Upper School Student and Parent Handbook

Last Updated January 30, 2023 plastic bottles – like those from any convenience store – or in paper cups should not be brought into any part of the Upper School. Acceptable beverage containers can be purchased from the Tiger Shop.

With the exception of food or beverages for special club sales, food and beverages may not be ordered for delivery to the TAS campus during the school day.

Taipei American School is a nut-free environment. Students may not bring items that may contain nuts of any kind to school.

Dress Code*

The Upper School is committed to creating a respectful, welcoming learning environment for all students. Students should be able to dress and style for school in a manner that expresses their individuality without fear of body shaming. Here at Taipei American School, we believe that the student and their parent/guardian have the primary responsibility in determining the student's personal attire. The School is then responsible for assuring that the student attire does not interfere with the health and safety of any other student, and does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating environment for any student.

Students must wear:

• Top (shirt, sweater, sweatshirt, etc.)

• Bottom (pants, shorts, skirt, etc.)

• Footwear

In relation to student dress, the core values are the following:

• Students have the right to be treated equitably. Dress code enforcement will not create disparities, reinforce or increase marginalization of any group, nor will it be more strictly enforced against students because of racial identity, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, cultural or religious identity, household income, body size or type, or body maturity;

• Students and staff are responsible for managing their personal distractions; and

• Students should not face unnecessary barriers to school attendance.

• Students may not wear clothing, jewelry, or personal items that: http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook o Are pornographic, contain threats, or that promote illegal or violent conduct such as the unlawful use of weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or drug paraphernalia; o Demonstrate hate group association, affiliation, and/or use hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or other protected groups; o Show private parts (nipples, genitals, buttocks). Clothing must cover private parts in opaque (not able to be seen-through) material; o Cover the student’s face to the extent that the student is not identifiable (except clothing or headgear worn for a religious or medical purpose) except when explicitly requested to do so by the School, such as for the purpose of epidemic risk management.

*Thank you to the Welcoming Schools project and the Seattle Public Schools for providing the model that our dress code is based on.

Personal Lockers

Lockers are assigned by the upper school office at the beginning of the year. Lockers are the property of Taipei American School and are provided as a convenience to students. Students suspected of having violated Taipei American School rules are subject to having their locker searched by administration. Lockers should be secured with locks purchased at the Tiger Shop. Other than items needed for school, students should not bring valuables and large sums of money to school, and they should not share their combination with anyone.

Physical Education (PE) Locker Room Expectations

• Students will be assigned a small locker.

• Locker rooms are to be used for changing clothes only. The locker rooms are out of bounds at other times of the day.

• Athletes can request a big locker from Health/PE teachers.

• Combinations must be kept confidential.

• Only school-issued locks are to be used.

• No food or drink is allowed in the locker room.

• Any clothing or materials left in the locker rooms will be placed in the lost and found boxes in the locker rooms.

http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

2022-2023 Upper School Student and Parent Handbook

Last Updated January 30, 2023

• Any thefts and the loss of locks or clothing must be reported to the teacher immediately.

• Abuse of lockers, including damage to lockers and use of big lockers outside of applicable time, may result in detention.

• Repeated failure to properly secure lockers may result in detention.

• Cleats or dirty shoes are not to be worn in locker room.

• Students are encouraged to shower after PE.

• Shoes are not to be worn in the shower.

• Towels are only to be used by students who shower and may not be taken from the building.

Expectations on School Buses

When on school transportation, quiet conversation is permitted. Other than that, ordinary classroom conduct and behavior upholding TAS values are expected. Students who behave inappropriately on the school bus will be referred to an associate principal or the principal and will be subject to disciplinary action. If a student repeatedly violates the expectations for bus conduct, they may be temporarily or permanently suspended from using the school transportation service. Additional information is available in the transportation services section on the TAS website.

Skateboards, Scooters, and In-line Skates

The use of skateboards, scooters, and in-line skates is not allowed at school. Students are further encouraged not to skate or ride skateboards or scooters to school because of the traffic conditions.

Legal Student Drivers

Vehicles may be used for transportation to and from school, but students may not park cars in the school parking lot. In order to ride a motorcycle or scooter to school, students must observe the following regulations.

• Parking must be outside the TAS campus.

• Students who ride motorized cycles must have a valid Taiwan motorcycle driver license (issued in Taiwan to people who have reached their 18th birthday).

• Students must wear a protective helmet (required in Taiwan).

http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

Last Updated January 30, 2023

Faculty-Only Areas

In order to ensure a safe, comfortable, and confidential learning and working environment, no one other than faculty members may enter faculty-only areas, including the faculty room, classrooms, and all administrative and departmental offices unless a person has been pre-approved or invited to do so.

