Admissions and Policies
Admissions: 2008 2009 Admissions Package
Policies: Cedar International School Policy Manual d
Cedar Uniform Policy School Uniform Order Form
Read below for further information regarding: Admissions, Fees, Scholarships, Improvement Fund, Arrivals and Departures, Supervision, After School Programs, Attendance and Absences, Cancellation of School, Use of Telephone, Cellular Phones and Beepers, Lost and Found, Accidents, Lunch and Snacks, Visitor Policy, Field Trips, Reporting to Parents, Special Resources
| ADMISSIONS a. Parents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to ensure a place for their child in the school. All qualified children are placed by order of application and application fee payment. No exceptions will be made. b. A child must reach the required age by August 31 for entrance into a particular grade, except for the 3 year old class. For example, if a student wishes to enter the first grade s/he must be six years old by August 31 of that year. c. Cedar International School is currently working on establishing a definite cut-off date for placement into the three year old class. Children must be toilet trained and able to dress self with the exception of shoes and socks. d. A copy of reports/transcripts, immunization records, birth certificate and health records are required for entry into Cedar International School. e. A Teacher/Counsellor/Principal Evaluation form is required for all students, to be completed by the last school the student attended. f. For each student applying for admission, the application must be completed and accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of $300.00. g. Non-BVIslander students must have approval by the BVI Department of Education and Culture to enrol in any school in the BVI. Prospective students born outside the BVI must fulfil the requirements of the Departments of Education and Immigration before they can be officially enrolled at Cedar. The Head of School should be consulted regarding this procedure. h. In most cases a placement exam is required for entrance and placement in the school. i. Initial admission decisions are based on Cedar International School’s ability to provide an appropriate program of educational excellence for all enrolled students. To determine if Cedar International School can provide such a program, the following will be considered: academic records; reading, written language and math skill levels; behavioural/conduct records; a personal interview where possible; an evaluation completed by the previous school’s personnel and space availability. Academic performance, social maturity, behaviour and conduct and timely fee payment are considered when evaluating students for continued enrolment after initial admission. j. Each student must submit a Cedar International School Health Form before entering the school for the first time, before entering grade one, before starting the sixth grade and before their sixteenth birthday. This form must be completed by a physician. * For students entering the BVI for the first time as a resident, a copy of the medical form required by Immigration may be substituted for the school form. k. Each student must submit a Cedar International School Emergency Form at the beginning of every school year.
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a. The tuition for each class is based on an annual fee that may be paid in instalments at either the beginning of each term or each month. b. A pre-enrolment fee of approximately 10% of the annual fee is charged to insure a place in the school. This fee is applied to the last month of the school year and is non-refundable. For returning students the pre-enrolment fee is due during the preceding school year, in April or May . For new students, pre-enrolment is to be paid when the student is registered for school. The pre-enrolment fee can only be applied to the last month of the school year (June) for which it was collected. c. All books and supplies issued by the school are the property of the school, and students will be required to pay for lost or damaged books or supplies. d. A book/supply surcharge will be applied to those students who enter after the first month of school. The amount of this surcharge is dependent on the grade of the student and the month in which s/he enters. e. Parents are expected to pay their fees in a timely fashion. A late fee of 12% will be assessed for any tuition payments that are 10 days overdue. If fees are not paid in 45 days from the due date, a student may not continue to attend the school. f. Fees may be paid with cash, by check or credit card (MasterCard or Visa). g. If any fees are outstanding, grade reports, progress reports, and transcripts will not be released by the school. h. Cheques returned to the school which are unpaid for any reason will result in a $25.00 charge. CEDAR SCHOOL ENTRANCE FEE In February, 2007, Cedar School implemented an Entrance Fee to replace the pre-existing Improvement Fund levy. Each incoming student will be assessed a non-refundable Entrance Fee of $2,000.00 which will be used for the improvement of facilities and the academic programme offered to our students. SCHOLARSHIPS A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic merit and space availability. Students on scholarship must have their application for financial aid reviewed each year to determine continued need and space availability. Please contact the Head of School for more information. The Krampf Merit Scholarship The Krampf Merit Scholarship was established in 2005 to honour Christine Bancheri-Krampf and John Krampf for their integrity, commitment and community service to Cedar School. The scholarship provides financial assistance to a Cedar high school student. The amount of the scholarship will be determined by the Cedar School Board of Trustees finance committee at the beginning of each school year. Eligibility is limited to students in the 9th - 12th grades. Candidates are students who exhibit leadership qualities, dedication and a commitment to positively influencing the lives of others through student activities and community service and who are in good academic standing. Please contact the Development Office for more information. |
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
a. The school day begins at 8:45 am and ends at 3:00 pm. Punctuality is expected. Students must be picked up promptly at the close of school or following any after school activity in which they are officially enrolled. Parents of primary and kindergarten students may be charged, at a rate of $10 per 15 minutes, for students left at school for more than 15 minutes following dismissal.
