Safety & Security

Temporary Guardianship

All students must have a parent or guardian present in Ethiopia who assumes full responsibility for the student. If the parent(s) or current guardian(s) will be out of Addis Ababa, not in cell phone range or absent from Ethiopia, they MUST designate another adult as the guardian during that time. The designated guardian will be the primary contact for the named students during the dates of guardianship, including for emergencies. The appointed guardian has the authority to direct medical intervention and emergency evacuation from Ethiopia. Parents will also be contacted whenever possible.

The ICS Guardianship Authorization Form can be found HERE.

Child Protection at ICS

Schools fill a special institutional role in society as protectors of children and need to ensure that all children in their care are afforded a safe and secure environment in which to grow and develop. Educators have the opportunity to observe and interact with children over time and are in a unique position to identify children who are in need of help and protection. ICS seeks to be a safe haven for all students and as such has adopted the following comprehensive child protection program, which it will communicate annually to all staff, parents and new applicants. The child protection program defines the various forms of child abuse and outlines the school’s requirements for:

• mandated reporters and procedures for reporting,

• screening and selecting staff, faculty, and volunteers,

• maintaining a child protection team,

• training and education about child sexual abuse prevention for staff and students,

• a code of conduct that guides interactions between adults and children,

• follow-up care and service plans for families in need.

Mandated Reporters and Procedures for Reporting

In conjunction with Ethiopian laws, ICS maintains that all school employees are mandated reporters of child abuse, neglect and/or harassment. If any employee of ICS has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is being mistreated in any way, he/she is to report the suspicion to a member of the Safeguarding Team. Failure to report may result in the termination of the employment contract and/or legal accountability. Reporting and follow-up of all suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect will proceed in accordance with the guidelines in this handbook. In the case of a staff member reported as an alleged offender, ICS will conduct a full inquiry following a carefully designed course of due process, keeping the safety of the child at the highest priority. Cases of suspected child abuse or neglect may be reported by the school to the appropriate employer, to the respective consulate in Ethiopia, to the appropriate child protection agency in the home country, and/or to local authorities.

For our full Safeguarding  Handbook, click HERE.

Other Safety and Security Concerns

Please be advised of the following safety and security responsibilities.

• Parents and drivers are asked to drive carefully and slowly in the vicinity of the school and exert great caution when picking up and dropping off children at school.

• Security of personal property on the streets near our buildings cannot be guaranteed. Parents should be sure to lock vehicles and activate car alarms.

• Bicycles brought to school are parked at the student’s own risk. All bicycles should be locked.

• Security guards are on duty in the buildings during the day and for evening activities. In the event of an after-hours emergency, please contact the security shift commander at: 0911-333-651 or 011-371-8103.

Please note that the school does use video surveillance for safety and security reasons.

Safety and security drills are conducted at least twice per year (Evacuation, Lock down, Safe-haven, etc.).

Health Office

The Health Office is open from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM with a nurse in attendance. The nurse’s office is equipped to:

• Provide basic first aid (daily bumps, bruises, scrapes & cuts)

• Managing any medical emergencies and contacting parents

• Maintain immunization and treatment records of students

• Dispense medication with written parental/guardian permission

• Evaluate students for minor illnesses

• Provide basic health screening

• Act as a referral source for health care problems

 A student who requires assessment or care during class time should first go to the MS Office where a call will be made to the Health Office before the student is sent or accompanied to see the nurse. On return to class,  the nurse will sign the student pass and indicate the time of leaving the office. If the student needs to leave school because of an illness, the nurse will notify the parent/guardian. The nurse’s office should not be used as a place to avoid class

Medical Records

Because student health conditions and concerns can change, parents must fill in a medical update form for the Health Office during the re-/registration process This will help us maintain up-to-date health and immunization records, and will assist the nurse in diagnosing minor illnesses during the year.

 The Health Office should be notified of a change health status (new allergies, change or addition of medications, assistive devices or change in activity level), and updates of immunizations. Because student health conditions and concerns can change, parents should fill in a medical update form for the nurse during the re-registration process This will help us maintain up-to-date health and vaccination records, and will assist the nurse in diagnosing minor illnesses during the year.

 For emergency purposes, other professional staff may be notified of a child’s medical needs.

Non-Prescription Medications

Tylenol, cough drops and other over-the-counter medications are available on an as-needed basis in the nurse’s office. These as-needed medications can only be dispensed by the nurse if there is a signed permission statement from the parent/guardian (included with the medical update form). Students should they share them with other students.

Prescription Medications

Prescription medications to be taken during school hours should are to be kept in the nurse’s office. Medication to be dispensed to a student must be labeled with the name of student, name and dose of the drug, and the schedule of administration along with a signed ICS medication dispensing note by parent . An original medication bottle with this information is preferred. 

 An exception to this rule is made for students who must carry medications for asthma, diabetes and severe allergic reactions. The nurse’s office needs to be informed of medications for personal use that each student carries, when and how to use them, and where they are kept in the student’s belongings. We recommend that the nurse be given a back-up supply of the medication to keep available in the nurse’s office.

Re-Entry Protocol

On return to school after an illness or injury of longer than three days, the student should visit the nurse’s office with a doctor’s note, which states the reason for absence from school, permission to return to class and care or intervention needed.

 If your child is not feeling well or has a fever, please keep your child home to recover.

Insurance and Liability

ICS does not provide personal insurance coverage. Any insurance that ICS has is not intended to replace the insurance coverage of each family and child. Each family should have medical insurance coverage for their children.

Lockers

Grade 7 and 8 students are issued a locker for storing personal belongings during school hours. In order for a locker to be useful in protecting your property, it must be used properly. The lockers are not lockable so items of high value should not be store in them. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Students are not permitted to switch lockers with another student.

It is the student’s responsibility to keep the locker neat and clean, including the outside of the locker. Stickers and other decorations must be removed before you can check out at the end of the year. Students will be assessed for damages, if the locker is damaged or disfigured through their use of it. 

Please go to the MS office if you have a problem with your locker.

Please label all possessions with your name. Lost and found areas can be found at the school reception area, in the library and near the gym. Items are generally stored until the end of the quarter. Unclaimed items are donated to charity. 

 Personal property, money, valuables

Students and parents are asked to report all lost items to the Middle School Office AND the security Office as soon as possible. ICS is not responsible for loss or theft of personal belongings on campus.