Zis upper school handbook

Do not limit your choices with preconceived ideas. Are certain important criteria emerging? What are they and are they consistent? What assumptions or rumors need to be investigated and verified?

Ask for further information about particular programs. Developing a system for organizing and filing information that you receive from the colleges. Talking to any college representatives that come to ZIS. University Visits If possible, we advise you to visit the campuses before applying to university courses.

If you and your parents have time, visit again in the spring before accepting offers. This allows you to verify that the program offered really has what you want. Not everyone is able to visit the universities being considered, but if you do have the opportunity to make a university tour, it is important to do so. The real thing makes the statistics come alive.

Each school has an ambiance of its own, and the chance to experience it first hand is very valuable. It is virtually impossible to visit more than two schools per day, and even two is difficult if you add in any of the useful activities listed below. We do not recommend that you take time off from school to visit universities; however, sometimes it is unavoidable. If this is necessary, you must complete an approved absence form and give it to the ZIS Upper School office.

If at all possible, you should try to visit campuses when school is in session — you get a better idea of what a university is really like if you visit when students and faculty are there. Most interviews and group Information sessions are an exchange of information.

The school wants to promote itself while finding out as much as possible about you. You want to know whether or not the school offers what you need — the only way to find out is to ask. Take along a copy of your current transcript, including standardized test scores, the ZIS School Profile, and art portfolios if appropriate.

These will be useful if you are able to secure an interview. They have concerns and questions of their own and are probably as interested in this whole process as you are.

They will usually be invited to join you and the admissions counselor toward the end of any interview sessions you attend. You are looking for a place to live, learn, and grow. The university is looking for someone who will be a happy and successful member of their community.

Meeting a variety of people will give you a more complete picture of what a university is really like. Do not try to dominate the interview, but do ask the things that are of importance to you. It is alright to ask about your admission chances. If you have provided the admissions officer with an accurate profile of your high school record and test scores, he or she will be able to give you some idea of your chances of being admitted.

Do not expect a definitive answer — that can only come once the school has a complete application folder.

Save the notes for future reference. Without these notes, it is very easy to confuse university visits. Upload these notes as a journal entry in Naviance. Switzerland is a beautiful place, so consider sending them a thank you postcard! Academic Record: Academic achievement is presented to the admissions officer via either a transcript or through AP scores and IB scores. All universities give major importance to the quality of the academic record.

The counselor is often asked to comment on whether you took the most challenging courses appropriate for you at the school. Most colleges believe that your performance in upper school is the best predictor of future academic success. Admission officers also note the reputation of the school attended. Colleges are aware of the reputation of international schools which have a strong academic emphasis built into their curriculum.

Universities in the United Kingdom also have certain standardized tests that some students must take for specific courses. You need to carefully research which tests are needed. Recommendation Letters: References are one of the most influential pieces of the application process. Letters written by the counselor, teachers, and other referees are important as they give the university a snapshot of the applicant as a whole person. This allows the admissions officer to see how one stands apart from all the other applicants.

You should also fill in the box with a thank you note to the teacher. Thank them, and tell them which countries you are applying to and which courses you are applying to. This varies between countries. However, it is particularly important for the United Sates.

Most universities or colleges would be more pleased with a student who can demonstrate a well developed interest and commitment to a few areas, rather than being involved in so many things that their time and commitment are limited.

Universities are often looking for evidence that a student will They particularly look for leadership experience in these activities. You can capture an admissions officer with an essay in a way that standardized tests and transcripts rarely do! It is the chance to prove that you will be successful in your chosen course and an asset to that university. The Application Itself: Universities will evaluate the way the application is completed.

Do not wait until the last minute to do it. Proofread it over and over. Use a computer for essays unless otherwise noted on the application.

It is up to you to make sure that those values come through in your application. The admissions officers seek out those that are unique and will consider uncommon characteristics or a history that may set someone apart from other applicants.

