| Teaching & Learning Climate |
The Pinewood American International School believes that in order to be a highly effective performance driven school, teachers and students must go about the business of teaching and learning in an efficient, effective and caring manner. Pinewood strives to foster a warm and caring learning environment where belongingness, service, and learning are valued. We seek to demonstrate respect for students and making their success the top priority within a supportive, caring and stimulating environment consisting of high standards and expectations. Teachers have the primary responsibility in dealing with transgressions quickly, fairly, and without lingering resentments. In cases of continued transgressions with appropriate teacher intervention (conferencing with students and/or parents, implementing strategies such as seat assignment changes, calling parents, etc.) or in cases of blatant misbehavior, students are referred to the school administration for action and consequences to the student’s behavior as per school policy. Academic HonestyAcademic honesty is fundamental to the integrity and operation of our school. Acts of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism (the act of presenting others’ words and ideas as one’s own without crediting the source), stealing in quizzes and tests, copying work from other students or allowing their own work to be copied, or using notes during a test, are considered serious offences. The consequences of academic dishonesty will be a zero grade on the specific test/assignment, and additional disciplinary action. The said student will be ineligible or removed from the National Honor Society. For students in grades 9 – 12, disciplinary actions will be:
Further offenses: Suspension or a recommendation for expulsion from school. IN-HOUSE SUSPENSIONThe in-house suspension program is an alternative to home suspensions. Students will be separated from the remainder of the student body for a day and may not participate in any extracurricular activities. They will be required to complete all assigned work under continuous supervision. Inappropriate behavior during this time will result in home suspension.
Approved by Dr. Roxanne Giampapa Director September 2011 Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)Pinewood offers Internet access for student use. This system has been established for educational purposes, which include classroom activities and career development. Students will use the system only for educational purposes and school-related work. The following uses of this system are considered unacceptable:
When you are using the system it may feel like you can more easily break a rule and not get caught. This is not really true because whenever you do something on a network you leave little “electronic footprints,” so the odds of getting caught are really about the same as they are in the real world. But the fact that you can do something or think you can do something without being caught does not make it right to do so. Click here to download the Acceptable Use Policy ATTENDANCERegular attendance and being on time to class is critical to student success in the Pinewood academic program and fundamental to the teaching and learning process. The learning experiences that take place in the classroom are a meaningful and essential part of our educational program. Time lost from class due to tardiness or absence is irretrievable and must be viewed as a lost opportunity for the in-class interactions between students and teachers. Pinewood provides generous holiday vacations within the calendar year, and it is expected that parents will be able to make their travel plans within the school schedule and calendar. Thus, starting school after the first day of the school year or leaving before the end of the school year is discouraged since it is extremely disruptive to the full instructional experience for students. Conversely, parents are discouraged from removing students from school for extended periods of time during the year for reasons other than family emergencies. Types of Absences There are two general types of absences: excused and unexcused absences. Both count towards the total allowable absences in any one class (see below in Excessive Absences). However, it is unexcused absences that are highly detrimental to student learning and achievement since students are not given the opportunity to make up work, quizzes and tests missed if the absence is unexcused. Accordingly, it is the parents’ or guardians’ responsibility to notify the school each time and in a timely fashion when their child is absent from school.
Procedures for Excusing an Absence
Excessive Absences Excessive absences, excused or unexcused, have a detrimental effect upon a student’s academic progress and will be one factor considered in promotion, retention, graduation and/or disenrollment decisions. The student and parent/guardian bear the responsibility for attendance decisions and accept the negative consequences. The number of absences (excused or unexcused) allowed is listed below:
Absences beyond these numbers will automatically result in failure of the course and loss of credit, unless there are extenuating circumstances. For seniors, loss of credit in a course will result in failure to meet graduation requirements. The student’s parent/guardian shall be notified in writing and this notification will occur when the student has accumulated excessive 5, 10, 15, and 20 absences (or equivalent) in a particular course. Tardiness Because of the disruptive nature of tardiness and the detrimental effect upon the teaching and learning process the following procedures apply: If a student is not in the assigned seat or area at the start of the class, the student is considered tardy. A tardy beyond 20 minutes will be recorded as an absence. Four unexcused latenesses are equivalent to one unexcused absence in the class and will be counted against the 20-day (or equivalent) attendance policy. The rules for unexcused absences will then be followed. Truancy (Class Cutting) Students are truant when they are absent from classes or school without permission. All such absences will be recorded as unexcused and parents will be contacted by administration. For further offenses (in any class) the student will serve a one-day in-house suspension. NO make-up work for credit shall be allowed for truancy. A grade penalty of a zero shall be given for each day of class work actually missed. HOMEWORKThe assignment of homework is a vital component of the academic program designed to reinforce the learning taking place in the classroom. Homework is specifically defined as “the extension of the learning experience beyond the classroom.”The amount of homework will vary from day to day based upon the following: the subject matter, the varying abilities of the student, the scheduling of other activities or special programs, and the work assigned for other projects. SCHOOL ASSEMBLIESThroughout the school year, assemblies are held for the elementary school, the secondary school, and both school divisions simultaneously. The assemblies may be thematic or informational in nature, yet serve to provide a sense of community for faculty, staff, and students. In the secondary school, the weekly unstructured Seminar Time on Wednesday afternoon is used for these purposes. In these various assembly forums, students are encouraged to be both courteous and attentive audience participants during assemblies. DRESS CODEEach student at the Pinewood American International School shall attend school clothed in a manner which is clean, not hazardous to the safety of himself/herself or others, and does not distract from the required educational environment. Clothing worn by students that is, in the reasonable opinion of the school administration, inappropriate is forbidden. Items not allowed at the school include:
The length of clothing (skirts, pants, shorts, dresses) will be no shorter than mid-thigh. Teachers will serve in a primary decision making role and will refer disagreements to the school administration. Students in violation of the dress code will be sent to school administration for appropriate action ranging from a warning (cover up or removal), parent contact, or suspension from school after repeated violations. The above may change or evolve as circumstances dictate.
ELECTRONIC DEVICESMP3 players, Walkmans, CD Players, Radios, etc. are not allowed in any of the campus buildings. However, they are permitted to be used before and after school hours, during breaks, and during lunchtime OUTDOORS ONLY. Students using these items in the school buildings will have them confiscated. Items will be returned at the end of the day. Mobile Phones may not be used in school during the school day as per Greek Law, yet they may be used outside of school buildings before and after school for communication with parents. Therefore, they must be kept on silent mode in students’ lockers between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:55 p.m. The phones may be confiscated in cases of repeated use during the school day.
Click here for the Complete 2012-2013 Handbook |
Upcoming Events
29.05.2013
HS Science Presentations
30.05.2013
English Language Program Ends
31.05.2013
Elementary Spring Drama Production
01.06.2013
SAT I & II
01.06.2013
Senior Prom



