66
Secondary School Handbook 2014-15
Secondary School
Handbook 2014-15
1
VISION
BIS strives to develop motivated, responsible life‐long
learners who make a difference to our world.
MISSION
Inspiring and challenging young minds
as a caring and committed international community
to achieve excellence,
assume responsibility and
pursue life‐long learning
2
3
MANDATE
Inspiring and challenging young minds
Stimulate inquiring minds and spark enthusiasm for discovery and exploration.
Focus on all aspects of student development: the academic, the intellectual, the creative, the
social, the physical, the ethical and the emotional.
As a caring and committed international community
Provide an open‐minded and supportive atmosphere through a climate of commitment,
empathy and open communication.
Facilitate the acquisition of languages and understanding of culture by communicating in
English and by providing instruction of German and other languages.
Promote international‐mindedness throughout our curriculum by exploring our diversity of
culture, language and experience while gaining insights from the unique perspective of our
German host culture.
Achieve excellence
Promote the acquisition of concepts, knowledge, skills and attitudes required to think
critically, pursue excellence and fulfil one’s personal potential.
Be a dynamic and progressive school with well‐resourced and innovative programmes.
Pursue excellence through a commitment to the continuum of the IB programmes and other
accrediting educational organisations.
Assume responsibility
Stimulate inquiry into local and global issues from multiple perspectives and develop the
understanding that the opinions of others may also be right.
Build a strong sense of personal and social responsibility that sets the foundation for a
balanced lifestyle and encourages service to others, our community and our environment.
Life‐long learners
Challenge our students to become life‐long learners by taking risks, reflecting on their
experiences and preparing for their futures.
Encourage parent and family involvement in each student’s learning to enhance the success of
our programmes.
Excel in standards of education with dedicated teachers and a committed staff who seek
multiple opportunities for professional development.
4
CONTENTS
VISION .................................................................................................................................... 1
MISSION ................................................................................................................................. 1
MANDATE ............................................................................................................................. 3
CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................ 4
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT ...................................................................................... 6
IB MISSION STATEMENT .................................................................................................. 7
IB LEARNER PROFILE ........................................................................................................ 8
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 9
SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM ............................................................. 11
SECONDARY SCHOOL FACULTY ................................................................................. 11
PARENT‐TEACHER ORGANISATION (PTO) ............................................................ 133
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS ............................................................................................... 14
CALENDAR ......................................................................................................................... 14
STAFF .................................................................................................................................... 14
GUESTS ................................................................................................................................. 14
SAFETY AND SECURITY .................................................................................................. 14
ELIGIBILITY FOR CO‐CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ..................................................... 15
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES .......................................................................................... 15
WITHDRAWAL FROM BIS ............................................................................................... 15
BUS TRANSPORT ............................................................................................................... 15
BIS CONTACT GUIDE ‐ WHO DO YOU CONTACT? ................................................. 17
STUDENTS – WHERE TO GO TO FOR HELP ............................................................... 22
STUDENT INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 23
SECONDARY SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST ........................................................................... 24
PE KIT ................................................................................................................................... 25
LOCKERS AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS ................................................................ 25
CAFETERIA ......................................................................................................................... 25
STUDENT COUNCIL ......................................................................................................... 25
SECONDARY SCHOOL POLICY FOR ABSENCES ...................................................... 26
5
EXPECTATIONS of STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS ................................. 28
PARENT WORKSHOPS ..................................................................................................... 29
CURRICULUM MORNINGS ............................................................................................ 29
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ................................. 30
SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING ...................................... 32
SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADING SCALE .................................................................. 33
EFFORT REPORTS .............................................................................................................. 33
UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM BASELINE ASSESSMENTS ........................................... 34
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ASSESSMENT (ISA) ................................................... 34
IB DIPLOMA MOCK EXAMINATIONS ......................................................................... 34
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT: IB Diploma ......................................................................... 34
END OF THE YEAR INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS ........................................................ 35
BIS HONOUR ROLL / DIRECTOR’S & PRINCIPAL’S AWARD ................................ 35
HOMEWORK POLICY ....................................................................................................... 37
BIS DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM ................................................................................ 42
BIS SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORTING CYCLE ....................................................... 43
ENTRANCE POLICIES FOR GRADES 11 and 12 .......................................................... 44
REQUESTS FOR REFERENCES, TRANSCRIPTS, PROOF OF SCHOOL
ATTENDANCE, STUDENT IDENTITY CARDS ........................................................... 46
SECONDARY SCHOOL BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS ........................................... 47
OTHER IMPORTANT EXPECTATIONS ........................................................................ 48
SECONDARY SCHOOL DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES ................................................. 50
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ........................................................................................ 53
INFORMATION ON INSURANCE COVERAGE .......................................................... 58
LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTRE .............................................................................................. 59
BAVARIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CALENDARS & TIMETABLE
2014/2015 ............................................................................................................................... 60
SECONDARY SCHOOL WEEK1‐2 CALENDAR .......................................................... 62
TIMETABLE 2014/2015 ....................................................................................................... 62
6
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT
As BIS students, we are committed to these values in conjunction with our mission statement:
Our international understanding
Explore different perspectives by engaging with your peers
Share your personal heritage
Our community of individuals
Enrich our community with your different perspectives and opinions and respect those of
others
Nurture your own talents and value those of others
Our wealth of opportunity
Take full advantage of the privileges provided by the school
Strive to fulfill your potential
Our commitment to serving others
Hold and spread an awareness of people in need
Proactively contribute to the enrichment of the community
Our community‘s supportive spirit
Respect individual learning
Offer a helping hand
The aims of our school as stated serve not only to complement our mission statement but also to
act as goals against which the effectiveness of the school and its provision can be monitored and
evaluated.
7
IB MISSION STATEMENT
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable
and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world
through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organisation works with schools, governments and
international organizations to develop challenging programmes of
international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active,
compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with
their differences, can also be right.
8
IB LEARNER PROFILE
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their
common humanity and share guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful
world. IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers: They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct
inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this
love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Knowledgeable: They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In
so doing, they acquire in‐depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and
balanced range of disciplines.
Thinkers: They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize
and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators: They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively
in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and
willingly in collaboration with others.
Principled: They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect
for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own
actions and the consequences that accompany them.
Open‐minded: They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are
open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are
accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the
experience.
Caring: They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others.
They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of
others and to the environment.
Risk‐takers: They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought,
and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and
articulate in defending their beliefs.
Balanced: They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to
achieve personal well‐being for themselves and others.
Reflective: They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able
to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and
personal development.
9
INTRODUCTION
BIS SCHOOL PROFILE
The Bavarian International School e.V. was established in 1991 as a non‐profit association
(eingetragener Verein) to serve the international community of the Munich area. The school offers
an excellent quality education with English as the principal language of instruction. BIS is
governed by a Board of Trustees and is accredited by the European Council of International
Schools (ECIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
In August 1998, BIS moved to a permanent facility located in Haimhausen, 20 km northwest of
Munich. The school campus comprises five hectares of land surrounded on three sides by
conservation land and a large public forest. The school estate is home to a 250 year old Schloss
(mansion) modified to suit educational purposes. The campus also has a purpose‐built Primary
School building (opened in January 2007) and a Sports Hall. A suite of science laboratories, a
Library/Media Centre, and a Performance Arts Centre complete the facility. A new Sports Hall was
opened in October 2013.
BIS is organised into the Primary School (Pre‐Reception to Grade 5) and the Secondary School
(Grades 6‐12) for curriculum purposes. There are many extra‐curricular activities at BIS which
include sports teams, student government and Model United Nations, clubs and musical and
drama programmes.
The Primary School is an authorised International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP)
school. The Secondary School is authorised for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Grades 6‐
10, and the International Baccalaureate Diploma for students in Grades 11 and 12, concurrent with
a BIS High School Diploma (which some students may enter instead of the IB Diploma). BIS
graduates go on to study at universities throughout the world. All IB programmes include a strong
commitment to service.
The school has a rigorous English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme including a
Newcomer Centre in Grades 6‐8 for students with little or no formal English. The school also
provides a Mother Tongue programme in Grades 6‐10, as the school strongly encourage families to
maintain academic progress in their home language. The Learning Support department ensures a
well organised approach across the age ranges and continuity of support for secondary students
who require this service.
The school has a dynamic After School Activities programme offering three separate sessions (by
trimester) during the course of the year. Students in the Secondary School may sign up for private
instrument or voice lessons through the coordinating service offered by the Music department.
All Grade 6 students attend the Orientation Camp for 2.5 days in September and students in
Grades 7‐8 participate in a mandatory Outward Bound residential programme in May or June.
Grade 9 students attend the Bike Trip in June which sees them cycle along the Danube from Passau
to Vienna. These trips are interdisciplinary in nature and are part of the formal curriculum.
Academic guides for the MYP and IB Diploma can be found on the school intranet.
10
THE ASSOCIATION OF THE BAVARIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
The Bavarian International School is a non‐profit association (Verein) with an elected Board of
Governors. All parents are automatically members of the Association once they have officially
joined the school. For further information please refer to the Articles of Association available
at the Admissions office.
BIS ACCREDITATIONS AND AUTHORISATIONS
The school has been approved by the government of Bavaria and fully accredited by the
New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) as well the European Council
of International Schools (ECIS).
The school is proud to be an IB World School, authorised to offer the International
Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and
the IB Diploma.
