Handbook for Students and Parents/Guardians
2004 - 2005
This complete Handbook in pdf format 1 mb

General Information

• School Hours
• Parent-Teacher Interview and Report Cards
• School Reports
• Attendance
• Homework Expectations
• Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
• Computer Network User Application Policy
• Information Technology Rules
• Science Laboratory Safety Rules
• Uniform Policy
• Code of Behaviour for Students
• Discipline
• School Rules
• Consequences of Misconduct
• Lockers

• 8:25 Opening Exercises/Assembly

• 8:35 Classes begin

• 11:10 Lunch

• 12:05 Classes Resume

• 1:20 Salat al-Zuhr/Hadith

• 1:50 Classes resume

• 3:05 Classes end

• 3:05 Extra-curricular activities begin

• 4:05 Extra-curricular activities end

• 1:20 Salat al-Jumu ah

• 2:15 Dismissal

There are no regularly scheduled extra-curricular activities on Wednesdays and Fridays when all students are dismissed at 3:05 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. respectively.

* Salat al-Zuhr and Salat al-Jumu ah are part of the school curriculum.


PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS AND REPORT CARDS

Early in September, parents are invited to come to school in the evening to meet their children’s teachers and to learn about the curriculum, which is planned for the year. The presentations by the teachers answer the following questions:

• What is my child going to learn?

• How will he/she learn the material?

• When will he/she learn the material?

• How are both the teacher and parent going to know that he/she has learned the material?

• How and when will the students who are having difficulty be helped?

• How and when will students who are finding the course “too easy”, be enriched?

School Reports

Interim Reports (Mid-November)

This is a report designed to provide students and their parents with an idea of how students have started the year. Since only six weeks of classes have elapsed, this report will reveal teachers’ impressions of the students’ effort and work habits at the start of each course, as well as an assessment of his/her achievement to date.


Fall Parent-Teacher Interviews (November)

Along with the Interim Report Card, a Parent-Teacher Interview form is sent home. This form will have the appropriate instructions on it and is to be returned to the school by the student. The school administration will develop a schedule for the interview sessions and return it to parents via their children.


February Reports

This report will show the cumulative, year-to-date mark and absences of students in order to communicate the standing of the student after the completion of the first semester.


Interim Reports (April) and Parent-Teacher Interviews

This report is a mid-term report for the second semester, similar to the November mid-term report for the first semester. It is followed by Parent-Teacher interviews.


June Report

This is the final report of the year, which will be mailed to you in early July.


ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance on the part of students is vital to the process of learning. A unit of study usually involves the development of a sequence of related understandings. When the processes and content of learning are disrupted by irregular attendance, the student suffers a loss of experiences that cannot be entirely regained. Students who habitually miss class will suffer in the evaluation process because their participation and achievement cannot be fully assessed.

An accumulation of absences for any credit course totalling 15 hour or more will result in automatic withdrawal from that course. Please note that absence for any reason counts toward attendance. Lates count as partial absences.


Student Absence

A parent should telephone the school between 8:15 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. at 905-403-8406 ext. 300, explaining the reason for the student’s absence.

When the student returns, he/she must present a letter, dated and signed by a parent to the school’s Office Assistant, indicating the duration and reason for the absence. When the student presents this letter in the office, an admit slip will be issued to her or him. This admit slip must be shown to each of the student’s teachers during the day of her or his return.


Student Illness

If a student becomes ill during the day, the student is required to report to the office. The Office Assistant will contact the appropriate parent to indicate the nature of the student’s discomfort. Arrangements will be made to ensure the student’s safe return either to home or the classroom.

Once permission has been received for the student to go home, the student will be permitted to leave the school after he/she has signed out. Failure to follow this procedure will result in the student’s absence as being considered illegitimate.

Both staff and physical limitations prevent the adequate supervision of any student who appears to become sick/ill during the school day. Both school and Ministry Policy state that no staff member is permitted to dispense any form of medication to any student.

A medical certificate may be required after three consecutive absences.


