Student Handbook 

Addendum for International Exchange Students

2025 – 2026



Please refer to the AHS Student Handbook for information that you need throughout the year.  It is your responsibility to be familiar with school rules, policies, procedures, etc…  This addendum provides information that is specific to Foreign Exchange students.


STAFF YOU NEED TO KNOW


Mrs Judy Duffy            Foreign Exchange Program Coordinator Rm 511 Fusco 

Mr Jeff Bruno  Activities/Field Trip Coordinator

Mrs Erika Tonachel Activities/Field Trip Coordinator


Ms. Kellie Devine Nurse Nurses Office 1st Floor.


Principal Mr. Matthew Janger

Assistant Principal Mr. William McCarthy


Deans

Ms. Veronica Tivnan

Mr. Robert DiLoreto

Mr. Paul McKnight

Ms. Amanda Donohue


Counseling  Department

Ms. Andrea Razi Social Worker

Ms Jessica Klau Social Worker

Ms Caroline Ress School Counselor

Ms Danielle Rakowsky School Counselor

Mr Matt Ruane School Counselor

Ms Kathy Hirsch School Counselor

Ms Anne Benson School Counselor

Ms Caroline Ress School Counselor

Ms June Choi School Counselor

Ms Sarah Gormally School Counselor

Ms Samantha Ferrari School Counselor


OTHER (NOT IN SCHOOL)

Maria Ribon   Host Family Coordinator maria.ribon@educatius.org






COMMUNICATION

Communication is very important to your success at Arlington High School.  It is important to attend meetings, read our emails, and request meetings to discuss any questions, concerns, or problems you may have.


Mrs Duffy is the first person you should speak to if you have any concerns or need assistance with problems related to school.   I will meet with you in person weekly and can always be reached by email.   (jduffy@arlington.k12.ma.us)  I will respond with answers to your questions and/or will set up an appointment to meet with you.


Google Classroom

We will use this website to post forms, calendars, and information about activities and events.  Please check this site regularly for ongoing announcements.


Emails  

You are required to check your email accounts on a regular basis to make sure you get all important messages.  This is especially important when we are trying to get individual messages to you that would not be posted on Google Classroom.


Meetings

You are required to attend meetings with Mrs Duffy, weekly.  We will schedule this time during the Orientation.  Please refer to the Foreign Exchange Google Classroom and calendar to check for meeting changes and updates.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is a very important part of your school program.  It is expected that students will attend all classes unless they are ill or there is an excused reason for being absent.    At the end of the year, the total number of absences will appear on your permanent transcripts and records.  

If you are late for school, you MUST report to your House Office to check in.  The secretary or dean will change the homeroom absence in your record to Present in School.  


It is also important to be on time for school and all classes. 


Attendance Policy

Students may not miss more than 6 classes per term in each course.  Exceeding this number of absences will result in the student failing the course for the term.  

If you are absent for more than two days due to an illness, please bring in a doctor’s note to the school nurse or the dean so that the absences can be medically excused.


Absences     Your host parent should call in to  the Dean’s Office when you will be out of school.  


See Student Handbook for more detailed information about the Attendance Policy and absence protocols.


PowerSchool

You and your host parents will receive on-line access to your grades and attendance records.  You will be able to view these records by using a secure username and password.  Your family at home may also have access to the records if you request this through Mrs Duffy.


It is strongly suggested that you check these records regularly to make sure your grades and attendance records align with what you think they should be.  If you have any questions, you should see the specific teachers of courses that you are concerned about.



ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

It is important that you do your best in all classes by being attentive in class, completing all projects, participating in class activities, studying for tests, and passing in all homework assignments.  If you have questions or are struggling in any courses, please see the teacher.  All teachers are available for extra help a couple days per week.  Please take advantage of this support.

Homework

Most teachers give homework assignments each night.  This is required work and is graded by the teacher.  If you do not pass in the assignments, you will receive zeros for the missed work.  The zeros can bring down your term grade significantly.  Please make sure you pass in all homework when it is due.


Grades and Expectations

It is expected that all students will do their best I all classes and will maintain a minimum of a C average in all classes.    Students who drop below a C will be enrolled in the Learning Center to get extra help with courses that are challenging.



Extra Help

There are many supports for students who find any courses challenging.  You may take advantage of any or all of them




Plagiarism

You will be required to attend a training on the use of our Media Center research services.  You will learn about our protocols for documenting research.  Plagiarism is taken VERY SERIOUSLY at our school and in the United States. It is your responsibility to learn about and follow our rules about citing research.  Failure to follow these protocols can result in receiving a 0 for major (and minor) assignments.


GET INVOLVED

It is important to become involved in activities beyond the school day.  These extracurricular activities provide opportunities for you to meet new friends, learn more about the life of American teens, and become more integrated into the school community.  Many former exchange students expressed regret that they did not get more involved in the social aspect of our school.