Legacy: Children of alumni receive careful review at most universities. Correspondence and contact with the university: You, not your parents, should make contact with the university. This reflects your commitment to the organization and a level of responsibility.

Universities often note if you have visited the campus, taken a tour, or visited a class. Universities want good students each with their own unique qualities.

Diversity is a priority for many college admissions committees. Remember that selective universities are not just deciding if a student has met the requirements for admission; nearly every student applying does. The question which faces the admissions committee is which of the highly qualified students merit a place in their student body and which will most likely make a difference while there?

Here is a short overview: Oxford and Cambridge have their own unique status and supplements for application which are very competitive in almost every field. Students must choose between Oxford and Cambridge. They cannot apply to both. These universities vary in competitiveness depending on the course. Programs are more flexible, often interdisciplinary. Many of them prepare for specific careers and have strong job placement records in industry.

They are generally less competitive in their entrance standards and have a wider age range of in enrolment. Entry to all courses varies in competitiveness. Medicine is one of the very competitive courses. Also, fee status plays a role. For example, international students who pay full fees are not subject to a quota, and EU home fee status students who attend Scottish universities for free are competing for very few spaces.

In the UK the criteria used for selection varies from course to course and from university to university. Once an application has been considered by the admissions tutor, either with or without an interview, UCAS will communicate the decision. Universities may contact applicants directly, but the UCAS notification is the official one. The decision taken will be either an unconditional or conditional offer of a place, or a rejection.

If students receive a conditional offer, their final acceptance to the program will be received only after they have taken the required examinations IB and AP and meet the conditions of offer.

Vocabulary used in British Education Single Honours: Study of one subject, within which a range of specialized options may be available. Combined Honours: This is a study of several subjects, which may or may not be related, often narrowing as the course progresses to two or three subjects. Sandwich Courses: Alternating periods of study and related work experience, normally lasting for four years.

Modular Courses: A wide variety of unit courses is offered, and you select your own program, often after a common subject in the first basis. They are more frequently offered in the new universities.

These would be intended for students who have not achieved A or Advanced Placement level qualifications, or whose A level results did not meet course requirements. Foundation Year in Art: The year required before acceptance into a degree program in art. A portfolio is required. UCAS does not make decisions; it is an online service for applicants and UCAS sends a copy of your application to each of the institutions to which you have applied.

The application is then considered by an admissions tutor in your chosen subject. Vocabulary used by UCAS Apply: the online application system for applying for higher education courses. Clearing System: used toward the end of the academic cycle when students have not secured a place.

It enables them to apply for course vacancies. Conditional Offer: an offer made by a university or college, whereby students must fulfill certain criteria before they can be accepted to the relevant course. Confirmation: when conditional offers that students have accepted become unconditional or are declined.

Deferral: holding an offer until the following year. Entry Profiles: comprehensive information about individual courses and institutions, including statistics and entry requirements.

Firm offer: the offer that a student has accepted as their first choice. Institution: a university or college offering higher education courses. Insurance offer: the offer that has been accepted as a second choice, in case requirements are not met for their firm offer upon registration to UCAS KIS: Key information sets that must be provided by each university.

Point of entry: the year of entry to the course, for example, 2 refers to the second year of the course. Scheme Code: used with the Personal ID to uniquely identify an application. Track: a system where the progress of applications are tracked online, replies to any offers received, and amendments such as change of address or email Unconditional offer: an offer given without conditions by a university or college if all criteria is satisfied. Unistats: a website for students who want to research and compare subjects and universities before deciding where to apply.

Student satisfaction ratings and figures about getting a job after completing a course can be explored. Unsuccessful: the students has not been accepted by the university or college concerned.

Possible Admission Tests: Some universities and colleges require applicants to pass an admissions test as well as standard qualifications for courses in certain subjects. The details for some of these tests are provided below. However, other admissions tests may be required which are not listed on this page. Important dates for the UCAS application There are different dates to be aware of when making an UCAS application and waiting for decisions from chosen universities and colleges.

