Early Childhood Booklet 2011-12

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A World Class International School Leading Innovation in Education

Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.D.President of Schools

Dina PappasElementary School Principal

Catherine MakropoulosActing Elementary School Principal

[email protected]

129 Aghias Paraskevis Ave. & Kazantzaki St.152 34 HalandriAthens, Greece

Tel.: +30 (210) 639 3200

Fax: +30 (210) 639 0051

www.acs.gr

[email protected]

Mission Statement

ACS Athens is a student-centered international school, embracing American educational philosophy,

principles and values. Through excellence in teaching and diverse educational experiences, ACS Athens

challenges all students to realize their unique potential: academically, intellectually, socially and

ethically -- to thrive as responsible global citizens.
http://www.acs.gr/http://www.acs.gr/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.acs.gr/


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Table of Contents

Mission Statement ............................................................................................... - 3 -Who We Are - 6 -The Early Childhood Program at ACS Athens - 6 -

An Overview ....................................................................................................... - 6 -Important Numbers - 7 -The JK Program - 8 -

Daily Program ..................................................................................................... - 9 -Day Care ............................................................................................................ - 9 -

Kindergarten Program - 10 -Daily Program ................................................................................................... - 10 -

Supplies Needed for JK and Kindergarten - 11 - Appropriate Clothing for JK & Kindergarten - 11 -Getting Ready for the BIG DAY: JK and Kindergarten Readiness - 11 -Centers - 12 -

Reading Center ................................................................................................. - 12 -Math Center ...................................................................................................... - 12 -Writing Center ................................................................................................... - 13 -Art Center ......................................................................................................... - 13 -Block Center...................................................................................................... - 14 -Music ................................................................................................................ - 14 -Cooking Center .................................................................................................. - 14 -Dramatic Play Center ......................................................................................... - 14 -Library .............................................................................................................. - 15 -Kindergarten Specials (Art, Music, Physical Education, Computers, Foreign Language &Library)............................................................................................................. - 15 -

Student Expectations - 15 -Attendance ....................................................................................................... - 15 -Tardiness .......................................................................................................... - 15 -Daily Absences .................................................................................................. - 15 -Extended Absences ............................................................................................ - 15 -Early Dismissal from School ................................................................................ - 16 -Emergency Drills ................................................................................................ - 16 -

Discipline Procedures - 17 -

Dress Code ....................................................................................................... - 18 -Support Services - 18 -

Optimal Match ................................................................................................... - 18 -OM Consultation ......................................................................................... - 19 -

Counseling Services ........................................................................................... - 19 -ESAS and Institute for Innovation and Creativity .................................................. - 19 -The House System ............................................................................................. - 20 -Health Services.................................................................................................. - 20 -

Transportation - 21 -Bus Procedures: ................................................................................................ - 21 -Bus Code of Conduct: ........................................................................................ - 22 -
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Special Traditions - 22 -Role of Parents - 24 -

PTO .................................................................................................................. - 24 -Room Parents ................................................................................................... - 24 -Parents Supporting Athletics Boosters............................................................... - 25 -

Personal Property .............................................................................................. - 25 -Lost & Found .................................................................................................... - 25 -

Vehicles of Communication - 25 -Report Cards ..................................................................................................... - 25 -Conferences ...................................................................................................... - 25 -Student-Led Conferences ................................................................................... - 26 -Passports .......................................................................................................... - 26 -Elementary Newsletter ....................................................................................... - 26 -Principals Coffee ............................................................................................... - 26 -Website ............................................................................................................ - 26 -Telephone ......................................................................................................... - 26 -

School Activities - 27 -School Photos ................................................................................................... - 27 -Field Trips ......................................................................................................... - 27 -

Enrollment - 28 -Admission/Registration ....................................................................................... - 28 -Transfers From Our School ................................................................................. - 28 -


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Who We AreWe are a group of dedicated professionals who bring unique experiences and expertise to the fieldof education. Most of us hold Masters Degrees in one or more fields of Education and continue ourprofessional development every year.

The ACS Athens Elementary program relies heavily on the synergy that comes from goodteamwork. Classroom teachers work in tandem with their grade level colleagues and specialsteachers. Your student receives the benefit of teachers using their individual and collectivestrengths to help the student learn quickly and feel successful. Teacher assistants work with theteachers to help prepare and organize needed materials.

The Early Childhood Program at ACS Athens

An Overview

The American Community Schools Early ChildhoodProgram serves children turning 3 to 5 years old.We believe in educating the whole child byfocusing on intellectual, social, emotional, physicaland creative growth while valuing the rich diversityof culture children bring to the classroom.Experiences and activities are planned to meet theneeds of each child at his/her own level and rate ofdevelopment.

Emphasis is placed on the learning process ratherthan quick, correct answers. Learning isspontaneous. Children learn from each other and teachers act as facilitators in the learningprocess.