Student Lates

Punctuality for all classes during the school day is expected. If a student arrives after the 8:25 a.m. bell, he/she is considered late. If a student arrives after 8:25 a.m., he/she must obtain an admit slip from the office. The first three lates will be dealt with by the teacher. Subsequently, the student will be referred to the principal.

Students arriving after first period, as well as students having the first period free, must sign in each morning at the school office.


Late Between Classes

Students are expected to arrive on time for every class. Sufficient time is allowed for students to move from one class to another at the end of each period. Arriving late for classes during the school day is not tolerated. This type of behaviour greatly interferes with school discipline, inconveniences the teacher and disrupts the class. A record is kept in the school office of students who are late in between classes. A third occurrence of being late between classes will result in a suspension or other corrective measures being taken.


Early Dismissal/Sign-Outs

If a student must be dismissed early during the school day, he/she is required to obtain a release slip from the office before 8:25 a.m. of that day. A letter dated and signed by a parent, indicating the reason for early dismissal must be presented in order to receive a release slip.

Leaving the school without having first signed out will result in the student being considered illegitimately absent from class. Any student who leaves the school premises without proper permission will be considered to be truant.

Students should retain their release slip as this will be considered an admit slip when they return to class. If a student is absent the day following a release, he/she must follow the student absence procedure.

It is strongly recommended that all appointments be made after 3:05 p.m.


Leaving School Premises During School Hours

Because of our unique location and absence of any sidewalks along South Sheridan Way, students are expected to remain on school premises until they are dismissed. Parents may choose to exercise the option of allowing their son(s)/daughter(s) to leave school premises during lunch hour or during their free period by providing the school with a permission letter after discussing the matter with the school administration. Students will be required to report to the school office in writing before leaving the premises and upon their return.


Holiday/Extended Absences

On occasion, parents choose to remove their child(ren) or students themselves choose to leave for an extended period of time in order to go on holiday or participate in other activities outside the regularly scheduled school breaks.

The following guidelines may help in making such a decision:

• Parents are requested to consult with the principal prior to making plans.

• Parents are then responsible for advising the principal in writing of the dates of any departure and return to school at least two weeks before departure. The student will then be provided with a Holiday/Extended Absence Advisement Form that must be signed by all of the student’s course teachers and returned to the office.

• The student is responsible for any missed work, collection of handouts, notes and reading assignments. The student must see his/her teachers to see if arrangements can be made regarding missed tests, labs, projects, presentations or performances. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT MISSED EVALUATIONS MAY RESULT IN A ZERO BEING ASSIGNED FOR EACH MISSED EVALUATION.

• A student’s mark may be adversely affected by a prolonged absence.

• Examinations will not be rescheduled to accommodate a student’s holiday.

• Parents are asked to consult the School Year Calendar for examination and school break dates.

Absence during Examinations

Students are expected to be in attendance when writing exams. If a student does not write an exam, he/she will be subject to the loss of the exam grade and, in some cases, may be risking the credit for that course. If the absence is due to health reasons, the student must present a medical certificate. The final mark, in this case, is calculated based on the student’s term work.

Permission will not be given to write final exams prior to the designated exam dates and schedules. Please do not plan holidays until after the final date for exams.


HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS

Students should expect to have homework every school day. The homework load will vary from day-to-day, especially at the beginning of the year when teachers are assessing the abilities of classes and individuals. Every student is expected to use a Homework Diary to maintain an accurate and ongoing record of tests and assignments.

Major essays and assignments are given well in advance and students are encouraged not to leave them to the last minute. The standard guideline for homework is 1.5 to 2 hours daily for Grade 9 and 10 students with 2.5 to 3 hours daily for Grade 11 and 12 students.


ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AND PLAGIARISM

Academic dishonesty is a serious offence. There are significant consequences when plagiarism is found in the student work. The penalty for plagiarism or cheating can range from a mark of zero to suspension/expulsion. Each case will be dealt with on an individual basis.

Plagiarism means presenting work done (in whole or in part) by someone else as if it were one's own. Other dishonest practices include faking or falsifying data, cheating, or the uttering of false statements by a student in order to obtain unjustified marks or special treatment.

