, cognitive and language.

• The social/emotional stage helps promote independence, self-confidence and self-control.

• The physical stage is intended to increase children’s large and small motor skills.

• The cognitive stage is associated with thinking skills. Children learn how to solve problems, ask questions and think critically.

• The language stage deals with communication. Children learn how to communicate with others, listen and participate in conversations, and recognize various forms of print. In this stage, children begin to recognize letters and words and begin writing for a purpose.

The goal of the Creative Curriculum is to help children become independent, self-confident, inquisitive and enthusiastic learners by actively exploring their environment.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

GRADES

K-5

Beginning in Kindergarten students gain independence, develop higher order thinking skills, learn to make connections between topics and subjects, and develop creative and critical thinking skills to delve deeper into personal interests. EA uses the AERO language arts, math and social studies standards along with the Next Generation Science Standards.

The workshop model is used for reading, writing, and math which allows the teacher to adjust the components per class based on the instructional needs for that particular unit of study. This framework allows students to integrate between subjects, investigate concepts and develop a deeper conceptual understanding, and learn with their peers. The workshop model allows teachers to work with students in small groups to provide reteaching, intervention, extension and differentiation as needed to meet student’s individual needs.

It provides choice and allows students to be creative in their thinking as they develop their knowledge. Teachers spend more of their time facilitating the learning, asking questions that guide the students’ thinking, and having them work in small groups on specific skills. Integrated projects are introduced and students present their projects to classmates and teachers.

J SPECIALS PROGRAM

As part of the Whole Child philosophy, EA offers students a variety of standards-based Specials classes to introduce and develop students’ physical and artistic skills. All students in PreK-Grade 5 are offered a variety of specials classes such as: Music, Dance, Art, STEAM, and Physical Education classes. Our Upper Elementary students will also participate in Band classes. With so many Specials class offerings, students schedules and report cards will show some classes are offered for a semester, while others are year-long.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Physical Education program in the Elementary School begins in Pre-Kinder and is designed to help children direct their energy toward becoming confident with movement and coordination activities. The curriculum includes movement concepts and skills, such as running, hopping, skipping, as well as the correct patterns for kicking, throwing, dribbling, catching, and volleying.

J STUDENT SUPPORT PROGRAM

Student Support teachers work with students in small groups to provide at-their-level instruction and reteaching to support student achievement. The Student Support teachers work with all students in grade levels 1-5 to support our Literacy Program as needed.

Reading groups are designated based on individual student needs and reading levels, as per Fountas and Pinnell assessments and observed literacy behaviors.

Escuela Americana does not offer individualized, one-on-one classroom support due to resource constraints that limit our capacity to address learning needs beyond a mild degree of severity. We understand that students’ learning needs may vary, and we strive to provide appropriate support within the scope of our expertise.

J STANDARDS BASED GRADING

Standards based grading is an intentional way for teachers to track their students’ progress and achievements while focusing on helping students learn and reach their highest potential. It is based on students showing signs of mastery or understanding various lessons and skills. Standards based grading is a way to view student progress based on proficiency levels for identified standards rather than relying on a holistic representation as to the sole measure of achievement used in traditional grading methods.

FAQS ABOUT STANDARDS BASED GRADING

1. What is Standard Based reporting?

The standards based report card communicates a student’s progress toward mastery of learning targets or standards.

2. What is a learning standard?

A standard is a written description of what students should know and be able to do in a particular subject area.

3. Where does EA get their standards?

Our learning standards come from three different curricula: AERO Standards, Creative Curriculum, and NGSS Science Standards

4. What is the purpose of standards-based reporting?

The purpose is to clearly communicate student learning compared to learning targets. Standards-based reporting aligns with what we know about how students learn. We want to be transparent with families about why we assess student work and how we will share this information. Our Report Card Purpose Statement is: The primary purpose of the Escuela Americana report card is to capture the whole child and communicate, bringing home and school together. The report card documents learning habits separate from academic achievement. Grades reflect what the student understands and is able to do at that point in time, in addition to fostering a growth mindset.

5. How do traditional letter grades differ from standards-based reporting?

Traditional grading averages all of the work that a student has done over a semester into one single grade or percentage. Traditional grading often includes other subjective factors like attendance, effort, and attitude, which might influence the academic grade positively or negatively, but has little to do with a child’s academic understanding.

Standards based reporting removes extraneous factors and focuses on knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to the subject. Standards-based grading tells us what students have actually learned. Students will now have more measures of excellence. For example, instead of having just one percentage grade for Reading Language Arts, they will have four indicators to show how they are Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Using Language- rather than just an overall English language grade.

6. How is “meeting expectations” defined?

Standards-based assessment and reporting seeks to provide more consistency in grading practices. Feedback and grades are tied to learning targets. Teaching teams create common “performance level” rubrics and discuss what “meeting standards” means. We grade and report on how and what your child learns.

EA ELEMENTARY STANDARDS BASED GRADING SCALE

MASTERY

The solution to the problem is complete and clear. Any error is trivial. The problem is correct and all reasoning is provided. The argument is easy to follow and no corrections are needed.

PROFICIENT

The solution displays understanding of the relevant topics. Some small errors may be found and need to be corrected, but no additional instruction is required for understanding.

MEETS WITH ASSISTANCE

Partial understanding is evident, but significant gaps in understanding remain without teacher assistance. One-on-one instruction and follow-up is required.

NOT YET

Fragmentary or no response provided. Insubstantial attempt made on the assignment. There were too many errors to assess.

NOT APPLICABLE

Standard not taught this quarter.

Traditional grades are often influenced by behavioral or non-academic factors such as attendance, participation, effort, and late work. When these factors are included, it can influence an academic grade and provide a distorted and inaccurate communication of student learning. If the purpose of grades is to communicate academic achievement, then behavior should not be included in the grade.

The layout of our Elementary Standards-Based Report Card clearly identifies the different academic and non-academic standards assessed each quarter. 4 2 3 1 N/A

J POWERSCHOOL AND GOOGLE CLASSROOM

PowerSchool is a web-based student management system that EA uses for admissions, registration, and grading.

Google Classroom is an online learning management system for students in grades 3-5 where teachers share content. Teachers will update this site with class information such as calendars, homework assignments, videos, tutorials, announcements, and any other pertinent information to the class. Google Classroom pages will be available for specials, Spanish, and any other classes the student is enrolled in.

Teacher and parent communication will be via email or through MyEA Parent Portal, where teachers will post weekly newsletter to families letting the family know of individual class happenings.

J ATTENDANCE POLICY

IMPORTANCE OF ON-CAMPUS ATTENDANCE

At Escuela Americana we believe schools should provide a safe, success-oriented, and caring environment. Research shows that there is an irrefutable connection between classroom attendance and achievement and learning. School success is predicated on three basic principles: attendance, participation, and involvement in the classroom. Class discussions, experiments, labs, and research are just a few examples of classroom activities that cannot be replicated through make-up work. The student must be in class to experience these types of activities. Therefore, every effort should be made to see that students attend every class every day of the school year.

At Escuela Americana we believe schools should provide a safe and caring environment. We have fulltime nurses to support your child’s health on campus, and ask for your support from home to keep our whole EA community healthy.

Some illnesses and situations require a child to be absent from school to prevent the spread of infection to other children and staff. If a medical provider recommends your child to stay home a certain number of days you must comply with this recommendation. If a student arrives at school with symptoms, or during the school day begins to show symptoms indicative of an illness, the school nurse will contact you to pick up your child as soon as possible.

The parent/guardian is required to maintain direct contact with the Elementary Office (2528-8201) and your child’s teacher if your child is diagnosed with any communicable disease so the school can take appropriate steps to protect the entire student population.

Students who have been absent three or more consecutive days or have a chronic medical condition must provide the office with a physician’s note. Please contact the Nurse’s Office to communicate about your child’s health or ask questions. (2528-8210 • medical_office@amschool.edu.sv)

EXTENDED ABSENCE POLICY

The Division Director must be made aware of pre-arranged absences for extraordinary situations. Plan to schedule all necessary medical, dental, or other appointments outside of school hours to help maintain your child’s attendance. Teachers are not expected to provide assignments before the pre-arranged absences,and it is the responsibility of the parent and student to communicate directly with your child’s teacher about missing assignments.

Please contact the Elementary Director directly via email: geshel.megan@amschool.edu.sv.

EA’s policy states that students must be in attendance for 90% of the school year in order to receive academic credit, they maynot have more than four (4) absences per academic Quarter. Both excused and unexcused absences contribute to this total. In the event a student exceeds the limit each such case will be reviewed by a Division Director and a recommendation regarding promotion or retention will be made to the General Director. The decision of the General Director is final. Warning Notices will be communicated after students accumulate two (2) absences and a Parent meeting with the Director will be required.

Please note there are two categories for absences:

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Absences due to illness, participation in school-sponsored activities, and participation in government-recognized/national federation events in representation of the student’s country are generally considered excused.

J DRESS CODE POLICY

UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Any other absence will be considered unexcused absences including family trips, non-school sponsored events, late pick-up suspensions, or non-government sponsored activities. If the school is not notified of the reason for an absence, it will be considered unexcused.

The School Dress Code policy was created to inform students and families of the required student dress code to be worn to school each day. It is important for families to purchase the required school uniform prior to the first day of school. Please contact the Trojan Store directly with sizing and purchasing details. All students must wear the proper school uniform to school each day:

Daily School Uniform:

• PK3 & PK4

• Students wear the PE uniform every day.

• Supportive athletic shoes ONLY.

•

K - 5TH GRADE

• All students are required to have at least one formal school uniform consisting of navy blue formal pants, formal shorts or skorts, and a red, white, or blue EA polo shirt.

- Formal uniforms will be required on certain school days (i.e. picture day) and these days will be communicated with all families.

• Due to our variety of specials, students can wear their PE uniform daily (consisting of PE shorts or blue cotton sweatpants and PE shirts) with supportive athletic shoes.

• Students may wear the school sweatshirts, hoodies or school jackets.

• All students must wear supportive athletic shoes - NO soccer cleats.

• Hair should be neat & well groomed.

• Hair color should be a natural color.

Special ‘No Uniform’ days will happen throughout the school year for celebrations or special themed days (e.g. Pajama Day). Students and families will be notified prior to the day and be provided the information about the acceptable student attire for those days.

TROJAN HOUSE COLOR SHIRTS

All Elementary students will be assigned to one of the four Trojan Houses for their entire Elementary years: Orange, Purple, Green, and Yellow. Students are required to have their Trojan House color shirt as part of their PE uniform. The Trojan House shirt will not replace the regular PE uniform instead, it is in addition to and will be worn at designated times throughout the school year, including every Friday and for House Assemblies.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J OUR COMMUNITY VALUES: RESPONSIBILITY, INTEGRITY,

COURAGE, AND KINDNESS (RICK)

Escuela Americana works to establish a positive and supportive learning environment in which our students feel safe, secure, and have maximum opportunities to learn. Our desire is to empower students to learn about their responsibility and maintain a respectful environment. An important component of our approach to behavior management is to provide opportunities for students to reflect on their choices and identify and apply alternate strategies. In order to promote and maintain a positive learning environment we have established some common understandings of what constitutes acceptable behavior.

The Elementary School discipline system is built on responsibility, integrity, courage, and kindness (RICK), and it incorporates an intervention plan to help students modify inappropriate behaviors. The goal is to empower the student to take charge of his or her behavior by providing support and followup and not merely giving punitive consequences. It is a collaborative team approach that involves the students, the teachers, the counselors, and the parents working together to follow our Code of Conduct.

We recognize that two situations are rarely the same in every respect and that it is important to maintain flexibility and to take into account the individuals involved and their circumstances.

Factors to be considered include but are not limited to:

• Seriousness of the offense

• The effect or potential effect

• The student’s age

• Behavior in the school environment

• The frequency of misconduct

Our focus is on building a strong partnership between home and school to reinforce our school’s values and beliefs. As a result, communication with parents is an important intervention strategy. While parents may not be notified every time a child commits a minor infraction of the behavior policy, a staff member will promptly notify the parents when a serious infraction or disruption to the learning environment occurs. We appreciate your support in maintaining a learning environment that is positive and supportive for all learners.

If a behavior incident occurs on campus or at a school event the following steps will be taken:

• The individual(s) involved will meet with the Assistant Director or Director to gather information and decide the next steps.

• The next steps could include:

- Written apology

- Missed recess time

- Removal from class to administration offices

- In-school suspension

- Out of school suspension

• Serious incidents or repeated behavior incidents involving the same student(s) will result in an immediate out-of-school suspension

• Parents will be notified the same day when a serious incident occurs involving their child and parents must immediately come to school to meet with the Assistant Director or Division Director and then take their child home.

• Serious incidents include:

- Fighting (hitting, punching, kicking, or any other physical altercations)

- Handling or use of a weapon

- Verbal or physical threat against a student or staff member

- Misuse of technology that threatens the safety or wellbeing of others

- Threatening behavior that makes other community members feel unwelcome or unsafe

- Cheating or plagiarism

- Throwing objects

- Destruction of property

- Repeated disrespectful behavior that disrupts learning

- Possession of illegal substances

• If a student’s behavior results in 3 or more out of school suspensions or other 3 or more major infractions, the school reserves the right for the student to complete the school year off the main campus, and the family may not receive an invitation for enrollment for the next school year.

J DISTANCE LEARNING EXPECTATIONS

In the event school should revert back to distance learning, the following behavioral expectations still apply:

BE RESPECTFUL

• Be dressed appropriately and on time

• Think before you speak

• Share the space

• Address teacher with a professional name

• Make yourself visible

• Mute yourself when others are speaking or as requested by teacher

• Avoid disrupting or Zoom bombing sessions

• Working cooperatively with others online

Escuela Americana El Salvador

BE RESPONSIBLE

• Prepare technology

• Complete assignments

• Submit assignments on time

• Complete and submit digital learning activities on time

BE SAFE

• Keep personal information private

• Do not share links or codes with other individuals who do not belong in your class

• Report bullying comments to the teacher

• Only open emails from people you know

• Avoid inappropriate sites

J COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL

ORIENTATION

Parent Orientation Meetings are held in August for parents whose children are newly enrolled. The purpose of this time is to share information with parents concerning the Elementary School curriculum, classroom procedures, home-learning policy, discipline policy, and opportunities for parent involvement.

OPEN HOUSE

Open House provides an opportunity to become familiar with the program at your child’s grade level and meet the teacher. The event is a whole school event and is scheduled early in the school year to enable parents to learn more about the school programs and meet other families, teachers, and administrators.

HOPES AND DREAMS CONFERENCES

At the beginning of the school year, Early Childhood parents are invited to meet with teachers for a short conference focused on the sharing of information, ideas, hopes, and dreams in regard to their child. These meetings are scheduled by classroom teachers and provide an opportunity for a more intimate conversation between parents and teachers.

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES (PTC)

Parent-teacher Conferences are held at the end of Quarters 1 and 2. Parent-teacher conferences are 20-minute meetings between the parent/guardian with a clear focus on sharing information on academic growth, social/emotional development, and the support your child(ren) needs from home. A parent-teacher conference will be a collaborative meeting between the homeroom teacher, Student

Support teachers(as needed), Counselors, and Parents. Spanish teachers and Specials teachers have separate 20-minute Parent Teacher Conference times available so all parents have the opportunity to meet with all of their child(ren)’s teachers in one day.

While school-initiated conferences are frequently scheduled, Escuela Americana encourages teachers, parents, and students to request additional conferences when appropriate or necessary throughout the year to discuss concerns about a student’s academic, social, emotional, and/or disciplinary well-being. Parents who sense a change in their child’s behavior or who have a concern about an academic, social, emotional, or disciplinary matter should feel free to contact teachers and counselors for an appointment.

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES (SLCs)

Student-led conferences are held at the end of Quarter 3. These conferences engage students in the process by providing powerful opportunities for students to advocate for their own learning by having teachersupported discussions with their parents about their own academic growth. Student-led conferences present opportunities for students to prepare, reflect on and discuss evidence of their learning and growth supported by the work they have completed throughout the Quarter and/or school year.

DAILY COMMUNICATION

During the school year, all communication between students and parents must go through the Director’s Office. Students are not to make personal calls home to request their forgotten homework, books, projects, lunch boxes, etc., and parents should not call or text students directly during school hours.

We encourage students to keep their mobile phones at home. No cell phones or smart watches may be used by students during the school day. If you need to communicate with your child during the school day please contact the Director’s Office (2528-8201). If your child brings a cell phone to school by mistake, it must remain in their backpack and be switched off during the course of the school day. Please note that mobile cell phones on campus are the individual’s responsibility. Escuela American is not responsible for lost, broken or stolen cell phones.

PARENT-SCHOOL CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Misunderstandings and miscommunication can occur between school and home throughout the school year. While we try our best to communicate clearly, a situation may require additional communication. It is important to keep the channels of communication open between the classroom teacher and families. If conflict arises please follow these steps:

• When a classroom-home communication problem occurs, the first approach should be to contact the classroom teacher directly, via email or phone, for clarification. A scheduled in-person conference between the parent and teacher usually clears up confusion and opens the communication channels.

• Parents are asked to schedule the meeting when the confusion first occurs so the teacher can gather the needed information for an effective meeting.

• If after the parent-teacher meeting, the conflict is still present, a meeting between the parent and Division Director is necessary. Parents are asked to call the Director’s Office to schedule the meeting.

• Assistant Directors and the Elementary Director are always available to meet with parents as needed through appointments. Please schedule your appointment via email or call the Elementary Office to schedule an appointment (2528-8201).

STEP 1: Teacher

STEP 2: Assistant Director

STEP 3: Division Director

STEP 4: General Director

TOYS AND/OR PERSONAL ITEMS

Students are not permitted to bring toys, electronic devices, or other personal items to school to use during the school day. The school is not responsible for lost, broken, or stolen personal items your child brings to school.

J COMPETITIVE SPORTS PROGRAM

The Competitive Sports Program is offered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Friday (depending on the sport) from 3:10 - 4:30 p.m. for students in Grades 1 - 5 only. A variety of age-appropriate sports are offered, which include Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Handball, Table Tennis, and Track and Field. This program is organized and monitored by the Athletics Department.

Timely student pick-up is expected for all students participating in Competitive Sports. Late Pick-up tickets will be issued to parents/guardians that arrive after 4:45 p.m. After 3 documented Late pick-up tickets your child will be removed from Competitive Sports for the school year and normal pick-up at 3:30 p.m. will be expected.

J TRANSPORTATION

The morning arrival and after-school dismissal traffic are busy with many vehicles using the same entrances and school exits. Patience and politeness towards other drivers and school security personnel are expected from all parents, family members, and personal drivers.

When all drivers follow the procedures listed below, the arrival and dismissal traffic moves efficiently.

• Make sure that your vehicle displays the school sticker and student name signs.

• The speed limit on campus is 5 miles per hour (10 km per hour).

• Please follow all instructions from the school personnel controlling traffic.

• Do not park in restricted areas.

• Armed individuals are not allowed inside school grounds.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE

• Please drop off and pick up PreK3, PreK4, Kinder, and 1st Grade students at the Early Childhood Center (ECC) entrance via Lane B (the middle lane). Please follow the labeled car number signs 1-4, and pull up to the furthest spot available to make room for other cars behind you.

• Students in Grades 2 - 5 should be dropped off at the Cafetorium door gate. Pull up as far as possible before you stop to let the children out. Several cars should have access to drop off their children at once. Use Lane A (the curb lane).

• Do not cut in line and please maintain your position in line.

• Teachers and staff arriving by car have the right of way and must be allowed to pass in front of you when they are entering the Teacher’s parking lot.

• During dismissal, please have your child’s name sign clearly visible on the windshield or dashboard and tell the attendant helping with dismissal your child’s full name.

• All drivers must remain inside of their vehicle. Students will be walked to vehicles for dismissal by an EA staff member.

If you know that you will be late due to circumstances beyond your control, please call the Elementary Office (2528-8201). Parents are encouraged to have an alternate method of transportation available (another family member, trusted friend) should a situation arise where you are unable to collect your child on time. This can be done using the Transportation Permission Form.

J FIELD TRIPS

Field trips provide an exciting learning experience for our students! The school organizes 1-2 off campus field trips per school year for students to experience and engage in activities and places that support our academic curriculum program. Escuela Americana works with Bus Companies that are vetted and bonded to ensure our students, parent chaperones and teachers are safe.

The following guidelines outline the field trip process:

• Information about the upcoming field trip will be communicated to parents via their child’s teacher.

• Signed parent permission forms must be completed by the due date

• A payment link will be provided to collect any necessary fees. Due dates must be adhered to in order for your child to attend the field trip

• Field trips payment includes the cost for transportation and entrance fees.

• Lunch, snacks and water are brought from home, unless your child’s teacher informs you otherwise.

• All students must wear their EA House Color Shirts with either their PE shorts or jeans and athletic shoes only.

• Positive student behavior is important. Only students in good standing in terms of behavior will be invited to attend field trips.

• Trip costs are dependent on the total number of participants going. No refunds will be made after the payment has been submitted to the payment link.

Parent chaperones are needed for successful field trips. We appreciate our parent community for supporting our field trips! Please note the following guidelines for parent chaperones:

• Please be on time to school so we can leave on time for the trip.

• Parents are reminded that photos and videos of students must follow our social media guidelines.

• No ‘special treats’ or additional food and/or drinks may be purchased or brought in for special for students groups.

• The Assistant Directors will meet with all grade-level parent chaperones and grade-level PA representatives prior to the bus departure to share the chaperone expectations and guidelines for a successful trip.

J HEALTH AND SAFETY

At Escuela Americana, our Students’ health and well-being are our foremost concern. We take every step to integrate a balanced approach to their physical, emotional, and social health as an essential complement to their academic success. An updated “Brief Medical History Form” must be kept on file. The form must be completed at the start of each school year. An updated Immunization record is part of the medical form and must be completed and signed by a physician.

The school employs certified nurses for the purpose of attending to the health needs of all students. A student who feels ill during the day will visit the Nurse’s Office and the following steps will be taken:

• After an initial assessment, the nurse will determine whether to send the student back to class or to have the student go home.

• The nurse will not diagnose illnesses or prescribe medications.

• The nurse may provide minor first aid for cuts/abrasions, insect bites/stings, and mild headaches or stomach aches.

• The nurse may dispense over-the-counter, non-prescription medication for headaches and stomach upset without written permission of the child’s physician, as long as consent has been given in the school’s Medical Form by the parent(s) or guardian. Otherwise, parents must be contacted, and consent obtained in writing before any medication can be given.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

If a child needs to take medication sent from home, he/she must bring a note from home stating precisely when the child should go to the nurse to take the medication. Children will not be allowed to go to the nurse to take medication without a note from their parent/physician. Students may not carry any type of medication with them during the school day or self-administer it. All medication must be brought to the Nurse’s Office upon the student’s arrival to campus. Students will be walked to the Nurse’s Office to receive their medication throughout the day, as scheduled.

Medications administered during school hours should be kept to a minimum. The student in need of medication to sustain his/her attendance in school may have a chronic health condition, an acute health condition, or a special health care need requiring prescription medication administered during school hours. This policy is intended to cover these specific types of situations:

• Any new medical condition should be reported to the Nurse and Division Office.

• A student with an acute condition may be required to take medications such as antibiotics for short periods of time. Every effort should be made so that medication can be given at home, before or after school hours.

• If prescription medications must be taken during school hours, a doctor’s prescription must be submitted to the nurse and signed by the parent before the medication will be given by the school nurse or her designee.

• Students with pre-existing health conditions will be allowed to keep needed, prescribed medications such as inhalers, Epi-pens, and Insta-glucose in the Nurse’s Office for immediate administration if deemed necessary. An updated medical prescription and written permission by the student’s physician and parents must be included in the school’s Medical Form.

• As stated above, at no time shall the student self-medicate with any kind of medication without prior authorization and communication regarding such self-medication with the Division Director and the School Nurse.

