Graduation Requirements
Students may receive an accredited U.S. high school diploma and/or a Bolivian bachillerato. The requirements for each diploma are similar but not completely identical. The high school counselor has detailed information regarding course and credit requirements.
Honor Roll
At the end of each semester, parents are notified of students who have achieved various levels of academic success. Certificates are awarded to students who have maintained honor roll requirements from the previous semester. The honor roll requirements are divided into three categories:
Honors 87% - 89%
High Honors 90% - 93%
Cougar Honors 94% - 100%
Achievement Award – This award is given to any student who has improved their overall average by 5% or more between quarters.
Honor Societies at A.C.S.
The National Honor Society (NHS) is for students in grades 10-12. The minimum academic standard in order to be considered for selection is 3.5 GPA (90%). In addition to academic expectations, students must demonstrate excellence in the areas of leadership, character, and service to become an NHS member. Students who qualify academically are notified at the end of the first semester and must complete an application form highlighting leadership and service activities. Applicants are selected by a faculty committee of 5 high school teachers based on the student application and teacher recommendations.
Scheduling Policy
The goal of this school is to prepare the students as best we can for the demands of further education. Students will be primarily scheduled by the counselor, principal, and teaching staff. Students will be placed in the most demanding schedule for which they are capable of performing satisfactorily. No schedule changes can be made after the second full week of the 1st semester and the first full week of the 2nd semester unless initiated by the teacher or counselor.
Activities
Activities and School Trips
School trips, public performances, and athletic contests are excellent opportunities for A.C.S. to demonstrate the quality of students we have here and also to give them a chance to display their talents and efforts. These kinds of public exposure should be a great source of pride for our school community. Students shall not engage in any activity to influence Bolivian legislation or religious preferences on school grounds or in school related activities, nor shall they participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of pamphlets) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for Bolivian public office on school grounds or in school related activities.
On all school trips and for all school activities, the normal behavior guidelines are in effect. This specifically includes enforcement of the school policy on alcohol, drugs, smoking, dress, and language.
Arrangements for lodging, eating, travel, curfew, and specific activities and responsibilities will be made by A.C.S. The school’s official sponsor(s) will have authority to make any changes and decisions that are necessary for making the activity safe and in accordance with the school’s expectations.
Eligibility
In order to participate in any school sponsored activity the following eligibility rules will apply: Students must maintain a 70% average overall with no F’s in any class. An eligibility grade check will be made at the mid-term and the end of each quarter. If a student falls below this minimum standard they are still eligible for practice or rehearsals (but not games or performances) if they regularly attend the Happy Hour (a supervised study period). If the game or performance is part of a class which will be graded, the teacher in charge of the class will have the final decision as to whether the student will participate or receive an omit.
Illness on the day of a school activity: Students who are absent from any class on the day of an activity that takes place after school hours may not participate in that activity.
Non-Athletic Activities
There are many other activities in which students may also involve themselves. Some of the activities are connected with classes which are offered, some are not.
National Honor Society (NHS) described in the Student Handbook.
Student Council is open to students in grades 7-12. See the principal or student council advisor for specific details of activities and expectations of members.
Model United Nations (MUN) is open to students primarily in grades 9-12. MUN is also offered as a class. Each year students in MUN have the opportunity to participate in a MUN event. Some of these events will be with other American schools in Bolivia and some will involve international travel.
Band is open to students in grades 7-12. Students in advanced band have the opportunity to participate in the South American Music Festival which includes international travel. This event usually occurs in November and students pay the cost of the trip.
Yearbook is a class in which students design the yearbook from photos to quotes to layouts.
Play Production produces and performs several skits and plays throughout the year.
Athletics
The athletic program at A.C.S. is under the direct supervision of an athletic director. The athletic director is responsible for selecting coaches, making and/or approving the schedule of games and practices, developing and maintaining eligibility requirements, developing and implementing an athletic budget, maintaining good records, and promoting the programs with appropriate information.
A general description of each of the athletic programs offered is included in the information that follows. More specific details can be given by the athletic director.
For most high school sports, both boys and girls, the centerpiece of each season is the Southern Cone Athletic Conference (SCAC) tournament. These competitions are held among the American schools of Santiago, Buenos Aires, Asuncion, Lima and La Paz. When the tournament is not held in La Paz, our student athletes will be traveling to one of the schools mentioned above. In conforming to the guidelines of SCAC, team size is limited. Unfortunately not everyone who tries out for the varsity team may be selected.
