ATTENDANCE

Regular  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.

• Excused  Absences

  An excused absence is one in which the student was absent with parent/guardian permission and knowledge. The following absences are excused and students are given an opportunity to make up work missed by making arrangements with their teachers:  Personal illness Serious illness or death in the immediate family Emergency medical treatment or hospitalization Religious holidays

• Unexcused  Absences
  

  An unexcused absence is one that is not covered by one of the above reasons or not excused through parent/guardian communication with the school within three (3) school days of the absence. In the case of an unexcused absence, the student will not be allowed to make up assignments, quizzes or tests that are given on that day, and a zero grade will be recorded.

  
  

Procedures  for  Excusing  an  Absence

• Short Term Absence:
  

  On the day that a student is absent from school, the parent or guardian must notify the school via telephone (2310-301221) or e-mail ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) between the hours of 8:00 and 15:30. An answering machine records all messages during other times. If no communication is received from parents, the student’s absence will be considered unexcused for a total of three (3) days. Parents or guardians may clear up the unexcused absence within the three-day period by calling the school or sending an email. Any absence not cleared up after three (3) days will remain unexcused and the student will receive no credit (zero) for all assignments, quizzes and tests from the day(s) absent.

• Tardy to School:
  For first period classes, the student must obtain an admit slip from Ms. Stephanie Karamanolis, the school’s receptionist, before entering the class.  All first period latenesses will be recorded by the class teacher as unexcused until the parent/guardian notifies the school via telephone or email (see above). Because the schedule allows for ample student passing time between classes, students who are tardy for classes other than first period are automatically considered unexcused except when a student is detained by another teacher or administrator and that teacher or administrator gives the student a pass to their next class.

• Planned Absence:
  Students who know in advance that they are going to miss school should bring a note from their parents/guardian to Mrs. Linda Kainz, Middle School Team Leader or Ms. Mary Tsoulfa, High School Team Leader,  at least two weeks prior to the planned absence and obtain a Planned Absence Form at that time. This form must be signed by all of the student’s teachers and returned to the above mentioned Team Leaders before the student’s absence. All assignments must be completed during the absence and submitted to teachers on the day of the student’s return (unless other arrangements have been made with individual teachers). It is also the student’s responsibility tomake arrangements with individual teachers to make up tests upon return.

• Extenuating Circumstance:
  It is important to recognize that serious illnesses and unavoidably difficult life events do occasionally occur. Hence, extenuating circumstances are absences that cause exceptional interference with academic performance and are of a very serious nature and extended period of time. The parent or guardian must notify the school of such an absence via telephone or email (see above). This type of absence also requires official written documentation from a physician or other legitimate and relevant organization to be submitted to the school within one week of the student’s return to be considered excused. For indeterminate cases, such absences will be referred to the Leadership Council for recommended action or decision.

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:

• A total of 20 absences will be allowed for classes that meet four times per week.
• A total of 15 absences will be allowed for classes meeting three times per week.
• A total of 10 absences will be allowed for classes meeting two times per week.
• A total of 5 absences will be allowed for classes meeting once per week.

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.

HOMEWORK

The 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 ASSEMBLIES

Throughout 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 CODE

Each 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:

• Apparel displaying tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or profanity
  
• Sexually provocative or revealing attire (i.e. bare midriff, spaghetti strap tops, low-cut plunging neckline/revealing tops, tube tops, halter tops or any items showing undergarments)
• The wearing of sunglasses or hats in the classroom Sagging pants (waist must be above the buttocks)
• Shoes that are not safe and appropriate for school

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 DEVICES

MP3 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.