Preparing your child for
Tomorrow
The Vision and The Mission STAMFORD is a pioneer in quality education. With an in-house R&D division which is constantly tuned into the newest of technologies on the block and a by-far the best team of academia, dedicated to the constant upgradation of the curriculum, the school is one of its kind in the schooling fraternity. STAMFORD is a dynamic educational community created by the interaction of dedicated organizers, enthusiastic parents and committed faculty. The medium of instruction at STAMFORD Schools is English. The vision of STAMFORD extends beyond the narrow walls of classroom and textbooks. At STAMFORD, we believe that education is about preparing and equipping young people for life and not just for school.
With this philosophy as our inspiration, STAMFORD provides a stimulating environment where children enjoy learning and are encouraged and challenged to perform to the best of their abilities, in all areas of our extensive curriculum. In the STAMFORD environment children feel both inside and outside the classroom, learning to accept responsibility, establishing selfdiscipline and gaining self-confidence. At STAMFORD, we’ve always believed that both teachers and parents play an important role in the growth and development of a child and it’s only through open communication, fruitful discussions and active participation that we can together lay a strong foundation for our children.
The STAMFORD Mission Statement:
“To make learning creative, interesting, interactive and engaging, through a system which is constructive, comprehensive, practical and futuristic.”
We aim to realize our mission by: • Offering a creative, caring, innovative, stress free and harmonious learning environment for children. • Imparting quality education through opportunities to discover, explore & experiment with hands on material. • Providing a lively curriculum; practical in approach, innovative in methods, scholarly in content and global in scope. • Developing communication skills to enable the students to express their thoughts and feelings fluently & in a confident manner. • Creating opportunities for learning basic lifeskills such as self-dependency, critical thinking & decision- making. • Preparing children for the global challenges while maintaining the rich Indian culture, morals and values. • Facilitating a culture of lifelong learning.
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The STAMFORD System: The Stamford System is in line with the vision and philosophy of the school. We set very high standards for ourselves and undertake periodic reviews to assess our performance. Goal setting and adapting to change are an integral part of our functioning. There is a concerted effort to establish a fit between the teaching styles and methodology and the learning patterns of our students. Great care is taken to ensure that personalized and customized action plans are drawn up to accommodate those with special requirements. Parents receive a comprehensive report that includes a qualitative assessment of all those aspects outside the scope of the classroom.
Contents No. Particular......................................................................................page no. Primary education ........................................................................................4 Facilities........................................................................................................5 Our faculties..................................................................................................7 Academic programme....................................................................................7 School rules...................................................................................................8 Curriculum for excellence............................................................................10 Kidspro talent search exmaniation 2012......................................................12 A curriculum designed for a well-rounded learning experience...................14 Developing your child’s language skills........................................................15 A learning environment that caters to your child’s strengths and needs.......16 Holistic education for your child..................................................................17 Partnering the school to support your child.................................................19 Choosing the right school............................................................................20 Preparing for the future...............................................................................23
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Primary Education How do we prepare each child to thrive in a future driven by globalisation and technological advancements? To navigate a fast-changing world that presents new opportunities and challenges, we need to nurture each child to become: • a confident person who has a strong sense of right and wrong, is adaptable and resilient, knows himself, is discerning in judgment, thinks independently and critically, and communicates effectively. • a self-directed learner who questions, reflects,
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perseveres and takes responsibility for his own learning. an active contributor who is able to work effectively in teams, is innovative, exercises initiative, takes calculated risks and strives for excellence. a concerned citizen who is rooted to Singapore, has a strong sense of civic responsibility, is informed about Singapore and the world, and takes an active part in bettering the lives of others around him.
