Parent/Student Handbook

Virtually every five-year-old comes to school eager to learn. The mission of Quality Schools International (QSI) is to keep this urge to learn alive in every child in QSI schools. Our schools are established to provide in the English language a quality education for students in the cities we serve. These students are the children of parents of many nationalities who have come to a foreign country, usually for a limited stay of a year or more. Some students are permanent residents, citizens of the host country.

Our schools follow a logical model of education, which measures success by the accomplishments, and attitudes of our students. We believe that all of our students can succeed, that their successes encourage them to continue in a pattern of success, and that it is the schools’ responsibility to provide the conditions for success. These conditions include i) developing clear statements in measurable terms of what the student will do to demonstrate mastery of learning, ii) providing the time and resources needed for each student to attain mastery, and iii) ensuring that students engage in learning at a level which is challenging and yet a level for which each student has the prerequisite skills necessary for success.

We believe in providing an aesthetically pleasing and safe physical surrounding under the charge of a caring staff who believe their students will be successful, and who use time with the students as a resource for learning rather than as a boundary condition to determine when a unit of learning begins and ends. We believe in providing resources such as books, learning materials, and educational technology. In the world today children need to become proficient in the use of computers and related technology as tools to accomplish a myriad of tasks.

Finally, we believe in working with parents to encourage our students to adopt qualities of living which lead to success long after formal schooling has ended. These include universally accepted "success orientations" of trustworthiness, kindness/politeness, responsibility, independent endeavor, concern for others, group interaction, and aesthetic appreciation.

WE EXPECT OUR ADMINISTRATORS

·         To create a safe, positive environment for teachers, parents, and students.

·         To be flexible, helpful, and provide support when meeting with parents in conferences.

·         To be available, willing, and able to provide support to all faculty members.

·         To provide support by visiting the classrooms and giving helpful feedback.

·         To support and facilitate teaching and learning.

·         To follow the proper channels when communicating.

 

WE EXPECT OUR TEACHERS

·         To be dedicated professionals who are planned and prepared to teach.

·         To cooperate and be willing to work toward a common goal.

·         To positively and cooperatively take on responsibilities beyond the classroom in support of extra-curricular and school-wide initiatives, considering them as integral to the success of the school.

·         To be flexible, responsible, cooperative, and supportive.

·         To be aware of what makes each child unique and take that into account in their instruction.

·         To be aware of individual faculty member's talents/abilities/resources and to share those talents/abilities/resources by assisting other teachers in appropriate units.

·         To respect colleagues and children.

·         To follow the proper channels when communicating.

·         To be helpful and kind.

 

WE EXPECT OUR STUDENTS

·         To be respectful of staff and each other.

·         To have a readiness to learn and a positive attitude toward learning in the face of academic challenges.

·         To be cooperative with others, responsible for their own behavior and supportive of the school and the school community.

·         To give their full attention to each school day and commit to being successful students.

 

WE EXPECT OUR PARENTS

·         To be responsible, cooperative, and supportive.

·         To follow the proper channels when communicating.

·         To help their children come prepared for each school day.

If there is evidence that a student is successful in the success orientations for the quintile, the student will be awarded an (S), which denotes ‘success’. A student who demonstrates noteworthy or exemplary positive behavior in a success orientation will receive an (E). A student who is not yet successful in a success orientation will receive an (N), which denotes ‘not yet’. The evaluation given for each student will be reached by a consensus of professional staff members.  Students receiving an (N) will have their parents notified by a teacher before the status report is sent home.

Each learning area or subject is broken up into essential units (outcomes). Teachers provide a program of instruction for each of these essential units. Teachers evaluate each student for mastery of the concepts and skills. A variety of evaluation tools are used including written tests, projects, direct observation, and student activities. Students who do not completely master an essential unit are given additional instruction directed at a variety of learning styles to effect students’ progress toward mastery. The process of re-teaching and evaluation continues until the essential unit is mastered within a modified grading period.

More info: https://www.qsi.org/why-qsi/mastery-learning

The MAP placement examination is given to 6-year-old and older applicants to determine the appropriate placement. The assessment involves reading, language usage, and mathematics. School administration and parents will also discuss the academic, social, emotional, and physical development of the child. Children ages 3-11 will be placed in their age-appropriate class. Screening will be carried out by the classroom teacher. 