Free Periods

Students are encouraged to take advantage of free periods to socialize and relax, work on assignments, or see counselors or teachers. There are several quiet study areas around campus, and students are expected to follow the rules set forth in these areas.

Textbooks

Students are responsible for all textbooks issued to them. If books are lost or damaged, students will be billed. Books turned in must be the books originally assigned.

Elevators

Students are not permitted to use any of the campus elevators. The only exception is a student with a medical condition and a doctor’s note. In this case, the student should present the note to the heath office to obtain access.

Upper School Information Commons (USIC) & Chinese Library

Upper school students are encouraged to use both the USIC and the Chinese library in their free time to study, complete homework, and relax. We expect students to treat these spaces as academic areas and behave in accordance to the expectations outlined in these areas.

http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

Child Protection Policy

Student safety is our number one priority. Our safeguarding practice is guided by the Taipei American School child protection policy, which is derived from the child protection laws of Taiwan and best practices from the United States, along with guidance from safeguarding experts. TAS follows a safeguarding reporting protocol and employees who suspect child abuse must report it immediately to their supervisor, counselor, or divisional principal. Any member of the community may report suspected abuse to any TAS employee or the Taiwan authorities directly. Additionally, the School has a suicide prevention policy with procedures in place to identify, address, and prevent mental health issues, assess suicide risk, intervene in cases of potential suicide, and to respond after a suicide has occurred.

Harassment Policy

Each student at TAS has the right to participate fully in the life of the School without experiencing harassment, hazing, sexual harassment, bullying, or cyber-bullying. The School recognizes and respects individual differences and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination or permit unwarranted interference in the education of its students. Students must not engage in hazing, harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, or retaliation directed at another student at any time, whether at school or outside of school. More information is available in our policy on harassment (Board Policy #405).

Hazing and Bullying

Hazing means any conduct or method of initiation into any student group that endangers the physical or mental wellbeing of a student or other person. Bullying may include such conduct as physical intimidation or assault, oral or written threats, teasing, put-downs, name-calling, stalking, unkind rumors, false accusations, social isolation, or threatening looks, gestures, or actions.

Harassment

Harassment includes, but is not restricted to, insulting comments or gestures that pertain to sex, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ethnic origin or ancestry, creed, nationality, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected status. Harassment violates TAS policy whether or not it rises to the level of bullying.

http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

Last Updated January 30, 2023

Sexual Harassment

Conduct which may be considered sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(1) Verbal –

Offensive sexual language; suggestive sexual comments, insults or threats; sexual jokes; or sexually degrading or insulting words.

(2) Nonverbal –Sexually suggestive objects or pictures in or on books, lockers or clothing; suggestive obscene or insulting sounds, whistles, gestures, leers; graffiti or other writing that is sexually insulting.

(3) Physical –

Unwanted physical contact including touching, pinching, or brushing against someone, pressuring someone to have sexual relations, or assaulting someone

(4) Sexual –

Inappropriate and/or unwelcome sexual advances, or pressure for sexual favors from anyone.

Reporting Hazing, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Bullying, or Retaliation http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

Any student who believes that he or she is a victim of hazing, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, or retaliation for reporting or providing information about any such behavior, should report the concern to their counselor, the principal, the head of school, or any other upper school faculty member with whom the student feels comfortable.

Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students Policy

Taipei American School is committed to fostering an educational environment that is safe, welcoming, and free from stigma and discrimination for all students, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To that end, the School seeks to meet or exceed the requirements of both Taiwanese and American laws concerning bullying, harassment, privacy, and discrimination, including as they relate to transgender and gender nonconforming students. The School seeks to ensure that all students have the opportunity to express themselves and live authentically, and will therefore respect students’ gender identity and expression to the greatest extent possible, consistent with both the law and the policies of external governing organizations, such as the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asian Schools (IASAS). More information is available in our policy regarding transgender and gender nonconforming students

For students who have questions, are transitioning, or are simply unsure about their gender identity, it can be a complex experience. Our teachers and counselors are here to support students, and students are encouraged to reach out to their counselor for advice and support regarding gender identity and their options on campus.

Suicide Prevention Policy

Protecting the health and well-being of all students is of utmost importance to Taipei American School. The school board has adopted a suicide prevention policy which will help to protect all students through the following steps: http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

• Students will learn to recognize and respond to warning signs of suicide by identifying and sharing emotions, developing a range of coping and problemsolving skills, and by learning and practicing ways of seeking support for themselves and others. This curricular content will be presented during classroom guidance lessons (Lower School), homeroom and health classes (Middle School), and during advisory and health classes (Upper School), not just in response to a death or suicide.

• The encouragement of help-seeking behavior will be promoted at all levels of the school leadership and by all TAS stakeholders.

