Behavior Standards
DRESS CODE
Uniform and student appearance:
Costa Rican law requires all students to wear uniforms. The AIS uniform is required for all students, and students should keep uniforms neat and clean. Please consult with the Principal if you have specific questions.
Students are required to wear the American International School uniform. All students must wear the appropriate shirt with school emblem. Students are to come to school clean.
Boys and girls should have neat hairstyles. Boys with shoulder-length hair or longer must keep it pulled back in a ponytail. Hair must be in tones that would be considered natural hair color. Only moderate jewelry and cosmetics are allowed. Visible body piercing is not allowed other than earrings (studs or rings). Hats, or other headgear, are not permitted.
Adequate clothing covers students from shoulder to mid thigh. Boys and girls must wear straight-cut Khaki or beige trousers. Cargo pants are acceptable. Jeans are not allowed. Pants must not be over-sized. Skirts, and shorts are also allowed but they have to be knee length. Also, beige or white socks and closed tennis (sneakers) shoes. (No Fluorescent colors). Any T-shirts worn under the shirt or blouse should be short-sleeved, solid white or official school T-shirts. Shirts must not be tight and may not expose the midriff, have spaghetti, tube or halter tops are not allowed. Pants may not expose undergarments. Over-sized, torn, faded or dirty trousers are not allowed.
In addition, students are required to have a physical education uniform, which consists of beige, khaki or black shorts and a white, school T-shirt or AASCA shirt with the school logo on its front and sneakers. Elementary students (Pre-School –5th grade) wear the PE uniform all day on the days that they have PE. Their PE uniform consists of beige or Khaki shorts (cotton) with a school T-shirt or AASCA T-shirt and sneakers. During the other days they have to wear the beige or khaki pants with the burgundy polo shirt with the school emblem.
Uniform shirts must be purchased at the American International School store. The standard khaki or beige pants may be purchased in many local department stores.
Students who are out of uniform may be asked to wear ones supplied by the office, as appropriate uniforms are required to attend classes. Disciplinary action will be taken for repeated uniform infractions.
DETENTIONS
There are two categories of detentions: academic and behavioral. An academic detention is given as an aid to the completion of schoolwork under supervision; a behavioral detention is given as a disciplinary measure.
An academic detention is given to a student who has failed to complete work for that day. The detention is served during the lunch period to allow the student time to do the assignment with a teacher. An academic detention has no behavioral consequence, nor any effect on the overall conduct grade. The detention may not be postponed; it must be served during the stated lunch period. Failure to appear for academic detention will result in a behavioral detention.
A behavioral detention is given when the rules of conduct are broken. There are three levels of behavioral detentions: referral (lunch detention), conduct report (after-school detention) and suspension. A full lunch detention is given for a minor offense or disruption after a warning from an advisor. Students will spend the time engaged in activities determined to be appropriate and beneficial by the supervising educator.
It is understood that detentions take priority over sports practices, tutoring or other after-school activities. Parents will be notified of the after-school detention, and a one-day minimum suspension will result after three such detentions.
Three conduct reports (after-school detention) are the final step before student suspension.
STUDENTS’ BATHROOM
Students are to use the restrooms only in the parts of the building where they are assigned. Students must remain in their wing at all times. Students are not allowed to visit other parts of the school unsupervised. Students must have a hall pass to go to the restroom. Except for Early Childhood, students will be issued a behavioral detention if they go into the restrooms of the opposite sex.
LOCKERS
• Do not share your locker with anyone.
• Keep money and other valuables at home.
• Keep your locker combination to yourself.
• Keep your locker in good condition.
• Lockers may be inspected by school administration at any time.
• Thefts must be reported to the Administration.
• Students can lose their locker privilege if they do not follow these rules.
• Students who damage their lockers are responsible for replacing it with another.
• AIS is not responsible for valuables stolen from lockers. DO NOT BRING VALUABLES TO SCHOOL.
ATTENDANCE
The school operates a 'closed campus' and has a responsibility to know where every student is at all times. We keep careful attendance records and call home to inquire when a student is absent. The school appreciates the parents calling to explain an absence.
SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Students must arrive to school by 7:40 a.m. If the student is not enrolled in any after-school activities, he/she must take the 3:00 pm bus or his/her parents or legal guardian must pick him/her up no later than 3:15pm. If the student is enrolled in an after-school activity, he/she must take the 4:15 pm bus or his/her parents or legal guardian must pick him/her up no later than 4:15pm.
For safety reasons, students must be supervised by a teacher while on school campus.
CLOSED CAMPUS
Because the school is responsible for student safety and well-being, AIS students must remain on campus during the school day, including after-school activities. Students who leave school without permission will receive disciplinary action.
LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY
Students leaving campus early must have a signed letter from their parent or guardian and be pick them up. The only exception to this is written authorization from the parent indicating who is authorized to pick up the student. Any note asking for exceptions must be submitted to the office on the day of the request BEFORE 9:00 a.m. Students are not allowed to leave campus without authorized transportation during school hours. The school discourages early dismissal on Fridays.
Under no circumstances is any student to leave the school grounds after they arrive at school and before the end of the school day without permission of the Principal or Director. Leaving school without permission will be regarded as a violation.
CLASS ATTENDANCE
Attending class is mandatory for every student. A pass from the teacher is required for any student who is out of class for any reason. No more than one student will be allowed to leave the classroom with a hall pass at any given time. Teachers may choose to send small groups of students to the library or computer lab with a pass if prior approval is obtain from that teacher. They must be supervised by the teacher.
