Overview of an int’l school #1 – International School of Budapest

How great that each international school is unique!

In this overview of an international school we would like to highlight International School of Budapest in Hungary.

Currently there are 5 international schools listed in Hungary on International School Community.

September 2011
ISB continues to be unique in what it offers through its international and two bilingual programmes.  It draws on the skills element of the English curriculum and adapts the content to meet the needs of its diverse community. This allows the school to offer an international experience whilst meeting the standards set in the UK. As ever the school has an experienced staff, drawing on international teachers from English speaking countries across the world, working in partnership with their Hungarian colleagues from the bilingual programme. Image
International ProgrammeISB offers a full international programme alongside its bilingual programmes. In particular the school can offer the opportunity for non-Hungarian speaking children to learn Hungarian and find out more about the country that they are living in.  This is a great chance to pick up an official EU language.
 

Bilingual Programme

The bilingual programme offers students the opportunity to study the full Hungarian curriculum as well as experience an international based education to develop English skills taught by native speaker teachers.   Growing in popularity is the Advanced Bilingual programme which enables students to have a more international/English-based programme as well as core lessons in Hungarian Language/Literature and mathematics. For both of these programmes students must be fluent in Hungarian.
ISB’s Prep classes offer a bridge between Kindergarten and school introducing basic literacy and numeracy skills.  Many children attend the International Prep class to build up their English skills and others to develop their Hungarian whilst preparing for Grade 1.

Teaching

Many teachers have been at ISB for a long time giving the school stability, whilst at the same time the school can draw on the new ideas of those starting there in August.  This blend allows ISB to build on its well-established programmes from Prep through to Grade 8. (Year 1 to Year 9 in England). ISB’s international teachers come from the UK, USA and New Zealand.
The ELL (English Language and Literature) scheme is a core element of all of the school’s education programmes. This has been developed to meet the needs of a wide range of language abilities drawing on resources commonly used in the UK and US.
All the main teaching rooms are equipped with data-projectors and have the option of interactive whiteboard facilities.  Use is made of digital technology to encourage and enhance communication skills.

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Extra-curricular Programmes

The school has an extensive after-school programme.  Basic supervision is covered in the school fee and a wide range of activities are offered on a subscription basis: Cooking, chess, football, art and crafts, dance, swimming, piano, guitar, drama and more. Last year ISB held its first open chess tournament for young children building on the internal tournaments it has held over the past few years.
Last May the school’s Middle School football team participated in an international tournament in Poland and plans to go to Bucharest this coming year.  Throughout the year the school aims to have competitive matches for all age groups.
Over the years ISB has developed its performing arts, taking advantage of the large multi-purpose room complete with full-size stage, lighting and sound system. All children get the opportunity to perform at regular assemblies and the school also puts on  longer performances. Children taking piano lessons take part in piano recitals.
Last year Grades 5 and 6 visited London and the South Coast whilst Grade 7 and 8 went to Berlin. Visits like these and local ones are an important feature of the school’s programme aimed at broadening the students’ learning experience and are closely linked to the curriculum.
Each February the school organises a ski trip for its children and their families.
Most important of all, ISB continues to deliver high standards of education, especially in English Language and Literacy in a stimulating, challenging, supportive and friendly environment.

Vision

ISB is a long-established international and bilingual school with a very clear vision for its own development. The vision is based around the three pillars of providing:

1. Excellent teaching.
2. A safe inclusive and stimulating environment for learning,
3. Two linked programmes: international and bilingual education.

This third aspect makes ISB a unique school in Hungary.
The school benefits from being in the leafy environment of the Buda hills, surrounded by quiet forest. Classes are small as the school believes in a close, supportive approach to the social and academic development of every one of its students. There is a strong tradition of parental involvement and support. The teachers come from a variety of national backgrounds. They are well qualified, and well experienced for this particular kind of teaching. ISB is a member of the CIS (Council of International Schools).

Facilities

The main school building houses Science, Music, Art and computer facilities, a theatre, and a very well-stocked library. All the main teaching rooms are equipped with data-projectors and access to interactive whiteboard facilities. There is a playground next to the school building. On the campus site there is a sports hall and extensive playing field areas which are used for sports activities.

Special events

Special celebrations and projects are held throughout the year, such as International Week, Sports Day and Book Week. Day trips and residential trips are also a feature of school life, which include the Middle School residential trip to the UK.

Step Into English

The school offers an English language course from late September to early May for children who would be enrolled in the following year. This programme is aimed at building up the children’s communication and study skills in English as well as familiarising them with the school.
The school is committed to providing excellent education at an affordable price.

