Acton Chinese Language School New Parent Duty Signup System (for 2009 and later) FAQ

1. What is the difference between this system and the one had been used in the past?

The new system allows each family to sign up at any available parent duties on-line instead of being assigned through each head parent.

2. What is the benefit that the new system can provide for each family?

Each family will have more control over when to perform the job and what kind of job to do through the whole semester.

3. How do I know I have successfully singed up for the job I selected?

Log into your online account. On the home page you should see a “Parent duty status” line. It shows your duty status, what option you chose (perform duty or pay a fee), whether you are done with duty, whether you have signed up, and what you have signed up. You can also contact the parent security coordinators (find the contact information at the end of this FAQ).

4. How could I change my job if there is an unexpected conflict for the duty date?

Log into your account and click on “Update” on any student to change the parent duty selection.

5. How late can I change my job?

You have up to Wednesday before the Sunday to make change. After that you should make an effort to come, or ask a friend or another family to cover for you. If you really cannot make it and cannot find a substitute, contact the parent security coordinator and inform him that you cannot make it. After the Sunday you should sign into your account and select a new duty to perform. You can find the security coordinator information at the end of this FAQ.

6. Who should I contact if I have questions regarding my job?

You can contact the parent security coordinator. You can find the contact of your parent security coordinator at the end of this FAQ, or online.

7. Who is responsible for my job?

You are responsible to be present and perform the job you have signed up. The parent security coordinator will help you with questions.

8. What happen if I don’t perform my job?

According to the system introduced in spring 2009, the families agree but fail to fulfill their duty will subject for a fine in the amount of $50 per semester.

9. Why there is a fine associated with the parent duty?

The purpose of the fine system is to introduce accountability and fairness to all ACLS student families.

10. So what are the whole steps I need to go through?

Start from logging into your online account, if you register any student into any language classes, you will need to select whether you want to perform a duty or pay a fee of $35 to have the duty waived. If you select to pay, you are all set. Otherwise you can use the “Update” button for any student and at the end of the page, select a duty from the list. The system will record your selection, which will be displayed in the home page of the account. You should mark your calendar for the date you selected.

The system will send out a reminder email several days from the duty date to remind you (but again, it is your responsibility to show up, so do mark your own calendar).

When you go to the duty on the day, find the parent security coordinator for the day and sign off your name. The coordinator will mark you as done with your duty later on, which will reflect in your account.

11. What is an “In Class Room” duty on a Sunday?

All families from CSL, pre-K, K and first grade do not need to take ACLS security duty, instead, they need to help teachers in classrooms. Please choose the date for this in-classroom duty for the semester during registration. The head parent in the class will track the record. If you choose not to serve the duty, you need to pay a fee of $35 to the school. When you have agreed to take the classroom duty but fail to show up on the assignment date without notifying the head parent in advance, you will be subjected to a fine of $50 per semester.

12. How come the duty selection list is so short and I don’t have many choices?

The system works on a first-come-first-serve base. There are fixed number of slots for each duty for a specific day. Once all the slots for a duty are filled, it is not available for selection again. So if you sign up late, you may see limited choices. You should act early.

13. What is “Security Pool” selection?

“Security Pool” is for those who could not find any other choices that is either available or suit for his need. In the security pool, you have less choice for the future duty date. Parent security coordinator can assign you to be on security duty when there is a position available or when a large number of people are needed for securities for a big event. If you refuse to serve when you are assigned, you need to pay a fee of $35 to the school. Likewise, if you fail to show up to the assigned duty without notifying security coordinator in advance (on or before Wednesday), you will be subjected to a fine of $50 per semester. Parent security coordinator will notify you at least one week ahead of time.

14. Will there be any new duties during the semester?

Yes, based on the school’s need, there may be new duties that come out as the school goes on. New duties will be announced at least two weeks ahead of time to let people sign up. This means the list of duties may change as time goes by. If you sign up for “Other”, you can change the selection when you receive notification about new duties.

15. I am done with my job, but I’d like to help out more.

Sure thing. Just get into your account and choose a new job.

16. Is the duty system for the whole school year or just one semester?

This is for one semester, as it is part of the semester’s registration system. You register once a semester, you sign up for parent duty once a semester.

17. 2008-2009 Parent security coordinator Contact Information:

ACLS Security Position Descriptions

• All exterior doors shall remain closed except the front main entrance door.

• No running inside the school.

• No food and drinks are allowed in the classrooms and corridors except in the big or small cafeterias.

• No roller shoes are allowed in the school.

Positions 1 and 2:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM for traffic control, school safety

Location: R.J. Grey Junior High main entrance

Requirement: wear orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Guide traffic and monitor security.

2. Do not allow non-school person to enter into the building.

3. Do not allow non-school related activities in the lobby.

4. Do not allow kids to leave the building alone.

5. Do not allow students to run, scream, and take food/drink in the lobby.

6. Assist ACLS administrators, teachers, and staff in loading/off-loading school-related materials.

Position 3:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM

Location: R.J. Grey Junior High side door outside of the Cafeteria entrance.

