The Logistics of the School Day

TEFILLAH: ATTENDANCE

Mandatory Tefillah begins at 7:30am and all students are expected to attend. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of Tefillah. Students who arrive after this time will be considered late to Tefillah. There will be an optional Selichot available for students before the commencement of Tefillah. There will be a daily optional Mincha/Arvit Minyan available too. Breakfast will be served immediately after Tefillah.

TEFILLAH: EXPECTATIONS

When students are praying in school they should be focused and attentive. Our expectation is that students will be active participants in Tefillah, which, at a minimum entails meeting all of the following:

● Being on time

● Having an open siddur or other approved book in hand

● Standing when the community is standing and sitting when they are sitting

● Refraining from talking to friends

● Keeping tefillin on during Shacharit until the end of Tefillah (boys)

● Storing electronic devices out of sight

Class Attendance

Students are expected to be in class and ready to learn on time. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.

● If a student is more than 5 minutes late to class without appropriate permission he or she will be marked as late to the class.

● Unless given appropriate permission, a student who does not attend a class in its entirety, or who comes to class more than 15 minutes late will be considered absent.

● Students may leave class with permission of the teacher to go to the bathroom or get a drink. Unless there are extenuating medical or health reasons, a student break should last no more than 5 minutes.

● After students are late 3 times they will receive a disciplinary action.

Academics

All students participate in our Israel Studies/Jewish History curriculum, spanning 4,000+ years of Jewish and Israeli history, using the land as a classroom. Each grade will focus on one part of Jewish history beginning with Abraham and concluding with modern contemporary Israel.

In addition to Jewish History, students will explore topics in Torah as they relate to what they are learning in their History classes. Additionally, they will have regular Ulpan sessions where they will learn conversational Hebrew. Students should expect periodic assessments, project and writing assignments which will be graded and shared with parents.

Free Time

On regular school days there is often free time in the evenings to relax, socialize, study, or go into town. There may be organized evening activities as well. Free time off-campus is considered a privilege and comes with responsibility. Students that are allowed to go offcampus will be required to sign out when they leave and sign back in upon their return within the window of time dictated by the Dean of Students or Director of Jewish Life. Neglecting to sign in or out, leaving early, returning late, or violating any of the applicable school rules may result in losing privileges as well as other consequences as seen fit by administrators. Please refer to the dress code policy applicable during free time.

Dress Code

Our appearance code reflects modesty and the creation of an atmosphere conducive to an academic environment. As such, students are expected to dress within the “letter” as well as within the “spirit” of the code. The administration and/or its designees are the final arbiters of what is acceptable. Sometimes decisions need to be made based on subjective criteria. When in doubt, please check with the administration prior to making assumptions. All students are expected to comply with the appearance code during travel, on campus, and whenever participating in school trips or events.

There are variations on the dress code expectation for the following scenarios:

● Academic Activities

● Athletics, Trips and Free time

● Shabbat

Academic Activities Dress Code

Academic activities include all on campus sessions (excluding art and PE), Tefillah, and offcampus learning (academic trips). During all academic activities boys and girls are expected to follow the same uniform dress code as they do for class on our Miami campus, which is as follows:

Boys Appearance Code:

● Clothes must be neat, clean, and in good condition

● Kippot are required at all times

● Tzitzit are encouraged

● Uniform shirt and long pants must be worn

● The waistband of a pair of pants must be above or at the hips;

○ underwear may not be visible

○ pants may not be torn or faded.

● Closed toe shoes and closed back shoes must be worn at all times. Slippers/slides and Crocs are not allowed.

● No earrings or artificial hair colors are permitted

● Boys may not wear hats

Girls Appearance Code:

● Clothes must be neat, clean, and in good condition

● Girls must wear the school uniform skirt

○ Skirts must be no more than two inches above the knee

○ No alterations may be made to the uniform skirt (shortening or tightening)

○ Regular pants, sweatpants or pajama-like pants under a skirt may not be worn

● Uniform shirt::

○ Students must ensure that their tops always overlap their skirts

○ Excessively form-fitting shirts may not be worn

○ Shirt sleeves may not be rolled up

○ Undergarments may not be visible at any time

● Dyeing one’s hair an unnatural color or having eccentric hairstyles is not permitted

● There is a limit of two earrings per ear. Jewelry located in piercings other than the ear may not be worn, and a student will be asked to remove any such adornments

● Girls may not wear hats

● Closed toe shoes and closed back shoes must be worn at all times. Slippers/slides and Crocs are not allowed.

