Support Services and Activities

Importance:  

An array of services is needed to support student learning. These provide for the physical, social, emotional and development needs of students.

Others provide food and transportation. School also needs services to admit students and provide academic guidance and personal Counseling. Students' records need to be accurate and kept safe throughout the years of enrollment and transferred to the next school. The activities offered also benefit the students' learning and well being. Co-curricular activities, clubs, team and individual sports, and interest groups promote artistic, physical, character, and intellectual development.

 

1) Transportation: (this statistics was made for the school year 04/05)

The school uses 18 buses (4 in the Kindergarten & 14 in the school) (will be at least 25 buses for the school year 05/06) that cover most of Alexandria quarters. The largest trip takes 45 minutes and the shortest 25 minutes. Mr. Adel Abdel Basset is responsible for designing the route-plan using official maps of the city and he decides the routes according to the addresses of students' homes. There is a bus-matron on each bus that keeps a list of students' names, addresses and parents' telephones. She takes care of the students while getting on to and off the bus and she watches over discipline and good behavior among the students. There is a first aid kit on every bus and a fire-extinguisher. Of the 414 enrolled students, only 265 use the school buses. The fees vary between LE 1000 and LE 1200 per school year according to distance. Mr. Adel Abdel Basset takes care of the maintenance program and the renewal of the buses' licenses.

2) Food Services:

There is a canteen that provides snacks, sandwiches and ready-made pizzas together with soft drinks and sealed water-bottles.

Mrs. Rita Perez (the nurse) is responsible for the cleanliness and well keeping of the canteen and the area round it. She keeps the place clean and sanitary. There is a list of the foods and drinks the canteen offers, and their prices. It closes during the time classes are in session and opens during breaks and before and after school hours.

Mrs. Rita Pirez chooses the kinds of foods that are nutritious and healthy. 

3) Admissions:

The school has a well-established system for admission of new students. A new student has to sit for a written entrance exam in English and Math according to his / her level.

Students and parents are interviewed by the school educational head; passing students are accepted and parents fill the required applications and pay the fees according to the school financial rules. There is a school uniform all students should wear. Students who do not pass the tests could have another chance if the educational head accepts. Counseling may be required to direct such students' parents in case they fail to make it.  

4) Counseling and guidance :

There are two kinds of counseling:

• Academic
• Personal  

• Academic counseling is always done by the educational head to the students of grades 11 and 12. Students are given advice about the subjects they should learn in the light of the kind of university studies they plan to do. Students, who prove to be privileged and talented, are guided by the teaching staff to develop their talents .e.g. artistic, musical, athletic excellence. Parents may request counseling with the school educational head. Likewise, students who appear to have learning difficulties need academic guidance. Sometimes, when the case requires professional help, the school directs the parents to specialized centers for learning disabilities, or to therapists.
• Personal counseling is the responsibility of the school social worker Mrs. Makka Abdelrazek. Teachers direct students to get help from her or they report the cases they believe students need help to her. The social worker may need to have conference with parents when necessary.

5) Students' Records and Files:

Students' records are kept complete, accurate and confidential with the school registrar.

They are regularly updated and kept safe in fire-proof cupboards.

6) School Activities:

Various school activities are provided to support the students' educational program. Such activities not only benefit the students' learning and well-being but they also provide for their physical, social, emotional needs. The following are the available in-school activities:

1. Sports: soccer, basketball, volley ball, speed ball and, tennis; Mr. / Sherif Aly Hassan and Mrs. Amira Sobhy are responsible for the sports activities.
2. Art clubs: art rooms are open during breaks and all day for students who are interested in painting, drawing, hand-crafts…etc. Mr. Sherif Abdel Latif is responsible for art and crafts activities.
3. Drama club: many students love to show on stage. Language teachers, Arabic, English and French encourage them by selecting suitable scripts and Mrs. Abeer Naeem does the direction and when the rehearsals prove the work is perfect, parents and community figures are invited to watch the play. This particular activity encourages the students to express themselves in the language of the play and helps them to gain confidence and stability.
4. Music and choral singing: Almost all students love to sing and a number of them can play different musical instruments. Mr.Alaa Elgishy and Mrs. Fayrozh Fahmy are responsible for students' training and for preparing end of year concert program.  

Out-of-School Activities:

• Organized excursions and trips provide the opportunity to increase understanding of their culture and history especially when such trips are related to themes in curriculum.
• Field trips are integral part of the school program where students investigate or participate in real or lifelike experiences away from classroom. Such trips include visits to museums, historic sites and nature centers.

7) Health Service:

There is an equipped clinic on the first floor. There is a licensed nurse, Mrs. Rita Perez. She stays in the clinic all day. She's responsible for regular vision, teeth, hair inspection and regular check ups. She also provides vaccination services when required. She administers medication and deals with sudden illnesses. In case of emergency such as broken bones, deep cut wounds, sprains, lab accidents and food poisoning, students can be treated in school and parents are notified to follow up the treatment. In cases when injury is major, the student is taken to hospital and treatment arrangements are made with the parents' knowledge and advice. The nurse keeps a medical record for each student, she sees to the medical supplies and provisions needed for the clinic. She also supervises the cleanliness of the clinic, the canteen, the children's general appearance according to the hygienic criteria.

The school nurse also provides health education to the children by giving them lectures on health and safety concerns, promoting healthy life styles and supporting and advocating nutritious foods.