11
SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM
John Barker Secondary School Principal j.barker@bis‐school.com
Brett Meuli Secondary School Deputy Principal
and IB MYP Coordinator
b.meuli@bis‐school.com
Rohan Skene Secondary School Assistant Principal
and IB Diploma Coordinator
r.skene@bis‐school.com
Adrian von Wrede Jervis Director of Studies
and Theory of Knowledge Coordinator
a.vwjervis@bis‐school.com
SECONDARY SCHOOL FACULTY
Surname Subjects/Areas of Responsibility E‐Mail
Ashbee, Clair Humanities c.ashbee@bis‐school.com
Begg, Kylie Science k.begg@bis‐school.com
Bailey, Melissa Science m.bailey@bis‐school.com
Bender, Christa Mathematics c.bender@bis‐school.com
Besant, Denise Science d.besant@bis‐school.com
Biberacher, Agnes German a.biberacher@bis‐school.com
Bradshaw, Duncan German d.bradshaw@bis‐school.com
Brown, Kathleen English k.brown@bis‐school.com
Carney, David Business, Economics d.carney@bis‐school.com
Checkett, Antony Physics a.checkett@bis‐school.com
Cole‐Chu, Emily Head of Counselling e.colechu@bis‐school.com
Collins, Tim Music t.collins@bis‐school.com
Cook, James English j.cook@bis‐school.com
Copp, James Head of Arts, Drama
Pastoral Leader 6‐8
j.copp@bis‐school.com
Court, Bonnie EAL b.court@bis‐school.com
Dawes, Paul Design p.dawes@bis‐school.com
Duke, Christopher Economics, Business; ToK c.duke@bis‐school.com
Erickson, Cari Humanities c.erickson@bis‐school.com
Escat Sanchez, David Spanish d.escat@bis‐school.com
Eves, Benjamin Head of Physical Education b.eves@bis‐school.com
Fenney, Alicia English a.fenney@bis‐school.com
Foley, Erin Science e.foley@bis‐school.com
Freitas, Claudia Biology c.freitas@bis‐school.com
Fu, Daping Chinese, Newcomer Centre d.fulaoshi@bis‐school.com
Gonçalves, Ana Head of Language Acquisition French, Spanish
and Chinese a.goncalves@bis‐school.com
Halliday, Sarah Drama s.halliday@bis‐school.com
Hallensleben, Hans‐Hermann German h.hallensleben@bis‐school.com
Heath, David History, Humanities, ToK d.heath@bis‐school.com
Herrington, Nancy Physical Education n.herrington@bis‐school.com
Ibrahim, Nadine Mathematics n.ibrahim@bis‐school.com
12
Joseph, Siegfried Alumni Coordinator s.joseph@bis‐school.com
Kempa, Doris German d.kempa@bis‐school.com
Keulers, Vikki Secondary School Counselor v.keulers@bis‐school.com
King, Elizabeth Art e.king@bis‐school.com
King, Kevin Music k.king@bis‐school.com
Lawrence, John Learning Support j.lawrence@bis‐school.com
Legan, Jennifer Learning Support Coordinator j.legan@bis‐school.com
Letschert, Henrietta CAS and MYP, Action Service Coordinator h.letschert@bis‐school.com
Madden, Finbarr Head of English 6‐12 f.madden@bis‐school.com
Mahony, Stephanie Physical Education s.mahony@bis‐school.com
Malek, Loay Mathematics, Pastoral Leader 11‐12 l.abdelmalek@bis‐school.com
Marehart, Eva Head of German e.marehart@bis‐school.com
Martin, Tia English, Yearbook Coordinator t.martin@bis‐school.com
Moorhouse, Jean Dean of Students j.moorhouse@bis‐school.com
Mountfield, Dawn Learning Support d.mountfield@bis‐school.com
Muelle, Marianella Mother Tongue Facilitator m.muelle@bis‐school.com
Nadj, Natasa Science n.nadj@bis‐school.com
Nevers, Frederic ICT, Design f.nevers@bis‐school.com
OʹKeeffe, David Head of Science, Biology, Environmental
Science
d.okeeffe@bis‐school.com
Paddle, Hermione English h.paddle@bis‐school.com
Piesnack, Sabine German s.piesnack@bis‐school.com
Pierce, Leith Humanities l.pierce@bis‐school.com
Pitzel, Heather English h.pitzel@bis‐school.com
Proudler, Sarah Art s.proudler@bis‐school.com
Raftery, Andrew Mathematics a.raftery@bis‐school.com
Reeves, Martin Head of Humanities, Geography
Trips Coordinator
m.reeves@bis‐school.com
Rharmili, Vincent Mathematics v.rharmili@bis‐school.com
Roberts, Matthew Geography, Humanities, Pastoral Leader 9‐
10
m.roberts@bis‐school.com
Roibu, Corneliu Physical Education c.roibu@bis‐school.com
Royal, Richard History, Humanities, personal project
coordinator
r.royal@bis‐school.com
Rzonca, Janusz Head of EAL j.rzonca@bis‐school.com
Salter, Tim Mathematics t.salter@bis‐school.com
Sanchez, Cristina Spanish c.sanchez@bis‐school.com
Sartor, Phillip Head of Design p.sartor@bis‐school.com
Stevens, Anna EAL, Newcomer Centre a.stevens@bis‐school.com
Stevenson, Richard ITGS, Design r.stevenson@bis‐school.com
Schuyler, Andrew Physical Education a.schuyler@bis‐school.com
White, Stephen ASA Director s.white@bis‐school.com
Vander Stoep, Ken Design k.vanderstoep@bis‐school.com
Yamamoto, Michiyo Japanese m.yamamoto@bis‐school.com
Zimmermann, Kara Mathematics k.zimmermann@bis‐school.com
13
PARENT‐TEACHER ORGANISATION (PTO)
Our goals are to help everyone feel at home in the BIS Community and to encourage mutual
support between faculty, parents or guardians, and students. We aim to enrich the overall
educational and cultural experiences for students and families at BIS. The PTO objectives are to
facilitate communication, support the school, enhance the social network within BIS, and
coordinate and host special events and clubs throughout the year.
PTO Executive Board
Chair Jo Giesen [email protected] Vice-Chair Anita Agudelo [email protected] Treasurer Leslie Halladay [email protected] Secretary Weena Jones [email protected] Communications Anne Berutti [email protected] IT Coordinator Laila Scholler [email protected] Facilities Coordinator Cheryl Johnstone [email protected] Welcome Coordinators Barbara Michel
Anita Agudelo [email protected]
The PTO is run by volunteers (all parents of current students) and participation in all PTO
activities is most welcome! There is no joining fee, and every family automatically becomes part of
the PTO. To learn more about the PTO, please feel free to contact us at PTO@bis‐school.com or
check out our pages on the BIS Intranet. PTO General Meetings are held on Wednesdays, usually
once a month from 09:15‐ 10:45 in the BIS Auditorium or Cafeteria.
PTO General Meetings 2014‐15
August Wednesday, 27 August September Wednesday, 24 September October Wednesday, 15 OctoberNovember Wednesday, 12 NovemberJanuary Wednesday, 14 January February Wednesday, 11 February March Wednesday, 11 March April Wednesday, 29 April May Wednesday, 27 May
PTO Events 2014‐15
Welcoming New Families Wednesday, 20 August PTO Welcome Back Breakfast Thursday, 21 August PTO Welcome Picnic Sunday, 07 September PTO Ski and Sports Sale Saturday, 18 October PTO Primary School Spooky Carnival Thursday, 23 October PTO Christkindlmarkt Saturday, 29 NovemberPTO Quiz Night Friday, 13 March PTO Maifest Sunday, 10 May
14
PTO Staff Appreciation Lunch Wednesday, 03 June
FOR ALL BIS SCHOOL EVENTS
Check the events calendar on the BIS intranet: http://home.bis‐school.com
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS The school arranges for individual and class photos for students with a professional
photographer. Parents have the option to purchase these photos. The official school
photographs will be taken throughout the day on Monday, 22 September 2014 for the
Secondary School.
CALENDAR The 2014‐15 school calendar has been approved by the Board and can be found on the
school website. A calendar of events can also be found on the school intranet site.
STAFF BIS employs over 120 well‐qualified and experienced teaching staff representing around
15 different countries. In addition, BIS has more than 20 support staff.
GUESTS Guests are welcomed at school. Students who wish to bring a guest must request
permission from the Secondary School Principal three days in advance and obtain
permission. All guests must have a BIS community member sponsor and a “Declaration of
Responsibility” form must be signed and submitted to the Secondary School Office three
days prior the arrival of the guest. Usually, a guest may visit for a maximum of two days.
Guests must be age appropriate and abide by the Student Code of Conduct. Visitors are
not permitted in the first two weeks or the last week of the school year.
SAFETY AND SECURITY Safety and security are high priorities at the Bavarian International School. Security
programmes operate at a number of different levels and locations. The school is in close
contact with state and local authorities, police and accredited foreign representations, all
of whom inform the school of any potential security concerns. In addition, the school
campus is monitored by security cameras.
All visitors are to report to Reception at the main gate office for registration. A visitor’s
badge will be issued and the person to be visited is to pick up the visitor from the
reception. Visitors interested in enrolling their children are to be met at Reception at the
main gate. These visitors will be accompanied by the admissions officer or another
member of staff and do not require a visitor’s badge. The admissions officer keeps a record
of all prospective parents. BIS parents are not required to wear visitor’s badges.
15
ELIGIBILITY FOR CO‐CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Co‐curricular activities are defined as those occurring outside the timetabled academic
curriculum. A student’s participation in events that require the student to miss part or all
of a school day will come under review if a student is not making the desired effort or
achieving satisfactory grades in his or her academic subjects.
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES In the event of an emergency during the school day, it may be necessary for all BIS
families to be contacted by telephone, email or text. A detailed letter outlining the
method of operation of this system will be provided to all families during the first
month of the school year.
WITHDRAWAL FROM BIS
When a student is to be withdrawn permanently from school, parents BIS should inform
the Admissions office in writing as soon as they know they will withdraw. This will enable
the Secondary School Office to prepare leaving documents. Before such documents can be
issued, a withdrawal form must be prepared which checks on such things as class texts,
library books, outstanding fees, forwarding addresses and so forth. Since preparing
multiple copies of leaving documents, past reports and official transcripts is a time
consuming task, up to 15 working days will be required to prepare official leaving
documents.
BUS TRANSPORT
BIS employs local bus companies to provide a bus service for students, and all buses meet
the safety requirements under German law. Each school day drivers collect and drop off
children from all over the greater Munich area. The safety of each child is of primary
concern.
Please notify the Bus Coordinator, Ms Alrun Bauer, if your child does not require the bus
on a particular day or if you are coming to school to collect your child in person. Students
are expected to follow the bus rules and behave appropriately on the bus at all times.
All parents will receive an information package about the bus system at the beginning of
the school year. Bus students and parents are required to sign the Code of Conduct for the
School Bus form, which is part of this package. Students who do not observe this Code of
Conduct will be given a warning by the Bus Coordinator or the relevant school Principal.
The Business Director may become involved as well. If a problem persists, the student
may be denied access to the bus service.
Students may get permission to bring a school guest on the bus, provided permission has
been obtained from Ms Bauer who will verify if there is room on the bus.
16
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation is available to Secondary School students. The Munich Transit
Authority runs a bus (number 693) daily between the Lohhof S‐Bahn station and the
Schlossklause in Haimhausen, which is located in front of the school. Buses do not run on
public holidays.
MONDAY ‐ FRIDAY
FROM S‐BAHN TO SCHLOSSKLAUSE FROM SCHLOSSKLAUSE TO S‐BAHN
Leaving Arriving Leaving Arriving
7:58 8:07 5:34 5:43
8:40 8:51 6:14 6:23
9:38 9:49 6:34 6:43
10:58 11:09 6:54 7:03
12:38 12:48 7:14 7:25
13:18 13:27 7:36 7:45
13:38 13:47 7:56 8:05
14:18 14:47 9:16 9:25
15:18 15:27 13:25 13:34
15:47 15:56 14:10 14:18
16:38 16:47 14:56 15:05
17:18 17:27 16:14 16:23
18:18 18:27 16:16 16:25
19:18 19:27 17:56 18:05
18:56 19:05
SATURDAY
FROM S‐BAHN TO SCHLOSSKLAUSE FROM SCHLOSSKLAUSE TO S‐BAHN
Leaving Arriving Leaving Arriving
8:38 8:49 8:11 8:25
11:38 11:49 11:11 11:25
15:18 15:29 14:51 15:05
17:18 17:29 16:31 16:45
SUNDAY
FROM S‐BAHN TO SCHLOSSKLAUSE FROM SCHLOSSKLAUSE TO S‐BAHN
Leaving Arriving Leaving Arriving
9:38 9:49 9:11 9:25
17:18 17:29 16:11 16:25
17
BIS CONTACT GUIDE ‐ WHO DO YOU CONTACT?
The following plan is based on the understanding that whenever a question, issue or
problem arises the solution is first to be sought at its source. In any situation it is best to go
to the person directly concerned in order to ensure that parents:
gain first‐hand information
get the complete story
achieve a quick and appropriate response
support the concept of open communication and join us as a partner in learning
In general, if it involves a student’s day‐to‐day education, classroom activities,
relationships or requirements parents should first contact the student’s teacher, either
personally or in writing. The following issues should be addressed directly to the
student’s mentor or teacher:
MENTOR
In general, if a query involves a student’s general well‐being, friendships, adjustment to
change, the first contact is with the student’s mentor, either personally or in writing.