The application deadlines vary from year to year and at ZIS earlier deadlines are set to allow time to check applications, to complete references and to make sure students are not disadvantaged by the winter break. Note: some art schools with foundation courses will accept separate applications.

Students are not limited in any way by UCAS if they are only applying to these. University counselors will offer advice and guidance in completing the UCAS application. Below is a rough guideline of the dates important to the application at UCAS:. Application deadline for UCAS applications to medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science courses and for all Oxford and Cambridge courses. This allows counselors time to make final checks and make sure applications reaches UCAS by the January close date.

Extra becomes available to some students. This is a service offered to students who have already made five choices; received decisions from all these choices, and either had no offers or have chosen to decline all the received offers. Eligible students will be able to apply to courses that still have vacancies. Deadline for Art and Design courses that do not have the earlier general deadline. Most universities and colleges will have sent their decisions by this date for students who met the general January deadline.

Technically it is possible to submit applications until June. However, these applications are not given preference by UCAS and may go straight to clearing. Clearing starts. This is a service available between July and September, but for most people it is used after exam results are published in July. Adjustment opens. Adjustment is a service for students who have exceeded the conditions of their conditional firm choice. Students may try to apply to alternative course. Adjustment closes at the end of August.

International students interested in studying there should have a general understanding of its levels and the terms describing it. Neither term should be considered significant in assessing the quality or stature of an institution. Undergraduate students are classified as freshmen in their first year, sophomores in their second, juniors in their third, and seniors in their fourth, depending not only on the number of years in university but also on the number of courses completed or credits earned.

As a result, a significant part of most undergraduate programs is of a general nature and includes a blend of courses in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Specialized training in one particular subject area usually takes place after the second year of an undergraduate degree or at the graduate level. Universities Universities are academic institutions that include one or more undergraduate colleges, as well as any number of graduate and professional schools, i. In other countries, many professions are studied immediately following secondary school, while in the United States they are studied only after two, three, or four years of university.

Pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, law and veterinary medicine are examples. Very few professional schools admit students from other countries directly into their degree programs. In addition to arts and sciences, many colleges offer degrees in business administration, education, nursing, and a variety of technological programs. There are approximately undergraduate colleges in the United States.

Institutes of Technology Institutes of technology, or polytechnic institutes, offer specialized programs in the sciences and engineering in addition to basic sciences and liberal arts.

These institutes, many of them highly regarded in the United States, usually offer undergraduate and graduate degrees. Community Colleges These institutions serve the general population of local communities in providing high school graduates, earners of the GED high school equivalency exam , and other adults the opportunity to earn college credit toward a certificate or degree.

Financial Aid United States It is expensive to study at colleges and universities. The vast majority are residential in nature, and a student has to consider not only the tuition and fees that pay for the course work but the room and board. An additional concern will be transportation costs to and from family and friends. In the United States, the lowest priced are the state universities. That is the good news. Because of that, classes can be quite large and students might have to wait a long, long time to see their advisor, or register for courses, etc.

Because these state universities are relatively low price, there is usually little or no financial aid except for the most disadvantaged students. Because most of the money that is used by colleges for financial aid is tied up with U. In the more than 3, colleges and universities in the U. However, there is very little aid available for international students.

It is also important to understand state residency requirements. Applicants must not assume that, because they used to live in a specific state or, because they might have a house or a summer place there, that they are automatically a state resident for admissions and tuition purposes.

Each state has its own regulations concerning residency and some states are very strict about it. Often, one of the main criteria is whether state income tax has been paid in the years prior to matriculation. In this whole picture, the private colleges and universities in the U. Their price tags are far higher than the state universities. In order to make that diversity possible, private colleges raise incredible amounts of money from outside sources to be able to offer financial aid and scholarships to students who otherwise could not afford the big price tags.

Often, with the money they offer a student in financial aid or scholarship, it can be more reasonable. Most of the money that is available to finance college education in the United States for U. The FAFSA will generate figures showing the expected parental contribution and the colleges will use that as a basis for determining financial need.