QSI screens incoming students using the online MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) for 5 YO and older.  Twice a year all students from the 5 YO class to Secondary IV also participate in the online testing. Students are tested in Reading, Language usage and Math.

The administration will review the scores with parents and explain the meaning of the tests at a parent meeting. Scores will also be kept as part of the students’ permanent records in the office. These scores will be included in the records when students move.

The SAT will be administered digitally in 2023.  

The language of instruction at QSI is English. QSI may provide Intensive English (I.E.) classes for elementary school students.

The principal goal of Intensive English is to bring students to a level of academic English, including oral competency, which allows them to transfer to mainstream classes.

While the staff can help with learning difficulties, QSI does not have the resources or programs to support students with significant learning disabilities or physical challenges. Any educational, emotional, or physical needs must be noted in the application form. Parents must provide any available academic or psychological evaluations and reports of extra academic support.

The goals of the activities program are to provide students the opportunity to explore a variety of areas outside the academic curriculum offered during the regular school day.

Activities are offered each quintile, lasting for approximately five weeks per session, and take place on, Monday through Friday. Middle and Secondary students may also have afterschool activities. Activities are designed to appeal to students of different age groups. The students must pay for additional costs of some activities.

QSIP recognizes the value of out-of-classroom experiences that enhance curricular objectives. School sponsored trips must be approved by school administration. Consideration will be given to security, safety, and the educational value of off-campus trips, as well as cost to the school and to the families. Students are required to have parental permission to attend field trips or excursions.

If the student represents QSIP in functions which take them away from the school site (CEESA sports, or Model United Nations, etc.), they are required to meet certain standards of scholarship and behavior. With this in mind, the school has the right to select those students who will benefit from out-of-school excursions and who best represent the school.

The director may deny a student the privilege of participating in a field trip or sport trip on the basis of the past behavior. Students who have one or more (D) grades in any of their classes may not participate.

Teachers who lead field trips or sports trips are responsible for fulfilling the following requirements:

• Make all transportation bookings through the business office
• Make all hotel reservations and/or CEESA Host Family arrangements and leave a detailed list of addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.
• Collect fees, expense money, and pay expenses through the business office before the trip
• Collect students’ passports and keep them in teacher possession
• Carry an appropriate amount of “emergency” funds

 You can expect the following from QSIP staff before a field trip is taken:

• All student permission slips are turned in and signed.
• Before trips, the list of participants is shared with the office who informs the leader about participants with special health conditions.
• Two or more adults accompany trips so one can stay with the group while another goes with an ill or injured student. If several vehicles are used, there must be at least one adult in each vehicle in addition to the driver.
• A 10:1 student / adult ratio will be adhered to.
• A mobile phone is carried to contact the office, hospital, and parents in case of emergency. The teacher will inform parents of their phone number on the permission slip.
• A first aid kit is carried.
• On extended trips, a copy of family health insurance cards, family contact numbers, and school contact numbers are carried.
• Students going on trips must attend school the days/hours leading up to the trip and the days following their return.

Regular homework can provide additional practice of skills and concepts, assist students in preparing for tests, exams, and other assessments, and act as an extension of what is studied in the classroom. It helps students establish study routines, self-discipline, responsibility, independence, research skills and good work habits such as organization and time management. It also gives parents an opportunity to be informed about and participate in their child’s learning.

Examples of homework students will bring home are:

·        Completion of unfinished school assignments

·        Preparation for test or other assessments

·        Projects and research

·        Spelling, vocabulary, or word-list practice

·        Music practice or finishing art pieces

·        Mathematics practice

·        Reading for novel or book studies

Actual time required to complete assignments will vary with each student’s study habits, academic skills, course loads, and pacing. Contact the teacher if your child is spending an inordinate amount of time doing homework.  Teachers will make every effort to limit homework during holidays.

Questions concerning Academic Integrity at QSIP should be addressed in light of an action which “makes a student look more academically able than s/he actually is, by using another student’s or person’s work and representing it as his/her own.” The following statements address the questions regarding various academic situations and possible questions which students, faculty, parents, and administrators might raise for clarification. These comments are not intended to be exhaustive or cover all situations. They are intended as guidelines for working positively with each individual incident.

