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A World Class International School Leading Innovation in Education

Stefanos Gialamas, Ph.D. President of Schools Dina Pappas Elementary School Principal Catherine Makropoulos Acting Elementary School Principal makropoulosc@acs.gr

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

Fax: +30 (210) 639 0051

Tel.: +30 (210) 639 3200

acs@acs.gr

www.acs.gr

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.

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Table of Contents
Mission Statement ............................................................................................... - 3 Who We Are -6The Early Childhood Program at ACS Athens -6An Overview ....................................................................................................... - 6 Important Numbers -7The JK Program -8Daily Program ..................................................................................................... - 9 Day Care ............................................................................................................ - 9 Kindergarten Program - 10 Daily Program ................................................................................................... - 10 Supplies Needed for JK and Kindergarten - 11 Appropriate Clothing for JK & Kindergarten Getting Ready for the BIG DAY: JK and Kindergarten Readiness Centers - 11 - 11 - 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 Role of Parents

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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 Are
We are a group of dedicated professionals who bring unique experiences and expertise to the field of education. Most of us hold Masters Degrees in one or more fields of Education and continue our professional development every year. The ACS Athens Elementary program relies heavily on the synergy that comes from good teamwork. Classroom teachers work in tandem with their grade level colleagues and specials teachers. Your student receives the benefit of teachers using their individual and collective strengths to help the student learn quickly and feel successful. Teacher assistants work with the teachers to help prepare and organize needed materials.

The Early Childhood Program at ACS Athens

An Overview
The American Community Schools Early Childhood Program serves children turning 3 to 5 years old. We believe in educating the whole child by focusing on intellectual, social, emotional, physical and creative growth while valuing the rich diversity of culture children bring to the classroom. Experiences and activities are planned to meet the needs of each child at his/her own level and rate of development. Emphasis is placed on the learning process rather than quick, correct answers. Learning is spontaneous. Children learn from each other and teachers act as facilitators in the learning process. The arrangement of the classroom encourages play and exploration. Learning centers are designed to develop language and literacy skills at a developmentally appropriate pace. Play and hands-on activities are an integral part of the learning opportunities. Children are free to experience, react, think, grow and change in their own unique ways. Most importantly, we want to 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 teacher directed activities is maintained. Most teacher directed activities are open ended, allowing students to work at their own pace and, for the more able students, to extend their thinking and achieve more.

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Important Numbers
Main Campus: Elementary School: Middle School: Academy: 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 210 639-3200 6070-229/231 6070-226/228 6070-241/222 6070-263/251 6070-200 6070-327 6070-236 6070-206 6070-266 6070-217 6070-237 639-3555 6070-239

Admissions: Arts Academy Athletics Office: Cafeteria: Cashiers Office: E.S. Counselor: Health Office: Stavros Niarchos Learning Center Security (after hours): Transportation:

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The JK Program
For 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 where lunch is also provided. In addition, there is an extended program for parents who work late and would 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 is designed to be a two year program with enrollment starting with children who turn 3 by December 31 of the current school year. All children must be fully toilet trained in order to attend. The primary goal of Junior Kindergarten is to recognize and meet the developmental needs of each child and to assist him/her in developing to his/her full potential. Teachers work with all levels of English proficiency from non-speakers to native speakers. Progress is made on a timetable that is unique to each child. At any given time, children in this class are at a variety of developmental levels. The classroom teacher along with the classroom aide collaborate to create developmentally appropriate activities via flexible grouping. Teachers serve as facilitators while they create a learning environment which enables children to make choices to enhance their learning process. The classroom is designed to encourage play and exploration. Classrooms are structured with centers for Reading, Math, Writing, Science, Art, Music, Cooking, Dramatic Play, Building Blocks and Listening Center each stocked with stimulating hands-on materials. Children are free to experience, react, think and thus grow and change in their own unique ways. Children visit the library once a week to check out a book. Greek is also taught as a foreign language once a week. Most importantly, we want to make the experience of school a positive one by ensuring 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 9:30 to 10:00 10:00 to 10:30 10:30 to 11:00 11:00 to 12:15 12:15 to 1:00 1:00

Free Exploration Morning Routine Snack Outdoor Play Journals & Center work (see explanation included in this book) Sharing and Story Time Regular program ends and Day Care begins

Day Care
1:00 to 1:30 1:30 to 2:00 2:00 to 2:20 2:20 to 3:15 3:15-3:30 Hot lunch served inside classroom Quiet Time Outdoor Play Free Exploration Preparations to go home (students are escorted to buses by an adult)

