Student-parent handbook 2014-2015
HORIZON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Content
Page
WELCOMING LETTER
2
SCHOOL PURPOSE
4
SCHOOL HISTORY
6
WASC ACCREDITATION
8
COMMUNICATION
10
SCHOOL SERVICES
14
ADMISSION POLICY
20
TEACHING AND LEARNING POLICY
22
ASSESSMENT POLICY
23
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY
24
HOMEWORK PLOICY
26
SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
28
HEALTHCARE POLICY
29
TRANSPORTATION POLICY
30
ACTIVITIES
32
DISCIPLINE CODE
35
DRESS CODE
38
STUDENT’S ABSENCE
39
E-BOOKS
41
CONTACT US
42
1
Welcome to Horizon International School 2
Dear students and parents, On behalf of the staff at Horizon International School, I am happy to welcome you to the 2014-15 school year! We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great differXX Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience . XX Completes all homework assignments given by teachers. XX Reads daily to develop a habit for reading and to improve literacy skills.
ence in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our ver y best to carry out our responsibilities. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:
XX Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life . XX Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject . XX Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school and go on to college.
Please feel free to contact us to discuss any important issue you feel very important to the success of your children. Our teachers will always be available to hear from you, and they are fully qualified to lead your children toward the track of success. It is very
important that you and your child are fully informed regarding standards related to appropriate behavior for a safe and productive school year.
The wonderful Horizon staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely, Mr.Ghaith School Principal 3
SCHOOL PURPOSE OUR VISION
We,
at Horizon International School, guarantee an environment that fosters the students to acquire an excellent education, focusing on quality not quantity, taking into consideration the significance of their Arabic culture. MISSION STATEMENT OF HORIZON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
To guarantee an environment that fosters the students to acquire an excellent education, the school staff will use a variety of approaches to achieve the following beliefs. XX producing a quality service that participates in developing both the individual and the community. XX introducing a quality education to our students that acts as a strong link between the internal educational experience and the external practical real life. XX constructing a community
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that brings a variety of nationalities in harmony . XX elegantly enhancing the religious and ethical values among the culturally differentiated students. XX facilitating extra circular activities that help in developing the students’ personal skills.
OUR BELIEFS/ VALUES
Our
school is a place where everyone pays a close attention to highly valued excellence. We concentrate on the values that push the quality of our work toward the top of the pyramid of education. We are: ÚÚ a source of a highly estimated work constructed to develop the personal and educational skills of the students. ÚÚ a complementary role of the family’s work. ÚÚ a role model for the students and the community.
ÚÚ a place of constructing the students’ dreams and their attainment. ÚÚ a workshop where we appropriate the international curriculum to our own culture.
SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNER’S OUTCOMES
We
expect our students to graduate from our school holding the appropriate characteristics that enable them to adapt to the real life in a perfect way. Our students are expected to be : ÚÚ creative ÚÚ problem solvers ÚÚ global citizens ÚÚ excellent communicators 5
THE SCHOOL HISTORY The start of the school dates back to 1999 with an enrollment of about 100 students in grades kindergarten through 3. The school’s founders were Mrs Jawaher al Hurgan and Madam Shirani Ibrahim (Nalifa). The first principal was Mrs. Amira. Even though the school building was limited in a large flat, the wise administration of the founders started to achieve a clear success. The school’s enrollment increased steadily since then, and due to the rapid development in Riyadh, Horizon International School went from less than 30% to over 70% between 2000-2005. That was the core brick of the school’s
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blast off among other international schools. The principal did her best to make a good name for the school, and the community started to realize the quality service introduced by the school staff. Later, a new principal came to steer the wheel of the school but didn’t stay more than two years. In 2007, Mr. Ghaith, the current principal, came to the lead and started a new era of the school history. Under his wise leadership, the school started to achieve a great success.
