COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Visitors to the School

All visitors are asked to check in with the security guards. Non-school community members will be given a visitor badge that must be worn while on school grounds. Parents who visit the school during the school day are to report to the corresponding school office, not to classrooms. Parents who do not report to the appropriate school office will be asked to do so by school personnel.

Communication

A weekly newsletter is sent home every Wednesday which contains both school and community information of interest to ASA families. ASA has a website (www.asa.edu.py) where this handbook can be found as well as announcements and other important school-related information.

Lost and Found

Lost and found items can be retrieved in each area's administration office. Books, supplies, and personal items that are found around the campus are picked up by the maintenance staff or anyone finding them and immediately turned in to the appropriate area office. All students’ personal belongings should be labeled for identification purposes, and items that are not claimed by the end of the semester are usually donated to charities.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The PTA meets periodically during the school year to plan services and activities that are undertaken to enhance parent participation in school wide projects. It operates a school store which sells school supplies, PE uniforms, snacks, phone tokens, etc.

On-campus Traffic Control

Students transported to school in private cars are to be dropped off and collected only at the appropriately marked drop-off and pick-up areas. Parents should not drop off students by the cafeteria or in any other non-designated area. Both the España Gate and the Marecos Gate are open school days from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM and from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The Marecos Gate is the only gate open after these hours. Students who ride bicycles onto the campus must secure them in the parking area next to the cantina for the duration of the school day. Skateboards are not to be used on campus.

Bus Transportation

A private bus service is available for transporting ASA students to and from school, arriving by 7:45 AM and departing at 3:40 PM. Students are collected and dropped off at their homes. Those interested in contracting this service should inquire in the school business office. Note: Several outlying areas, such as Sajonia and Lambaré, are not included in this service.

Use of School Facilities

Use of the school facilities for community events (i.e. playing field, library, cafeteria, and mango area) may be solicited by completing a request form. This form is available in the school’s main office. Fees may be charged to cover any incurred expenses.

School Telephones

Two pay phones are available for student use after school, during break, recess, and lunch times. One is located next to the library and the other is located near the infirmary. Tokens for these phones can be purchased from the PTA store or the school business office. Students are not allowed to use office telephones for personal phone calls.

Beepers and Cellular Telephones

Students are not allowed to have beepers or cellular telephones in classrooms or to leave the classroom to use them. If these are seen or found by a teacher in the classroom, then they will be confiscated and sent to the principal’s office where they will only be returned to the student’s parent or guardian.

Money and Valuables

Students should not bring excessive amounts of money or items of great value to school. ASA shall not be responsible for money or possessions lost or stolen on school grounds.

Payment & Restitution of Lost or Damaged School Property

The school provides students with books and other materials that are the property of the institution. It is the responsibility of the student to return all books and school property in good condition.

Lost materials will be charged for and must be paid for in the school business office by the following tuition due date. Payment for lost/damaged school property is required before a student can take end of semester exams or collect his/her report card or transcript. Books purchased locally will have a 15% surcharge. Lost books purchased from the United States will be charged according to the scale below.


If the lost article is later found it must be turned in before any reimbursement is issued. In these cases $5.00 will be retained to cover the administrative processing expenses.

Ambulance Service

In the event an ASA student needs medical services beyond what the school nurse can provide, the student will be taken to the hospital by ambulance, and will receive up to 200,000 Guaranies coverage in medical attention as covered by ASA's ambulance service policy. The parent or guardian is responsible for all medical coverage that exceeds this limit. Students will be taken to the clinic/hospital of parent’s choice, or in the absence of such choice, to the Bautista Hospital on San Martin.

Procedures for Annual Registration

The annual registration of a student requires updating of all pertinent documents. Failure to complete the documentation required is tantamount to failure to register.

Tuition and Fees

Parents will receive an annual tuition payment schedule prior to the beginning of each school year. The annual tuition is divided into four quarterly payments. In compliance with our ASA Policy Manual, article 3200, a late fee of $50.00 per student is incurred each time a deadline is not met. This penalty is cumulative on a monthly basis. Please note that according to Board Policy 3200: "A student shall be eligible to attend class only after school fees that are due for each quarter have been paid in full prior to the first day of class for each billing period, or after a formalized payment plan to pay all expenses within a quarter shall be approved by the Director".

Payments made to the Business Office will always be applied to the longest standing debt.* For example, if a late payment fee of $50 is owed and a tuition payment is also due, the first $50 of whatever is paid will be applied to the late payment fee and the remaining balance to the tuition payment.

Note: Only students whose accounts are paid to date may participate in school trips.


Security

ASA has security guards on its campus on a 24-hour basis to insure the security of students, personnel, and school property. There is a school-developed emergency plan which is periodically practiced by the student body through routine drills and put into effect should an emergency arise(s). The safety of our students is the prime consideration in any emergency. A community telephone communication plan (the telephone chain), developed at the beginning of each school year, will be put into effect should any emergency arise.