FACILITIES To cultivate the habit of reading and to provide a stimulating environment of studies, we have a well equipped and well managed library. It is compulsory for students to read at least two extra good books in a month. The reading material of the library is divided in to three sections viz Periodical section, Reference section and General section. All sections are full of qualitative reading material. Get the DigiClass Advantage! World of discovery into your classroom We offer DigiClass Lessions for Life in our Classrooms in collaboration with Pearson, Pearson is world’s largest education company, brings to you DigiClass - an ICT-based solution that combines state-of-theart hardware with syllabus-compliant, multimediabased interactive content. This solution draws upon Pearson’s global expertise in digital content and its vast experience in educating over 100 million people worldwide. DigiClass solution empowers teachers to transform traditional blackboard-and-chalk classrooms into interactive sessions. The multimedia content enables teachers to better explain complex concepts, due to which students can retain information for a longer period of time. The award-winning content of the DigiClass solution has been customised to suit the syllabi offered by K-12 schools and Engineering colleges. Get the DigiClass Advantage! Class Room The class rooms are spacious, well ventilated with plenty of space for the Students and teachers to move around and interact. Library Well stocked libraries in the Senior Block and the Junior Block provide reading and reference facilities on a variety
of subjects. These go a long way in reinforcing what the students learn in the class room . The accession of latest books on Sciences, Art, Computers, Humanities, Social Studies, Languages, General Knowledge, Environment etc. is a continuous and ongoing processs. Computer Lab The school has a well equipped Computer lab having eighteen advanced systems with networking and broadband internet facility on each system along with laser printing. The bonafide students of the school will have to work individually on the system. Other Laboratories The school has a well equipped composite laboratory for Physics, Chemistry and Biology labs with all modern equipment and technologies. A provision for separate labs has been kept in our expansion plans. SPORTS AND GAMES Stamford encourages a healthy balance of work and play. Students are encouraged to experience the challenge and reward of sport, spirit of participation and pursuit of excellence through the diverse sports programme available at the school. Qualified and competent instructors manage the sports department. All students are required to develop their physical abilities as well as their personal leadership skills through the school’s challenging physical development programme - physical education, interscholastic and intramural sports. Students learn invaluable lessons in mental strength and concentration, physical conditioning and coordination, strategic and tactical planning and, of course, teamwork. Studies have shown that youngsters who participate in athletics regularly tend to outperform their non-participatory
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peers in academic performance. Transport and Hostel facility in the school (Hostel
Facility is for Senior Wing i;e from 6th to 12th class Students only)
Your child’s best interest at heart The primary school years are an important phase in your hild’s education, as they lay the foundation for his learning. It is also the time when he is most inquisitive – what he asks and how his questions are answered will be crucial to his development later on in life. During these formative years, we want to build his confidence and desire to learn, and expose him to different aspects of learning, in both academic and non-academic areas, so that your child will have a wellrounded primary education. We also want to give your child a broad exposure to a range of activities so that he can discover his talents and interests.
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This brochure will help you understand primary school education as you and your child prepare for this journey. You will find information and advice on how to support your child in partnership with his school. Entering primary school is the first milestone in your child’s education. As your child progresses from primary to secondary and then to post-secondary education, there will be several key decisions you will be making together. We will be providing you and your child with more information at relevant stages to help you make these important decisions.
OUR FACULTIES We at Stamford International School believe that a faculty comprise of perfect role models. Therefore our faculty comprises of talents with high efficiency levels, refined soft skills & caring attitude. And last but not the least; they are individuals of values & principles. Hence, we ensure that success must be a way of life at Stamford International School. Once become a Minerva Student, you are assured of personalized attention by each of our faculty members and get an opportunity to be a part of the refined culture. It is the hallmark of our institute. Stamford International School has a full-fledged, enlightened staff in each and every faculty. All the members of the faculty are well-qualified, trained and experienced in their field of specialization. Frequent orientation-camps, workshops and seminars are organized to upgrade the pedagogical skills of
staff members. Modern methods of teaching using computer technology, projector and other visual aids empower the teachers to explore the hidden potential of the students of optimum capacity and give the students an edge over the others in the highly competitive world of education. Stamford International School is rated high in terms of educational standards due to its Faculty. Our teachers are selected by a panel of experts through written, demonstrations and personal interview. Stamford International School is paying handsome salaries to staff members and recognizes their contribution by appreciating them from time to time. Our teachers are friendly to students, dealing as friends to the students and sharing their problems hence providing best results and sense of commitment.