Plagiarism is deliberate dishonesty and includes, but is not limited to, the following forms:

1. impersonation of a candidate in an exam or test

2. copying from another student, or making information available to other students, knowing that this is to be submitted as the borrower's own work

3. use of unauthorized material

4. submitting an essay written in whole or in part by someone else as one's own

5. submitting an essay copied in whole or in part from the Internet and submitted as one's own

6. preparing an essay or assignment on behalf of another student

7. copying an essay or assignment, or allowing one's essay or assignment to be copied by someone else

8. using direct quotations or large sections of paraphrased material without acknowledgment

9. the buying or selling of assignments

10. submitting a work from one course as work in another course

COMPUTER NETWORK USER APPLICATION POLICY



The computers are readily available to everyone. It is imperative for the well-being of everyone’s education that students treat the hardware properly; respect all software copyrights; avoid tampering with anyone else’s electronic files; and at all times, act responsibly so that they do not compromise either the integrity nor the efficiency of the network.

Passwords: Students will be held accountable for any activity deemed improper conducted by another person who is logged on to the network in their name. Consider one’s password to be as private and as valuable as PIN number for a bankcard or a credit card. Therefore, one’s password should not be shared with anyone.

Electronic Etiquette: When using computers, it is expected that students understand and accept the fact that the rules of the school are in effect. This includes what is written and sent via the Internet or our Intranet. Therefore, the following rules govern the use of electronic mail for all users.

1. All school rules and sanctions pertaining to abuse and harassment are in effect.

2. Students are expected to be polite using proper and appropriate language. They are reminded that while they may intend that the content of their message remain private, the recipient may not know that. Furthermore, one shouldn’t say anything to someone via the network that they wouldn’t say to his/her face.

3. Any electronic data or mail stored on the ISNA High School Server is the property of ISNA High School.

4. System Administrative personnel as part of the maintenance of the network can scrutinize the contents of all files residing on the school network.

5. Do not use the network to participate in any illegal act, as the school will uphold the law.

6. Any attempt to access the files or messages of another person will be considered as theft and treated accordingly.

1. Students should not be in the computer lab without faculty supervision.

2. Students only have permission to enter the computer system if they log in with the login name provided for them by the school and with their chosen password. No one may, under any circumstances, avoid system security or log in as someone else.

3. Students are not to engage in any sort of activity that could in any way interfere with the functioning of the network.

4. Students are to use the machines as the school has configured them. Neither the desktop nor the operating system may be altered in any way.

5. Students are not permitted to use the pop-up messaging.

6. Games are never to be played on the system by the students.

7. Students are entitled only to use their ISNA High School Internet e-mail accounts and not anyone else’s account.

8. Any files on the ISNA server are the property of the school, which has the legal right to view them if it deems it necessary. Furthermore, deleted e-mail, documents and pictures may in fact be recoverable.

9. Students may use their own notebook computers, however, it must be in stand-alone manner.

10. Students do not have permission to download from the Internet without permission of a faculty member.

11. It is an illegal activity constituting theft of school property to copy software from the system.

12. Students may not create shared folders on the system without permission of a faculty member.

13. It is the student’s responsibility to back up, save, and maintain any of his/her information. The student maintains the responsibility for meeting all personal deadlines regardless of network availability.

14. The school reserves the right to remove network access from any user who breaks the rules.

SCIENCE LABORATORY SAFETY RULES



Laboratory work is an integral part of the science curriculum. In order to have a safe and successful laboratory experience, students must carefully read and abide by the following safety instructions. Participation in laboratory activities is greatly dependent upon understanding of these rules. The consequences of violating these rules will include, but not be limited to, prohibiting the student from participating in all laboratory activities.

Getting Ready for Laboratory Work

1. Students are expected to study laboratory procedures prior to class.

2. Students are never to perform unauthorized experiments.

3. Students must keep their lab bench organized and free of apparel, books, and other clutter.

4. Students must know how to use the safety shower, eye wash, fire blanket and first aid kit.

1. Scarf/Hijab must be tied back.

2. Loose sleeves are not to be worn, as they tend to get in the way.

3. Shoes with tops must be worn; no open shoes.

4. Laboratory coats must be worn during all laboratory sessions.

5. Safety goggles must be worn during all laboratory sessions.

6. Gloves must be worn during use of chemicals that irritate or can be absorbed through the skin.

1. Students must never taste or "sniff" chemicals.

2. Students must never use chemicals from an unlabelled container.

3. When heating a test tube, students must never point it at anyone.

4. Students must never draw materials in a pipette with their mouth.

5. Contact lenses are not to be worn in the laboratory; fumes dissolving in the fluid surrounding the eye would be held in by contacts.