Shabbat Dress Code

The way we dress for Shabbat is a big part of what sets this day apart from all the other days of the week. As a community we dress in order to create a sense of importance and celebration.

During both on-campus Shabbat as well as off-campus shabbat boys and girls may not wear athletic clothing. Appropriate dress for boys is long pants and a blue or white collared sleeved shirt. Boys are not expected to wear ties or jackets although they are invited to. Girls may wear a skirt and top or a dress. All clothing should have appropriate sleeve lengths and skirt lengths as well as a suitable neckline that is not revealing. Clothes should not be sheer or see through. These dresscode parameters are to be kept anytime you leave your bedroom.

Athletics/Trips /Free Time Dress Code

During athletics, trips and during free time students do not need to wear a uniform but must follow a dress code.

Boys may wear sports shorts or sweatpants. Girls may wear skorts, knee length shorts, or sweat pants.

Boys must wear a Kippah with a clip or a hat. Any water activities that are co-ed will require students to wear T-shirts and shorts on top of their swimwear.

Boys:

● A kippah or hat must be worn

● A shirt with sleeves must be worn

● No clothing with inappropriate or offensive language is permitted

Girls:

● Skirts, shorts to the knee may be worn or pants may be worn

● Shirts with sleeves and with a neckline that is not revealing must be worn

● No clothing with inappropriate or offensive language is permitted

Personal Space And Physical Contact

JLA is an environment where all members of the community should feel comfortable. Everyone has the right to personal space and each student and faculty member is expected to respect personal boundaries. Every student, staff, and faculty member is, therefore, expected to act with sensitivity and respect toward each other’s personal boundaries. Consistent violation of such boundaries or the failure of a community member to adhere to the request of another community member with regard to their personal space may result in disciplinary action.

Jewish law values physical touch as a personal, intimate and often private act. Physical touch between genders is limited to immediate family. Therefore, students and faculty alike should be mindful of these guidelines. In particular, special consideration and respect should be given to spaces of a religious nature. Students should limit physical contact between genders where possible. Physical contact between any students on campus or during an off-campus school sponsored activity that can be construed as intimate in nature is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary consequences.

Boys and Girls will be dorming in separate areas. At no point in time are boys or girls allowed to visit or enter the opposite genders dorm room. Violation of this rule will result in disciplinary action.

Safety, Security and Health

JLA values the safety of everyone in our school community. In order to promote an environment of growth in learning, the following safety procedures have been instituted.

Security

Muss has armed security guards on campus at all times. Students that leave campus for the open-Shabbat or to use their off-campus privileges will pass through security and must sign in and out.

AMHSI follows security guidelines in consultation with and as dictated by the Israeli Department of Security and the American embassy. Students will be accompanied on trips with armed security personnel and emergency medical responders.

Visitors

Students may not invite non-JLA students to school. No visitors may come to campus and students may not leave campus with a friend or relative with the exception of the openweekend. Students who invite non-approved guests into the building will face disciplinary consequences and guests who appear without prior permission will be asked to leave.

Drills

In order to secure the school as best as possible, JLA practices a variety of drills to prepare students and staff in case of a real emergency. Students are expected to take all drills seriously, be knowledgeable about protocols, and follow them precisely. Procedures will be introduced, explained and practiced in an age appropriate manner for all grades, with an emphasis on having the experience produce as little anxiety as possible for our students.

Emergency Medical Response

In the event your child is sick or injured, a faculty member, school nurse or administrator will contact you by telephone since we are not authorized to administer treatment other than basic first aid. It is important that we have on file accurate contact information for all parents and/or guardians. In case of an emergency, the school will call for an emergency medical response and notify parents as soon as possible.