The arrangement of the classroom encourages play and exploration. Learning centers aredesigned to develop language and literacy skills at a developmentally appropriate pace. Play andhands-on activities are an integral part of the learning opportunities. Children are free toexperience, react, think, grow and change in their own unique ways. Most importantly, we wantto make the experience of school a positive one by ensuring a smooth transition from home to

school, building social skills and good work habits. A balance between child directed and teacherdirected activities is maintained. Most teacher directed activities are open ended, allowingstudents to work at their own pace and, for the more able students, to extend their thinking andachieve more.


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Important NumbersMain Campus: 210 639-3200Elementary School: 210 6070-229/231Middle School: 210 6070-226/228

Academy: 210 6070-241/222

Admissions: 210 6070-263/251Arts Academy 210 6070-200Athletics Office: 210 6070-327Cafeteria: 210 6070-236Cashiers Office: 210 6070-206E.S. Counselor: 210 6070-266Health Office: 210 6070-217Stavros Niarchos Learning Center 210 6070-237Security (after hours): 210 639-3555

Transportation: 210 6070-239


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The JK ProgramFor ages 3 & 4

The Junior Kindergarten Program is a two year program from 9:00 a.m.1:00 p.m. A Day Care

program from 1:00-3:30 p.m. is offered to parents who wish to extend their childs schedule wherelunch is also provided. In addition, there is an extended program for parents who work late andwould like their child in Day Care from 3:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

English is the language of instruction and each classroom has a teacher and an aide. It isdesigned to be a two year program with enrollment starting with children who turn 3 by December31 of the current school year.

All children must befully toilet trainedin order to attend.

The primary goal of Junior Kindergarten is to recognize and meet the developmental needs of eachchild and to assist him/her in developing to his/her full potential. Teachers work with all levels ofEnglish proficiency from non-speakers to native speakers. Progress is made on a timetable that isunique to each child. At any given time, children in this class are at a variety of developmentallevels. The classroom teacher along with the classroom aide collaborate to create developmentallyappropriate activities via flexible grouping. Teachersserve as facilitators while they create a learningenvironment which enables children to make choicesto enhance their learning process.

The classroom is designed to encourage play andexploration. Classrooms are structured with centersfor Reading, Math, Writing, Science, Art, Music,Cooking, Dramatic Play, Building Blocks and ListeningCenter each stocked with stimulating hands-onmaterials. Children are free to experience, react,think and thus grow and change in their own uniqueways. Children visit the library once a week to checkout a book. Greek is also taught as a foreignlanguage once a week. Most importantly, we wantto make the experience of school a positive one byensuring a smooth transition from home to school,building social skills and good work habits.


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Daily Program(subject to change depending on school-wide activities/events)

9:00 to 9:30 Free Exploration

9:30 to 10:00 Morning Routine10:00 to 10:30 Snack10:30 to 11:00 Outdoor Play11:00 to 12:15 Journals & Center work (see explanation included in this book)

12:15 to 1:00 Sharing and Story Time1:00 Regular program ends and Day Care begins

Day Care

1:00 to 1:30 Hot lunch served inside classroom1:30 to 2:00 Quiet Time2:00 to 2:20 Outdoor Play2:20 to 3:15 Free Exploration3:15-3:30 Preparations to go home (students are escorted to buses by an

adult)


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Kindergarten ProgramFor ages 5 to 6

Kindergarten is a full day (9:00 to 3:30) serving children who turn 5 by December 31 of the

current year. The program offers Language Arts (pre-reading and writing), Math, Science, SocialStudies, Greek or Arabic, Music, Art, Computers, Library and PE. Class sizes are small, usually witha maximum of 20 students per class with an assistant.

Activities vary throughout the day and include listening to and reading unit related stories andinformation books, discussions, writing stories, cooking, performing science experiments, makinggraphs, artwork exploring many different media, dramatization, singing, music and movement.

In Kindergarten one letter of the alphabet is introduced each week. Throughout the year studentsdevelop reading and writing skills and learn basic math such as numeration, comparison, sorting,patterning and measurement.

Daily Program(Subject to change depending on school-wide activities/events)

9:00 to 9:30 Morning Routine9:30 to 10:45 Center Work(See detailed explanation included in this booklet)

10:45 to 11:30 Snack and outdoor playtime11:30 to 1:00 Free Exploration, continuation of morning activities

1:00-2:00 Hot lunch served inside classroom/Outdoor play follows2:00-3:15 Specials classes3:15-3:25 Pack-up

3:25 to 3:30 Student pick up and escorting to buses

Students must always be on timeas the school day begins 9:00 a.m.

sharp.

Parents must promptly pick up theirchild(ren) at 3:30 p.m.


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Supplies Needed for JK and Kindergarten

A backpack to hold Student Take-Home Folder (A4 Size), Passport, and Snack A small, nutritious snack to be eaten daily mid-morning. We suggest fruit, cheese, raw

vegetables, juice or a sandwich. Pleaseavoid sending high-sugar foods! Thesefoods have been found to impede learning.

