March 2017

Pioneers Upper School Some Changes:

Informational Content The Upper School utilizes a

Pioneers Demerits
demerits system, with

Baccalaureate Upper School Courses clearly outlined

consequences. Keep
SAT Program SAT Testing reading for more details.

Towjihi Equivalency
An outline of changes parents Leveling In the upper school,
Leveling students are leveled into
and students will encounter
honors classes and standard
when they move to the Upper Demerits classes.
School

Grades Some parents may see that

their students grades lower
when their child moves to
the Upper School. In
Welcome Parents and preparation for the SAT we
do have a harsher grading

Students! system and expect all

students to complete their
work with demonstrated
effort.
Welcome to the Upper School. We are excited for you to
begin our SAT program. While you and your student will
ThinkWave Students and parents should
remain in the same building, there are many differences use Thinkwave. In the Upper
School, teacher-to-parent
between the Lower and Upper Schools at Pioneers. This
emails are very limited.
document serves to highlight some of these differences and
further explain the SAT program as a whole. We understand
that our SAT program is very rigorous, thus we expect hard Summer ALL students in the Upper
Reading School are required to
work from our students from grades 7-12. complete summer reading.
Students receive a 0 for
Grades, diagnostic tests and TOEFL are all incredibly their first assignment if it is
not completed
important to monitor your childs progress. Students MUST
complete these tests in order to be leveled correctly. Just as
important, behavior is closely monitored and students are
held accountable for their behavior both in and outside of
the classroom through our demerits system.
 7th Through 12th Grade Courses

7th Grade 8th Grade Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

7th Grade 8th Grade Introduction to Women in Literature and Identity and
English English Literature Literature Philosophy Literature

Algebra II/
Math Connects Math Connects Algebra I/Pre- Precalculus/Cal
Geometry Advanced Math
Course 2 Course 3 Algebra culus
Concepts

Biology
Semester 1
Science Science
Biology Chemistry Physics
Grade 7 Grade 8
Chemistry
Semester 2

Introduction to Topical
Physical Cultural World History World History
History: Global Advanced
Geography Geography Part 1 Part 2
Studies History Course

Middle School Middle School

Arabic I Arabic II Arabic III Arabic IV
Arabic Arabic

Our middle school courses seek to provide students with strong foundational skills. As students move
through the program, classes become more specialized. In 10th-12th grades, courses heavily focus on SAT
preparedness. All students are prepared to take the SAT Subject Test at the end of each course.

Each academic year builds up to the next. For example Physical Geography prepares students to move on
to Cultural Geography, which prepares them to move onto Global Studies, and so on. Success in all
classes, even from the early stages of 7th grade is important to your SAT progression.

Middle School Math and Science courses are designed to develop basic skills in multiple subjects.
Students in our science classes learn Biology, Chemistry and Physics throughout the course year. In our
Math Connects programs, students learn math reasoning and problem solving skills in subjects such as
statistics, geometry, and algebra. The courses are specifically designed to build students vocabulary,
develop strong habits and practices, and prepare your kids for SAT-level material.

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 SAT Details

All students enrolled in this program are required to gain a Palestinian diploma and Tawjihi equivalency.
The minimum score required for equivalency is 400 in 6 SAT Subject Tests and the SAT 1 with Essay.
Pioneers students will be prepared to take all eight subject tests available in the SAT testing program but
will only have to choose six for Tawjihi equivalency.

All students are required to complete the tests listed in Students Must Complete:
the table during their time at Pioneers. While students
may choose when to take these tests, it is recommended SAT I
that students complete the exams directly after they Math I
have finished each course subject. As for the optional Math II
tests, students must complete at least two of the test in Chemistry
order to gain equivalency. Biology
In order to provide more options to students interested Students May Choose to Complete:
in literature and humanities based testing, the school is
in the process of developing AP credited courses. At this World History
time the ministry will allow students to use AP tests in Literature
their equivalency process. This will mean more testing Physics
options for your students to choose from in the future.
We will keep you updated as we continue this process!

Testing Schedule

Students will begin testing in their 10th grade year and may continue all the way until the end of their 12th
grade year. The following schedule is the recommended testing order for our students:

10th Grade: 11th Grade: 12th Grade:

Biology Math I Physics
Chemistry Math II
World History Literature

Depending on your students goals for University, testing schedules may be altered. As students move
through the program, all students will begin meeting with our SAT and College Counselor Coordinator in
order to determine the correct testing schedule for the individual.

Intensives

SAT Intensives is a small group tutoring system that focuses on preparing for specific subject tests.
Students are organized into groups based on their academic performance throughout the year and their
test taking skills/abilities. Within this system, students review content, time management skills, and test-
taking strategies. These sessions are meant to provide SAT assistance to students in conjunction with
independent study.