The following issues should be addressed directly to your child’s mentor:
student behaviour
classroom and school relationships
questions about general day‐to‐day routines and expectations
missing items
TEACHER
The following should be addressed to the student’s subject teacher:
subject or course information
class equipment and requirements
homework
curriculum information
project or research requirements
student progress
teaching or classroom incidents
field trips relating to that particular subject
18
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
Sciences Dr David O’Keeffe
Arts Mr James Copp
Modern Foreign Languages Ms Ana Goncalves
German Ms Eva Marehart
Mathematics Ms Nadine Ibrahim
Humanities Mr Martin Reeves
English Mr Finbarr Madden
Physical and Health Education (PHE) Mr Ben Eves
English as an Additional Language (EAL) Mr Janusz Rzonca
Technology Mr Phil Sartor
Learning Support Coordinator Ms Jennifer Legan
Course information
Curriculum information
Field trips in the subject area
IB DIPLOMA, MYP AND BIS HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA COORDINATORS (MR. ROHAN SKENE, MR. BRETT MEULI AND MS. JEAN MOORHOUSE)
Questions about the specific academic programme
Advice on subject selection
Examination entries and examination fees (these are in addition to school fees)
PASTORAL CARE LEADERS (MR. LOAY MALEK – GRADES 11‐12, MR. MATT ROBERTS – GRADES 9‐10 AND MR. JAMES COPP –
GRADES 6‐8)
If you have concerns about your child’s progress in more than one subject or in
pastoral matters, the pastoral care leader will collate information on your behalf
manage the process.
STUDENT COUNSELLORS (MS EMILY COLE‐CHU AND MS VIKKI KEULERS / University and Careers: Ms JEAN MOORHOUSE)
Personal matters
Student welfare with concerns relating to social and work habits
University and careers advise
SERVICE COORDINATOR (MS HENRIETTA LETSCHERT) All matters relating to Action and Service in Grades 6‐10 and CAS in
Grades 11 and 12
If you would like offer or to participate in a service activity
19
ALUMNI COORDINATOR (MR SIEGFRIED JOSEPH)
All matters relating to alumni
ATHLETICS DIRECTOR (MR STEVE WHITE)
Athletics Programme ‐ Sports competition, coaching, team trips, team issues
After School Activities Programme
If more information is required or the situation is unable to be resolved you may wish to
approach the relevant Principal (Primary or Secondary School), Deputy and Assistant
Principals (Primary and Secondary) or Curriculum Coordinator (IB PYP, IB MYP, IB
Diploma) with the knowledge of the teacher concerned.
PRINCIPALS, DEPUTY PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS
(PRINCIPAL: MR. JOHN BARKER; DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: MR. BRETT MEULI; ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL:
MR. ROHAN SKENE; DIRECTOR OF STUDIES: MR. ADRIAN VON WREDE‐JERVIS)
In addition to the above, parents may wish to consult the Principal, Deputy Principal or
Assistant Principal directly on matters of:
Timetable or rooming issues
Broad issues involving the particular school section – e.g. homework policy,
student behaviour or morale
Communication and information relating to the section of school and its operation
Student reporting structures
Tutoring
School trips
Issues related directly to the work of the particular Principal, Deputy Principal or
Assistant Principal
First point of contact for teachers in relation to professional and personal issues
If more information is required or the situation is unable to be resolved you may wish to
approach the Director, with the knowledge of the Principal concerned.
DIRECTOR (DR CHRISSIE SORENSON)
Allocation and recruitment of teachers
Community and school communication and relations
Whole‐school issues such as security and application of school policies
School communications
Strategic planning – including facility development and the school environment
Financial policy and oversight
20
ADMISSIONS (MS ERIKA SWEDBERG; MS KATHARINA LIPPACHER)
HEALTH (MS JULIA LÖNKER) Matters related to student health
BUS COORDINATION (MS ALRUN BAUER) TRANSPORTATION MANAGER
CAFETERIA (CATERING SERVICE ‐ ARAMARK)
ROOM BOOKINGS (BIS RECEPTIONIST)
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE (MR. MARCO DAHL) BUSINESS DIRECTOR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (MR. KEVIN SKIDMORE) HEAD OF IT
BUSINESS DIRECTOR (MR. MARCO DAHL) HEAD OF IT (MR. KEVIN SKIDMORE)
Enrolment enquiries
Student admissions
Government relations /subsidies etc.
Parking
School buildings and facilities (including cleaning,
safety & security)
Administrative personnel (IT & Facilities)
Bus transport
Accounts and finances – school fee issues, payments,
refunds etc.
Cafeteria
Administrative personnel
IT issues or requests
1:1 programme technical issues
If more information is required or the situation is unable to be resolved you may wish to approach
the Director, with the knowledge of the Business Director or the Head of IT.
Matters related to strategic or educational planning and the development of operational policies
should be addressed to the Director who will consult with the School Board (Chair: Dr Michael
Schulz).
In summary, as depicted below, there are three main points of contact. We trust that in following
this contact guide you will receive timely and appropriate attention to your suggestions, queries
and concerns, and that our commitment to open communication will assist in maintaining the
concept of an effective, efficient and friendly community of learners driven by the school’s
mission.
21
GENERAL COMMUNICATION POINTS
1. Students should make the subject teacher or their mentor teacher their first point of
contact, unless they wish to consult the counselor on a personal matter.
2. We encourage open dialogue between parents and teachers. We ask that you schedule
a time to speak with your child’s subject teacher or mentor to enhance open
communication, rather than approach them in person at school.
3. If using email, please address the person you wish a response/action from in the ‘To’
section; if people are listed in the ‘cc’ section this means that the email is for their
information only and no action on their behalf is required.
EDUCATIONAL
MATTERS
Mentor Teacher
Curriculum Leader/
Pastoral Leader
Deputy Principal
Principal
Director
ADMINISTRATIVE
MATTERS
Business Director
Director
POLICY AND
PLANNING
MATTERS
Director
School Board
22
STUDENTS – WHERE TO GO TO FOR HELP
If you are in trouble or there is an accident or danger:
Mr John Barker, Secondary School Principal
Mr Brett Meuli, Secondary School Deputy Principal
Dr Chrissie Sorenson, Director
Ms Julia Lönker, School Nurse or the nearest adult
If there is an accident or problem in the playground or cafeteria:
The nearest duty teacher who will be wearing an orange vest so you can find him or her easily
If you are not feeling well or need help with any health issues:
Ms Julia Lönker, the school nurse, situated on the first floor of the middle building
If you are worried, sad or experiencing conflict or difficulty with relationships:
Ms Emily Cole‐Chu, Secondary School Counselor
Ms Vikki Keulers, Secondary School Counselor or your Mentor
If you need help organising yourself for school, setting up a study plan:
Ms Emily Cole‐Chu or Ms Vikki Keulers, Secondary School Counselors
Mr Rohan Skene, Assistant Principal and IB Diploma Coordinator
Mr Adrian von Wrede‐Jervis, Director of Studies
Ms Jean Moorhouse, Dean of Students, University Counselor
Mr Brett Meuli, Deputy Principal and IB MYP Coordinator
If you have an IT problem:
The IT help desk in the Library
If you have a question about school buses:
Ms Alrun Bauer, Transport Manager
If you have a question about universities and careers:
Ms Jean Moorhouse, Dean of Students, University Counselor
If you want to change an IB Diploma subject:
Mr Rohan Skene, Assistant Principal and IB Diploma Coordinator
If you require information or assistance relating to IB MYP:
Mr Brett Meuli, Deputy Principal and IB MYP Coordinator
If you need advice about a subject:
The Head of Department (HOD) in the subject or your subject teacher
If you have questions about Community and Service or CAS:
Ms Henrietta Letschert, DP CAS and MYP Action and Service Coordinator
If you want to bring a friend to school or for further help with anything not listed here
Secondary School Office
23
STUDENT INFORMATION
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
The school day begins at 09:00 and finishes at 16:00 Monday to Thursday. The school day
ends at 14:20 on Friday. The school is open from 08:45‐18:00 on Monday to Thursday and
closes at 17:00 on Friday.
Students should plan to arrive to school early enough to go their locker and drop off or pick
up the appropriate material for the first registration at 09:00. If students arrive after 09:00,
they must report to the Secondary School Office to sign in and then report to their first class.
Students arriving late to school without a valid reason will be marked as late. Students that
are late three times in a three week period without a valid reason will make up the time in
detention. Chronic patterns of lateness will require a meeting between the parents and the
principal.
Parents, who wish to take their child out of school during operational hours, must contact the
Secondary School Office prior to the event. Students who leave school early before normal
dismissal time must sign out at the Secondary School Office.
Diploma students earn an exeat in January of Grade 11 if they achieve at least a GPA of 5.0
and effort GPA of 3.2 or above. Exeats may be awarded with exception to students with a
GPA less than 5 but greater than 4 who have an effort GPA of 3.5 or above, and all CAS
requirements are fulfilled. This exeat allows them to leave the school campus during their
non‐contact times and during lunch. Students are required to leave their exeat cards at
Reception and to pick them up when they return to school. The exeat may only be used by
the student it is issued to and abuse of this privilege results in a withdrawal of the exeat
privilege. In addition, if there are concerns about lack of academic effort on the part of a
student, the exeat privilege will be withdrawn.
Afternoon buses leave as soon as possible after 16:00 on Monday‐Thursday and 14:20 on
Friday. Transportation for students who participate in after‐school enrichment or athletic
activities is limited.
BIS is a ʺclosed campusʺ which means that students are expected to be on campus during the
school day unless they have a school‐sponsored field trip or permission to leave campus from
a parent/guardian or are in the IB Diploma and have an exeat card.
24
SECONDARY SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
Secondary School students in Grades 11‐12 will be provided with a daily binder and subject
dividers. They must purchase white, lined paper. Students use the daily binders for all their
subjects. Once the current topic is completed students should remove the work from the
Daily Binder and file it in subject specific subject binders at home. Secondary School students
in Grades 6‐10 will be supplied with notebooks for all appropriate subjects. All students are
provided with a homework diary and teachers expect students to write down their
homework for every lesson. The school will provide necessary books and texts to support the
curriculum for each subject as well. Students are expected to bring the necessary stationery
equipment to all subject classes every day.
In addition to the general supply items listed above, students should acquire the supplies
listed below that are specific to particular subjects.
SUBJECT SPECIFIC SUPPLIES
Art
A slim A‐4 hard folder (for handouts)
2 pencils (HB or 2B) and (3B or 4B)
30 cm ruler
An eraser and pencil sharpener
A drawing compass and protractor
A glue stick(s)
A medium black marker
A packet of colored pencils (12 min.)
A box of paints and a brush
A basic digital camera (for Grade 11 and 12
students in IB Diploma Visual Arts)
Music
A slim music manuscript book
Instrument (if applicable)
Science
Sharp pencils and a pencil sharpener
A ruler (30 cm)
A calculator
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
A translating dictionary
Humanities
Writing equipment and notebook
Calculator, protector, drawing compass, HB
or 2B pencils, 30 cm ruler
Physical Education
A BIS PE uniform (to be purchased at school)
Training shoes for use within the gym (these
shoes should not be the same shoes that are used
outside for recess)
Soap/shower gel and towel for showering
Personal hygiene products‐ deodorants etc.
Track pants, sweatshirt or rain jacket for outdoor
use in colder weather
English
Highlighters in assorted colours
Language B‐ French, German, Spanish
A pocket dictionary
Mathematics
A ruler (30 cm)
HB or 2B pencils
A protractor
A drawing compass
A scientific calculator (with sin, cos, tan buttons) –
for Grades 9‐12 a TI 84 plus is required
Please note: All students in Grades 6 ‐10 will receive a stationery pack on the first day of
school that includes basic exercise books (note books) for all subjects.