HOMEWORK:

Most homework assignments are given as learning experiences. To get help from others may be considered appropriate. However, copying another student’s assignments to make a teacher think that he/she has done the work is considered cheating.

 

Examples of homework activities which do not violate the Guidelines of Academic Integrity include:

·        working with another person on a cooperative study assignment when both names are affixed to the final submission for grade attribution

·        review of a question or problem by another person for the purpose of getting a suggestion of the process or strategy for solution—the solution, however, is entirely worked out by the student

·        work which is assigned and announced by the teacher as un-graded and on which the student works with another person or persons with the knowledge of the teacher

Examples of homework activities which do violate the Guidelines of Academic Integrity include, but are not limited to:

·        someone solving problems on an assignment for which the student will receive a grade

·        copying another’s work in whole or in part and turning it in to receive a grade

·        turning in someone else’s work as your own

·        allowing/encouraging someone else to copy all or part of a student’s work and claim it as their own

·        someone completing an assignment for a student, with that student claiming it as their work

TESTS and QUIZZES:

Obtaining unfair help with tests and/or quizzes is a violation of the QSIP Guidelines of Academic Integrity. The following are examples of unacceptable test behavior and are provided to give an idea of common mistakes: 

·        discussing (in detail) a test or quiz with a person who has already taken it

·        bringing hidden or digital notes or using those notes during a quiz or test (The mere possession of such cheat notes indicates intent to use them and as such would be considered a violation of the Guidelines of Academic Integrity)

·        using a calculator when it is not allowed

·        looking at another person’s work during a test or a quiz

·        talking to another person during a test or a quiz unless specifically permitted to do so by the teacher

·        allowing another person to look at your work during a test or a quiz

·        assisting another person during a test or quiz through noises or silent signals

·        possessing, in ANY form, a copy of the test or quiz before it is administered

·        doing another person’s quiz or test for them at their request, or the student’s initiative

PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism is defined as “to steal or pass off as one’s own, the ideas, writings, etc. of another.”

Examples of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:

·        copying specific ideas of an individual author or source; or copying large portions of exact words from any source without both giving proper citation and/or using quotation marks

·        paraphrasing (re-writing using different words) or summarizing (completely re-writing a passage or section) another person’s unique and non-common-knowledge ideas found in any source, without giving proper citation

·        downloading or purchasing papers, copying, and pasting information from the Internet or electronic sources

·        copying and pasting from any source without citation

·        intentionally making other people’s ideas appear to be your own by any means

 

Because all violations of Academic Integrity strike at the very core of the nature of the school, the response to plagiarism and cheating is severe, including the possibility of redoing all outcomes of that unit or course. It may also result in suspension or expulsion from the school.

A specially recommended student may request a practical work opportunity in the library, a laboratory, a classroom, or another work situation. Work Opportunities are scheduled for less than a full school year, i.e., a quintile or a term, but a supervisor may extend the length of a Work Opportunity. Work Opportunities are not offered for credit or money, but the supervising teacher will assess the student’s experience in the Comments section of the Status Report.

A request for a secondary summer course through the QSI Virtual School will be considered in special circumstances. Parents will be required to pay for any approved summer coursework. Registration will be local. A monitor must be designated to proctor examinations.

Secondary students are expected to have a full schedule. Students who have AP courses, especially multiple AP courses, may have one study period due to the additional requirements of the workload. Online Students will have an assigned study period to prepare course work, meet with their monitors, and take proctored tests.

Open Units

·        Units marked with a “P” are open and in progress. If a student is not able to show mastery of the unit after the standard assessment period, the teacher may keep the unit open for a modified grading period.

·        If a student has not completed a unit by the end of the following unit, the prior unit is put on hold.

·        Units on hold can be reopened later in the school year if/when the student is ready to show mastery.

Returning to work

·        If a student shows a deficiency in effort and is not doing their due diligence in actively working towards mastery, they may receive a D grade for the unit.

·        If a student has a D and they begin actively working on the unit (returning to an acceptable work pattern), then the D becomes a P. Teachers define an acceptable work pattern.

