The rules
and regulations printed in this pamphlet, whether set out by the present legal
framework of the Department for National Education and Religion or published in
the internal code of conduct of Mandoulides Schools, express the principles,
goals and aspirations of the organization and, at the same time, reflect the
name and high standards of the school, now in its 29th year of
operation.
GENERAL INFORMATION
ENROLMENT – FEES
Enrolment of pupils for the next school year is made by their parents or guardians up until and including June. The following are necessary:
(a)Enrolment form completed and signed with all the pupil’s details and handed in to the school’s treasurer
(b)Payment of the first installment of the fees.
Fees are paid in four installments according to the plan below:
1st installment: on enrolment by June
2nd installment: by 15th September
3rd installment: by 15th December
4th installment: by 15th March
Pupils who are not enrolled within the foreseen time limits will be enrolled in order of priority, given that there are free places for them.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
Entry to the junior-senior high schools is gained by written examinations in Modern Greek and Mathematics as well as an interview.
Scholarships are available based on the performance and financial situation of the pupils. In particular, there are scholarship examinations in May in Modern Greek and Mathematics for entry to the junior high school both for pupils from Mandoulides’ primary school and pupils from other primary schools.
THE SCHOOL DAY AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
The duration of the school day is laid down by the Department of Education every year. Beyond the daily program, laid down by the Department of Education, Mandoulides Schools offers after school activities, at no extra cost, in order to assist working parents and guardians:
(a)For pupils in the kindergarten and all classes of the primary school daily from Monday to Friday 14.00-16.00
(b)For pupils in the kindergarten and the first three classes of the
Primary school during the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays, school holidays and on days of inclement weather conditions.
Pupils return by school bus to the specific bus stops as used on normal bus runs.
INTERRUPTION OF PUPIL’S STUDIES
The pupil’s studies are interrupted when:
(a)they are suspended.
(b)before suspension under the following circumstances :
(1)when transfer to another school is requested by the parents – (whether the parents themselves request it or whether the Teaching Body and the headmaster request it)
(2)when transfer is requested by the teachers’ body in accordance with the prevailing educational legislation
TRANSPORT OF PUPILS
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
Pupils are transported by school bus or by the parents themselves, in which case, the parents take full responsibility.
The routes the school buses take are initially based on the applications made by the end of June and the final decisions are made by the Transport Office by the end of September. The main criteria taken into consideration are the pupils’ safety and the smooth running of the School.
THE SCHOOL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO:
(a)make any change whatsoever to the bus routes at any stage during the school year. Any change made is for the common good of the school and the safety of the pupils and of course after parents are informed.
(b)refuse to transport any pupil by school bus should they behave improperly despite repeated warnings and put their own and their class mates’ safety in danger. In such cases parents have the responsibility of transporting their children to and from the school.
Should parents wish to make any emergency changes to their children’s transport arrangements, they must inform the School by 11.30 a.m. Any changes proposed by the pupils themselves are not acceptable.
Changes of this nature are made when there is a serious reason and given that there is room on the bus.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUPILS IN THE KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY SCHOOL.
Transport of pupils to school
Parents of our pupils are required to accompany their children in the morning to the school bus stop and to wait with them until they are handed over to the school bus attendant. Parents must be at the stop five minutes (5) before the bus is due.
Transport of pupils from school
Parents of our pupils are required to be at the appointed place where the pupils are to be let off the school bus by the attendant five minutes (5) before.
If parents are not at the stop, the attendant does not go and knock on their door, but brings the pupil back to the school. In this case parents must, themselves, pick the pupil up from the school.
Pupils are not handed over to strangers, only to their parents or to the person stated in their statutory form 1 ( Statutory form for transport of pupils from the school or from the school bus).
If parents wish to pick up their children from the school themselves, they must inform the switchboard and sign the Parents’ Book. The switchboard then informs the teacher, bus attendant and driver.
Should someone other than the parents wish to pick the pupil up from the school, the parents must sign statutory form 2 (statutory form for transport of pupils from the school by a third party).
Should a third party wish to pick up a pupil in case of emergency from the school, and that person is not mentioned in statutory form 1, he should produce his identity card and sign statutory form 3 (Statutory form of certification of identity of third party for emergency transport of pupil from school bus as instructed by parents).
Statutory forms 1,2 and 3 are given out to parents at the beginning of the school year.
Pupils’ absenteeism
When a pupil is absent, the parents inform the school 15 minutes before the time the school bus is due at their stop every day and wait at the stop in the afternoon to receive the day’s homework. The school bus attendant does not get off the bus to ring the door-bell, nor does she put the homework in mailboxes.