25
PHYSICAL EDUCATION KIT
First Week
An independent company is again offering the school PE kits with BIS logo for this coming
school year. They will be in school providing some PE kit size fitting and direct ordering for
the first week of school and will be situated in the Sports Hall. Delivery will take
approximately 14 days after ordering.
Please clearly label all PE kit with the student’s name. This should be on the label and the
clothing itself.
After the First Week
Only online orders via BIS Homepage (www.bis‐school.com) will be accepted. Delivery time
is approximately 14 days.
LOCKERS AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS
Each student will be issued a locker and the student is responsible for bringing in a lock to
secure his/her belongings. Students are asked to deposit an extra key in the Secondary School
Office in an envelope with their name and grade in case of an emergency or lost key. The
office recommends key padlocks instead of combination locks. Also, please encourage your
child not to leave anything valuable such as wallets and jewellery unattended in bags.
Bags, coats etc. left lying in common areas or hallways may be removed for security and
emergency egress.
All personal clothing and equipment must be clearly labelled with the student’s name.
CAFETERIA
BIS employs a food service company, Aramark, which provides two set menus each day
including a vegetarian and a non‐vegetarian choice. Students may also purchase food items à
la carte. Please call phone 08133‐917 180 for more information.
STUDENT COUNCIL
The Student Council provides a forum for students to express their ideas and views on issues
related to their school experience. It also allows students to contribute to school
improvement. The Student Council is made up of representatives from each class. The
Student Council serves as the “voice of the students” and organizes activities such as spirit
days, dances and communityi service events throughout the year. Elections for office bearers,
who must be in Grade 11, are held in December. Mentor group representatives are elected at
the beginning of each new academic year.
26
THE 2014‐2015 STUDENT COUNCIL EXECUTIVE:
President: Jonathan White
Vice President: Maya Morsli
Treasurer: Spencer Thellman
Secretary: Ana Maria Roibu
Charities: Isabel Wiese
Sports: James Smith
Publicity: Gabriella Thompson
SECONDARY SCHOOL POLICY FOR ABSENCES
Students are expected to attend school each day, all day and be on time for the start of the day
and all lessons. Those who are absent or late to school for any reason need to bring in a parent
note or parents must email or call Secondary School Office, telephone 08133‐917‐151, Fax
08133‐917‐105 or email secondary@bis‐school.com. However, if a parent wishes to request
permission to take a student out of school or if a student has a health condition that will
necessitate an extended time away from school, please contact the Secondary School Principal
or Deputy Principal.
Please assist us in ensuring that students are safe by letting us know as soon as possible if a
student will not be at school on any given day. The Secondary School Office will follow up
with phone calls if they do not hear from parents, but you will appreciate that this can be very
time‐consuming as parents cannot always be contacted for this important verification process.
Students may not excuse themselves or their peers from school; only parents or guardians can
perform this function.
Outside of the school operational hours, you may leave a message on the schoolʹs answering
machine to substantiate the absence.
ABSENCES IMPACT LEARNING
When a student is absent from school and makes up homework and tests, only part of the
learning process proceeds normally. When students are absent, they miss:
The interaction which goes on in classroom discussions and beyond.
The learning which come through classroom activities.
The possibility to ask questions to clarify homework, lectures, activities and discussions.
On‐going small group work and projects.
The opportunity to take out books and materials needed for research.
The opportunity to use the school’s technological tools for research.
27
In accordance with German law, BIS expects students to attend school 100% of the days that
comprise an academic school year. BIS may impose disciplinary consequences on those
students who do not meet the attendance requirement. The school will consider the repeat
of a year for any student with attendance of less than 85%. If students are absent from
school, they are responsible for making up the work missed. If students go on a school trip,
academic or sports, they are required to see all their teachers in advance and record the work
to be completed.
RELIGIOUS OR CULTURAL HOLIDAYS
BIS understands that students of various religions within the school observe diverse holidays.
The school respects and accepts observations of various holidays and requests that parents
apply for permission from the Secondary School Principal when they wish their children to
be absent due to the observation of special religious holidays.
FAMILY TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL DESIGNATED HOLIDAYS
Living internationally presents great opportunities for travel. We encourage families to take
advantage of the many rich experiences that can provide life‐time memories. However,
planned trips should not conflict with school days. Parents are asked that when trips are
planned, flights are scheduled to avoid having students miss school days. Teachers will not
be required to make special arrangements for students who miss school because of
unscheduled holidays. Every effort will continue to be made to support the needs of students
who miss school due to an illness, an emergency or a situation beyond the family’s control.
Again, German law requires students to be in school every day.
PLANNED ABSENCES FROM SCHOOL, SPORTS TRIPS OR FIELD TRIPS
1. The trip organizer sends out a list to Secondary School teachers of all students
participating in an event that necessitates students absence from school in advance of
the event. The Secondary School Office will keep a list on file of all trips going out in a
particular week
2. Any students of concern with regards to academic performance will be withdrawn
from trips.
28
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS
BIS students will be more successful in achieving their academic potential if they, along
with parents and teachers, meet the following expectations.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO: 1. Abide by the Student Code of Conduct; 2. Come to class prepared with required class materials;
3. Make sure that they understand the criteria and expectations for each assessment task;
4. Keep up to date with all relevant information on ManageBac;
5. Keep a neat and orderly homework diary and record their homework for each of their
classes in the diary on a daily basis;
6. Take assessments on the assigned day. If students are absent from class, they are
responsible for the work that is missed. See Late Work/Absentee guidelines below:
If a student is absent, then the student is expected to take responsibility for his/her
learning and see the teacher to negotiate deadlines for missed assessment tasks;
Students must inform teachers at least one lesson before a planned absence(s) (e.g. ‐
sport trips, academic daytrips, etc.). Students are expected to make up any work
that they miss;
7. Submit his or her own work to the teacher. If a student chooses to submit work that is
not entirely his or her own, then this act can be considered plagiarism. A student who
plagiarises is subject to consequences.
PARENTS ARE ASKED TO: 1. Support school policies on behaviour and attendance;
2. Familiarise themselves with and regularly check ManageBac;
3. Monitor their child’s homework diary to make sure that it is neat and orderly;
4. Review and sign their child’s homework diary once per week in an effort to monitor
their childʹs homework and performance at BIS;
5. Provide a quiet, comfortable place without distractions to revise and to complete
homework;
6. Initiate and encourage discussions with their child on local, world and/or family
issues in a manner that engages your child and stimulates his/her thinking;
7. Bring problems and concerns directly to the appropriate teacher for clarification
and resolution (see BIS Contact Guide);
8. Provide a consistent sleep schedule. Young adolescents need a minimum of 8 hours
of sleep;
9. Provide a well‐balanced diet which includes a healthy breakfast before school;
10. Share and communicate any special circumstances or problems (to the teacher,
counsellor, Deputy Principal or Principal) that may have an effect on your child’s
behaviour, attitude and/or academic performance;
29
11. Contact the Pastoral Leader to request work that their son/daughter has missed due
to an extended absence due to illness. The Pastoral Leaders will contact teachers to
collect missed work and make arrangements with parents to send it home;
12. Dedicate time and thought to the continual improvement of BIS.
TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO: 1. Engage students in the effective delivery of on curriculum;
2. Effectively use ManageBac as the primary assessment and information platform with
students and parents, including adherence to the ManageBac protocol;
3. Communicate criteria and expectations for each assessment task to students before
students begin to work on the task;
4. Provide helpful feedback on an on‐going basis;
5. Return a marked assessment task (or a collection of related tasks) with feedback within
two weeks after the student has submitted the task or collection of tasks (under normal
circumstances, barring illness, holidays etc.);
6. Keep accurate records on each studentʹs performance;
7. Consult BIS student records if they require additional information to meet the learning
needs of a particular student(s);
8. Make every effort to ensure that students record homework in their homework diary;
9. Use a student’s homework diary as a tool to communicate with parents about their
child’s performance;
10. Employ a range of strategies to assist student learning and to provide differentiated
tasks where indicated;
11. Provide English language support specific to their subject area; 12. Break down complex assessment tasks into steps and provide students with feedback
as they complete a step;
13. Be available outside of lesson time to assist students.
PARENT WORKSHOPS
The Secondary School runs a number of workshops over the course of the year to provide
parents with the opportunity to be well informed about our programmes. These
workshops are listed in the Events Calendar and parents are strongly encouraged to
attend.
COFFEE MORNINGS
Grade level coffee mornings are offered from 09.15 – 10.15 am to keep parents informed
about the developments in the programmes their children are following. Documentation
issued at such meetings is also sent out digitally for parents unable to attend. These events
are listed in the Events Calendar and parents are strongly encouraged to attend.
30
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
The Bavarian International Schoolʹs network provides teachers and students with a tool to
enhance teaching and learning. The network allows students to acquire, use and present
information in a variety of ways and to communicate with people all over the world. Examples of
network use may include:
Use of general applications for presenting work such as word processing, and multimedia
development;
Use of general applications for data manipulation such as spread‐sheets and databases;
Access information for research purposes via the Internet;
Access information from the school’s Intranet;
Send and receive email using the allocated school email account, or other private email accounts.
All teachers, students and parents (in Grades 6‐12) have access to ManageBac, the school’s digital
learning platform.
The Secondary School is well equipped with 1:1 laptop computers for all students, laptop carts
and laptop computers for all teachers.
All student users who have BIS network accounts must comply with the terms and conditions
expressed in the BIS Acceptable Use Document. This document, which is to be signed by all
students and parents at the beginning of the year, specifically states the rights and responsibilities
of all network users and requires all network users to use their account for appropriate
communication, education and research and collaborative work. The use of the BIS network is a
privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use may result in the cancellation of your privilege and
other appropriate disciplinary consequences.
STUDENT LAPTOP PROGRAMME
Bavarian International School, in accordance with its Mission and Mandate, actively promotes the
appropriate use of technology and responsible digital citizenship to provide an innovative and
collaborative educational experience. To that end all students in Grades 7‐12 will have a laptop
provided for the start of the academic year with Grade 6 laptops issued in November. BIS issues
each student at designated grades with a laptop and protective case together with accessories. All
software needed for the curriculum is installed and maintained on the computer by IT Support.
Students will be expected to arrive at school each day with the laptop fully charged. Students will
be required to have the Secondary School Acceptable Use Agreement and Laptop Use Agreement
forms signed by both their parent/guardian and themselves prior to receiving a laptop from BIS.
Each student must comply at all times with the terms stated in this Laptop Handbook and
Acceptable Use Agreement. Any failure to comply will result in disciplinary action including
removal of the laptop which at all times remains the property of the school. In case of damage,
loss or theft, parents should notify the school as soon as possible. The school requests that parents
complete all the relevant insurance or police paperwork and inform the school immediately.
Failure to do so may delay the issuing of a replacement laptop to the student. If the laptop is
missing or stolen in school during normal school hours, 09:00 ‐ 16:00, students should report the
loss immediately to IT Support.
31
During May and June of each school year, all student laptops and chargers will be returned
to the IT department for annual maintenance or return to the leasing company. There can
be no exceptions to this as students are not reissued the same computer in the following
school year. This does not apply to Grade 11 due to extended essay and Grade 12
transitional study expectations. Grade 12 students are to hand in their school laptops
immediately after completion of their final IB Diploma examination.
32
SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT AND
REPORTING
Assessment and reporting are integral parts of the teaching and learning process, designed to
facilitate and monitor the progress of student learning. The Secondary School uses ManageBac as
its primary assessment reporting tool, as it is open to students and parents in real‐time.