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Kindergarten Program
For 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, Social Studies, Greek or Arabic, Music, Art, Computers, Library and PE. Class sizes are small, usually with a maximum of 20 students per class with an assistant. Activities vary throughout the day and include listening to and reading unit related stories and information books, discussions, writing stories, cooking, performing science experiments, making graphs, artwork exploring many different media, dramatization, singing, music and movement. In Kindergarten one letter of the alphabet is introduced each week. Throughout the year students develop 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 9:30 to 10:45 10:45 to 11:30 11:30 to 1:00 1:00-2:00 2:00-3:15 3:15-3:25 3:25 to 3:30

Morning Routine Center Work (See detailed explanation included in this booklet) Snack and outdoor playtime Free Exploration, continuation of morning activities Hot lunch served inside classroom/Outdoor play follows Specials classes Pack-up Student pick up and escorting to buses

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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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. Please avoid sending high-sugar foods! These foods 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 label your childs clothing, bags and lunch boxes!

Getting Ready for the BIG DAY: JK and Kindergarten Readiness

Starting school is an exciting time for both child and parent as it marks the beginning of a very important stage in a childs life. Before your child starts school, make sure he/she can: Take care of his or her own toilet needs and is fully toilet trained Get dressed by him or herself Express his or her needs to others

In order to ease any frustration or anxiety before school starts, 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 your child 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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Centers
Center Work is a big part of the school day. Students circulate from Center to Center and perform a variety of tasks that increase in level of difficulty or challenge throughout the school year. Some Centers are for free exploration only and the student directs the activity. Teachers direct, facilitate and take notes while observing students in their Centers.

Reading Center
The Reading Center is a large carpeted area where demonstration and participation in literacy occurs during shared reading time. It is also where students practice reading during free exploration and where, at the days end, the class returns as a group to share and reflect on what they have done. Big Books, poems, hanging word picture charts, graphics, chants and songs (all in enlarged print) are easily accessible in this area. At this center, students acquire literacy appreciation and pre-reading skills. Puppets and pantomime are used for dramatization. Students learn to speak in complete sentences and sequence stories (practicing temporal relations). By sharing, students learn to express ideas clearly and build their self-confidence.

Math Center
Math is everywhere! Some of the supplies found at this center include pattern blocks, Cuisinaire rods, Unifix cubes, Geoboards, beads for stringing, counters, math games and puzzles. We build a strong foundation of basic mathematical concepts through the use of manipulatives and real life contexts in the classroom (calendar, play, math games). Students natural ability to learn through play is harnessed and literature is used to stimulate structured play. Students work with math manipulatives following the Math Their Way Program. The following topics are covered: sorting, pattern, number, basic addition and subtraction, measurement, volume, time, introduction to place value, according to their developmental level. We emphasize understanding the basic concepts with concrete objects first and only then move on to teaching the mathematical symbol system. Much learning in math occurs hands-on and, as a result, worksheets are uncommon. The teacher keeps anecdotal records of student progress in math.

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Writing Center
This center is equipped with writing journals and writing supplies; some of the supplies found at this center include dry-erase boards, lined and unlined paper, pencils, crayons, clay, and the alphabet in upper and lower case letters. Wooden magnetic and plastic letters and copies of the alphabet are also available. Students are encouraged to write from the beginning by drawing their stories, adding more details to elaborate their ideas and communicate more effectively. Students regularly experiment with letters and sounds and read or copy 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 are encouraged individually to develop their ideas, add more detail to their pictures, experiment with writing 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 continual practice get better at it. Copying takes the initiative away from the child and is just passive handwriting practice.

Art Center
The Art Center is both an important and fun center for students! Students are encouraged to dabble with a variety of supplies. Some of the supplies found at this center include: tempera paints, glue, crayons, markers, pastels, scissors, chalk, finger paint, plasticene, paper, fabricjust to mention a few. This is one of our most popular centers and students are given the opportunity to express themselves through a variety of materials and processes throughout the day. Students are encouraged to look carefully at real objects and notice patterns and shapes to help them draw for themselves. Different media and techniques are introduced over the year. Students are taught to care for materials themselves. At this 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 week with an art specialist.

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Block Center
The Block Center provides students with opportunities to create, cooperate and communicate. It is 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), share materials with others, use imagination and creativity, and work together to form something bigger than 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 through rhyme and song. Gross motor skills are developed through dance and movement. Music also gives students the opportunity to develop their listening and memorization skills. The Kindergarten students additionally attend music class twice a week with the music teacher.