The FAFSA4caster is a free financial aid calculator that gives you an early estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. This information helps families plan ahead for college. The availability of aid should be a factor in your choosing a college. Therefore, colleges will send all the necessary information before applicants accept their offers of admission. Also, if applicants wait until they have been accepted, grants and scholarships may already be gone. Identify which forms must be filed Know exactly which forms are needed to complete in order to meet the requirements of the various sources.

Check the deadlines or preferred filing dates Applicants must make sure they meet the deadlines or preferred dates if they want to be considered for the widest range of choices. Get organized. Before families sit down to complete the forms, ALL of the most recent financial records income tax returns, pay stubs, interest statements, home mortgage and debt information, must be gathered.

Records for the calendar year preceding the academic year are needed. Income tax returns need not be filed before the IRS financial aid applications are completed, but it is a good idea to at least have a rough draft. Complete all forms accurately, completely, and legibly Inaccurate or missing information or unreadable answers could cause costly delays in the processing of documents. Provide all the information requested on the form For instance, if the answer calls for a zero, enter a zero.

Do not just leave the question blank. This is necessary for the computers to accurately scan your form. In order to complete a file, colleges and programs will need to match up records from several sources, and inconsistencies or mistakes will slow this process down. Read all the corresponding material It may not all be junk mail.

If there are any errors in the information, make corrections and mail it back. Respond promptly It is important to not procrastinate. If additional information is needed, it must be sent as soon as possible. Errors must be fixed quickly. When it comes to applying for aid, time is money.

Keep looking for private scholarships. Send it immediately after January 1. Tips If you think you really need financial aid, and you are a US citizen or green card holder, apply for financial aid, even if you are not sure you will be eligible. If family income circumstances change, students can ask to be reconsidered for aid ONLY if the appropriate forms have been completed in a timely manner.

Aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis. Students must apply before they even know for sure if they have been accepted for admission. Please note: your request for financial aid will factor into the acceptance decision. Therefore, if you do not need financial aid, and you indicate that you will not be applying for financial aid, you may have a better chance of acceptance. But, once you have indicated that you do not need financial aid, you cannot normally change your mind at a later date and ask to be considered.

Canada Description and Types of Schools Undergraduate programs in the humanities, social sciences, physical and applied sciences are available at most universities in Canada. However, professional programs such as medicine, dentistry, law, architecture, engineering and journalism are not available in all provinces. Canada also has community colleges, and in most provinces there are colleges of general and vocational education that are different from universities.

The rest of Canadian universities and colleges must be contacted directly. Although a student may be a Canadian, they must follow the application process as if they were applying from an American high school. Each university calendar lists the individual fees, often separated by area of study and scholarships available.

Some provinces in Canada charge higher fees for international students than Canadian students. The Netherlands More than 1, study programmes are taught in English in the Netherlands, and a relatively large number of students who apply to Dutch higher education institutions have a High School Diploma from an international school.

In principle, these programmes correspond to those described above in terms of purpose, content, duration and level, including all possible variations. The most important point relating to international American schools is accreditation. Just as with higher education institutions in the US, all high schools have to be accredited by a department within one of the six accreditation bodies which is designated specifically for this level.

To be admitted to a higher education programme, you first need to contact the institution that offers the programme. They can tell you exactly which admission requirements apply to the programme of your choice. This level is set by the institution. In certain popular fields, the number of places is limited and quotas are set.

There are also study programmes — in the arts for example — for which institutions set their own additional requirements There are admission requirements for a number of university programs, especially those with a numerus fixus.

Nuffic recommends that Dutch universities evaluate a high school or secondary school diploma at VWO Voorbereidend wetenschappelijk onderwijs level if a student has earned a score of 3, 4 or 5 on at least four AP Exams. For this evaluation, an official AP Score Report is required to be sent directly from the College Board in addition to the official school transcript.