Effective assessments should:
improve student learning as well as teaching practice;
returned, with assesses levels and relevant comments in a reasonable period of time;
are a continuous, on‐going process;
are directly related to learning outcomes/curriculum standards;
are criterion based;
use a wide range of multiple strategies/tools;
have clear criteria that are known and understood in advance;
involve frequent opportunities for students to be assessed in authentic context;
engage the learner in the reflection of their learning.
We also believe that assessment should be:
honest, accurate, fair and reliable;
modified to suit individual students;
user‐friendly for both teachers and students;
cumulative, consistent and valid;
clear, concise and as culturally neutral as possible;
significant, engaging, relevant and challenging;
positive and encourage growth;
able to cover a broad spectrum of understanding, knowledge and skills;
linked to/suited to the task undertaken;
regularly reported to students and parents.
Assessment Tools:
To ensure that our assessment tools enhance the learning process and the development of our
students, teachers use a variety of diagnostic, formative and summative assessment processes.
Examples include:
Diagnostic (prior knowledge) – brainstorms, surveys and polls, mind‐maps;
Formative (assessment for learning) – self‐assessment and reflection, peer assessment,
mock examinations, teachers’ observation records, interviews and checklists, student
conference notes, work folders, International Schools Assessment and other external
assessments;
Summative (assessment of learning) – criteria‐based assessments (written, oral, individual
and group presentations), tests and examinations, performances and demonstrations.
33
SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADING SCALE
The generic grade descriptors used in the Secondary School are stated below. They should be
considered as broad descriptions: simpler, more‐generalized statements about the skills and
knowledge mastered by the student. They are not specific to any particular subject‐group
assessment criteria.
The assessment philosophy established for the IB MYP and IB DP requires a criterion‐based
approach rather than one that is norm‐referenced.
BIS Grade Descriptor
7
(Excellent)
A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge
and skills, and the ability to apply them almost faultlessly in a wide
variety of situations. There is consistent evidence of analysis,
synthesis and evaluation where appropriate. The student consistently
demonstrates originality and insight and always produces work of
high quality.
6
(Very good)
A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge
and skills, and the ability to apply them in a wide variety of situations.
There is consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation
where appropriate. The student generally demonstrates originality
and insight.
5
(Good)
A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge
and skills, and the ability to apply them in a variety of situations. The
student generally shows evidence of analysis, synthesis and
evaluation where appropriate. The student generally demonstrates
originality and insight.
4
(Satisfactory)
A good general understanding of the required knowledge and skills,
and the ability to apply them effectively in normal situations. There is
occasional evidence of the skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
3
(Mediocre)
Limited achievement against most of the objectives, or clear
difficulties in some areas. The student demonstrates a limited
understanding of the required knowledge and skills and is only able
to apply them fully in normal situations with support.
2
(Poor)
Very limited achievement against all of the objectives. The student has
difficulty understanding the required knowledge and skills and is
unable to apply them fully in normal situations, even with support.
1
(Very Poor)
Insufficient achievement in terms of the objectives.
34
UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM BASELINE ASSESSMENTS
Students in the Secondary School take the University of Durham Baseline Assessments to
establish benchmark potential as determined by academic coordinators.
AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS ASSESSMENT (ISA) In October, the school administers a series of benchmark assessments to all Grades 3, 5, 7 and 9
students. These benchmark assessments are based upon internationally endorsed reading and
mathematical literacy frameworks developed by the Programme of International Student
Assessment (PISA) in association with the Australian Centre for Educational research (ACER).
These assessments contain a broad cultural base and will measure student performance in the
areas of Reading Literacy, Mathematical Literacy and Writing. A separate ISA science
assessment is done in Grade 8. The results of these assessments will provide parents and
teachers with valuable information on each individual student’s level of achievement and identify
areas of strengths and weaknesses and diagnose gaps in the above‐mentioned areas. This
important information will help teachers meet the academic needs of individual students which
will result in the improvement of student learning. Further, the results of these assessments are
normed which means that BIS will be able to compare the performance of our students with those
students who attend other international schools throughout the world. BIS will be able to use this
assessment data in its aggregate form to evaluate curriculum and instruction in relation to
objective evidence of student performance.
IB DIPLOMA MOCK EXAMINATIONS
In January, Grade 12 students take IB Diploma Mock Examinations. The aim of administering
mock examinations is to prepare students to take the actual examination at the end of the school
year. The resulting scores on the mock examinations will provide students, teachers and parents
with valuable information about each student’s strengths and weaknesses for each subject. This
information will enable students and teachers to work together effectively to prepare for the
external examinations at the end of the year. Further, mock examinations afford students the
opportunity to practice completing past papers under formal examination conditions.
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT: IB DIPLOMA
During May, students in Grade 12 will take scheduled external exams in each subject prescribed
by the IB to complete the requirements of a two‐year course of study. The examination schedule is
set by external examination boards and extends over a four week period. During this period no
classes will run.
35
END OF THE YEAR INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS
During two weeks in May and June, students in Grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 will sit internal
examinations or assessments for many of their subjects. These assessments are scheduled with
three aims in mind. First, the school wishes to provide students with an opportunity to
demonstrate important subject‐specific knowledge and skills that they have been working to
develop throughout the year. Secondly, by having a series of examinations, students will also
develop the important habit of revision. Thirdly, the school believes in the importance of
providing students with the experience of taking a series of subject‐specific examinations under
examination conditions to prepare them for public examinations such as the IB Diploma or other
external examinations.
BIS HONOUR ROLL / DIRECTOR’S & PRINCIPAL’S AWARD
The aim of the BIS Honour Roll and Director’s Award is to formally recognize a student’s high level of
academic achievement. These awards are given from Grade 9 only. The Principal’s Award is to
recognise meritorious actions of any kind. All awards are conditional on maintaining a minimum of
85% attendance.
BIS HONOUR ROLL / DIRECTOR’S AWARD / PRINCIPAL’S AWARD
The aim of the BIS Honour Roll and the Director’s Award is to formally recognize a student’s high
level of academic achievement. These awards are given from Grade 9 only. The Principal’s Award
is to recognise meritorious actions of any kind. All awards are conditional on maintaining a
minimum of 85% attendance.
HONOUR ROLL AWARD:
Grades 9 and 10:
GPA (grade point average) of at least 6.0 with an effort GPA of 3.9 or above in the most recent
reporting period
Service expectations met (including up to date service profile on ManageBac)
Grades 11 and 12:
GPA (grade point average) of at least 6.0 with an effort GPA of 3.9 or above in the most recent
reporting period
CAS performance at least satisfactory (as determined by the CAS Coordinator in consultation
with the Principal)
TOK progress at least satisfactory (as determined by the TOK Coordinator in consultation with
the Principal)
36
DIRECTOR’S AWARD:
Grades 9 and 10:
GPA (grade point average) of at least 6.5 with and effort GPA of 3.9 or above in the most
recent reporting period
Service expectations met (including up to date service profile on ManageBac)
Grades 11 and 12
GPA (grade point average) of at least 6.5 with and effort GPA of 3.9 or above in the most recent
reporting period
CAS performance at least satisfactory (as above)
TOK progress at least satisfactory (as above)
THE PRINCIPAL’S AWARD:
Any significant progress or meritorious act is considered for the purposes of awarding this special
recognition.
37
HOMEWORK POLICY
Homework in the Bavarian International School encompasses all school work or activities
that students are required to complete outside the normal school day. Homework is vital to
student learning and an integral part of a teacher’s assessment and reporting on student
performance. Homework is defined as out‐of‐class tasks assigned to students as an extension
or elaboration of classroom work. Teachers will assign student homework on a regular basis
to support and augment the learning process.
The purpose of homework in the Secondary School is to:
Consolidate and reinforce skills, knowledge and understanding
Extend school learning
Develop organizational and time management skills
Complete coursework requirements
TYPES OF HOMEWORK
The types of homework tasks that are set by teachers should be purposeful, engaging,
planned and take into account the learning needs of the individual student through
differentiation.
Some examples of appropriate homework activities that may be set are:
Preparation for the next lesson, such as looking up the meaning of key vocabulary, or
doing a pre‐reading
Responding to a teacher’s written feedback from a piece of work completed in class
Reviewing learning that has taken place in class
Practicing and consolidating vocabulary, grammar and skills
Research tasks
Practice of in‐class presentations
Preparation for forthcoming tests
HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS
Below is the homework expectation for BIS students in Grades 6‐10.
Grades 6‐7 75 minutes (week nights) and up to 90 minutes (total) in the weekends,
including daily homework from mathematics and language acquisition
(as research shows that these subjects benefit from daily practice). On
top of this there should be daily reading from English and German A as
well as weekly homework of approx. 45 minutes for other subjects.
Grade 8 90 minutes (week nights) and up to 90 minutes (total) in the weekends,
including daily homework from maths and language acquisition (as
research shows that these subjects benefit from daily practice). On top of
this there should be daily reading from English and German A as well as
38
weekly homework of approx. 45 minutes for other subjects.
Grades 9‐10 110‐120 minutes
Grades 11‐12 As required. For Grades 9‐12 students are expected to be independent
learners and take responsibility for managing their own time and work.
Students who have difficulties in understanding and completing their homework tasks
should not extend the time allotted to homework completion, but rather seek clarification
from the subject teacher before the lesson when the work is due. Parents should sign the
homework diary to acknowledge accordingly.
39
It is expected that all Secondary School students read regularly. Parents are encouraged to involve
their children in matters of global concern and current events. IB Diploma students are expected to
read further than the prescribed curriculum in their Higher Level subjects.
HOW THE SCHOOL WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH HOMEWORK
To support students with homework the school will:
Adhere to this policy
Teachers will provide clear instructions for homework in ManageBac
Review this policy and implementation with students, parents and teachers
Provide homework diaries for every student and assistance in how these can be used
Support students in how they can organise their time to include homework
Provide time for students to enter homework into diaries
Inform parents when homework is not being completed on a regular basis
Be available to support students with homework
Provide space in school if students choose to complete homework during break or immediately
after school
Not penalize students that are not able to complete tasks within the allotted time and will make
every effort to provide differentiated tasks that meet the needs of the individual student.
Teachers will provide time during lunch or break for homework explanation and assistance.
Students who fall significantly behind in work expectations will be assigned Academic Catch Up
(ACU) on Fridays from 14.30 – 16.00
HOW PARENTS CAN SUPPORT THEIR CHILD
Parents are asked to:
Provide a quiet space, with a flat surface where their child can work
Provide essential supplies to complete homework (pens, pencils, dictionary etc.)
Encourage their child to complete homework to a high standard
Regularly check ManageBac for homework and feedback from teachers
Sign the homework diary on a weekly basis (Grades 6 ‐10)
Inform the appropriate teacher if any issues arise with homework
Encourage their child to discuss any difficulties regarding homework
Establish a family policy with regards to the use of IT for leisure purposes (Facebook, mobile
phones etc.).
Ensure that during the designated study hours, IT for leisure purposes is avoided
40
HOW STUDENTS CAN ACHIEVE SUCCESS WITH HOMEWORK
To reap the benefits of homework completion students should:
Use the homework diaries effectively
Complete tasks to the best of their ability and submit homework on time
Discuss any problems regarding homework with the teacher/mentor/ and/or a parent or friend
including feedback if a task cannot be completed in the allotted time
Collect and complete homework activities in the event of absence, field trips or sports trips
Take care of any school resources that are borrowed to complete homework
FEEDBACK ON HOMEWORK
Teachers will keep a record of students’ completion of homework tasks and any that are left
outstanding. When homework is not completed on a regular basis, the teacher will inform the
parent and the appropriate Mentor. For some homework tasks students will be given written
feedback by the teacher in order to improve their learning while others may be reviewed
verbally in the lesson. This may happen through discussion and/or self and peer assessment.