Cooking Center
We also have a Cooking Center! At this center, students have the opportunity to explore concepts in Math and Science and to develop their oral language, fine motor skills, and to indulge the senses, naturally. Students learn about nutrition, measurement and sequencing while following a step-by-step process and developing independence. Emergent reading skills are practiced by reading through recipes and students practice counting and recognizing numerals.

Dramatic Play Center

An essential learning element in the Early Childhood Center is play. This center includes a housekeeping area, dolls and dollhouse, 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 form of play, children learn about problem solving, taking turns, responsibility and caring for materials, negotiating roles, role playing, sharing and developing concentration.

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Library
Students visit the library once a week as we know how quickly they can zoom through those books! Under our geometric dome, the librarian reads stories based on the current unit taught in the 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 the OPAC 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. Students go to art, computers, music, physical education (P.E.) and foreign language. Greek language is offered 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 plan outside activities (dental appointments, family trips, etc.) around the school schedule and calendar. Students are expected to arrive at school punctually as classes start from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

Tardiness
We expect students to arrive on time to all of their classes, especially the morning homeroom. Chronic tardiness sends the wrong message to children. Show the importance of punctuality by making sure your child arrives on time. If your child is late, please make sure he/she comes to the Main Office first to receive their late pass in order to go to their homeroom. If students miss more than two hours of school, they will be marked as a half day absence. Students coming 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 the Elementary Office ext. 229 and state the reason for the absence. We will coordinate homework on an individual basis. Students may not be taken out of school without parent notification to the Office. For absences of more than three days, a doctors note is also required. Absences due to health problems or family loss are considered excused absences. Mini trips or extended vacation are considered unexcused absences. Parents are responsible to communicate with the classroom teacher 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 any anticipated 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 not the responsibility of the teacher to prepare in advance. Please be aware that extended absences could prevent us from making a proper assessment or any assessment on your childs report card. Many of the homework assignments require the students presence for completion and, thus, will have 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 to the classroom teacher and be picked up from the office by a parent or guardian.

Emergency Drills
Evacuation drills are conducted regularly and have undergone a review by the Regional Security Office of the U.S. Embassy. Students are taught to leave the buildings quickly 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 your numbers (home, work, emergency) change, please alert us immediately through your childs Passport or call the Main Office.

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Discipline Procedures
At ACS Athens we guide children to make appropriate choices. We follow the 1-2-3 Magic student self-control program. This program 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 and making the discipline process fair and easy to understand for all of the children in the class. The following guidelines are used: The classroom rules are explained to the students clearly so that they are all aware of the expectations from the start. It is emphasized that students are now old enough to take responsibility for their own behaviors and that we will all be working on self-control with this new program. It is explained to students that we all lose self-control and forget the rules from time to time and that instead of getting angry about this, we are going to take 5-minute breaks from 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. A reminder of what rule to follow may be given at this time, but talking should be kept to a minimum. 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 take a 5-minute break. Also, it may not be necessary to say the students name or to say the number aloud. A gesture that the student understands clearly is better than any verbal distraction. 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 sand timer over. When the timer is finished, the student rejoins the group without discussion of the problem or distracting the others. A meeting later takes place with the student and teacher where they discuss appropriate choices that need to be made.

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Dress Code
Cleanliness, appropriate grooming, and proper dress are important in promoting a positive atmosphere for school and social conduct. The standards of dress for school should reflect proper hygiene. Students who come to school without proper attention toward personal cleanliness or appropriateness 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 be graded 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 a special day at school. Students should plan to wear special clothing (dresses/skirts for girls, ties or button-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 childs name. Please check our Lost & Found periodically located in the cafeteria. We dont have enough space 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 opportunity at excelling in the classroom by providing individualized and small group instruction that supplements various learning styles. The process begins with the student being referred by the classroom teacher or parent. The Child Study Team consists of the Elementary School Principal, the JK-12 Counseling-Psychologist, the Elementary School Counselor, and the OM specialist/supervisor. The team works together to determine a program that would be most beneficial to meeting the students needs. Admission to OM is based on program capacity and upon the receipt of current psycho-educational testing. A full battery of psycho-educational assessments, which are administered by non-school-based psychologists, 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 all teachers working with each particular student. Small group instruction and cooperative learning activities are incorporated within the students curriculum in order to complement various learning abilities. Specific learning goals are delineated in each students Individual Learning Plan and are shared with teachers and parents. The Optimal Match Specialist provides support and guidance to the classroom teachers in order to properly support student abilities. Collaboration is established amongst the entire team and valuable tactics are adopted to enable students to maintain success within the classroom. Monitor Sheets are student assessments that are distributed to parents monthly to validate student strengths and to determine areas that need improving. Monitor sheets are not sent out for the months report cards are issued. The Monitor Sheets are kept in the students confidential file. This information 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 open venue 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 the Consultation Program are observed in their classroom setting for twenty minutes each week, and they receive monitor sheets. There are fees for enrollment in either the Optimal Match Program or the OM Consultation.