• At no time shall a student provide medication of any kind to another student.

• All prescription medications will be kept in a locked cabinet in the Nurse’s office.

Individual medication administration records will be maintained for all students receiving medications, whether prescriptive or non-prescription. The date, time, dosage, and mode of administration, as well as the name of the person administering the medication, will be recorded. Parents will be properly notified of any medication administered.

EA wheelchairs are available on school property for emergency use only. In cases where a doctor prescribes a wheelchair, parents will need to make arrangements for a wheelchair for their child’s private Use.

J IMMUNIZATION

It is the parent’s responsibility to maintain the required updated immunizations and have the child’s physician complete the appropriate section in the Brief Medical Form at the start of each school year.

J SPECIAL CASES OF SEVERE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND THREAT TO SELF/THREAT TO OTHERS

The school takes reports of concerns with mental health seriously and prioritizes student well-being. If a student discloses thoughts related to suicide or harm to others, it will notify the parents or legal guardians immediately as part of the school’s “Duty to Warn” Counseling protocol. If in school, the parent will be called to a meeting with the counselor. The student will be required to wait in the Counseling Office until the parent arrives. The student will be required to leave campus accompanied by the parent or legal guardian. If in distance learning, the counselor will notify the parent or legal guardian via telephone.

In such cases, the school will require that the student be evaluated accordingly by a mental health professional. The student may not return to campus until the parents or legal guardians present a medical clearance that he/she is safe to return to campus in order to ensure his or her safety as well as the safety of others. Student absence in the meantime will be marked as excused.

J TOILET TRAINING

All students are expected to be fully toilet trained. At Escuela Americana, fully toilet trained means that the students are independent in using the bathroom. In the case of an “accident,” assistance will be provided by the classroom teacher, teaching assistant, and/or the nursing staff. Parents will be notified in the event their child has had a toileting accident during the school day. Parents of younger students are required to send an extra set of clothes to school clearly labeled with their child’s name.

If a pattern of ‘accidents’ (daily accidents over multiple days) occurs, the Division Director will meet with the parents to discuss the next steps to ensure all students are fully toilet trained.

J ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES POLICY

Drugs, alcohol, tobacco products, and e-cigarettes are not permitted on campus. Escuela Americana is a drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free campus. Students found in possession or under the influence of these items are subject to severe disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal from the School.

The EA community of professional educators realizes that the use of these products can lead to dependency that is very difficult, if not impossible, to manage alone. In addition, peer pressure can play a particularly powerful role in influencing youth toward the abuse of these products. The school wants to help.

Therefore, EA takes a counseling approach in two very specific ways:

1. EA will provide drug education.

2. EA’s counselors will help students and families find professional counseling in the community to deal with situations of abuse or dependency when the family or student brings those situations to our attention.

J INSURANCE

Accident insurance and tuition guarantee policies are available for all students. For further information, parents should contact the Business Office (2528-8313).

J EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

In case of an emergency or a simulated drill (indicated by the alarm being sounded), students, teachers, and all visitors in the building(s) must follow the predetermined procedures. Exact evacuation routes have been devised and posted in each room and in the hallways.

• EARTHQUAKE

Students and teachers will immediately crouch/sit under a table or desk away from windows, and cover their heads with their arms to avoid injury from falling glass or ceiling tiles. When the shaking stops and it is safe to move, the teacher will conduct a quick inspection of the classroom to establish the best exit route for students and do the following:

1. Walk quickly, quietly, and in an orderly manner to the Elementary School sports field.

2. Teachers will take their emergency folders, instruct students to remain silent in their assigned area, and take attendance.

3. Any absent students should be accounted for and reported to the Database Collection Point.

4. Students in the Cafetorium or at recess should line up and follow their supervisor’s instructions to meet their teacher at the Elementary sports field.

5. Those in the bathroom or hallways should walk directly to the Elementary sports field, where they will join their class.

6. All administrative and counseling personnel will have the complete class lists with them.

7. It is very important that all drills be taken seriously. All school personnel will report to the sports field, and we insist all visitors do the same.

IN THE EVENT OF AN ACTUAL EMERGENCY

Students will be discharged as parents arrive at either the Secondary School/Main Gate or Secondary Field Entrance. To avoid confusion, a bilingual employee will be available at each exit. Parents with multiple children might be required to pick up their children in more than one exit. To ensure the success of this dismissal plan and control of traffic, parents will not be allowed to enter the school grounds.

• LOCKDOWN

In the case where there is an intruder or any other threat to the campus that requires school action, the following lockdown procedures will be used. An announcement of a special code will be made. That means one of the following three conditions exist:

• There is a threat outside of the school building.

• There is an intruder on campus.

• There is the need to clear the campus or a particular area for emergency response.

When LOCKDOWN NOTIFICATION is announced, the following steps are to be taken immediately:

• Immediately all students, staff, and visitors must go into the nearest classroom or secured space.

• Teachers should scan outside of their classrooms quickly and bring any students in the area into their classrooms.

• Classes that are outside of the building will not enter the building.

• Groups of students outside will seek a safe, out-of-sight location, far away from the buildings as appropriate.

• Lock classroom doors.

• Library doors should also be closed and locked and students moved away from the entrances.

• Move people away from windows and doors. Turn off lights.

• Teachers and staff will not respond to anyone at the door until a special code is announced.

• Keep out of sight and away from windows.

• Building administrator will announce another special code to end the lockdown.

A lockdown may be initiated in non-threatening circumstances to keep people away from areas where there may be a medical emergency or disturbance. Immediately following the incident, messages will be sent to the families.

In all cases, faculty will use their best professional judgment with the safety of their students as their primary concern.

Please note that the use of cell phones by students during evacuations is forbidden until specifically authorized by School officials. Cell phone usage by students during an emergency interferes with vital communications and directions to students. Cell phone radio waves can cause particular problems in the event of a bomb threat.

In the event of an emergency, as soon as safety, order, and accountability are established, students will be permitted to use their cell phones to contact their parents. Parents, please do not call your child’s cell phone during an evacuation. We will have them contact you, or contact you ourselves, as soon as possible, in the event of a real emergency.

In the event of gunfire and/or explosion, all individuals in classrooms are instructed to sit against the wall, below the window and await further instructions from an administrator.

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

For the safety of the EA community, all outdoor activities will be cancelled immediately when there is thunder or lightning – whether it is raining or not. It is the responsibility of the adult in charge of the event to formally pause/cancel the event and that those in attendance move to safety until the storm passes.

Safe shelters in a thunderstorm include areas under roofs and automobiles; trees or sitting in the stands are not safe shelters. An event may resume 30 minutes after the last lightning is viewed or thunder is heard.

Rain unaccompanied by a thunderstorm does not necessitate the cancellation of an EA event. The advisability of continuing an event when raining is a determination that will be made by the administrator or responsible school personnel at the event. In the case of a thunderstorm at a time of school dismissal, students will be retained within the school (including classrooms and other safe areas) until the storm passes and students can be dismissed safely. In such an event, the school gates will be closed and no cars will be allowed in or out until the storm passes.

J LIBRARY AND MEDIA CENTER

The Library Media Centers (LMCs) operate within a collaborative learning community of students, teachers, administrators, and parents to provide students with the information literacy skills essential to becoming lifelong, independent learners. The LMCs are organized around a student-centered program that provides authentic, creative learning activities that support the teaching process and a broad range of support services that foster competencies in acquiring and using information and ideas, as well as reading for pleasure.

The collections include excellent collections of general reference materials, which are regularly updated. Students are encouraged to use the library as often as possible to read, check out/return materials, and research information for class projects and assignments. The librarian will inform students when books are due and families are responsible for returning materials in a timely manner.

Students with overdue books, unpaid fines, or any other library obligation are ineligible for re-enrollment or to receive transcripts until all books have been returned, lost books paid for, and fines paid.

J TECHNOLOGY

Escuela Americana is committed to preparing its students for working, living, and learning as 21st Century leaders and we seek to create an environment where students, faculty, and staff, effectively and responsibly, utilize innovative technology. Technology enhances the way we teach, learn, and communicate with one another and the rest of the world here at Escuela Americana.

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY (AUP)

Escuela Americana is committed to our community values. The school’s Acceptable Use of Technology Policy is designed to give students and employees clear and concise guidelines regarding the appropriate

use of electronic devices and the Internet. The use of the school network and equipment is a privilege, not a right. It is the underlying premise of this policy that all users of electronic devices and the Internet practice good judgment and responsible use, upholding the values of respect, safety, and honesty.

USER RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

1. Respectful, safe behavior on devices and the Internet should be used at all times, upholding the Code of Conduct.

2. Use the school network in such a way that would not disrupt its use for others, avoiding the transmission of computer viruses. All methods of “hacking” are strictly prohibited on both individual devices and the network.

3. Downloading programs or files that may change the school’s network or which violate copyright laws is prohibited.

4. Attempting to subvert or avoid any access-control software or firewalls that may be operating or installed at a future date is prohibited. Assisting others in violating these rules by sharing information or access is also considered unacceptable.

5. Downloading, printing, transmitting, or viewing objectionable material (including pornography, obscene language, sounds, or imagery that offends or tends to degrade others) is strictly prohibited. The school administration invokes its discretionary rights to determine and prohibit objectionable material.

6. Illegal activities are strictly forbidden, including threats, harassment, stalking, and fraud.

7. Respect the rights to privacy of all other users.

8. Sharing personal information online, such as home address or phone number is prohibited.

9 Use of assumed or anonymous Internet identity is prohibited - all use must be under one’s own account. You are responsible for the use and access of your own account and equipment, and may not attempt to capture another’s username/password.

10. Students only - Listening to music, watching videos, or playing games during the school day is only allowed with a faculty member’s or librarian’s permission, and under their direct supervision.

11. Administration reserves the right to check any school-owned equipment, network-use, or equipment brought to school anytime it deems necessary.

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

1. It is your responsibility to ensure that your language and transmitted-information/files via email, texting, instant messaging, chatting, blogging, or online social-networking/posting is truthful, appropriate, and respectful.

2. No inappropriate electronic communication will be tolerated, including derogatory, obscene, or harassing messages. Messages of an abusive or harassing nature will be regarded as a major violation and will be subject to a disciplinary response.

3. Chain letters and spamming of any kind is prohibited. (chain letters are defined as any email message asking you to pass information or messages on to other individuals or groups via email.)

4. Instant messaging, texting, blogging, social networking, and participation in chat rooms are prohibited in class except as part of an assigned, in-class activity that is supervised by a faculty member or administrator for academic purposes.

5. Unauthorized recording of teachers and administrators without explicit consent is strictly forbidden, encompassing classrooms, offices, meetings, or any school-related events where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. Anyone found in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, recording private conversations without the consent of all participants is strictly prohibited on school grounds, during school-sponsored activities, or using school-issued equipment, applying to all students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors.

COPYRIGHT MATERIAL AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

1. Unauthorized duplication, installation, alteration, or destruction of data programs, hardware, or software is prohibited.

2. Data, programs, hardware, software, and other materials protected by copyright may not be transmitted or duplicated.

3. Do not plagiarize. To do so is a violation of the Honor Code. If unsure of how to cite a source, ask a faculty member or a librarian. Do not represent another’s work as your own. Any use of other sources and ideas must be acknowledged. Plagiarism is fraud and has very negative consequences related to university admissions.

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

At EA, we recognize the growing significance of artificial intelligence (AI) and the pivotal role it plays in shaping modern education. In our commitment to upholding our core values of Responsibility, Integrity, Courage, and Kindness (RICK) we are pleased to present our preliminary guidelines for responsible and ethical AI use by students, faculty, and staff.

A Generative, or Large Language Model, AI harnesses the potential of machine learning models to create original content, spanning text, images, and music. Large language model AI includes websites such as, but not limited to: ChatGPT, GPT-4, LaMDA, Apple – Ajax, and others. These preliminary guidelines are carefully crafted to strike a balance between embracing the opportunities that AI offers and safeguarding against potential pitfalls. By adopting AI, we uphold our values of courage in embracing new technologies, kindness in using them for the greater good, responsibility in adhering to ethical standards, and integrity in ensuring academic rigor.

At EA we value and foster a student’s ability to create original work. The purpose of classwork and homework is to build the skills and knowledge necessary for academic success. If AI is used to complete this work so these skills are not practiced and honored, the student is being put at a disadvantage for future success. Furthermore, it becomes difficult for a teacher to assess a student’s learning progression to provide just-in-time learning to move the student to the next level. In addition, it is our purpose as an academic institution to promote independent learners capable of tackling increasingly complex tasks on their own, without relying on classroom teachers, tutors, parents, or technological tools like AI to do the work for them.

Therefore, it is up to the teacher to explicitly state when and how AI should be used for any work assigned. Teachers will look for opportunities for students to build their proficiency with AI tools within

the classroom and share examples of ethical use to help students learn about digital literacy. Teaching digital literacy skills with students allows them to understand the pros and cons of technology in a learning environment. However, it is not appropriate for AI to be used with every assignment, and teachers should be explicit about how and when AI may or may not be used by students for educational purposes. Furthermore, by explaining their rationale to students, it provides the opportunity for teachers to underscore the learning objectives and educational goals.

It is the expectation that students will adhere to these guidelines and refrain from using generative AI when not explicitly authorized to do so.

Each student is responsible for the work they produce, regardless of the tools employed. When using generative AI, it is essential to scrutinize the content for errors and biases thoroughly. AI-generated material can sometimes be misleading, outdated, or even false. Caution is warranted as AI generated material is entitled to copyright protection* and can be considered a violation of academic integrity if not presented and/or cited as an AI generated product.

We promote a flexible approach where teachers have the autonomy to decide whether to allow, prohibit, or encourage the use of generative AI in their courses. For specific guidelines, please consult your teacher and their course syllabus.

By adhering to this policy, EA can confidently embrace the transformative potential of AI while staying true to our core values. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your specific teacher or division director. Together, we can harness the power of AI responsibly and ethically, contributing to a brighter future for our EA community and the world beyond.

PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES

NO personal electronic devices (including cellphones and smartwatches of any type and any brand) may be brought to campus unless for a special teacher-organized activity or lesson.

All personal device usage falls under the “Acceptable Use Policy” designated for all users while on school property.

The school is not liable for damaged or lost and/or stolen personal devices that are brought to school. Students and parents are responsible for the safety and tracking of their personal devices and belongings.

If a student brings an electronic device (including cellphones and smartwatches of any type and any brand) it has to remain in their backpack at all times.

Student-owned devices must operate on their built-in battery power supplyaccess to the school’s power supply is prohibited.

Administration reserves the right to check any personal device brought to school anytime it deems necessary

Failure to abide by the school’s Acceptable Use Policy will result in appropriate disciplinary action which administration reserves the right to determine, including but not limited to the temporary or permanent loss of the privilege to use electronic devices and/or the Internet at the school.

J ESCUELA AMERICANA SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

Social media is any form of online publication/application that allows interactive communication including but not limited to social networks, apps, blogs, photo sharing platforms, websites, and forums. Examples of these varieties of social media include but are not limited to Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Flickr. Interactive communications/electronic messages include the creation, storage, exchange, validation by “liking” and management of text, images, video, voice, email, and fax over a communication network facilitated by the Internet or other broadcast mechanisms.

While social media/electronic messaging can provide innovative educational opportunities that allow us to communicate and share information in meaningful and exciting ways, these tools can also provide a forum for unkind words or images that can quickly circulate and inflict untold harm on innocent victims. Evidence of this potential negative impact upon any community has been regularly documented through numerous heartbreaking media accounts as well as educational research.

All members of our community should be mindful that infractions outlined in the EA Parent-Student Handbook prohibiting certain types of communication and actions also apply to social media and messaging. Any postings or messages that negatively impact the school community or its members may be met with disciplinary consequences equal to those applied where the statements are made person to person to person while on campus.

These consequences may include, but are not limited to: formal apology, parent conferences, detentions, suspension, dismissal, and/or referral to legal authorities.

Some specific violations of school policy that may require the application of these discipline consequences for inappropriate use of social media both on/off campus include:

• Threatening/Demeaning participation within an electronic community

• Violations of school policy while participating in any school sponsored activity

• Behaviors that endanger members of the EA Community or school property

• Behaviors that disrupt the educational opportunities for our students

• Behaviors that bring disrepute to the EA Community

• Infractions involving the “EA Acceptable Technology Use Policy” such as “sexting” and accessing

• inappropriate websites

Additionally, all members of the community are expected to adhere to the following guidelines when using social media platforms:

RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION

All communication on social media platforms should be respectful and not contain any discriminatory, derogatory, or offensive language. Cyberbullying or harassing behavior will not be tolerated.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Students are personally responsible for their behavior on social media platforms, even if it occurs outside of school hours or off-campus. This includes posting or sharing content that may reflect negatively on the school or its community.

PROTECTION OF PRIVACY

Students should respect the privacy of others and not share or post personal information without permission.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students should not use social media, generative artificial intelligence to cheat or plagiarize, and should not use social media to share confidential or sensitive information related to the school or its students.

RESPONSIBLE USE

Students should use social media in a responsible manner that is consistent with the values and mission of the school. This includes avoiding the use of social media during class time or when it may interfere with their work or responsibilities.

It is important for all members of the school community to understand and follow these guidelines to ensure that social media is used in a safe and responsible manner that reflects positively on the school and its members.

J SURVEYING OUR STUDENTS

EA believes in optional surveying within our community about a variety of topics in order to prepare programming for students and families. If you do not wish your students to participate in surveys about social-emotional well-being, happiness at school, chemical awareness or athletics, college counseling, service, or mental health awareness please contact the Division Director in writing via email to notify them each school year.

LUNCH AND SNACK

Students will have one morning snack break and one lunchtime daily. Food can be purchased from the food service provider or students can bring food from home. Elementary students need healthy choices to maintain focus throughout the day. Energy drinks, carbonated sodas, candy, cookies, and chocolate should not be sent for student snacks.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J CAFETERIA SERVICES

The main goal of Escuela Americana’s food services is to contribute to the student’s overall health and well-being so they can be more productive academically and in their physical activities. Our food service offers balanced, nutritious meals within an accessible price range and in a comfortable environment. Our cafeteria services will offer food options that students can choose from daily.

Students should purchase items from the cafeteria only during authorized times, namely, during break and lunch times. If a purchase is necessary at any other time during the school day, the student must obtain written permission from the appropriate Division Administrator.

No lunch or snacks can be purchased at the Coffee Cup or vending machines from the Secondary area.

J SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Grade-level school supplies can be purchased in the Trojan Store. Online access to the Trojan Store is available once a student is enrolled for the school year. All school supplies can be purchased at the Trojan Store.

J RULER PROGRAM

RULER is an acronym for the five skills of emotional intelligence: recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) are strategies and skills needed to meet our behavioral expectations. Teachers provide learning opportunities throughout the school year. These skills and practices will be age appropriate and continuously reviewed with the support of the SEL specialist, counselors, and administrator via the new program, RULER.

RULER is a systemic approach to SEL developed at the Center for Emotional Intelligence, Yale University, RULER aims to infuse the principles of emotional intelligence into the immune system of PK to 12 schools, informing how leaders lead, teachers teach, students learn, and families support students.

The development of these five RULER skills relies on four core tools: the Charter, Mood Meter, Meta-Moment, and Blueprint. These skills and tools are introduced to all stakeholders in the school community—school leaders, teachers, staff, students, and families.

J COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

The EA Counseling Department is closely aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards. Counselors help students develop essential social-emotional skills, support families when it comes to their children’s overall well-being, and cultivate students’ personal, social-emotional, and academic growth. Through individual sessions, group work, and classroom lessons, counselors promote essential social-emotional skills and EA’s community values. Using the Whole Child Approach, the EA Counseling Department serves to help each student achieve their full potential.

The EA Counseling Department promotes social and emotional learning (SEL) in all grade levels. Counselors work directly with teachers, parents, students, and staff to determine the most appropriate ways to help students. Counselors promote a nurturing, predictable, reinforcing, and responsive school environment and support the developmental needs of our students. The Elementary counselors work with students in small groups, in individual sessions, and consult with parents, teachers, and staff members. Counselors deliver professional development to staff and participate as speakers in the Family Education Program. The EA Counseling Department is an active member of several recognized organizations related to mental health and school counseling, such as the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, and the National Association of School Psychologists.

TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS

Parents in need of student transcripts or official school documents may contact the Elementary Director’s Office (2528-8201). All documents for families transferring from Escuela Americana are shared directly with the new school via email upon the parent’s request. Official letters and enrollment verification letters will also be provided upon parent request from the Elementary Office.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J HOMEWORK

Homework assignments are designed to be meaningful, consistent, and of a reasonably age-appropriate length. Students should have a quiet, well-lighted place to study at home. All Elementary School students should plan to read each night with a parent or independently.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR HOMEWORK TIMES

GRADE LEVEL

Kinder

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

Grade 4

Grade 5

HOMEWORK

minutes

minutes

minutes

minutes

minutes

minutes

PLEASURE READING

minutes

minutes

minutes

minutes

minutes

minutes

EA is sensitive to the use of weekends for family time and that sensitivity is reflected in our general policy to avoid the regular use of weekend time for homework. Therefore, weekend homework will be make-up work if needed, and/or project work that has been communicated well in advance.

J SPECIAL EVENTS

ART EXHIBITS

During the school year our Performing and Visual Arts department will organize and share a variety of Arts events for families to enjoy that will showcase student work in Visual Art, Music and Band classes. The exhibit is open to the entire school community and serves as a tribute to the creativity of our children. Specific event details will be shared with families via email when appropriate.

ASSEMBLIES

Grade-level community-building activities are scheduled throughout the school year for grades PK3 - 5 and the whole school PK3 - 12.

BOOK FAIR

Organized by our Library Staff, the annual Book Fair provides students and families with the opportunity to expand their personal libraries.

CELEBRATIONS ON CAMPUS

We have many special events and holiday celebrations on campus throughout the school year. Parents and families wishing to share their family’s cultural traditions with their child’s class may do so once the presentation is approved by the Division Director and the day and time is approved by the classroom teacher.

The school understands that birthdays are important to recognize and celebrate,, however, the classroom environment is for learning experiences and no student birthday parties may be celebrated on campus. Outside cupcakes, candy, treats, or toys are not permitted and will be sent home. We need to utilize our learning time effectively.

J PARENTS, VISITORS, AND VOLUNTEERS

Parents, visitors, and volunteers are welcome on campus. However, for security and safety reasons we ask that all parents, visitors, and volunteers call ahead to arrange their visit. All visitors to campus must be verified by security personnel, sign in at reception and wear their visitor’s badge at all times. Visitors must sign in and out at reception and return their visitor’s badge before leaving campus.

Parents are not permitted to visit a teacher’s classrooms during the school day unless they have a scheduled appointment or have been invited previously by the teacher. Parents are not permitted to congregate in groups on campus at arrival or dismissal, as this does not support our arrival and dismissal process.

J LOST AND FOUND

Please put your child’s name on all uniforms, lunch boxes, water bottles, extra clothing, and school bags. All lost items found in the school are kept in the Lost and Found box located at Reception. All unclaimed items, including school uniforms, will be donated to charity at the end of each quarter. Students are cautioned against bringing valuable personal property to school and are reminded that they take responsibility for any damage or loss. The school does not make any reimbursement for missing items nor is it responsible for lost property.