1. High School and Middle School Girls and Boys Soccer
Season: 1st semester, August through November
2. High School and Middle School Girls and Boys Volleyball
Season: 1st semester, August through November
3. High School Girls and Boys Basketball
Season: 2nd semester, January through April
4. Middle School Girls and Boys Basketball
Season: 2nd semester; February through April
5. High School and Middle School Girls and Boys Track
Season: 2nd semester; End of January through April
6. Swimming is a full year, club activity and not under the supervision of the athletic director. Swimming involves students elementary through high school and they practice after school and on weekends, about 3 days per week.
7. Gymnastics and Tennis are offered through private lessons which are arranged in conjunction with the "Community School" director. It is not under the supervision of the school’s athletic director.
8. Cheerleading
Season: Tryouts in early September
Note: Cheerleaders are required to cheer at all games and will travel to the Friendship
Games when held outside of La Paz.
Library Media Center
Library Hours:
7:30 - 5:00 Monday through Thursday
7:30 - 4:00 Friday
Student Expectations
The library is a place to study, read, inquire, seek, and learn. To maintain this atmosphere for all, students are requested to work quietly. Students using the library during class times will need to request a pass from their teacher. Students using the library at other times (before school, brunch, lunch, etc.) may do so as long as appropriate conduct is observed. Book bags, backpacks, etc. will be left at the door, as with food and drink.
Copies and Materials
Students are able to make up to 5 photo copies at no charge when they come to the library with their class. Copies made after that will be charged at the rate of 10 centavos per copy. There is a limit of 25 copies per student per visit.
Books are checked out for a 2 week period and, so that there will be enough resources for all, there is a limit of 3 books per topic which can be checked out to a student. Books from the Reference section have an overnight only checkout.
Periodicals may be checked out for a 3 day period with a limit of two periodicals per student.
There is a 50 centavos per day fine on all overdue materials.
Students with overdue or lost books lose the privilege of checking out books until the book is returned and/or the fine is paid. Students with library fines or overdues at the end of the semester will not receive report cards until the fines are paid.
Student Conduct
A.C.S. provides each student the opportunity to develop to the highest possible degree his or her talents, capacities, and interests in a school climate reflecting the high standards of good citizenship expected in countries around the world. Effective learning takes place within a positive program of discipline both on campus and in the classroom. Courtesy and politeness
A.C.S's program will encourage the individual student to develop desirable qualities of self discipline, will hold the student responsible for his or her actions under the supervision of school authorities, and will protect the student from the individual whose behavior or actions disrupt an effective learning program. Since every student’s action and activity, whether on or off the A.C.S. campus, reflects on the school as an institution and on the student body as a whole, those who violate these standards of behavior will be subject to disciplinary action including probation, suspension, and expulsion.
The responsibility for the basic behavior development rightfully belongs with the individual and his or her parents. Parents have an obligation to assist the school in promoting and maintaining positive social and moral standards of conduct both on and off campus. Ultimately students must assume responsibility for their own behavior. They are expected to obey all rules and regulations set forth in the A.C.S. Student's Rights and Responsibilities.
Minor Infractions
1st Offense: Student will receive a verbal warning from the teacher.
2nd Offense: Student will have a conference with the teacher. The student may also receive at the teacher’s discretion, a disciplinary consequence.
3rd Offense: The student will be sent to the principal’s office. The principal may choose from a variety of disciplinary measures in response to the referral. These measures include detention, probation and suspension.
Minor infractions include, but are not limited to:
disrespectful behavior, tardies, swearing, cutting in lines, littering, talking in class, writing on desks, minor graffiti (as in the bathrooms), writing in textbooks, unsportsmanlike conduct.
Major Infractions
1st Offense: Student will be referred to the principal.
2nd Offense: Student will be referred to the principal. Recommendation for expulsion is likely.
Major infractions include, but are not limited to: fighting, cheating, truancy, vandalism, theft, public disrespect, alcohol, smoking and drug policy violations. Also any actions that put in jeopardy the safety and well-being of other others.
Disciplinary Probation Policy
Students whose attitude and actions are determined to be significantly and/or consistently detrimental to the school’s reputation and climate of the campus may be placed on Disciplinary Probation. Students placed on Disciplinary Probation will be required to demonstrate improvement during a period of time determined by the principal. If students are unable to improve/change, they will be recommended for expulsion.