In the first year of his administration and in response to the ministry laws, the school started applying a full segregation process by which the school was distributed into three separate divisions: the boys section, the girls section, and the kindergarten section. Furthermore, with the assistance of the school staff, the
leadership team founded the basis of the school as being a well- organized educational association that assists in providing the community of Saudi Arabia with an elegant service.
In 2010, the school reached its full capacity. From that time until now, the school is still witnessing several ongoing developments. In 2013, the success of the school was crowned by acquiring the WASC accreditation. This accreditation opens the gates for the school students to get accepted into the international world of education. Nowadays, the school is standing as one of the prominent international schools in Riyadh.
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WASC ACCREDITATION Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States. The Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC, extends its services to over 4,500 public, independent, church-related, and proprietary pre-K–12 and adult schools, works with 16 associations in joint accreditation processes, and collaborates with other educational organizations. The ACS WASC accreditation process fosters excellence in elementary, secondary, and adult education by encouraging school improvement. WASC accreditation recognizes schools that meet an acceptable level of quality, in accordance with established, research-based WASC criteria.
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Horizon International School was accredited by the WASC in May, 2013. This accreditation grants the official form to the school as an international school, and the school graduates are accepted as official international students since their report cards are stamped by the official logo of the association. The report cards of the school graduates will be formed in accordance with the requirements of the international universities. This process enables them to get officially admitted into any university they prefer to join.
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COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Embarking from the fact that our school is an integral part of the community it serves, the school administration will never give its back to the parents’ role as partners in constructing the educational bricks of the school. To provide the community with a quality education is a vision the school administration and staff are working day and night to achieve since the ultimate goal of having the school
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in existence is to acquire the satisfaction of the community. Respectfully, the parents’ valuable perception about the school is always in a position of analysis and evaluation.
Communication The school highly valuates the linking threads between its staff and the parents, for they make the core of the relationship on which the school depends to produce the expected outcomes at the end of every year. Parents are kept in touch with the school events day by day throughout a variety of modern technological methods:
ÒÒ Every parent has his/her file with full information kept in the school archive. ÒÒ The school files are filled with the e-mails of all the parents. The weekly plan and many others memos are sent to the parents by these e-mails. ÒÒ The cellphone number of every parent is recorded in the school files for any emergency case or any issue of discussion.
Those parents who didn’t have any of the above information registered in the school files are better report to the school reception and provide them as soon as possible.
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Complaints, Questions, and Suggestions
The
gates of the school are widely open for the parents and their thoughts and interests. A complete professional system is set to deal with the parents’ complaints, questions, and suggestions. Once any parent has any issue to discuss, he/she is allowed to report his matter
to the school reception where there is a group of experienced people who can deal with the issue in a professional and honest way. The issue will never be denied, and immediately it will be analyzed and evaluated. A satisfactory and honest answer must be given to the parent as fast as it could be.
PARENTS GROUP PHILOSOPHY
We,
at Horizon International School, highly believe in the importance of involving family community partnership in our programs. Our perspective is to share our viewpoints, to get ideas, to cooperate to face all difficulties together, and to enroll the parents to be active in all school activities.
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STRUCTURE
The
school chooses about 20 parents to be members of an active group that will participate in many of the school activities. They will be the core of the community perception about the school’s work and outcomes. Several methods are used to acquire the thoughts of this group: ÒÒ
Meetings
ÒÒ
Phone calls
ÒÒ
Surveys
ÒÒ
Interviews
ÒÒ
Parties
ÒÒ
Visits
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SCHOOL SERVICES (GIRLS’ SECTION) Smart Boards
By using the interactive white boards, teachers demonstrate lessons and students learn them more effectively
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School Website
Parents and students can stay in touch with the school activities and latest news.
Library
Students can refer to the library to extend their reading skills and do their researches.
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Science Labs Live scientific experiments can be conducted to make the learning process real and more effective.
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Computer Labs Wide and spacious, the computer lab is a comfortable place for practical computer lessons.