ATTENDANCE OR ABSENCE QUESTIONS

FIRST CONTACT

NEXT CONTACT

SEL CONTACT

LAST CONTACT

Emely Elias elias.emely@amschool.edu.sv

Classroom Teacher

Grade Level Assistant Director

Rebeca Salinas

PK3, PK4, 3rd Grade Assistant Director salinas.rebeca@amschool.edu.sv

Ariana Iannuzzelli

Kinder, 2nd grade, 4th grade Assistant Director iannuzzelli.ariana@amschool.edu.sv

Jessica Muonio

1st grade, 5th grade and Specials Assistant Director muonio.jessica@amschool.edu.sv

PK3 & PK4

Florence Augspurg augspurg.florence@amschool.edu.sv

KINDER & 1st GRADE

Anna Catani catani.anna@amschool.edu.sv

2nd GRADE, 3rd GRADE & Child Protection Supervisor

Ana Mejía mejia.ana@amschool.edu.sv

4th GRADE, 5th GRADE

Maya De la O Hernandez delao.maya@amschool.edu.sv

Dr. Megan Geshel geshel.megan@amschool.edu.sv

Escuela Americana El Salvador

SECONDARY SCHOOOL

6TH - 12TH GRADE

1

FRAMEWORK & IN TRODUCTION, INCLUSION POLICY

J OUR ETHICAL FRAMEWORK / INTRODUCTION

The Secondary Ethical framework is a set of principles guided by the school’s mission, vision, and whole child approach, that lays the foundation for a shared understanding of our work together as a learning community. This framework applies to all of us - students, faculty, staff, and administration- as we all share the same desire to reach our full potential, which is a life-long process.

SECONDARY

DIVISION’S PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY WORKS TO DELIVER ON OUR MISSION

To deliver on our School’s mission, vision, and whole-child approach, the Secondary Division clearly defines and articulates a shared understanding of the expectations for our community. The faculty and staff’s commitments mirror those that we have defined for our students. As educators, we model the kinds of values and approaches to learning we hope to instill in the young people we serve – as a way to demonstrate not only our belief in the power and validity of these qualities but also as an act of solidarity and understanding that we all share the same desire to reach our full potential and that this process is a life-long commitment.

J BELONGING AND ACCEPTANCE

At EA we are committed to building and supporting an open welcoming community dedicated to the principles of respect, empathy, dignity, and parity.

Living by this philosophy ensures that our students develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be productive and responsible global citizens so they can excel and make an impact in an increasingly complex world. Acceptance and belonging go beyond tolerance. At EA we strive for acceptance, which takes place when we respect the individual traits of others, recognize the value of each person’s uniqueness, and genuinely welcome people different from ourselves into our community.

At Escuela Americana we recognize that all children and adolescents are equal before the law. Therefore, we welcome belonging and strive to build a community of dignity. We recognize the paramount importance that all students have the right to feel safe, secure, and respected when they come to school. As a community, our definition of belonging and acceptance includes but is not limited to characteristics such as; race, culture, gender, age, color, ethnicity, religion, preference, nationality, family situation, and chronic medical conditions. Acts of discrimination by any member of our community – including bullying, taunting, violence, disrespect, or intimidation, are obstacles to both learning and teaching. Article 57 of Ley Crecer Juntos states that students must receive an “education based on tolerance, mutual understanding, respect, and solidarity”.

These behaviors violate EA’s community values: Responsibility, Integrity, Courage, and Kindness. To that end, we condemn and strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination and harassment. Escuela Americana reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to discipline or dismiss any student or family whose actions violate this policy and will adhere to the Escuela Americana Discipline System.

This policy is in accordance with article 57 of Ley Crecer Juntos.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

ATTENDING SCHOOL

J UNIFORMS

Escuela Americana is a uniform school. Secondary students are responsible for knowing and following these expectations. A student’s appearance is part of their representation of who they are in the community and, therefore, should align with our Division goals of developing one’s responsibility to themselves and the community. School uniforms create a level playing field among students, reducing peer pressure and bullying. It also enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit.

Formal uniforms must be worn every day. PE uniforms are only to be worn during PE class in the gym or on the field. Students not in uniform are violating the school policy, and if their uniform is too tight, short, or large, they will be required to change into a proper uniform or sent home.

GIRLS

• Formal bottoms: Navy blue skirt, skorts, navy blue pants, or official school sweatpants with logo.

• Formal shorts from the Trojan Store will be optional.

• White, blue or red EA polo shirt.

• Skirts must be worn at approximately knee length.

• School sweatshirts, hoodies, school jackets.

• Hair must be only natural color(s).

• Makeup should appear natural.

• Athletic shoes or dress shoes (closed-toe and flat heel).

BOYS

• Formal bottoms: Navy blue pants or official school sweatpants with logo worn above the hips with no tears at the hem.

• Formal shorts from the Trojan Store will be optional.

• White, blue, or red EA polo shirt.

• School sweatshirts, hoodies, school jackets.

• Hair should be no longer than collar length or up in a bun; No facial hair (Seniors can request this privilege each year).

• Sneakers or dress shoes (closed-toe and flat heel).

• short skirts or shorts, no crop tops or tank tops, no open-toed shoes, nor any other clothing that is inappropriate and would be a distraction to the learning environment.

EXCEPTIONS

• On designated Fridays, students may wear school spirit t-shirts, purchased at the Trojans Store, club t-shirts, official school activity shirts, class-designed shirts, and/or athletic shirts, with formal bottoms as defined above.

• On occasion, students may be granted themed or free dress days. The following rules still apply: no short skirts or shorts, no crop tops or tank tops, no open-toed shoes, nor any other clothing that is inappropriate and would be a distraction to the learning environment.

• Each year, 12th-grade students will select a color for an additional EA Polo Shirt and will design a class sweatshirt. After these dress items have been approved by the Secondary Director and the Director of Institutional Advancement, they can be worn by Senior students any day of the week.

For all students, the acceptability of their appearance is left to the Administration’s discretion.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J SCHEDULE

The school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and finishes at 3:10 p.m. Every Wednesday, students will be released at 12:25 p.m. for faculty and staff to engage in professional development opportunities.

We will follow an eight-day, eight-block rotating system where grades 6-8 have 80-minute block periods and grades 9-12 have 90-minute block periods.

G6-8

8:00 - 9:20

9:20 - 9:25

9:20 - 10:05 10:05 - 10:30 10:30 - 11:50 11:50 - 12:20 12:20 - 1:40 1:40 - 1:50 1:50 - 3:10

GRADES 6 - 8

8-DAY CYCLE; 80-MINUTE PERIODS

Block 1 (80)

Passing (5)

CT/LAP (45)

AM Break (25)

Block 2 (80)

Lunch (30)

Block 3 (80)

PM Break (10)

Block 4 (80)

9:20 - 9:25

-

-

1:40 - 1:50

LAP: Learning Advancement Period

WEDNESDAY

8:00 - 8:50

8:50 - 8:55

8:55 - 9:35

9:35 - 9:40

9:40 - 10:30

10:30 - 10:40

10:40 - 11:30

11:30 - 11:35

11:35 - 12:25

GRADES 6 - 8

WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE; 50-MINUTE PERIODS

Block 1 (50)

Passing (5)

CT/LAP (40)

Passing (5)

Block 2 (50)

Break (10)

Block 3 (50)

Passing (5)

Block 4 (50)

8:50 - 8:55

8:55 - 9:35

Learning Advancement Period

Escuela Americana El Salvador

8:00 - 9:30 9:30 - 9:40

9:40 - 11:10

11:10 - 11:50 11:50 - 1:20 1:20 - 1:40 1:40 - 3:10

GRADES 9 - 12 8-DAY CYCLE; 90-MINUTE PERIODS

- 9:40 1:20 - 1:40 11:10 - 11:50 9:40 - 11:10 11:50 - 1:20 1:40 - 3:10

WEDNESDAY

Block 1 (90)

AM Break (10)

Block 2 (90)

Lunch (40)

Block 3 (90)

PM Break (20)

Block 4 (90)

8:00 - 8:50

8:50 - 8:55

8:55 - 9:35

9:35 - 9:40

9:40 - 10:30

10:30 - 10:40

10:40 - 11:30 11:30 - 11:35 11:35 - 12:25

Block 1 (50)

Passing (5)

CT (40)

Passing (5)

Block 2 (50)

Break (10)

Block 3 (50)

Passing (5)

Block 4 (50)

GRADES 9 - 12 WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE; 50-MINUTE PERIODS

8:50 - 8:55 PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING

8:55 - 9:35 CT CT CT CT CT CT CT CT

10:30 - 10:40 BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK BREAK

10:40 - 11:30

9:35 - 9:40 PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING 11:30 - 11:35 PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING PASSING

LAP: Learning Advancement Period

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE

ATTENDANCE

Escuela Americana believes that every effort should be made to see that students attend every class every day of the school year. We expect the only reason for absence will be due to illness or emergency and for parents to contact their child’s Division Office as soon as they realize their child will miss school, regardless of the reason for the absence.

ABSENCES - STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

Students are expected to be on campus every school day. If a student must miss school, parents should email the Secondary Office in advance or as soon as the situation is known with relevant documentation and no later than 2:00 pm. It is the student’s responsibility to communicate with teachers as soon as possible to inform them of the absence. It is the student’s responsibility to abide by the Late Work policy.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

For excused absences, students have up to three (3) calendar days plus the total number of days absent (not to exceed 5 days) to make up all missed work. Excused absences include illnesses, three (3) days with a parent note, and, more than three (3) days with a doctor’s note. They also include representing the school or the country in a sports or club tournament. Official appointments with government offices (embassies, judges’ offices, etc.) will be granted an excused absence with a prior parental request.

All 11th-12th grade students are granted 5 days with an excused absence to visit colleges or universities. Absences beyond the count will be considered unexcused. These days may not be used in Quarter 4 during the Senior year.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

For unexcused absences, work is due the day the student returns to school and is immediately subject to the school’s late work policies.

TARDIES

All students are expected to arrive at each class on time and ready to participate fully. Students who arrive late are recorded as tardy. If the student has a legitimate excuse for his/her tardiness, he/she must provide a written note for the tardy to be considered excused. Without any information, the tardy is recorded as unexcused. Late arrivals to class will be subject to disciplinary actions that could range from minor to major infractions due to the repeated disruption of the learning environment.

ABSENCES - DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES

In order to receive academic credit, a student may not have more than eighteen (18) class absences from a class throughout the school year for year-long courses and they may not have more than nine (9) absences for semester-long courses. Both excused and unexcused absences contribute to this total. In the event that a student exceeds this limit, each case will be reviewed by a Division Head and a recommendation regarding promotion or retention will be made to the General Director. The decision of the General Director is final. Warning Notices will be communicated after students accumulate three (3) unexcused absences in any one class, and the student will receive a Minor Infraction. For each additional three (3) unexcused absences, an additional Minor Infraction will be imposed, and a parent conference will occur. If a student has nine (9) unexcused absences in any class, they will receive a Major Infraction. A Final Warning will be given during a parent conference if a student has fifteen (15) unexcused absences in a class. In the case of semester-long courses, a Final Warning will be given after seven (7) unexcused absences. Three (3) unexcused tardies in any one class will be considered an unexcused absence for that class. A total of nine (9) unexcused tardies across all classes will result in the student receiving a Minor Infraction.

*Repetitive, unexcused late arrivals to school will be addressed on an individual basis. Subsequent late arrivals despite ongoing follow-up indicate a more serious problem and may require that the student seek another school environment.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

FIELD TRIP PERMISSION REQUESTS

A Parent Permission Form must be signed and returned to the grade level sponsor or chaperone for each field trip before a student is allowed to leave school on the field trip.

J POLICIES OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS

SCHOOL BOOKS

Textbooks issued are to be returned in good condition at the end of each course. Fines or replacement costs will be assessed for damaged or lost books. Students will not be issued grades or transcripts until they have returned their textbooks or paid the damage/loss fines.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Escuela Americana Secondary School strives to create a safe and responsible learning environment for all students. This policy outlines expectations for personal belongings brought to school and defines the school’s responsibility in their care.

• Students are responsible for the security and safekeeping of their personal belongings.

• The school encourages students to refrain from bringing unnecessary valuables and expensive items.

• The school cannot accept liability for loss, theft, or damage to personal belongings, regardless of location or circumstance.

• Students are expected to be respectful of others’ belongings and refrain from borrowing or using them without permission.

• Lost and found. All lost items should be reported to the Secondary office. Found items will be stored for a specific period before being disposed of appropriately.

In case of lost or stolen belongings, students should report the incident to the Secondary office. The school will make reasonable efforts to locate lost items but cannot guarantee their recovery. If a student’s personal belongings cause damage to school property, the school will follow disciplinary procedures and may hold the student financially responsible for repairs or replacements.

Grade 6-12 students will be assigned a locker upon request. Students are not permitted to change lockers without the permission of the Division Director. All personal belongings should be kept in the locker when they are not in use. EA will not assume responsibility for items missing from lockers and will not assume responsibility for the loss or damage of personal belongings brought to school.

A student is responsible for the condition of his/her locker. Combinations are to be memorized by the student and not to be given to any other student. Students must make sure that they have not left the lockers unlocked or given other students the combination. Should a locker break or be jammed, it should be reported to the Division office as soon as possible. Students should not kick or slam their lockers, nor should the lockers be defaced in any way.

Students must clear out their lockers by the last day of school. The School will not take responsibility for articles left in the lockers after the last day of school.

*Administration reserves the right to check any lockers in use if there’s reasonable suspicion of misuse. The parents have agreed to any search of the student´s property in the Enrollment Contract.

ACCESS TO CAMPUS AFTER SCHOOL

It is strictly prohibited for students to return to campus once they have left for any reason, including but not limited to breaks, emergencies, or personal reasons without permission from the Division or Athletics Director. This policy will be enforced through a variety of means, including monitoring of campus entrances and exits, regular checks of student attendance, and communication with students and their families. Any student found in violation of this policy may face disciplinary action.

J DELIVERY OF ITEMS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

In order to teach our students the importance of planning and other types of responsible behaviors, the delivery of items from home is not permitted during the school day. This includes class materials, missed homework, athletic equipment, restaurant food, or any other item. Medicines may be delivered to the nurse’s office.

Food delivery is strictly prohibited during school hours, including breakfast, lunch, and any scheduled breaks. Any exceptional circumstance must be approved by the Division Director.

All after-school hour deliveries must be inspected by security before any student has access to them.

J BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE POLICY

Every student from 6th to 12th grade must have a personal electronic device. The school recommends the following specific devices: Macbook, laptop, or Chromebook. The minimum requirements expected from the device to ensure student learning is:

• 11-inch-diagonal diameter screen.

• A minimum battery life of 4 hours.

• A keyboard, camera, and wifi capability.

• The ability to open, download and edit text documents, PDF, multimedia presentations, charts, and images.

• The ability to open, record and edit videos.

• The ability to access digital content and assessments from our learning management system.

Students in grades 6-8 are not allowed to use cell phones or smartwatches of any type during school hours. Students who decide to bring their cell phone or smartwatch must keep them OFF and conceal them in their backpacks at all times upon their arrival to school until 3:10 p.m. Cell phones or smartwatches will not be allowed in their pockets.

Students in grades 6-8 may use their computers and headphones during class time for academic purposes under direct supervision by the teacher. The default mode for devices is that they are closed and put away until expressly told by the teacher to activate them for class activities.

Students in grades 9-12 may be allowed to use electronic devices for academic purposes under direct supervision from teachers. The default mode for devices is that they are closed and put away until expressly told by the teacher to activate them for class activities.

Students in grades 9-12 may use cell phones, headphones, and smartwatches only during breaks and at lunch. Cell phones will not be allowed in their pockets or on their desks. During passing time between classes, cell phones, headphones and smartwatches must be put away and on silent mode in their backpacks and may not be used under any circumstances. Students who do not follow this policy will follow the confiscated items policy.

LEARNING AT SCHOOL

J ACADEMICS

The Secondary School’s academic program is challenging, integrative, and exploratory, and designed to meet the intellectual, social, emotional, psychological, and physical needs of all students.

Our 6th - 8th grade curriculum builds a strong foundation necessary for responsible civility, personal development, and life-long learning. Students will take core classes in English, Math, Social Studies, Spanish, and Science and are exposed to the arts and other disciplines through semester courses. All students will take a PE course each year.

In 9th - 12th grades, EA offers a demanding bilingual, college-preparatory program that enables students to realize their full potential in academics, service, athletics, and leadership. Over 90% of the students earn both the Escuela Americana high school diploma and the Salvadoran Bachillerato diploma.

J COURSE PLACEMENT

Escuela Americana reserves the right to place students in an alternate course or courses when the first choice requests cannot be honored or when the student’s previous academic achievement and learning characteristics do not meet the requirements of the particular course requested. The School and parents will consider the student’s mastery of basic skills, previous achievement, and maturity when making final placement decisions.

COURSE REGISTRATION AND COUNSELING

The course catalog for the next school year will be finalized by the end of January. The catalog, the list of course offerings, and the registration process calendar will be presented to teachers so that they can revise the material and ask questions. The course catalog, offerings, and registration calendar will be presented to students during CT the first week of February.

Courses can be presented by the department during CT. Parents sign up for workshop-style meetings with all counselors supporting the process. After these sessions, individual follow-up meetings will be held with each counselor, the student, and at least one parent to discuss and review the plan.

Both the parent and the student will sign the plan and any changes that happen throughout 10-12 grade. If a parent is unable to attend, they can Zoom into the meetings and sign the document digitally. The official paperwork will be kept in the student file and electronically.

All student/parent meetings must take place at least one week before course registration (at the end of Q3). The plan sheet will be used at the time students register for their courses and students will not be able to register for any classes that are not in their signed plans. Any changes to requests must be acknowledged by parents and will be documented.

J ADVANCED PROGRAMMING

ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM (AP)

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program offers opportunities for qualified students to earn credit(s) for universities around the world while completing their high school education. Students must meet established prerequisites before enrolling in any of the AP courses offered at EA. These prerequisites Include a three-quarter average of no less than 90% from the previous current core course in the same subject, no Learning Behavior rubric scores below a 3, and their current teacher approval signature. In addition, students must complete the summer work assignment to hold their place in the course and pass a related assessment administered during the first days of the school year. Failure to complete the summer assignment or pass the assessment will result in the student’s withdrawal from the AP course. A Committee will review and approve requests for enrollment in more than 3 AP or advanced classes. Students who take AP courses are required to register and take the AP Examinations that are administered each May. There is a fee for taking each AP examination, which is collected in September. EA students enrolled in AP Courses are required to take the AP Exams.

Failure to take the AP Exam in May results in the following consequences:

• The transcript will be changed to reflect a regular level of the course and all grades and GPAs will be recalculated for the entire year.

• Colleges will be notified that the student took the AP Course, but did not complete the school’s exam requirement.

• Exam fees will not be refunded

For external reporting purposes only, grades earned in Advanced Placement courses are weighted +10 quality points more than regular courses when calculating a student’s grade point average for students obtaining an AP exam score of 3+. For example, a student who earns an 85 in an AP course and scores 3+ in the AP exam will have 95 used for GPA calculations.

However, the grade the student has earned in the course (85 in this example) is reported on the transcript and not the grade with the additional points added. In addition, failing grades in AP courses are recorded as failing grades and are not awarded extra points. Students who obtain an AP exam score of 1 or 2 will not be granted the GPA bonus calculation points and will not be allowed to enroll in another AP course in that area the following year.

Since AP classes are taught at a level commensurate with university courses, students are expected to complete work above and beyond that of the regular curriculum. Typically, such work entails additional homework and/or weekend work to complete the reading, writing, and research required for the classes. Students will be required to complete a full-length practice exam at least once during the school year to gauge readiness and set personal score achievement goals.

Students and parents will sign a contract acknowledging this policy and its requirements before the beginning of the school year.

J ONE SCHOOLHOUSE

One Schoolhouse is a provider of high-quality online high school courses for the most elite private schools around the world. With years of experience, it employs experienced faculty who currently teach at prestigious private schools throughout the United States. Using their online platform, these instructors provide high-quality, personalized instruction to students. Students will have opportunities to collaborate with their peers from other schools and experience the innovation of online learning that is currently becoming the norm in many universities.

ELIGIBILITY

PAYMENT RESPONSIBILITY

• 11th/12th grade students.

• Students must have a cumulative GPA of 87 or higher.

• Students must have two recommendations from faculty.

• Students are responsible for paying for specified courses. Prices are updated and communicated for each school year.

• Students who withdraw from the course after the first day of classes are responsible for associated tuition costs.

J ONLINE COURSE POLICY (OTHER THAN ONE SCHOOLHOUSE)

Any student who would like to take an online course in a core academic course must meet with the Division Director personally and make a formal request. The Division Director will consult with the current teachers and the team will determine if permission is granted for the course to be taken by an Escuela Americana approved online program. Only if the student has the paperwork signed by the current teacher of the content course and the Division Director will the course be approved and considered an academic credit. The student must complete the course and the school shall receive official transcripts from the school directly prior to any credit being accepted. If the student does not have this, they will be responsible to take the course on campus.

If a student fails a course, the school will require the course to be completed online via our approved online summer remediation course program. All summer coursework must be completed prior to July 15th to be accepted.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

Policy for any EA student to take 2 core academic courses in one school year (2 math or 2 sciences).

No student will be allowed to do this without written approval from the Division Director and the Registrar. EA strongly discourages this practice. However, a decision will be made based on teacher recommendations, grade requirements, and MAP test results, and Math Readiness test (when available.)

J GRADING SYSTEM

ACADEMIC GRADES 9-12

All academic grades and PE reported will be on a numeric scale of 100 points. A grade of 64 or below will be considered a failing grade. Report cards will reflect numerical values only.

Official grades are reported four times during the academic year. Parents are encouraged to regularly access their child’s grades through their Learning Management System account. Parents of students in danger of failing and/or with academic difficulties in several areas will be contacted by the Administration for conferences at the end of each reporting period. Parents are strongly encouraged to establish communication with their child’s teacher as a first approach to any academic concern.

J LEARNING BEHAVIORS AND RUBRIC

In order to provide clarity of the student as a learner, each teacher reports on academic performance and learning behaviors. Engagement, Responsibility, and Integrity compose the Learning Behavior grade which is assessed on a four-point scale: 4 - Mastery of Expectations, 3 - Meets Expectations, 2 - Approaching Expectations, and 1 - Needs Improvement. Students will reflect on their behavior and complete periodic self-assessments. The Learning Behavior grade is an important indicator of habits and behavior in the classroom. While it will not impact the GPA, it will be included as part of the graduation transcript. The administration will meet with those who consistently fail to comply with the expectations.

STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAM

The Student Success Program is an approach to education that provides students who have mild learning differences with the necessary interventions to be empowered and reach their full academic potential. Student support is provided in grades 6-10, through direct support in class or in small groups.

Escuela Americana does not offer individualized, one-on-one classroom support due to resource constraints that limit our capacity to address learning needs beyond a mild degree of severity. We understand that students’ learning needs may vary, and we strive to provide appropriate support within the scope of our expertise.

Only the school administration can determine who is eligible for the Student Success Program.

J GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must earn 27.5 credits in order to earn the high school diploma and students must take a full course load all four years of high school or replace every school year. Failure to pass all courses taken during 12th grade may prevent a Senior student from participating in the Commencement Ceremony or receiving a diploma. All students must also successfully complete a social service requirement as directed by the Division Office. Currently, the requirement is 150 hours during 9th - 12th grades. Only the General Director, with the recommendation of the Secondary School Director, may authorize changes or substitutions of courses in the graduation requirements for the high school diploma.

Students desiring a Bachillerato Diploma from the Salvadoran Ministry of Education must follow a prescribed schedule of classes. Courses offered as part of the regular instructional program will count as credit toward this diploma. Students must also complete 150 social service hours and pass a national standardized test.

In accordance with MINEDUCYT laws, it is Escuela Americana policy that all students who are Salvadoran in nationality must be enrolled in the Salvadoran Ministry of Education Program to obtain their national diploma (Bachillerato Diploma). Only students completing studies abroad who are admitted into High School and who have a second nationality may opt out of this requirement and will have to sign a waiver in agreement to their decision.

* Four credits must be earned between Grades 9 and 12, even if Algebra 1 was taken in 8th Grade.