It should be noted that a high school diploma awarded with fewer than four AP subjects can also be evaluated as comparable to a VWO diploma, provided the student has completed a challenging academic program that includes a college preparatory program and advanced coursework. Please note that universities in the Netherlands are autonomous and each university in the Netherlands sets its own policy regarding admission and academic credentials.

This is why admission requirements may vary per institution, so it is important to verify the requirements with the university directly as well. Generally speaking, German state universities require the IB Diploma to be converted to the Abitur to support admission to university.

The diploma is converted by the State in which the university is located. However, this is not always the case in every German university. Each university has its own rules, and the rules can change. The first step is to research the university on its own website, and then call them or email for clarification if necessary. Applications to public universities are usually made after completion of the final school year when the final school documents and exam grades are available.

Students will need to make sure they know what documents will be needed before the ZIS counselors and IB Coordinator leave for the summer break. Allocate enough time during the summer to get the necessary paperwork done. Sometimes, due to deadlines, an applicant may need to pick up the original of the converted diploma in person from the converting agency, have authenticated copies made at the local town hall, and then courier or hand carry the authenticated copies to the universities to which he or she is applying.

Generally, the applications are due by July 15th of each year. Because of this deadline and the date the IB results are issued, students should speak to the IB or AP Coordinator about deadlines and requesting information. The IB Diploma must include six subjects with minimum grades of 4. When a candidate has only 3 points in one subject, compensation is possible with 5 points in another subject at the same level, with a minimum score of 24 points.

All academic subjects must be tested in the same examination session. It also states that institutions within Germany will grant admission to any candidate with a high school diploma who also submits four or five AP Exams in specified subjects, each with a grade of 3 or higher. Applicants must contact the admissions office because they may have very specific requirements on number of AP subjects taken and grades needed. Switzerland Cantonal universities and federal institutes of technology provide most higher education in Switzerland.

Some universities conduct instruction in French, some in German and some are bilingual. In Switzerland, applications to public universities are usually made after completion of the final school year when the final school documents and exam grades are available. Recognition of the IB diploma reflects the federal pattern of higher education but there is no general agreement on recognition. All 12 universities in Switzerland accept IB Diploma holders provided that students have a minimum of 32 points no bonus points are considered in this score.

In addition, there may be placement exams before some students are granted admission. Students must have the subject combinations as shown below: Group 1: Mother tongue Group 2: Second language Group 3: Mathematics Group 4: Natural sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics Group 5: Social sciences: Geography, History, Economics Group 6: Elective: another language, another natural science, or another social science.

In addition, either a math or natural science subject must be taken at HL. This means only the subjects defined in the table above will be accepted and at least one math or science must be taken at higher level.

The College Board website states that the following universities acknowledge qualifying AP Exam grades in their admissions processes. However, they also suggest you contact the admissions office directly. Note: There are more specific details in German in the appendix page The directions for the essay vary from university to university.

It is one of the ways that a university tries to get an idea about the person behind the grades, test scores, and school offices held. It is the one part of the application that allows students the opportunity to show who they are and how they are different from the other thousands of applicants. This is the only part of the application that allows students to be creative and share part of them. Research is important to be aware of those differences. Storytelling comes naturally to everyone — we all do it every day.

It needs to come from your heart if you are to avoid overused ideas. There is really no excuse for spelling errors in such an important essay. She goes on the lam and finds a cosy bachelor apartment, keeping the location secret even while communicating online with her eldest daughter. Kumiko revels in the small, daily pleasures: decorating as she pleases, eating what she wants, and swimming in the community pool. But something has followed her from her former residence - Death's shadow.

Kumiko's sweet life is shattered when Death's shadow swoops in to collect her. With her quick mind and sense of humor, Kumiko, with the help of friends new and old, is prepared for the fight of her life.

But how long can an old woman thwart fate? Argues that humans are wired to tell stories, and that storytelling ensures survival by providing a way to navigate complex moral and social problems, but that some stories can be dangerous to society. Pennebaker; Joshua M. Smyth Call Number: Expressing painful emotions is hard--yet it can actually improve our mental and physical health.