Sport Courts
Different kind of sport activities are enjoyed by the students all over the year.
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Co/extracurricular activities A massive amount of activities are done every year to ensure the effective learning and spread joy and happiness among students.
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Canteens Healthy foods and drinks are served every day.
Social Worker A person whose job is to ensure the social and passionate safety of the students. Student Counselor
A person who works hard to guide the students to achieve a successful academic future.
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SCHOOL POLICIES
Admission Policy Students regarded as suitable candidates will sit for diagnostic tests. Diagnostic tests are taken in the school. Children applying for KG1, KG2, and KG3 are accepted directly. Students applying for other grades sit for diagnostic tests in English and math subjects. The recommended grade level will be determined accordingly. Diagnostic tests will not be administered before a vacant place is found available and all the required documents are submitted and registration procedures are completed. The school does not guarantee or reserve places. Places are guaranteed only when the required fees are paid i.e. when parents are committed. Parents who delay registration may find 20
no places available when they come to register. Students who wish to use the school bus must provide a map showing clearly the location of their residence. Some candidates may find that student expectations in our system vary from those of other schools in the region. Our system places considerable emphasis on student accountability, responsibility, and respect of self and others. Thus, our system strives to employ discipline in the school in order to facilitate student learning and promote good manners. Therefore, students who are used to more liberal systems need to adapt to our code of behavior, discipline, and general appearances.
AGE RANGE OF THE ADMITTED STUDENTS IN ACCORDANCE TO EVERY GRADE LEVEL KG1 KG2 KG3 Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
3 years 4 years 5 years 6 years 7 years 8 years
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Teaching and Learning Policy The aims of this policy are to: ÒÒSupport and put into practice the aims and the values as expressed in the school purpose, ÒÒ Embrace a culture throughout the school that expects teachers to reflect on their teaching methods and practices, ÒÒ State the expectations of the school with regard to teaching and learning, ÒÒ Ensure all teaching goals reflect the learning needs of students, ÒÒ Ensure that students attain their full potential as learners, ÒÒ Help students develop into learners who are respectful, supportive, adaptable, independent, and effective communicators, 22
ÒÒ Maintain an environment in which students feel valued, happy, and successful, ÒÒ Promote a range of teaching and learning experiences that makes effective use of a variety of resources and teaching styles, ÒÒ Ensure teaching reflects and understanding of different intelligences, ÒÒ Share good practice effectively across the whole school, ÒÒ Provide the basis by which programs can be developed to monitor the effectiveness of teaching and learning across the school.
Learning and Innovation Skills Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include: ÒÒ
Creativity and Innovation
ÒÒ
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
ÒÒ
Communication and Collaboration Information, Media and Technology Skills
Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, marked by access to an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as: ÒÒ Information Literacy ÒÒ Media Literacy ÒÒ ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy Life and Career Skills Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills, such as:
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ÒÒ
Flexibility and Adaptability
ÒÒ
Initiative and Self-Direction
ÒÒ
Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
ÒÒ
Productivity and Accountability
ÒÒ
Leadership and Responsibility Assessment Policy
Assessment provides a tool for monitoring students’ performance across the whole curriculum and evaluating their progress. It develops from the aims, objectives, and criteria of the whole curriculum and forms a natural part of teaching and learning activities. Assessment
is an integral part of the curriculum and is at the heart of the process of promoting learning. It serves several purposes. HIS believes in the fact that tests and quizzes, as being forms of assessment, are important to achieve several goals:
ÒÒ Teachers assess their students’ understanding and performance. ÒÒ Teachers assess the validity of their learning objectives and methods. ÒÒ Students have a complete review of the studied skills. ÒÒ Parents keep an eye on their children’s level of understanding and performance. 24
Equal Opportunity Policy This policy is set to achieve the following goals: ÒÒ Help all students and members develop a positive self-image as a means towards achieving their highest potential. ÒÒ Ensure quality of opportunity for all.