ACADEMIC PROGRAMME In the beginning of the session students of 10+2 organized a welcome party for the freshers in the month of May. In the month of June school has celebrated its first activity day by conducting Quiz contests among different houses of the school. 5th September was celebrated as Teacher day in the school. On that day students of 10+2 class taught the students of 10+1 class and students of 10th class taught the students of lower classes. Best pupil teacher among boys and girls has been judged by the judges in Sr . Sec. group and senior group. Some fun activities and games were also organized for the students of lower classes such as spoon race, three leg races and tug of war etc. 14th November was celebrated as children day in which our
students performed different cultural activities to pay tribute to their beloved Chacha Nehru. In the month of December sports activity day was celebrated with different games such as Badminton, Chess, Carom Board, Cricket and Tug of war. Distt. level Sports The school has also participated in Distt Level Sports Meet of Pvt. Affiliated Schools in the month of October. In which our school won 1st prize in Badminton , Kho - Kho , Kabaddi , Shot Put , Long jump and High jump as well as 2nd and 3rd prize in race , Long jump and Shot put. Educational Tour For the students of 10+2 class an Educational Tour was organised to Agra, Fatehpur sikri, Mathura, Vrindavan, India Gate , Qutab Minar etc.
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SCHOOL RULES
For simplicity, these are kept to a minimum and are concerned mainly with safety. Within each class a list of Golden Rules is drawn up in consultation with the pupils. These Golden Rules form the basis of our Positive Behaviour Policy. NEW ENTRANTS Parents are asked to make sure that their children understand that they are expected to remain within school grounds until the end of the school day. • Clothing and personal property should be clearly marked with the child’s name. • Please do not allow your child to bring anything valuable to school. Classes and Groups Your child will be placed in a class along with other children of a similar age. Composite classes are formed in line with Falkirk Council Policy – a Parents’ Information Leaflet is available at Reception. It is up to each teacher to decide how to organise the class. In a classroom you would find all of the following methods being used:Ability Groups Children are individuals and so it is inevitable that in any class some children will be more able in one subject than they are in another. For some subjects the teacher will find it in the best interests of the child to have children of similar ability to be taught as a group – especially in Reading and Mathematics. Social Groups Children also have to learn to work with each other. This is necessary when pupils are involved in practical activities which require co-operation. Class Teaching There will be times when the whole class is taught together irrespective of groupings.
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NURSERY CLASS The school has a 80 pupil nursery which takes 40 pupils in the morning and 40 in the afternoon. This class is situated in the infant building. Staffing There is one fully qualified Senior Early Years Officer and 3 qualified Early Years Officers. Pupils with recognised additional support needs also receive the services of a support for learning assistant.. Enrolment Parents may register their children with the school when they reach their second birthday. There is no catchment area for nursery provision at this time. Attendance Pupils attend for a maximum of five half days per week and regular attendance is expected. Pupils in the nursery must enrol for primary 1 at the appropriate time. AIMS OF DEANBURN NURSERY CLASS 1. Our shared aims reflect the purposes of Curriculum for Excellence. • Successful Learners • Confident Individuals • Responsible Citizens • Effective Contributors 2. We aim to develop children by • offering varied and well-balanced play opportunities • showing effective interaction between staff and children • using well-judged intervention to increase the capacity of Purposeful Play. • ensuring progression and continuity in learning evolves through on going assessment. 3. We aim to work in Partnership with school, support agencies and parents ensuring parents are
involved in the planning and support of their children. 4. We aim to provide an Ethos where • staff pay due attention to safety and security of all children, providing appropriate support and challenge. • staff have high expectations of children where praise is used effectively • parents are welcomed and information is shared regarding the child, easing transition to Nursery and again to P1. • Whole staff plays a significant part in fostering a positive atmosphere whereby children can become confident individuals. 5. We aim to provide resources • which are well-matched to the needs of the children • which provide appropriate support and challenge • where children have been involved in the consultation process 6. We aim to provide an environment which is stimulating, welcoming and where children’s work is displayed. To ensure these aims are met progress will be monitored on a regular basis, ensuring Improvements in Performance, and through varied learning experiences, children’s learning needs are being met. Parental Questionnaire responses and in Consultation with
Nursery Staff. CONTACT WITH PARENTS In the course of the session you will be asked to come to school to discuss your child’s progress with his/her teacher and also see the work done. There is always a very good response to these evenings. You are, however, welcome to come to the school at any time. You are asked to see the Headteacher in the first instance. If you wish to see a class teacher, the Headteacher can arrange a convenient time (usually 3.00p.m.) PARENT COUNCIL Parent Councils are the formal representative body for parents/carers with children attending school. Parent Councils are different in each school to enable them to meet the needs of parents/carers locally. All parents / carers are automatically members of the Parent Forum at their child’s school. The Parent Forum decides how their representatives on the Parent Council are chosen and how the Parent Council operates. Parent / carers are encouraged to volunteer or put themselves forward to be chosen as representatives of the Parent Council if they wish. The main aims of the Parent Council are: • To support the school in its work with pupils • To represent the views of