·        A contract (or D letter) between the teacher and the student with completion dates will play a large part in resolving the issue.

There is a concern that a student might oscillate between a D and a P too often. If the unit timeline is in place, and the school is communicating with all those involved, that should not be the case.

Upgrading

·        A student has the opportunity to upgrade from a B to an A until the end of the following unit. It is the teacher’s responsibility to provide the opportunity.

·        Students are allowed more than one attempt to upgrade, but at the teacher’s discretion, until the end of the following unit.

·        Criteria will be in place to determine if a student is ready to be reassessed.

·        At the teacher’s discretion, there might be only one opportunity to upgrade.

If a student receives a D on a unit, and still has a D by the end of the following unit, that D unit is put on hold (two units should not be open a time). The student is then eligible to participate in extracurricular activities. We will not prevent a student from participating for the remainder of the year if we close a unit to a student.

Essential Units Not Mastered at the End of the School Year by secondary students

All essential units must be mastered to get credit for a QSI course. If, at the end of the course, a student has not mastered three or more essential units, the course must be repeated in order to earn credit. No more than two essential units can be made up during the summer. A plan for improvement with a time limit will be written and approved by the director. If the plan is not successfully completed, the course must be repeated.

QSIP classroom teachers are generally recruited from abroad, usually speak English as their first language, and are certified in the area in which they are teaching. Specialists are generally hired locally, have university degrees, and speak English fluently. Support staff are hired locally and speak English fluently. All employees are trained in CPR and First Aid.

Professional development sessions play an essential role in honing teaching practices and inspiring innovation and creativity. 

All professional development will support the curriculum vision and school beliefs. Three professional development days are scheduled during the school year for teachers. Students do not attend school on these days. These professional development days do not affect the 180 days of scheduled classes.

The QSIP PSG (Parent Support Group) includes all parents, the administration, teachers and the QSIP community who wish to support the school. Room Parents are selected for each homeroom who act as a liaison between the school staff, the PSG, and the school community. PSG Room Parents are asked to assist in the organization of classroom activities and should communicate often with the classroom teacher.

“The goal of the Parent Support Group in QSI is to make the learning environment the best possible place for children. To achieve this goal, the PSG will:

·        Work to enhance communication among parents, as well as between parents and the school

·        Organize educational and social events for QSI students and/or the school community

·        Promote fund-raising events in order to purchase items or services the school might not easily obtain

·        Develop events that encourage student involvement and understanding of the local community or host country

To ensure the school is secure for your children the following procedures will be followed:

·        The school gates are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

·        All visitors to the campus will be required to sign in with the guard located at the front entrance and receive a visitor’s badge

·        The visitor must always wear a visitor’s badge while on campus

·        Upon leaving, the visitor will sign out with the guard and return the visitor’s badge

·        Any visitor to the campus after school hours will be required to sign in with the guard

·        Visitors will be signed in only if they have a specific purpose on campus

Security drills for students are run several times during the year.  Drills and procedures are in place for fire, earthquake, lockdown, and civil unrest. The entire school practices at least one drill each quintile.

 

Effective communication is essential to a school’s functioning.

In order to avoid misunderstanding, please voice your concerns directly with the individual(s) involved, before they are brought to the attention of the director.

Teachers are happy to address your questions and concerns, and welcome you to email them directly.

School and Classroom Newsletters/ Websites 

School and classroom newsletters are a tool for communication between home and school. You can expect to receive a weekly electronic communication, as well as a school newsletter posted on the website.

Teachers primarily use Teams (Microsoft 365) to post assignments, receive papers, and update students on projects.  Some teachers also use Class Dojo. All teachers use email and can be reached directly with any questions.

School Website

QSIP’s school website address is https://papa.qsi.org/. The school community can find relevant school information, updated announcements, and news.

Back to School night: OPEN HOUSE

Prior to the first day of school, parents and students will be invited to attend an “Open House” evening where they will have the opportunity to meet the teachers and director, and receive an overview of the curriculum, programs, and activities that will occur during the year. Teachers will also send home a class schedule, along with other helpful and more detailed information to prepare students and families for the first week of school.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Conferences provide the opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss individual student growth and needs. Parent conferences will be scheduled twice a year. First conferences will be organized in October, after the first quintile is complete. Teachers will also meet with parents for conferences after the third quintile. Every effort is made to coordinate sibling conference times. Parents or teachers may also request a conference at any time during the year.