Health Insurance

Alexander Muss High School in Israel’s medical insurance covers medical and accident treatment but does not cover pre-existing conditions, counseling or therapy for emotional or psychological issues. The clinic on campus is staffed by a nurse and a physician who comes to campus three days a week. During orientation in Israel, you will be informed of clinic hours and procedures for accessing medical care.

If you get sick, the madrichim (counselors) will be in contact with our campus nurse. Parents will receive medical updates from the nurse. She will email parents regarding non-urgent issues within 24 hours. Specialists are available by appointment and through the ER. To contact our nurse in advance of the session, please email nurse@amhsi.org.

Illness

Students with fever, diarrhea or vomiting are required to visit the on campus medical clinic and will be asked to remain in their room for at least 24 hours following the cessation of these symptoms. Students with an infectious diseases including, but not limited to, Influenza, Covid, Mumps, Measles, Strep Throat, Chicken Pox, Pink Eye, Pinworm, Lice, HFMD (Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease), Meningitis, Hepatitis, TB, Scarlet Fever or any potential epidemic will require quarantining as per the guidance of the director of the on-campus medical clinic.

Medication

All medications, prescribed and over the counter will be stored in a locked box in the on-campus medical clinic. If a student needs to take medication during the school day, they are to report to the school nurse.

Student Medication Policy:

Students bringing prescription medications to Israel will need a doctor’s letter with:

● Student’s name

● Diagnosis

● Daily dosage of medicine

● Name of medicine (including active ingredients)

● Please place all prescription medication in your carry-on bag

● If you use an EpiPen or something similar, please bring three with you.

● If available, please include package insert or pamphlet explaining medication, use, and potential contraindications. During orientation, students will give medications to the nurse, who will keep them safe.

Students are responsible for self-administering their own medications, and will be given a supply each week as recommended by the nurse. Please bring enough medication for the full session and send a weekly pillbox, which the student will use when they visit the nurse for refills each week. It is a good idea to bring an extra supply as well, if possible. The back-up supply should be left in its original container with the pharmacy label affixed to the bottle. We also recommend that students bring a typed prescription of the same medication using the generic name of the product.

Over the Counter Medications:

If a student is feeling ill they should report to the school nurse. After the nurse assesses the student, over the counter medications may be given for the following; Tylenol or Motrin: headache or menstrual cramps, TUMS: stomach ache or nausea, Cough Drops: sore throat or cough, Caladryl: poison ivy or bug bites, Anti-bacterial ointment/wash: wound cleaning, Benadryl: an allergic reaction (parent will be notified)

LICE

Head lice infestation is common amongst kids and, while a nuisance, is not dangerous. Lice do not discriminate based on income or hygiene. Head lice are usually transmitted by direct contact with infected persons, their clothing, hair accessories or hats. The best way to keep head lice at bay is for everyone to check heads regularly at home. If you spot even one louse or nit, please seek treatment. It is important that parents report cases of lice promptly to the school.

If a child has head lice, parents are required to have their child checked by a professional lice checker or pediatrician before the child will be permitted to return to school. Additionally, all nits must be removed before a child can return to school. This prevents re-infestation that could spread to other children or staff. The school is vigilant with regard to lice. If warranted, the school will call in a consultant to carry out head checks.

Allergies

If you have allergies, a separate allergy section in the online application must be completed. Allergy injections, if required, must be administered by a physician as per Israeli law. We are unable to administer them on campus. Students will be taken to a medical clinic or allergist which will be at their parents' expense. Please note that an allergy is considered a pre-existing condition, and therefore, would not be covered under AMHSI-JNF’s medical insurance. If there were to be a medical emergency due to the allergy the parent/guardian would need to pay for the medical expense. Please also note that certain allergies require additional staff supervision and therefore might incur additional fees.

Student Support

JLA values the well-being of each student and encourages students to use the resources available as an important form of self-care. The Dean of Students and Director of Jewish Life as well as a trained professional social worker will be available throughout the work day on campus. Our school counselor will also be available remotely to meet with students who need to discuss any concerns including, but not limited to, stress, anxiety or depression, as well as social and family-related issues.

Communication With Campus

A weekly newsletter of JLA ץראב will be emailed to parents sharing the students’ activities, study topics and field trips, which have occurred over the previous days.