Alcoholic Beverages, Smoking and Drugs. (revised by School Board March 2000)
We take pride in our student body and believe that the students' actions and activities reflect on the school as an institution. Tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, and/or drugs are dangerous for the body and have a negative influence on student's behavior and performance. The use of any tobacco products or alcoholic beverages is not allowed on campus, on field trips, or within a one-block radius of the school. Involvement with drugs, its possession or use, either on campus or off the school campus is considered a major infraction and may be punishable by expulsion on the first offense.
Dress Code
ACS is a private school which caters to the needs of students from many nationalities. The aim of our dress code is to offer students the opportunity to use good judgment while remaining sensitive to the varied points of view of many of our school families. It is in this light that the following guidelines are to be followed:
Dress should be appropriate for school and not detract from our academic purpose. Avoid wearing articles of clothing or jewelry that advertises or promotes the drug culture, alcohol, tobacco products, profane language, or other negative attitudes or aspects of society.
The administration reserves the right to advise students and censor articles deemed inappropriate.
Walkmans, Cellular Phones, Pagers, etc.
These items are best left at home. If they are brought to school, they are to be turned off while on campus. Any of the above items will be confiscated if found in use, or heard on campus during the school day.
Suspension
Suspension is given by the principal and may range from one to ten school days. Suspension from a class or classes may be in-school where the student will come to school prepared to work independently in a quiet study room from 8:20 –3:05. The student is given all homework, tests, and quizzes to work on during this time and receives full credit for work completed. With out-of-school suspension the student is responsible for all materials covered in class but will receive no credit for assignments, quizzes, or tests collected on those days.
Expulsion
Expulsion from school is an action taken by the Board of Directors. Expulsion is automatic for any violation of the drug policy. Recommendations for expulsion are automatic for a second alcohol offense. Expulsion may be recommended for any student who fails to respond to disciplinary or academic probation.
Academic Honesty and Personal Integrity
A.C.S. views academic and personal integrity as fundamental to education, learning, and life. Education, as distinguished from indoctrination, can be achieved only in an instructional environment devoid of prejudice, inflexibility, and narrowness of view. As a school we see learning as a guided but neutral and free process which seeks universal truths unfettered by national or regional interests. Our school respects all responsible religious and political views but favors none. You are encouraged to seek your own truths. Freedom of inquiry, and responsible freedom of expression, are basic to the process of education and are strongly upheld at A.C.S.
Consequently, personal integrity is expected of all students and staff. It is your responsibility to conduct yourself in a manner which demonstrates respect for one’s self, others, and the community at large. Honesty in word and deed is an expectation and a requirement.
It is not possible to anticipate all potential breaches of personal integrity. However, you are urged to avoid conflicts stemming from cheating. Cheating is defined as:
- to copy another student’s work during an examination.
- to ask for or give unauthorized assistance during any exam, paper, homework assignment, etc.
- to use any other written, verbal, or mechanical source of information during a test or examination without previous approval from the teacher.
- to study any copy of the current examination, or previous examinations not authorized by the teacher.
- to falsify information given in a written report, examination, or oral presentation.
- to fail to follow specified instructions during a test or examination.
Any breaches of personal integrity outlined above, or possibly in other areas of individual behavior, will be considered a major infraction at the American Cooperative School and may result in the student receiving no credit for the paper, project, or course.
Plagiarism
Academic integrity requires that any ideas or materials taken from another source be fully acknowledged. Offering the work of someone else as one’s own is plagiarism. This may range from isolated formulas, sentences, or paragraphs to entire articles copied from books, periodicals, the internet, speeches, or the writing of other students.
Attendance Expectations
Attendance Policy (revised by School Board, April 2001)
Regular attendance is necessary. When students are not in attendance they miss more than just the assignment or information that was given. Also, the rest of the class is affected negatively and they miss out on the unique contributions that the absent student would have brought to the class. In order for a student to receive credit for a class, s/he must be in attendance a minimum of 90% of school days each semester. Exceptions to this policy must be recommended by the principal and approved by the Superintendent and the Board of Education.
Because students should not be present in school when to do so would endanger their health and that of others, students with excused absences will be given the opportunity to reschedule exams and oral presentations when they return to school.