Contacting Teachers

Teachers are happy to address your questions and concerns and welcome you to email them directly. Email addresses are the teacher’s first name and last name connected by a hyphen, followed by @papa.qsi.org firstname-lastname@papa.qsi.org

When a problem occurs that concerns your son or daughter’s work in school, the best person to contact is the classroom teacher. An appointment to meet with the teacher can be made by contacting that teacher, or by contacting the administrative assistant to request an appointment (marcell-csizmadia@papa.qsi.org).

Students are permitted to leave early only at the request of the parents. A parent’s verbal or written notification must be received by the office before a child is allowed to leave school. Every student who has authorized permission to leave early must check-out with the office prior to departure. If a student needs to be excused from school during the day, for any reason, the following procedures are to be used:

·        A signed request or email by the parent should be sent to the main office.

·        No child will be released to anyone other than parent, guardian, or authorized personnel, delegated with legal authority over the child.

·        Students may not go home with anyone else unless the office has received written or verbal permission from their parent/guardian.

5.1.1 FAMILY VACATIONS/absences

As you plan your family trips, please make every attempt for them to coincide with the school calendar. Please notify the school well in advance of travel plans. It is expected that schoolwork missed while on a trip will be made up as soon as possible following the child's return if the absence is excused. If a student will be absent from school for an extended amount of time, the teacher is not expected to prepare weeks’ worth of student work in advance. If an elementary student is absent and misses an entire unit of study, the student will not receive credit for the missed unit. Make up work does not substitute for the experiences and activities inside the classroom. Any standardized testing missed during a family holiday will not be made up.

QSIP is a closed campus, which means that students may not leave the campus without permission from the office. A closed campus also means visitors and non-students must check through the school office before being allowed to visit the school. For safety reasons, we must know who is always on campus.

Anyone wishing to visit a classroom should make their request to the school’s office at least one day in advance. We do invite parents to be involved with their child’s education, but we must protect the safe, nurturing learning environment of the classroom and refrain from causing unexpected disturbances. Due to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) restrictions, this opportunity is limited. Parent volunteers can be coordinated either through the Room Parent or directly through the classroom teacher.

If your child is not feeling well before he/she leaves for school, it is important to keep him/her home. This not only allows your child to rest and get healthy, but also protects the entire school community from also getting sick. Please notify the office (marcell-csizmadia@papa.qsi.org) if your child will be absent.

If a child becomes ill or has an injury during school hours, the student will be escorted to the office (if possible). Trained personnel will evaluate the student, and phone the child’s parents if the child should go home. An incident form will be filled out to document care given, and the details of the incident. In some cases, parents may be asked to come pick their child up from school. The school faculty receives first-aid and CPR training yearly. 

Students unable to participate in Physical Education are expected to bring a written explanation from parents and a medical excuse in the case of a prolonged exception from physical activity. In the case of ongoing nonparticipation from PE, a student might be ineligible to receive credit.

Students need to bring their own bottle for water and should also bring a healthy snack, which can be eaten during the morning break. Children have the option to buy the catered school lunch (per term) or bring their own lunch from home. QSIP strongly encourages parents to pack healthy snacks and lunches. Highly processed, high fat, high sugar foods do not give children proper nutrition and can impact their school day with reduced energy and an inability to concentrate. Microwaves are available if students wish to heat their lunch.

When a family learns that they will be leaving Pápa, we request that they inform the school office two weeks in advance, if possible. Notice of early withdrawal from school should be made, in writing, to the school office (marcell-csizmadia@papa.qsi.org). Credit will be granted for work completed, turned in, evaluated, and recorded. Once the accountant has cleared the student, and all books/materials have been returned to the school, the student’s records will be issued. Student records include: status reports, the last teacher narrative, and verification of attendance form. Secondary students will also receive their secondary transcript along with their status report.

