HILL VALLEY ACADEMY

PARENT AND STUDENT HANDBOOK

 TABLE OF CONTENTS
MISSION:
Mission
Vision /Values.
Our Learning Principles
Core Educational Values
Child Protection
OUR CAMPUS:
Facilities
Campus Security
Access to classrooms
School Hours
Student Health
Transportation Services
GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS:
School Uniforms
Water Bottles
Lunch and Snacks
Lost property
Lockers
Assemblies
House System
Student Behavior and Discipline
Bullying
Leaving Campus
Damage to School Property.
The student diary
Electronic Devices and Mobile Phones
Absences and Late Arrival
PARENT SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT
Parental Engagement
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA)
Communication Between Home and School.
Report Cards
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Homework.
Withdrawal Procedures
 MISSION

To provide an excellent internationally recognised education that provides the very best opportunities for
our students to develop and flourish into patriots as well as global citizens.

Vision and Values:

At Hill Valley Academy our core values and learning principles actively encourage academic excellence
with a sense of responsibility.

Our Core Values are:

KNOWLEDGE · TRUTH· PEACE. CHARITY

Our Learning Principles are:

1. To hold high expectations and ambitions for our students

2. To conduct authentic /credible assessments and to give constructive feedback
3. Encourage confidence, responsibility, self-discipline, and character building in our students
4. To develop concern for and render assistance to the less privileged in our society

Our Core Educational values are:

1. Encourage our students to analise, think critically and creatively and use information in problem
solving.
2. Encourage our students to question, interpret, and explore to develop logical, imaginative
thinking.
3. Students will learn to listen, speak, read, write, and interpret effectively, as individuals and as
group members.
4. Students will develop an appreciation for both the value and limitations of technology. They will
learn to evaluate the environmental, cultural, and social impact of technological changes.
5. Students will develop personal skills that contribute to academic success and the development of
a healthy self-esteem, including goal setting, self-discipline, self-motivation, organisation, and
time management.
Child Protection:

HVA is committed to Child Protection and has a Child Protection Policy which clearly states the
school’s and individuals’ responsibilities to protect the children in our care. (Please see our child
protection policy)

OUR CAMPUS

School Security Procedure:

• All visitors must report to gate security, sign in, and wear a visitor badge. Gate security will
escort them to the school administration.
• No commercial vehicles are permitted within the compound.
• Visitors should kindly adhere to all PARKING instructions given by the security staff
• All staff members are required to wear school ID’s

Student Health:

The school health office is staffed with three full-time nurses whose responsibilities include:
administering first aid and treating minor ailments that occur during school hours and promoting health
education.

To enable the health office to care for each child effectively, all students are required to submit a health
information form and consent form prior to their first day of attendance at school. The health office
should also be advised in writing of any special medical concerns, conditions, allergies, or medications a
child is taking.

Access to Classrooms:
Only parents / guardians of pre-primary students are permitted to accompany their children to their
classroom.

Parents/guardians are not permitted to enter the classrooms during school hours/while classes are in
session. Parents/guardians should first report to the school administration if they need to see /hand
over something to a child.

School Hours:
1. Pre-Primary (P1, P2, P3 & YR. 1) 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM unless staying for afterschool club which
ends at 3:00 PM
2. Primary School (Year 2-6). 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
3. Lower Secondary School (Year 7-9) 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
4. Upper Secondary School (Year 10-13) 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Transportation Services:

Hill Valley Academy offers a bus service for our student at a cost of Le. 4,000- 4,500 for the academic
year. This service is not compulsory, and parents/guardians may opt to drop off and collect their children.
Parents must inform school administration and the teacher (and bus driver, if applicable) if their children
will be going home in a way that differs from their normal routine.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS

School Uniform:
Except on approved or special occasions, students must wear regulation school uniform every day
The fabric/material for school uniform, the sports uniform and school badge MUST be purchased directly
from the school.

The style of the school uniform must not be altered in any way and girls should make sure they adhere to
the skirt specification of “¾ (calf length)”. Girls observing hijab should have skirts at “ankle length”.

The appropriate black shoes suitable for school must be always worn.

Sport Uniform:

Sport uniform/ House polo can be worn to school on days that students have sport and on Fridays. The
appropriate sport shoes are a part of safety and must be worn during sport lessons. Sport /Polo shirts will
be allocated according to house colours.

Hijabs:

Students who wear hijab are required to purchase the hijab provided as part of the school uniform.
Students are not permitted to wear multi coloured, elaborate, embellished hijabs at school.

Shoes:

Appropriate footwear is a matter of safety. The appropriate black shoes with a sturdy sole, suitable for
school must be always worn by all students. Completely black trainers/ sport shoes may be worn to
school. Slippers, sliders, sling backs, sandals are not permissible, and any students found to be wearing
such footwear will be sent home.

Hairstyles:
All hairstyles should be neat and appropriate for school.
Coloured extensions/ tinted hair/ extravagant hairstyles are not permitted
Hair extensions though permitted for girls, must not go past the shoulders. Hair must be always tied back.