Appropriate clothes for outdoor play during hot and cold weather Waterproof footwear for rainy days- It is important for children to play outside unless it is

actually raining. A change of clothes to be kept at school in case of emergency Please do NOT bring any toys to school as they may get lost or broken. P.E. attire (summer and winter set)

Appropriate Clothing for JK & Kindergarten Please dress your child for school in play clothes, as children will be working hard and

getting dirty in the process! Please labelyour childs clothing, bags and lunch boxes!

Getting Ready for the BIG DAY: JK and Kindergarten

ReadinessStarting school is an exciting time for both child and

parent as it marks the beginning of a very importantstage in a childs life. Before your child starts school,make sure he/she can:

Take care of his or her own toilet needs and isfully toilet trained

Get dressed by him or herself Express his or her needs to others

In order to ease any frustration or anxiety before schoolstarts, we also strongly urge parents to:

Label all your childs things (especially jackets, coats, hats, gloves and boots). Be cheerful and upbeat. The thought of your child going off to school may be tugging at

your heartstrings. If you have fears and anxieties of your own, try not to show them. Make sure your child has a good nights rest before each and every school day. Consider walking with your child on the first day to the classroom. Then, as difficult as it

may be, SAY GOODBYE and GO; dont procrastinate or you will make it harder on yourchild and yourself!

Students must always be on time as the school day begins 9:00 a.m. sharp.Parents must promptly pick up their child(ren) at 3:30 p.m.


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CentersCenter Work is a big part of the school day. Studentscirculate from Center to Center and perform a variety oftasks that increase in level of difficulty or challenge

throughout the school year. Some Centers are for freeexploration only and the student directs the activity.Teachers direct, facilitate and take notes while observingstudents in their Centers.

Reading Center

The Reading Center is a large carpeted area wheredemonstration and participation in literacy occurs duringshared reading time. It is also where students practicereading during free exploration and where, at the daysend, the class returns as a group to share and reflect onwhat they have done.

Big Books, poems, hanging word picture charts, graphics,chants and songs (all in enlarged print) are easilyaccessible in this area.

At this center, students acquire literacy appreciation and pre-reading skills. Puppets andpantomime are used for dramatization. Students learn to speak in complete sentences andsequence stories (practicing temporal relations). By sharing, students learn to express ideasclearly and build their self-confidence.

Math CenterMath is everywhere! Some of the supplies found atthis center include pattern blocks, Cuisinaire rods,Unifix cubes, Geoboards, beads for stringing,counters, math games and puzzles.

We build a strong foundation of basic mathematicalconcepts through the use of manipulatives and reallife contexts in the classroom (calendar, play, mathgames). Students natural ability to learn through

play is harnessed and literature is used to stimulatestructured play.

Students work with math manipulatives followingthe Math Their Way Program. The following topics are covered: sorting, pattern, number, basicaddition and subtraction, measurement, volume, time, introduction to place value, according totheir developmental level. We emphasize understanding the basic concepts with concrete objectsfirst and only then move on to teaching the mathematical symbol system. Much learning in mathoccurs hands-on and, as a result, worksheets are uncommon. The teacher keeps anecdotalrecords of student progress in math.


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Writing Center

This center is equipped with writing journals and writingsupplies; some of the supplies found at this center includedry-erase boards, lined and unlined paper, pencils,

crayons, clay, and the alphabet in upper and lower caseletters. Wooden magnetic and plastic letters and copies ofthe alphabet are also available.

Students are encouraged to write from the beginning bydrawing their stories, adding more details to elaboratetheir ideas and communicate more effectively. Studentsregularly experiment with letters and sounds and read orcopy some familiar sight words.

Students draw pictures and write (from scribble to random lettering to inventive spelling)

according to their developmental level.

The teachers work with the student to scribe his/her stories. As appropriate, children areencouraged individually to develop their ideas, add more detail to their pictures, experiment withwriting or use the alphabet chart to relate letter sounds to symbols.

Students need to learn the letter sounds and letter symbols to crack the reading/writing code.Teachers provide daily opportunities for them to have a go at writing themselves. In this way,they actively think through how to encode their own message in writing and with continualpractice get better at it. Copying takes the initiative away from the child and is just passivehandwriting practice.

Art Center

The Art Center is both an important and fun centerfor students! Students are encouraged to dabblewith a variety of supplies. Some of the suppliesfound at this center include: tempera paints, glue,crayons, markers, pastels, scissors, chalk, fingerpaint, plasticene, paper, fabricjust to mention afew. This is one of our most popular centers andstudents are given the opportunity to express

themselves through a variety of materials andprocesses throughout the day.

Students are encouraged to look carefully at realobjects and notice patterns and shapes to help them draw for themselves. Different media andtechniques are introduced over the year. Students are taught to care for materials themselves. Atthis age the process of making something is often more important than the final product.Experimentation is encouraged. Kindergarten students additionally attend art classes twice a weekwith an art specialist.


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Block Center

The Block Center provides students with opportunities to create, cooperate and communicate. Itis designed to allow students to develop coordination, refine motor skills and balance, discover the

properties of blocks, develop math concepts (number, size, shape, space and weight), sharematerials with others, use imagination and creativity, and work together to form something biggerthan they could have created alone. It involves the whole child as it develops the physical,intellectual and social aspects of a child.