Clubs https://sites.google.com/a/arlington.k12.ma.us/ahs-clubs/


There are many clubs that meet a wide range of interests.  Some are educational, while others are civic, service, cultural, or social-minded activities.   Be open to try new things and experience something you may never have the opportunity to be involved with again.  Clubs can meet weekly or monthly.  You can find more information about the club by speaking to the teacher advisor.  There will also be a presentation about school clubs during an advisory period this fall.


Athletics     https://sites.google.com/a/arlington.k12.ma.us/aps-sports/


ATHLETICS OFFICE   RM 231A  Downs Building

AHS offers male and female sports during the fall, spring, and winter.  All sports activities take place after the school day and on weekends.  You may tryout for one sport each season.  Dates and times of tryouts will be published on the Athletics website and will be on the school calendar.


Most AHS sports are very competitive and not everyone will make some of the teams.  Selection of athletes is based on skill level in many cases.  If you are skilled in a particular sport, you should try out for the team but be aware that not everyone trying out will make the team.  

Some teams are not as competitive, so if you are not as skilled in a specific sport or are interested in trying a new sport, you should try out for one of these.  (field hockey, Cheerleading for basketball, LaCrosse, Volleyball)


The following sports do not cut anyone who tries out for the team.   



Indoor Track

Cross Country                                                             

Wrestling

Swimming

Another way to participate in sports without actually playing on a team!

Be a team manager!  

Team managers attend practices, games, and dinners.  They may practice with the team but do not play in games.    They do not have to pay the fee for that sport.


When you participate in an AHS athletics team, you are making a serious time commitment for the season.  Practices and/or games take place daily after school and sometimes on weekends.  Please make sure you are willing to make this commitment before joining a team.


Field trips

You will be provided with a calendar of field trip activities designed for foreign exchange students.   Some of the trips are social, some are cultural, and others educational.  We encourage you to participate in as many of the activities as you can.  It is a great way to have fun with other students.  Some activities take place during the school day and others in the evening or weekends. 

Teachers also run field trips that relate to their curriculum. They will provide you with information about the trip(s) in class.  


When deciding to attend a field trip, please make sure you are doing well academically and will not fall behind in a class.  You must make up the work you miss in all classes when on a field trip.  Although field trips usually do not count as an absence for the attendance policy, it is generally not a good idea to attend a field trip if you have had many absences in the term.


MBTA Passes

The school will provide each student with a Charlie Card.  This card allows you to travel on buses and trains in the Arlington and Boston areas at a discounted rate during school hours.  To activate the card, you can bring it to the Alewife train station and add cash value to it using a credit card or cash.   You can add different amounts to the card and refill it when the cash value runs out.



Cafeteria and School Lunches 

You may bring your own lunch or get lunch in the cafeteria.  All lunch and breakfast is free.


Travel

If you plan to travel during the school year, please be aware of the attendance policy.  Students may not miss more than 6 absences per term.  Please plan your travel for school vacations so you are not missing school. Please keep in mind the COVID regulations and restrictions when planning trips and plan accordingly.


You must request permission from Educatius to travel when:



The Travel Request Form (TRF) can be found in your or your Host Family’s Zapp application. TRF’s must be submitted at least 14 days in advance, and travel tickets cannot be booked until you receive permission from Educatius.


No TRF is needed when you are traveling with your host family within the United States, however, please inform your coordinator when and where you will be traveling.


Host Family

Your host family are your resident parents for the time you are in the US. They will provide you with the same love and care as they give their own children, and have the same house rules and expectations for all family members. Every household is different, and it is important to understand clearly what their rules and expectations are, and to respect them – in particular in terms of communication, curfew, and meal time. If you are unsure, ask them.


Do’s and don’ts

You will make the most of your stay here by exploring new things and getting involved. In addition to the opportunities provided by AHS, the Greater Boston environment offers a rich natural, historic, cultural, music and academic scene. Take a hike or rent a canoe, go whale watching, visit one of the many museums or universities, attend an open air music festival, or take a ride along the bike path to historic Lexington and Concord.


You will have to comply with federal, school and host family rules, as well as specific Educatius rules which are described in the Educatius Student Handbook.  




Health and Health Insurance

When you feel sick or have an accident at school, visit the school nurse. She will provide initial care and direct you – if necessary – to other health care providers. If the nurse deems it necessary to dismiss you from class, you must contact your host family to inform them about your health status and whether you will go home or need to be transported to a different health care provider.


If you are going home, you are expected to stay home until you are healed. Keep your host family informed as to how you are feeling, and don’t go out with friends.


If you are feeling sick or have an accident at home, speak with your host family whether you stay at home. If so, your host family must call you in sick. As above, keep your host family informed as to how you are feeling, and don’t go out with friends.


In addition to the school nurse there are three facilities if you need to be treated for an illness or accident:



Places to go and things to do 

In Arlington


Outside Arlington