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parents • To promote contact between the school, parents, pupils, providers of nursery education and the community • To report to the Parent Forum • To raise funds for the school for the benefit of pupils (in some schools the P.T.A / Fundraising Group fulfils this role). COMMUNICATION WITH THE HOME From time to time your child will bring home important and routine communications from the school. Parents are encouraged to check their child’s bag for these communications. Enquiries of any kind should be addressed to the Headteacher in the first instance. TRANSFERRING EDUCATIONAL DATA ABOUT PUPILS The Scottish Government and its partners collect and use information about pupils to help to improve education across Scotland. This note explains why we need this information, how we use it and what we do
to protect the information supplied to us. Why do we need your data? In order to make the best decisions about how to improve our education service, the Scottish Government, education authorities and other partners such as the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Skills Development Scotland need accurate, up-to-date data about our pupils. We are keen to help all our pupils do well in all aspects of school life and achieve better examination results. Accurate and up-to-date data allows us to: • plan and deliver better policies for the benefit of all pupils • plan and deliver better policies for the benefit of specific groups of pupils • better understand some of the factors which influence pupil attainment and achievement • share good practice • target resources better.
CURRICULUM FOR EXCELLENCE BRINGING LEARNING TO LIFE AND LIFE TO LEARNING Curriculum for Excellence introduced across Scotland for all 3-18 year olds, aims to raise standards, prepare our children for a future they do not yet know and equip them for jobs of tomorrow in a fast changing world. Curriculum for Excellence will be fully implemented by 2016. Glow, Scotland’s unique, world leading, online network supports learners and teachers and allows access for parents across the country. Teachers and practitioners will share information to plan a child’s ‘learning journey’ from 3-18, helping their progression from nursery to primary, primary to secondary and beyond, ensuring
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each transition is smooth. They’ll ensure children continue to work at a pace they can cope with and with challenge they can thrive on. Curriculum for Excellence balances the importance of knowledge and skills. Every child is entitled to a broad and deep general education, whatever their level and ability. Every single teacher and practitioner will be responsible for the development of literacy and numeracy from Early Level through to Senior Phase. It develops skills for learning, life and work, bringing real life into the classroom, making learning relevant and helping young people apply lessons to their life beyond the classroom. It links knowledge in one subject area
to another helping make connections in their learning. It develops skills which can enable children to think for themselves, make sound judgements, challenge, enquire and find solutions. There will be new ways of assessing progress and ensuring children achieve their potential. There will be new qualifications for literacy and numeracy from 2012/13. New qualifications at National 4 and 5 will be available from 2013/14. Our well regarded Access, Highers and Advanced Highers will be updated to take account of and support the new approaches to learning and teaching. There is an entitlement to personal support to help young people fulfil their potential and make the most of their opportunities with additional support wherever that’s needed. There will be a new emphasis by all staff on looking after our children’s health and wellbeing – to ensure that the school is a place where children feel safe and secure. Ultimately, Curriculum for Excellence aims to improve our children’s life chances, to nurture successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors, and responsible citizens, building on Scotland’s reputation for great education. We have revised Learning to Achieve – our flagship policy. Learning to Achieve describes in detail
how Curriculum for Excellence will be delivered in our educational establishments. We will use Learning to Achieve to monitor, develop and improve outcomes for children and young people. Parents who wish to exercise their right to withdraw their child from religious instruction and / or observance should contact the headteacher, in writing, and alternative arrangements will be made for your child. Every school is encouraged to offer as wide a range of sporting and cultural activities as possible. In this context, the Authority provides a degree of financial and administrive support for leagues, competitions, festivals and similar events but it is recognised that, again, the help of parents and the community is irreplaceable. Quite separately, the Council also undertakes to organise and administer certain events and many schools take part in these. Please contact the headteacher if you would like any further information about the curriculum within our school. Literacy Literacy is divided into Reading, Writing, Listening and Talking. Where appropriate, teachers make links in learning to ensure children’s learning has a relevant context and is meaningful. Teachers use a variety of learning and teaching approaches to help ensure all learners are motivated and challenged. Learning through literacy enables children to:• develop their ability to communicate thoughts and feelings. • develop high level of skills in listening, talking, reading and writing which are essential for learning, work and life. • use different media effectively for learning and communication. Mathematics
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Maths is divided into three areas:• number, money and measure. • Shape, position and movement. • Information handling. • Mathematics includes specific aspects of numeracy which will be developed both in mathematics and through activities in other areas of the curriculum. Learning through mathematics enables children to:• develop essential numeracy skills including arithmetical skills. • develop a secure understanding of the concepts, principles and processes of mathematics and apply these in different contexts.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES There is a range of extra curricular activities available for pupils during lunchtime and after school. Parents will be informed about these by the school. In addition to in-school activities, classes also make regular educational visits and field studies. Wherever possible, these visits are linked to pupils’ class work. All activities are supervised by members of staff, and many schools have a study support co-ordinator whose job it is to plan and oversee the extra curricular programme of activities. Where participation involves children travelling or staying late after school, written permission for children taking part is required from parents.
