International School Al-Koura

[EduCativ]

We at the International School Al-Koura agree that education is the process of questioning to rediscover what we already know. Our diversified academic program offers our students the guided opportunity to question their knowledge thus growing in self-confidence and self-respect. By raising each individual’s expectations of himself/herself we inculcate in our students the need for hard work, commitment to learning, perspective-taking, empathy, and self-management.
At I.S., we strive to actively respect each member's individuality and seek to enhance the learning process by encouraging a varied intellectual discourse, based on mutual respect and tolerance. We are committed to helping our students evolve into active members of the community by providing a learning atmosphere that fosters such a policy.
The curriculum adopted in Grades 1 to 6 is an American-based curriculum where all subjects are taught in English except Arabic language instruction, French language instruction, and Social Studies. As of Grade 7, students are segregated into either the High School Program or the Lebanese Program. Students in the Lebanese program follow the curriculum as prepared by the National Center for Scientific Research in concordance with the Lebanese Ministry of Education curricular requirements. All subjects in both programs are taught in English. In both programs, all courses are mandatory and extend over an entire academic year. All students study Arabic Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, Social Studies (World History, Human Geography, Sociology, and Economics), Philosophy, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Arts, Computer Science, and Physical Education. Curricula and syllabi are regularly updated to cater to a variety of priorities including differentiated instruction and interactive learning (we are currently using Promethean Planet’s ActivInspire in 18 of our classrooms).
At IS, French is taught as of KGI through to Grade 8 as a second foreign language. Select students from grades 6 to grade 10 are chosen to sit for the DELF exams to receive a French language certification from the French Cultural Center and French Embassy in Lebanon, allowing them to eventually pursue their studies in French universities.
In keeping with our Mission Statement, we have a Special Programs and Education Department that integrates three different types of programs within our regular school program to help students with learning disabilities or difficulties and/or special needs a real learning opportunity. With a multi-disciplinary team made up of special educators, psychologists, speech therapists, psychomotor specialists and, well-trained teachers, an individualized educational program (IEP) is prepared to cater to the learning abilities of all students with special needs. This integrated approach allows the team to identify, screen, assess, and help students with dyslexia, ADHD, etc… in a classroom setup that provides continuous evaluation of every student’s progress.
Students from the secondary division receive credit from services rendered around the school to promote responsibility and engender a strong sense of belonging. Responsibilities for students in these services vary from peer tutoring to being bus prefects.
The Learning Lab serves those students who were unable to grasp a certain skill or concept in a particular lesson. The teacher of the subject or one whose expertise falls within the scope of that particular subject or skill uses the Learning Lab to fill in the gap for the student(s). The student(s) receive(s) one-on-one instruction from the teacher during the day so he/she may resume regularly in class the next day.
The After School Program is designed for students whose parents are unable to provide them with the necessary help after school hours. Qualified teachers are available in school from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, to supervise and help students with their homework. Their ultimate task is to help students develop good study habits.
The International School Al – Koura was founded in 1985 to cater to the growing population of Lebanese families who wished to place their children in an international-based schooling system. The idea of creating an international curriculum (leading to a High School Diploma) stemmed from the need to provide Lebanese students with foreign passports the same quality of education as that of students in the Lebanese program (leading to the Lebanese Baccalaureate Official Government exams).

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