Music

Music allows children to creatively express themselves and

develop themselves musically. Language is learned throughrhyme and song. Gross motor skills are developed throughdance and movement. Music also gives students theopportunity to develop their listening and memorization skills.The Kindergarten students additionally attend music classtwice a week with the music teacher.

Cooking Center

We also have a Cooking Center! At this center, students have theopportunity to explore concepts in Math and Science and todevelop their oral language, fine motor skills, and to indulge the

senses, naturally.

Students learn about nutrition, measurement and sequencingwhile following a step-by-step process and developingindependence. Emergent reading skills are practiced by readingthrough recipes and students practice counting and recognizingnumerals.

Dramatic Play Center

An essential learning element in the Early Childhood Center

is play. This center includes a housekeeping area, dolls anddollhouse, puppets, cars and trucks, building blocks,farmhouse and animals. This area is used for free play,cooperative learning, and dramatic play.

Play serves an important function in the cognitive, creative,language, social and physical development of young children(Saracho, 1986). Furthermore, while engaging in some formof play, children learn about problem solving, taking turns,responsibility and caring for materials, negotiating roles, role playing, sharing and developingconcentration.


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Library

Students visit the library once a week as we know how quickly they can zoom through thosebooks! Under our geometric dome, the librarian reads stories based on the current unit taught inthe classroom. Students are allowed to check out books beginning in JK. The Library is open from

8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. daily. As the Library is fully automated, books may be found using theOPAC system found on the desktop of the Library computers and on the website.

Kindergarten Specials (Art, Music, Physical Education,

Computers, Foreign Language & Library)

ACS Athens has subject area specialists who are resources and serve Kindergarteners. Studentsgo to art, computers, music, physical education (P.E.) and foreign language. Greek language isoffered for native and non-native speakers, whereas Arabic is offered for native speakers.

Student Expectations

Attendance

Regular attendance at school is a key element of academic success. Parents are asked to planoutside activities (dental appointments, family trips, etc.) around the school schedule andcalendar. Students are expected to arrive at school punctually as classes start from 9:00 a.m. to3:30 p.m. daily.

Tardiness

We expect students to arrive on time to all of their classes, especially the morninghomeroom. Chronic tardiness sends the wrong message to children. Show theimportance of punctuality by making sure your child arrives on time. If yourchild is late, please make sure he/she comes to the Main Office first to receivetheir late pass in order to go to their homeroom. If students miss more thantwo hours of school, they will be marked as a half day absence. Studentscoming to school late will be marked for unexcused tardiness.

Daily Absences

If a student is absent for the day or part of the day, call the Administrative Assistant in theElementary Office ext. 229 and state the reason for the absence. We will coordinate homework onan individual basis. Students may not be taken out of school without parent notification to theOffice. For absences of more than three days, a doctors note is also required. Absences due tohealth problems or family loss are considered excused absences. Mini trips or extended vacationare considered unexcused absences. Parents are responsible to communicate with the classroomteacher in order to pick up missed homework from the Office.

Extended Absences

An extended absence severely disrupts a students learning program. However we acknowledge

that extended absences are sometimes unavoidable. Please let us know well in advance of anyanticipated extended absences (five days or more) by writing a letter to the classroom teacher and


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a copy given to the Principal. If a family decides to take additional vacation time, homework is notthe responsibility of the teacher to prepare in advance. Please be aware that extended absencescould prevent us from making a proper assessment or anyassessment on your childs report card.Many of the homework assignments require the students presence for completion and, thus, willhave to be modified due to missed class time. If a child has accumulated a large number of

absences, the Principal reserves the right not to promote him/her to the next grade level.

Early Dismissal from School

A student who must leave school early for a legitimate reason must have a parent note given tothe classroom teacher and be picked up from the office by a parent or guardian.

Emergency Drills

Evacuation drills are conducted regularly and haveundergone a review by the Regional Security Office of the

U.S. Embassy. Students are taught to leave the buildingsquickly and safely for any type of campus emergency.Students are expected to:

Be familiar with exit route Respond quickly, cooperate and give attention to

their teacher or supervisor

Walk quickly and silently Stay in formation to the left and right sides of the

corridor and staircase as they proceed to the exit

Remain clear of the building as directed by teacher or supervisor Remain quiet once outdoors and cooperate fully with attendance taking procedures

It is imperative that we have your current address and phone number/s (including cell phones)plus the number of someone else to reach, on file, in case of an emergency. If any of yournumbers (home, work, emergency) change, please alert us immediatelythrough your childsPassport or call the Main Office.


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Discipline ProceduresAt ACS Athens we guide children to make appropriate choices. Wefollow the 1-2-3 Magic student self-control program. Thisprogram can make discipline in the classroom or at home less

difficult by cutting down on the talking in the discipline process,putting students in charge of their behavior and self-control andmaking the discipline process fair and easy to understand for all ofthe children in the class.

The following guidelines are used:

The classroom rules are explained to the students clearlyso that they are all aware of the expectations from thestart.