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Facts & Figures

Address: District 12, (1121) Budapest, Konkoly-Thege u. 21.
Tel.: +36 1 395 6543
Fax: +36 1 395 5376
Email: contact@isb.hu
Internet: www.isb.hu
Principal: Mr Mark Davies
Age range: 5-14
Languages:  International Programme – English   Bilingual Programme – Hungarian and English
Advanced Bilingual Programme – more lessons in English
Fee structure

Tuition fee 2011 /2012
International: 9,800 Euro – 10.900 Euro / year
Bilingual: 1.800.00 HUF – 2.100.000 HUF / year

No. of students: 125
Campus facilities: Purpose-built building in Budapest’s greenest area with theatre, sports hall, playing field, playground, dining room.

**This article was taken from the The Budapest Times website.

Blogs of international school teachers: “Starting my 30′s in Malaysia”

Are you inspired to start up a blog about your adventures living abroad?

Check out the experiences of another international school teacher from the day before they left to their new country to what they are writing about after a few months working abroad.

Our 8th blog that we would like to highlight is called “Starting my 30′s in Malaysia“   This teacher seems to be new to the international school community.  The part of their blog that we would like highlight is about their experience living in Malaysia working at International School of Kuantan.

Entries we would like to highlight:

The Night Before
“Once I get there I am sure the excitement will set in again. I am sure I will still have periods where I am homesick. I am so glad that the internet, cell phones and skype have all been invented, and I have access to them.”

What a wide range of emotions that you go through the day before you get on the flight to your new host country.  Thank goodness for Skype to help you stay in contact with your loved ones and also with your other international school teacher friends!

2nd Day- What amazing sights
“Tonight we went out to dinner at Restran Khalsa Baru and we ate roti naan ayam, tandoori- non-bread with sauces chicken curry, dahl, mint, and tandoori chicken. This is also an Indian restaurant so it was similar to what we have the other morning for breakfast. Instead of a crepe like food it was more like a flat bread. Again we ate with our fingers, and washed our hands at the end. With the chicken they just chop it up and don’t pay attention to bones, so one must be very careful when eating the chicken not to eat a bone.”

Oh, the first restaurant experiences in the host country; how memorable they will be for international school teachers!  Everything that is different from your own country becoming very vivid and apparent.  Westerners are not so skilled in the art of putting a piece of meat in your mouth and being able to work around the bone to spit that part back out.

Getting to know the school
“The schedule here is quite interesting and confusing right now. They have an 8 period day, but periods 1 &2, 3 & 4, and 6 & 7 are block periods. Periods 5 and 8 are single periods. They also do not have the classes the same time everyday.”

It takes some time to get used to new timetables.  Each school seems to have its own rules in how they come up with them.  It is hard not to immediately revert back to how the timetables worked at your last school that you worked at and how they did them there.  Especially if your new timetable only allows for you to have a 30 minute lunch each day with a 30 minute duty after you eat!

*If you are an international school teacher and would like your blog highlighted on International School Community contact us here.

International schools that were founded in 2002 (China, Mauritius, Egypt, etc.)

Random year for international schools around the world: 2002

Utilizing the database of the 889 international schools currently listed on International School Community, we found schools that were founded in 2002 (excepts about their founding are taken from the schools’ websites):

The International School of Macao (Macao, China)

“TIS was established in 2002 to provide a Canadian curriculum and accreditation to local and expatriate students. English is the primary language of instruction.
TIS opened with an initial total enrolment of 58 students on the campus of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) in 2002. By 2006, the School had grown to over 500 students and had become accredited with the Alberta provincial (Canada) government. Students graduate from TIS with an Alberta High School diploma that is accepted in universities around the world.”

Northfield International High School  (Port Louis, Mauritius)

“Northfields International High School (NIHS) is a privately owned secondary school situated in Mapou, district of Pampelmous in the north. From its small beginnings in 2001 NIHS has now over 280 students.”

Canadian International School of Egypt (Cairo, Egypt)

“The Canadian International School of Egypt (CISE) opened its doors on September 15, 2002.  It is the first Canadian school certified by the Ministry of Education of Ontario in Egypt and the Middle East.  The Egyptian initiators of this project chose the Province of Ontario, Canada’s most populated province, to provide the curriculum and most of the teaching staff for the school.”

Al Jazeera Academy (Doha, Qatar)

“Al Jazeera Academy opened its doors to students in September 2002. It is a modern international educational institution which comprises three separate schools within a single campus to cater for all students from Preschool to Year 13.”

Vale Verde International School (Burgau, Portugal)

“After the acquisition of a property suitable for the conversion of a school in 1997, the De Beer family developed the idea to fruition.  In 2002, Vale Verde International School was founded following years of investment required to bring the buildings in line with Ministry of Education requirements.”