^ Non-native speakers substitute these courses with Spanish as a Second Language (SSL)

** Computer skills learned in Elementary are mastered in Secondary through their application across the Curriculum

Note: Students must take at least one core area class each year in high school.

NATIONAL STANDARDIZED EXAMINATION

The MINEDUCYT determines the percentage of weight afforded to the Standardized examination which, when combined with the grades awarded by EA, is used to determine whether a student is eligible to receive the Bachillerato diploma. Completion of the EA program of study enables a student to earn the EA high school diploma, and it positions a student to earn the Salvadoran Bachillerato diploma. However, EA does not control the terms or conditions under which the Bachillerato is awarded and we cannot guarantee that an EA graduate will earn the Bachillerato diploma. If earning the Bachillerato diploma is a priority, not only will a student need to take the relevant courses and pass them, but they must also pass the National Standardized test at a level to produce a composite score set by the MINEDUCYT.

MINEDUCYT courses that are integrated within the EA courses meet the requirements for the Bachillerato Diploma.

All required content is integrated into the US diploma courses for each student in their 10th and 11th grade years.

INTEGRATED CONTENT INTO 10TH AND 11TH GRADE COURSES

BASIC AREA

• Language and Literature

• Math

• Natural Sciences

• Social Studies and Civics

• Foreign language

• Computers

• Orientation for life

COMPLEMENTARY SUBJECTS

CITIZEN COMPETENCES

• Moral and civics

• Seminars

• Labor Qualification Course

• Evidence of attitudes favorable to coexistence and a culture of peace.

• Accepts and values diversity

• Makes decisions autonomously and responsibly

• Expresses and participates with respect

• Shows a sense of belonging and respect for our culture.

J HOMEWORK POLICY

PURPOSE OF HOMEWORK

Homework is a tool to help students remediate understanding, practice applying their knowledge, and to prepare for the next class period. Teachers should be reviewing homework with students.

“WHY WE DO HOMEWORK”

Homework can be a beneficial tool for student learning if implemented efficiently. We want to help teachers be more cognizant of the demands placed on students and design homework to be more efficient and beneficial for student learning. Homework is to help students practice what was learned in class and get a “sneak peek” of what is coming the next time the class meets.

• All homework needs to be aligned with learning goals.

• Homework should not be assigned just because that’s what has been done before or to fulfill an imposed requirement/ or complete classwork.

• All teachers should review any homework that has been assigned.

• If teachers decide to assign practice activities, they should be designed to be completed independently (without tutors).

• Students should have no more than 10 minutes per grade level of homework on any given night in total. 6th grade, 60 minutes; 7th grade, 70 minutes and so on. The activities should be designed to use the proportional amount per block of the day.

• Out-of-class tasks should be meaningful tasks in which students apply their knowledge to real-life situations.

• Secondary School teachers are to follow the 10-minute rule and be mindful of the scheduled no-homework weekends. This means no work can be assigned or due the Monday after the nohomework weekend or the first day after returning from a holiday.

J ASSESSMENT POLICY

SECONDARY PURPOSE OF ASSESSMENT

The purpose of assessment at EA is to calibrate teaching and learning. Assessment is deliberate, ongoing, and responsive. Standards-based rubrics form the foundation of all assessments, whether formative or summative. Students experience a wide range of authentic assessments that address real-world situations.

GRADING POLICIES IN GRADES 9-12

Academic grades are based primarily on the demonstration of knowledge and skills of the course standards. Achieving higher grades reflects a deeper understanding of standards, NOT doing more work. Academic behaviors such as collaboration, participation, responsibility, academic integrity, and using class time wisely are not included in the academic grades; they are reported in the Learning Behavior Rubric.

LATE AND MISSING WORK IN GRADES 9-12

All assignments, projects, or assessments will have specified due dates communicated to students in advance. It is the responsibility of students to submit their work on or before the due date. If a student fails to submit their work by the due date, it will be considered late. Late work will be accepted, but a deduction of 20% of the total points possible for the assignment, project, or assessment will be applied, with a maximum of 6 calendar days to receive feedback. If a student anticipates that they will not be able to submit their work on time due to extenuating circumstances, they are expected to communicate with the teacher in advance to request an extension in writing. Extensions may be granted on a case-bycase basis, depending on the nature and validity of the circumstances. Teachers will not be responsible for reminding students about upcoming due dates or accepting late work without the appropriate deduction.

Students can no longer submit work after the end of the unit. Any work submitted past the due date is considered late and is subject to the 20 points or 20% off deduction policy described above and as detailed in all course syllabi. No work will be accepted more than 6 calendar days late. The rationale for this policy is that we are preparing students for their futures, where deadlines will matter and impact their lives.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

STANDARDS-BASED GRADING IN GRADES 6 TO 8

J STANDARDS-BASED GRADING IN GRADES 6 TO 8

Grades 6 to 8 will follow a standards-based grading system. Standards-based grading (SBG) focuses on demonstrating knowledge and understanding of learning standards. All class activities focus on teaching the specific learning standards for each course. Students are assessed on the progress towards meeting the standards only.

Students in grades 6 and 7 will be assessed using a four-point scale:

4 MASTERY

Mastery of Standards

3 PROFICIENT

2 APPROACHING Achieving Standards

Approaching Standards

Limited demonstration of Standards 1 BEGINNING

Academic grades are based only on the demonstration of knowledge and skills of the course standards. Achieving higher grades reflects a deeper understanding of standards, NOT doing more work.

All academic behaviors such as collaboration, participation, turning work in on time, academic integrity, and using class time wisely are not included in the academic grades; they are reported in the Learning Behavior Rubric.

STANDARDS-BASED ASSESSMENT

SBG systems differentiate between two types of assessment. Formative assessments are assignments designed to give feedback to the student and teacher about learning on standards. Formatives drive the majority of teaching and learning in the classroom.

Summative assessments are designed to demonstrate student learning on specific standards. They are usually projects, quizzes, essays, and tests. All grades are based on summative assessments.

LATE OR MISSING FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

• Late formatives may be turned in until the corresponding summative assessment has been taken and will be assessed to indicate learning without penalty.

• Missing formative assessments will be indicated by an “M” in the grade book. These will not impact a quarter or semester grade.

• Information regarding late or missing assignments will be indicated on the Learning Behaviors.

LATE OR MISSING SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS

• Summative assessments may be turned in late. Students must complete the Late Summative Form by the next class meeting after the summative due date in order to be eligible for turning in the assessment late.

• Students missing summative assessments are unable to show the achievement of standards, so they will receive a mark of “Insufficient Evidence” (IE) in the grade book.

• Late summative assessments will impact the Learning Behaviors grade.

RESUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENTS

• Formative assessments may be resubmitted until the end of the unit.

• Students may resubmit most summative assessments by following the given protocols:

- Fully completing a Resubmission Form by the next class meeting after receiving the corrected summative assessment.

- Completing all formative assessments in the unit.

• Summative assessments may be redone for full credit as they indicate a demonstration of learning.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

PROMOTION/ RETENTION IN STANDARDS-BASED REPORTING IN GRADES 6 - 8

Students need to demonstrate proficiency in the standards taught each year in order to move to the next grade level. The administration will review the work of students earning below Proficient in two or more classes for the next steps.

Students earning Beginning, or a score of one, in one or more classes or who have failed to complete numerous summative assessments will be asked to complete a project over the summer to demonstrate proficiency in the course standards. Students who have shown little progress on standards in two or more classes may be asked to repeat the grade level.

J RECOGNITION

Guided by our mission and community values, the Secondary School recognizes excellence in all aspects of student life.

In June, an end-of-the-year Awards Ceremony will be held before graduation for all students in grades 6-12.

Academic achievement will be recognized in grades 9-12 as follows:

HONOR ROLL

Cumulative year average of 88.0 - 91.99

PRINCIPAL’S’ HONOR ROLL

Cumulative year average of 92.0 - 95.99

GENERAL DIRECTOR’S ACHIEVEMENT

STUDENT-ATHLETE HONORS

VALEDICTORIAN / SALUTATORIAN

Cumulative year average of 96.0 and above.

Played a sport at EA all year and maintained a cumulative average of 88 and above.

To be considered for Valedictorian and/or Salutatorian the student must meet all EA credits for graduation and meet all GPA qualifications. For any student to qualify, they must have attended Escuela Americana for a minimum of 4 semesters and all qualifying marks obtained in grades 9-12 will be included in the final GPA calculation considered for this award ranking.

These are the scales EA will use to determine the percent to average in the GPA if the student transfers with letter or GPA grades from other schools.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

*All academic grades will be included, except PE.

Academic achievement will be recognized in grades 6-7 based on mastery of learning as we transition to standards-based grading.

J WITHDRAWING / INCOMPLETES

WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE (9TH - 12TH GRADE)

It is the student’s responsibility to recognize his/her inability to meet the requirements of a course within six days of the school year for all year-long and semester one courses and the first four days of the second semester for semester two courses

Withdrawing from a course after the drop/add periods has closed is subject to the approval of the Secondary Director and will require a parent’s meeting. The student will receive a “W” on the official transcript, and report card.

INCOMPLETES

A teacher may put an “INC” (Incomplete) on a quarterly report card if, in his or her opinion, a reliable grade cannot be determined for a student who has been absent and/or has missed too much work due to legitimate reasons. It is the responsibility of the student to communicate with his/her teachers following an absence to determine what work is to be made up. Students will be given a specified date to complete the work. Any work that has not been completed in the specified amount of time will receive a failing grade.

J PROMOTION / RETENTION POLICY

The purpose of the promotion procedure is to assure that every child that is promoted has acquired the necessary skills and levels of achievement to be successful in the next grade. The minimum passing grade necessary to complete a class will be 65 in Grades 9 through 12. Students in danger of failing one or more classes will be identified and counseled, and their Parents will be informed and kept abreast of their academic progress.

We believe that our students are capable of performing at a high academic level. Academic achievement, as verified by end-of-year averages reported on the student’s cumulative file and the Report Card, will determine promotion. At the end of each of the first three marking periods, the Administration with or without the Counselor will meet with each parent whose child is in danger of failing the school year.

For students in grade 6-8, please refer to the promotion/retention policy for Standards Based Reporting.

GRADES 6-8

• If a student fails two or fewer year-long classes in the regular school year, he or she needs to complete remediation work for those classes over the summer. This remediation work must be turned in by June 30th in the Secondary Office to continue the enrollment process for the next school year.

• Students need to demonstrate proficiency in the standards taught each year in order to move to the next grade level. The administration will review the work of students earning below Proficient in more than two classes to determine the next steps.

GRADES 9-12

• If a student fails a year-long class (64 or below) in the regular school year, he or she needs to complete one semester of this class over the summer through the University of Nebraska High School Online Program by July 15th to continue with the enrollment for the next school year (Passing grade is 70; the transcript is required)

• Once the student has passed the online class, the student’s EA transcript will be updated to a 65* indicating that remediation was completed through an online course and EA credit will be given.

• If the student fails the summer online class, they may have to repeat this class on campus during the school year. This may impact the student’s continued program of study at EA and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

• If a student fails three or more classes during the regular school year, this will also be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the administration, which will determine if EA is the best learning environment for the student.

• School staff will create a work plan with all students taking Nebraska Online Summer Courses and will check in regularly with parents and students.

J ELIGIBILITY FOR CO-CURRICULARS

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

In order for students to participate in an international school-sponsored event (e.g. AASCA competition, MUN, Mathcounts, or Leadership trip), they must maintain specific behavioral and academic expectations.

For the purposes of determining eligibility, only official grades (Quarter/Semester) will be considered. For example, if the selection process for an international event occurs during the 1st Quarter of the school year, then the student must pass all courses in the previous school year without having to do summer school. If the selection process takes place during the 2nd Quarter, then the student must pass each course during the 1st Quarter. If the selection process takes place during the 3rd Quarter, the student must pass each First Semester course. If the selection process takes place during the 4th Quarter, the student must be passing each course based on the Cumulative Average of the first three Quarters.

Students that have committed Major Infractions may not represent the school in international events or participate in international trips. The school will make every effort to refund any payments made towards those events or trips, but cannot guarantee that those refunds will occur.

School Policy for International Events

1. General Policy

The School may organize and offer international events, such as field trips, study tours, or cultural exchanges, to provide educational opportunities for students. These events may require payment of funds by students or their families to cover various expenses, such as travel, accommodation, meals, or activities.

2. Non-Liability for Paid Funds

The School shall make reasonable efforts to ensure the smooth planning and execution of international events. However, due to the unpredictable nature of international travel and events, the School cannot guarantee the success, availability, or quality of any specific event, and shall not be held liable for any failure, delay, cancellation, modification, or inconvenience that may occur.

3. Refunds and Cancellations

In the event that an international event is canceled or modified, the School shall make reasonable efforts to provide alternative arrangements or refunds of paid funds to affected students or their families, subject to any non-refundable expenses already incurred by the School or its partners. However, the School reserves the right to retain a portion or all of the paid funds to cover administrative, planning, or other expenses incurred in organizing the event.

Any student who commits a Major Infraction is ineligible to be a member of the school’s official delegation for international events during the remainder of that current school year.

Note: Any student who commits a Major Infraction after the selection process has occurred will automatically forfeit the opportunity to participate in the event. Any funds paid to reserve the student’s participation will not be refunded by the school.

4. Travel Arrangements

The School may work with external travel agencies, vendors, or partners to arrange travel, accommodation, or other services for international events. However, the School shall not be responsible for the acts, omissions, errors, or negligence of such external parties, including but not limited to flight delays or cancellations, lost or damaged luggage, changes to travel itineraries, or any other issues that may arise during travel. Participants are responsible for complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and requirements, including passport, visa, health, or safety requirements, and for obtaining any necessary insurance coverage for their travel.

5. Participant Responsibilities

Participants in international events organized by the School are expected to comply with all applicable School policies, rules, regulations, and codes of conduct, as well as any specific instructions or guidelines provided by the School or its representatives. Participants shall also take responsibility for their own safety, well-being, and behavior during the event, and shall not engage in any activities that may endanger themselves or others, or that may bring disrepute or liability to the School. Any violations of School policies or misconduct may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to dismissal from the event or other consequences, at the sole discretion of the School.

6. Parent/Guardian Consent

Parents or guardians of participating students shall provide written consent for their child’s participation in international events organized by the School, and shall acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions of this policy, including the non-liability for paid funds. Parents or guardians shall also provide all required documents, emergency contact information, and any relevant medical or dietary information for their child, and shall promptly notify the School of any changes or updates to such information.

7. Insurance

The School will require participants to obtain appropriate insurance coverage, such as travel insurance, medical insurance, or liability insurance, at their own expense, to protect against unexpected events or expenses that may arise during the international event. The School will work with external insurance companies to provide medical coverage but is not responsible for any costs, damages, or losses incurred by participants that are not covered by insurance.

8. Amendments to the Policy

The School reserves the right to amend, modify, or update this policy at any time, and any changes shall be effective upon notice to participants or their families. Participants are responsible for regularly reviewing this policy and for complying with the most current version. By participating in an international event organized by the School, participants and their families acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions of this policy, including the non-liability for paid funds.

SECTION 5 CARING FOR STUDENTS

J COMMUNITY TIME

Community Time works to develop a coherent, communal ethos aligned with EA’s Core Values by creating regular time with a range of community groupings, for a set of clearly defined purposes, through weekly themes that cycle through attention to the individual, the community, and the wider systems we inhabit.

The main goals of Community Time are as follows:

Community Building

• Create healthy connections with the larger EA community

• Provide students a sense of belonging to the school community

• Create opportunities for informal interaction between students and teachers

Character Education/Social and Emotional Education

• Cultivate the social and emotional development of every young adolescent

Advocacy

• Build rapport and trust between students and teachers

• Develop self-advocacy skills and strategies

• Be an additional support system for students

J GUIDELINES FOR LEARNING

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT (PBIS) AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

EA is a restorative practices campus. School and student success begin with positive student behavior.

The Secondary School Discipline process is built on restorative practices which consist of three main components:

INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS (PBIS)

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES 2 1 3

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)

Social Emotional Learning is preventative in nature, whereas Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Restorative Practices are both preventative and responsive.

The goal of the above approaches is to empower students to take charge of their behavior by teaching them the skills they need to resolve problems in a manner that is realistic and constructive, while at the same time providing appropriate support and follow-up to modify maladaptive behavior.

This process is ongoing and involves discussions about a “One School” vision for our school community, the School’s Honor Code and Code of Conduct, and the school expectations as listed in the General section of the Parent/Student Handbook.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS (PBIS)

PBIS is a structured environment that provides clear expectations for student behavior and a tiered system for behavior interventions. PBIS focuses on prevention rather than punishment. It also provides incentives for those students who meet the behavioral expectations.

PBIS consists of three tiers of interventions: Are classroom and school-wide interventions provided for all students. The Tier 1 interventions are designed to provide clear expectations for student behavior in all common areas of the school as well as classrooms. Students are taught the skills needed to meet these expectations. These are teacher-initiated and -led.

1

2

Interventions are more individualized and intensive interventions designed to provide additional support to help students meet behavioral expectations. These include aspects such as behavior contracts, daily behavior forms, and/or mentoring.

3

Supports are individualized and specialized interventions. Some students with persistent and chronic behavior issues may need more intensive interventions. Tier 3 interventions are determined with input from Teachers, Social Emotional Learning Specialists/Counselors, and Administrators.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

When students do not meet the school’s expectations, the focus of Restorative Practices is on students taking responsibility for their actions and, to the best of their ability, repairing any harm done. The goal of restorative practices is to proactively build relationships and enhance a sense of community, and then react to situations that have led to harm and require the restoring of relationships and moving forward.

Restorative Practices include a positive disciplinary approach where natural consequences of maladaptive behaviors are addressed with clear, consistent, and equitable consequences.

These are then reinforced by a series of interventions, including social emotional support, informal conversations/meetings, and formal conferences, including parent and family interventions.

GUIDELINES

1. Teachers clearly define expectations and teach those expectations by extensively and repetitively practicing the skills and strategies needed to meet those expectations.

2. Teachers develop strategies and opportunities to establish solid Student-Teacher relationships to foster student engagement and positive communication.

3. The Administration with the Counselors develop social emotional lessons and conduct “restorative circles” to bolster SEL and the development of skills needed for a successful outcome.

4. Teachers follow up and reinforce the social emotional lessons.

5. Applicable clear, consistent, and equitable consequences are assigned for repetitive unmet expectations.

PBIS, SEL and restorative practices support effective classroom management as they encourage positive interpersonal relationships and academic success and help establish and maintain a quality environment conducive to learning.

All adults of the EA community are encouraged to use their best judgment in determining when an action or behavior is detrimental to our goals, our community, or our learning.

J CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Escuela Americana has a formal child protection policy, please see Appendix 7 of this handbook for the complete document.

J COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

The EA Counseling Department is closely aligned with the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) standards. Counselors help students develop essential social-emotional skills, support families when it comes to their children’s overall well-being, and cultivate students’ personal, social-emotional, and academic growth. Through individual sessions, group work, and classroom lessons, counselors promote essential social-emotional skills and EA’s community values. Using the Whole Child Approach, the EA Counseling Department serves to help each student achieve their full potential.

The EA Counseling Department promotes social and emotional learning (SEL) in all grade levels.

Counselors work directly with teachers, parents, students, and staff to determine the most appropriate ways to help students. Counselors promote a nurturing, predictable, reinforcing, and responsive school environment and support the developmental needs of our students. The Secondary counselors work with students in small groups, in individual sessions, and consult with parents, teachers, and staff members. Counselors also deliver professional development to staff and participate as speakers in the Family Education Program.

The EA Counseling Department is an active member of several recognized organizations related to mental health and school counseling, such as the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, and the National Association of School Psychologists. Secondary counselors support student development in each of the EA core elements, with a specialized focus on social-emotional and academic counseling.

Escuela Americana’s policy is to consider reporting to colleges any significant change in a candidate’s academic status or qualifications, including conduct record. These include, but are not limited to, a significant drop in grades, Honor Code violations, suspension and/or dismissal during Grades 11 and 12. In case of a disciplinary situation that warrants a potential report to the colleges a student is applying to, a discipline committee will come together to discuss if the student’s actions are reportable. In case the committee determines that they are, it will give the student a week to self-report before the school sends official notice to the colleges. The counselor will be available to assist in the process of notifying the colleges.

J SPECIAL CASES OF SEVERE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AND THREAT TO SELF/THREAT TO OTHERS

The School takes reports of concerns with mental health seriously and prioritizes student well-being.

If a student discloses thoughts related to suicide or harm to self or others, it will notify the parents or legal guardians immediately as part of the school’s “Duty to Warn” Counseling protocol. If in school, the parent will be called to a meeting with the counselor. The student will be required to wait in the counseling office until the parent arrives. The student will be required to leave campus accompanied by the parent or legal guardian.

In such cases, the School will require that the student be evaluated accordingly by a mental health professional. The student may not be able to return to campus until the parents or legal guardians present a medical clearance that he/she is safe to return to campus in order to ensure his or her safety as well as the safety of others. The same guideline applies in case a student is scheduled to travel with a school delegation, such as AASCA, travel abroad or Leadership Experience. The student may not participate in the trip until the medical clearance is presented. Student absence in the meantime will be marked as excused.

J SURVEYING OUR STUDENTS

EA believes in optional surveying within our community about a variety of topics in order to prepare programming for students and families. If you do not wish your students to participate in surveys about social-emotional well-being, happiness at school, chemical awareness, or athletics, college counseling, service or mental health awareness please contact the Director of the Division in writing via email to notify them each school year.

J DRUG AND ALCOHOL PREVENTION

Escuela Americana is proud to partner with Pathways for Prevention, an international non-profit provider of school-based substance abuse prevention services. Pathways for Prevention provides students, and the adults who care for them, the knowledge, understanding, and skills they need to make intelligent, healthy choices about alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.

Escuela Americana periodically conducts a Student Attitudes and Behaviors Survey with our Secondary students. Using the results of these surveys, EA implements intensive workshops for students and their families. If you do not wish your student to have the opportunity to participate in this optional survey please contact the Division Director via email and notify the school in writing each school year.

J DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

• Students must follow all guidelines of digital citizenship when connecting online with teachers and classmates.

• Avoid making fun of or defacing images or posted videos

• Refrain from using unnecessary technology and online communication during your online learning (e.g. mobile phone, social media, watching videos)

• Unauthorized recording of teachers and administrators without explicit consent is strictly forbidden, encompassing classrooms, offices, meetings, or any school-related events where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. Anyone found in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. Additionally, recording private conversations without the consent of all participants is strictly prohibited on school grounds, during school-sponsored activities, or using school-issued equipment, applying to all students, faculty, staff, parents and visitors.

J CODE OF CONDUCT

Escuela Americana’s Code of Conduct is the basis upon which we construct our lives in this learning community. The Code informs our actions and our policies in fulfilling our educational mission. The Code of Conduct is not, however, a disciplinary system. It is a set of expectations and values that frames our lives together.

The Secondary School discipline system is built on Respect, Responsibility, and Safety, and it incorporates an intervention plan and restorative practices to help students modify inappropriate behaviors. The goal is to empower students to take charge of their behavior by providing support and follow-up and not merely giving punitive consequences.

It is a collaborative team approach that involves students, teachers, counselors, and parents working together to follow our Code of Conduct. Nevertheless, all behavior leads to consequences.

Following our EA community values means the school has a zero-tolerance approach to hate speech, including any derogatory behavior, disrespectful attitude, or comments directed towards minority members of our school community. This zero-tolerance approach will escalate any of the above behaviors to a disciplinary committee which may result in immediate removal from the EA community.

J AI USE POLICY

The advent of Generative AI tools (like Chat-GPT, Bard, Bing and a host of others) is a concern for educators preoccupied about the ways in which students might use these tools to cheat.

It is important to remember that generative AI is a tool. Its efficacy and productive value depends directly on how it is used. It will not give you the best paper, the most fulsome explanation, or the most reliable literature review. (many new iterations of these generative AIs will completely fabricate information to complete the task given). It cannot think for you.