b. If a student is to be picked up by someone other than a parent of guardian, the school must be notified either through a note or a phone call to the front office.
c. Students are expected to arrive at school between 8:30 am and 8:45 am however, supervised care is available beginning at 8:00 am. Arriving late is disruptive to the learning process for the student who is late as well as for the other students in his/her class. Students arriving after 8:45 am should report to the main office to collect a late pass. Teachers will record tardiness on the daily attendance report.
d. Please note that for safety reasons, all vehicles are to enter the parking area from the East side and exit through the West. Kindergarten children are to enter and leave the gated kindergarten area with an adult. All other students enter and are dismissed from the centre atrium and High School Centre.
SUPERVISION
Cedar can only assume responsibility for the supervision of all students on scheduled school days from 8:00 am to 3:15 pm. We expect students to arrive and depart campus during these times unless they are participating in a pre-arranged supervised activity. The school cannot assume responsibility for students if they are on campus at any time other than those listed above because no adult supervision is provided. Kindergarten and Primary children left at school after 3:15 without supervision will be placed in the after school care program and parents will be charged the "drop-in" rate.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
After school care is available for children aged 3 to 9 between the hours of 3:15 pm and 5:30 pm on school days. A light snack is provided. There is a supplemental cost for this service and arrangements must be made in advance through the school office.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES
a. Excused absences and early dismissals include only those caused by sickness, family emergency or a recognized religious holiday. Parents should notify the office when a student will be absent and need to send a written excuse following the absence. Extensions of vacation trips or excursions are not considered excused absences. Unexcused absences of longer than 10 days per term may result in a student having to repeat a course or the year.
b. Parents are strongly discouraged from taking family vacations during scheduled school days. Although teachers will attempt to send some of the work with students when at least one full week's notice is given, students often miss valuable class lessons which cannot be covered through independent work.
c. Any secondary student who misses an end of term exam due to an unexcused absence may be charged $50 per exam. This fee will cover teacher time needed to develop a separate exam for that student.
d. No student is to attend school with an infectious disease or fever. If a student becomes sick during the school day, parents will be notified immediately and expected to arrange to have the child picked up. Please see the Health section of the website for more information.
e. Absence caused by a suspected or diagnosed communicable disease or parasite must be called in to the school immediately.
f. Parents should ensure the student takes the responsibility to see that homework and/or tests which have been missed due to an absence are completed or made up.
ACCIDENTS
a. For each child there will be an Emergency Information form on file. This form is to be renewed at the beginning of each school year.*
b. If an accident should occur, parent notification will be attempted immediately using the Emergency Information.
c. All parents are required to sign a release form allowing the school to take their children to the hospital emergency room and arrange for emergency medical services, if necessary, when a parent cannot be reached.
*Forms must be on file by September 30th or your child will not be permitted to attend school. If a student starts after the school year begins, forms must be on file within 30 calendar days from the date of enrolment or the student will not be permitted to attend school.
CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL
If severe weather conditions or another emergency should make it necessary to cancel or close school, it will be announced on radio station ZBVI (780 AM). Whenever possible, this announcement will be made before 8:00 am.