International Montessori School of Prague (Prague, Czech Republic)

“The International Montessori School of Prague (IMSP) was established as a private school in 2002. It was originally located in the Blatenska campus of Prague 4. IMSP started with 16 children in two classes : Toddler (1.5 – 3 years), and Primary (3 – 6 years).  In September 2003 the school was moved to a much larger facility in the Hrudickova campus of Prague 4. That school year we started with three classrooms: one Toddler, one Primary, and one Elementary.  In 2005 a second Primary class was added, so now IMSP had 4 classrooms: Toddler, Primary 1 and Primary 2, and Elementary. In 2006 the Primary program extended its afternoon component with Yoga, Music and Movement, Arts and Crafts, and Czech languge and culture.”

Logos International School (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

“Logos opened its doors in September 2002 with an enrollment of 58 students ranging from pre-kindergarten to grade seven.  At that time,Logos consisted of a single renovated house and an adjacent empty lot where a basketball court and small swimming pool were soon built.  Since that time,Logos added an additional grade level each year.  In the spring of 2008,Logos held its first graduation ceremony for 13 seniors.  Logos’ brand new campus consists of a basketball/volleyball/hockey court,athletic field,playground,library,cafeteria,2 computer labs,2 science labs,multi-purpose assembly room,and a swimming pool.  All of the classrooms are air-conditioned and equipped with essential teaching tools.  Our new facility is twice the size of our former location. We are very excited about this new provision.”

New Zealand International School (Jakarta, Indonesia)

“On 14 April 2003 Mr. Chris Elder, Ambassador of New Zealand to Indonesia, officially opened the School and the enrolment reached 35 students. The school grew quickly, and in August 2004 space was secured at LPPI, The Banking Institute, on Kemang Raya, to house the Senior Secondary Students. Since that time our enrolment has steadily increased in all aspects. The growth had the effect of moving expansion plans ahead of schedule; the search for additional premises has been an exciting time.”

Bromsgrove International School (Bangkok, Thailand)

“From the vision of the school founders Riza Sripetchvandee and Ian Davison, a new school was opened in 2002 under the name of Windsor International School and ownership of Windsor Education Co. Ltd. The School was constructed at Soi 164 Ramkhamheang Road, Minburi, in Eastern Bangkok. Over the course of the next two years pupil numbers grew steadily.  A new building was opened in September 2004 to meet the demand from Early Years students. In April 2004, the School became affiliated to the prestigious and world famous Bromsgrove School UK and changed its name to Bromsgrove International School Thailand (BIST). Bromsgrove School UK was founded over 450 years ago and is a leading co-educational independent day and boarding school for some 1,500 pupils and is situated in the English Midlands and provides a first-class education with excellent facilities and resources, as well as enjoying considerable distinction in Sport, Music and the Arts.”

International School of Wuxi (Wuxi, China)

“International School of Wuxi (ISW) is part of the International Schools of China (ISC) – an organization that, for the last 20 years, has offered academically excellent programs to meet the intellectual, physical and emotional needs of students.”

International Community School (Atlanta) (Atlanta, United States)

Kongsberg International School (Kongsberg, Norway)

“Kongsberg International School is a non-profit foundation established in 2002 by Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS, Kongsberg Automotive ASA and Kongsberg Nærings- og Handelskammer (Chamber of Commerce and Industry). The school opened its doors in August 2003. The purpose of the school is to serve Kongsberg and its surrounding communities by providing a high quality international education for students, based on the International Baccalaureate Programme (www.ibo.org), using English as the principal medium of instruction. Although many of our students are Norwegian, a growing international community in Kongsberg and Buskerud has provided enrolment of students from over 22 nations.”

Access International Academy (Ningbo) (Ningbo, China)

“The AIAN student body is comprised of students from over 20 different nationalities.  Faculty members are predominantly from the United States.   The teacher-pupil ratio is approximately 1:4, which promotes individualized instructional practices.”

Singapore International School (Indonesia) (Jakarta, Indonesia)

“With the help of international consultants, SIS was able to redesign, construct and eventually turn an “abandoned” clubhouse into a school that is the talk of the town, in a housing complex of Bona Vista, South Jakarta. Located in a quiet neighborhood bordering the elite Pondok Indah real estate, the School is only two minutes from the Outer Ring Road making it accessible from many parts of Jakarta. The SIS complex boasts of an open, airy concept amidst lush, contoured gardens. In Bona Vista, SIS is able to enjoy all the amenities in this complex and this includes a competition-sized pool, soccer field, basketball courts and tennis courts. After a busy construction schedule, SIS finally opened its doors in its new complex in January 2002 with bigger classrooms and better facilities. The enrollment today includes a student population coming from at least 25 different nationalities.”

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