Clubs/Co-curricular Activities

What if…

• You want to find out about school clubs and co-curricular activities?

You can find information about the clubs and activities on the HS Co-curricular website. Students can ask the personal counsellor to find out more about them. With many of the clubs and activities students are welcome to join throughout the school year.

• You want to play a sport?

The ACS Cobham summer information sent to all parents includes full details on what school sports teams are available and their seasons, as well as a Student-Athlete handbook. For any questions please check with the athletic director at the Sports Centre.

• You want to use the Fitness Suite in the Sports Centre?

Students use the Fitness Suite as part of selected class activities, but for use on their own time they must be a minimum of 15 years old and have completed a 30-minute induction course coordinated by Sports Centre personnel. They can make an appointment for their induction at the reception desk in the Sports Centre lobby.

• You don’t know what to do for your IB/Duke of Edinburgh community service requirements?

You should speak with the IB CAS and DofE coordinators about the requirements. You can also check these websites:

http://www.ibo.org

http://www.dofe.org

http://www.do-it.org.uk

The IB CAS coordinator maintains a website to help students track their CAS hours. You can also speak with th ehigh school personal counsellor about community service activities on-campus.

• You want to arrange private music lessons?

You should speak with the music teacher.

• You want to know what the Namibia project is?

Students interested in volunteering for the Namibia project in which students fundraise and visit schools in Namibia that ACS helps support should apply in January of their 10th grade year. If accepted as a member of the project, students will work on it throughout their 11th grade year and in the summer after 11th grade visit Namibia to complete the project.

• You want to work as a student aide/High School helper?

If you would like to be a student aide you should speak with the assistant principal about possible opportunities. If you would like to be a High School helper you should speak with the high school personal counsellor.


Academic Issues

What if…

• You are having difficulty with your assignments in a class?

The first step is to speak with your teacher before or after class and ask when the teacher offers extra help after school. All teachers have at least one day a week when they offer extra help for students. If you can’t meet at that time because you have other activities, tell the teacher and ask if you can arrange another time, perhaps when you have a study period or before school. Teachers are generally very willing to help students who ask and it is also important to show the teacher that you care about your grade and want to improve.

• You need tutoring in a class?

On Forum (school intranet) there is a list of teachers available for private tutoring with high school courses.You and your parent should contact the tutor directly to arrange scheduling and payment.

• You having difficulty with the workload in a class?

You should first talk with the class teacher about the difficulty you are having and ask for help. It may be a good idea if you attend some extra help sessions with the teacher. You can also ask your advisor for help or speak with the high school personal counsellor.

• You think that you might have a learning difficulty?

You or your parent should speak with your grade level advisor or the high school personal counsellor about your concerns. They can discuss with you the school procedure for providing learning support for students. You may be referred to the Student Support Team (SST) that will review the situation and give recommendations as to next steps to help you.

• You need to get an exemption from PE class?

You need to discuss it with the high school principal who will have to approve an exemption.

• You are not sure about what courses you should take next year or what to do for your university applications?

Each high school student is assigned to one of the two academic deans, so you need to find out which dean you are assigned to work with. Each grade 11 and grade 12 student is assigned to a college counsellor, so you need to find out which college counsellor you are assigned to work with. Then you can make an appointment to meet with the academic dean/college counsellor to discuss your questions. You can also ask your parent to make an appointment and you can meet with the academic dean/college counsellor together.

• You want to improve your SAT scores?

In January of each school year there is a private agency that offers an SAT Review course (8 Saturday sessions) on-campus for ACS students for a fee. Check with the academic deans for further details.

• You want to improve your study skills and time management to get better grades?

You should ask your advisor or the high school personal counsellor to meet with you and discuss how you can improve your study skills and time management.

 
Personal Issues

What if…

• You are having difficulty interacting with your teacher or other students in a class?

You can make an appointment with the high school personal counsellor to discuss any difficulties you are having and what you can do to improve the situation.

• You or a friend is experiencing bullying at school or in the boarding house?

You should speak with the high school personal counsellor or the principal or assistant principal about the situation if it is happening in the high school. In the boarding house you should speak with a house parent. The information that you give usually may be kept confidential unless there is a risk of harm to yourself or someone else.The school staff member that you speak with about it should do everything possible to monitor the situation so that the bullying does not continue and support the student being bullied. If you keep silent about it that will only allow the bullying to go on.

