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About this guide 13. Purchase PE (Physical Education) uniform and kit:Each school division (Early Childhood, Lower School, Middle School, High School) will provide thisinformation in the online summer mailing.4. Activate School Lunch Account:Go to FORUM and select catering where there is a Upay link. Complete all the information andsubmit to create your account.5. Check the ACS Cobham Campus calendar of events on FORUM:Go to FORUM to ACS Cobham and you will see a full school activities link.6. Check out the PSO (Parent-School Organisation) information on Forum:Go to FORUM to ACS Cobham where there is a PSO web link on the top of the navigation.FAQS ABOUT ACS COBHAMParent OrganisationsWhat is the PSO?The PSO stands for ‘Parent School Organisation’. Its Board is composed of a volunteer groupof parents that meet once a month to discuss current topics and liaise closely with the schooladministration. Members are elected annually and can serve two years in each position. A list ofBoard positions and who currently occupies them can be found on the PSO Pages on FORUM.What is a CRG?The CRG stands for Country Representative Group and consists of Country Representatives foraround 40 different nationalities. They support a variety of international events, flag-raisings andour Native Language Program.What is the difference between a Liaison and CRG?Most liaisons represent a grade level or division. The Country Representatives represent her/hisnative country within the CRG and the CRG Liaison is part of the PSO Board. All liaisons areBoard positions.Liaisons: who are mine?There are Liaisons for various functions: The grade level/divisional Liaisons are the parentrepresentatives for each grade in the Middle and High School and in the Lower School and EarlyChildhood, the entire Division. They meet regularly with the divisional heads and organise gradelevel/divisional events.In addition, the PSO Board includes Liaisons for the Performing Arts, Welcoming and Athletics.How can I get involved?The PSO Board and its Committees are always looking for volunteers. A good place to learn aboutand sign up for activities is at the various grade level coffees early in the school year. Or contactyour grade level or divisional liaison any time!Insider’s Guide 8

1 About this guideTRANSPORTATIONWhat types of bus transportation are there?ACS Cobham primarily operates a student door-to-door service, which picks up your child/childrenfrom outside your house in the morning and drops off again after leaving the school at 3.45pmon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday and 2.45pm on Wednesdays. This service is available forall students from Pre-K upwards. There are also Shuttle Services, which pick up from various PickUp Points (PUPS) in the morning and drop off after school. This service is offered to students fromPre-K upwards for mornings only and Middle School upwards for afternoons.Late bus: how, where, when, route, and does it cost money?The Late Bus Service is a free non-bookable service that drops students off at various drop-offpoints. These buses will depart ACS at 5.45pm every school day and normally finishes at the endof May. This service is offered to all students from Middle School upwards. A list of destinationscan be obtained from Phil Bridger in the Transportation Office (pbridger@acs-schools.com).How does drop-off work?The drop-off line is strictly designed to let children out of your car and move on. If you need timeto organise yourself, you should park in the upper lot by the entrance to the school. The other lotby Admissions is closed for parking from 7.30am to 8.30am to allow buses to move freely.What are the rules for parking on the road into school?There is strictly NO parking on the road leading into the school and ACS Cobham; it needs to bekept free for emergency vehicles at all times.Why is there always such a traffic line in the morning?There are still many parents that like to drop their children off in the morning and traffic exitingthe school is often slow. The Portsmouth Road is busy in the mornings and evenings, so it takestime for cars to exit the school. The school administration is constantly looking for ways toalleviate the situation, but needs to co-operate with Elmbridge Council on the matter.HEALTH AND SAFETY/SECURITY ON CAMPUSWhat are the after school rules on campus?Lower School and Middle School students are NOT allowed to remain on campus unsupervised.The Homework Club or the Library offer supervised areas after school. Library hours for the2013/2014 school year:Lower School library: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.00am-4.00pm; Wednesday8.00am-2.30pmMiddle School library: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.00am-5.15pm; Wednesday8.00am-2.30pm; Friday 8.00am-3.30pmHigh School library: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.00am-5.00pm; Wednesday8.00am-2.30pm9 Insider’s Guide