PARENT/TEACHER MEETINGS
The school believes in close co-operation with parents. Within the framework of this co-operation, parents should note that there are:
(a)Regular parents’ meetings with the entire teaching staff:
(i)in order to give reports on the pupils’ performance in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd terms for the kindergarten, primary and junior high schools and for pupils in the senior high school for the 1st and 2nd terms.
(ii)in order to give reports on written progress tests and to inform parents about any problems with their children, should these arise.
Parents are informed about the days and times of these meetings at the beginning of the school year in the school calendar.
(b)Weekly meetings: Each member of the teaching staff has a particular time, in the morning, each week when parents may meet him/her to discuss subjects concerning their children, their performance and so on.
(a list of the names of the teaching staff with days and times they are available for receiving parents can be found on the special notice boards. This list is also sent home with the pupils for their parents.)
Under special circumstances, head teachers and staff may communicate with parents, just as parents may arrange by telephone to see the head teachers or members of staff should the need arise.
Apart from the regular meetings, monthly meetings are usually arranged in September for the parents of pupils in the kindergarten, primary school, 1st class of junior high school and all three classes of the senior high school.
Parents are informed about issues concerning their children’s education as well as other aspects of school life and the school’s programs at these meetings.
During the school year it is possible that the head teachers call special meetings in order to inform parents about certain circumstances that may crop up.
DEPARTMENT FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT
Mandoulides School has a department for psychological support for all levels of pupils from the kindergarten, primary school through to the junior and senior high schools. This department is staffed by psychologists-psychotherapists and speech therapists for the corresponding ages of pupils. The aim of the department is to help pupils deal with their personal problems, their learning weaknesses and any possible social problems they may encounter.
In order to achieve these goals, the specialists communicate and co-operate with the parents, the head teacher and the teachers and, after a thorough but gradual study of the pupil’s behavior has been made, guidance is given to all concerned as to how to deal with the problems the pupil has within his environment.
THE SCHOOL STRUCTURE AND ADMINISTRATION
ABSENTEEISM
TYPES OF ABSENTEEISM
Pupils’ absences for various reasons may be divided into three categories and the State and the school have various ways of dealing with them. These categories are as follows:
UNREGISTERED ABSENCES
These are absences made by the pupil but are not registered, that is , they are not recorded in the official register of the school and therefore are not reflected in the pupil’s report at the end of the school year. Unregistered absences are those which:
a)are made because of the pupil’s involvement in school activities and events which take place as a result of decisions made by the proper authorities, the head teacher or by the Teaching Body(e.g. educational trips within Greece or abroad, school celebrations and events, formal athletic events and so on.) b)are made by pupils of different faiths on specific days as set out in their particular calendar.
c)are related to a pupil’s transfer to another school.
d)are a result of exemption from specific subjects as foreseen by law.
JUSTIFIED ABSENCES
These are the absences made by a pupil for a serious and proven reason which are permitted by the State and which are dealt with favorably, that is, when the number is great but the pupil is not punished for them.
Justified absenteeism is due to:
a)Serious family reasons or a pupil’s illness and is justified by the parents or guardian as foreseen by law.
b)A pupil’s illness which is certified by a public hospital, private clinic or private doctor. The certification, which is provided, binds the Teaching Body, which has the final say on what may or may not be considered justified absence, provided that it is sufficient evidence to prove the pupil’s real reasons for being absent.
c)Serious conditions which require special therapy or transport abroad, provided the number of absences does not exceed the limit set down by school regulations.
UNJUSTIFIED ABSENCES
These are the absences, which may not be characterized as unregistered or justified, according to the criteria laid out above.
For example, unjustified absences are those made because of suspension, whether it is for a single periodor a full day. Absences because of illness or serious family problems, which the guardian cannot justify, and so on.
In addition, unauthorized absences when a pupil either fails to come to school or leaves during the school day without permission, when a pupil is late for a lesson or a scheduled school event or other school activity, are considered unjustified and unauthorized and, as such, are punishable and bear serious implications.
THE DEFINITION OF ATTENDANCE
The attendance of all pupils at Secondary Level Education is defined by the decision of the Teaching Body on the day that classes end as being sufficient, incomplete or inadequate, based on the number of absences noted during the school year and in conjunction with the pupil’s yearly oral performance in all subjects. According to the prevailing legislation:
I. SUFFICIENT ATTENDANCE
Attendance is defined as sufficient provided that:
a)the total number of a pupil’s absences in the relevant year does not exceed sixty four (64) for any reason whatsoever.
b)the total number of absences does not exceed one hundred and fourteen (114) and those over sixty four (64) are justified.
c)the total number of absences of the pupil is greater than one hundred and fourteen (114) but does not exceed one hundred and sixty four (164), on the condition that all the absences are justified and the pupil’s performance is more than satisfactory, that is, that his overall oral average is at least fifteen (14.5) and his behavior is excellent.