Distinguished psychologist James W. Pennebaker has spent decades studying what happens when people take just a few minutes to write about deeply felt personal experiences or problems. This lucid, compassionate book has introduced tens of thousands of readers to an easy to use self help technique that has been proven to heal old emotional wounds, promote a sense of well being, decrease stress, improve relationships, and boost the immune system.

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Stunning Child Literacy Stats. To prepare life-long learners who are effective communicators, critical researchers and problem solvers. To collaborate and share with audiences beyond our school walls.

To model our school's mission and support learners in the pursuit of aesthetic growth and personal learning pathways. Zentralbibliotek Zurich. For information about how to access materials in the Zentralbibliotek Zurich or register as a card-holder please see Mr. Browning in the Upper School library. Do you need some help with an essay or a math problem? Or, do you just have an urgent question that needs to be answered?

Tutoring in the Study Center is available every day at luncha and afternoon flex as well as after school Mondays from to and Wednesdays from to On Tuedays and Thursdays tutoring locations change in order to be supported by ZIS faculty - Maths and Sciences will be held in room English, Social Studies, and Languages will be conducted in room All changes of address and phone numbers should be notified in writing to addresses zis. This is a very important procedure in case of emergency.

After School Care We provide after school care on a daily basis from Please contact in Priscilla Bitton pbitton zis. Students may not use the school telephone to make after school arrangements. Permission may be given by a teacher in an emergency. All children must be supervised at all times by an adult after After School Activities The school runs a very active after school extra-curricular activities program for children in Wadenswil.

Activities are available in the arts, sports and clubs. Students may enter individualised such as private instrumental activities at any time they wish. For supervision options see After School Care. Animals at School Animals are not permitted inside the school building unless a prior arrangement has been made with the classroom teacher or the administration.

Birthdays If you wish to bring something in for your child to celebrate with their class please ensure that it is easy portion sizes. This may either be cupcakes, muffins or cookies. Otherwise invitations need to be sent by email or post. Visitors All visitors are asked to report to the reception upon entering the building. Please hand your badge back and sign out before you leave.

Alumni students may visit the school for one day so that they can reconnect with their former peers. Please contact Ms Stiebert to arrange a visit. Other visiting children may be given a school touror stay for lunch, but may not stay for lesson time. Insurance As Swiss law requires parents to carry accident and health insurance for all children, the school does not provide any. Therefore the school assumes parents have fulfilled this obligation and that, in the event of an accident, the costs will be covered.

In addition, the school strongly recommends that parents carry an additional personal liability policy for each of their children. Such a policy can be purchased from your insurer at a minimal premium. Medication in School If your child needs to take medication during school hours, whether regularly or for a short period of time, parents are required to bring this medication to the school nurse office with detailed administration details.

Illness Please notify the school immediately about any contagious disease your child has contracted. Children who need to take antibiotics for an infectious disease must remain at home until they have taken a full 48 hours of antibiotics and feel well, to insure that they are not contagious. The nurses will inform the parents of other students who may have been exposed to a contagious disease so that they can be aware of the symptoms.

Head Lice These annoying parasites, which do not carry disease, are most prevalent during the autumn and winter months. Parents are required to inform the school nurses if they find head lice on their children.

The nurses will send home a treatment plan, and take measures to prevent a larger outbreak. Students who have been treated at home and return to school for the first time must see the school nurse for a lice check. Attendance If a child is well enough to attend school they will need to attend all classes and be able to go outside at recess.

If this is not the case children should stay at home unless otherwise arranged. Emergency Procedures In the case of a serious emergency, the school will contact emergency support services and assure the safety and wellbeing of students as first priority.

Parents will be notified as soon as possible thereafter. In the event of an illness, accident, or medical emergency, and when the parents can not be reached by telephone, the school will act in loco parentis until one or both of the parents can be reached. Library Books Once a week, each child will have a library visit, and is able to borrow books to take home.

