Rights and Responsibilities of Students

AISL students have the right to:

• receive the best possible education the school can provide;
• express opinions freely in speech and writing;
• form clubs and organisations in keeping with the school’s
purposes and goals;
• have the guidelines and rules explained to them and the
opportunity to present their side of the story in cases involving
honour and disciplinary action;
• be free from racial, sexual and religious discrimination on the
basis of race, gender or religious preference.

AISL students have the responsibility to:

• participate in the Diploma Program as structured and required by
the school and to comply with all subject-specific regulations and
internal school deadlines;
• attend the school every day and not to disrupt the functioning of
the school;
• not use language which is obscene, racist or sexist;
• make membership to school organisations open to all members
of the student community;
• follow school rules on honour, conduct and discipline.
• All AISL students are entitled to a safe, positive and supportive
learning environment, one which fosters mutual respect, self
discipline and responsibility. We trust that the guidelines given
below on expectations form one element in that collaboration.

Breaches of discipline or the Honour Code may result in disciplinary
consequences.

1. Use of Tobacco Products on School Premises

The primary motives of the school in matters pertaining to alcohol,
drugs, tobacco products, substance abuse and apparently dangerous
items are maintaining the health and safety of the community,
maintaining orderly operations of the school, and protecting the good
reputation of the school community and all its members.

The school will make efforts to educate the community about drugs,
alcohol and substance abuse and make efforts to refer families to
appropriate professional counseling should a need arise. Our school
health curriculum informs us that alcohol and substance abuse can be
related to medical and/or psychological conditions necessitating
treatment. Students and families should know that a sincere request for
help from a student or family with a problem in this area will be met by a
discreet, sensitive and professional response from the school.

On the other hand, the school in no way tolerates the use of tobacco
and any student discovered smoking or in possession of cigarettes or
tobacco either on the property or at an event under the school’s
jurisdiction are subject to disciplinary consequences.

The area of the school's jurisdiction in these matters includes the
school property and its surroundings, school functions held on or off
school property, field trips, sports matches and any other events to
which members of our community participate as a group identified with
the school.

By offering an invitation to a school related event, students agree to
accept reasonable responsibility for the behavior of their guests.

2. Possession and Consumption of Alcohol on Campus or
any School- Sponsored Activity

The legal drinking age in Zambia is 18. It is illegal and against school
rules for AISL students to consume or possess alcoholic beverages in
any amount in any area including any event under the school's
jurisdiction. Students who are reasonably suspected to be in any way
involved in the above behaviors are subject to disciplinary
consequences.

Employees of the school will feel obligated to inform the School Director
under any circumstances within or outside the school's jurisdiction if a
student's use or misuse of any substance places him or herself or
others at risk or brings the school's reputation into question.

Students and parents should realize that in cases of expulsion for a
violation of the above rule, the final school transcript will be annotated
indicating the student's violations and the date of expulsion (for
example, "Expelled for possession of alcohol at a school related
function - February 10, 1997").

3. Possession of Dangerous Items

Apparently dangerous items include anything which can be construed
as a threat to the health or safety of the school community including
such things as “fake” weapons. For the above purposes, ‘fake’ weapons
will be treated with the same seriousness as real weapons.

Confiscation of object, a parent/advisor/administrator/student
conference and possible suspension or expulsion based on the facts of
any incident where a weapon may be displayed.

4. Possession of Illegal Substances

Buying, selling, possessing, taking or using, giving, or in any way
directly or indirectly aiding or abetting the use of illegal drugs, misuse of
controlled substances (both prescription and over the counter
medicines) or uncontrolled substances (such as glues and solvents) is
potentially detrimental to health and safety. Such behaviors are also
against school rules and, in many cases, illegal in Zambia. Therefore,
students who are reasonably suspected to be in any way involved in the
above behaviors are subject to disciplinary consequences.

5. Academic Honesty

Beyond intellectual rigor and high academic standards, the American
International School strives to maintain a community based on
principles of mutual respect and trust between all members of the
community and places strong emphasis on the ideals of international
understanding and responsible citizenship. Expectations for ethical
behavior arise from the philosophy and values inherent and explicit in
the Diploma Program.

All students are expected to participate in the IB Diploma curriculum as
structured and required by the school and to comply with all subjectspecific
regulations and internal school deadlines. It is a breach of the
school’s Honour Code if a student attempts to gain an unfair advantage
in any assessment component.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty
1. When a student knowingly allows his or her work to be submitted for
assessment of the unacknowledged work, thoughts or ideas of another
person as the student’s own.
2. When a student shares their own work with another knowing that it
might be submitted for assessment as the work of that other student.
3. When a student takes the credit for work that they did not complete:
e.g., not acknowledging the assistance of parent, tutor, friend.