Under these circumstances the Teaching Body decides by a special act that the pupil’s attendance is sufficient.
Pupils whose attendance is defined as being sufficient are eligible to sit their end of year or school leaving exams in May-June.
II. INCOMPLETE ATTENDANCE
Attendance is defined as incomplete when the pupil has over one hundred and fourteen (114) absences but not more than one hundred and sixty four (164) of which those over sixty four (64) are justified but his attendance is not considered by the Teaching Body as sufficient, according to the previous paragraph.
As an exception the Teaching Body may, by special act, define the pupil’s attendance as incomplete when he has over one hundred and sixty four (164) absences but not more than two hundred and fourteen (214) provided that all absences over sixty four (64) are justified, his performance is more than satisfactory, as outlined above, and his behavior is excellent.
Pupils whose attendance is defined as incomplete are not eligible to sit their end of year or school leaving exams in May-June. The grades that these pupils receive at the end of the year or school are decided upon according to the prevailing legislation.
III. INADEQUATE ATTENDANCE
Attendance of a pupil is defined as inadequate when he has over sixty four (64) absences and he does not fall within any of the afore-mentioned categories.
Pupils whose attendance is defined as inadequate are obliged to repeat the whole year they were in again.
The following applies to the primary school:
The attendance of pupils in the primary school is recorded by the class teacher, absences are signed each day and there is a special relationship and co-operation between the family and school.
JUSTIFYING ABSENCES
Every member of staff in the school has the duty to inform parents. The guardian has the right to and should be informed about any absences made in detail, in a responsible, clear and constant way, the reasons for them and their consequences.
For this reason it is vital that parents should be aware of the following:
1.The guardian is solely responsible for monitoring the attendance of the pupil as he is informed responsibly during the first ten days each month in writing when the pupil’s number of absences has reached thirty (30).
2.Two (2) continuous days of absence due to illness or other serious reasons can be justified by a written note signed by the parent and brought by him in person to the school when the pupil returns not more than ten days after the absences.
In this way parents may justify up to ten (10) days in total for the entire school year.
It is preferable that parents justify absences in this way only when the pupil is absent for a full school day.
3.If a pupil is absent for health reasons for more than two (2) days, his guardian is obliged to provide certification from a state hospital, private clinic or any private doctor within ten (10) days of the pupil’s return, stating the exact nature and length of illness. After ten days no certification will be accepted. The Teaching Body has the right to reserve judgment on whether it will accept the certification of a private clinic or doctor.
The certificates provided are filed in the school’s correspondence.
4.Under no circumstances will pupils’ absences be justified when:
a) They are made without the permission of the school’s head teacher during the school day, be it one period or several.
In cases where it is necessary for the pupil to arrive late, leave early or at some stage during the school day, permission may be given by the head teacher, provided that there are serious reasons. It is preferred that parents seek permission on the previous day. In this case the pupil is given a special pass to leave the school, which he hands in to the gatekeeper at the gate, which he exits the school grounds.
b) Absences due to late arrival to class are under no circumstances justifiable.
c) When pupils refuse to take part in the physical education lesson giving excuses for which there is no suitable reason and when pupils are not suitably dressed for the lesson.
d) When pupils are absent from cultural events such as visits to museums, theatre, national celebrations and day trips.
e) Pupils are not marked absent when their parents have declared their child will not be taking part in day trips or other school trips.
5.In order that parents may be better and fully informed on the issues mentioned above, the school sends an announcement, at the beginning of every school year, which states all the current acts and laws concerning absenteeism and the definition of attendance.
PUPILS’ BEHAVIOR
Our pupils’ discipline must be our first concern since, without this, harmony and creativity would be impossible within the team spirit of the school. Our school would consider its work a success if the pupils’ discipline were to become self-discipline.
However, it is impossible for any moral virtue to become part of one’s life if it does not first become a habit. For this reason the behavior of our pupils is supervised by the staff from the moment he boards the school bus to the moment when he disembarks to return home.
We consider it our pupils’ duty to show respect to all people, to listen to their elders, to be seriously and properly dressed and generally to appear and act properly.
DISCIPLINARY ORGANS - SANCTIONS
The school’s policy on disciplinary matters is aimed at prevention and deterrence of misdemeanors. At times, however, certain measures must be taken.