However, these tools also can be powerful resources to improve student writing, research, brainstorming and organization. In addition, faculty are aware that students will likely be using these tools to generate text and images throughout their working lives. Some teachers have allowed and even encouraged students to use generative AI for assignments. There remains a gray area for many students around how they ought to use generative AI.

As a result teachers have a responsibility to set clear guidelines for students around using generative AI. Teachers can completely forbid students from using it or they can allow certain uses (like using AI to help revise a draft or to generate topics). Because generative AI is so new and so powerful, clarity is crucial to helping students know what is honest use and what is not.

TEACHERS SAMPLE STATEMENTS

1. If you use generative AI to do your thinking for this class, you'll be wasting a huge (and expensive!) opportunity to learn how to think and communicate. You can cut corners, if you wish, but you will regret losing the opportunity to develop your own thoughts and skills.

2. You may use AI programs e.g. ChatGPT to help generate ideas and brainstorm. However, you should note that the material generated by these programs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic. Beware that use may also stifle your own independent thinking and creativity. You may not submit any work generated by an AI program as your own. If you include material generated by an AI program, it should be cited like any other reference material.

3. You should note that all large language models still have a tendency to make up incorrect facts and fake citations, code generation models have a tendency to produce inaccurate outputs, and image generation models can occasionally come up with highly offensive products. You will be responsible for any inaccurate, biased, offensive, or otherwise unethical content you submit regardless of whether it originally comes from you or a foundation model.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the violation of academic integrity and honesty by presenting another’s words or ideas as your own. It also includes the deliberate sharing of work to be used by another student. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge.

The use of digital sources, including ChatGPT or other AI technology, for any assignment can only be done with the prior approval of the course instructor. Furthermore, ChatGPT or work done by any other digital source must be properly cited in the student’s work. Failure to comply with these rules will be considered plagiarism and/or cheating.

If a teacher suspects that a student’s work is not their own, the student will be expected to demonstrate on demand the knowledge and understanding exhibited in the work. Furthermore, faculty regularly submit student work to anti-plagiarism software, such as Turnitin.com and AI-detection websites.

EA takes cases of plagiarism very seriously. How to cite sources appropriately is an important part of the curriculum school-wide, and instances of plagiarism will be confronted at any level where it occurs.

Sanctions for instances of plagiarism will vary by Division and within developmentally appropriate frameworks. Repeated infractions of the plagiarism rule is an indication that the student is unable to complete a college preparatory curriculum and so may result in a student being dismissed from Escuela Americana.

1ST OFFENSE

6-12 GRADES

Required rewrite. Grade will be assigned for rewrite, with Late Policy enforced.The offense will be reflected on LB rubric. Minor infraction recorded in disciplinary file.

2ND OFFENSE

Major infraction, rewrite for learning purposes, with a Grade of 20% assigned. The offense will be reflected on LB rubric. Parent conference with Dean of Students. Possible additional administrative action.

J CELL PHONE POLICY

Grades 1-8: No phones allowed - Use only after school on campus. Computers are only to be used for work assigned by teachers and no social media during the school day. No smart watches and no AirPods. The lid of the computer must remain closed during instructional time.

Grade 9-12: Cell phones can be on campus but not in use during class time. They must be in your bag on silent or off, not on your person. Computers are only to be used for work assigned by teachers and no social media during the school day. No smart watches or AirPods. Cell phone use is allowed only during breaks, lunch and after 3:10 p.m. At all other times no phone - the school will confiscate your cell phone when in violation of this policy.

J CONFISCATED ITEMS

If a student uses an electronic device brought from home without following the specific policy described in the Bring Your Own Device section, the item will be confiscated and turned in to the Secondary Office where it will be logged in and secured until the student’s parents can come and claim it.

1ST TIME

2ND TIME

3RD TIME

AFTER 3RD TIME

Returned to the student at the end of the school day.

Returned after school to a parent.

Stays in the office until the weekend, when a parent may collect it.

Stays in the office for the rest of the school year.

All confiscated items will only be returned to one of the student’s parents in person, and the person taking the item will have to sign for it on the Confiscated Item Sheet. The school is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

When Behavior Expectations Are Not Met, There Are Three (3) Categories of Discipline Infractions:

MINOR INFRACTION PROCESS

In Secondary School, student activities that distract from learning, exhibit poor judgment, and/or the inability to follow directions are considered minor infractions. The student can expect to be addressed by an administrator on the matter and parents will be contacted. Consequences may include parent conferences and will be complemented by restorative practices routine.

For the vast majority of students, this is the sum total of their interaction with the Secondary School discipline system. Each event or occurrence will be recorded as a minor infraction, and a pattern of three (3) minor infractions can result in a major infraction, which is considered a more disruptive behavior.

See possible examples below.

MAJOR INFRACTIONS AND DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE SYSTEMS

Major Infractions are significant disruptions to the educational process and school atmosphere on campus or at any school-sponsored event. It happens when a student fails to follow a major expectation or community value. The incident that triggers the infraction will be recorded in the student’s electronic disciplinary file, and all major infractions will be followed up with a parent conference.

Depending on the severity of the major infraction and the requirements of individual universities, major Infractions that occur during the Junior and Senior years may be reported to external institutions. Such communications will only occur with the consent of the General Director and with the knowledge of the students and parents involved.

Students that receive a Major Infraction will not be eligible to participate in any school-sponsored international travel, and may not represent the school in international athletic competitions for the remainder of the school year. They may also not be eligible to participate in any Student Government role. Finally, they will be suspended from representing the school in local athletic competitions for a period of four (4) weeks.

After the 2nd or 3rd major infraction- the student is on probation with possible non renewal of school contract for the following year.

If a student has two major infractions for the school year, the enrollment for the next school year will be placed on hold and could be granted only with conditions, after the parents/guardians and student sign the letter of agreement. The eligibility for continuing enrollment will be determined by the review, and progress on the conditions.

The conditions could include but are not limited to out-of-school suspension after minor infractions, and having an improvement in the general behavior of the student.

1ST

2ND MAJOR

3RD MAJOR

The severity of any major infraction can trigger a discipline committee meeting.

Dismissal infractions are those actions that we feel are so serious that they may warrant immediate removal from the EA community. Dismissal cases may be considered by a Discipline Committee, which then informs the Division Director of its recommendations. The Division Director shares these recommendations with the General Director who makes a final decision. The Discipline Committee is a group of concerned adults charged with assessing the seriousness of a student’s infraction and making recommendations on an appropriate consequence for the behavior. The Discipline Committee does not use an adversarial process, nor is it to be considered as a court.

Parents are to be informed of the disciplinary situation discussed at the Discipline Committee meeting, the range of typical responses for such infractions with the qualifier that the past does not preclude other actions, and the final consequences in writing.

For suspensions, the following rules apply regarding work responsibility for the students.

TYPE

INTERNAL SUSPENSION

MAKE-UP WORK

Students who are internally suspended will be given class work, quizzes, tests, and other assignments to be completed during the day(s) of the suspension. All work not completed on time will have EA Late Work policy applied.

EXTERNAL SUSPENSION

Missed work is due the day of the student’s return, and the highest grade that can be earned on these activities is 64.

RESPONSIBILITY

Students will be given daily work assignments and expected to complete the assignment on their own before the end of the class day. Whatever grade the student earns on this work is what shall be recorded.

Assignments will be picked up by the Division Director and given to the Teacher.

Homework or projects due the day(s) of external suspension will be accepted by the teacher for credit under the Late Work policies.

EXAMPLES OF MINOR INFRACTIONS

• Disrupting Class .

• Defacing of school property (Only requires cleaning – No monetary investment).

• Failing to follow instructions.

• Using inappropriate language .

• Public displays of affection.

• Plagiarism (1st offense)

• Using poor judgment.

• Roughhousing/Inappropriate play.

• Any activity that detracts from learning.

EXAMPLES OF CONSEQUENCES: MINOR INFRACTIONS

• Verbal warning.

• Written warning.

• Teacher-Student-Parent meeting.

• Teacher-Student-Parent meeting with counselors for behavioral modification aides.

EXAMPLES OF MAJOR INFRACTIONS

• Accumulation of minor infractions.

• Causing/Threatening physical harm to another.

• Cheating.

• Defacing or destruction of school property (With monetary investment).

• Disrespectful behavior including hate speech, racist statements, or any discriminatory or demeaning comment or action.

• Fighting.

• Forgery.

• Gambling.

• Lying.

• Plagiarism (2nd+ offense)

• Possession of firecrackers, lighters or matches.

• Throwing objects with potential to cause personal or property damage.

• Skipping/Cutting class.

• Verbal abuse or harassment of others.

• Infractions involving the driving policy.

• Infractions involving the Technology Acceptable Use Policy (Social Media).

EXAMPLES OF CONSEQUENCES: MAJOR INFRACTIONS

• Internal Suspension.

• External Suspension.

• Probation/Suspension from co-curricular activities.

• No participation in International travel representing school.

• No participation in AASCA.

• Loss of campus privileges: Must end school year online.

These are examples of consequences, other consequences may apply based on the infraction.

EXAMPLES OF

DISMISSAL INFRACTIONS THAT WARRANT THE CALLING OF A DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE

• Bullying and/or the ongoing harassment of others.

• Possession or distribution of Illicit publications/materials.

• Use, possession, or distribution of weapons.

• Use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs or drugs prescribed for another person.

• Use, possession or distribution of tobacco / e-cigarette products or accessories on campus, at school-sponsored events whether on campus or off-campus, INCLUDING international events.

• Use, possession, or being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs on campus or at school sponsored events whether on campus or off-campus.

• Use of firecrackers, lighters, or matches on campus.

• Use or selling of tobacco products or e-cigarette products or accessories, including Juul.

• Stealing.

• A serious breach of the Honor Code or the Code of Conduct or a pattern of violating either code.

• Leaving school without permission.

• Arson.

• Assault and/or battery.

• Major vandalism.

• Making bomb threats or other threats of violence.

• Tampering with safety equipment (i.e., fire extinguishers, alarms, security cameras, etc.).

• Accumulation of major violations.

• Any action that brings disrepute onto EA whether on campus or off.

• Any action deemed a serious threat to the community or an individual.

• Sexual harassment*.

• Infractions involving the Technology Acceptable Use Policy including sexting and accessing inappropriate websites.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

SECTION 6 ACTIVITIES BEYOND ACADEMICS

J SERVICE-LEARNING

Service Learning is a critical component of Escuela Americana’s education. Secondary students are strongly encouraged to become active participants in our Service Learning activities. All students must complete 150 hours of direct service as a graduation requirement by the end of the first semester of junior year. All school rules and discipline policies will be observed during service-learning activities.

Any service-learning activities not directly sponsored by EA must be pre-approved by the Student life Coordinator and informed to the Division Director in order for service learning hours to be granted. Students must complete the pre-approval form and obtain the necessary permissions BEFORE the activity occurs. Otherwise, service learning hours may not be accumulated by the students involved in the activity.

J EXTRACURRICULARS

STUDENT COUNCIL

The Escuela Americana Student Government is the officially recognized representative of the Secondary student body. Its functions and rules are found in the EA Student Council Constitution. Each Grade Level elects four class officers to represent them on the Student Council.

In addition, six Executive Officers will be elected (three from grades 6-8 and three from grades 9-12) to represent the entire Secondary student body as members of the Executive Council.

Elected class officers are responsible for representing their grade level, coordinating of student activities, and being the legitimate voice to express wishes, complaints and suggestions of the student body to the Division Director and to all other interested parties. Elections are held in May of each school year for the following academic year.

If elected officers earn a Major Infraction during their term, they will be put on probation and may be required to resign their office.

CLASS / CLUB ACTIVITIES

All requests for special events, such as but not limited to field trips, jeans days, special food days, shows, etc. must be discussed with the Class Advisor/ Sponsor and submitted to the Student Life Coordinator in order to be approved by the Administration a minimum of two weeks in advance.

CLASS FUNDS

All funds raised by students will be channeled through the Business Office. In order to make a withdrawal of funds, a minimum of three (3) signatures is needed. The Advisor and two (2) Administrators will review and approve such requests.

NON SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENTS

No funds will be approved for expenditure to finance events that are not school-sponsored. This includes the senior graduation party and activities surrounding the Junior/Senior prom that are not school sponsored.

DISPOSITION OF UNSPENT SENIOR CLASS FUNDS

On July 1 following graduation, the senior class account will be closed. Any unspent funds will be transferred to the Annual Fund. The Student Council may make recommendations to the Administration concerning expenditures of funds from this account.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY

The EA Chapters of the National Honor Society (NHS) and the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) operate in accordance with the charter awarded to EA by the NHS governing board. Membership in these honor societies of EA is based on demonstrated qualities in: ACADEMICS • CHARACTER • SERVICE • LEADERSHIP and CITIZENSHIP (NJHS).

Induction into either EA Honor Society is a privilege, not a right. The scholarship component is the entry point in the selection process. The character, leadership, citizenship, and service criteria take into consideration the student’s contributions to all areas of life at Escuela Americana. Personal behavior and comportment play vital roles in the selection.

Both Honor Societies have a Faculty Advisor who, along with the student leaders of each Society, plan the events and conduct the affairs of the Society. Membership in the Societies is by invitation. Interested students must complete the relevant application forms and submit them by the deadlines announced. Membership applications are then reviewed and discussed by the faculty members of the Honor Society Selection Committee who, based on the input from the faculty, the student honor committee members, the application itself, student data, and their experiences with the student, make a decision on each applicant’s suitability for membership.

It is a process based on the evaluation of a student against the criteria of the Societies, not based on students in competition with one another.

New members of each society are inducted at annual ceremonies held for that purpose.

INTRAMURAL AND INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS PROGRAMS

Escuela Americana supports an active intramural and interscholastic sports program for the Secondary School. They are designed to promote participation, interaction, and competition to contribute to the physical, emotional, and social development of students. Academic and sports teams compete with local schools and in out-of-country tournaments. Specific information concerning sports and activities are available through the Athletic Director and the Division Director.

REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS TO RECEIVE APPROVAL

BY THE SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE IN AND REPRESENT THE SCHOOL IN MULTI-DAY, SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENTS, INCLUDING AASCA

Please take into account the following selection criteria for multi-day event participation:

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

No grades below 65. The grades which are used to compute this must be the most recent, finalized, official Quarter or Semester grades.

DISCIPLINE

No Major Infractions during the current school year.

PROPER COMPORTMENT

Show discipline, respect, effort and “team spirit” during practices, rehearsals and/or games.

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE

The student must show the required abilities and capacities to participate in the event or tournament.

All of these requirements must be met before a student can be approved to participate in the event.

ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS APPLY TO ALL MULTI-DAY, SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENTS, SUCH AS AASCA, MUN, KNOWLEDGE BOWL, SPECIAL NON-AASCA SPORTS EVENTS, ETC.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

J ATHLETIC GENERAL INFORMATION

MISSION STATEMENT

To challenge each student-athlete in a supportive bi-cultural sports environment that promotes self esteem, discipline, teamwork, sportsmanship, and athletic excellence.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

Provide student-athletes with athletic experiences that will help them mature physically and emotionally into well-rounded individuals.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Form disciplined, enthusiastic, responsible, and honest athletes with a high level of sports spirit.

Provide a systemized program that excels individual and collective abilities.

Maintain a highly capable and engaged coaching staff that identifies with EA’s values.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Athletic Department is the divisions of Escuela Americana, responsible for organizing all competitive sports for the students.

The Athletic Department has an Athletic Director, a Sports Coordinator and an administrative assistant. The department has a multidisciplinary coaching staff consisting of 40 coaches for Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Rugby, Wall Climbing, Track & Field, Cross Country, Table Tennis, and Strength & Conditioning, with each team having its own Head Coach and each discipline having a Sports Coordinator. Assistant coaches are assigned based on needs and availability.

The Department is also the only one in the country to have its own dedicated Sports Physical Therapist and Sports Nutritionist dedicated to the wellbeing of our student-athletes.

Special Note: Parents are not allowed to volunteer as head or assistant coaches.

J AFTER SCHOOL COMPETITIVE

SPORTS

Basketball

Soccer

Volleyball

Handball

Rugby

Track & Field

Cross Country

Wall Climbing

Table Tennis

Escuela Americana El Salvador

J ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

1. All EA students that enroll in the program can participate.

2. All students are expected to be in good academic and behavioral standings in order to qualify for participation (Passing all academic courses).

3. All athletes need to present a medical background form with the required information, duly signed by their doctor.

4. All athletes must have either a personal accidents coverage or medical insurance.

5. Athletes may participate in up to two sports per semester. Students will choose a primary sport and a secondary sport, and regular attendance to both practices is expected. Students may not participate in more than two sports during the semester.

6. All students must register during summer via online or during academic registration the first week of school. No student will be allowed to register after the closing date, except for newly enrolled students in school.

J EA TEAMS

1. Teams are divided by gender and age category. All practices are held after school and depending on the age level vary from two to four practices per week.

2. An EA team is composed only of EA students.

3. Each sport and category has its own EA team.

4. The category is according to the year of birth. A good student athlete may be promoted to a higher category to accommodate their proper development.

5. There is a Head Coach responsible for each team.

6. All EA team members are required to purchase and wear Trojan uniforms. If an athlete doesn’t have his or her uniform, he/she will not be allowed to participate in games or competitions.

J TEAM ATTENDANCE POLICY

1. All athletes must attend at least 80% of their practices in order to be eligible to represent EA in any and all games or competitions (including AASCA and other international competitions) starting from the first day of official practices or the first day that the athlete joins the team.

2. An attendance rate below 65% at any time will result in removal from the team.

3. Proper excused absences due to family circumstances, medical reasons, ac

ademics, other cocurricular activities or any agreement with athletes registered in two sports will not count against nor in favor of the athlete when calculating their attendance rate.

4. All excused absences must be validated by an official note to the coach within 48 hours of the absence.

J SCHOOL ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR SPORTS

• Students with excused or unexcused absences from school will not be eligible to participate in games or practices scheduled that same day. This also applies to athletes with internal and external suspensions. Athletes are expected to attend 100% of the school day in order to participate in games and practices that same day.

• Students who have not participated in their regular PE classes cannot participate in their practice or games on that same day.

• When dismissed early from classes for an athletic event or game outside EA, athletes are responsible for the completion of all missed classwork and assignments.

• Students must be passing all academic courses.

J TROJAN PARENTS

Based on the school’s values, parents should abide by the following expectations and prohibitions:

EXPECTATIONS

• Encourage athletes to make their best effort.

• Accept the results of games, tournaments and competitions.

• Encourage respect amongst athletes, coaches, judges, referees and the general public.

• Promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes.

PROHIBITIONS

• Interfere in practices and games; this is the function of the coach.

• Show unsportsmanlike conduct to the judges, referees, athletes or the opposing team’s fans; such as booing, mocking, insulting, etc.

PARENT-COACH MEETINGS

For any concerns, the parent may contact the coach only via email. If a parent wishes to meet in person with a coach for any reason, the meeting must be requested through the Athletic Director. The Athletic Director must be present for any parent-coach meeting.

Note: Any unsportsmanlike conduct could result in permanent retreat, suspension or expulsion from future athletic competitions.

PARENT PRESEASON PRESENTATION

All parents or legal guardians (at least one per athlete) must attend a mandatory parent preseason presentation hosted by the Athletic Department at the beginning of the school year. Failure to attend the presentation and sign the Parent Athletics Contract and the Parent Code of Conduct will result in their son/daughter not being allowed to participate in practices and games, until their parent fulfills the above mentioned requirements. ALL parents of athletes will be required to sign the Parent Athletics Contract and the Parent Code of Conduct each year.

24-HOUR

No parents or students are allowed to approach or contact a coach (in person, via email, phone, etc.) nor post negative comments on any form of social media (personal and school related) for 24 hours following all games and competitions. The rule is in place to allow everyone a 24-hour “cooling off” period to evaluate and reassess their thoughts and reactions after a competition.

J RULES FOR USING LOCKERS

ELIGIBLE USERS

Lockers for students participating in after-school sports are available on a first come- first served basis.

USE OF LOCKERS

• Lockers may only be used daily during the permitted after-school hours, from 3:10 pm to 6:00 pm.

• Students may not share the locker with other students. Anything found in a locker will be the sole responsibility of the person using it.

• Students are advised not to store any money or valuables in the opened lockers.

• Lockers are not installed with any locks. Users that bring valuables (e.g., laptops, notebooks, etc.) may request a key. Requests can be submitted through the Athletics Assistant.

- Each student with an issued locker key is responsible for safekeeping the key until the end of the practice. All keys must be returned daily.

- There will bea $10 replacement cost for every lost key reported.

• Storage of any items that are illegal, or would cause or be likely to cause a health hazard, security risk, physical danger, or nuisance to the environment or other members of the school is prohibited.

• Objects/articles must not be put in the locker if it is against the law or school policy. School administrators may randomly inspect the contents of the lockers at any time.

• Kicking, hitting, slamming, defacing, using graffiti, bending/prying/jamming of lock, and other such abuses are not allowed. No stickers may be glued, taped, or affixed to the inside/outside of the locker.

• At the end of each sport practice, all students using a locker must leave it opened and cleaned. If at the end of the day there is a closed locker, the school shall have the authority to open such lockers and dispose of all property found therein.

• Failure to follow any of these rules will result in the loss of locker privileges for an amount of time determined by the administration. If a locker gets jammed, the problem should be reported to coaches or the Athletics Assistant. Students are responsible to pay for the repair of any damages they have caused.

VIOLATION OF THE LOCKER REGULATIONS

Any user violation of the locker regulations may result in termination of the use of lockers and be reported to the Dean of Students.

The school cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to personal property stored in the lockers, under any circumstances. Additionally, the school cannot guarantee the safekeeping of any items found in the lockers and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising in connection with them. All users of the locker system must agree to and comply with the above rules.

J COMPETITIONS AND TOURNAMENTS

Every year the following competitions and tournaments are held.

NATIONAL SPORTS EVENTS

BILINGUAL LEAGUE

Bilingual League (Bilingual and invited schools) competitions take place every year between September and March. In addition to the sports listed, students may also compete in swimming, tennis, and table tennis competitions.

TROJAN TOURNAMENTS AND TROJAN LEAGUES

These competitions are organized entirely by Escuela Americana; local and bilingual schools are invited to participate. Games are scheduled according to the Trojan teams’ needs; therefore, they may take place anytime along the school year, and sometimes even in June.

“JUEGOS ESTUDIANTILES” (COLEGIALES)

The Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Sports (INDES) sponsor the Juegos Estudiantiles (Student Games) from April to July; some competitions may extend into August and September. This is a regional and sometimes a national competition, which features the top schools in the country. In some disciplines and in the U17 category, the winning teams go on to represent El Salvador at the Central American student games (CODICADER).

FEDERATED TOURNAMENTS AND LEAGUES

Some sports participate in competitions organized by National Federations. These events usually take place from January to November and athletes/players from all around the country participate.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS EVENTS

ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL AMERICA (AASCA)

• Every year AASCA sponsors Secondary sports:

a) AASCA 6th to 8th events are for students who are currently enrolled in grades six through eight and who are in good academic and behavior standings (see school policy for school sponsored events) and enrolled in EA sports

b) AASCA 9th to 12th events are for students who are currently enrolled in grades nine through twelve and who are in good academic and behavioral standings (see school policy for schoolsponsored events). Generally, the students on the Varsity Teams are the ones selected to participate in AASCA competitions. Special consideration may be given to outstanding athletes in grades 7 and 8.

• Each team is accompanied by its Head Coach, an Assistant Coach, an Administrator, and the Athletic Director (or delegate).

• All athletes attending AASCA Tournaments pay for their own travel expenses; including airfare, hotels, meals, travel insurance, and an amount for their coaches

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS EVENTS

INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS

Competitive Varsity teams can participate annually in different international tournaments organized with previous permission from the General Director. The school will also organize events with international schools to promote the different sports in our program in order to increase the competitive level of our athletes.