WHAT HOMEWORK SHOULD NOT DO
Homework should not become a burden to families; result in a reduction in leisure time and
motivation to learn, and an increase in stress and anxiety. Routine homework tasks will not
count towards academic grades at the end of a reporting period.
SECONDARY SCHOOL PRESENTATION OF WRITTEN WORK GUIDELINES
The aim of the guidelines below is to provided students and parents with clear and consistent
expectations on how students should present written assessment tasks to teachers for
marking across grade levels and subjects. Students submitting a written assessment task for
marking are expected to edit and revise the work prior to submitting it. This gives students
an opportunity to earn a higher grade, since first drafts seldom represent the best work.
Unless otherwise instructed, teachers will always ask students to write a draft, revise and edit
the work and then prepare a final copy. Sometimes students may be asked to hand in the
draft version with the final copy depending upon the task.
Students will be asked to observe the following very important presentation courtesies for all
written assessment tasks submitted for marking.
The teacher will instruct students on the type of paper to be used to complete the
writing assessment task‐ A‐4 lined paper, A‐4 5 mm graphing paper, etc. Students may
also be required to write in an exercise book. In some cases, the teacher may instruct
students to use a computer application such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
41
If necessary, students are expected to draw a margin on the LEFT side of the paper.
Students are expected to write their full name, class and date on the paper as well as the
appropriate title or topic. This is essential for adequate review of subject material prior
to a test.
Students are expected to use standard blue or black ink. Students will not, unless
otherwise instructed, submit work written in pencil, coloured pencils or metallic gel
pens.
The written work must be well‐presented with attention to detail and layout (e.g. proper
margin on the left of the paper). Students should use either 1.5 or double‐line spacing.
Teachers expect that students do their very best to submit work that shows good
organisation of ideas and work that is free of grammatical, spelling and punctuation
errors.
In cases of formal academic written assessment tasks, students must cite or attribute
sources.
WHY DOCUMENT YOUR SOURCES?
Writing a research paper, essay or assignment requires students to search, read, and assess
existing sources (both in print and online) on the topic in order to develop ideas and thoughts
which answer the research question. The analysis of existing sources provides the proof for
the answer. Also, without reviewing what has been said about the topic, students are not
academically qualified to discuss the topic. When other existing sources are used in a paper
these must be quoted or paraphrased.
This is an act of borrowing others’ intellectual property, therefore students must indicate:
What exactly was borrowed
Who it is from
Where it is from
How readers can locate it
Students should do this by documenting sources in recognised style. Failing to do this
thoroughly will be seen as plagiarism leading to serious consequences as outlined by the BIS
Student Handbook and the IB. At BIS, MLA is the recognised style.
42
BIS DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM
The following information is taken from James D. Lester’s Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide,
9th Ed. 1999.
Plagiarism is the offering of the words or ideas of another person’s work as one’s own. These
words and/or ideas may come from print or non‐print resources including interviews, television,
online databases or the Internet.
TYPES OF PLAGIARISM
1. Using another student’s work, whole or in part, and submitting it as your own.
2. Intentionally misusing reference sources by copying and placing original text or parts of an
original text from another person’s work.
AN OBVIOUS FORM OF PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is the act of copying any direct quotation from another source without providing quotation
marks and without crediting any source. This includes copying and pasting text from web pages on
the Internet. A MORE SUBTLE FORM OF PLAGIARISM
Another form of plagiarism is paraphrasing material or using an original idea or interpretation that is
not properly introduced, rephrased and cited.
TO AVOID PLAGIARISM
Acknowledge borrowed materials within the text by introducing the quotation or paraphrase
with the name of the authority from whom it was taken. At the end of the borrowed material,
use parentheses to enclose the citation.
Use quotation marks for all quoted material.
Revise all paraphrased material so that it is presented in one’s own style and language. The
simple rearrangement of vocabulary and/or sentence patterns is not acceptable.
Provide specific documentation for each borrowed item. Others may need to know these
sources.
Provide a works cited list including every source used in the paper.
When in doubt, cite sources. Seek clarification from teachers and librarians.
The standard format for citation and referencing at BIS is MLA (Modern Languages Association).
Please refer to http://www.mla.org/ or http://easybib.com/
In addition, a student is an accomplice to plagiarism and is equally involved when he or she
consciously:
Allows his or her assignment, in outline or finished form, to be copied and submitted as the
work of another.
Prepares an assignment for another student and allows it to be submitted as that student’s
own work.
43
BIS SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORTING CYCLE
The Secondary School reporting cycle provides regular and timely feedback about how a
student is progressing. Various types of report are staged throughout the year in such a way
as to not only provide information about current performance but allow all partners (student,
parent and school) time to address any issues of concern arising from the reports.
TYPES OF REPORTING IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL
EFFORT REPORTS – Students are assessed and reported on using descriptors that assess the students’ work habits: meeting deadlines, engagement in learning and organization.
INTERIM REPORTS – published in December and March/April, these reports provide grade‐
based information on academic performance using IB MYP or IB DP grading. These reports
give students the chance to focus on improvement and witness the outcome of their efforts in
a timely manner. These reports record both academic grades and effort grades.
FULL REPORTS – published in June (January for Grade 12), these reports cover the full academic year. Using IB MYP or IB DP grading, they are an in‐depth assessment of where the
student has reached in the subject and what areas need to be focused on in order to improve.
The reports include a full course outline and narrative comments from subject teachers.
MENTOR REPORTS – issued with Full Reports, these reports give a reflection of a student
academically and in co‐curricular areas from their mentor.
PARENT‐TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parents will have an opportunity to formally meet with each of their child’s teachers to
discuss their child’s progress and performance. These are held twice a year in October and
January. If more in‐depth discussions are required, another appointment can be set up
through the relevant Coordinator or the teacher concerned.
INDIVIDUAL PARENT‐TEACHER MEETINGS
Parents may request a conference with a teacher if they have questions or concerns about
their child’s progress in that subject. To arrange a conference, parents should contact the
teacher directly through email. If parents are not able to contact a teacher, then they should
contact the pastoral leader of the appropriate year group, the MYP Coordinator or the DP
Coordinator. If they would like to see more than one teacher they should contact the pastoral
leader of the appropriate year group, the MYP Coordinator or the DP Coordinator The
pastoral leaders or coordinators (as appropriate) may initiate such a meeting and will contact
parents to arrange for a mutually convenient time to discuss the student concerned.
44
ENTRY TO GRADE 12 CONSULTATIONS
Parents and students may be invited to a consultation meeting with the IB Diploma
Coordinator if satisfactory academic progress has not been made in Grade 11. These meetings
will be held in April. Please see the Grade 12 entry requirements for more information.
ENTRANCE POLICIES FOR GRADES 11 AND 12
The school aims to ensure that students can achieve success in the programmes they are
electing to follow. As a result the school looks at both student motivation and achievement
when deciding appropriate academic courses. Entrance policies govern admittance into both
Grades 11 and 12.
For entry into Grade 11 students there are achievement entry requirements based on the type
of Diploma the student wishes to study for and students need to need to show that they
adopt a positive attitude to their studies.
For progression into Grade 12 the school applies the general rule that students must be:
passing their respective IB Diploma or High School Diploma course (based on grades
received in the end of year Grade 11 examinations)
making acceptable progress on the Extended Essay and other IB Diploma coursework
meeting the minimum CAS requirements
maintaining at least 85% attendance
ONGOING EVALUATION
Students in Grades 11 and 12 are regularly monitored to ensure that they are making progress
in their course. Course placements are dependent on students maintaining a consistent and
passing performance throughout their programme.
Part of the criteria for progression into Grade 12 is determined by performance in the Grade
11 end of year examination. In order to support academic success, students who achieve
below a level 4 in any subject in the end of year Grade 11 examinations will be required to
rewrite that subject’s examinations in August (before the official start to the school year).
PLACEMENT REVIEW
Failure to meet the requirements of the following policies will result in a consultative process
involving parents, teachers, coordinators and the Principal. In such circumstances students
may be offered the opportunity to repeat the grade or to opt for an adapted High School
Diploma course. On rare occasions and in the light of extenuating circumstances, the
committee can make a recommendation to waive conditions in this policy. In all cases the
student will begin the year on a contract with a review process in place to track their progress
towards agreed targets.
45
GRADE 11 ENTRANCE POLICY
1. There is a correlation between MYP results and success in Grades 11 and 12. Therefore
students must have passed the minimum requirements for the MYP certificate for
entry into Grade 11. Additionally:
a. To enter onto an IB Diploma course students must be achieving a minimum MYP
achievement grade of 4, to be allowed onto a Standard Level course, and 6 for a
Higher Level course. (Higher mathematics and physics requires at least a grade 6 in
MYP mathematics). For Diploma language acquisition courses at Higher Level, a
minimum of phase 5 in the equivalent MYP language is the guideline and for
Standard Level, a minimum of phase 4 is the guideline.
b. To enter onto a Grade 11 High School Diploma course students need to be achieving
a minimum MYP achievement level of 4 in the corresponding subject for each of the
courses they wish to take.
2. In both the IB Diploma and High School Diploma the school takes an individual’s
academic profiles into account when applying the above rules.
3. Students new to the school will be assessed according to previous school reports,
external examination results and the results of our own tests.
4. Students need to evidence that they adopt a positive attitude towards their studies and
take their learning seriously.
5. In all cases, students are required to show that they have met in their previous year of
schooling a minimum attendance requirement of 85%, excluding extenuating
circumstances.
6. Student placement will be decided by the Secondary Principal, in consultation with the
IB Diploma Coordinator and subject teachers concerned.
GRADE 12 ENTRANCE POLICY
Students will enter Grade 12 if the following conditions have been met:
1. The student achieved in the Grade 11 end of year examination (including any
improved retake results) an overall pass for the course that they are studying:
a. For IB Diploma this requires a total of 24 points of which at least 12 points were
obtained in their Higher Level subjects.
b. For High School Diploma students a grade 4 in each of their subjects.
2. Acceptable progress has been made on the Extended Essay and other subject
coursework within the deadlines laid down by the IB Diploma Coordinator.
3. The CAS requirements of 100 hours of evidenced, reflected upon (minimum 40
reflections) and supervisor reviewed activities have been entered onto ManageBac.
4. The minimum 85% attendance requirement has been met. Please note: German law
requires 100% attendance except for medical reasons.
46
REQUESTS FOR REFERENCES, TRANSCRIPTS, PROOF
OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, STUDENT IDENTITY
CARDS
School policy is that we require three weeks’ (15 working days) notification for completion
of formal documents. Every effort is made to produce documents as soon as possible,
however, due to the significant number of such requests, we count on your understanding
that documents must be applied for in advance of need, at least three weeks prior to the
required date
REFERENCES
All students who complete their schooling at BIS receive a formal school reference. As part of
the university application process, references are written and submitted along with
applications. Students who take a gap year will also be supplied with a reference, provided
that at least three weeks’ notice is given.
Students, who leave the school during their school career, are entitled to a reference. The
MYP Coordinator (Grades 6‐10) and the Dean of Students (Grades 11 and 12) are responsible
for producing these references. Three weeks’ notice is required prior to departure
TRANSCRIPTS
All students who complete their schooling at BIS can apply for a transcript. If a transcript is
required as part of the university application process, the University Counsellor will arrange
for the transcript to be submitted with the application.