ÒÒ Prepare students for life in a culturally plural society. ÒÒ Eliminate harassment, unfair discrimination, and injustice towards any member of the school.
ÒÒ Establish an environment in which different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds are respected and seen as a potential source of enrichment for the school.
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HOMEWORK POLICY Dear parent(s)/guardian: As a parent, it is important for you to know that homework really does make a difference in your child’s performance in school. Research tells us that the time spent doing homework directly affects a child’s achievement. This is the valuable information which tells us that by doing assigned homework; your child will increase his/her skills and perform better in school. Below is an explanation of the homework policy at our school. Please review the policy with your child so that you better understand the expectations with regard to homework or out of class activities. By following these guidelines, we can be both consistent in teaching our children responsibility and practical in increasing their learning skills. For your child to be successful at completing homework or out of class activities, he/she needs: ÒÒ A place to do homework: If possible, your child should do his/her homework in the same place (an uncluttered, quiet space— free from distractions). ÒÒ A schedule for completing homework: Set a homework schedule that fits in with each week’s particular activities. It is best to do homework as soon as your child comes home—the later the less effective the child will be at completing assignments. ÒÒ Encouragement, motivation, and prompting: It is not a good idea to sit with your child and do homework with and/or for him/her. Your child needs to practice independently and apply what he/she has learned in class. If your child consistently cannot complete homework assignments alone, then the teacher needs to know this so he/she can adjust the task and/or activity accordingly. 26
Understanding of the knowledge: When your child is practicing a skill, ask which steps he/she finds easy and difficult and how he/she plans to improve speed and accuracy with the skill. If your child is working on a project, ask what knowledge he/she is using to complete the work. If your child consistently cannot answer these questions, please contact the teacher at school. Reasonable time expectations: Every homework assignment should be less than one hour. If your child is spending too much time each night on one homework assignment, you have to contact the teacher. A bedtime: It is important that your child gets a good night’s sleep. When it comes time to go to bed, please stop your child, even if he/she has not finished the homework. Consider having your child start his/her homework earlier the next session. Feedback: The teacher will review and give feedback for all homework assignments for both content and timeliness. If your child consistently turns in an assignment late, the teacher will be contacting you to discuss and resolve this issue with you and your child.
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Safe Environment Policy It is part of the school vision to guarantee an environment that fosters the students to acquire en excellent education appropriately. Accordingly, the school is setting a complete system that ensures the following points: ÒÒ 27 fire hydrants are available at the school campus. ÒÒ Every section has an active fire alarm. ÒÒ A fire system is installed in every room. ÒÒ Every classroom has a wide window, along with an air condition. ÒÒ In every science laboratory, a sink, and a portable sand box are available.
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ÒÒ All the chemical materials are kept out of the reach of the students. ÒÒ Teachers are committed to their duties to assure the students’ safety during breaks. ÒÒ A complete first aid kit is available. ÒÒ well.
A fire hose is available as
Healthcare Policy The school is aware of maintaining the students’ physical and mental health since it is vital for all students to live in a healthy atmosphere that helps in acquiring an excellent education. To put this vision in implementation, the school considers the points below: ÒÒ The school doesn’t proÒÒ The classrooms’ floors, vide a nurse, yet the students’ corridors, and bathrooms are supervisor performs the nursing cleaned and sterilized frequently process. He holds a certificate every day. in first aid course. ÒÒ Liquid soap and cleanÒÒ A mini fridge contains medicine for injuries and emergencies such as bruises, wounds, fever, and stomachache s.
ers are provided daily.
ÒÒ Every injury or sickness case is treated seriously, the student is sent to hospital on the school bus if needed, and parents are informed immediately.
ÒÒ Teachers are always alert for their students’ personal cleanliness.
ÒÒ Teachers are aware about cautioning students about general and personal cleanliness through lectures.