The following organs enforce disciplinary sanctions:
- The teacher
- The Board of Head Teachers
- The Teaching Body
- The form teacher
The following sanctions are enforced when a pupil deviates from the desired behavior:
a)Mild reprimand
b)Stern reprimand
c)Dismissal from class for one hour. When a pupil receives his 4th dismissal it becomes a one-day (1) suspension.
d)Expulsion from school for up to three (3) days
e)Expulsion from school for up to five (5) days
f)Change of school environment
The following may be enforced:
i)Sanctions a, b and c of the previous paragraph by the teacher
ii)Sanctions a, b, c and d by the head teachers
iii)All sanctions by the Plenary Session of the Teaching Body.
The point of making a mild reprimand is to warn the pupil and it is the mildest form of all the sanctions and is not recorded in the school’s books.
Stern reprimands and the remaining sanctions are recorded in the school’s book for disciplinary sanctions as well as in the pupil’s personal file.
Pupils who have been expelled remain at home under their parents’ charge.
On rare occasions, when the pupil is not able to remain at home, it is possible for him to stay at school but without the right to attend classes.
The school will inform the parents constantly and immediately on the misdemeanors and resulting behavior of their children.
PUPILS’ MISDIMEANORS
The school considers the following misdemeanors ranging from the least serious to the most serious:
1.Late arrival at school
2.Late arrival to class
3.Disturbing or harassing other pupils on school buses, during the breaks and in class
4.Refusal to use seat belts on school buses
5.Chewing gum
6.The use of liquid paper corrector
7.Disturbing the proper flow of the lesson
8.Disturbing order during morning prayers, during the hoisting of the flag or at any other school event
9.Cheating or attempting to cheat during examinations
10.Falsification of the register, school certification, announcement or other official school document or paper
11.Offensive or improper appearance (shorts, dyed hair or modern hair styles, make-up, boys wearing earrings or girls wearing extra, apart from ordinary earrings, showing mid-riff etc)
12.Swearing or use of vulgar language
13.Fighting
14.Polluting the school environment and destruction of school property by writing or carving graffiti or slogans or generally dropping of litter and other pollutants
15.The destruction of school property, inappropriate behavior-conduct on visits and school trips outside of the school grounds, as well as during various school events
16.Stealing or destruction of others’ property
17.Insubordination and impertinence towards a member of the staff or towards an elder
18.Causing injury
19.Carrying or wearing political, anarchical, unethical and in general provocative printed or handwritten material or pictures
20.Smoking
21.Possessing and using a mobile telephone and any other type of electronically produced sound or picture
22.Possessing and using dangerous or harmful substances and objects
23.Unjustified absences or leaving the class or school
24.Acts which insult the teaching staff or elders
25.Insubordination and impertinence towards head teachers
26.School sit-ins and protests
27.Systematic infringement of school regulations
28.All criminally punishable acts, which the pupil has been proven to have committed.
LEAVING THE SCHOOL PREMISES
All pupils must remain on the school premises during the school day. It is a serious infringement of the school regulations for a pupil to leave the school without permission.
In cases where it is necessary for pupils to arrive late, leave early or leave for a period during the school day, special permission may be obtained from the head teachers of the junior high school, provided there is a serious reason. It is preferable that permission be requested on the previous day.
Under these circumstances the pupil obtains a special pass from the office of the relative vice-principal and hands the coupon over to the gatekeeper at the gate from which he exits.
DEFINITION OF CONDUCT
- A pupil’s conduct, either at school or outside the school, is reflected by his
actions and misconduct. It is each and every pupil’s duty to behave properly and to fully understand and conform with the rules and regulations which govern school life as well as to respect the moral principles of our social environment. Every deviation from the above-mentioned regulations results in the need for control on the part of the educators and the appropriate sanctions.
- The pupils’ conduct is defined as flawless, decorous or deplorable according
to the elements of his behavior.
Flawless conduct is that which is characterized by the pupil’s upholding of the school regulations without misdemeanor.
Decorous conduct is that which is characterized by the pupil’s upholding of the school regulations with certain misdemeanors.
Deplorable conduct is that which is characterized by pupils who deviate far from the school’s regulations, but which is considered capable of pedagogical rectification within the school environment.
The definition of the pupils’ conduct is one element, which is used solely within the domains of the school and appears on his report.
Once a pupil has finally left the school, the Teaching Body, may not, under any circumstances, change what appears on the pupil’s certificate under conduct.
The following applies to the primary school:
Behavioral problems are subjects for co-operation between the head teacher, the teachers and the parents with the school counselors so that the problems may be dealt with in the best possible way. In every case and, before any decision whatsoever is taken, the basic principles of respect for the pupil’s personality and rights are taken into consideration.
Changing the pupil’s environment is a measure of pedagogical control and may be decided upon by the Teaching Body, when changing class is concerned, or with the parents’ agreement when it is a matter of changing school.