• You are having problems at home or you need help with personal problems?

You should speak with the high school personal counsellor about the problems and what may be available to help you. The information that you give usually may be kept confidential unless there is a risk of harm to yourself or someone else.

• You are having a hard time making friends?

You should speak with the high school personal counsellor who can help you find out about clubs and co-curricular activities that can be excellent opportunities for you to make friends outside of your classes.

• You are missing your friends and family from your previous home?

You should speak with the high school personal counsellor about how to deal with the stress of moving to a new home and starting in a new school.

• You are concerned about moving to a new home?

You should speak with the high school personal counsellor about the transition issues involved with a new home and what you can do to make the experience less stressful for you and your family.


Illness/Excused Absences

What if…

• You feel ill at school?

Tell your teacher you feel ill and ask for permission to go to the high school office to sign out and go seethe nurse in the medical centre. It is very important that you sign out and sign back in when you return to the high school so that everyone knows where you are. If you feel very ill or are injured and unable to walk to the medical centre tell a member of the school staff and the nurse will be called to come and see you.

• You are ill at home and need to get assignments from your teachers?

Your parent can either call or e-mail the high school attendance officer or your teachers to ask that assignments be sent home to you by e-mail.

• You need to catch up on your assignments after being absent for illness?

As soon as you return to school you should speak to your teachers about the make-up work you need to do and when you will be able to turn it in. If necessary, you can ask your teachers to extend deadlines to complete your make-up work.

• You have an allergy to nuts or anything else?

When you enrolled in the school your parents should have completed a medical form that is kept on file with the nurses and the information given to school staff about allergies, etc. Check with the nurses in the medical centre if you are not sure that the information they have is complete and accurate.

• You know in advance that you need to be absent from school or exams?

Your parents should contact the high school principal by letter or e-mail and explain the reason for the absence. If the principal approves your absence the teachers will be given that information and you will need to contact them about make-up assignments. The academic deans will arrange for you to complete your exams either before or after your absence if it is approved by the principal.


School Rules and Policies

What if…

• You need to use the office phone?

Ask the high school secretary or a high school staff member for permission.

• You need to use the photocopier?

Ask the high school secretary or a high school staff member for permission.

• You need to use your mobile phone in school?

You can use your phone at break-times and before and after school but should keep it turned off during class, study hall or when you are working in the Library unless a teacher has given you permission to use it. Sending and receiving texts and calls during class time disturbs others and is not acceptable. Consequences for using your phone at inappropriate times include keeping the phone in the HS office until the end of the day.

• You have safety concerns on the Internet?

On many websites there is a button marked ‘Report Abuse’ which you can use if you are uncomfortable with someone else’s behaviour online. You can also discuss your concerns with the principal, assistant principal or personal counsellor.

• You don’t know how to use the wireless Internet connection at school?

You can register to use the ‘High Guest’ wireless internet access with Mr. Ryan or Mrs. Wood in the HS office.You will be given your own password, which will be valid until the end of the school year. You will also need to add a proxy address and password on your local area network setting—you will be shown how to do this when you register.The wireless internet access is subject to the same student access filters as the non-wireless connection. Dormitory students need to set up a ‘high guest’ account to use in the high school, as their dormitory wireless account won’t work in the high school.

• You need to get a student ID card?

ACS does not issue student ID cards but you can apply for an ISIC card from www.isiccard.com.It offers lots of student discounts.

• You want to drive to school?

You need to get a form from the high school office and speak with the high school principal to obtain permission. Only grade 12 students may get permission to drive to school and they may also lose that privilege for inappropriate behaviour.

• You lose an item?

You can check with the high school secretary in the office to see if it might be in the Lost and Found items. You should also check with the Lost and Found in the Sports Centre or anywhere else on campus you may have been. If the item is valuable, tell the high school office staff and they can make an email announcement to the high school.

• You think you had an item stolen from you?

You should speak with the high school principal about it.

• You want to know what the consequences will be if you are caught smoking cigarettes or with drugs or alcohol on campus?

To find out what the consequences might be if you are found smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs at school you can check the student handbook or talk in confidence to the principal,assistant principal or counsellor. The school’s expectation is that you will not smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or take drugs whilst you are at school or school events. Nor should you come to school or school events under the influence of any of these substances.