Operating Policies and Staff Handbook for Taipei Adventist American School
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OPERATING POLICIES AND STAFF HANDBOOK FOR TAIPEI ADVENTIST AMERICAN SCHOOL Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………… 5 General Information and Expectations for Staff …………… 5 Contracts ………………………………………………..………... 5 Pre-session Week ………………………………..……………….. 5 Staff Worship …………………………………………………..… 5 School hours ……………………………………………………… 5 Staff Meeting ……………………………………………..….…... 6 Bereavement Time ……………………………..……..…………. 6 Church Attendance…………………………………….…………. 6 Professionalism and Attire…………………………..…………. 6 Outside Employment ……………………………..…….………. 7 Bulletin Boards………………………………………..…………. 7 School Tee Shirts…………………………………………………. 7 Typhoons……………………………………………….…………. 7 After-school Supervision……………………………..…………. 8 Adcom and School Board……………………………..…………. 8 Staff Workroom……………………………..……………………. 8 Audio-Visual Supplies……………………………..…….………. 8 Laminating Machine……………………………..………………. 8 Mailboxes……………………………..……………………………. 9 Microwave…………………………………..…………..…………. 9 Copy Machine…………………………………………..…………. 9 Accidents/Illnesses…………………………………….…………. 9 Year-end Checklist……………………………………..…………. 9 Social Relations among Staff ………………………..…………. 9 Classroom Information and Expectations for Teachers….. 9 Professionalism ………………………………….………………. 10 Dealing with Parents …………………………………………… 10 Lesson Plans …………………………………............................. 11 Assignments and Grades ………………………………………. 11 Curriculum Guides………………………………………………. 12 2 | P a g e Absences and Tardies………………………………….…….… 12 Student Supervision……………….………………………..…. 12 Discipline…………………………………………..……….……. 12 Book and Classroom Funds…………………………..……….. 13 Student Textbooks ………………….………………….……… 13 Assignment Books ………………………………..……………. 13 Classroom Schedule ………………………………….………… 14 Cumulative Folders………………………….……….………… 14 Recess ………………………………………………….………… 14 First Week of School ………………………..……….………… 14 Lunch ………………….………………………………………… 14 Cleanliness ………………………………….……….………… 14 Pets ……………………………….……………..…….………… 15 Janitorial Supplies ………………………………….………… 15 Recycling and Trash Disposal ……….…………….………… 15 Earthquake and Fire Drills …………….………….………… 15 Programs…………………………………………..………………….. 16 Chapels……………………………………………….……….…. 16 After-school Programs…………………………………….……. 16 Field Trips…………………………………………….………….. 16 Outdoor School …………………………………..….………….. 17 Music Class………………………..………………….………….. 17 English Language Learning ……………………….……….… 17 Evaluating and Reporting Student Progress…….…………. 17 RenWeb……………………………………………...……………. 17 Parent/Teacher Conferences ………………….………………. 18 Iowa Test of Basic Skills ……………………..…..…………….. 18 ELL Progress……………………………………….……………. 18 Student Recommendation Letters ……..…………………..…. 18 Equipment and Supplies…………………………..…….………… 18 Technology ……………………………………………….………. 18 Computer Lab Use ……………………………………..……….. 19 PE Equipment …………………………………………..……….. 19 3 | P a g e Professional Development…………………..………….………… 20 Teacher Professional Development ……..…………..……….. 20 Teacher Observations …………………………….…..……….. 20 Educational Memberships ……………….…………..……….. 20 Continuing Education ………………………….……..……….. 21 Employee Information………………………….……….………… 23 Salary…………………….……………………………..………... 23 Taxes……………………………………………….……………… 23 Banking …………………………..…………….………………… 24 Tithe………………………………………………….…………… 24 Keys/Gate Remote……….……………………………….……… 24 Work permits, entry visas and ARC……………..…………… 24 Personal Pets ……………………………………….…………… 25 Housing Repairs…………………………………….…………… 25 Utilities ……………………………………………..…………… 25 School Vehicle Use …………………………….….…………… 25 Maternity Leave …………………………………..…………… 26 Employee Benefits …………………………………………………. 27 Salary…………………………………………………………….. 27 Housing…………………………………………….…………….. 27 Furnishings……………………………………………………… 27 Airport Rides ……………………..………….…………………. 27 Medical/Dental Care ……………………………..…………… 27 Eyeglasses and Contacts ……………………………………… 28 Physicals ………………………………………………………… 28 Other Health Options ………………………………………… 28 Savings Fund …………………………………………………… 28 Shipment Home ………………………………………………… 28 Travel ……………………………………………….…………… 29 Travel Insurance ………………………………..……………… 29 Tuition …………………………………………………………… 29 Living in Taiwan……………..…………………………………….. 