KIDSPRO TALENT SEARCH EXMANIATION 2012 KIDSpro Talent Search Examination (KTSE-2012) Scholarships is a unique programme to recognize and reward children who excel not just in academics but also in extracurricular activities. This scholarship programme provides a platform to bring out the hidden talent in your child. The vision of this scholarship programme is to contribute towards a better future for our children. With no registration fees, the programme offers your children an opportunity to win scholarships of up to Rs. 05 Lacs. If you believe your child has all-round talent, KIDSpro (KTSE-2012) Scholarships offers you a chance to make the most of it now. The KTSE-2012 Scholarships has been designed by the renowned personalities. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE ? This scholarship programme is open to all the children who are studying in Nursery to class 10th of government-recognized schools including private, public or national open schools all over India. There are
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three categories – SmartKIDSpro (Classes Nursery, KG and 1), Juniors KIDSpro (Classes 2,3 to 4) and Seniors KIDSpro(I) (Classes 5 to 7),Seniors KIDSpro (II)(Classes 8-10). The eligibility and category is dependant upon the class the participant is in as per academic session 2012-2013. SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT/PRIZES TO BE WON More than 1100 Scholarships worth Rs.10 Lacs to be won around the globe. Grand First Prize - 2 Prizes out of any category, i.e. Primary, Junior and Senior. 2nd Prize - (25 Prizes) - 10 each for Juniors and Seniors categories and 5 for Primary category. 3rd Prize - (150 Prizes) - 60 each for Juniors and Seniors categories and 30 for Primary category. Consolation Prize - (1000 Prizes) - 300 each for Juniors and Seniors categories and 400 for Primary category. And that’s not all, top performers also get Chance of a lifetime to interact with and learn from renowned experts
An opportunity for recognition at school, city and national level. HOW TO REGISTER? You can register your child for KTSE Scholarship 2012 online by filling up the registration form Hurry up! Registrations close on May 05, 2012. For JUNIORS & SENIORS KIDSpro TALENT SEARCH EXAMINATION -KTSE-2012 We take pride to announce scholarship from STAMFORD group of schools as our inaugural offer to felicitate bright students from 5th – 10th standard. STAMFORD Schools have been conceptualized on one of the country’s futuristic chains of schools powered by a unique Edurite research based School System. IndiaEduTech integrates Innovative Curriculum, and Personalized Assessment. KIDSpro TALENT SEARCH EXAMINATION will enable the child to study at India’s prestigious chain of smart schools. STAMFORD Scholarship Test will provide: 1. Profiling of each student 2. Interactive Computer based Scholarship Test 3. Best platform to get your child study in research based unique environment, to make learning interesting, engaging and motivating. 4. Prize – Discounted fee offer to each student who score in top 3 positions. 5. Special Educational Schemes for student who score above 90% in STSE. Details of KTSE 2012 Eligibility: 5th to 10th Standard Students Date:06-05-2012 Time:09:00 am to 04:00 pm Venue: STAMFORD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CAMPUSES Scholarship Entry Fee: Rs 50/Prize: 1st Position
2nd Position 3rd Position The scholarship programme is open for all students from classes 5 to 10 of government recognized schools including private, public or national open schools all over India. Registration for the programme closes on May 05, 2012. We look forward to see you there and encourage your child to study in the unique environment of STAMFORM INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL.