Students are expected to acknowledge fully and in detail the work,
thoughts or ideas of another person if incorporated in work submitted for
assessment. Students are expected to ensure that their own work is
NEVER given to another student, either in the form of hard copy, or by
electronic means, knowing that it might be submitted for assessment
as the work of that other student. It is expected that all students will
complete and submit their own work and not copy from a resource
book, another student or any other source without teacher approval.

6. Self-Discipline

Self-discipline means that we ask to students to practise sensitive,
orderly, polite and respectful behaviors toward all others and help to
maintain an appropriate learning environment at all times. Teachers and
administrators at the school aim to engender a sense of self-discipline
by modeling and instructing disciplined behaviors. When students are
unable to practice appropriate self-discipline in the classroom, the
responsible adults intervene with logical, corrective consequences.

7. Respecting the Property of Others and of the School

Failure to respect the property of other people and of the school are
violations of the school Honor Code and all can range in consequences
from detention, suspension, or expulsion depending upon the
seriousness of the violation. Furthermore, such behaviors may also
result in other logical consequences such as payment for damaged
property. Students and parents should realize that in cases of expulsion
for a breach of honor, the final school transcript will be annotated
indicating the student's violations and the date of expulsion (for example
, "Expelled for stealing - February 10, 1997").

8. Student Conduct

Many cultures and age-groups co-exist at AISL; therefore, it is important
that students demonstrate self-disciplined attitudes and behaviors
regarding personal conduct that are acceptable to persons of all cultural
and ethnic backgrounds. All forms of violence, swearing, threats, and
intimidation are unacceptable and will result in disciplinary
consequences.

9. Public Displays of Affection

The school recognizes that genuine feelings of affection may exist
between students; however, students should refrain from inappropriate
intimate behaviors on campus or at school related events. Repeated or
especially inappropriate behavior in this regard may result in disciplinary
consequences.

10. Dress Code

Students are expected to demonstrate pride in themselves and the
school community by their manner of dress and appearance. In general,
dress and appearance should not be distracting in the school setting.
Clothes, make-up, hairstyles, jewelry, and other elements of personal
appearance should be neat, clean, and in good taste (inoffensive).
Immodest attire is not permitted. Extreme appearance, clothing or
jewelry and items which are obscene, suggestive, or which promote or
refer to illegal drugs or substance abuse are unacceptable. Appropriate
footwear must be worn at all times for safety. For health reasons, a sun
hat must be worn during break, physical education classes and sports
when these activities take place in full sun. Hats or caps are not to be
worn indoors.

The following items are not acceptable:
• shirts with offensive logos and messages that promote or refer to
illegal drugs
• pants worn below the hips
• spagetti-straps
• clothing that reveals the midriff
•faded, torn or significantly ‘worn’ clothing
•high-heeled shoes• “wheelie” shoes

Students who are unable to abide by school standards in dress will be
asked to change clothes and may face the disciplinary consequences
in the event of repeated problems in this area.

11. Lateness

Students are expected to arrive to their classes in a timely manner and
to bring with them at the start of the class all the materials needed for
the successful completion of that class. Lateness is defined as: a
student who enters a class after it has officially started.

12. Safe Driving

Students who have been given permission to drive to school and other
school-sponsored activities must do so in a safe, courteous manner.
Violation of AISL safe driving expectations will result in the withdrawal of
driving privileges.

13. Gum Chewing

The chewing of gum on the school premises or school buses is not
permitted.

Special Procedures for Handling Violations of School
Rules

Students and families have the right to privacy except that in all cases
the student's parents or guardians will be informed.

Given reasonable cause for suspicion of a violation of school rules, a
student's clothing and other possessions may be searched. Any item
not allowed at school will be confiscated and may not be returned.

The School Director reserves the right, after consulting the Chairperson
of the School Board, to ask a family to withdraw a student from school,
to expel a student from school, and to seek the assistance of the police
in cases where the Director determines there is a need.

The Director reserves the right to require that a student and family
receive approved professional counseling before allowing a student to
return to school.

In the event of an immediate perception of a threat to health or safety
the school reserves the right for any member of the school staff to
employ the school security forces, a medical response unit or the
police immediately and without consultation.

The school reserves the right to suspend, request withdrawal or expel a
student for repeated violation of any school policy, rule, or combination
of policies and rules.

Page updated 15 August, 2008

SECONDARY => Handbook => Rights and Responsibilities

Excerpts from AISL Handbook: Rights and Responsibilites of Students

Rights and Responsibilities of Students