About this guide 1Why can’t my child go on his own to the Sports Centre to watch his friends play sports?School policies and procedures do not allow Lower and Middle School students to remain on campusunsupervised. If parents are able to supervise younger students, they are welcome to attend the games.Why is the pedestrian gate always open if this is supposed to be a secure campus?Every effort is made to make the school a safe place without making it a prison. No student isallowed to leave campus during school hours without a permission slip. Staff at the Security Hut(by the car barrier) collect those slips from students exiting campus.Can I take my children to the Lower School and Early Childhood playgrounds after school?Yes, the playgrounds are open after school and parents are invited to accompany their children.Climbing the big tree?No, unfortunately not Where is the nurse?The nurses’ office is located along the path leading towards the Lower School playground, on theright hand side in a bungalow style building.AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIESAfter school: what is available?Each Division has its own offering of After-School Clubs and Activities and it is best to consult theDivisional Section of FORUM to find out. In addition, the Divisional Libraries are open after school(schedules below) and Homework Clubs may be offered (check with each division). There are alsoseasonal sports offerings for High School and Middle School students (and, to some extent, LowerSchool now) for which training takes place after school.Lower School library: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.00am-4.00pm;Wednesday 8.00am-2.30pmMiddle School library: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.00am-5.15pm;Wednesday 8.00am-2.30pm; Friday 8.00am-3.30pmHigh School library: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8.00am-5.00pm;Wednesday 8.00am-2.30pmHow do I sign up for after school sports?Contact the Sports Centre Reception Desk for offerings outside of the School Athletics Program.Postings for Try-Outs for the various school sports will be in the School Calendar.How do I find out about the ‘Native Language Program’ (NLP) program?The NLP program is offered via the Country Representatives as a free language enrichmentprogram for native speakers or students who have become reasonably fluent in the language of acountry their parents have been posted to. It is also available to internationally adopted childrenwho have been studying the language of their birth. Contact the Country Representative of thelanguage in question for detailed information.Insider’s Guide 10

1 About this guideSPORTSWhat are the Sports Centre store hours?The Shop is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 10.00am and again from 12.00pm to 5.00pm. Thisis where you buy your PE uniforms and other sports gear. Cougar sportswear is also sold in the store.How do I find out when and where Sports Try-outs are?Make sure you get your name on the weekly ‘athletic’ email list, which is compiled at the SportsCentre Front Desk, as soon as possible. You will then receive regular email updates on SportsSchedules and Try-Outs. The various School Calendars also indicate when Try-Outs take place,normally within a week of the end of the previous sports season. On FORUM, go to ‘Sports’ andthen ‘Cougar Sports.’How do you sign up for swimming lessons?Swim School Course enrolment dates are posted in the Sports Centre Reception. Study thevarious offerings, pick the appropriate course and sign-up at the front desk; early registration isrecommended as classes fill up quickly. Individual lessons are available on demand. On FORUM,go to ‘Sports’ and then ‘Sports Centre.’What sports can my child try out for?Any sport that is offered during the respective Season can be tried out for. There are often largenumbers of students that try out for limited numbers on the various teams. The coaches will lookat ability and age and determine who fits into which team. Additional teams are sometimes addedif demand exceeds open slots.How do I book the pool for a birthday party?You need to make the booking at the Sports Centre Reception Desk.What is the Booster Club?The ACS Booster Club is a parent-run organisation that supports the sports effort at ACS. They runthe Sports Centre Café during games, design and sell Cougar gear, support award ceremonies anduse their profits to further enhance athletic equipment. It is a great place to get involved if you areinterested in active participation in ACS Cougar Sports!AT SCHOOL – GENERALDo the students have a dress code?There is no specific dress code at ACS, but guidelines for appropriate clothing are published in thevarious divisional handbooks.How can my child attend a flag-raising?Depending on the division, your child will be escorted to the various flag-raisings or will need tohand in a permission slip to the divisional secretary.11 Insider’s Guide