32 4 | P a g e INTRODUCTION The purpose of this handbook is to answer questions that you might have regarding the operation of TAAS. It will provide written information so all may know the standard procedures by which we operate, what is expected of our staff, and information regarding life in Taiwan. Please become familiar with what is on these pages. General Information and Expectations for Staff Contracts A normal contract consists of a 10 month school term with dates generally running from August 1 - July 31. All non-administration workers have two options for their yearly contracts. Someone who works 10 months plus one month of Summer Camp will receive 12 months pay. If you do not teach for Summer Camp, then you will receive 10 months pay. You will sign a new contract for each new term of employment. Pre-session Week The week before school starts is the week teachers are officially on duty for the next school year. All staff will report to duty according to school calendar set by Adcom. Staff Worship All staff are expected to arrive to school by 7:30 AM for worship and announcements. Please be on time. Teachers and staff will take turns providing worship one week at a time. School Hours School starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:15 PM. Monday to Thursday. On Friday, school runs from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Please do not let students into the building until the bell rings for school to start. Teachers are on duty from 7:30 AM to 3:45 PM. Your students are to be supervised at all times you are responsible for them. Teachers are to stay 30 minutes after school every day except Friday unless there is an emergency and need to leave early. 5 | P a g e Staff Meeting Staff meetings will be scheduled twice a month to discuss school issues and upcoming events. Staff meetings are generally scheduled sometime during the first and third week of the month starting at 3:30. Personal and Sick Leave Please fill out a personal leave request form one week prior to the expected date of leave. If you are sick the office coordinator will fill out a sick leave form for you to sign in order to properly track staff leave. All staff have five (5) sick leave days and two personal days per school year. Leave cannot be accrued or carried over to the next school year. You should avoid taking any personal day(s) before or after a holiday. You may not take a personal day during the last two weeks of the school year. If you are sick and cannot come to school please call the principal as soon as possible either in the morning or the day before. Please do not call before 6:00 AM. Do not call another teacher to have them tell the principal at worship that you are sick. If extra personal or sick days are taken your salary will be adjusted accordingly. The school will not pay in-house people for subbing for sick or absent teachers. That is part of the job expectations. Bereavement Time If you have a death in your immediate family (child, parent, sibling, or grandparent), you will be allowed five working days of leave, this travel will be at your own expense. Church Attendance As you have come to Taiwan to be a missionary, it is logical to assume that you will be willing to participate in church activities on Sabbath. Teachers are expected to attend church faithfully and participate in areas of need. Professionalism and Attire Taiwanese culture sees teachers as highly trained professionals more than western culture does. Parents and community members will judge you and our school based on your professional appearance. Teachers are to dress professionally in the classroom and for all school events. For men this generally means clean well fitting pants and a collared shirt. For woman this means comfortable, professional, and sophisticated looking clothing. Sweats, t-shirts, sloppy- 6 | P a g e looking clothes, pants hanging below the hips, or pant cuffs dragging on the floor are not considered professional. Appropriate shorts for teachers are okay for field trips or Sport’s Day. Clothing should be modest. It should not be too tight or reveal any cleavage, midriff skin, or underwear. Jewelry is not acceptable in the classroom. We discourage teachers at TAAS from wearing jewelry at any time. Wedding rings are acceptable. Outside Employment TAAS contracts do not allow outside employment. Your responsibility is to TAAS. Outside work often takes time away from your lesson planning, grading of papers, or cleaning your classroom. Please don’t accept money for tutoring outside school time even to others that are not in our school. Your teaching time belongs to TAAS and its students. If one of your own students really needs your help after school on your assignments, make time to tutor them. Do not charge them for help that you are obligated to freely and willingly give. Bulletin Boards Bulletin Boards are assigned as needed throughout the school year. If you have any requests, ideas, or desire to participate please let the principal know. Bulletin Boards in the ELL building will be taken care of by the staff working in that building. School Tee Shirts We give each child a TAAS tee shirt at the start of the school year. They must be worn on all off-campus field trips. The classroom teacher should make arrangements to obtain a tee shirt for any students who have forgotten theirs on the day of a field trip and be responsible for returning them. T-shirts can be found in the staff work room. Typhoons Properly preparing for a typhoon can greatly lessen the negative