It is emphasized that students are now old enough to takeresponsibility for their own behaviors and that we will all be working on self-control withthis new program.

It is explained to students that we all lose self-control and forget the rules from time totime and that instead of getting angry about this, we are going to take 5-minute breaksfrom the group to think about our behavior and try to remember what we should be doing.

If a student is not following the rules, the teacher will say,Student Name, thats a 1. Areminder of what rule to follow may be given at this time, but talking should be kept to aminimum. Students are learning how to be responsible for learning and remembering the

rules themselves.

If the student continues to have problems, the teacher should say again, Students Name,thats a 2. If the student argues, they should be given a 3 immediately and asked to takea 5-minute break. Also, it may not be necessary to say the students name or to say thenumber aloud. A gesture that the student understands clearly is better than any verbaldistraction.

If poor behavior continues, the student is given a 3 and asked to take a 5-minute break.The student then goes on his/her own to the chair or a designated area and turns the sandtimer over. When the timer is finished, the student rejoins the group without discussion ofthe problem or distracting the others.

A meeting later takes place with the student and teacher where they discuss appropriatechoices that need to be made.


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Dress Code

Cleanliness, appropriate grooming, and proper dress are important in promoting a positiveatmosphere for school and social conduct. The standards of dress for school should reflect properhygiene.

Students who come to school without proper attention toward personal cleanliness orappropriateness of dress may be sent home to be properly prepared for school.

A dress code is also required for P.E. classes. The P.E. attire includes sports shoes and a P.E.outfit (a winter and a summer set) worn on the days of P.E. Keep in mind that students will begraded on their readiness for P.E. classes.

There will be times when students will be asked to dress for an occasion such as a field trip or aspecial day at school. Students should plan to wear special clothing (dresses/skirts for girls, ties orbutton-down shirts for boys) to the Winter Concert, Spring Concert and Graduation (Fifth Grade).

Parents should be sure all clothing and items worn or brought to school are labeled with the childsname. Please check our Lost & Found periodically located in the cafeteria. We dont have enoughspace for Jacket Mountains! Unclaimed clothing is given to charity throughout the school year.

Support Services

Optimal Match

The Optimal Match (OM) program provides students an equal opportunityat excelling in the classroom by providing individualized and small group

instruction that supplements various learning styles. The process beginswith the student being referred by the classroom teacher or parent. TheChild Study Team consists of the Elementary School Principal, the JK-12Counseling-Psychologist, the Elementary School Counselor, and the OMspecialist/supervisor. The team works together to determine a programthat would be most beneficial to meeting the students needs. Admissionto OM is based on program capacity and upon the receipt of currentpsycho-educational testing.

A full battery of psycho-educational assessments, which are administered by non-school-basedpsychologists, must be completed prior to enrollment in the OM program. Based on their findings

and subsequent report, standards are set according to the individual needs of the referred student.Effective strategies are developed by the Optimal Match Specialist and are then shared with allteachers working with each particular student. Small group instruction and cooperative learningactivities are incorporated within the students curriculum in order to complement various learningabilities. Specific learning goals are delineated in each students Individual Learning Plan and areshared with teachers and parents.

The Optimal Match Specialist provides support and guidance to the classroom teachers in order toproperly support student abilities. Collaboration is established amongst the entire team andvaluable tactics are adopted to enable students to maintain success within the classroom. MonitorSheets are student assessments that are distributed to parents monthly to validate studentstrengths and to determine areas that need improving. Monitor sheets are not sent out for themonths report cards are issued. The Monitor Sheets are kept in the students confidential file. Thisinformation provides the program with evidence of student strengths and areas where additional


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assistance is needed in order for the student to excel in the classroom. It also provides an openvenue of communication between home and school.

OM Consultation

OM Consultation is determined on a case by case basis. Students that are placed in OM

Consultation are monitored by the OM Specialist and their classroom teachers. Students in theConsultation Program are observed in their classroom setting for twenty minutes each week, andthey receive monitor sheets. There are fees for enrollment in either the Optimal Match Program orthe OM Consultation.

Counseling Services

The Elementary School Counselor works with all students individually and in group settings to helpthem succeed in the Elementary School emotionally, socially and cognitively. The Counselor worksclosely with teachers and parents to resolve any issues students may be faced with. TheCounselor provides yearly school-wide psycho-educational programs for grades JK-5 on various

topics. Some of these topics include the Wellness (Anti-Drug) and the Anti-Bullying Programs.The Counselor also provides classroom interventions on a needs basis (i.e. communication skills,respect of ones privacy, stress, conflict resolution, etc.)

In addition the Counselor invites parents to discuss a variety of child development issues once amonth (every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 9:15-10:00 a.m.). Parents may contact theCounselor Ms. Alessandra Sax-Lane at 210.6070-266.

ESAS and Institute for Innovation and Creativity

(The Elementary Sports After School Program and Elementary School Arts Academy)

ACS Athens Elementary believes that participation in a co-curricular activity is important to astudents development.The ESAS and Arts Academy programs are primarily run by teachers or other professionals.Participating students are asked to make a donation. Parents provide their own transportation.Classes typically run once a week from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. We strongly encourage all ACS Athensstudents to get involved. Many of the programs culminate with an exciting exhibition of somekind. If there is an activity you would like to suggest or lead, please let us know!