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Transportation Policy Having in mind that most of the parents are quite engaged with their own work for most of the day time, the school plays an important role as being a family assistance in transforming the students from home to school and vice versa. The school provides the parents with many buses that can contain about 150 students, and this is a process that comes out of the school’s feeling of responsibility. The use of these assets and the tasking of drivers are regulated by the Transport Group leader who does his very best to assure that all students come to school and go home very safely every day. Three major destinations dominate the route of the school buses: Al Malaz District, Al Orouba Street, and Al Sulaimaneya District. The school administration has chosen these three locations as a response to a true search saying that most of our students live in these areas. An extra bus that is not owned by the school helps in the process and drops the students into a different area. Anyway, the bus driver is under the control of the school’s law and order. 30
Registration is open at any time, but the condition for acceptance is the availability of room at any of the buses. Parents who really have a problem in transportation have to head quickly toward the school fi-
nance department to find a space for their child or children at the school buses. If there is no room, they’d better leave their names at the waiting list and be patient.
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ACTIVITIES
Field Trips Philosophy
Horizon
International School recognizes that learning occurs within and beyond the classroom and that students acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes through a variety of experiences and in a variety of settings. Field trips enhance and enrich opportunities for active participation, learning at different rates and in different ways in individual and social contexts.
Action The school organizes field trips for its students of all the level grades. Every student has the right to participate in the trip and acquire the expected benefit. To ensure the attainment of the trips, the school is aware of the following points: ÒÒ Each field trip plan must be clearly identified and has clear objectives as well. ÒÒ Student safety must be given paramount consideration and plans must be evident. ÒÒ All details of proposed field trips must be clearly communicated to students and parents. ÒÒ Field trips should not seriously interfere with the education of students who remain at school nor with the students who are participating in the field trip. ÒÒ Every participant should bring a slip of permission signed by his parent/ guardian. 32
Entertainment Trips The school is also aware of the importance of enriching the opportunity for the students to have one school day for fun. An interesting trip is organized for the students to enjoy their times, along with a meal to be taken at the trip.
Transportation The school buses are in complete charge of transforming the students to the places of interests and back to school.
Science Fair
Students
of all grade levels are asked at the end of the year to prepare science projects to be presented on the science fair day. Students touch the great benefit of having such a perfect day at school. Under the supervision of the teachers all participants take a good opportunity to show and present their scientific projects. By participating in this student-centered activity,students enhance several of their personal skills, such as independence, responsibility, and self-confidence.
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ACADEMIC COMPETITIONS
Spelling Bee
Two
spelling bees will be held at the end of the year, one for the lower stages and one for the upper stages. A survey goes over the school students asking for participants. Three weeks prior to the contest, those who choose to compete in the contest receive a list of the words to be studied at home. Some other words may be used at the contest. Winners will receive simple awards. After all, all participants will benefit from their participation in many ways: ÒÒ Developing some of their personal skills, ÒÒ Becoming good competitors, ÒÒ Becoming good communicators, ÒÒ Adapting to group work, ÒÒ Knowing more words and their spelling.
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Parties
Parties
at school are of essential importance since they add to the joy of learning at school. Each class is allowed to have one party every term; students can bring food, juice, snacks, and many other kinds of food of their interests. The party doesn’t take longer than two periods in which the students can compose great fun with their teachers. The policy of parties at school is considered to push up the spirit of the class as one family gathering around one meal. If a student wants to celebrate his/ her birthday at school with his/her classmates, the school should be informed by the parent at least one day in advance, so that the schedule of the teacher will be reorganized.
Discipline Code To maintainan environment that fosters the students to acquire an excellent education, both the teachers and the students are required to be committed to the school rules that ensure respect in every corner of the school. Any misbehavior is treated seriously by the administration to keep on the healthy atmosphere of the whole school. The knowledge of the school rules and regulations is the responsibility of the students and teachers, and any violation will send the doer under the process of investigation and remedy. Every member of the school is accountable of knowing and respecting the rules and regulation of the school.