Counseling Services
The Elementary School Counselor works with all students individually and in group settings to help them succeed in the Elementary School emotionally, socially and cognitively. The Counselor works closely with teachers and parents to resolve any issues students may be faced with. The Counselor 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 a month (every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 9:15-10:00 a.m.). Parents may contact the Counselor 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 a students 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 Athens students to get involved. Many of the programs culminate with an exciting exhibition of some kind. 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 are assigned to one of four houses as a lifetime member; Athenian (green), Corinthian (red), Spartan (blue), or Trojan (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 nurse and an aide for after school activities on campus administer emergency first aid treatments and care for sudden illnesses. In addition, several elementary staff members including the PE Teacher are trained and certified in CPR/First Aid. The nurse also conducts regular vision and lice checks and maintains a health record for 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 taken directly to the nearest hospital for proper treatment. Ms. Mary Papalanis, the School Nurse, can be 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 their physical examination completed will not be allowed to participate in physical education classes or attend school field trips. Please note the following: Prescription medication will not be administered by the Health Office to students of any age unless the medication is provided by the parent and accompanied by a note which 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 only when parent 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 to participate in the full, regular school day, including recess, lunch and PE classes. Students must be fever free for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Students cannot attend any ESAS activities including swimming without an updated physical examination form.

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Transportation
Bus services are contracted by ACS Athens parents and cover virtually the entire Athens area. Students are transported by professional drivers and are supervised on the bus by a monitor. Bus monitors regularly communicate and collaborate with the building principals regarding discipline issues. Ms. Leta Meleki, Head of Transportation, can be reached at 210.607.0239.

Bus Procedures:
Students must be at the assigned stop at the scheduled boarding time. Students must disembark only at the scheduled stop. If a student wishes to take a bus other than the one normally assigned, or get off at a stop other than the one normally assigned, a written parent request must be submitted to the transportation office for approval 24 hours in advance and presented to the monitor before boarding. Permission to ride on a different bus will be granted only if space is available. Change of address resulting in a change of route or bus stop should be presented to the transportation

office in writing two days prior to the change.

Failure or considerable delay of the bus in arriving at the scheduled pick-up point entitles students to secure alternate transportations to the school. The Transportation Officer will make reimbursement 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 must comply 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 of conduct, talk with your child about these rules, and let transportation know if there is a concern or problem. Making sure your students are feeling safe and happy during their commute is important to us. Should students not follow the Bus Code of Conduct, they will first be given a warning from the Principal. If the behavior is repeated a second time, they will be asked not to ride the bus for a week. If the behavior is repeated for a third time, they will not be allowed to ride the bus for the month. Finally, if the behavior is repeated for a fourth time, they will not be allowed to ride the 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 elementary students. Parents must provide transportation after school on these days. Students need to be picked 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 Traditions
In 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 that some of these events are subject to change. September Opening Assembly Back To School Night October Picture Days Parent Teacher Conferences PTO Halloween Carnival / Pumpkin Patch November Thanksgiving Holiday December Winter Concert Report Cards

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February 100th Day Celebration March Report Cards/Parent-Teacher Conferences Greek Independence Day Celebration April Poetry Break Taverna Day May JK/KG Field Day Spring Concert Student-Led Conferences Student Art Show Spring Fair June Kindergarten Graduation Volunteer Reception Report Cards

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Role of Parents
Due to the rigor of our program, parents need to take an active role in guiding schoolwork and organizational skills. Besides creating a quiet study area, parents can help to foster a positive academic attitude by engaging their children in dinner discussions about what transpired during the days classes. Having resource materials handy, such as a dictionary, thesaurus, internet connection etc., and limiting T.V. viewing and non-academic computer use can also help. Encourage your children to read for pleasure. Take time to share responses to books and articles you have read in common. The Home/School Connection is a vital one as it sends a clear message to students that we are all working together for their success. In short, we need to be on the same team. If you have concerns 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 of communication is as follows: Division Chair/ Coordinator, Principal and, finally, President of ACS Athens. 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 the Yearbook, being a guest speaker, helping with Bake Sales, ad infinitum! We welcome you to our school as a volunteer. Please contact your childs teacher or call the Main Office if you would like to volunteer in any area.