ATHLETIC TRIPS

In order to establish consistency throughout EA for the out-of-the-country school sponsored trips, all of the planning for the athletic trips will be done solely by the Athletic Department office. Aspects of the students’ traveling programs and decisions on transportation, hotels, pricing, schedule, and security issues, as well as any other trip related issues, will be determined prior to the announcement of any trip.

Please be advised that if any selected student cannot participate in any of the international sports events, he or she will not be refunded any monies already deposited or paid to the school.

In order for our students and accompanying adults (coaches, teachers & administrators) to be as focused as possible on their individual and group purposes/goals while participating in Escuela Americana sponsored trips, EA requires that all parents traveling to attend any event utilize land transportation other than those of the official EA delegation.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL SPONSORED EVENTS

Local competitions/events

In order for a student to participate in national (local) school sponsored/supported event, he/she must have:

• No major violations to the school’s discipline code.

• Proper comportment: Show discipline, respect, effort and “team spirit”-type behavior during practices, rehearsals and/or games.

• Technical performance: Show abilities and capacities to participate in the event or tournament.

International competitions/events/school-sponsored international travel experiences

In order for a student to participate in an international school-sponsored/supported event, including an AASCA event, he/she must have

• Passing grades in all subjects and have no major violations to the school’s discipline code.

- If the selection process for the trip occurs during the 1st quarter, then the student must have passed all courses in the previous school year without having to do summer school and cannot have committed any major violations to the school’s discipline code during the current year.

- If the selection process takes place during the 2nd quarter, then the student must have passed all courses during the 1st quarter and have no major violations in the current school year.

- If the selection process takes place during the 3rd quarter, the student must have passed all courses based on the Semester Averages and have no major violations during the current school year.

• Proper comportment: Show discipline, respect, effort and “team spirit”-type behavior during practices, rehearsals and/or games.

• Technical performance: Show the required abilities and capacities to participate in the event or tournament.

All of these requirements must be met before a student can be approved to participate in the event.

For local and international games, tournaments, and/or competitions, the Head Coach is the person responsible for all technical decisions, i.e. who plays a game, the playing time, strategies, etc. The list of players proposed for a tournament or competition must be checked by the corresponding sports Coordinator.

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS

When participating in AASCA or Invitational sponsored sports events, athletes must abide by host school rules and guidelines.

• No student-athlete may leave the host school or hotel without the authorization of the administrator, coach, or chaperone responsible for the group.

• All social activities will be done as a team, under the supervision of the administrator, coaches, and/ or chaperones.

• Attendance at all tournament official activities is mandatory; student-athletes are to behave in a courteous and respectful manner from beginning to end.

• Student-athletes must follow the instructions and decisions made by the coaches, administrators, and/ or chaperones at all times. Failure to do so may result in suspension from participation, suspension from future participation, or being sent back to EA for disciplinary action.

• All EA campus rules apply when traveling with EA Teams.

• While highly uncommon, our families should understand that during school sponsored travel, Escuela Americana reserves the right to conduct searches of hotel rooms and student luggage/bags under specific circumstances, notably with suspicion of use and/or possession of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, weaponry or in possible cases of theft.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR INTERNATIONAL ATHLETIC EVENTS

There are team selection guidelines for an athlete’s participation in international sporting events. In order to be eligible to participate in international events, student-athletes must be in good academic and behavioral standing. Discipline records will be taken into consideration. The guidelines used are:

ACADEMIC LEVEL A

• See “Requirements for School Sponsored Events.”

ATHLETIC LEVEL B

• Discipline:

i. Maintains positive relationships with the coach, the players, and the administrators; behaves courteously towards the referees, the opponents, and the public.

ii. Follows the coach’s instructions during practices, games, and tournaments.

iii. Complies with the coach regarding corrections during practices and games.

iv. Issues positive comments and recommendations for the best interest of the team.

v. Accepts the referee’s decisions, even though they might seem unfair.

• Responsibility:

i. Attends at least 85% of team practices and all scheduled games on time.

ii. Arrives properly dressed for practice.

iii. Keeps informed about practices, games, uniform to be worn, and other activities related to the team.

• Sportsmanship and Cooperation:

i. Cooperates with the coach and teammates.

ii. Maintains friendly relationships with teammates and coaches.

iii. Plays according to the rules, uses good sportsmanship, accepts wins and losses graciously, and thanks the opponents for their participation.

• Effort:

i. Complies with the required goals during practice.

ii. Participates actively during practices, tryouts, drills, and games.

iii. Works with the team for the group benefit.

iv Works with dedication during the games.

v. Shows a positive attitude towards the practice and the games.

• Technical Performance:

i. Demonstrates the required skill and capacity for the sport in which he/she participates.

ii. Knows correspondent system/strategies the team uses during practices or games.

iii. Follows other technical criteria considered by the coach.

PROCEDURE

All procedures for an athlete’s participation in international sporting events will be handled by the Athletic Department. The procedures used are as follows:

• Parents and players are notified in writing (letter and email) of upcoming tournaments and the selection process.

• Parents are informed about the students’ traveling programs and transportation, hotels, pricing, schedule, and security issues, as well as any other trip related issues considered by the administration. Logistics will be determined prior to the announcement of any trip.

• The official evaluation period will vary per sport and will depend on the date of the event. The length of the official evaluation period will be at least one month. The official selection of the team will be made and announced at least one month prior to the event.

• All athletes must participate in the entire official evaluation period in order to be eligible for selection. Special exceptions may be made for athletes that are in multiple sports, change sports, are new to the school or other special circumstances.

• The Athletic Department will notify parents of their son/daughter’s selection status. All selected players are advised of trip expectations, travel expenses, deadlines, documents, and paperwork needed.

• The athletes’ parents are responsible for providing their son/daughters with adequate immigration requirements such as visas and legal documents.

• At the time of their selection, students are warned in writing that they may be removed from the team should their attendance, academic, behavior and/or sports performance levels drop after the selection. The administration reserves the right to review and act upon individual cases when necessary.

J RIGHTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DISCIPLINE

RIGHTS

• Receive organized practices according to their age.

• Use of sports installations and equipment for their athletic development.

• Participation in all team tournaments as long as they fulfill all requirements.

• Be treated with dignity and respect by their coaches and teammates.

• Be informed of their progress, games and tournaments.

• Any student registered in sports, may register always choosing a primary sport for that semester.

• Any student registered in sports, may change sports at any time as long as there is space prior to making the change.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Sign an athletic contract and return it in the stipulated time.

• Remain on their team until all competitions are over.

• Maintain good academic, behavior, and discipline standards.

• Attend on time to all practice sessions and programmed events. Athletes must strictly observe the schedule established by the Athletic Department and Coaching Staff, regarding the entrance or departure from the place of athletic competition.

• Attend each practice, game or competition with proper practice clothing (shorts, T-shirts, footwear, etc.)

• Whenever possible, injured student-athletes are expected to attend and observe practices and games, wearing sports attire or everyday clothes.

• Demonstrate proper behavior and respect towards the school Administration, Athletic

• Department, Sport Coordinators, the Coaching Staff, team members, officials, referees, adversaries and spectators (fans).

• Take care of the school’s sports facilities.

DISCIPLINARY SYSTEM

One of the main responsibilities of the Athletic Department is to promote athletic excellence giving athletes the opportunity to shine and grow. Their success will depend on their commitment and discipline. The Athletic Department enforces the general rules of the EA handbook in which the athletes will show appropriate conduct at all times.

MINOR AND MAJOR INFRACTIONS

All students registered in competitive sports must adhere to the Minor and Major Infractions policy set forth in the Handbook regarding co-curricular activities. Please see those sections of the appropriate handbook per grade level.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS FOR SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

• All athletes must turn in a written authorization from their parents or legal guardians in order to ride with the team to the competition sites. Oral permissions obtained from phone calls will not be accepted. A permission slip must be turned in regardless of whether the team rides in the school vans or other school designated vehicles.

• Athletes must ride with the team to games; otherwise, they will not participate actively in the games.

• Athletes must return to the school in the School’s van. If athletes want to return with their parents after the game, their parents need to indicate so in the permission slip signed for that game and present themselves to the coach with their child prior to leaving, notifying the coach that they are taking their child.

• Athletes must show respect to their supervisors and drivers at all times.

• Athletes must remain seated and keep hands, head and feet inside the vehicle at all times.

• Athletes may not throw objects inside or outside the bus; they will deposit them in marked bins.

• There should be a coach or assistant present in every unit of transportation.

DISCRIMINATION

PROTOCOL

This protocol outlines a three-step method for acting on any serious discriminatory behavior and/or racist behavior in game settings such as name-calling, shouting and banners.

If the racist/hate behavior comes from an active player:

1. If the racist behavior comes from players who are being part of the game, it will immediately become a serious foul and they will have to be ejected from the game and will receive the maximum sporting consequence for their actions.

2. The disciplinary committee will meet to decide on an appropriate consequence up to and including being banned for the remainder of the season.

3. The second step, and if the behavior continues (without that player), the referee should suspend play for 5 to 10 minutes and send the teams to the dugouts until the person/persons responsible for the racist/discriminatory behavior have left the field and, if deemed necessary, the school premises.

4. Finally, the third step and if the behavior does not cease, the third step will be applied as a last resort, which consists of the referee declaring the match abandoned.

If the racist/ hate behavior comes from any adult or person who is not playing:

1. The first step, when a referee becomes aware of any racist or discriminatory behavior in a game scenario, he or she shall first, stop the game and ask the administrators, coaches or organizers to order the behavior to cease.

2. The second step, and if the behavior continues, the referee should suspend play for 5 to 10 minutes and send the teams to the dugouts until the person/persons responsible for the racist/discriminatory behavior have left the field and, if deemed necessary, the school premises.

3. Finally, the third step and if the behavior does not cease, the third step will be applied as a last resort, which consists of the referee declaring the match abandoned.

4. The game will be rescheduled and played without an audience. If this is not possible, and one of the schools is clearly the offending party, they will forfeit the match.

5. If both schools are responsible, the match will be considered a draw.

J PRACTICE AND GAME SUSPENSION CRITERIA

It is important for the Trojan teams to practice regularly and miss the fewest practices possible. However, whenever the conditions inside or outside the athletic areas are a threat to our athletes, practices will be canceled. The causes for suspension are as follows:

WEATHER CONDITIONS

WHEN WEATHER PRESENTS A THREAT, THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OR ATHLETIC COORDINATOR WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO CANCEL PRACTICES. THE ATHLETIC OFFICE WILL INFORM THE PARENTS IN ORDER TO ARRANGE FOR THE APPROPRIATE PICK UP.

For the athletes’ safety, all outdoor athletic practices will be cancelled immediately when there is rain, thunderstorm or lightning. Parents, referees, and tournament participants will be notified in advance of this special EA policy. Any questionable weather should be an indication to exit the fields and courts. Friendly games will be rescheduled. Athletic contests and/or practices may not commence until the suspicious weather has passed.

Excessively high temperatures, combined with a high relative humidity, put athletes at risk for a variety of heat-related. Adequate water intake, appropriate clothing, and the use of shade all diminish an athlete’s susceptibility to heat-related or injury.

AWAY GAMES

By policy, the Athletic Department has to make sure that the fields and institutions that are visited by the EA teams are in good shape and guarantee the safety of the students. There may be some circumstances that cause a game cancellation.

These are some examples:

PLACES LOCATED IN DANGEROUS AREAS

UNCONTROLLABLE INVASION OF SPECTATORS

RISKING THE INTEGRITY OF THE ATHLETES

SUSPENSION WITHOUT PREVIOUS WARNING

PHYSICAL AGGRESSION FROM THE OPPONENTS

LACK OF VISIBILITY DURING THE COMPETITION

LACK OF VISIBILITY DURING THE COMPETITION

In a case of an unavoidable occurrence, in which rival teams cancel the game the same day it is programmed, the Athletic Department will let the athletes and parents know as soon as possible.

J UNIFORMS

TROJAN UNIFORMS

• Only Escuela Americana approved team uniforms are to be worn when athletes are representing the school.

• Trojan uniforms must be red, white and/or blue (the same colors as the school).

• All uniforms must have the EA logo, the AD logo and the word “TROJANS” or “ESCUELA AMERICANA” on the chest.

• All EA athletes are required to buy and use Trojan uniforms. If an athlete doesn’t have his or her uniform, he/she will not be allowed to participate in a game or competition.

• Each uniform must be appropriate to each sport.

SPONSORSHIP OF AASCA UNIFORMS

Special uniforms for AASCA teams may be sponsored by commercial brands only if these are not linked to any political insignia, alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, or any other harmful products that may cause damage to the health of the athletes. All sponsors must be approved by the Athletic Director and the Director of Institutional Advancement. The uniforms must be according to Escuela Americana’s expectations and approved by the Director of Institutional Advancement. The School will provide the students with different approved designs for the uniforms, which they can choose from.

Guideline for the uniforms to be considered official:

• The uniforms may have the name or logo of the sponsor only if it doesn’t interfere with the visibility of the school’s and the athletic department’s logos.

• The size and location of the sponsor’s logo must be in the back bottom of the shirt and must be approved by the Director of Institutional Advancement.

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Communication is a fundamental element to keep parents, athletes and the Escuela Americana community informed and up-to-date on the EA Athletic Department happenings. All games will be announced through the Next Week At EA Newsletter or through the EA App. Communications will be given as follows:

VIA EMAIL

Coaches and AD staff will use email to communicate with parents regarding practice and game schedules, practice attendance reports and other pertinent information.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

VIA PHONE

Inform parents about games, suspension of games and their child’s consecutive (3) absences to practice if necessary.

WHATSAPP / MESSENGER

No coaches are allowed to be in group chats with parents. Coaches may set up chat groups with their athletes.

J BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS FOR TROJAN TEAM SUPPORTERS

• Always be a positive support for the team.

• Address the other team’s supporters only with mutual cooperation and respect.

• Electronic accessories or high pitch instruments are not permitted.

• Avoid singing cheers that may insult athletes and spectators.

• Always remain separate from the other team’s supporters.

• When the game ends, Trojan supporters must leave the installation quietly and respectfully

• For AASCA events only: do not use noisy objects such as horns, drums or others since they interrupt the game.

J DUAL-SPORT ATHLETES

The EA Athletic Department strongly encourages all athletes to play more than one sport and the department will be flexible and work with the athletes so they can participate in multiple sports.

OPTION 1

Play one sport in the first semester, and then switch to another sport in the second.

OPTION 2

Play two sports at the same time, following the criteria below.

• Each semester the dual-sport athlete will choose their primary sport and their secondary sport.

• They must attend their primary sports practices and games twice a week and their secondary sport the other two days in the week.

• They must commit to the weekly schedule specifying the sport to attend each day that is set since the beginning. This weekly schedule will not change from week to week for any reason. The athlete, the coaches of the two sports and the Athletic Director will participate in this process.

• If a dual-sport athlete is selected to participate in an AASCA, 30 days prior to the AASCA they must commit full time (four days a week) to that sport. Upon returning from AASCA they may change their primary and secondary sports, or drop one completely to focus full time on the other.

• Special exceptions may be made for special circumstances with the involvement of the athlete (and parents if necessary), the coaches of the two sports and the Athletic Director.

J RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TROJAN ATHLETES

Sports training goes hand in hand with the practice of healthy habits which contribute to the efficiency of an athlete. For this reason, we offer the following advice to our athletes:

HEALTHY DIET FOR THE YOUNG ATHLETE

A healthy diet is indispensable for teenagers but it’s even more important for a young athlete. Unfortunately, many young people’s diet is mostly based on fast food, snacks and sodas, completely forgetting about a balanced diet. Not eating all meals and not drinking enough water can cause bad results in sports and may also cause hurtful injuries to them.

A good diet includes not only a balanced meal that provides energy for physical and mental development according to their age, but also enough energy to practice their favorite sport. It also includes adequate water intake, which athletes must be aware of. Sodas only increase dehydration. Small sips of water, before, during, and after training are the best way for an athlete to hydrate.

On average Boys consume 2500 Kcal and girls 2200 Kcal a day, but a teenage athlete consumes around 5000 Kcal a day. This depends on the intensity and duration of their training. In a balanced diet, carbohydrates must equal 2/3 of the daily energy and should come from good sources such as grains, fruits and vegetables. Proteins are very important in the growth and repair of muscles. Good sources of protein are chicken, fish, eggs, cheese and yogurt. Fats can be consumed in small quantities but they should be avoided before practice because they take a long time to digest.

It’s necessary to remember that an athlete may feel thirsty a long time after he/she is already dehydrated; that is why it’s necessary to remind him/her to always drink water before, during, and after a workout.

SUPPLEMENT AND SUBSTANCE USE TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE

Commercial and peer pressure sometimes lead young athletes to make poor choices as they attempt to build up their bodies or improve their athletic abilities. We have received reports of Escuela Americana students using amino acids to load with proteins. Although amino acids are not as dangerous as steroids and other substances, there is a possibility of unhealthy side effects. The EA Athletic Department strongly endorses that athletes refrain from taking any unnecessary supplements to enhance their body or athletic ability. The coaching staff advocates a well-rounded, natural diet that includes the five basic groups. We urge the parents to encourage their athlete to make healthy choices.

USE OF ILLICIT DRUGS

The use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs is prohibited at Escuela Americana and every activity organized by it. The result of the use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs is against the philosophy of any responsible athlete that strives for better results. Because of this, the Athletic Department demands all Trojan athletes to abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

The Athletic Department will see to it that their athletes abstain from illicit drugs before, during and after any national or international competition in which Trojan teams participate.

SPECIAL RULES FOR TRACK AND FIELD AND ARTIFICIAL TURF

1. Vehicles, roller skates, and bikes are not allowed on the track.

2. Chairs, tables, canopies, or soccer goals must never be placed on the track surface.

3. Please avoid dropping heavy objects on the track.

4. Chewing gum is off limits while using the track

5. On week days, parents, alumni and staff can use the track from 4:30-6:45 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m.

6. Spikes used for races and jumps must have a maximum length of ¼ of an inch or 6 mm. Only tennis shoes will be allowed on the track. (Avoid cleats & high heels)

7. Hammer throw will not be allowed.

8. Shot put practices will be held only on the outside soccer field and under the coaches’ supervision.

9. Javelin and discus throws will be held only on free field and under coaches’ supervision.

10. All the athletic equipment must be stored daily after use.

SOCCER FIELD USAGE RULES

1. Use only soccer or tennis shoes on the field.

2. High heels are not permitted.

3. Avoid dropping heavy objects.

4. Chewing gum is not allowed.

5. Field events, such as the javelin and discus, are not allowed.

6. On week days, parents, alumni and staff can use the artificial turf from 6:00-8:00 p.m., after soccer practices have finished.

7. Whenever the use of electric energy is involved, individuals requesting lights must pay at the school’s cashier in advance. The appropriate receipt must be handed to the guard at the Gym parking lot entrance. Only authorized personnel are allowed to manipulate the light outlets. Please check with the Athletic Office or the school’s cashier for current light usage fees.

WALL CLIMBING USAGE RULES

1. On week days, parents, alumni and staff can use the rock climbing wall from 5:006:00 p.m., as long as it doesn’t interfere with students’ practices and it is under the supervision the EA Rock Climbing coach.

2. Use the appropriate shoes or tennis shoes.

3. Take care of the sports materials.

4. Food and beverages are off limits while practicing rock climbing.

WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY USE OF SPORTS FACILITIES

The use of the sports facilities on weekends and holidays will follow these guidelines:

1. Current parents, students, teachers, staff, and alumni (EA Community) are allowed to use the soccer field, the track, and all external courts with permission from the General Director. The use of the Climbing Wall must be supervised by trained coaches. The school will not supply special equipment such as balls, bats, ropes, etc.

2. Priority for the use of the Gym and other areas will be given to previously scheduled events.

3. The natural turf fields will never be used when it rains; nor when the grass is soggy or wet. All outdoor activities will be cancelled immediately when there is thunder or lightning.

4. Access is limited to cars with the school’s special sticker, or a valid school ID. ID replacements are $5.00 each.

5. All current parents, alumni, and staff must show their school IDs at the gate. However, Elementary School children with their parents do not need IDs to access the school facilities. Children under 12-years-old need adult supervision at all times.

6. 6th to 8th students requesting to use any of the sports facilities will require IDs and adult supervision other than their drivers or maids.

7. All 9th to 12th students requesting the usage of the sports facilities are required to have a valid school ID. If students do not have an ID, their interest in using the sports facilities must be presented in advance to the Athletic Director with a written list of all the participating students. The Athletic Director will notify the guards via a memo that authorizes entrance to those named on the list.

8. Entrance will be granted for out of town guests and employee’s immediate family not related to EA prior to a previously approved permission request.

Everyone using the sports areas must abide by the schools rules and regulations, respect the guards guidelines, the sports equipment, and all the school’s facilities in general.

FITNESS CENTER

The Fitness center was created and designed for the use of EA students.Parents and alumni can use the facilities during special hours by paying a $150 yearly fee. Faculty and Staff can also use the facilities on a special schedule with no yearly fee.

FITNESS CENTER SCHEDULES

5:00 - 7:00 am. Parents, alumni and staff 8:00 - 3:10 pm. Physical Education Classes

3:10 - 6:00 pm. Competitive sports Teams

6:00 - 9:00 pm. Parents, alumni and staff

On Saturdays, parents, alumni and staff can use the Fitness Center from 6:00 am - 12:00 m.

FITNESS CENTER USAGE RULES

• Clean equipment after use.

• When you finish your routine, return the equipment to its original place.

• Watch your language.

• Avoid dropping heavy objects or whipping equipment.

• Avoid excessive grunting, spitting, or any other type of disrespectful behavior toward others.

• Do not use your cell phone.

• Bring a towel for personal use inside the gym

• Treat all school personnel and other users with respect and cordiality.

• Students who are not wearing their sports uniforms are not allowed to enter the gym.

• Wear athletics shoes at all times.

• Food and beverages are not allowed. Users can bring water bottles for hydration.

• Keep the fitness center clean by not leaving empty water bottles, sheets of paper, tissues, disposable tissues, etc.

• All implements or materials found in the gym are for your own use. CARE FOR THEM!

• Avoid any kind of rough games that may endanger the integrity of your teammates during the use of the gym.

J BOOSTER CLUB

The Booster Club is an autonomous entity and is a major supporter of the Athletic Department and Escuela Americana’s athletes. The funds raised through their activities are invested in merchandise for athletes such as shirts, bags, medals, sports equipment for teams and financial aid when necessary for athletes on international travel.

The Booster Club supports the school’s Athletic Program by creating activities for students, parents, teachers, coaches and alumni.

The Booster Club is responsible for organizing fundraising events such as:

The Booster Club is also responsible for running the Saturday Sports Program for youth ages three to 17 years-old and the Booster Store “La Tiendita” and its mobile kiosk. It also recognizes student-athletes in the Annual Sports Award Ceremony.

MUNDIALITO

TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT

J REQUEST FOR EXTENDED ABSENCE FORM

Division of School:

Proposed Dates of Absence - From: To:

I request permission for my child

Name:

Grade Level: to be granted Leave of Absence for the above dates. Please give details and reasons for the proposed absence:

Signature of Parent/Guadian:

Date:

Unless critical health matters are involved, the completed form should be submitted to your child’s division at least one month before the proposed period of absence.

Your request will be carefully considered. Please be aware that your child’s attendance record will be taken into account. If permission is denied, any absences for the above period will be recorded as unexcused.

Having a good education will help to give your child the best possible start in life. If your child is absent for any period, he or she may miss essential elements of his or her learning program.

OFFICE USE ONLY

This leave of absence application has been considered, and on this occasion the school (authorizes / does not authorize) the absence.

