AF Amistad High School Family Handbook 2017-2018 | 6 School Overview Welcome! Welcome to AF Amistad High School. We are thrilled to be working in partnership with you to support your child’s academic, social and emotional growth this year. We take the commitment we have made to you and your child very seriously; we promise to provide all scholars with the foundational K-12 education necessary to graduate from college and succeed in the world beyond. Fulfilling this promise requires a meaningful collaboration between our school and you. This handbook outlines the key policies that will enable us all to best support your child. These policies have been carefully researched and implemented over the years to ensure the academic well-being and overall safety of all our scholars. We thank you in advance for believing in our school and working together with us to best support your child’s growth this year. The Mission of Achievement First AF Amistad High School is affiliated with the Achievement First charter network. The mission of Achievement First is to deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all of America’s children. We believe that all children, regardless of race or economic status, can succeed if they have access to a great education. Achievement First schools will provide all of our scholars with the academic and character skills they need to graduate from top colleges, to succeed in a competitive world, and to serve as the next generation of leaders for our communities. Core Values Achievement First Amistad High School (AFAHS) is built around five core values: Independence, Grit, Integrity, Leadership, and Excellence. After careful research and reflection, including visiting other high performing charter high schools, observing selective private schools, and interviewing Amistad Academy Middle School alumni, these values were selected to best equip students with the academic and character traits needed to succeed in college and beyond. Grit: Scholars with grit overcome obstacles and persevere in the face of adversity. Put simply, gritty students never quit. Synonyms include: perseverance, tenacity, resilience. Integrity: Scholars with integrity base their lives around ethical principles. They conduct themselves according to these principles at all times – doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do – even when no one is looking. Scholars with integrity apply their principles to even the smallest, most seemingly insignificant acts. At AFAHS, students do not lie, cheat, or steal.