PTO
ACS Athens has an active and enthusiastic Parent/Teacher Organization. A combined PTO serving all three schools meet monthly after the Principals Coffee and work collaboratively to support the respective 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 asked to get involved with the PTO in some capacity and attend monthly meetings. Big PTO Events include: Welcome Back Barbeque, Halloween Carnival, Christmas Bazaar, Spring Fair and Campus Beautification. Please get involved!

Room Parents
Each grade level has one or two parents that act as room parents and work closely with the classroom 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 will be 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 in athletic 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 not carry insurance to cover the loss of student property. To avoid the possibility of loss, students should not bring expensive jewelry, large sums of money, radios, CD players, iPods or other valuable or personal objects to school.

Lost & Found

Label, label, label!!! And when this fails, check the Lost & Found located in the 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/Teacher Conferences and at the end of the school year. Unclaimed items are given to a charity. Expensive toys, electronics, and valuable items in general should not 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. Parents can view their childs report card on line by entering the Skyward Family Access Report Card program. ACS Athens will report on each students achievement and progress at the conclusion of each 60day 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 Meeting Standards: Is not yet demonstrating expected skills and knowledge) parents should expect to be informed. In this way parents are informed and invited to an intervention process for their child. In the event a child leaves ACS Athens prior to the last day of school, the final report card may be mailed 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 Needed in the spring, and Student-Led Conferences in the spring. We consider the Parent/Teacher Conference the most important means of reporting student 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 gather more information about your childs learning experience and find out ways you may be able to help 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 conferences have been used at many state-of-the-art schools. Students and teachers jointly select finished work 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 challenges ahead. Students take ownership of their academic progress while parents dialogue with their child about schoolwork and assessment.

Passports
Each student Grades JK to 5 is issued a Passport at the beginning of the school year. Students are expected 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 are encouraged to use the Passport to communicate with the teacher. We also use Passports to motivate students and ask that you do the same. Students must bring their Passports to and from school 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 for parents which apart from the hard copy distributed to students, is posted on our website. The Principal and teachers share highlights from the school and explain what is happening in each grade level.

Principals Coffee
Parents are welcome to join the Elementary Principal and Counselor for a monthly coffee meeting. Our Principals Coffee serves the purpose of communicating 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 are introduced and upcoming calendar events are explained. Principal Coffees are another form of communication at ACS Athens. Teachers sometimes conduct lessons, as well, for parents. Its a wonderful way to meet other parents. Join us!

Website
The ACS Athens website www.acs.gr can be accessed by parents and students. Under the elementary 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 Reading Lists, 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 school cancellation, for whatever reason, it will be posted on our website and/or emails will be sent to parents notifying them of the closing of school.

Telephone

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The phone is a quick and personal way of getting in touch with a teacher or staff member. Call the Elementary School Administrative Assistant at 210-6070-229 to leave a message. The teacher or staff member will return your call as soon as they are able to do so. Please remember that a 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 their class. Parents may choose to purchase the photo package, but there is no obligation to do so. See the Elementary School Administrative Secretary at the Main Office for more information. We sometimes have volunteers throughout the year taking publicity shots for school. You may see them in the annual Yearbook!

Field Trips
During the school year, field trips are scheduled which relate to specific subject matter studied at each grade level. We consider the field trips to be a crucial element of our curriculum. Field trips extend the classroom studies allowing students to collect data and apply and connect learning to the real world. We expect all students to attend. There are usually two field trips a year for each grade. 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 Athens Elementary School. If the teachers and Principal feel that a students behavior and/or decisionmaking 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 at www.acs.gr for detailed information or contact Mr. John Papadakis, Director of Enrollment Management at 210.6070-263 or papadakisj@acs.gr. Junior Kindergarten students must be three or four years old on or before December 31st of the year they register at ACS Athens. No exceptions will be made. Junior Kindergarten is a two year program. Kindergarten students must be five years old on or before December 31st of the year they enter school. 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 students academic history/portfolio (K to Fifth Grade only) and conducts an assessment and interview before acceptance into the program (JK to Fifth Grade). Parents should bring student report card/s and records, samples of student work, if available, passport/s and/or birth certificate, and a residence 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 student to withdraw from school during the year. If your child is moving to another school please let us know at least one week in advance so that we can efficiently collect and prepare needed transfer materials. Records will be mailed if the request is immediate and urgent. A forwarding address will be requested in either case. The receiving school will receive student report card/s and records. 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 Management at 210-6070263 For updated information on ACS Athens, check our Website at www.acs.gr acs@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 acs@acs.gr

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