Braided hairstyles, extensions, shaved patterns, and long hair is not permitted for boys.
Hair should be kept neat and presentable. Hats, do-rags, bandanas are not permitted and will be
confiscated until the end of term if used at school.

Jewelry:

Girls are permitted to wear a single pair of small earrings. No anklets, beads or necklaces are permitted.
Boys are not permitted to wear any earrings or necklaces.
Watches are permitted to be worn.

Water Bottles:

Students are encouraged to stay hydrated during the day. Please provide your child with a
labelled water bottle that can be refilled at one of the water dispensers located throughout the
school.

Providing your child with a reusable water bottle supports our school’s desire to reduce plastic waste.

Break:

There is a 15- 20-minute morning break for students to have a snack that they can bring from home.

We encourage our students to eat healthy and balanced snacks that should include fruit and / or
vegetables. Sugary drinks and sweet snacks should be kept to a minimum.

Snacks, light food, fruit, and drinks are available to purchase from the canteen.

Lunch:
The school lunch menu is designed in consultation with the Parents’ Association and is included in the
school fees. The cafeteria is serviced and serves a mixture of Western and African dishes.

Textbooks :

Cambridge Curriculum Textbooks for Primary, Lower Secondary and Secondary Levels are
available for purchase at school subject to availability .

All other books must be purchased locally .

Book lists are available from Admin

Equipment:

Pre- Primary, Primary, Lower Secondary and Secondary school students are expected to arrive at school
every day with the necessary equipment to participate in learning:
- A pencil-case
- Pen
- Pencil and pencil sharpener
- Eraser
- Ruler
- Colored pencils, pens, or crayons
- A basic, mathematical instrument set (year 5-13)
- Calculator (Secondary)
- Graph paper booklet (Year 7-12)
- USB stick (Year 7-12)
- 1 Exercise/notebook per subject (Yr. 1-13)
- Textbooks (Cambridge text books are available for purchase from school subject to
availability)

All equipment must be clearly labeled with the student’s name and Year / Class

Additional supply lists may be sent home by individual teachers during the school year.

Lockers:

Lockers are provided for students in Lower Secondary and Senior Secondary only. Students are assigned
a locker through the Director of Studies Office and should only be used for storage of school related
materials. The locker is NOT student property and school administration have the right to open and
inspect the locker at any time.

Assembly :

Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary school assemblies are conducted twice a week. Assembly is
compulsory and allow us to celebrate our core values, promote school spirit and unity. Our school
assemblies help our students develop confidence, stage presence, and appropriate audience skills.
The House System :

All students from pre -Primary to Year 13 ballot to be placed in one of four houses. Throughout the
school year, students earn points for their houses for academic excellence, good behavior, sports, special
accomplishments, and more. The inclusion of students from every year fosters a sense of community and
responsibility throughout the school.

Bullying :

Hill Valley Academy has a zero-tolerance policy regarding bullying. Students are encouraged to report
bullying as well as being sensitised on the effects of bullying.

Students will be held accountable for all forms of bullying on and off campus as this behaviour has a
negative impact on the culture of the school.

Students are encouraged to report bullying as well as being sensitised on the effects of bullying. The anti-
bullying message is disseminated in home room time and in assembly.

Please see our Anti-bullying policy for more details .

Leaving the School Premises :

Students must always remain on the school premises during the school day. If students must leave
because of illness, the school nurse will call the parents/guardians. Students may not excuse themselves
from school. If a parent wishes to take their child out of school before the regular dismissal time, the
parent must notify the school administration and teacher as soon as possible. The child will be collected
and brought to the admin office where he/she will be collected by the parent /guardian, Parents should not
go directly to the classroom during teaching time.

Damage to School Property :

Students will be held responsible for all school property that is lost or damaged. This includes any
damage to the school busses. Parents may be asked to pay for any such damage.

Electronic Devices /Mobile Phones

Personal electronic devices and mobile phones distract from the learning environment and are therefore
prohibited from being brought to school.

All students needing to carry a phone are permitted to bring a basic, button telephone to school.

All other phones will be confiscated for the remaining term if found to be in use in school.

Absences and Late Arrivals.

Students should be regularly present throughout the school year to fully participate in the academic
program—extended vacations interrupt and have a negative impact on educational progress. If a student is
absent for unauthorized reasons for a period of 20 consecutive days, or 25 non- consecutive days, there is
a possibility they will not advance to the next grade level or qualify for re-enrolment for the next
academic year.

Students are expected to be in their classrooms by 8:20 —punctuality shows respect for classmates and
teachers. Students arriving after 8:20 am are considered late. Lateness will be recorded and will appear on
student progress reports. When a child will be late or absence from school, parents must notify the school
Admin. All unexplained absences may result in a call home.

Extended Parental Absence

Students should always be under proper supervision at home by a parent/guardian. If, due to an
emergency, you will be out of town and your child will not be under your direct supervision, please send
a formal letter to the school to let us know who will have guardianship responsibilities in your absence.