6. Students must never carry dangerous chemicals or hot equipment near other people.

1. Students must keep combustibles away from open flames.

2. When handling hot glassware, students must use caution.

3. When diluting acid, students must always add acid slowly to water, and never add water to acid.

4. When inserting glass tubing through stoppers, student must use glycerine and twist slowly at the base.

5. When burners are not in use, students must turn them off.

6. Students must keep caps on reagent bottles. Caps must never be switched.

1. Students are to consult the teacher for proper disposal of chemicals.

2. Students are to wash their hands thoroughly following experiments.

3. Students are to leave their laboratory bench clean and neat.

1. Students must report all accidents and spills immediately.

2. Students must place broken glass in designated containers.

3. Students must wash all acids and bases from their skin immediately with plenty of running water.

4. If chemicals get in their eyes, students are to wash them for at least 15 minutes with eyewash.

UNIFORM POLICY

As a Muslim school, we are committed to standards of simplicity, neatness, cleanliness, attractiveness, modesty and good taste.


Expectations

1. All students are required to wear the school uniform in a state of good repair when they are in the building and on school trips.

2. Students are to wear the school uniform when representing the school at an out-of school event. In most cases, the school uniform will be worn on an educational field trip.

3. Shirts are to be buttoned in an appropriate manner at all times and sleeves should not be pulled up or rolled up.

4. Pants are to be worn at the waist.

5. Students are to change for required courses (Drama, Physical Education) in assigned areas only, neither at their lockers nor in classrooms.

6. Outdoor coats and jackets, winter hats, baseball caps, headbands, neckbands, wristbands are not to be worn in the building during the school day.

• Jilbab

  • Black-only ankle length jilbāb or cabā’ah; must be fastened shut

•  Hijab

  • White-only scarf properly pinned under the chin.

•  Shirt

  • White-only long-sleeved shirt (sleeves should not be pulled up or rolled up)

• Pants

  • Black-only pants; no print or decorations; no denim (“jean”) or skin-tight pants

• Shoes

  • Soft-soled, non-marking black or white shoes (closed toe and heel)

• Socks

  • Black-only or white-only socks

• Sweater (optional)

  • Black-only sweater/pullover/cardigan; no hood; no logos except ISNA High logo

• Shirt

  • Plain white-only front-buttoned, collared dress shirt (no logos; sheer or tight fitting shirts are unacceptable; sleeves should not be pulled up or rolled up)

• Undershirt (recommended)

  • If a T-shirt/undershirt is worn under the dress shirt, it must be plain white in colour and tucked in properly; no logos or design of any kind allowed

• Pants

  • Plain black dress pants (non-stretch with no outstanding texture, print or decoration)

  • Visible waistband (may be elasticized at the back)

  • Crease down the middle of the leg

  • Covered zipper

• No denim/casual wear/cargo/skin-tight or corduroy pants

• Shoes

  • Soft-soled, non-marking black or white shoes (closed toe and heel)

• Socks

  • Black-only or white-only socks

• Sweater (optional)

  • Black-only sweater/pullover/cardigan; no hood; no logos except ISNA High logo

• For physical education classes, boys and girls are to wear tracksuits, t-shirts and non-marking running shoes.

• No skin-tight/see-through clothing and no tank tops in the gym.

• Headbands, neckbands and wristbands may be worn only in the gym.

Students are responsible for making sure they understand and comply with the School Uniform Policy. In the event that the student arrives at school out of uniform, every attempt will be made to contact parents, and arrangements will be made to ensure that the student is in full uniform, before he/she can be admitted to class.


