Kindergarten Hand book
Welcoming Letter School Purpose School History School Accreditation Morning routine in kindergarten Break Time Horizon Books Assessment Policy ( Different one in p.19 ) Materials used By Teachers + The Class Calendar + Puppets Art Program + Our Curriculum The Importance of relating knowledge to Real Life Experience + Physical Response Methodology Subjects ( Alphabets - Math ) Science Projects Activities + Field Trips Parent- Teacher Meetings Our School Goals Maintenance and Safety Admission + School Holiday Dress Code
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Welcome to Horizon International School 2
DEAR STUDENTS AND PARENTS, On behalf of the staff at Horizon International School, I am happy to welcome you to the 2014-15 school year! We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both home and school. We know a strong partnership with you
ÒÒ Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience . ÒÒ Completes all homework assignments given by teachers. ÒÒ Reads daily to develop a habit for reading and to improve literacy skills .
will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our ver y best to carry out our responsibilities. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:
ÒÒ Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life . ÒÒ Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject . ÒÒ Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school and go on to college .
Please feel free to contact us to discuss any important issue you feel very important to the success of your children. Our teachers will always be available to hear from you, and they are fully qualified to lead your children toward the track of success. It is very important that you and your child are fully informed regarding standards related to appropriate behavior for a safe and productive school year. The wonderful Horizon staff and I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely, Mr.Ghaith School Principal
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SCHOOL PURPOSE OUR VISION
We,
at Horizon International School, guarantee an environment that fosters the students to acquire an excellent education, focusing on quality not quantity, taking into consideration the significance of their Arabic culture.
MISSION STATEMENT OF HORIZON INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL To guarantee an environment that fosters the students to acquire an excellent education, the school staff will use a variety of approaches to achieve the following beliefs. XX producing a quality service that participates in developing both the individual and the community. XX introducing a quality education to our students that acts as a strong link between the internal educational experience and the external practical real life. XX constructing a community
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that brings a variety of nationalities in harmony . XX elegantly enhancing the religious and ethical values among the culturally differentiated students. XX facilitating extra circular activities that help in developing the students’ personal skills.
OUR BELIEFS/ VALUES
Our
school is a place where everyone pays a close attention to highly valued excellence. We concentrate on the values that push the quality of our work toward the top of the pyramid of education. We are: ÚÚ a source of a highly estimated work constructed to develop the personal and educational skills of the students. ÚÚ a complementary role of the family’s work. ÚÚ a role model for the students and the community.
ÚÚ a place of constructing the students’ dreams and their attainment. ÚÚ a workshop where we appropriate the international curriculum to our own culture.
SCHOOL-WIDE LEARNER’S OUTCOMES We expect our students to graduate from our school holding the appropriate characteristics that enable them to adapt to the real life in a perfect way. Our students are expected to be : ÚÚ creative ÚÚ problem solvers ÚÚ global citizens ÚÚ excellent communicators
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THE SCHOOL HISTORY The start of the school dates back to 1999 with an enrollment of about 100 students in grades kindergarten through 3. The school’s founders were Mrs Jawaher al Hurgan and Madam Shirani Ibrahim (Nalifa). The first principal was Mrs. Amira. Even though the school building was limited in a large flat, the wise administration of the founders started to achieve a clear success. The school’s enrollment increased steadily since then, and due to the rapid development in Riyadh, Horizon International School went from less than 30% to over 70% between 2000-2005. That was the core brick of the school’s
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blast off among other international schools. The principal did her best to make a good name for the school, and the community started to realize the quality service introduced by the school staff. Later, a new principal came to steer the wheel of the school but didn’t stay more than two years. In 2007, Mr. Ghaith, the current principal, came to the lead and started a new era of the school history. Under his wise leadership, the school started to achieve a great success.
In the first year of his administration and in response to the ministry laws, the school started applying a full segregation process by which the school was distributed into three separate divisions: the boys section, the girls section, and the kindergarten section. Furthermore, with the assistance of the school staff, the
leadership team founded the basis of the school as being a well- organized educational association that assists in providing the community of Saudi Arabia with an elegant service.