TELEPHONE, CELLULAR PHONES AND BEEPERS
a. Students are permitted to call from the school's phone only in the event of an emergency. No students will be called to the phone to accept a telephone call. Only telephone messages from parents or guardians to students will be delivered.
b. Students are not permitted to carry cellular phones or beepers.
c. There is a second line in the office which may be used by students when an emergency or change in planned activities requires parental contact.
LOST AND FOUND
It is suggested that all personal items, including clothing, be marked with the student's name. If items are found they will be saved in the designated "lost and found" located in the front office. If unclaimed within a month, they will be given to charity.
LUNCH AND SNACKS
Each student should bring healthy snacks, lunch, drinks and a thermos of water to school. In this climate students need a lot to drink. We recommend nutritional food and discourage soda and candy. There are two hot lunch services by Carol Durante/Peg Legs and Agnes Fahie/Second Chance Bakery and Catering. Menus are available in the main office. Orders are to be placed in advance to Carol Durante or Agnes Fahie. Contact information is available on the menu order forms. Students will remain on campus for lunch unless given special permission by the Head of School or his designee and approved by the parents.
VISITOR POLICY
a. Visitations by parents and other interested community members are encouraged. With the permission of the Head of School, prospective students may visit a classroom. All visitors are requested to report directly to the office as soon as they arrive on campus and should sign the visitation book and obtain a visitor's badge.
b. Students are not permitted visitors at any time during the school day unless the visit has been approved in advance by the Head of Section. No one is permitted to loiter on the school grounds.
FIELD TRIPS
Notes will be given to students informing parents of intended field trips or off-campus classes. These notes must be signed by the parent allowing the student to participate in the off-campus activity. No student will be allowed off campus during the school day without a signed parental consent. For field trips students are often transported in private vehicles. When transporting Cedar International School students for a school sponsored field trip, vehicles are not to be overloaded beyond the manufacturer's recommended seating capacity, and it is recommended that seat belts, if available, be worn. Unless notified by the teacher, uniforms are to be worn on all field trips.
REPORTING TO PARENTS
We endeavour to keep open lines of communication between teachers and parents.
a. The school has a Parent Information Night shortly after school begins and parent conferences during the first, second, and third terms. If, at any time, school personnel see any indication that a student is not progressing as expected, an appointment will be made to discuss any issues. Parents are expected to share their concerns about their child's progress with the school and also provide pertinent information that may help school personnel to understand the student better. If after meeting with the teacher, a parent still has questions, s/he is to contact the Division Head and then the Head of School
b. Mid-term progress reports are issued by the secondary school teachers. These reports may be reviewed with the teachers on two consecutive days/afternoons/evenings in the middle of the term. Parents and students are strongly urged to come to school and meet with teachers to review the reports.
e. End of term reports are distributed three times a year for all students. These are available in the office on the date indicated on the school calendar. Parents are requested to stop by the office to pick up their copy.
SPECIAL LEARNING PROBLEMS
Cedar International School is not yet equipped to handle students with specific special learning problems or disabilities. If, after consulting with parents, the Head of School and teacher agree that a student requires special evaluation, the student must be professionally tested. These services may be available through Cedar for an additional fee or can be obtained in the community. Following such evaluation, it is up to the Division Head and the teachers to decide whether the student's needs can be met at Cedar International School.
PROACTIVE SCHOOL-WIDE DISCIPLINE PLAN
Cedar International School has a well established school-wide discipline plan. The purpose of the discipline plan is to foster a positive learning environment of mutual respect and dignity that teaches students to take responsibility for their actions and provides opportunities and support for learning, growth, and change within the school and community.
Cedar School has general behavioural expectations. Each teacher will formally review the class/school expectations at the beginning of each school year. These expectations are:
| 1. Show respect for yourself 2. Respect, tolerate, and cooperate with others. 3. Take responsibility for your actions. 4. Respect the property of others. 5. Act in a safe and orderly manner. |