All ESAS information will be made available on our website at the beginning of each semester.Registration will be made available online. For more information call the Athletic Office at

210.607.0327.

A sample of past ESAS activities offered at ACS Athens:

Soccer Swimming (Various Levels) Tennis

A Sample of Past Arts Academy Activities Offered at ACS Athens:

Ballet


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Art Extended Day Care

For more information contact the Institute for Innovation & Creativity Office at 210.6070.200.

The House System

The House System was started at ACS in 1950 and established in the Elementary School in 2007. All students, faculty, and staff areassigned to one of four houses as a life-

time member; Athenian (green),Corinthian (red), Spartan (blue), orTrojan (yellow). It is a concept meant to

bond teachers and students, encourage school spirit and build a strong sense of belonging to our

school. It is also meant to create a sense of continuity and permanence for our graduates.

Health Services

The health and safety of your child at school is of utmost concern. A registered full time nurseand an aide for after school activities on campus administer emergency first aidtreatments and care for sudden illnesses. In addition, several elementary staff membersincluding the PE Teacher are trained and certified in CPR/First Aid.

The nurse also conducts regular vision and lice checks and maintains a health recordfor every student. If the child needs to be taken home, the nurse will call you directly.

If the student is severely injured and we cannot reach anyone at home, the student will be takendirectly to the nearest hospital for proper treatment. Ms. Mary Papalanis, the School Nurse, canbe reached at: 210 6070-217.

All students are required to have a physical examination by their family physician within thirty (30)days of their enrollment which must be updated yearly. Any students who do not have theirphysical examination completed will not be allowed to participate in physical education classes orattend school field trips.

Please note the following: Prescription medication will notbe administered by the Health Office tostudents of any age unless the medication is provided by the parent and accompanied by a notewhich clearly states the dosage and time the drug should be given as well as the reason it was

ordered. Non-prescription medication may be administered to JK-5th grade students onlywhenparent consent has been obtained by phone on each occasion.

A child recovering from an illness should not return to school until she/he is well enough toparticipate in the full, regular school day, including recess, lunch and PE classes. Students mustbe fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to school.Students cannot attend any ESAS activities including swimming without an updated physicalexamination form.


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TransportationBus services are contracted by ACS Athens parents and cover virtually theentire Athens area. Students are transported by professional drivers andare supervised on the bus by a monitor. Bus monitors regularly

communicate and collaborate with the building principals regardingdiscipline issues.Ms. Leta Meleki, Head of Transportation, can be reached at 210.607.0239.

Bus Procedures:

Students must be at the assigned stop at thescheduled boarding time.

Students must disembark only at the scheduled

stop.

If a student wishes to take a bus other than the onenormally assigned, or get off at a stop other thanthe one normally assigned, a written parent requestmust be submitted to the transportation office forapproval 24 hours in advance and presented to themonitor before boarding. Permission to ride on adifferent bus will be granted only if space isavailable.

Change of address resulting in a change of route orbus stop should be presented to the transportationoffice in writing two days prior to the change.

Failure or considerable delay of the bus in arriving at the scheduled pick-up point entitles studentsto secure alternate transportations to the school. The Transportation Officer will makereimbursement of any costs incurred.

Concerns regarding the bus monitor or driver must be registered with the Transportation Officer.

Bus monitors reserve the right to assign students to a specific seat and all passengers mustcomply with these directions.

Students are expected to follow the Bus Code of Conduct to ensure a safe ride for everyone.

Consequences are clearly spelled out for students. Please review the transportation code ofconduct, talk with your child about these rules, and let transportation know if there is a concern orproblem. Making sure your students are feeling safe and happy during their commute is importantto us. Should students not follow the Bus Code of Conduct, they will first be given a warning fromthe Principal. If the behavior is repeated a second time, they will be asked not to ride the bus fora week. If the behavior is repeated for a third time, they will not be allowed to ride the bus forthe month. Finally, if the behavior is repeated for a fourth time, they will not be allowed to ridethe bus for the remainder of the school year. Students safety is a serious issue.


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There are no after-school activity buses (ESAS or Elementary School Arts Academy) for elementarystudents. Parents must provide transportation after school on these days. Students need to bepicked up at 5:00 p.m.

Bus Code of Conduct:

Students must follow the directions of the bus monitors, adults and drivers at all times. No eating, drinking or smoking is allowed. Students must be quiet and seated in their assigned seat at all times. Respectful language must be used at all times. No weapons/toy weapons or incendiary devices are allowed at any time.

Special TraditionsIn addition to our curriculum activities, the Elementary School enjoys its own special traditions.Parent volunteers are essential to the success of these events. If you would like to assist with any

one of these traditional events, or others, contact the classroom teacher. Please understand thatsome of these events are subject to change.