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A curriculum designed for a well-rounded learning experience Primary school education is designed to give your Child a strong foundation. This includes developing language and numeracy skills, building character and nurturing sound values and good habits. The primary school curriculum focuses on three main aspects of education – subject disciplines, character development and knowledge skills. Subject disciplines comprise subject areas such as languages, humanities & the arts and mathematics & sciences which ensure that your child has a good grounding in subjects across different areas of study. With subject-based banding, english, mother tongue language, mathematics and science will be taught at the appropriate level at both primary 5 and primary 6 according to the ability of your child. Knowledge skills focus on developing your child’s thinking, process and communication skills. These are
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all essential skills for learning. Knowledge skills are taught through a variety of subjects and often through a project work approach. This enables pupils to use the full range of knowledge skills, work together and clearly demonstrate what they have learnt. Character development is facilitated through daily teacher-pupil interactions as well as programmes in the non-academic curriculum. They focus on instilling sound values in your child, to take him through life as a responsible adult. Your child will have many opportunities to develop life skills through cocurricular activities, civics and moral education, social emotional learning, National education and physical education.
Developing your child’s language skills English and Mother Tongue Language Your child will learn English as a first language in primary school. English is the lingua franca of international business, science and technology. The ability to write and speak English well therefore remains an essential skill to cultivate in our young. Your child will learn his Mother Tongue Language (Chinese Language, Malay Language or Tamil Language) as a second language. Bilingualism, a cornerstone of our education system, has been a valuable asset to our pupils, enabling them to connect and tap into
opportunities in the global environment. With more Primary 1 pupils coming from households where English is the dominant home language, we will continue to refine the teaching of Mother Tongue Languages. Schools will use differentiated teaching approaches to cater to pupils from different home language backgrounds. They will promote functional use of the Mother Tongue Languages, with greater emphasis on listening and speaking skills.
key Features of the revised mother Tongue Language Curriculum Chinese Language Curriculum (Modular) • More emphasis on speaking, listening and reading • Teaching tailored to meet the different learning needs of pupils • More engaging and appealing teaching materials that capture pupils’ interest • All pupils will take the Core Module. • Pupils with little or no exposure to the Chinese Language will take Bridging Modules. • Pupils with the interest and ability to go further will take the Enrichment Modules. • Pupils will be taught according to their different levels of achievement at Primary 2, 4 and 6. • Pupils will be given more opportunities to practise Spoken English.
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A learning environment that caters to your child’s strengths and needs
Learning Support Programmes Schools have Learning Support Programmes to ensure that help is at hand for pupils who need it. These programmes, which provide learning support for pupils who enter Primary 1 with either weak literacy or numeracy skills, ensure that pupils are able to keep up with core subjects like English and Mathematics. Learning Support Programmes include daily lessons with smaller groups of pupils taught by specially trained teachers. These programmes use structured teaching approaches that meet the learning needs of these pupils. Programmes for intellectually gifted pupils The Gifted Education Programme (GEP) caters to pupils who are intellectually gifted. GEP pupils will be placed in separate classes in selected primary schools for Primary 4 to Primary 6, and receive an advanced curriculum that matches their abilities. They will be taught by specially trained teachers. Your child’s school will invite him to sit for a screening test when he is in Primary 3 to determine his eligibility for the GEP. For pupils with high abilities in specific subject disciplines, but who are not in the GEP, there are opportunities to enrich their learning through both school-based and Stamford centrally-run activities during or outside of school hours.
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Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) CCAs are an integral part of a well-rounded education and play an important part in building character. They help nurture in pupils qualities such as resilience, tenacity, confidence and perseverance, which prepare them to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. There is a whole range of exciting CCAs for your child to choose from, ranging from sports, uniformed groups, visual and performing arts, to clubs and societies.