About this guide 1Class lists: how do I get a class list?The class lists for High School and Middle School are posted during Orientation, which takesplace a couple of days before the beginning of the new school year. In Early Childhood and LowerSchool, homeroom coordinators/parents will distribute to parents. During the school year, it isbest to contact your divisional secretary or Grade Level Liason for information.Home Room Coordinator: who is mine?This is only relevant for Middle and Lower School, where students are organised by Home Rooms.Contact your divisional secretary or Grade Level Liaison for information.Conferences: how do I sign up and which day am I on?There is a new online sign-up system in place now for Middle School and High School; a link willbe posted on FORUM a couple of weeks ahead of the conference date. This allows you to pick theteacher and time slot you would like to secure online. Your divisional secretary will send you anote to advise when booking opens. In Lower School, you will receive a letter from the divisionalsecretary with sign-up instructions.Where is the Middle School Shop?It is located on the first floor in the Middle School Building; ask the Secretaries for directions.What is the MAP test? What happens with the scores?MAP stands for ‘Measures of Academic Progress’ and is a standardised test available in Reading,Language Use, Mathematics and Science. It provides a continuous roadmap as to where each studentis performing relative to curriculum or other standards and is used as an internal assessment tool tohelp educators develop targeted instructional strategies. The test is dynamically built, based on theachievement level of every student and is untimed; results are given immediately. Because the datacan be looked at historically and is consistent from season to season, growth can be measured andcould be used as a placement tool in Middle School and High School.How do I complain if I see inappropriate behavior by students on campus?It is best to contact your Grade Level Liason – they will raise the issue with the Divisional Headand make sure you receive feedback.Where can I get school supplies (off campus)?Each village tends to have a school-supplies store and most supermarkets have a decent section.What is IB, AP, NHS and SAT?These are various terms used in the High School for either: a diploma, degree, test or society.The IB is an acronym for the International Baccalaureate, the AP for US Advanced PlacementCourses, the NHS is the National Honour Society and SAT stands for ‘Standard Aptitude Test’which is a Test required by most US universities.Is there a supply list for High School?Not really; each course will have its own requirements and students are expected to provide forthe appropriate material.Insider’s Guide 12

1 About this guideWhat do I do with my children during parent teacher conferences?You can bring your children to Conferences; check with the respective teacher whether theyencourage student participation or prefer to talk privately.Paying twice a year is very expensive and I pay the school fees, what can I do?The School Fee Department offers various options with regards to payment frequency,including a Direct Debit Option for 10 monthly instalments. It is best to call them anddiscuss your circumstances.FORUMWhat is my FORUM ID?Your FORUM ID is your student account number. Once you have enrolled and paid your fees,you will be provided with a password.Where do I find a list of teacher’s emails?Each division has a directory posted on FORUM, and some have a staff directory. If individualteachers cannot be located, email the divisional secretaries with your request. Email addresses areusually in the format: Firstinitial LastName@acs-schools.com. For example, John Smith would beJSmith@acs-schools.comMy FORUM ID doesn’t work: who do I call?You could email forum@acs-schools.com or call the front desk at 01932 867 251 and ask for theIT department.What is TeacherEase and how do I get a login?TeacherEase is web-based grade book communication software that allows teachers to simplifygrades and communicate with parents. Sign-up is free and a username and password can beobtained by following the link on the TeacherEase Tab on FORUM.How can I find staff and parent directories?The staff directories are on FORUM on the ACS Cobham page. On each parent’s landing pageon FORUM there is a link to a fully searchable parent directory.ACS COBHAM DICTIONARYWordExplanationAcademic dean Responsible for academic advising andscheduling of High School studentsAcademic principal Directs the planning, delivery and ongoingimprovement of curriculum, assessment andinstructional practices within the schoolActivity camps Fun day camps for children led by staff duringsummer holidays on campusAlumniStudents who have previously attended ACS13 Insider’s Guide