Signed:

Date:

NOTE: STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE FAMILY TRIPS DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

APPENDIX

APPENDIX 1

STUDENT-POSITIVE

COVID-19

TEST RESULT

Report to the Medical Office, and follow MINSAL guidelines for home isolation.

PROTOCOL FOR PATIENTS WITH SEASONAL ALLERGIES, ALLERGIC RHINITIS, AND ASTHMA

Present a medical certificate from your child’s doctor to the Medical Office that proves the diagnosis. If your child starts with severe symptoms, start medication prescribed by their doctor. Do not attend School with acute symptoms (runny nose), as it can be confused with a transmissible infectious disease. The student can come back to school after 24 hours of acute symptoms ending.

IMMUNIZATION

It is the Parent’s responsibility to maintain the required updated immunizations and have the child’s physicians complete the appropriate section in the Brief Medical Form.

J COVID-19 SCHOOL CLOSURE ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION

CONTEXT

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on the 12th of March 2020, parents were asked to keep their children at home. As of March 16th, school staff was not allowed back on campus and the school launched its distance learning program on that date.

This addendum of the Child Protection policy contains details of the school’s individual safeguarding arrangements in the case of distance learning.

1. Action Plan During Distance Learning

When staff has a concern about a child, they should continue to follow the process outlined in the School’s Child Protection Policy; this includes making a report via established reporting pathways, which can be done remotely. Staff needs to report any concern immediately and without delay.

It is important that all staff who interact with children, including online, continue to look out for signs that suggest that a child may be at risk. Any such concerns should be dealt with as per the Child Protection Policy.

Staff is responsible for identifying all vulnerable children and reporting them to the Counseling Department. Counselors are responsible for identifying risk factors such as conflict at home and a

history of mental health illness. Staff is responsible for monitoring students’ participation in distance learning to verify assistance. Counselors are responsible for reaching out to vulnerable students and their families during distance learning, via email, hangouts chat, and phone. Counselors check in with teachers regarding students and teachers report students they are concerned about.

Online teaching should follow the same principles as set out in the code of conduct. Below are some things to consider when in distance learning, especially where webcams are involved:

A. 1:1 meetings between teachers and students must occur during school hours and meetings must be recorded. Teachers should record to the cloud in the Zoom platform, which has safety policies in place. Teachers should document meetings held with students.

B. Staff and children must wear suitable clothing, as should anyone else in the household. Suitable clothing refers to clothing that staff or children could wear to School. Teachers should ask students to put on appropriate clothing in order to participate in class.

C. Any computers used should be in appropriate areas. No calls from beds should be made. Bedrooms should be avoided and backgrounds can be blurred.

D. The live class should be recorded so that if any issues were to arise, the video can be reviewed. Teachers are expected to record their classes. They may record to the cloud in the Zoom platform, which has safety policies in place. Students and parents are informed that recordings are made.

E. Live classes should be kept to a reasonable length of time, or the streaming may prevent the family from ‘getting on’ with their day.

F. Language must be professional and appropriate, including any family members in the background.

G. Staff must only use School-approved platforms to communicate with students.

2. Safeguarding Training while Distance Learning

Training for returning staff and for new staff will be conducted virtually.

APPENDIX 2

1. PHYSICAL BULLYING:

Physical bullying involves using physical force or aggression to harm or intimidate the target. This can include hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, or damaging personal belongings.

2. VERBAL BULLYING:

Verbal bullying includes using words or verbal abuse to belittle, insult, or demean the target. Examples of verbal bullying include name-calling, mocking, teasing, spreading rumors, or derogatory Comments.

3. RELATIONAL BULLYING:

Relational bullying, or social bullying, focuses on manipulating relationships and social status to harm the target. This can involve excluding, ignoring, spreading rumors, gossiping, or socially isolating the Person.

4. CYBERBULLYING:

Occurs through digital platforms such as social media, messaging apps, or online forums. It involves using technology to harass, intimidate, or humiliate others. Cyberbullying can include sending threatening messages, spreading rumors online, sharing embarrassing photos or videos, or creating fake profiles to harass the target.

5. SEXUAL BULLYING:

Sexual bullying involves unwelcome sexual comments, gestures, or actions intended to degrade, humiliate, or intimidate the target. It can include inappropriate touching, sexual harassment, sexual jokes, or sharing explicit content without consent.

6. RACIST OR DISCRIMINATORY BULLYING:

This type of bullying targets individuals based on their race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, socioeconomic background or other aspects of their identity. It involves derogatory remarks, racial slurs, stereotypes, exclusion, or acts of discrimination.

It’s important to note that these types of bullying are not mutually exclusive, and bullying incidents can involve a combination of different forms. Understanding and recognizing these different types of bullying is crucial in addressing and preventing bullying behavior, promoting a safe and inclusive environment, and supporting those targeted.

APPENDIX 3

IS IT RUDE? MEAN? OR BULLYING?

Sometimes it is helpful to draw a distinction between behavior that is rude, behavior that is mean, and behavior that is characteristic of bullying.

RUDE

Inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else. From kids, rudeness might look more like burping in someone’s face, jumping ahead in line, bragging about achieving the highest grade, or even throwing a crushed-up pile of leaves in someone’s face. On their own, any of these behaviors could appear as elements of bullying, but when looked at in context, incidents of rudeness are usually spontaneous, unplanned inconsideration, based on thoughtlessness, poor manners, or narcissism, but not meant to actually hurt someone.

MEAN

Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or maybe twice). The main distinction between “rude” and “mean” behavior has to do with intention; while rudeness is often unintentional, mean behavior very much aims to hurt or depreciate someone. Kids are mean to each other when they criticize clothing, appearance, intelligence, ‘coolness’, or just about anything else they can find to denigrate. Meanness also sounds like words spoken in anger—impulsive cruelty that is often regretted in short order. Very often, mean behavior in kids is motivated by angry feelings and/ or the misguided goal of propping themselves up in comparison to the person they are putting down.

Make no mistake; mean behaviors can wound deeply and adults can make a huge difference in the lives of young people when they hold kids accountable for being mean. Yet, meanness is different from bullying in important ways that should be understood and differentiated when it comes to intervention.

BULLYING

Intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power. Experts agree that bullying entails three key elements: an intent to harm, a power imbalance, and repeated acts or threats of aggressive behavior. Kids who bully say or do something intentionally hurtful to others and they keep doing it, even when targets of bullying show or express their hurt or tell the aggressors to stop. It is important to distinguish between rude, mean, and bullying so that teachers, school administrators, parents, and kids all know what to pay attention to and when to intervene.

APPENDIX 4

J SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PROGRAMS

RULER

Our social-emotional programming integrates with RULER, an evidence-based approach developed at Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence. RULER aims to increase emotional literacy and create a space where emotions become central to learning and teaching. Its research has demonstrated an improvement in student engagement, academic performance, and better decision-making.

PK-12 students receive courses from RULER, a social-emotional program at Yale University. RULER is dedicated to helping students and the adults around these students increase their emotional intelligence. This is created with tools that help increase emotional vocabulary and recognize and practice emotion regulation techniques.

Numerous studies of the program have shown that RULER increases individual student achievement as well as their social skills and helps create a community where students support each other. Apart from this, RULER has shown that it improves the learning climate, emotional intelligence, leadership, and attention. Also, it decreases anxiety and depression in students as well as bullying in the community.

SOCIO-EMOTIONAL THEMES AIMED AT BULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAM AT EA

Taught weekly during the school year

In this unit students learn about the RULER tool called “Mood Meter” and learn to identify their emotions. Creating your Charter

In this unit, students with the support of their teachers create a RULER tool called Charter where they write down 5-8 words about how they want to feel in their class and the behaviors that they commit to complying with so that everyone can learn in a safe, and positive environment. Emotional Vocabulary

Students study emotion words, learning how to recognize, identify, and practice emotion regulation. Exclusion

Students learn the emotion word “exclusion” and learn tools to create an inclusive environment for all.

Inclusion

Rejected

How to feel emotionally safe in the classroom

Meta-Moment

Empathy and restoration in the community

Dignity and Respect

How to stop the rumors

Recognizing and respecting boundaries

Healthy friendships

What is shared on the networks

Friendships and technology

Listening to others

SEAL: How to set boundaries with unhealthy friendships

Students study what it feels like to be included and do activities to acknowledge that we are all unique, we all belong, and are Trojans.

Students study the emotion word rejected and learn tools to create an inclusive environment for all.

Students, using the Charter, are able to identify behaviors that create emotional safety for everyone.

In this unit, students learn an emotional regulation tool from the RULER program called Meta-Moment, where they learn to behave like their best selves.

In this unit students learn how to use empathy in order to communicate when having a conflict with another student using the RULER tool, blueprint.

In this unit students learn to identify the difference in dignity and respect, as well as how to treat everyone with dignity.

In this unit students learn effective communication strategies to stop rumors.

In this unit students learn how to set boundaries and how to respect the boundaries of others.

In this unit students learn how to make good friends and how to communicate when in conflict.

In this unit students learn what can be shared on social networks and what is not appropriate to share.

In this unit, students learn about bullying in social networks and how to treat each other with dignity online.

In this unit students begin to learn the art of listening to others.

In this unit, students learn a tool to stop friendships that are not healthy for them in a way that is dignified for everyone.

RICK month

During RICK month, EA reviews all the values of the School, carrying out activities and providing tools to continue working on the values in their day-to-day.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

6-8 THEMES

Charter

Emotions Matter

Digital Citizenship

Dignity and Respect

Self Responsibility

Belonging

Peer Pressure

Friendships

What is my value?

DESCRIPTION

Set the norms and expectations for the Community Time group. Create the norms to have a safe and desirable experience and make connections between feelings, actions, and the understanding that:

• Everyone has the right to feel safe in our community.

• The decisions you make influence and are influenced by my community.

• I am valuable as being unique in the community.

Understand why emotions are important and know how to use the Mood Meter as a tool. Being able to identify and regulate your emotions as needed in your life.

Karla Ruiz works with students, during her visit to the school, on the appropriate use of devices and social networks, to avoid bullying.

In this unit students are able to identify the difference in dignity and respect and learn how to treat everyone with dignity. A representative of Culture of Dignity visits the School to talk about “Bullying” and the different ways of “harassing”

Students better understand how responsibility plays an important role in students’ inner power. Identify what are the responsibilities of the individual in their friendships.

In this unit students learn the importance of creating a space where we all belong regardless of the differences we all have.

In this unit students can learn the different ways that peer pressure appears in their lives, and how it affects their decision-making and treatment of others. They will learn tools to be able to make decisions without pressure, as well as how to handle pressure in their day-to-day lives.

In this unit students will work on recognizing the different forms of friendship and how to build healthy trusting friendships. Students will recognize a healthy friendship and tools to resolve conflicts.

Understand that as a human being, you have an intrinsic value, and that “being” is an independent condition of “doing”. Understand that one is worthy, that your behaviors do not change your value, and that behaviors determine character, not value.

Dignity in communication

Decision making

Integrity

Labels

Boundaries

RICK month

9-12 THEMES

Charter

Emotions Matter

Digital Citizenship

Students will better understand the difference between rude, cruel (being mean to someone), teasing or bullying communication, and from there they will talk about the ways to communicate best, exploring what it means to have a great conversation.

Students will learn to make decisions, carefully thinking about theirpros, cons, and consequences.

In this unit students will understand that maintaining their values even when the going gets tough is a human struggle. The practice of keeping our values as our guiding light will keep us whole.

In this unit, students delved into the labels they put on others, as well as the labels others have placed on them, and how to lessen its effect on their lives.

In this unit students learn how to set boundaries and how to respect the boundaries of others.

During RICK month, EA reviews all the values of the School using activities and giving tools to continue working on the values in their dayto-day.

DESCRIPTION

Set the norms and expectations for the Community Time group. Create the norms to have a safe and desirable experience, as well as establish connections between feelings and actions, also understand that:

• We all have the right to feel safe in our community.

• The decisions I make influence and are influenced by my community.

• You are valuable as being unique in the community.

Understand why emotions are important and know how to use the mood meter as a tool. Being able to identify and regulate your emotions as needed in your life.

Karla Ruiz works with students, during her visit to the school, on the appropriate use of devices and social networks, to avoid bullying.

Emotions Matter

Digital Citizenship

Respect and Dignity

Reactive States

Perception

Belonging

Pity, Empathy, Compassion and Schaudenfreuden*

Active Listening

Judgment

Labels

Understand why emotions are important and know how to use the mood meter as a tool. Being able to identify and regulate your emotions as needed in your life.

Karla Ruiz works with students, during her visit to the school, on the appropriate use of devices and social networks, to avoid bullying.

In this unit students are able to identify the difference in dignity and respect and learn how to treat everyone with dignity. A representative of Culture of Dignity visits the School to talk about “Bullying” and the different ways of “harassing”

Being able to identify one’s own reactive states. Raising awareness is the first step in learning to overcome those reactions that affect relationships and your life

Students will learn how perception plays a role in the quality of their lives and how it helps them communicate with others. Students will also find ways to create a space of belonging in their community.

In this unit students learn the importance of creating a space where everyone belongs regardless of the differences we all have.

Understand the definition of 4 emotions and how to identify them in oneself and thus use that knowledge as a tool for change in the community. Creating a space where empathy and compassion are at the forefront of everything.

* Schadenfreude is a term used to describe the pleasure or joy derived from witnessing the misfortunes or failures of others. It involves experiencing a sense of satisfaction or amusement at the suffering or setbacks of someone else.

In this unit students practiced how to actively listen to create better communication with everyone around them.

In this unit students learn how to build trust and better relationships with others by using non-judgment to do so.

In this unit, students delved into the labels they put on others as well as the labels others have placed on them and how to lessen their effect on their lives.

Communication styles

Power of Words

RICK Month

In this unit students will understand the different forms of communication. How to be assertive. Being able to identify when you are communicating ineffectively. Understand how and when they start using passiveaggressive behaviors. Students will become aware of the effect their communication style has on themselves and those around them.

Generate greater awareness about the power that our words and actions have on ourselves and our community.

In the month of RICK, the American School reviews all the values of the School using activities and giving tools to continue working on the values in their day-to-day.

RULER: https://www.rulerapproach.org/

Investigación RULER

https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/emotional-intelligence-ruler-program-yale.shtml

Escuela Americana El Salvador

RULER TOOLS USED WITH STUDENTS FROM PRE-KINDER 3 - 12TH GRADE

EL META-MOMENTO

1 SENTIDO

Observe un cambio en su cuerpo o mente

2 PAUSE

Espere a responder.

Respire para pensar más claramente.

3 VER SU MEJOR YO

Imagine su mejor yo en la situación.

4 ESTRATEGIA Y ACTÚE

Piense en una estrategia, y pruébelo.

The Mood Meter

OTHER SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES USED AT EA WITH STUDENTS

Community & Culture

https://www.amschool.edu.sv/community-culture

CASEL

https://casel.org/

Books:

• Unbullyable (No Intimidable)

• Atlas of the heart (El Atlas del Corazón)

• An everyone culture (Una Cultura de Todos)

• The Onward Book (El libro de seguir adelante)

• Mindset (Mentalidad)

• Grit (Firmeza de Carácter)

• The Whole brain child (El Cerebro del Niño)

• No Drama Discipline (Disciplina sin Lágrimas)

• Age of Opportunity (La Edad de la Oportunidad)

J CULTURES OF DIGNITY

At EA we have partnered with Cultures of Dignity since the year 2020 to address the social obstacles confronting young people. Together with both our students and faculty, our Secondary School community collaborated with this organization to cultivate resilience and courage, and to establish the meaning of fostering a culture of dignity.

The school will continue collaborating with our Secondary School students and our 4th and 5th-grade students to cultivate a culture of dignity within our community.

We are committed to continuing to foster a positive and inclusive learning environment, where our students learn to appreciate and celebrate differences which is an essential skill in today’s multicultural world. By valuing and respecting differences, students develop empathy and tolerance towards others, which also creates a more harmonious school community.

Our shared comprehension is that dignity involves treating others equally and valuing them in the same way as we value ourselves, regardless of any differences.

Cultures of Dignity: https://owningup.online/

Every single classroom from 6th to 8th grade has these images on the wall and they are discussed with students on a regular basis.

J FAMILY EDUCATION PROGRAM AT EA

These are some example topics taught to parents during the 22-23 school year Taught monthly during the school year. EA parents are required to attend 4 sessions per school year.

All families are required to complete at least 4 sessions.

TOPIC

Why social-emotional learning with Alexandra Brizuela

DESCRIPTION

Alexandra explains the importance of social-emotional learning and includes different tools that parents can start using at home with their children. She shows the studies related to having a strong socioemotional program like the one that the American School has.

Digital Parental Control with Karla Ruiz

How to provide your child with the tools for emotional regulation with Mariale Fondeur

Karla Ruiz talks with parents about the different tools that students can use to make the digital experience dignified and appropriate. Karla mentions techniques on what to do in case of digital bullying and how to teach your children to use social networks and technology without mistreating others. Karla also works with students, during her visit to EA, so that they use their devices and social networks appropriately.

Mariale helps parents with tools they can use to help regulate their children. Emotional regulation creates a positive environment for everyone. Studies have found that regulation leads to better decision making and healthy friendships.

Raising

well-balanced children with elementary counseling

Reality and emotions with Eduardo Franco

How to support emotional intelligence with Secondary Counseling

The counseling team’s webinar for elementary parents talk about the importance of helping their children create balance in their lives. Within the subject bullying is addressed, speaking of social wellness. They talk about how to identify a healthy friendship and an unhealthy friendship.

Eduardo goes into detail about emotions with parents and how to support their children in the strong emotions they may have at different times. It shows how our beliefs can result in how we treat others and helps with different techniques that can be used to better communicate with our children.

The counseling team’s webinar for high school parents talk about how to support adolescents with their friendships using assertive communication and methods for regulation.

Creating an inclusive community for All with Derrick Gay

Derrick has visited Escuela Americana on 3 occasions, where he has spoken with parents, all the employees of the School, and some students. His work focuses on how to create a community where we can be more inclusive with everyone. With his work at the School, we were able to identify some areas where work was needed with our community, including how to treat everyone the way they want to be treated. Derrick’s talk with parents helped them find tools on how to start promoting this work with their children. Derrick Gay collaborates with our students and parents, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance, while also providing support for antibullying efforts among both students and adults.

Salvador

APPENDIX 5

When a student is being bullied, EA follows the following diagram. The goal is for the EA team to accomplish this flow within 3 days or less.

Report gets passed on to the Assistant Director (by the counselor, Director, or whoever got the report) who leads the investigation. Assistant Director is the primary contact with the parents. Director is notified by the Assistant Director

Parent follow-up

Interview with teachers

Interview with alleged perpetrator/s

Additional interview with the victim

Assistant Director informs Counselor

Counselor interviews the victim

Is it a bullying issue or counseling issue?

Follow-up according to counseling protocols and procedures

Incident report is made

Assitant Director and Counselor agree on steps moving forward

Outcome (e.g. discipline and restorative justice)

Bullying Counseling

APPENDIX 6

DETECT. EDUCATE. DETER.

J #1 VAPE DETECTOR AND BULLYING SOLUTION

Soter Technologies has been granted 9 patents on our FlySense® Vaping Solution. Another patent (s) pending.

Real-Time Emails and Texts. No Delays.

Monitors air quality and potential bullying (through sound changes) It empowers you to gain control of areas where you cannot place a camera or microphone.

Integrates seamlessly with Camera Systems (VMS) and Access Controls.

Detects the vaping of THC, Nicotine, and other vaping products.

Real-time vape and sound anomalies detector.

FlySense® is a registered trademark of Soter Technologies, LLC. FlySense® vape detector is protected by granted and pending patents and design registrations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqkan6Ev3BE

This is an added measure that we are including in addition to our already strong handbook policies and education programs for students, parents and employees.

When a student is being bullied, EA follows the following diagram. The goal is for the EA team to accomplish this flow within 3 days or less.

APPENDIX 7

J ESCUELA AMERICANA CHILD PROTECTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

INTRODUCTION

This policy aims to provide all members of staff (paid), children and young people, and their families with a clear and secure framework for ensuring that all children in our school are protected from harm, both while at school and when off the school’s premises.

Practitioners who work with children at Escuela Americana will read this policy within the framework of LEY CRECER JUNTOS, MINED stipulations, the Board Policy Manual, the Faculty Handbook, and the Parent-Student Handbook.

Every employee is required by the MINED to take an 8-module course on “Ley Crecer Juntos”

Escuela Americana believes in supporting all aspects of children and young people’s development and learning, and keeping children safe. We understand that emotional and social aspects of learning create a foundation for all academic learning. If a child has not been supported to understand, express and resolve their feelings, they may not have the ability to share with other children, resolve the small conflicts that arise in day-to-day classroom life, or concentrate on learning. Their frustrations may cause a range of antisocial, disruptive, overly compliant, or withdrawn behaviors.

All staff will work to ensure that:

Children and young people feel listened to, valued, and respected

Staff are aware of indicators of abuse and know how to share their concerns Appropriately

All paid staff are subject to rigorous recruitment procedures

ll paid staff are given appropriate support and training

The educational staff play a crucial role in helping to identify welfare concerns, and indicators of possible abuse or neglect, at an early stage. Escuela Americana is committed to referring those concerns via the Division Head.

In order to to protect our students adequately, we will ensure that

• All staff are regularly trained in basic Child Protection awareness

• All staff have read and understand the school’s Child Protection Policy and are aware of the indicators of child abuse and how to respond to concerns or disclosures of abuse by children

• All children, young people and their families have access to the Child Protection Policy via the school’s website

• The child protection policy is reviewed on an annual basis by the Division Directors, General Director, and the Governing Body

EA has developed and adopted an appropriate definition of child abuse, including physical, emotional or sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect and commercial exploitation, and inappropriate behavior of children toward other children.

All children and adolescents are equal before the law. Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on criteria such as sex, race, color, age, language, religion, opinion, descent, national, ethnic or social origin, economic position, physical or mental disability is not permitted.

Children and adolescents have the right of respect for their personal integrity, which includes the physical, psychological, cultural, moral, emotional, and sexual. As a result, children may not be subject to any form of violence, exploitation, maltreatment, cruel or inhumane torture or other degrading Treatment.

For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions will apply:

PHYSICAL ABUSE

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

The use of physical force that causes actual or likely physical injury or suffering (e.g., hitting, shaking, burning, torture.)

Any humiliating or degrading treatment such as bad name calling, constant criticism, belittling, persistent shaming, solitary confinement or isolation.

NEGLECT Persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs. Examples include failing to provide adequate food, clothing and/or shelter; failing to prevent harm; failing to ensure adequate supervision; or failing to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

SEXUAL ABUSE

SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

All forms of sexual violence, including incest, early and forced marriage, rape, involvement in pornography and sexual slavery. Child sexual abuse may also include indecent touching or exposure, using sexually explicit language towards a child and showing children pornographic material.

Any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of a child.

COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION

Any form of exploitation of children for the purpose of financial gain by an individual. Examples include:

(i) Exploitation through child labor and in accordance with international law;

(ii) The sale and trafficking of children and adolescents;

(iii) The removal of human organs or tissues, as well as their marketing;

(iv) The contemporary forms of slavery and practices similar to debt bondage, the condition of a servant with forced labor without payment;

(v) The work whose nature or the circumstances is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children and adolescents;

(vi) The recruitment of children for use in armed conflicts or military activities

(vii)The use of children and adolescents for the illicit activities such as the production and trafficking of drugs and other narcotics.

BULLYING

A specific type of aggression (physical, verbal, or social) which includes behavior that is intended to harm, disturb, intimidate, or humiliate and is characterized by an imbalance of power between individuals or groups.

These incidents differ from normal, common conflicts that take place between students. Students sometimes joke around with each other, or tease each other, this is being mean, not bullying. The difference lies in the relationship of the bully and victim, and in the intent of the interaction. In a bullying situation, there is a power difference between the bully and the victim. For instance, the bully is able to intimidate others, or have the social power to exclude others from their social group.