September

Opening Assembly Back To School NightOctober

Picture Days Parent Teacher Conferences PTO Halloween Carnival / Pumpkin PatchNovember

Thanksgiving HolidayDecember

Winter Concert Report Cards


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February

100th Day CelebrationMarch

Report Cards/Parent-Teacher Conferences Greek Independence Day CelebrationApril

Poetry Break Taverna DayMay

JK/KG Field Day Spring Concert Student-Led Conferences Student Art Show Spring FairJune

Kindergarten Graduation Volunteer Reception Report Cards


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Role of ParentsDue to the rigor of our program, parentsneed to take an active role in guidingschoolwork and organizational skills.

Besides creating a quiet study area,parents can help to foster a positiveacademic attitude by engaging theirchildren in dinner discussions aboutwhat transpired during the days classes.Having resource materials handy, suchas a dictionary, thesaurus, internetconnection etc., and limiting T.V.viewing and non-academic computer usecan also help.

Encourage your children to read forpleasure. Take time to share responses to books and articles you have read in common. TheHome/School Connection is a vital one as it sends a clear message to students that we are allworking together for their success. In short, we need to be on the same team. If you haveconcerns or questions, go to the teacher and talk with him or her first.

Should there be any further concerns after consulting with the teacher, the chain ofcommunication is as follows: Division Chair/ Coordinator, Principal and, finally, President of ACSAthens.

There are many volunteer opportunities at the Elementary School. Some are assisting in the

library or art room, sewing costumes or building sets for grade level plays, taking photos for theYearbook, being a guest speaker, helping with Bake Sales, ad infinitum! We welcome you to ourschool as a volunteer. Please contact your childs teacher or call the Main Office if you would liketo volunteer in any area.

PTO

ACS Athens has an active and enthusiastic Parent/TeacherOrganization. A combined PTO serving all three schools meet monthlyafter the Principals Coffee and work collaboratively to support therespective schools. There are representatives who serve each school.The PTO organizes social activities for the families at ACS Athens,

parent and staff functions, fund-raising events and informational programs. All parents are askedto get involved with the PTO in some capacity and attend monthly meetings. Big PTO Eventsinclude: Welcome Back Barbeque, Halloween Carnival, Christmas Bazaar, Spring Fair and CampusBeautification. Please get involved!

Room Parents

Each grade level has one or two parents that act as room parents and work closely with theclassroom teacher to arrange various celebrations in the Elementary School throughout the year.In case of school cancellation, the room parents will be contacted by the pertinent teacher and willbe asked to assist in notifying parents according to an existing phone tree.


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Parents Supporting Athletics Boosters

An active group of parents, the PSA, help raise money and encourage participation JK12 inathletic events and programs. Please contact the Athletic Office for more information.

Personal Property

The school cannot assume responsibility for the loss of personal property, and the school does notcarry insurance to cover the loss of student property. To avoid the possibility of loss, studentsshould not bring expensive jewelry, large sums of money, radios, CD players, iPods or othervaluable or personal objects to school.

Lost & Found

Label, label, label!!! And when this fails, check the Lost & Found located inthe multi-purpose room (adjacent to the cafeteria) for items that are missing.

We will set up a Lost & Found table during Winter Break, the Parent/TeacherConferences and at the end of the school year. Unclaimed items are given toa charity. Expensive toys, electronics, and valuable items in general shouldnot be brought to school.

Vehicles of Communication

Report Cards

Report cards are posted on Family Access three times a year at the end of each trimester. Parentscan view their childs report card on line by entering the Skyward Family Access Report Cardprogram.

ACS Athens will report on each students achievement and progress at the conclusion of each 60-day trimester.

A student must be enrolled at least five weeks in order to receive a complete report card.If a child demonstrates achievement or behavior that would result in a 1 rating (Not MeetingStandards: Is not yet demonstrating expected skills and knowledge) parents should expect to beinformed. In this way parents are informed and invited to anintervention process for their child.In the event a child leaves ACS Athens prior to the last day of school, the final report card may bemailed to the family on the last day of school. Parents should provide the school an address of the

new school.

Conferences

Conferences are scheduled three times per year; Parent/Teacher Conferences in the fall,Parent/Teacher Conferences As Neededin the spring, and Student-Led Conferences in thespring. We consider the Parent/Teacher Conference the most important means of reportingstudent progress and sharing information about your childs successes and challenges in school.We also encourage you to arrange for a conference at any time throughout the year to gathermore information about your childs learning experience and find out ways you may be able tohelp at home. Please make arrangements with the teachers in advance via the student Passport.


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Student-Led Conferences

ACS Athens is excited to have student-led conferences during the spring. Student-led conferenceshave been used at many state-of-the-art schools. Students and teachers jointly select finishedwork to be shared, and the students direct the conference by sharing his/her Portfolio with his/her

parents. Both the student and the parent reflect upon the successes achieved and challengesahead. Students take ownership of their academic progress while parents dialogue with their childabout schoolwork and assessment.