Graduating students may apply for their transcripts but must allow three weeks for
processing. Students who leave the school during their school career may also apply for a
transcript. Three weeks’ notice is required prior to departure.
Transcripts only apply to Grades 9‐12. The school cannot provide transcripts for Grades 6‐8.
PROOF OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
The Secondary School Office provides documentation relating to school attendance of
verification of programmes. Three weeks’ notice is required to complete this request.
STUDENT IDENTITY CARDS
Students must submit one passport‐sized photograph to the Secondary School office and
allow one week to receive the card.
47
SECONDARY SCHOOL BEHAVIOUR EXPECTATIONS
BIS is proud of the excellent behaviour that has been displayed by most students over the
years. However, the school has clear behavioural expectations and discipline procedures as
below.
Discipline at BIS is governed by the following principles and guidelines and is referenced to
the IB learner profile, the Student Code of Conduct and the school’s mission and mandate:
All students have the capacity to assume responsibly and make good choices.
Adolescence is a time when students experiment and seek greater independence and
autonomy while experiencing a tremendous amount of peer pressure. These forces may
cause a student to behave inappropriately or to make a poor choice.
A school environment in which appropriate behaviour is consistently expected and
recognised creates a sense of security for each student that increases their attention to
learning and to self‐responsibility.
Disciplinary consequences should be fair, productive and related to inappropriate
behaviours.
Students benefit from the educational process best when students, teachers,
administrators, counsellors and parents work co‐operatively to ensure that students
accept responsibility and learn from their mistakes.
The aims of discipline procedures at BIS are as follows:
To help students recognise that freedom and responsibility go hand‐in‐hand.
To teach students how to learn from their mistakes.
To help students develop effective communication skills, problem solving skills and other
important interpersonal skills.
To create the awareness of personal accountability.
48
OTHER IMPORTANT EXPECTATIONS
STUDENT DRESS CODE (Drafted in collaboration with the BIS Student Council – May 2013)
Girls
Skirts – minimum length when straight‐arm by side and hand stretched out.
Shorts – minimum length when straight‐arm by side and hand stretched out.
No bare mid‐riff or cut outs in shirts/blouses.
‘Tank top’ straps must be at least three fingers wide on all occasions.
No blouses off the shoulder.
Avoidance of cleavage (at the interpretation of female members of staff).
Leggings worn as trousers are only allowed if the top is long enough. These should not be
thin enough to be tights. Fishnet tights are not to be worn
No flesh hugging t‐shirts with leggings.
No underwear visible at any time.
The heel on shoes and boots should not be higher than 5 centimeters.
Boys
Trousers should be worn around the waist i.e. no underwear visible at any time.
Facial hair should be neat, clean, closely trimmed.
Shirts must have sleeves. Singlets and sleeveless vests are not to be worn.
Rules applying to both genders
No inappropriate t‐shirt prints (swear words, drugs, nudity etc.).
Jeans or trousers should not have rips or tears in them.
No hats are to be worn in classrooms, although they are permitted to be worn in corridors
and outside.
Transparent material on clothing is not acceptable.
Shirts or tops must touch the waist of pants or skirts at all times (i.e. when in movement,
when arms are extended or raised, and when in seated position, etc.).
Hair should be neat, tidy and not distracting to other students (i.e. if dyed, then it must be
a natural colour).
The above guidelines are provided to help ensure fairness and clarity.
Students may be asked to remove, cover or adjust other clothing where it is clearly
unacceptable or in breach of the spirit of the Dress Code.
49
TOBACCO
BIS is a tobacco‐free campus. Therefore, students are forbidden to smoke on or in the vicinity of
the school campus. The school encourages students who smoke but wish to stop smoking to visit
the school nurse about a tobacco cessation programme.
CHEWING GUM
BIS is a chewing gum‐free campus. Students must not chew gum at any time on the school
campus.
VANDALISM
Damaging property is unacceptable on or off campus. Preserving the beauty of the Schloss is a
duty expected of all the BIS Community of Learners. As many of the Secondary School classes are
held in the Schloss, Secondary students are required to be respectful of the heritage they have the
privilege of sharing. Students involved in malicious mischief on campus will be suspended from
school for a minimum of three days. After a second offence, a recommendation for dismissal of
the student may be sent to the Board of Directors. Parents are required to cover the cost of any act
of vandalism perpetrated by their child.
ALCOHOL
Possession or use of alcohol by students is not allowed during the school day, on or off‐campus,
or on school sponsored activities and trips, regardless of whether they have reached the legal
drinking age. The school encourages students who abuse alcohol to seek assistance from the
counsellor or the school nurse.
DRUGS
BIS is a drug‐free campus. Therefore, possession or use of marijuana, cocaine, or other legally
controlled or psycho‐active drugs on campus or on school‐sponsored activities or trips is strictly
forbidden. The school encourages students who have a substance abuse problem to seek
assistance from the counsellor or the school nurse.
BULLYING, INCLUDING CYBER‐BULLYING
All students have a right to learn in a safe and secure environment without fear. Bullying is
comprised of direct behaviours such as teasing, threatening, mobbing, pushing, hitting, stealing
and the posting of offensive remarks or images in publicly accessible internet sites (Facebook etc.)
that are initiated by one or more students against a victim. In addition to direct attacks, bullying
may also be more indirect by causing a student to be socially isolated through intentional
exclusion. Bullying prevents students from progressing academically and socially. It can also
have negative lifelong consequences both for students who bully and for their victims Due to its
serious nature, BIS has a zero tolerance policy towards bullying, and students involved in
bullying will be disciplined and receive appropriate counselling and support from the school.
50
PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION
Students are expected to refrain from inappropriate public displays of affection at school.
MOBILE PHONES, PERSONAL STEREOS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Students are not allowed to use personal stereos (such as IPods and MP3 players) or mobile
phones unless requested to do by a teacher, during classes. Other electronic devices such as
laser pointers and pen recorders cannot be used at school. In accordance with practice in
German schools, the following applies at BIS:
If a student uses a personal stereo, mobile phone or other electronic device during class, it
is considered a disturbance and will be confiscated by the teacher and handed in at the
Secondary School Office. After a personal phone has been confiscated twice, it will only
be returned to a parent after a discussion of the abuse.
If a student is carrying a personal stereo, mobile phone or other electronic recording or
playback device during an assessment or an examination, the student is considered to be
in the possession of an unauthorised aid, and the consequences are the same as if the
student is caught cheating.
THEFT
Theft of another’s property is considered a major offence and will be dealt with severely.
Parents will be called in for a conference and the student will be issued a minimum of three
days out‐of‐school suspension. After a second offence, a recommendation for expulsion of
the student may be sent to the Board of Directors.
SECONDARY SCHOOL DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES
BIS has high expectations for student discipline that relates to the phrase ‘assuming
responsibility’ within the school’s mission statement. When a student’s behaviour is not in
accordance with the student code of conduct and school expectations, according to Board
Policy 7.4 (which can be found on the school Intranet Board Pages), school disciplinary
measures are as follows:
Conference
The teacher, counsellor or School Principal will confer with the student. The parents may
be conferred with in person or by phone. A student may be required to complete a
Behaviour Management Plan that will require a parent signature.
As a result of the conferencing process, one or more of the following consequences may be
imposed as a result of a student’s inappropriate behaviour.
51
Detention of student
Detention shall mean a disciplinary measure, which requires a student to remain in a
designated and supervised area of the school for a specified period of time. Students may
be assigned to work detail during a detention.
Detention may result from incomplete schoolwork, inappropriate behaviour in school,
abuse of others, or as a result of damaging or defacing school property, and may be
imposed by the faculty or administration. Parents will be notified one day prior to the
detention.
Suspension of student
Behaviour judged by the administration to deviate from accepted standards, consistently
or in a single more serious incident, will lead to suspension by the School Principal, in
consultation with the Director, for a period of from one to five days. Consistent
unacceptable behaviour, or serious infringements of the rights, safety or welfare of self
and/or others may result in suspension. The parents will be advised of the circumstances
and action to be taken. A suspended student may not return to school until a conference is
held between the administration and the student, parent(s) or guardian. A student shall be
referred to the student counsellor or pastoral coordinator on returning to school. Work
missed during suspensions must be made up.
Probationary Enrolment
A student may be placed on probationary enrolment as a consequence of behaviour
judged sufficiently serious that repeated similar behaviour will result in automatic
recommendation for expulsion. A formal written contract between the school, parents and
student may be required which specifies behavioural expectations and consequences of
behaviours.
Expulsion of student
Very serious and/or chronic offences may lead to expulsion, resulting in a student being
removed from the school roll.
A student can expect to be expelled in the following cases, if during school, while
attending school‐sponsored events, or on the school premises:
A student is found to be in possession of, using or selling prohibited substances
A student commits an offence in relation to firearms or dangerous weapons
A student commits a serious offence in relation to theft or property damage
A student’s actions and attitude demonstrate that his or her presence in the school
has been or may be detrimental to the safety and well‐being of self and/or others
A student repeatedly engages in serious breaches of discipline
52
PROCEDURE FOR EXPULSION
In case of a serious breach of discipline, suspension will take effect immediately, and the
Director will call together the Disciplinary Committee.
The membership of the Disciplinary Committee includes:
The School Director
The Principal of the relevant School
The Student Counsellor/Pastoral Coordinator
A Teacher Advocate
The function of the Discipline Committee shall be to consider the circumstances and to
examine the information in order to assist the Director with a decision whether or not to
order expulsion.
In carrying out its function the Disciplinary Committee will consult:
The Parent Council (representing each section of the school)
The Student Council
The members of the various bodies shall be provided with all relevant information relating to
the student’s previous behaviour and academic performance.
The Director’s decision shall be communicated immediately to:
The Student’s parents
The Board Chair
A decision to expel shall take effect immediately.
POLICE REFERRAL
In addition, BIS may be required under German law to report a criminal offence to the police
or other authorities.
APPEAL AGAINST PROCESS
The parents will be advised of their right to appeal to the School Board against the procedure
leading to the decision to expel the student. Any appeal must be lodged in writing to the
school within three days after receipt of notification.
An appeal against the process may also be lodged by the Parent Council or the Student
Council.
On receipt of an appeal the Board shall meet as soon as possible to consider the process.
The student and his or her parents may present their appeal to the Board in person.
The Board shall consider the appeal in the light of all information presented and notify the
student’s parents of its decision as soon as possible.
53
DECISION NOT TO EXPEL
If expulsion is not instigated, the Director will ensure the application of appropriate
consequential procedures and support, aimed at leading the student to improved behaviour
in order for the student to make the most of the educational opportunities offered by the
school. Such consequences may include:
Extended suspension (i.e. Exceeding five days)
Community service
Loss of privileges
Counselling
Special programme
Personal contract
The disciplinary measures below may be included within the consequences stated above.
COUNSELLING REFERRAL
The school may require professional counselling and/or diagnostic evaluation as a
requirement for continued enrolment. The results of any testing and/or professional
recommendations for school action would also be required.
FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT
This policy does not waive and/or affect the right to claim damages and therefore a student
and parents may be required to reimburse individuals or BIS for damage to or destruction of
property.
Clear details relating to the student’s behaviour and the applied consequences shall be
maintained on student files for a period of two years.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
The following information is provided to inform parents of the school health activities and
policies as well as the type of medical assistance available through the health department.
Familiarity with this information is absolutely necessary in order to provide students with
the best possible health care.