CODE OF BEHAVIOUR FOR STUDENTS

This code of behaviour has been developed to emphasise Islamic values and a feeling of self-worth and self-discipline in students. It is an expression of the school's climate and its atmosphere for learning. A positive climate is an environment in which all students feel that they are encouraged to participate and where they are a valued part of the school.
 

Discipline

The immediate purpose of school discipline is to preserve necessary order so that learning can take place properly. The long-term purpose is to promote self-discipline in students.

There are no rights without responsibilities. At ISNA High School, there are relatively few rules and these can be grouped under the banner of good manners. By behaving with good manners, students are free to explore the learning opportunities available to them. The School Administration and teachers commit themselves to the careful planning and execution of these opportunities and are disinclined to spend an inordinate amount of time in the role of a police officer. Everyone is here to learn, which is why great emphasis is placed on having each student accept responsibility for meeting the high standards of behaviour expected at ISNA High School.


School Rules

1. Students are expected to abide by the school’s Uniform Policy and Code of Behaviour at all times while on school premises and on school trips.

2. Students are expected to adhere to the routines and practices for acceptable classroom behaviour as set out by the School Administration and classroom teachers.

3. Students are expected to be courteous at all times and to show respect for all others as well as themselves.

4. Salat al-Zuhr and Salat al-Jumucah are part of the school curriculum.

5. Students are expected to arrive on time for attendance in the morning and for every class, practice or appointment.

6. Students are expected to arrive for class with appropriate books, material and work.

7. In order to maintain a quiet learning environment, students may only go to their lockers in the morning when they arrive, lunch and at the end of the day.

8. Gum chewing is not permitted at any time, including time spent on extra-curricular activities and field trips.

9. Smoking is prohibited in and on school property at all times. This prohibition of smoking extends to all activities carried out on school property during, before and after school hours. Smoking violations will result in suspension.

10. The lighting of matches or lighters is prohibited on school property.

11. No student shall subject another student to verbal or physical bullying, intimidation, or any other form of harassment.

12. All school equipment and personal belongings are private property and are to be cared for and respected as such.

13. The school will uphold the law in any circumstances involving criminal activity.

Consequences of Misconduct

Discipline for inappropriate behaviour is generally progressive and will range from warning, community service and/or to suspension or Removal from school depending on the severity and circumstances of the offending behaviour. Police and courts will be involved for any suspected criminal offence. Students, who repeatedly break the school rules and/or demonstrate a constant disregard for the Code of Behaviour, may be asked to find a more suitable school environment.
 

LOCKERS



Each student is provided with a locker for storage of books, personal belongings and sports equipment.

The locker remains the property of the school and is therefore subject to inspection at any time.

All students have the right to use an assigned locker under the following conditions:

• the number of the student’s locker and the student’s name are recorded in the Office;

• the student cannot put a lock on any locker other than the one assigned to her or him, nor exchange locks or lockers during the year without the consent of the Principal or designate;

• the student must remove the lock at the end of the school year or earlier if her/his withdrawal precedes this date. If a student does not remove the lock, School Administration will remove it and store the contents for a reasonable period. Where identification is possible, attempts are made to reach the student’s home to have the contents returned;

• at the end of the school year, students who do not leave their locker as they found it will be billed a locker cleaning charge.

Under normal circumstances, no student’s locker can be opened by a staff member unless:

• the student requests a staff member to do so;

• the need arises during an emergency (for example, a fire);

• a request is made by the student’s parent;

• the Principal has reasonable grounds to believe that a student’s locker should be opened in order to investigate circumstances or conduct that appears to contravene any laws of Board policies and that may relate to any of the Principal’s duties described in the law or Board policies.

When a student’s locker is opened under the authority of the Principal:

• every effort is to be made to have the student present;

• the investigation of the locker should be no more extensive than necessary given the purposes for which it is conducted;

• a teacher chosen by the student, or if the student is absent, a teacher known to the student and approved by the Principal should observe the opening of the locker to ensure the student’s right to privacy;

• if the student is absent, she or he will be informed of the action taken on the student’s return or by telephone;

• in any case, the Principal must inform the student’s parent of the action taken and the reasons for it.