About this guide 1Advanced Placement (AP)US university-level courses taught in High SchoolArtist-in-Residence Program bringing artists and otherprofessionals to ACS to work with students,parents or teachersAssembly, Lower School Grade-level assemblies are performances oracademic activities presented by the students,which parents may be invited to attendAssembly, Middle School/High School Grade-level or whole school division meetingsfor sharing information or presenting awards,which parents may be invited to attendAthletic Booster Club (ABC) PSO parent volunteer support group for allschool sports teamsAmerican Women of Surrey (AWS) External club that welcomes and assistsnewcomers to the UK; everyone with a childattending ACS can join. Many ACS parents aremembers. AWS organises events, excursions,toddlers groups, etc.Bank Holiday No school; banks, post offices and some localshops will be closed‘Black Gates’ Near the lawn next to Heywood House; an afterschool pick-up point for parentsBlock schedule Double lessons (70-80 minutes each) in MiddleSchool and High SchoolBold & Gold Event organised by Middle School and HighSchool counsellors in May to welcome Grade 8students into High SchoolBoy scoutsProgram for boys aged 11-18BrowniesProgram for girls from kindergarten to Grade 3Buddy Parent/family that volunteers to help a newfamily settle in at ACSBringing Up Grades (BUG) Quarterly recognition for Middle School studentswho bring up their grades by at least 10%CafeteriaDining hall for students and staffCampus All of the school’s grounds (fenced in). It is aclosed campus with 24-hour securityCampus Calendar The main calendar with all activities, eventsand meetings for school yearCareer Day For High School students, once a yearprofessionals with different occupations areinvited to meet with students and tell themabout their careers. Students must wear fieldtrip dress for the day.Insider’s Guide 14

1 About this guideCentre for Inspiring Minds (CIM) CIM supports collaborations with staff toimprove education at all ACS schoolsCreative Active Service (CAS) As part of the IB Diploma, students mustcomplete a program of minimum 180 hourstotal over Grades 11 and 12 in sports, charitywork, etc.Chaperone An adult (staff, parent) supervising field trips,parties, dances, etc.Coffee morning An informational meeting with refreshmentsfor parentsCollege workshop High School informational meetings for parentsand students regarding preparationfor universityConcession stand Snack bar in Sports Centre Café where lightrefreshments and snacks are sold during sportsevents by parent volunteersCore subjects/classes The academic subjects in each division, usuallyMath, LA, Social Studies, Language; differentfrom ‘Specials’ or ‘Extras’Cougar School mascot; the ‘cougar’ name and logo isused especially by sports teamsCounsellor One in each division (Lower School, MiddleSchool, High School) to provide primarily socialand emotional support for students, as well asadvice for parents when needed. In High Schoolthere are also ‘college counsellors’ who provideguidance for students with the universityapplication processCountry Rep A parent representing his/her country as amember of the CRGCountry Rep Group (CRG) Group formed by parents representing mostcountries of origin of ACS students; part of PSOand helps support new familiesCredit In High School a course that meets daily duringthe school year is worth one credit towardsHigh School graduation requirementsCub scoutBoy scouts from Grades 1-5Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) School-wide charity committee with student,staff and parent members. Organisesfundraising and immediate support tointernational aid organisations when disasters15 Insider’s Guide

About this guide 1occur around the world. Informs and educatesACS community as part of our role as globalcitizens to help those in needDivision/divisional There are four divisions in the school: EarlyChildhood, Lower School, Middle School andHigh School. Each has a divisional officeDress code Each division in the school provides guidance forhow students are expected to dress at schoolDUCK Week (Developing Understanding,The Lower School annual charity fundraisingCaring and Kindness) week; children sell snacks, books and rungames to raise money for charity. Usually inOctober/NovemberEnglish as an

organisations at ACS Egham International School and ACS Hillingdon International School for their willingness to share the information from their campus welcome books. On page 6 you can see a listing of the important ACS Cobham staff phone numbers and e-mail addresses by division: Early Childhood, Lower School, Middle School and High School.