In 2010, the school reached its full capacity. From that time until now, the school is still witnessing several ongoing developments. In 2013, the success of the school was crowned by acquiring the WASC accreditation. This accreditation opens the gates for the school students to get accepted into the international world of education. Nowadays, the school is standing as one of the prominent international schools in Riyadh.
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WASC ACCREDITATION Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC) is one of six regional accrediting associations in the United States. The Accrediting Commission for Schools, WASC, extends its services to over 4,500 public, independent, church-related, and proprietary pre-K–12 and adult schools, works with 16 associations in joint accreditation processes, and collaborates with other educational organizations. The ACS WASC accreditation process fosters excellence in elementary, secondary, and adult education by encouraging school improvement. WASC accreditation recognizes schools that meet an acceptable level of quality, in accordance with established, research-based WASC criteria. Horizon International School was accredited by the WASC in May, 2013. This accreditation grants the official form to the school as an international school, and the school graduates are accepted as official international students since their report cards are stamped by the 8
official logo of the association. The report cards of the school graduates will be formed in accordance with the requirements of the international universities. This process enables them to get officially admitted into any university they prefer to join.
MORNING ROUTINE IN KINDERGARTEN ASSEMBLY: (IN THE PLAYGROUND) Teachers and supervisors lead the students to the assembly in a systemic and orderly manner. The assembly begins with morning greetings and physical exercises .Then comes the school song: days of the week, months of the year, seasons, alphabets, count-
ing, and other typical nursery rhymes using props. After that, an important segment “Show and Tell “ takes place as an educational activity through which students learn things that are used in daily life. Besides, this segment improves the speaking skills of the students.
“SHOW AND TELL”
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CIRCLE TIME: (IN THE CLASSROOM) Teachers use this time to recap the assembly performance. Additionally, this is a useful time to engage the students in a simple conversation and play games and activities to reinforce previous lessons. Then students have their snacks in class. After that, they will be ready for the whole day.
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BREAK TIME: ÒÒ There is one break a day for each KG grade for 25 minutes, and that allows the students to play and have fun in the playground, under teachers control, where there are many safe games . ÒÒ Teachers use the canteen for Math purposes and help in understanding the concept of trading goods for money and its value.
NOTE: Students finish their snacks in class as they are not allowed to take food to the playground.
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BOOKS AND RESOURCES Our books are essential resources to achieve the best academic outcomes we are expected for our learners. In addition to the books, extra booklets are prepared to reinforce daily lessons.
ENGAGEMENT OF PARENTS IN THE PROGRAM XX
WORKING TOGETHER ÒÒ Weekly Plan
It’s a plan that shows details about the lessons that will be covered during the week with the related homework. Every student should go home with a weekly plan every Thursday. 12
ÒÒ Home Letter A home letter demonstrating the planned instructional standards and skills is sent to the parents every month.
NOTE: ASSESSMENT: (C.W – H.W) Assessment is an important means of evaluating students’ achievement and experience. Teachers use different ways to evaluate students’ work. They observe them in the class and record their readiness for the lesson: attention to explanations and instructions, participation in activities, the answering questions, and the preparation of their homework and projects.
ÒÒ Kindergarten is the first important phase in your child’s life by which discovering things and acquiring skills are basics. Further by, they need sufficient time to develop their own abilities. ÒÒ H.W. sent home to recap the work done in class. This program helps the child with his / her hand control, coordination of movement, recognizing the letters, sound, symbol numerals, and the vocabulary. ÒÒ We kindly ask you as parents to cooperate with us enough time at home to recap what he or she has acquired at school. The more they practice, the more they understand and apply themselves with less effort.
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MATERIALS: Teachers use a variety of materials including: flash cards, a calendar, puppets, a clock, and other objects.
EXPLANATORY MATERIALS:
Using
explanatory materials is essential in information acquirement process, since it facilitates the interaction between the static concept of the taught subject and the raw brain and senses of the student.
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PUPPETS’ SHOW
Using
puppets encourages children to talk and express their ideas clearly that enhance the communication skill.
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LIBRARY:
A
library has been created to help the student improve their reading skills.
THE CLASSROOM CALENDAR
Calendar
of the month should be hung up on the bulletin board in each class and another one is given to all KG children every month.