For absences which are excused, students will be given the opportunity to make up missed daily work during a period of time assigned by the teacher. Normally this means that if a student is absent two days, two days will be given to complete missed daily work. For long term assignments, the teacher has the right to adhere to a given deadline. These expectations will be clearly stated both verbally and in writing to students at the start of each semester. For an extension of a long term deadline, parents must contact the teacher directly on or before the due date. Excused absences include: illness, death in the family, family emergency, college interviews, national or international tournaments. For absences which are not emergencies, students must complete a homework sheet before missing school in order to have the absence considered excused. Homework sheets may be picked up from the high school secretary.
For absences which are unexcused, students will not be given the opportunity to make up missed work and will receive a zero for work assigned/completed during the unexcused absence.
Students expecting to take extended trips should understand the following consequences. First, the school policy of 90% attendance for each semester is in effect. Second, students whose grades are not above a C in all classes will not be given excused absences. Trips and extracurricular activities should not put the student in jeopardy of falling below a C average in classes.
Pre and Post Holiday Absences (adopted by School Board, March 2000)
In order to maximize student/teacher contact and prevent teaching opportunities lost because of partial class attendance there will be no excused absences without a doctor’s note for the 2 days immediately proceeding and following a school holiday.
Truancy
Skipping a class or classes will result in an unexcused absence. The student will also be referred to the principal for further disciplinary measures.
Tardy Policy (adopted by School Board, March 2000)
Students are expected to arrive to school on time each morning. They are also expected to arrive on time to all classes. Students arriving tardy to a class may receive a disciplinary consequence from the teacher. Students receiving a fifth tardy in a particular class during any marking period will be referred to the office. Students who are excessively tardy to a class may be removed from that class by the principal and have a grade of "F" assigned. Students who are more than 10 minutes late to class will be marked absent for the period. Neither the teacher nor the other students need to accept repeated interruptions in the class period due to students arriving late.
Miscellaneous
Guests
The purpose of permitting students to visit our school is to allow friends and relatives of students who are visiting La Paz to see our school. Permission is needed from the principal. The guidelines for obtaining permission are:
1. A request must be made at least two days in advance. This means stopping by the high
school office to get the "Visitor Request Form" and having it completed two days before the visit.
2. A sponsoring student must be included. The sponsoring student is responsible for the guests behavior.
3. Visiting students must be dressed appropriately.
4. Teachers do have the option not to allow visiting students.
Health Office
The health office is open daily during school days from 8:15 to 3:30 p.m.
Medications: If students need to take medications during school hours, parents are required to bring in the medication and a written note, authorizing the nurse to give the medication.
In Case of Emergency: If both parents are going to be out of the city, please call the nurse with the name of the person designated to be called in case of an emergency.
Lockers
The school provides each student with a locker. Each student must purchase a lock from the business office which will be theirs to use while attending ACS. No other lock may be used without permission of the principal.
Open Campus
Students in grades 9-12 may request the open campus privilege for lunch. A permission form must be signed by the parents and the students. The lunch pass must have 2 photos attached. Students in grades 9-10 will receive a lunch pass to go only to their homes for lunch. Students in grades 9-10 do not have permission to use the plaza or other areas near the school to eat lunch.
It is the student's responsibility to return from lunch in a timely fashion. If a student returns late from lunch two times, the privilege will be lost.
American Cooperative School Code of Behavior
Students Rights and Responsibilities
ACS provides each student the opportunity to develop to the highest possible degree his or her talents, capacities, and interests in a school climate reflecting the high standards of good citizenship expected in countries around the world. Effective learning takes place within a positive program of discipline. ACS's program will encourage the individual student to develop desirable qualities of self discipline, will hold the student responsible for his or her actions under the supervision of school authorities, and will protect the student from the individual whose behavior or actions disrupt an effective learning program.
The responsibility for the basic behavior development rightfully belongs with the individual and his or her parents. Parents have an obligation to assist the school in promoting and maintaining positive social and moral standards of conduct both on and off campus. Ultimately students must assume responsibility for their own behavior. They are expected to obey all rules and regulations set forth in the ACS Student's Rights and Responsibilities.
1. IT'S YOUR RIGHT:
To be part of an environment in which you are addressed politely, treated with dignity and respect, and are free from discrimination.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-Avoiding language and behavior which is offensive to others.
-Respecting the rights of others.
-Using acceptable manners, and appropriate social etiquette.
2. IT’S YOUR RIGHT:
To be part of an environment which is free from intimidation, including all forms of physical and verbal abuse.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-Avoid causing or encouraging bullying, teasing, harassing or ganging up on others.