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 Leveling

The SAT program is incredibly advanced in terms of English ability, critical thinking, and testing
strategies. While all students are prepared for the SAT tests, some students may be placed in honors-level
courses. These courses will usually move through material swiftly, go into further detail in regard to
certain concepts, and will generally expect higher-level performances from the students. While some
students will be working toward basic equivalency, others will be working toward top scores. This
honors/standard system allows us to assist all students on a more individualistic basis.

In order to be considered for honors-level courses, students will have to complete all TOEFL and
Diagnostic tests to the level required for success in an advanced class. They must also be in good
behavioral standing with the school as well as be recommended for the advanced level courses by their
teachers. All aspects of the student will be considered when deciding placement.

In 7th grade students will be placed in an honors group and a standard group. If they are placed in an
honors group, this means that they will enroll in all honors courses. Once the student moves into 8th grade
and above, students may be placed in a Math/Science honors group and/or a Language/History honors
group. We understand that students have different abilities in different subjects. Where one student may
still be struggling in Language, they may be excelling in Math. With this in mind the level system seeks to
cater more closely to the individual needs of our students.

GPA

The honors system begins to affect GPA and transcripts in the students 9th-12th grade years. If studying
abroad, classes will be marked as honors on their English transcripts and will show that the student is
competing on a more competitive stage than those who are in the standard courses.

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 Demerit System

The Demerit system is first and foremost a record keeping system. It is meant to be a system that monitors
behavior and allows the Academic Coordinator to keep parents apprised of their students actions should
they be disruptive to the classroom. With this system we seek to hold students accountable when
infractions occur based on an escalating
punitive system. Examples of behaviors warranting demerits # of demerits
Being late to class (not the first class) 1
A disciplinary file is created for each student
Being unprepared for class 1-3
when they enter the Upper School. Demerits
are recoded in this file as the student Failing to turn in completed homework 1-3
receives them. All English department Improper behavior in the hallway or on break 1-5
teachers have the authority to utilize the
demerit system. While the amount of Failure to dress in uniform 1-2
demerits given is at the teachers discretion a Addressing an English teacher in Arabic 1-3
list of acceptable consequences has been Littering in class or on the playground 1-2
provided. This list is by no means exhaustive. Getting out of seat without permission 2
Once demerits have been given, the teacher Abusive language 2-5
may not take them away or reduce the Failure to respect peers 2-5
number of demerits. If a student begins to Arguing about demerits 5
argue about receiving the demerit(s) the Plagiarism 5-10
consequence is further demerits. Vandalism (including writing on desks) 5-10
Failure to respect a teacher 5-10
If a student goes 5 consecutive school days
without receiving a demerit, one of
his/her demerits will be erased. Demerits are added up from the beginning to the end of each semester.
At the start of each new semester, the demerit count returns to zero for each student. The student may ask
an administrator before school or during first break for an update on his/her total demerits. The student is
also encouraged to keep track of his/her demerits.

Consequences
10 Demerits Parents are notified in an official capacity and a letter is kept on record.

20 Demerits Second official notification is sent to parents and a letter is kept on record. First parent
disciplinary meeting is held with principal, Academic Coordinator, and student. Record of this
meeting is kept in students file.

30 Demerits Student receives one day of in-school suspension (ISS) and cannot participate in sports
activities for the week. Second parent disciplinary meeting is held, and the students future
within the school is discussed.

40 Demerits Student receives out of school suspension (OSS) for three days, and cannot participate in any
sports activities for the week. Parents are notified that their student is very close to losing their
opportunity to continue in the school. A record of this suspension is put in the students
permanent fill and will show up on school transcripts.

50 Demerits The students record is reviewed by a disciplinary committee to determine the future
enrollment of the student. A second letter is sent to the Ministry of Education at this time
and a record of that letter is kept in the students file.

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 Demerit System Continued

In-School Suspension (ISS)

When students accumulate 30 demerits or commit a serious offense, they may receive one or more days of
In-School Suspension. Students in ISS are responsible for completing assigned work and making up any
tests or quizzes missed during their suspension. This punishment should not hinder their ability to do
homework and hand in assignments to the teacher on time.

Out-of-School Suspension (OSS)

When students accumulate 40 demerits or commit a serious offense, they may receive one or more days of
Out-of-School Suspension. The student is responsible for making up the work and contacting teachers via
email to get their missing assignments.

Academic Honesty
We expect your student to use genuine, sincere and fair methods to complete all tests and academic tasks
or projects An atmosphere which actively fosters academic honesty requires the active support of parents,
students, and staff.

Students who seek to present the work or ideas of others as their own or use unfair methods to improve
their grades will be judged guilty of academic dishonesty.

Listed below are examples of academic dishonesty:

Plagiarism the intentional practice of taking someone elses work or ideas and passing them off as
ones own.
Accepting a copy of a test or test key.
Giving or receiving test questions or answers to/from other students.
Copying from another students test or knowingly permitting another student to copy during a test.
Copying having someone other than the student prepare the students homework, paper, project,
report or take home exam for which credit is given.
Permitting another student to copy ones work or ideas.