EA has a policy, approved by the School Board, that describes how it is committed to preventing and responding appropriately if children are harmed, or if allegations of harm to children are made.

Escuela Americana’s Board of Directors’ Board Policy Manual, which was ratified in 2013, emphasizes the school’s commitment to protecting students and staff.

The articles that specifically pertain to “Student Policies” are found in the 500 series of the document:

• 509: Student Conduct/Discipline

• 509.1: Student Conduct

• 509.4: Student Rights and Responsibilities

• 509.5: Student Complaints and Grievances

• 509.5.1: Physical and Verbal Abuse of Students

• 509.5.2: Sexual Harassment

The articles that specifically pertain to “Personnel Policies” are found in the 400 series of the document:

• 401.4: Complaints and Grievances

• 401.4.1: Physical and Verbal Abuse of Staff

• 401.4.2, 401.4.3, and 401.4.4: Sexual Harassment

EA has specific child protection policies, practices, and faculty and staff training programs to ensure the safety and welfare of all students within boarding facilities, homestay, and residential arrangements and on excursions, trips, and student exchanges.

School field trips, participation in extracurricular activities (sports or others), and exchanges are undertaken to further students’ learning and social skills development outside their normal school environment. They aim to further promote the development of the EA Whole Child.

DEFINITIONS

• CHAPERONES: Member of staff employed by the school and authorized by the Division Director to be in charge of a field trip or excursion.

• FIELD TRIP: Any OFF CAMPUS student-learning activity conducted, at which the student is enrolled, that is organized or managed by a STAFF member of the division with previous approval of Division Director.

• CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY: Any activity that does not fall within the scope of the school’s regular academic curriculum, but is officially approved and connected with the school

• EXCHANGES: Any INTERNATIONAL student-learning activity that is organized, hosted, and conducted by a school in another country; in which a student enrolled at our school can participate. This activity is managed by a STAFF member of one of Escuela Americana’s divisions and with previous approval of the Division Director.

POLICY RULES

1. Only field trips and exchanges that have a clear educational purpose will be approved.

2. Field trips and exchanges involving high-risk activities or locations will not be approved. When there are doubts about a site’s safety, appropriate entities that have access to security reports will be contacted to determine if the area is safe.

3. All approved field trips and exchanges will be planned, organized, and conducted in accordance with the school’s Field Trip and Exchanges Procedures.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTATION AND COMPLIANCE

1. Division Directors are responsible for implementation of the school policy.

2. Directors and/or assistant directors are responsible for coordinating and/or delegating aspects related to the trip (including, but not limited to, transportation, lodging, security needs, and verification that required forms have been completed).

3. The Office Manager in each division is responsible for verifying, completing memos, and organizing all necessary forms and documents that chaperones or teachers will need to ensure safeguarding student travel and wellbeing.

4. Teachers (Elementary) and Grade Level Leaders (Secondary) are responsible for monitoring and verifying that all forms with appropriate and required information have been completed and submitted to the office by the teacher(s) in charge of the particular field trip.

5. Teachers/chaperones are responsible for verifying and understanding all legal documents, medical forms, insurance policies, and all necessary documents required for the trip.

SAFEGUARDING AND WELFARE OF STUDENTS

Refers to policies and practices to safeguard the physical, emotional, social, and healthcare needs of students participating in field trips and exchanges. This section will also include legal requirements for Travel.

Please refer to Sections for “Expectation for International Trips, Athletic Competitions, and Field Trips” and “Behavioral Expectations for School Transportation” of the Parent/Student Handbook.

Please refer to the “Acceptable Use Policy” (AUP) regarding appropriate use of electronic communications in the Parent-Student Handbook.

EA’s safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures are subject to annual, scheduled review and revision.

These policies will be reviewed at the end of each school year during annual handbook revisions by the Division Directors and General Director and are approved by the Board of Directors.

EA has recruitment policies and executes rigorous recruitment procedures that ensure all employees and volunteers are of sound moral character and are suitable people to work with children and young Adults.

EA has recruitment procedures in place to ensure that all employees that are hired go through a screening process that entails the following:

1. All references are checked and calls are made to verify the written references. A record of the reference check call is kept by Human Resources.

2. Local academic and administrative staff have to provide police and criminal record clearances before they can be offered the contract.

3. International academic and administrative staff needs to present an FBI background check before coming to El Salvador.

4. Maintenance, custodial and security personnel need to provide a police and criminal record clearance as well as undergo a pre-employment polygraph test and a domiciliary study.

EA has clearly defined leadership responsibilities for child safety and duty of care.

The Division Directors along with the help of the Assistant Directors and Counselors take the lead responsibility for child protection which includes support for staff, information sharing with appropriate outside agencies, developing policies, and staff development. At Escuela America, there are two Division Directors who report directly to the school’s General Director.

The Division Directors are members of the leadership staff endowed with the authority and seniority to carry out the necessary functions of this most important role.

The school has a designated Child Protection Supervisor responsible for preparing and coordinating staff training, overseeing reporting efforts, and maintaining proper documentation.

DIVISION DIRECTORS’ AND CHILD PROTECTION SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Together with the counseling team, make sure suspected abuse and neglect is referred to the proper authorities.

• Develop and update the school’s child protection and other safeguarding policies so that staff as well as children/families/parents are informed.

• Make sure support and advice is being provided to all members of staff regarding child protection requirements.

• Keep the General Director informed about any issues related to child endangerment

• Ensure that all staff receive appropriate Child Protection and Safeguarding Training, as well as maintain training records.

• Cooperate with any requests for information from the local authorities.

OTHER STAFF’SRESPONSIBILITIES

It is the responsibility of all other members of staff to ensure that all safeguarding concerns, both minor and serious, are reported to the Division Directors as soon as reasonably possible.

The Division Directors may have other information regarding a child, young person or their family of which other staff may not be aware. Minor concerns may take on greater significance within the wider context of knowledge of a child or family that the Division Directors may have.

Formal procedures exist for determining the character of adults who interact with students. These procedures may include criminal record, background checks or other such means as may be suitable based upon the risks posed to the students. Formal procedures exist to obtain and verify references for prospective and current faculty and staff. EA has a scheduled program of regular, systematic professional training for volunteers, contractors, faculty and staff on student safeguarding, child abuse prevention, recognition, intervention, and reporting.

RECRUITING POLICY FOR LOCAL HIRES

All local applications for employment will be directed to the Human Resources office, which has evaluation procedures and will involve Division Directors and Coordinators. The Director and / or his designated representatives will make every effort to personally interview the applicants before issuing a final recommendation.

Proof of candidate’s credentials, qualifications, training and experience as well as personality traits must be taken into consideration to determine the best candidate to meet the school’s hiring requirements and educational philosophy.

Requirements:

• Solvencia de la PNC (Police report)

• Criminal record letter

• Specific references from employers for the last five years; these references are contacted by HR through telephone or email and remain confidential.

• We keep records of all staff information.

RECRUITING POLICY FOR INTERNATIONAL HIRES

All candidates must be certified elementary or secondary educators. Division Directors attend job fairs and interview potential candidates in order to determine their feasibility as a faculty member.

Requirements:

• FBI Background check (issued within the last 6 months)

• Specific references from employers for the last five years; these references are contacted by HR through telephone or email and remain confidential.

• Valid teaching certification. EA has developed and adopted a code of conduct and written guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate behavior of adults toward children and children towards other children. All faculty, staff, volunteers, and contractors acknowledge that they have read the code of conduct and agree to abide by it.

ESCUELA AMERICANA BEHAVIOR CODE

This behavior code outlines the conduct expected of Escuela Americana staff and volunteers and staff from other organizations who engage with children and young people through Escuela Americana and its Activities.

PURPOSE

Following this code will help to protect children from abuse and inappropriate behavior from adults. It will also help staff and volunteers to maintain the standard of behavior expected of them and will reduce the possibility of unfounded allegations of abuse being made against them.

UPHOLDING THIS CODE OF BEHAVIOR

All members of staff and volunteers are expected to report any breaches of this code to the Division Director under child protection procedures. Staff and volunteers who breach this code of behavior may be subject to Escuela Americana’s discipline procedures. Any breach of the code involving a volunteer or member of staff from another agency may result in them being asked to leave Escuela Americana. Serious breaches may also result in a referral being made to a statutory agency such as the police, the local authority children’s social care department, and/or the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

THE ROLE OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

When working with children and young people at Escuela Americana all staff and volunteers are acting in a position of trust. It is important that staff and volunteers are aware that they are seen as role models by children and young people, and must act in an appropriate manner at all times.

WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO:

• Respect and comply with local Salvadoran (Ley Crecer Juntos) and Escuela Americana policies set forth in the handbooks.

• Operate within Escuela Americana’s principles and guidance, and any specific procedures.

• Follow the Escuela Americana’s child protection policy and acceptable use of technology policy (AUP), and procedures at all times.

• Avoid favoritism.

• Treat children and young people fairly and without prejudice or discrimination.

• Value and take children’s contributions seriously, actively involving children and young people in planning activities wherever possible.

• Ensure any contact with children and young people is appropriate and in relation to the work of the project.

• Always ensure language is appropriate and not offensive or discriminatory.

• Always ensure equipment is used safely and for its intended purpose.

• Provide examples of good conduct you wish children and young people to follow.

• Report all allegations/suspicions of abuse.

• Ensure that whenever possible, there is more than one adult present during activities with children and young people or if not possible, that you are within sight or hearing of other adults 204 Parent / Student Handbook 2023-2024.

• If a child specifically asks for or needs to meet with you privately, ensure other staff know where you and the child are.

• Respect a young person’s right to personal privacy.

• Encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and caring enough to point out attitudes or behavior they do not like.

• Recognize that special caution is required when you are discussing sensitive issues with children or young people.

YOU MUST NOT:

• Treat children and young people as if they are silly;

• Allow allegations to go unreported;

• Develop inappropriate relationships such as contact with children and young people that is not a part of the work of Escuela Americana or agreed with the manager or leader;

• Conduct a sexual relationship with a child or young person or indulge in any form of sexual contact with a child or young person. Any such behavior between an adult member of staff or volunteer and a child or young person using the services of Escuela Americana represents a serious breach of trust on the part of the staff member or volunteer and is not acceptable under any circumstances;

• Let children and young people have your personal contact details (mobile number, social media site, or address);

• Make sarcastic, insensitive, derogatory or sexually suggestive comments or gestures to or in front of children and young people;

• Act in a way that can be perceived as threatening or intrusive;

• Make inappropriate promises to children and young people, particularly in relation to confidentiality;

• Jump to conclusions about others without checking facts;

• Either exaggerate or trivialize child abuse issues;

• Rely on your reputation or that of the organization to protect you.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Escuela Americana welcomes and encourages parental involvement. Parents and guardians are regarded as valuable partners in promoting positive behavior and will be involved as appropriate. At Escuela Americana it is our obligation to prevent harm within our community and as mandated reporters, we will act on all forms of abuse and harm.

In the event of their child becoming the subject of behavior sanctions, parents/guardians will be informed and involved. In certain cases, the school may make requests to protect student welfare such as mandatory psychological evaluation, mandatory therapy, and/or mandatory parent training. Continued enrollment at the school will be dependent on the followup of the recommendations.

Escuela Americana El Salvador

EA shall have in place formal learning programs throughout the school experience related to child protection that cover areas such as bullying, personal safety, physical abuse, manipulation, grooming, online safety, healthy sexual behavior, neglect and negligent behavior, self-harm, staying safe away from home, commercial exploitation and disclosing abuse. These programs are delivered by members of faculty or external providers who are trained in these areas.

The EA Counseling Department is an integral part of the total educational program and it seeks to help every student acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes that promote academic achievement and meet personal development needs in the areas of academic, career, personal/social, and global perspective Development.

The Counseling Department offers comprehensive services and offers a full range of activities and services for students at EA, such as individual and group counseling, classroom lessons, referrals, and one-on-one counseling support. Although immediate individual needs and crises are to be met by the counseling staff, the major purpose and focus is to provide all students with experiences to help them grow and develop.

The Counseling Department supports students in four domains: academics, social-emotional, college, and career. The Counseling Department offers student-centered services and provides developmentally appropriate support at each grade level as well as individual and group counseling opportunities for all students. Counseling works closely with the school’s Head of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) who manages the implementation of SEL programs such as RULER from Yale University to provide students and the EA community SEL skills and tools to promote the social and emotional development of every Child.

EA’s Counseling Department operates on the assumption that all school staff members are involved in activities with students on a day-to-day basis that foster their social and emotional wellbeing. School counselors are central to supporting the mental health and well-being of students in school by providing direct services to students and working in consultative and collaborative relations with other members of the counseling team, members of school staff, parents, and members of the school community.

YEAR-ROUND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE:

1. Talks for students and teachers on different topics related to well-being, such as healthy relationships, managing emotions, safe technology usage, and communication skills.

2. Family Education Program- yearly scheduled parent education presentations by local and international experts and consultants on different topics related to children and adolescents to align the school and community to its values and teachings.

3. Social and Emotional Learning during Morning Meeting time and Community Time blocks are

integrated into the curriculum, where students learn about and practice social-emotional skills and work on community building in a positive environment that cultivates growth and understanding.

4. Personal safety and appropriate limits with regards to one’s body and personal space addressed with students.

5. Social/emotional and self-care skills training in an age-appropriate manner addressed individually and/or in group activities.

6. Duty to warn notification for parents- includes self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempts, serious medical and psychological conditions and/or threatening behavior toward self or others.

7 Training to staff on social-emotional concerns (red flags).

8. Senior transition to college talks for students.

9. Campus-wide ban on cigarette smoking, alcohol and other drugs and their related paraphernalia (students and personnel).

10. Prescribed medications for students must only be dispensed by the school nurses.

11. 11. Referral for psychological or psychoeducational evaluations when need be.

EA has developed structured procedures for reporting suspected or disclosed maltreatment or abuse, including disclosure of abuse that may have taken place in the past and adopts a formal policy identifying actions to be taken, including informing appropriate authorities.

REFERRAL PROCESS

If a member of staff becomes aware of suspected or disclosed maltreatment or abuse, he/she should consult his/her Division Director, Assistant Director, or Counselor as soon as possible, even if it may be necessary to interrupt a lesson to do this. Early referral gives more time to offer help to the student and family before the situation becomes severe or serious. When the matter is already severe or serious, early referral gives more time for others to protect the student.

MAKE WRITTEN NOTES

• At the earliest opportunity make a written record of your concerns - record facts accurately and be clear when you are expressing an opinion and the basis for this - these notes will help to ensure accuracy in recalling events later.

• Notes should be emailed to Division Director, Assistant Director, and Counselor as soon as possible. Counselor immediately notifies the Child Protection Supervisor who will prepare an incident report.

• Do not take photographs of any physical injuries, record on a body map and also do not use audio to record disclosures.

Once a report has been made, the Child Protection Supervisor shares it with the General Director. The Division Director, Counselor and Child Protection Supervisor will follow all further reporting procedures. The General Director may consult local authorities when necessary. The General Director should consult with the lawyers when the matter may involve legal repercussions to the student, the parents or the school. The counselor is responsible for monitoring the students who have received Child Protection Incident reports and to alert the Division Director and Child Protection Supervisor in case additional concerns arise.

CONCERN FROM SOMETHING THE CHILD SAYS

LISTEN

Do not ask questions or interrogate. Consider interpreting services if English is a second language. REMAIN CALM

If you are shocked, upset or angry the pupil/ student will sense this and this could stop them from saying more.

Remember

• If in doubt, consult;

• Do not ignore concerns, even if these are vague;

• Your first responsibility is to the student; and

REASSURE

The student that s/he has done nothing wrong - tell them it is alright to talk.

DO NOT PROMISE TO KEEP IT SECRE

Tell the student you cannot keep the matter secret and will need to take advice from someone who can help.

• If you need help or support to manage your own feelings, this can usually be provided.

EA develops meaningful and effective relationships with external organizations and bodies that are able to provide appropriate support and advice on matters related to child protection.

EA is a welcoming community and works with professionals and external organizations to provide and enhance the services for faculty, students and their families.

Some partners include:

• Local and internationally-based private professionals: psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, pediatricians, neurologists, and speech therapists

• External organizations: Forja, Arboretum, Asociación Estima, FUNPRES, and the US Embassy.

• Social Workers from the Salvadoran Family Court System

• School lawyer

• Local and internationally-based schools

Child protection measures are integrated with all procedures and systems (strategic planning, budgeting, recruitment, program management, performance management, procurement, partner agreements, risk management, and management systems etc.)

The School has procedures in place to ensure that people coming into our campus have been screened and should abide by certain expectations. Part of the recruitment process entails police and criminal records verification, pre-employment polygraph tests as well as domiciliary visits. Budget is made available to pay for these pre-employment requirements. International teachers must present an FBI Check.

Service providers and contractors must follow specific guidelines for entering our campus. Construction workers must also abide by specific behavior expectations. (Please refer to the following documents: Employment Contract, Security Procedures, and Normas de Comportamiento de Ingreso)

Due regard is given to building and facility design, layout, designation and use to ensure in child safety and protection, within the context of the host country.

All buildings at EA are built according to code. All of our buildings meet seismic code requirements and care is taken to design them so that they do not pose threats to students. All sharp edges are eliminated, the height of bathrooms and the placement of specific equipment is according to the age and height of the users. Playground equipment is designed for the specific ages of the users and all of them have surfaces to protect children when they fall. Careful consideration is given to the placement of ramps as well as the height of the stairs in the different buildings. The buildings are designed so that there are no hidden areas that cannot be easily supervised.

The School has over 115 cameras in strategic places throughout the campus that help our security personnel keep track of events. Many of these cameras are directed towards areas where students circulate and are used by Division Directors to follow up on certain issues. Other cameras are located in areas where there is no direct visibility in order to monitor events in those areas.

EA is cognizant of cultural expectations and complies with the legal and ethical expectations and requirements regarding child abuse within the country in which it Operates.

LEY CRECER JUNTOS

• Artículo 57

MINEDUCYT

• Ley General de Educación

• Capítulo II Educandos

• Artículo 90.c, d, i, j

• Artículo 91

BOARD POLICY MANUAL

The articles that specifically pertain to Student Policies are found in the 500 series of the document:

• 509: Student Conduct/Discipline

• 509.1: Student Conduct

• 509.4: Student Rights and Responsibilities

• 509.5: Student Complaints and Grievances

• 509.5.1: Physical and Verbal Abuse of Students

• 509.5.2: Sexual Harassment

The articles that specifically pertain to Personnel Policies are found in the 400 series of the document:

• • 401.4: Complaints and Grievances

• • 401.4.1: Physical and Verbal Abuse of Staff

• • 401.4.2, 401.4.3, and 401.4.4: Sexual Harassment

All reports of suspected or disclosed abuse and any actions taken by the institution are securely archived, regardless of the conclusions reached.

• All records relating to child welfare concerns are kept in a secure location with a chronology of concerns and actions taken

• The school will keep written records of any concerns about students, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately

• Information from records will only be accessed by staff on a “need to know” basis, with the pertinent Division Director’s approval;

• Key staff will need to know when a student is subject to a Child Protection Plan so they can monitor the student’s welfare;

• Records relating to the student’s welfare will remain on the student’s file as long as the student is at the school;

• All records relating to faculty or staff who have been directly or indirectly involved in any allegation relating to child abuse will be kept in a special file referenced by a notice in the employee’s file. A detailed report of the incident, evidence, and how it was dealt with should be kept and signed by the person in charge of the investigation and should be included in the special file.

J MEDICAL PROTOCOL FOR SUSPECTED SEXUAL ABUSE / ASSAULT / TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

SYSTEMATIC ASSESSMENT

Every nursing encounter begins with a systematic assessment. The four components of a comprehensive systematic assessment are listed below. Suggested actions should be performed if indicated and in accordance with applicable protocols and available resources. Provide any necessary interventions before progressing to the next step of the assessment. These assessment components will be used for essentially every nursing encounter, and it is important to become completely familiar with each component. It will be useful to keep this information in an easily accessible location for continual Reference.

SCENE SAFETY ASSESSMENT

Call for assistance as indicated before proceeding.

Any student who presents with pain in genital area:

1. Report Case to Doctor on campus.

2. If necessary, report to the counseling office.

3. Doctor will inform parents/ guardian, and will request consent to examine the student.

4. Any medical/ nurse staff will not examine the patient alone or without parents’ consent.

5. 5. If parents/ guardians cannot be reached at both phone numbers, Doctor will make the decision in the best interest of the student.

ACROSS-THE-ROOM ASSESSMENT

Use the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT)

• Appearance: TICLS - Tone, Interactiveness, Consolability, Look, and Speech

• Breathing: Work of breathing (nasal flaring and retractions); abnormal airway sounds

• Circulation: Visible skin color

PRIMARY (C-ABCDE) ASSESSMENT/IMMEDIATE INTERVENTIONS

• Standard precautions

• Restrict motion of cervical spine

• Control obvious hemorrhage

• CPR as applicable

• Airway, positioning

• Breathing, O2, mouth-to-mask

• Circulation, control bleeding

• CPR/AED

• Disability, AVPU, pupil check

• Exposure, brief inspection

SECONDARY (FGHI) ASSESSMENT

• Full set of vital signs, temperature, weight, and blood glucose

• Give comfort measures/pain assessment Numerical pain scale , FACES visual pain scale

• History and Head-to-toe/focused physical examination , SAMPLE history: Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past health history, Last food/drink, Events , Complete or limited physical examination: Inspect, Auscultate, Percuss, Palpate

• Isolate, Injuries, and Additional Interventions . Isolate for communicable diseases; perform additional interventionsbased on findings

TRIAGE (E–U–N)

EMERGENT

Active EMS

URGENT

Determine need for EMS

NON-URGENT

Return to class or send home

KEY ASSESSMENT POINTS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OR ASSAULT

Before taking any decision, notify the Doctor on campus and call the Division Director.

• Psychosocial history

• Menstrual status/possibility of pregnancy

• Long-term sexual abuse must be reported to appropriate authorities at school.

• Focused physical examination for acute injuries (before parents’ consent)

• Limit physical contact if assault just occurred to preserve forensic evidence

• Encourage student to bring all clothing worn during the assault to the ER

Immediate Interventions.

Even before you determine triage category, perform the following actions as indicated:

• Treat any injuries as indicated

• Provide a safe, nonthreatening environment

• Ask open-ended questions

• Support student

Note: Any case of suspected sexual assault requires ED treatment and local law enforcement notification. The student should disclose the full account of the assault ONLY to a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner RN or physician performing the forensic exam. Only specially trained professionals should interview victims of sexual assault.

DETERMINE TRIAGE CATEGORY AND ADDITIONAL INTERVENTIONS

EMERGENT

• Thoughts of death or suicide

• Severe/life-threatening injuries (Trauma protocol)

• Suspected sexual assault

URGENT

• Ecchymoses/injuries, not life-threatening

• Alcohol/drug use

• Current, previous, or potential pregnancy

NON-URGENT

• History of truancy

• Sudden change in dress or makeup

• Difficulty making decisions

• Abrupt changes in mood or personality

• Combative, possessive, or jealous behavior

• Withdrawal/self-isolation

INTERVENTIONS

• Support C-ABCDE

• Directly/continuously monitor student

• Refer to school counselor as appropriate

• Contact parent/guardian as per policy

• Preserve evidence and send to ED with student

• Notify school administrator

• Follow-up

INTERVENTIONS

• Support C-ABCDE

• Determine need for EMS

• Observe student closely

• Provide support

• Refer to school counselor

• Contact parent/guardian to transport student to medical care or home as per policy

• Follow-up

INTERVENTIONS

• Refer to school counselor

• Observe student’s behavior with others

• Document findings

• Provide support

• Contact parent/guardian as per policy

• Return student to class or send home as indicated

• Follow-up as needed or per policy