Holistic education for your child In line with the recommendations of the Primary Education Review and Implementation (PERI) committee in 2009, a range of enhancements are being progressively implemented in primary school education over the next few years. These enhancements aim to make learning more enjoyable and meaningful for your child, and seek to develop in them a better balance of skills and values. More engaging teaching methods Our teachers will adopt more creative learning strategies in the curriculum to make lessons come to life. For example, your child will be able to learn mathematical concepts through investigative tasks and real-life activities, and language skills through role play and drama.
Programme for Active Learning To encourage learning beyond the classroom, the Programme for Active Learning (PAL) will give your child the chance to discover new interests, learn new skills and develop his character. Your child will have the opportunity during curriculum time to try out activities in the areas of sports and outdoor education, as well as performing and visual arts activities. PAL will be introduced progressively to all Primary 1 and 2 pupils by 2017. Stamford will also strengthen the quality of Physical Education, and Art and Music education. These subjects are integral to a holistic education experience for our students. They enable our students to develop physical robustness, enhance their creative and expressive capacities, and shape their personal, cultural and social identity.
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Holistic Assessment to support learning Assessment is an important aspect of learning and teaching. With Holistic Assessment, schools are moving beyond tests and examinations and using assessment to provide useful information that supports your child’s learning and holistic development. At Primary 1, less emphasis will be placed on semestral examinations so that your child can ease into formal schooling more smoothly. As parents, you will receive richer and more regular feedback to highlight areas where your child has done well and ways to improve his learning. Holistic Assessment emphasises the development of skills and values as well as acquisition of knowledge to enable your child to build greater confidence and develop a stronger desire to learn. This will in turn help him to develop his potential more fully. Form Teacher Guidance Period As Form Teachers play a central role in shaping the development of their young charges, the Form Teacher Guidance Period (FTGP) has been introduced in all primary schools since 2012. The allocated one period per week carves out time for more quality teacher-student interaction, and allows teachers to better cater to each student’s holistic development, including their Social and Emotional Learning needs.
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Single-session primary schools The majority of government primary schools will transit to single session by 2016. Going single session allows more time and space for schools to focus on non-academic aspects such as leadership training and character-building. Single session does not mean a full day of school; it only means an extension of one to two hours on certain days to facilitate your child’s non-academic activities. Schools will also be given the flexibility to adjust their start and end time based on their specific needs. New infrastructure will be put in place to support the delivery of holistic education. School facilities and spaces will be redesigned, and this may include outdoor learning spaces and additional venues for performing arts. Home-school partnership As a parent, you play a critical role as our partner in the mission to prepare our young for the future. We need your support so that your child can benefit fully from a balanced and holistic primary education.
Partnering the school to support your child Preparing and supporting your child is important to ensure that he enjoys his learning experience in primary school. Here are some tips on how you can help your child in his early years of education. Help your child know his school environment The earlier your child is familiarised with his new environment, the more positive he will feel about going to school. • Visit or tour the school grounds with your child or show him pictures of the school. • Talk to your child about the new routines he will be going through everyday, such as flag-raising and lowering, recess, assembly, school bus drop-off and pick-up points, timetable, and wearing the school uniform. • Encourage your child to practise schooling skills such as asking for permission, buying food, organising his school bag and passing messages between school and parents. Help him to know the sources of help available in school (such as his Form Teacher or School Counsellor) and how he can seek assistance. You can even role-play with your child. • Get him excited about new experiences, such as making new friends or learning new things. Value your child • Value your child for who he is, not just what he has achieved. • Maintain a good relationship with your child. Respect his opinions and listen to what he has to say. • Love your child regardless of his results. • Appreciate your child’s effort – focus on the process, not the marks. • Avoid comparing your child’s performance with
that of others. • Be generous with your praise. • Make time to play with your child and enjoy his company. • Encourage your child, especially when he is disheartened. Know and understand your child • Understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Help your child develop his strengths further. • Have realistic expectations and achievable goals for your child. • Set step-by-step goals to enable your child to achieve them and experience success. • Listen to your child’s needs. Help and guide your child in his learning • Help your child to develop a routine for school and homework. • Create a conducive learning environment that suits your child’s learning style/habits. • Instil self-discipline by teaching your child to monitor his own behaviour. • Be alert to his needs and fears. Seek help from school personnel such as Head of Department (Pupil Welfare), Pastoral Care Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Teacher Counsellor or other professionals, if necessary. • Discipline with empathy. Your child’s misbehaviour is his best, although incorrect, attempt to meet his needs at that moment. Discipline is correction. Explain why his chosen behaviour was wrong, and what is the right way for him to meet his needs without hurting himself and others.