• When a student is identified as being at-risk, a risk assessment will be completed by a school psychologist or counselor who will work with the student to connect them with appropriate local mental health resources.

2022-2023 Upper School Student and Parent Handbook

Last Updated January 30, 2023

• Students will have access to local private and community resources that they can contact for additional support, such as: o The Community Services Center

Email: counseling@communitycenter.org.tw Phone: 02-2836-8134 or 02-2835-6907 o Mental Health Emergency 24 Hour Line (English) 0932-594-578 o Taiwan Mental Health/Suicide Hotline (Mandarin) 1995 or 1925

All school personnel and students are expected to help create a school culture of respect and support in which students feel comfortable seeking help for themselves or friends. Students are encouraged to tell any faculty member if they or a friend are having suicidal thoughts or are in need of help.

While confidentiality and privacy are important, students should know that when there is risk of suicide, safety comes first.

For a more detailed review of policy and procedures, please consult TAS’ full suicide prevention policy.

Upper School Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

Digital citizenship is an important part of learning for the 21st century learner. At Taipei American School, students are expected to make smart choices use technology to aid their learning in a safe, responsible, ethical, and respectful manner. The TAS values honesty, respect, responsibility, kindness, and courage should guide our students in all that they do, including when using technology and navigating the digital world.

Students provided with a school network account may store and retrieve files and print documents using network file servers. Users of the school system should know that network administrators may review files and communications to ensure that users are using the system responsibly, and should not expect that files stored on the school network will be private. Administrators, faculty, and staff also have the right to access student files, communications, or folders at any time and monitor computer activity in all areas of the School. Acceptable use requires acceptance of, and compliance with, school monitoring and governance of its network and systems. TAS systems should generally be used for academic purposes only. Disciplinary action may result from http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook inappropriate, destructive, or irresponsible use of technology. Furthermore, students and parents should remember that certain sharing of information or comments in any electronic communications, social media posts, or files, may be a violation of not only school policies, but also have legal consequences, whether or not it is done using TAS systems.

We ask that all TAS upper school students carefully review and strictly adhere to the following guidelines:

HONESTY — I will:

• only log on as myself and will never pretend to be another person.

• recognize and cite the intellectual property rights of others including text, photos, videos, etc.

• use legal and properly licensed software.

RESPECT I will:

• respect the rights of others by refraining from harassment, intimidation, or accessing inappropriate materials;

• respect the privacy of others by asking permission before recording anyone,

• posting their photos or forwarding their emails; and

• respect the property of others by refraining from accessing, altering or damaging their computer or files.

RESPONSIBILITY— I will:

• bring my school laptop each day in working order with the battery fully charged;

• prioritize my laptop as a tool for academic use;

• check my school email daily and delete any messages from unknown senders;

• backup my files regularly to responsibly safekeep data;

• keep safe by routinely checking privacy settings; and

• ensure that student-published material is approved and that it reflects the values of TAS.

KINDNESS — I will:

• never use technology to hurt, frighten, harass or bully others; http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

Last Updated January 30, 2023

• use appropriate language and images at all times when using technology; and

• ensure that all communication is kind, thoughtful and positive

COURAGE — I will:

• stand up for myself and others online when TAS values are not being followed;

• report online situations to a trusted adult that are dangerous, illegal, threatening, or harassing; and

• accept responsibility for what I say and do when using technology.

TAS strongly recommends that students exercise great care and judgment in posting any personal information about themselves or others to social media services in order to protect TAS students' safety and confidentiality. Further, students and parents should remember that certain sharing of information or comments about other students may violate TAS’s harassment, sexual harassment, and/or bullying policies, whether or not it is done using TAS systems.

Privacy Policy

Personal information that TAS community members submit and the School has on record is protected, regulated, and managed in accordance with provisions under Taiwan’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and the information privacy policies and practices of TAS. Further information is available on the TAS website here.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Taipei American School admits all students, including those of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin, to all the same rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected under U.S. or Taiwan law, including on the basis of race, color, and national or ethnic origin, in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered program, with the exception that the School is only able to support, and therefore will only admit, students with no more than mild learning differences.

Photography, Video, and Social Media Guidelines

Taipei American School recognize the importance of capturing moments of celebration, learning and achievements through photography and video. To safeguard our students http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook and their data from risks associated with the taking, storing and sharing of photographs and videos of children, the School has a set of guidelines which set forth the overarching framework for safe use of student images. These guidelines apply to the School and individual members of our community – parents, faculty and staff, and guests who have an opportunity to attend school-sponsored activities and events and take photographs and record videos of our students. More information is available in our guidelines for photography, video, and social media http://www.tas.edu.tw/divisional-handbooks/home/upper-school-handbook

Last Updated January 30, 2023