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Some of the School Rules and Regulations: ÒÒ Students demonstrate respect for others, their property and themselves. ÒÒ Students acknowledge and support everyone’s right to learn. ÒÒ Students take responsibility for their own learning and actions. ÒÒ Students take responsibility for their punctuality and preparation. ÒÒ Students demonstrate pride in their school. ÒÒ Students are aware of Safety. ÒÒ Students take responsibility for Cleanliness
Unacceptable student behavior may include:
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ÚÚ
bullying, fighting, and harassment
ÚÚ
refusal to comply with the direct teacher commands
ÚÚ
inappropriate bus behavior
ÚÚ
repeated tardiness
ÚÚ
repetitive unacceptable classroom behavior
ÚÚ
incomplete assignments
ÚÚ
vandalism
Discipline Procedures Take Orderly Steps:
It
is the responsibility of the teacher to make correction and finish the problem inside the classroom, yet if the problem was extended outside the classroom, the following steps take place: Teacher conference with student Correction- preferably given in private and in kindness, sincerity and firmness by the teacher Administration /teacher conference Administration / students conference Administration/ teacher/student conference Administration/ teacher/ parent conference Detention In school suspension Suspension from school for a period of time
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Dress Code
To
maintain discipline, students are requested to come to school wearing the school uniform every day. Commitment to the school uniform shows the student’s respect to the school rules and regulation. Unity of the school members, love and loyalty to the school system are all purposes of establishing such a policy. Only those who have a P.E. period are excepted from the rule.
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Attendance and Absence XX
Basic Rule
Attendance
on a daily basis is a mandatory requirement for all students. All students must be present at 7:00 am. to attend the assembly and then start the first period at 7:15 am. The school day ends at 1: 00 pm. XX Absence are expected to contact their child’s school on the day of the child’s absence to inform the school of that absence. Any notification from the parents about their child’s absence will enlist the absence as an excused absence. The school administration considers the following kinds absence as excused. ÒÒ Illness: When a student faild to attend school because of illness, the parent is responsible for contacting and informing the school about that absence.
Parents
ÒÒ Chronic/ extended illness: When the absence of the student needs more than one single day due to an extended illness, parents are to bring a written permit from an official hospital indicating that his/her child’s long absence is essential. ÒÒ Family death or emergency (may God forbid): In this case, the parent or any of the student’s relatives has to inform the school. ÒÒ Religious Observances: Absence as a result of religious holidays should be prearranged with the school administration by the parents. ÒÒ Travel: If the family is in a vital reason for travelling abroad, the parents have to inform the school at least one day before the travel. 39
XX Unexcused Absence:
When
a student fails to report to the school and no indication has been received by the school, that absence is consider unexcused, and the student loses all his rights of the make- up work.
XX Tardiness
Students
who come to school late are to be asked by the administration. If there is no reasonable excuse reported, a punishment might fall on the student, and his/ her parents will be informed.
XX Make-up Work
Whether
the absence is excused or not, quizzes, tests, and exams will NEVER be repeated. An overall evaluation takes place instead. The student has the right to receive all the sheets that have been given to class during his absence. The teacher rearranges his schedule to compensate the loss of classes the student achieves during his absence.
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Journeys,
Science Fusion, and Go Math are all electronic books. In other words, they are available online on the website of the publisher: www.thinkcentral.com. At home, students will be able to read, study, and do the homework assignments online. Very soon, every student will acquire an ID and password for the online access to these books. Parents can contact the school at any time they face a problem in dealing with the site.
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Contact Us At any time, parents have the right to contact the school by means of the following:
Telephone: +966 11 4656412
Fax: +966 11 2790939
E-mail: info@horizon.sch.sa
Website: www.horizon.sch.sa
Facebook: facebook.com/horizon.girls
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6356 Ahmad As Subai, Al Olaya, Riyadh, KSA Telephone: +966 11 4656412 www.horizon.sch.sa