Passports

Each student Grades JK to 5 is issued a Passport at the beginning of the school year. Students areexpected to write down assignments and organize their homework in these notebooks DAILY.Teachers will often write special messages for parents in the Passports and parents areencouraged to use the Passport to communicate with the teacher. We also use Passports tomotivate students and ask that you do the same. Students must bring their Passports to and fromschool DAILY. Parents are expected to sign the passport should a message be written from the

teacher so that we know they have seen it. Replacement Passports will be issued for 5 Euro(subject to change depending on current prices) available at the Main Office.

Elementary Newsletter

Three times a year the entire school community JK to 5 publishes The Muse, a newsletter forparents which apart from the hard copy distributed to students, is posted on our website. ThePrincipal and teachers share highlights from the school and explain what is happening in eachgrade level.

Principals CoffeeParents are welcome to join the Elementary Principal and Counselor for amonthly coffee meeting. Our Principals Coffee serves the purpose ofcommunicating upcoming events and happenings in our Elementary School.The agenda for that day is posted in our webpage for parents to view.Educational innovations are discussed, recent developments school-wide areintroduced and upcoming calendar events are explained. Principal Coffees areanother form of communication at ACS Athens. Teachers sometimes conductlessons, as well, for parents. Its a wonderful way to meet other parents. Joinus!

Website

The ACS Athens websitewww.acs.grcan be accessed by parents and students. Under theelementary section you will be able to find the following: Principal s Corner, Faculty and Staff,School Supply Lists, Early Childhood Booklet (JK-K), Student Parent Handbook (1-5), Class ReadingLists, Report Card Legend, Lunch Menu/Costs, School Calendar, Muse Newsletter, Blue and Gold,Photo Gallery and After School Program Links. Should there be an announcement for schoolcancellation, for whatever reason, it will be posted on our website and/or emails will be sent toparents notifying them of the closing of school.

Telephone
http://www.acs.gr/http://www.acs.gr/http://www.acs.gr/http://www.acs.gr/


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The phone is a quick and personal way of getting in touch with a teacheror staff member. Call the Elementary School Administrative Assistant at210-6070-229 to leave a message. The teacher or staff member willreturn your call as soon as they are able to do so. Please remember thata teachers day is quite full and may extend into the evening. Therefore,

it may take a day to get back to you.

School Activities

School Photos

A photographer comes to the school every fall to photograph students individually and with theirclass. Parents may choose to purchase the photo package, but there is no obligation to do so. Seethe Elementary School Administrative Secretary atthe Main Office for more information. We

sometimes have volunteers throughout the year taking publicity shots for school. You may seethem in the annual Yearbook!

Field Trips

During the school year, field trips are scheduled which relate to specific subject matter studied ateach grade level. We consider the field trips to be a crucial element of our curriculum. Field tripsextend the classroom studies allowing students to collect data and apply and connect learning tothe real world. We expect all students to attend. There are usually two field trips a year for eachgrade.

No child is permitted to take a trip without parental permission (given via a permission slip prior to

the trip). Students are expected to exhibit good behavior as representatives of ACS AthensElementary School. If the teachers and Principal feel that a students behavior and/or decision-making is questionable, we reserve the right to have him/her remain at school during the trip.


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Enrollment

Admission/Registration

Please see Student Admission Policy atwww.acs.gr for detailed information or contact

Mr. John Papadakis, Director of Enrollment Management at 210.6070-263 [email protected].

Junior Kindergarten students mustbe three or four years old on or before December 31st of theyear they register at ACS Athens. No exceptions will be made. Junior Kindergarten is a two yearprogram.

Kindergarten students mustbe five years old on or before December 31st of the year they enterschool. No exceptions are made.

Parents applying for admission, must first make an appointment to meet with Mr. John Papadakis,

Director of Enrollment Management at 210-6070-263. The school carefully reviews the studentsacademic history/portfolio (K to Fifth Grade only) and conducts an assessment and interviewbefore acceptance into the program (JK to Fifth Grade). Parents should bring student reportcard/s and records, samples of student work, if available, passport/s and/or birth certificate, and aresidence permit with them when registering their child(ren).

Transfers From Our School

Given the transient nature of many of our families, it occasionally becomes necessary for a studentto withdraw from school during the year. If your child is moving to another school please let usknow at least one week in advance so that we can efficiently collect and prepare needed transfermaterials. Records will be mailed if the request is immediate and urgent. A forwarding addresswill be requested in either case. The receiving school will receive student report card/s andrecords.

If there is anything else we could provide to ensure proper placement and success for your child,please let us know.

To find out more about our Early Childhood Program,or to schedule a visit, please call Mr. John Papadakis,

Director of Enrollment Managementat 210-6070263

For updated information on ACS Athens,check our Website at www.acs.gr

[email protected]
http://www.acs.gr/http://www.acs.gr/http://www.acs.gr/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.acs.gr/


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129 Aghias Paraskevis St. & Kazantzaki, 152 34 Halandri,

Athens, Greece

Tel.: +30 (210) 639 3200, Fax: +30 (210) 639 0051

www.acs.gr [email protected]

Early Childhood Booklet 2011-12

Documents

Transcript of Early Childhood Booklet 2011-12