In Wadenswil children are also able to use the library during their lunch break to exchange library books. Please return library books the following week, on or before their library day. Parents are welcome and encouraged to visit the library and check out books as well.

Please check with your campus librarians for open hours. Fire Drill and Lock Down The school maintains a regular schedule of fire drills and lock down practices. At the beginning of each school year, the classroom teachers will review the necessary procedures with the students in an age appropriate manner. Emergency School Closure If school is cancelled, the school will put a notice on the homepage of the website www.

Items are put on display at the end of each term and if unclaimed will be removed. Crisis Team The school maintains a crisis team that is able to respond to any serious emergency faced by the school. Responsibilities for this team are established at the beginning of each school year. In the event of a serious crisis or emergency, the team, led by the ZIS Director, will provide appropriate information to parents as quickly and comprehensively as possible.

Please ensure that all property your child brings to school is clearly marked or labelled, and encourage them to take responsibility for their property. Field Trips There are various whole school events, day trips, and overnight trips for older students throughout the school year. Parents will be informed of these events ahead of time. All costs incurred by ZIS for optional, curriculum-enriching trips are invoiced to the participants.

Field trips function as an educational element of the curriculum. Field trips are part of the curriculum; therefore, it is expected that all students will attend. In these cases, children will need to stay home.

The complexity and duration of the field trips will increase in the higher grades. Grade overnight trips will be on the on-line calendar at the beginning of the year, allowing parents to plan in advance.

This form gives permission for children to attend all trips during a school year. Early Childhood Pre-School — Kindergarten Students will participate in day field trips throughout the school year, in association with Units of Inquiry.

Grades 1 and 2 Students will participate in several field trips that support PYP Inquiries for the grade level. Grade 2 has a sleep over at school. Notification and Fees For one-day field trips the teacher will notify parents at least one week in advance.

For overnight field trips parents will be notified at least one month in advance. The notification will include the destination of the field trip, the reason for the field trip, departure and arrival times, eating arrangements, the method of transportation, adults accompanying the class, any conditions regarding pocket money, and fees, if any. Fees will not be collected by the teacher; parents will be invoiced by the school.

All buses used to transport students are equipped with seat belts. Photos Formal class and individual photos are taken during the year. You will be informed of these in advance. Children may be photographed during their learning and recess time, and these photos may be used in school publications, on the website or on blogs. No names are given. Please contact Rachel Ditchfield rditchfield zis.

It is requested that parents exercise restraint in telephoning the school with messages for their children. This service may be used for urgent messages only. In the event of such an emergency and in order for messages to be delivered in time, parents should endeavour to ring by 12 noon to ensure that the message reaches the recipient. Blog notification settings will be adjusted for the duration of the trip, so that you will receive an email immediately each time a communication is posted.

At the Lower School we believe in international mindedness and the qualities of an International Baccalaureate learner. These qualities, as defined by the learner profile, work to develop principled, open-minded, caring citizens who respect themselves, others and the world around us. Inappropriate items Students are never to bring to school illegal substances, or items considered to be dangerous.

Toys may be brought to school only when deemed appropriate by a classroom teacher. Disrespectful or Disruptive Behavior Vulgar or profane language and aggressive actions to others are unacceptable. Mobile Phones Mobile phones can be brought to school but must not be used over the course of the instructional day unless permission has been granted by the school administration or teacher. Bullying By definition a student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed repeatedly, and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students.

Bullying can be direct physical and verbal assaults or indirect exclusion, rumors, getting others on board and has expanded to cyber-bullying through cell phones, messaging, email and web sites. Bullying because of stereotyping, health-related issues or religious, gender, and racial discrimination will not be tolerated.

Bullying is destructive and will not be tolerated. We have a three tiered approach to dealing with bullying. Awareness ZIS students: — build positive relationships with others — pledge to not bully others — talk about the behaviors of bullies, victims, bystanders and defenders — help students who are being bullied — include students who are easily left out.

