School policies in-depth

Attendance

As attendance is of extreme importance, after the third absence, the director will send a letter home to the student’s family, and the student will be put on probation. Four tardies equal one absence; two tardies equal a half-day absence. If a student is aware of an unavoidable absence (wedding, alms giving, etc.) they must inform their homeroom teacher at least one week in advance and turn over any classwork or complete any tests before they are absent. Students are responsible for making up any work missed or getting any class notes on days when they are unexpectedly absent. Muslims who must attend Friday mosque must return to school by 2:00 pm or it will be counted as a half-day absence.

Dress and Grooming

Students are expected to dress in a professional manner for classes. Boys are required to wear light, solid colour dress shirts, white vests, dark blue or black pants, and office shoes (with socks).

Girls are required to wear either frocks (below the knee), or skirts, shalwars, dark colour dress pants with a blouse (no sleeveless blouses) and dress shoes. Please make sure that you have the appropriate clothing before coming to class.

On cold days, only a BHA sweater is allowed in class. The following are not acceptable dress for school: denim pants or skirts, cargo pants, sleeveless blouses, T-shirts, track shoes, or slippers. Boys should not wear earrings or have long or untidy hair. They also should be clean shaven. If a student comes to school wearing inappropriate clothing or with unkempt hair, we will send them home to change or get a shave.

Cheating

Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. Some examples of cheating are: taking text from a book or magazine or internet and using it in a paper or speech without crediting the original author; copying homework from a friend and turning it in as your own; using the same speech in speech class; asking for or copying answers from another student’s test paper during an exam. A student caught cheating will automatically lose all points for the assignment or exam. If it happens more than once the student will be suspended.

Grading and Graduation

Grading is carried out on a ten-point scale. Example: A=>90%, B=>80%, C=>70%, D=>60%. Grade reports are issued at mid-term and at the end of each term. A character record is also shown on each grade report. Students must maintain a 70% overall average with no F’s and no more than one D, as well as a satisfactory character record, in order to receive a diploma. If a student does not have this standard at any grade report, they will be placed on probation.

Character Record

A record will be kept of any misbehaviours or commendable actions students done throughout the year. If any disciplinary action needs to be taken, a student’s character record will be taken into consideration. This record will be shown on the grade reports so that parents can be aware of how their child is behaving at school.

Probation

Students will be placed on probation for academic reasons, after the third absence, or at the discretion of the director according to any misbehaviours. While on probation, students are not allowed to participate in after-school clubs, and must go to the probation classroom from 3:15 - 4:00 pm Mondays through Thursdays. While in the probation classroom they must work on schoolwork quietly.

English Only

The goal of the BHA Diploma program is to immerse students in a professional, English-speaking environment. As such, only English may be spoken in the classroom, on the institute’s grounds and on the road in front of the school. The first time a student is caught speaking Sinhala or Tamil, they will be required to write a sentence 250 times. The second time a student is caught; he/she will be required to write again the same sentence for 500 times. If they he/she is caught for the third time they will be suspended for 3 days and will be on probation. Any students that are listening to the student speaking Sinhala or Tamil will also be punished in the same way.

Campus Rules

Campus is closed to the public before 8:30 am and after 5 pm. Between 8:30 am and 3:15 pm only students should be present at the academy. Homeroom begins at 8:50 am. Friends or relatives should not be on the school property except to drop off or pick up a student. School is dismissed at 3:15 pm. Students may remain on campus to use the computer lab or library, or to participate in after-school clubs or activities. Parents or guardians can set up an appointment to see a teacher or the director by calling 052.222.3492

Lunch break is from 11:50 am to 12:45 pm. Students may leave campus for their lunch break but they must return by 12:35 pm. Students are not permitted to leave campus at any other time during school hours. No food may be eaten in the computer lab. Students are expected to clean up after their lunch break so that there is no mess in the classroom or the school grounds.

Cell phones are not permitted at the institute. If a student is found to have a cell phone while on school property, it will be confiscated. No knives, firearms, or other weapons are permitted upon school grounds.

Smoking and drinking alcohol is not allowed on school property at any time, nor is tolerated at any school event off campus. If a student is found to have been drinking alcohol prior to or during a school function, the student will be suspended from participation in that activity and sent home. If students drink, they may be suspended from school.

Personal Conduct

Students are expected to live up to the highest standards of personal integrity and to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times while on and off school property. This means showing the proper respect to teachers, staff, and fellow students. School property and grounds should also be treated carefully so that they can remain in the best condition possible. Students will be required to sign and live by an Honour Code in order to remain as a Beacon Hill Academy student.