-Showing due consideration for others when moving on or around campus.
3. IT’S YOUR RIGHT:
To work, learn, and achieve success in an environment which supports your efforts and helps encourage you to successfully reach your goals.
To be able to express your thoughts and to ask questions.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-Arriving on time to all your classes with all necessary books and supplies, ready to work.
-Being cooperative and displaying a positive attitude.
-Completing all of your assignments and class work within an agreed upon time frame.
-Allowing others to speak and to listen sensitively to what they have to say.
-Accepting and giving opinions which are critical of ideas but never of people.
-Being intellectually honest - No cheating, plagiarism or copying of another student’s work.
-Avoiding types of behavior which interfere with, or discourage other students from learning effectively.
4. IT’S YOUR RIGHT:
To expect that all property and equipment at A.C.S. whether personal, shared, or belonging to the school should remain free from damage, abuse, or theft.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-Treating all property with respect and using it in appropriate manner.
-Avoid using or touching property which belongs to other people without their permission.
-Compensating owners for property damaged due to your inappropriate use.
5. IT’S YOUR RIGHT:
To be able to spend your day at ACS in a friendly, clean, and safe environment.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-Placing litter in appropriate containers and cleaning up your table after lunch.
-Refrain from bringing dangerous articles to school.
-Helping to keep any non prescription drug, alcohol, or tobacco away from the ACS campus.
6. IT’S YOUR RIGHT:
To be a member of a school which is highly valued by parents and the wider community.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-Obeying all Bolivian laws.
-Behaving in an appropriate manner when off campus.
-Not smoking or consuming alcoholic drinks off campus during school sponsored activities.
-Complying with the ACS dress policy and generally behaving in a manner which engenders pride in our school and in the achievements of its students.
7. IT’S YOUR RIGHT:
To have any disputes involving you, settled within a reasonable time frame, in a fair and rational manner.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-Allowing all members involved in a dispute to state their case and be listened to.
-An obligation to seek assistance from a teacher or administrator, if you feel that a dispute cannot be resolved amicably.
-Accepting with good grace the final decision of the arbitrating member of staff.
8. IT’S YOUR RIGHT:
-To use the technology available at ACS to help make your education the best it can be.
-To have access to an ACS-provided email account and file storage area for educationally-related communication and academic productivity.
-To choose, with parental consent, to have images of you and your school projects NOT be shown on the ACS web page (by default all student images and projects will be available for demonstration on the ACS web page).
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
-To use ACS hardware and software technology for educational purposes only. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
-Avoid chatting and gaming and be aware that these activities are only permitted with specific permission.
-Avoid abusive, obscene, or other objectionable language and/or graphics on any computer at ACS. This includes purposefully accessing any electronic site (i.e. a web page) with the aforementioned objectionable material and sending and/or receiving such material electronically.
-Avoid engaging in activities that cause disruption to any aspect of technology at ACS.
-Avoid engaging in unlawful activities with ACS technology (unlawful is defined as breaking any U.S. or international laws concerning technology). This includes perusing, downloading, using, sharing, electronically sending and/or receiving any hacking, trojan horse, viral, worm and/or any other inappropriate software.
-Avoid engaging in any copying or cutting from electronic sources (i.e. the Internet) that results in plagiarism.
-Avoid referencing ACS in any way (i.e. through a web page) in any electronic public domain (i.e. the World Wide Web) without permission from ACS.
-Avoid any other activities not appropriate in an educational context (e.g. criminal speech, speech in the course of committing a crime, speech that is unsuitable, dangerous information, violations of privacy, abuse of resources, copyright infringement, violations of personal safety, improper materials or language, exceeding storage limits, illegal copying, etc.)
-To be aware that you are fully responsible for any damages incurred on any technology equipment related to inappropriate or irresponsible actions when using the equipment. It is your responsibility to report problems with technological equipment that you use immediately.
-To not let others use your FirstClass account or password: You are responsible for all actions related to your personal files. You must let the system administrator(s) know immediately if your password has been lost or stolen or if you think someone else has access to your account.
- To be aware that as a user, your privacy will always try to be respected but not guaranteed: ACS reserves the right to review any files stored in FirstClass or on any ACS computer and will edit or remove any material that may be educationally inappropriate.
-To abide by the specific rules and regulations for any given technology area at ACS and be aware of and abide by any changes to these rules.