Requirement: wear security tag and/or orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Do not allow anybody to use side doors for entrance/exit and use/go-through non-access area.

2. Help people with directions to bathroom and classroom.

3. Make sure side door entrance is locked when leaving the school.

4. Do not allow students to run, scream, and take food/drink in the corridors.

Position 4:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM

Location: In and around the Cafeteria

Requirement: wear security tag and orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Monitor security (not damaging any school property).

2. Put chairs and desks back to original order before leaving.

3. Ask people to clean up food leftover and drink spillage right away.

4. Coordinate with copy personnel to monitor the public telephone for misuse.

5. Do not allow students to run and scream in the cafeteria area.

Position 5:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM

Location: R.J. Grey Junior High side door around rooms 327 and 601

Requirement: wear security tag and orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Do not allow anybody to use side doors for entrance/exit and use/go-through non-access area.

2. Help people with directions to bathroom and classroom.

3. Make sure side door entrance is locked when leaving the school.

4. Do not allow students to run, scream, and take food/drink in the corridors.

Position 6:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM

Location: R.J. Grey Junior High side door around rooms 311 and 313

Requirement: wear security tag and orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Do not allow anybody to use side doors for entrance/exit and use/go-through non-access area.

2. Help people with directions to bathroom and classroom.

3. Make sure side door entrance is locked when leaving the school.

4. Do not allow students to run, scream, and take food/drink in the corridors.

5. Do not allow students to touch any locker in the hallway.

Position 7:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM

Location: R.J. Grey Junior High side door around rooms 301 and 302

Requirement: wear security tag and orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Do not allow anybody to use side doors for entrance/exit and use/go-through non-access area.

2. Help people with directions to bathroom and classroom.

3. Make sure side door entrance is locked when leaving the school.

4. Do not allow students to run, scream, and take food/drink in the corridors

Position 8:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM

Location: R.J. Grey Junior High side door by the Main Gym

Requirement: wear security tag and orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Do not allow anybody to use side doors for entrance/exit and use/go-through non-access area.

2. Help people with directions to bathroom and classroom.

3. Do not allow kids to enter the fitness center.

4. Do not allow kids to enter the big gym during the language class break time.

5. Ask people to clean up food leftover and drink spillage right away in the designated snack area during the snack time (around the fitness center).

6. Make sure side door entrance is locked when leaving the school.

Position 9:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM

Location: near 400 wing restroom and 400 wing hallway.

Requirement: wear security tag and orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Do not allow students to touch any locker in the hallway.

2. Do not allow students to run, scream, and take food/drink in the corridors.

3. Do not allow students to misuse and flood boy’s restroom.

4. Help the little kids to reach the faucet and wash their hands.

Parker Damon Building Duty:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM for traffic control, school safety

Location: Parker Damon Building (Merriam School and McCarthy-Towne School) main entrance

Requirement: wear orange vest

Responsibilities:

1. Guide traffic and monitor security.
2. Do not allow non-school person to enter into the building.
3. Do not allow non-school related activities in the lobby.
4. Do not allow kids to leave the building alone.
5. Do not allow students to run, scream, and take food/drink in the lobby.
6. Monitor activities in the cafetorium and gym.

Charter Road Crossing Guard:

Time: 1:45PM to 5:00PM for traffic control, school safety

Location: at the road crossing on the Charter Road, from the RJ Grey Junior High to the Parker Damon Building.

Requirement: wear orange vest

Responsibilities:

No security duty:

Families can choose not to take ACLS security duty if they pay a fee of $35 per family per semester to the school. Parent council needs to use this fee to find a person to cover the position.

Not show up for security duty:

When you sign up for a security duty, however you do not show up for the duty without notifying a security coordinator before or on Wednesday, the family will be subjected to a fine in the amount of $50 per semester.

Security pool:

If no specific security position available during your registration because all positions have been taken by other families, you can choose to sign up the security pool. In the security pool, you have less choice for the future duty date. Parent council can assign you to be on security duty when there is a position available or when a large number of people are needed for securities for a big event. If you refuse to serve when you are assigned, you need to pay a fee of $35 to the school. Likewise, if you fail to show up to the assigned duty without notifying security coordinators in advance (on or before Wednesday), you will be subjected to a fine of $50 per semester.

Classroom duty:

All families from CSL, pre-K, K and first grade do not need to take ACLS security duty, instead, they need to help teachers in classrooms. Please choose the date for this in-classroom duty for the semester during registration. The head parent in the class will track the record. If you choose not to serve the duty, you need to pay a fee of $35 to the school. When you have agreed to take the classroom duty but fail to show up on the assignment date without notifying the head parent in advance, you will be subjected to a fine of $50 per semester.

Waive of security duty:

If you are a teacher, administration team member, parent council member including seminar committee member, you are not required to take school security duty. ACLS appreciates your service to the school.