Learning experiences in a classroom setting cannot be duplicated through make-up assignments. School attendance is important for successful learning. Much is taught through class discussions, experiments, projects, and other class activities. 

Parents need to contact the school office or homeroom teacher if their child will be absent from school. Lengthy or frequent absences are brought to the attention of the Director. It is the student’s responsibility to contact teachers for make-up work. 

 

6.1.1 TARDINESS

The instructional day begins at 8:20 a.m. At that time students are to be in their classrooms, with materials ready and prepared to learn. Students should arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 8:10 a.m. All students are to report to the office if they arrive after 8:20 am to obtain a note to enter the classroom. Tardiness and absences negatively affect school achievement.

With reference to behavior, common sense and good manners are the guidelines. This includes responsibility and respect for others from all members of the QSIP community. The following expectations are to be followed each school day and at all school functions and locations.

·        All teachers, classroom assistants, and other staff members are to be treated courteously by students and vice versa.

·        Students are expected to solve their disagreements through peaceful dialogue.

·        Students should always walk quietly when in the building.

·        Use of obscene, discriminatory, or vulgar language is not allowed. Hate speech is not tolerated.

·        Bullying and teasing is inappropriate and is not tolerated.

·        The care of all textbooks and library books are the student's responsibility, as are all the parts of the building and other equipment. Students are encouraged to have a backpack to carry materials to and from school.

·        Students are encouraged to bring only those items directly related to activities of his/her class.

·        Any electronic devices not related to classroom instruction are not allowed in class. The school takes NO responsibility for lost or stolen items. 

·        Alcohol, drugs, and tobacco in any form are prohibited at school.

·        Students are expected to remain on the school premises after arriving at school.

·        Any student staying after school should do so only when involved in supervised activities and with parental permission.

Borrowing – books are usually checked out for one week and may be returned the day before the next library visit. If a student wants to keep a book more than one week, it must be renewed after the first week. Students wishing to return a book and check out another may do so at any time.

Overdue Books – If books are not returned on the due date, a written reminder will be given by the librarian. If the books are not returned with this reminder, a second notice will be given. In the event the books are still outstanding after these notices, a third notice will be given stating the charge for replacing the books, double the catalog price plus one $1. Book borrowing privileges will be withheld until outstanding charges are paid. 

Lost or Damaged Books – Students are required to pay for lost or damaged books. If they pay for a book and it is later found, they will be reimbursed. Any book damaged due to negligence will be charged a fine in accordance with the degree to which the book was damaged or the original value of the book, double the cost plus $1.

Other Considerations – All library books must be returned before final status reports or transcripts are released.

Please help us by clearly labeling, with student’s name, all the items of clothing such as mittens, caps, hats, jackets, coats, sweaters, and boots. It is also very helpful to have the child’s name on his/her lunch box and backpack. The lost and found is located near the guard’s desk. As the lost and found becomes full, we will make an announcement to students to check in the lost and found. Whatever is not taken will be donated to a local charity.

Recess is a scheduled part of the regular school day. This time serves as a break for students and provides an opportunity for them to expend energy, stretch, and be active. All children will go out to play during morning and afternoon recess. This is a good time for socialization and learning to get along with other children. All children should come to school properly clothed for outside conditions (which includes snow pants, mittens or gloves, hats, etc. in winter).

School books are assigned to students free of charge with the expectation that they will be returned in a condition which reflects reasonable use. If a book is lost, damaged, or vandalized, the student will be required to pay for the book, which will cover replacement as well as shipping and handling (usually double the price).  Additional supplies will be provided by the school. QSIP expects each student to come to school ready to learn, which means they have the proper tools needed to succeed.

6.6.1 BYOD (Bring your own device)

Students in classes 12 and older are expected to have their own working laptop. Secondary teachers communicate and host course pages in Teams (Microsoft 365). Class assignments, posts, and collaboration happen online more and more these days. Having the ability to work online is a 21^st century skill all students are expected to develop.

Students may use school computers when under the direct supervision of a QSIP staff member. We expect all students to use the QSIP computers or their own personal computers responsibly and with an eye towards their academic development. Computer games, chat sites and surfing the Internet are activities for home, not school. A student must sign the School Use Agreement Form before using any computer at school.