Intervention We will investigate all complaints made by students, parents and staff. Counseling strategies will follow that can offer a guided and effective process to assist students. Consequences When serious infractions occur parents will be contacted and appropriate consequences will be put into place. Hats Students are not to wear hats or head coverings in the school buildings unless they are being worn for religious, cultural or health related reasons.

Dress Code Clothing should be clean and free of offensive graphics and language, and large holes or tears. Flip flops are not to be worn as they are dangerous on stairs. Clothing must be modest and the principal has the final say on what constitutes appropriate clothing. Make-up may not be worn.

Chewing Gum Chewing Gum is not allowed. The expectations for appropriate and responsible behavior are very clear. Unfortunately, situations arise where certain behaviors are deemed unacceptable. Consequences are, in some cases, assigned by teachers and are assigned by school administrators for more serious infractions.

Criminal activity will be referred to the proper authorities. A section of this document refers specifically to the need for parents to appoint a temporary guardian should they be away for 24 hours or more. This form can be found in the Community Portal. While the Internet offers a great deal of useful information and resources, it is also a diverse public medium.

As such, it is important that pupils and faculty conduct themselves in a way which is compatible with the academic aims and the spirit of ZIS. Our goal in providing access to the Internet is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.

With access to the Internet also comes the potential availability of educationally questionable, politically controversial, and morally inappropriate material. Although we strive to supervise Internet use, it is impossible to guarantee that users will not be exposed to, or able to obtain such materials.

ZIS therefore relies heavily on mature and responsible use by students and faculty and believes that Internet usage is a chance to teach students about responsible, ethical behavior. Access to the Internet is provided for the express purpose of furthering studies at school, engaging in collaborative work with others, and obtaining information which is consistent with the educational objectives of ZIS.

Faculty, staff, or students may not transmit or seek access to materials which violate laws, infringe on copyrights, or have threatening, obscene, or racist content unless in the context of investigative research. Responsible Use Policy — I understand that my device, email account, and all other ZIS IT services and resources are to be used for educational purposes; — I understand that streaming video or music, social networking sites, instant messaging and chat, video games are not allowed during class time unless used for completion of classroom activities or permitted by a teacher; — I understand that creating, accessing, displaying, producing, storing, circulating or transmitting pornographic or offensive material in any form or.

The following expectations apply for all members of the ZIS community when preparing material for Internet publishing on ZIS web platforms or on external websites for school-related purposes, like blogging, posting media, or collaborating with others. School Liability ZIS cannot accept any liability for the loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, errors, or service interruptions.

ZIS also does not vouch for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through Internet use, and the school is not liable if users succeed in gaining access to controversial or inappropriate materials. Student Publishing Statement Content published by students is not intended to be official ZIS communication and does not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the school.

ZIS is responsible only for official content published through official channels. ZIS is an internationally recognized leader in the area of Educational Technology. The vision is one where technology is a natural and essential part of everyday school life for teacher and student as well as community members. Through technology use, there are greater opportunities for interactive communication and exchange of information through global collaboration, authentic learning, expansion of the learning community and empowerment for all learners.

ICT in the PYP encompasses the use of a wide range of digital tools, media and learning environments for teaching, learning and assessing. ICT provides opportunities for the transformation of teaching and learning and enables students to investigate, create, communicate, collaborate, organize and be responsible for their own learning and actions.

ICT allows students to make connections and reach a deeper understanding of its relevance and applicability to their everyday lives. Through the use of ICT, learners develop and apply strategies for critical and creative thinking, engage in inquiry, make connections, and apply new understandings and skills in different contexts.

To support our school philosophy of Inquiry and 21st Century Learning we provide an iPad for every student in Grades 1 through 5. We will also continue to have Netbooks small laptops available for use when necessary.

Take extra steps to protect your child. Encourage your child to use technology tools in an open area of your home, such as the kitchen or family room, so you can monitor what your child is doing online. Use the Internet with your child to help develop safe surfing habits and responsible use.