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Choosing the right school As a parent, you have a vital role to play in choosing a school that matches the needs of your child. Below are some factors you may wish to consider when choosing a school for your child. Travel time and distance to school Consider the distance from the school to your home. A shorter distance can offer the benefits of a shorter travelling time for your child, reduced transport costs and better opportunities for you to forge a strong relationship with the school of your choice. Stronger ties with the school means better co-operation in raising and educating your child. To find out the distance between the school of choice and your home, you may wish to visit the Singapore Land Authority’s OneMap SchoolQuery Service (http:// www.onemap.sg) to obtain a list of schools within the 1km and 1–2km distance categories from your residential address. Mother Tongue Languages Finding out what Mother Tongue Language options are offered by the school of choice is important. You should also note that: • Chinese Language is offered in all schools; • Malay Language is offered in all except Special Assistance Plan schools; and • While Tamil Language is offered in most schools, you should nonetheless confirm this with the school of choice. Your child’s interests Consider your child’s non-academic interests like sports, performing arts, music and technology; and find out if the school offers activities that match these
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interests. • Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) Schools offer a variety of CCAs that could include sports, the arts, uniformed groups such as Brownies and Scouts, and clubs and societies. Some schools offer new activities such as golf, iceskating, roller-blading and bowling. • School-based Programmes or School’s niche Areas If your child has specific interests such as in sports or dance, you may want to look up schools which offer these as part of their niche areas. This booklet includes a comprehensive list of schools that offer these programmes for your reference. (Please see Primary One Registration insert in back cover pocket.)
School’s identity Each school has its own special strengths. You may want to find out more about the school you have identified, and its strengths. This would include learning about • The school’s vision and mission; • Culture of the school; and • Parent Support Groups. Affiliated schools Some primary schools (mostly those with religious/ clan associations) have close ties with certain secondary schools, in the form of affiliation. Your child can enjoy priority for admission to the secondary school affiliated to his primary school, provided he meets the school’s admission criteria, and he indicates the affiliated secondary school as his first choice. Special Assistance Plan schools Special Assistance Plan schools nurture in their pupils a deep understanding of the English Language, culture and heritage, and enable them to be effectively bilingual in both English and English. Special needs Special provisions have been made to help children with mild learning disabilities on their learning journey. If your child has mild learning disabilities such as Dyslexia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), schools have teachers trained in special educational needs and Allied Educators (Learning and Behavioural Support) to help them integrate into the school environment. There are also designated schools with full handicap facilities for pupils with physical disabilities, and designated secondary schools for pupils with visual and hearing impairment. These schools are located in different parts of Singapore to provide convenience to parents. (Please see Primary One Registration insert in back cover pocket for a list of designated schools.) Special Education (SPED) Schools Special Education (SPED) Schools provide an alternative education pathway for children with special educational needs who are unable to benefit from mainstream education. SPED Schools provide customised educational and training programmes to cater to the diverse needs of children with special needs. As at January 2012, there are 20 SPED schools run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations. Please refer to http://stamfordinternationalschool.com/ for more details.
Need to know more? Please visit www.stamfordinternationalschool.com Information on individual primary schools is available in the School Information Services. To find out more about the school of your choice, you may visit the school’s website, attend the school’s open house, or call the school.
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Preparing for the future Your child’s holistic development is the focus of our schools’ efforts. We encourage you to find out more about the various school programmes and be in regular contact with your child’s teachers. Your partnership with the school will help you to be constantly informed and involved in your child’s progress. Together, we can help your child realise his full potential.
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STAMFORD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS CORP. OFFICE: SCO 90, TOP FLOOR Sector 38 C , CHANDIGARH UT 160 036 (India) Toll Free: 1800 419 0401 For general information: (M) : +91 (0) 95923 55511
City Office: Stamford International School SCO 90 , LEVEL- II,Sector 38 C Chandigarh UT: 160 036. (Ph) : +91(0) 95923 55511/ 0172-5001803
For Franchise Contact : Dr Priyanka Roy (+91 95927 55511)