Behaviour and Discipline:

HVA is committed to guiding students to become self-disciplined, responsible learners, able to work
independently and cooperatively. We believe that a positive academic and social atmosphere is necessary
for student success. The responsibility for establishing this conducive atmosphere is shared by each
student, staff member, and parent. We expect students to follow reasonable expectations and guidelines.

The following offences are expellable:

• Drug/alcohol possession in any form and being under the influence of drugs/alcohol

• Serious sexual misconduct

• Fighting of a serious nature

• Bringing a weapon to school

In the light of this, the school will continue random searches as well as random drug testing throughout
the year for year 9, 10 ,11 and 12 students.

Disciplinary measures include

• Cleaning the school/compound

• Dish washing /cleaning cafeteria

• Cleaning the toilets

• Detention break/lunch/after school

• Extra schoolwork
 • Banned from the bus

• Cleaning the busses

• Stopped from playing football

• Stopped from taking part in extracurricular activities

• Behaviour contract

• Report system

• Standing behind the class

• Kneeling in class

• Deducting marks from assignments (late submission/ plagiarism)

• Weekend detention

• Suspension

• Expulsion

Classroom Cleaning :

At HVA, we believe that class cleaning is very good tool to encourage responsibility, collaboration, and
cleanliness among students. Classroom cleaning is a short but important part of our day of which every
student is expected to participate on a rota basis. Failure to cooperate may result in further disciplinary
measures being taken.

Fieldtrips and Offsite Activities:

At HVA we believe that student learning can be enhanced outside of the school setting. Fieldtrips and
offsite activities provide an opportunity for students to experience a different environment and
experiences. Fieldtrips and offsite activities may take place for curricular or extra extra-curricular reasons.

The cost of some fieldtrips and offsite activities are included in the school fees, whilst others are not.
All students taking part in school trips are ambassadors of HVA and are therefore expected to follow
school rules. Appropriate standards of behaviour and appearance are expected as well as taking the safety
of themselves and others into consideration.
Any student found not to comply with the rules and regulation may be banned from attending a fieldtrip /
offsite activity.
Communication Between Home and School:

Communication between home and school is very important. The following information will outline the
ways in which the school communicates with parents and vice versa.

School to Parent/guardian Communication

• Parents/guardians will receive notices from Admin throughout the year about general school
events, activities, special announcements, changes to our normal routine at short notice via
WhatsApp
• School closure because of an emergency, last-minute confirmation by the government regarding
a national holiday will be communicated via WhatsApp
• Each Year will have a specific WhatsApp group set up for teachers to communicate homework,
tests, assessments, and general information pertaining to the whole class. Please note this is one
way communication only.
• Parent-Teacher conferences to discuss student progress with individual teachers are held once a
term.
• Report cards are issued Mid-Year and at the end of the Academic Year
• Primary /Secondary student have an HVA homework diary which their class teacher may use to
communicate directly with parents
• Teachers may make direct phone calls to parents via the Admin phone to discuss any issue of
serious concern. These calls and the content of the conversation will be logged.
• The Director of Studies may make direct phone calls to parents to discuss any issue of serious
concern. These calls and the content of the conversation will be logged.

Parent to teacher/school Communication:

• Parent-Teacher conferences to discuss student progress with individual teachers are held once a
term
• Parents/guardians may request an appointment with an individual teacher/s via the Director of
Studies.
• Parents /guardians may request an appointment with the Director of Studies to discuss any serious
issue.
• Parents /guardians may contact Admin from Monday-Thursday ( 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM). Fridays (
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM)

Personal information:

It is vital that HVA has accurate and complete information about all our students.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted all the necessary paperwork
that the school requests, including the registration form - which includes medical information and
next of kin, emergency contact and collection details.

Parents must inform the school immediately of any change in their phone number, so we will always
be able to contact home

School Library /Reading

The HVA library has a selection of books to cater for all our students. The dedicated Librarian will
explain the rules during the library induction including the importance of taking care of books. Parents/
guardians will be charged for the loss or damage of a book beyond acceptable repair

Homework:

Homework is meant to enhance classroom learning. Homework assignments are extensions of material
explained in class and offer additional skills practice or opportunities for independent research. The
amount of time children spend on homework will vary due to their attention span or skill level. If your
child is struggling with homework assignments, please contact the Director of Studies for suggestions.

Parent support and involvement:

HVA has a firm understanding of the benefits of parental engagement. We believe in the importance of an
open and collaborative relationship between home and school in the spirit of unity and community. By
cooperating in different capacities, we will enrich the lives of our students and guide parents into a deeper
understanding of the aims, policies, and philosophy of HVA. All parents of students enrolled at HVA are
automatically members of the Parent Association.

Withdrawal procedure:

Notices of withdrawal from enrolment at HVA must be submitted in writing to the school Admin at least
one term ahead of the official withdrawal date. The school will not release records or issue a transfer
certificate if there are outstanding books, fees, or fines.