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ÒÒ
KG 2
students should be given a calendar with all the dates written. The teacher helps the child cross out the day that has begun and then the child takes the calendar home and crosses out every day before coming to school. ÒÒ
ÒÒ Physical Response Methodology: ÒÒ ( children must live what they have to learn)
KG 3
students write their own dates in the first week and then take home and complete it.
To meet the demands of the world, we provide a clean and safe environment that will stimulate the child curiosity; an environment where the child can live and learn. Our classrooms are equipped with child friendly materials. Qualified materials and educational posters are clearly visible to the child.
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ART PROGRAM:
Our
curriculum promotes creative expression of our students by allowing them to discover different art forms. Art is a part of every kindergarten program which helps the students express themselves through drawing, painting, cutting, pasting, using play dough and colored sand. While art can be used to reinforce other subjects studied in English, math and science, it should also help students expand their imagination. Additionally, Art can build self-esteem in those children who can’t excel in other subjects, can’t speak, or have behavioral issues.
(OUR CURRICULUM IN KG IS DESIGNED TO BUILD HAND CONTROL, COORDINATION, INDEPENDENCE AND CONFIDENCE).
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THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATING KNOWLEDGE TO REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES:
All
subjects, including English, math, science, and social studies, are related to our daily living to help children understand and process new information. Our purpose is not only to help students memorize the data for exams, but also to give them the opportunity to truly discover, understand, and embrace the world around them. We also aim to educate valuable displays of kindness, honesty, discipline, and sharing.
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ALPHABETS ÒÒ Students are introduced to each letter with a corresponding picture beginning with that letter. This process is followed by sound / letter recognition, coloring, matching, and tracing. ÒÒ Teachers introduce various cards that represent each letter, as they use real objects to reinforce the lesson, sing songs related to the letter, make crafts or play games, and use sand or clay to form letters.
MATH ÚÚ Students take one number each week. They draw, color, and paste pictures to the value of the number. They use clay to form the number.
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SCIENCE ÚÚ Kindergarten science projects provide students with the opportunity to explore science by making observations and predictions. Concepts are easy to understand and the materials are non–toxic and easy for small hands to manage.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION (P.E) ÚÚ Physical Education is the period in which children do physical exercises or take part in physical games and sports.
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ACTIVITIES
Our
school aims to make language learning fun, interesting, and enjoyable. The school’s activities spark children’s interest in a language and a culture other than their own. This gives them an excellent basis for future learning.
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FIELD TRIPS ÚÚ Two field trips each year are scheduled for each KG level. These trips are integral parts of the school program for they have educational purposes.
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PARENT – TEACHER ASSEMBLY (P.T.A) ÚÚ vParent–Teacher Assembly is scheduled two times per year. The first PTA will be held during the first term and the second one during the second term .As a result, parents will be informed of their children’s performance and progress at school.
OUR SCHOOL GOALS I. to inspire creativity, build confidence and boost self-esteem II. to stimulate curiosity and create a love for learning and exploring III. to support students to become independent thinkers and confident learners in making new skills and acquiring knowl-
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edge IV. Develop the eight areas of learning: V. personal, social, emotional development, communication, language, literacy knowledge, understanding of world, and physical development.
MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY ÒÒ The safety of the children will ÒÒ The playground area is combe taken very seriously at pletely enclosed by a high the school campus. fence. ÒÒ The building is equipped ÒÒ All indoors and outdoors with smoke detectors and equipment are under regular fire alarms. safety checks. ÒÒ Practice fire drills for children and staff are held regularly.
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ADMISSION ÚÚ Our school admits children from the age of three.
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SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ÒÒ Saudi National Day ( one day ) ÒÒ Haijj Holiday ( two weeks ) ÒÒ 1st Term Break ( one week ) ÒÒ Spring Break ( one week ) ÒÒ Summer Holiday ( three months )
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DRESS CODE
OUR SCHOOL HAS DEVELOPED A UNIFORM THAT: ÒÒ promotes equality amongst all students, ÒÒ develops a sense of pride in identification with our school, ÒÒ maintains and enhances the positive image of the school in the community.
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