TARDINESS
Students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. are considered late for school, and must sign in with the secretary to obtain a late slip before proceeding to class. Three unexcused tardies for any class or homeroom will result in unexcused absence. Teachers are responsible to write a referral to the main office.
Students are expected to be in regular attendance and report to classes on time. Excessive tardiness may affect your standing in NHS, extracurricular activities participation or chances to become Valedictorian or Salutatorian, etc.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Changes in schedule are allowed only in unusual circumstances, with approval from the Counselor, Principal, or Director and are usually made during the first two weeks of a course.
Any student wishing to drop a course without penalty must obtain approval from the counselor and principal by the second week of the semester. After the two-week period, no course withdrawals will be allowed.
PASSING PERIOD
Students are allowed two minutes passing time between classes for water breaks, use of restroom and lockers. This is ample time for a small campus. There is no reason why students should not make it to class on time. Students who are late to class will be given a referral to the Principal, who will assign lunch detention.
ABSENCES
There are two types of absences, excused and unexcused. Absences are excused for legitimate reasons, such as illness, death in the family, participation in athletic or interscholastic competition or other reasons at the principal's discretion. Students with excused absences will have the opportunity to make up assignments or examinations missed. Students who are absent without legitimate reason (unexcused) are not allowed make-ups and will receive a zero in the class work or examinations missed.
If a student must miss school for an entire day or any portion of it, the parent has to obtain prior approval from the Principal or Director. A doctor's note is required in case of prolonged, illnesses and absence. Absence before and/or after a holiday, is highly discourage by the school.
It is the full responsibility of the student to inquire about class assignments and tests missed during their absence, whether excused or unexcused and take the necessary steps to make up all missed class assignments. Makeup work is too completed within five days after the student returns to classes.
Students may have up to seven absences, excused or unexcused, in one quarter. Arriving late to school three times will result in a detention. Students with three unexcused absences may be suspended from school. The Director or Principal reserves the right to waive the seven-day absence policy in cases where an emergency situation or long term illness occur. Students arriving to school late must sign-in at the office to receive a pass prior to reporting to class.
TRUANCY
Truancy is an unexcused absence that indicates a willful and premeditated violation of the attendance regulations. Truancy will result in suspension and habitual truancy can result in expulsion from school.
HOMEWORK
All AIS students are recommended to read or be read to at least 20 minutes each night. Parents please encourage and support this behavior.
Homework is an extension of in-class work completed outside of class and not under the direct supervision of the teacher. Homework is a valuable learning tool that reinforces what was taught in class and provides for additional practice.
Kinder – will have homework on occasion.
1st: up to 20 minutes, Monday through Thursday
2nd: 20 – 30 minutes a night
3rd: 20 – 30 minutes a night
4th: 30 – 45 minutes a night
5th: 45 minutes – one hour a night
6th: 1 – 1 ½ hours a night
7th: 1 – 1 ½ hours a night
8 – 12th: 2 hours a night
Include in the above times is ESL, 15 – 30 minutes a night depending on the grade of the student, and Music will have one project due for the year.
Homework Policy for Grades 7-12
General homework: Students can receive 100% credit if homework is turned in 100% complete on time. Students can receive 60% if homework is turned in one class period late. Students will receive 0% credit if homework is turned in later than this.
Special Assignments: Late grades concerning special projects and reports remain at the discretion of the individual teacher.
MAKE-UP WORK
Students are responsible for getting assignments and making up tests or quizzes missed due to absence. The school may recommend a tutor at parent’s expense to help a student make up work. Students absent due to a school-sponsored activity will not be expected to turn in make-up work or take test on the day of their return to class. Generally, one day is provided for every day missed for an excused absence but this is to be negotiated with the faculty member, late assignments by three days or more will receive a score of one.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Honesty is a valued trait of any individual, is in learning process and is integral in academic inquiry and intellectual curiosity. Academic honesty is basic principle of AIS and of the community whish it services, pursuit of intellectual endeavor, it violates AIS rules and regulations – a fact which all students must be aware.
Several forms of academic dishonesty constitute violations of the AIS Conduct Policy.
Cheating: comes in many forms and will not be tolerated. Cheating is presenting another person’s work as your own. This includes tests, papers, homework, projects, etc. If a student is caught cheating, the following consequences will be put into effect:
First offense: loss of credit for the work, a zero will be given for that assignment, letter home to the parents, and detention.
Second offense: loss of credit for work, a zero, and director, teacher, parent, student meeting, and detention.
Third offense: one-day suspension.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a form of cheating, which is against the law. Plagiarism is deliberately taking text from a written document and presenting it as your own.
First offense: loss of credit for the work, a zero will be given for that assignment, letter home to the parents, and detention.
Second offense: loss of credit for work, a zero, and director, teacher, parent, student meeting, and detention.
Third offense: one-day suspension.
Facilitating dishonesty by knowingly helping or attempting to help another commit an act of academic dishonesty is also a violation of AIS policy.
If an instructor finds that a student has violated the AIS Academic Honesty Policy, the instructor has the right to lower the student's grade, or even to fail the student for the course. Students have the right to appeal such a grade penalty by an instructor. The Principal, who must be notified by instructors of any grade penalty, reviews all student appeals. The Principal may sustain or recommend modification of the penalty given by the faculty member, or may recommend sanctions which exceed those originally given, such as suspension or indefinite suspension from AIS. The Principal may also recommend sanctions for offenders who have committed multiple violations of the Academic Honesty Policy but who have not appealed the faculty members' decisions.