General Policies

Activities

The school will endeavor to sponsor a suitable number of extracurricular activities if adequate adult sponsorship is available.

School Related Activities may include:

  • Assemblies
  • Field trips
  • Musical performances
  • Pakistani Culture Day
  • School carnivals
  • Special projects

Attendance

It is the belief of the administration, and faculty that if a student is absent over 15% of the term that the student has not been present a sufficient amount of time to have benefited from the education provided. Exceptions will be for days in which a student is admitted to a hospital AND which can be substantiated with a formal discharge form from the hospital clearly indicating the days the student was admitted to the hospital.

A doctor’s excuse does not meet the standard of the hospital discharge form. Other than for those days covered by a hospital discharge form, the school will not judge or accept excuses.

Vacations and Other Extended Absences

Parents are encouraged to arrange vacations to coincide with those of the school. When this is impossible, parents should realize that any extended absence will be a great handicap to the student’s academic success. 

  1. Special Conditions

There may be unique cases where a student acquires a contagious disease, such as measles, chicken pox, jaundice, or typhoid, or where a student suffers an injury or accident requiring surgery and medical care that will keep the student away from school for more than 9 days of a trimester. In such cases, the Principal has the discretion to review the specific situation, including:

  • A review of the doctor’s certificate combined with a visitation by the school doctor/nurse to verify the illness and to recommend an appropriate length of absence from school.

Based on this input, the Principal may excuse all or part of the days of that specific absence.

  1. Fair Warning:

When a student is absent 7 days in a trimester, parents should arrange a meeting with the principal to discuss the reasons for the continued absences and to commit to improve attendance.

Behavior

Elementary students are taught to follow classroom and the playground rules. Teachers use a variety of techniques in modifying a student’s behavior. Physical punishment is not used. If negative behavior becomes frequent or is extreme, the principal becomes involved and parents are called for a conference. If behavior continues to be negative or harmful, the Principal may intervene with the student and family. Excessive negative behavior may result in suspension or expulsion.

Birthday Parties

The use of school facilities at lunch time for classroom birthday parties is permitted. All parties will take place at lunch time and will be held in the classrooms. Drinks, food and clean up will be the responsibility of the parent(s). Under no circumstances will school personnel be required to assist with conducting the party. Requests for having a birthday party at school must be submitted to the Administrator at least seven days before the date of the party.

Closing of School

Parents will receive an SMS message in the event of an unscheduled school closing. (Please provide accurate contact information).

Conference / Appointments with Faculty

Parent conferences are held at the end of the first and second terms. However, parents and teachers may meet at any time during the school year. Parents interested in setting up a conference should contact the teacher through email or written message.

Conflict Resolution

First Steps fosters and encourages collaboration between parents and teachers as both work toward the same goal of maximizing learning. However, educating children is a complex process. From time-to-time there may be concerns or issues that must be resolved. When/if such occasions arise, parents are requested to communicate with the person who is most closely associated with the topic or issue. That person is most often the teacher. Therefore, parents should request a meeting with the teacher through the school office. The principal and administrator of course, are available to help when needed.

Field Trips

Field trips are intended to be an integral part of the school program. Students visit archaeological, historical, industrial, and geophysical sites to enrich their classroom knowledge in various subject areas. The trips are designed to highlight the school’s academic and social program. A signed parental permission form is required for all field trips.

Leaving School Grounds Early

First Steps is responsible for your child when she/he is on campus. Please help us keep your child safe by following the procedures described below for leaving campus.

Procedures:

The following system will be used when a child is to be excused early:

  1. Parents are asked to send advance notification to the classroom teacher
  2. Parents should obtain a gate pass from the office. Parents should wait for their child in the office. The student will be requested to come to the office to meet his/her parents.
  3. Drivers, ayahs or others sent to collect children from school must have the student’s identity card and written permission from the parents.

Personal Property

Valuables not to be brought to school unless needed for classroom use. If such items are brought to school they should be properly safe-guarded by the student. The school assumes no responsibility for lost or stolen articles.

Playground Rules

Children are expected to:

  • Wait their turn in drinking fountain lines
  • Show respect to each other and to faculty during work and play
  • Play safely at all times and follow specific safety rules
  • Use equipment in the way it is designed to be used

Safety Drills

In the event of an emergency during the school day, bells will ring or specific announcements will be made over the public address system. Drills are reviewed and practiced on a regular basis.

Withdrawals

Parents who wish to withdraw their child from First Steps should initiate the process by written notice from parents to the principal. All withdrawals must be initiated in the office prior to the withdrawal date. Parents are expected to contact the principal’s office to make final arrangements for withdrawal.

Retention / Promotion

The principal, after consultation with the classroom teacher, is responsible for determining whether a student is promoted at the end of the academic year. In deciding whether a child should repeat a grade, the principal will consider the following factors:

  • Grades and other indicators of achievement
  • Academic ability
  • Social, emotional, physical and mental maturity
  • Chronological age
  • Research relative to retention
  • Sibling grade levels, and 
  • Parent and child input
  • Attendance

·  Potential for success at the next grade level