The school has one full‐time and one part‐time nurse working at BIS and we are both
registered nurses with active licenses to practice in Germany as well as in our home
country. The Health Department is located in the middle building on the ground floor. The
Health Department is open from:
Monday to Thursday between 08:30 and 17:30
Friday between 08:30 and 16:00
54
Students may visit the Health Department at any time of the day but they must inform
their class teacher before visiting, unless it is an emergency situation.
SCHOOL HEALTH RECORDS
It is essential that health records be completed prior to the student entering the school. Any
relevant medical information, addresses, telephone numbers, immunization or other
information must be brought to the health department. Parents must be sure emergency
information is current, and help in keeping the records up to date. Teachers and staff
involved with a student with specific health problems are informed on a confidential basis
about medical conditions.
Parents will receive in your welcome package the Permission Form and the “Medical
Form for Field and Athletic trips”. Please fill these papers out for the first day of school
and send them to the Health Department as soon as possible.
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
Emergency Medication
With parent’s advance written permission, students may be given non‐prescription
medication during the school day to treat mild conditions such as headache, menstrual
cramps or a sore throat. A medical evaluation will be requested if a student requires non‐
prescription medication more than three times per month for the same symptom.
55
Daily Medication
Students with diagnosed medical conditions may need emergency medication during
the school day. These medications are kept locked in the health department, together with
the student’s name, class, condition and dosage. A parental permission slip and a doctor’s
permission slip are required along with these medications authorizing their use. Please
request a form from the Health Department if required.
If a short‐term illness requires the use of antibiotics or other prescription drugs, the parents
should, if possible, arrange for such medication to be taken before or after school.
If medication must be given during school hours it must be labeled with the student’s
name, a current medication form stating the dose, the time it is to be given and parent’s
signature. The medication will be kept in the Health Department.
The nurses will assist in giving the student the medication. Please be aware Secondary
School students are not permitted to carry their own medication in school or during
school trips. In special circumstances please contact the registered nurse.
Immunization
The following minimum immunizations are recommended prior to starting school:
polio/diphtheria/pertussis, tetanus, and measles/mumps/rubella and hepatitis B. Please
be aware that some of these vaccinations have to be given more than once.
MEDICAL CARE
Accidents and Illness
In the event of an accident, parents will be notified, and if needed an ambulance will be
called. If treatment is necessary but it is not an emergency, parents will be called to take the
student for medical care.
An accident report will be completed by the Health Department. It is important that
parents cooperate in providing information for the report at the earliest time possible. In
the case of hospitalization, the German statutory accident insurance covers regular
hospital accommodation and medical care. The doctor or the hospital should always be
informed by the parents that it was a school related accident. School Statutory accident
insurance: Bayerische Landesunfallkasse, Ungerstrasse 71, 80805 München.
In the event of severe illness the nurse will notify the Secondary School Office and the
parents. Parents are required to make arrangements to transport their child to a physician for
treatment. If, however, the illness is so severe that there is not sufficient time for the parents
to come to the school, an ambulance will be called and the student will normally be taken to
the nearest hospital.
Sick students may expose all staff and students they come into contact with the illness.
56
Therefore it is the parents’ responsibility to be contactable during school hours; to take their
sick child home. If the parents cannot be reached, there must be an alternative emergency
contact person who is able to take the sick student home.
No student is permitted to leave the school on account of sickness without contacting the
health department.
Students should not contact their parent’s due to sickness during school hours, they should be
assessed by the nurse and the parents will be contacted if necessary.
EXCLUDING A SICK STUDENT FROM SCHOOL
Sick students should be kept home for a number of reasons. Attending school when sick can
lead to the illness worsening, an increase in recovery time and spreading the illness to others.
Regardless of the illness type, a sick student will always need rest.
The following are the school health guidelines for excluding a student from school:
Temperature of 37.5°C or above
Nausea, vomiting or severe abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Acute cold, sore throat, persistent cough
Red, inflamed or discharging eyes
Acute skin rashes or eruptions
Suspected scabies or impetigo
Swollen glands around jaws ears or neck
Earache
Any weeping skin lesions unless protected and diagnosed as non‐infectious
Head lice
Other symptoms of severe illness
EXCLUDING A STUDENT FROM ACTIVITIES (PHYSICAL EDUCATION)
If for some reason, (illness or physical disability) a student cannot participate in physical
education activities, he or she must bring a doctor’s or parent’s note to school stating the
condition and length of time the student is excused from this activity. The nurse will only issue
such excuses under very special circumstances.
STUDENTS RETURNING AFTER ILLNESS
Please report any infectious conditions such as chicken pox, infectious diarrhea, scarlet fever,
tuberculosis, impetigo, meningitis, mononucleosis (glandular fever) or hepatitis before the student
returns to school. Students with these conditions should return with a doctor’s note stating they are no
longer contagious, or stating which special precautions must be taken. Students with head lice should
not attend school until they are effectively treated. They should return with a doctor’s note stating they
are lice free. This procedure is necessary to ensure the health of the others in school.
57
WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF A SCHOOL ACCIDENT
Any student, who is accidentally injured while at school, coming to or from school or on an official
school field trip, is covered by the German statutory accident insurance system. It provides
insurance against occupational and commuting accidents, and against occupational diseases.
Besides employees, trainees or other groups of persons are also insured, including school children,
students at vocational colleges and other institutes of higher education, children in nursery schools
and after‐school care centers.
School accidents are defined as accidents suffered by children or students in their educational
establishments. They include accidents suffered by children or young people whilst attending
schools, nursery schools, after‐school care centers or vocational colleges; or whilst under
supervision by such educational establishments or in association with them immediately prior to
or following lessons. This category of accidents also includes those suffered by students during
education and training at institutes of higher education.
Please feel free to contact the Health Department if there are any questions or you require any
assistance regarding your child’s health and safety at school. Phone number: 08133 917‐163
58
INFORMATION ON INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR STUDENTS ON CLASS TRIPS AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Safety is always one of our major concerns at school. We would like to draw attention to the issue of
insurance coverage for students when they are on class trips outside of Germany, and to review the
various types of insurance needed when students participates on one of these trips.
1. BIS carries statutory accident insurance, (Unfallversicherung) which covers students in the case
of accident related injuries occurring in school, travelling to and from school, as well as while at
or travelling to and from school activities or school trips in and outside Germany. Parents should
consider an additional private accident insurance as only strictly school activities are insured and
insurance will be disclaimed should a student deviate from the direct route to or from school (e.g.
buying an ice cream).
2. All students should have health insurance (Krankenversicherung). This health insurance coverage is the responsibility of the parents, and is usually provided under a voluntary or
statutory parent or family health insurance policy. This insurance covers necessary medical
treatment and hospital for students in the event of illness.
3. Medical treatment outside Germany for patients insured by statutory German health insurance
requires a health insurance certificate for abroad. Coverage may not be granted at all or be limited
to some countries under the private insurance policy. If a student’s health insurance does not
provide sufficient coverage parents will need to take out an additional health insurance policy for
foreign countries (Auslandskrankenversicherung) to cover them in the case of illness as well as for
transportation costs should the student be treated at home. This is an additional policy that can be
obtained from family health providers for trips abroad at a nominal yearly cost; generally about 9
‐ 11 Euros for children. It can be quickly and easily arranged by a phone call to the family health
insurance provider, and students must have this coverage for school trips outside of Germany.
4. We recommend that parents also take out personal third party liability insurance for their
children (Haftpflicht insurance) to cover the costs of any property damages that might be caused.
To summarise:
All health related insurance is the responsibility of the parents.
Before any student goes abroad on a school trip, be sure that they will still be covered
by both health and liability insurance while outside of Germany
Parents should consider an additional private accident insurance to cover field trip
time spent strictly outside of school activities when their child goes on a field trip.
59
LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTRE
The Secondary School Library, which was opened in 2011, is located on the first floor of the cafeteria
building. The library has been designed as a pleasant place to perform research, school work,
reading, as well as to accommodate users with varied electronic educational tools and resources. A
teacher‐librarian and part‐time library assistants staff the library along with library volunteers.
HOURS OF OPENING
The library is open 08:30–17:00 Monday through Thursday. On Friday the library is open until 15:00.
It is not open on the weekends, school or public holidays.
THE COLLECTION
The libraries have a collection of approximately 30,000 titles. The English book collection is divided
into the following sections: Fiction, Story Collections, Graphic Novels, Reference and Non‐Fiction.
There is also a German Fiction and Non‐Fiction collection as well as small collections of fiction books
in French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Japanese, as well as other languages.
The library also has a collection of DVDs in many languages which can be borrowed by all students
in Grades 11 and 12, parents and teachers; younger students can borrow films provided the library
has received parental permission. The library subscribes to about thirty hard copy periodicals whose
current issue is always available for use within the library, back issues are also available. The library
also subscribes to electronic databases that contain hundreds of titles ranging from newspapers and
magazines to academic journals in digital format.
LIBRARY BEHAVIOUR POLICY
The library is shared by students, staff and other members of the BIS community, thus all users are
requested to behave responsibly and respectfully, in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct.
In order to maintain a pleasant and enjoyable learning environment, users are asked to maintain a
quiet study atmosphere with a minimum of conversations.
PARENTS
Parents can register for their own personal library account and have the same borrowing privileges as
Grade 12 students. Parents interested in helping out in the library on a voluntary basis should contact
the librarian.
60
BAVARIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CALENDARS AND
TIMETABLE 2014/2015
Month Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Holidays/Special
August
2014
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 20 Aug First day (New students only)
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 21 Aug First day (Returning students)
September
2014
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
October
2014
1 2 3 4 5 3 Oct Local holiday
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 27 Oct Fall Break begins
November
2014
1 2 1 Nov All Saints Day
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 19 Nov PD Day
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
December
2014
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 22 Dec Winter Break begins
29 30 31
No School (Holiday) PD Day (No School)
61
Month Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Holidays/Special
January
2015
1 2 3 4 1 Jan New Yearʹs Day
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 6 Jan Epiphany
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
February
2015
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 16 Feb Ski Week begins
23 24 25 26 27 28
March
2015
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31 30 Mar Spring Break begins
April
2015
1 2 3 4 5 3/5 Apr Good Friday/Easter
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 24 Apr PD Day
27 28 29 30
May
2015
1 2 3 1 May May Day
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 14 May Ascension
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 24 May Whit‐Sunday
25 26 27 28 29 30 31 25 May Whit‐Monday
June
2015
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 4 Jun Corpus Christi
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 30 Jun Last day of school
62
SECONDARY SCHOOL WEEK 1‐2 CALENDAR
63
TIMETABLE 2014/2015
9:00
Start MON TUE WED THU 9:00
Start FRI
9.00
9.10 Mentor Mentor Mentor Mentor
9.00
9.15Mentor
9:10
9:15
10:05
10:15
10:05
10:15
11:00
11:15
15 min Break 55 min Lunch
11:15
12:10
12:15
13:10
12:15
13:10
13:15
14:20
45 min Lunch 5 min Bus
14:00
15:00
15:00
16:00
5 min Transition to buses
64
Useful Links
The Bavarian International School website provides general information on the school. This is mainly designed to support prospective families.
http://www.bis-school.com
The Bavarian International School intranet provides a great deal of useful information including the events calendar.
http://home.bis-school.com
Through the International Baccalaureate website you can find general information on their educational programmes.
http://www.ibo.org
This area on the BBC provides information on how to study, looking after your brain and memory.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/studyskills.shtml
Through Learning and Teaching Scotland parents and students can review information and critical literacy skills.
http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/informationliteracy/
The BBC bite size pages provide age appropriate resources where students can review English, mathematics and science knowledge and skills.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/
This site provides a parent’s guide to surviving the teenage years.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/growing/adolescence.html#cat145
65
