Welcome to the Collegiate International School official Q and A page. Here we ask the questions, and the school answers directly. It is its chance to have its say on specific areas you have told us you want to know about. If you think there are additional questions we should be asking you may contact us here.

Does your school have a waiting list? In which years?

We accept students throughout the year.

What are qualities and characteristics that define your school and its students?

Collegiate International School (CIS) is a community school nestled in Umm Sequim 2 offering the US High School Diploma and International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme . It comes accredited from the Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and College as well as a good rating from KHDA with very good and outstanding features. We are a technology enabled school that provides STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as part of our curriculum. We have strong student leadership and a rich athletics co-curricular program offering. We accept students of all abilities who can benefit from our programme through provision of a rich literacy support programme, in addition we also offer a robust Gifted and Talented program.

How many nationalities are represented in your school? How international would you say your school is?

64

Are there high proportions of a particular nationality?

American 14% , Korean 8%, Emirati 6%, Canada 4%

What is the teacher: student ratio in your school?

1:8 plus a large team of teaching assistants and classroom assistants.

Describe your school's approach to education and teaching?

Collegiate International School (CIS) has a strong emphasis on the academic success of each individual that prepares students to obtain significant growth, entrance into quality universities, and moved further into the larger society as positive contributing citizens of an increasingly more global society. Our community atmosphere, caring, nurturing, and dedicated teachers, supportive parents, and the students themselves are responsible for CIS's success.

Do you develop independent learning through homework and, if so, what are your recommendations regarding this, particularly time spent on homework?

Homework serves the purpose of review of the days learning or of the completion of projects. For the older students, at times the concept of a flipped classroom is utilized so that students preview learning material prior to class so the instructional time is used only to focus on the learning.

Physical education and sport is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. How does your school ensure children engage in physical activity?

ES school have PE 3 times per 10 days

Grade 6-Grade 9 students have PE twice per week

Grade 10 students have PE 4 times per week

One of those lessons is Health related fitness.

How does your school promote healthy lifestyles?

Monthly, the school promotes a ‘healthy initiative’ which is promoted throughout our school community. These can include nutrition, healthy body’s movement and diabetes awareness among others. Speakers are brought in to support student and parent learning about particular topics as well as competitions if applicable to support the initiatives.

The divisional handbooks specifically address healthy eating in regards to food sent to school. Additionally classroom teachers send reminders and promote healthy snacks during celebrations. Some other ways include: pick someone in class and bring them a healthy snack, bulletin boards regarding healthy/unhealthy food choices and discussion during PE and health lessons.

For more information please visit our website www.casdubai.com

How do you promote healthy eating?

The divisional handbooks specifically address healthy eating in regards to food sent to school. Additionally classroom teachers send reminders and promote healthy snacks during celebrations. Some other ways include: pick someone in class and bring them a healthy snack, bulletin boards regarding healthy/unhealthy food choices and discussion during PE and health lessons.

Does the school have cafeteria facilities for the students? How does it promote a balanced diet?

Yes.

What is the approximate average cost of a lunchtime meal?

A typical student will spend 10-15 AED. The menu is updated monthly on the school website.

What is the starting and finishing time of your school day?

PreK-KG1 7:45-1:30 [co-curricular Options Available at 1:45]

KG2-G5 7:45-2:30 [co-curricular Options Available at 1:45]

G6-G1 7:45-3:30 [co-curricular Options embedded into academic day]

Is there a school uniform?

Yes.

Students can choose from navy, red or yellow short sleeved polo shirts with the CAS emblem and khaki colored shorts and slacks. Students should have black shoes. PE kits are also compulsory inclusive of a swimming uniform.

At the beginning of the year, the school brings the vendor on site for convenience. During the academic year, the uniforms are available at J3 Mall on Al Wasl, less than 1 km from the school.

Please advise on your discipline policy?

At Collegiate International School we believe that every student has rights and responsibilities. As a school we must help our students understand that they are responsible for their choices and actions. Our behavior expectations are clearly communicated to students and they are expected to follow the code of conduct. We encourage students to make positive choices and teachers will provide redirection to help students reflect and learn. We also work closely with parents to help reinforce positive behavior choices.

Discipline policies are published in divisional handbooks. Please follow the link to the appropriate handbook: http://casdubai.com/learning/student-services/handbook/

How do you feedback progress and attainment to students and parents?

Parent portal is a live computer program which allows parents to see current assignments and grades.

How often is the more formal feedback such as reports and parent/teacher meetings?

Student led conferences with parents are formally held twice a year.

Which languages are taught at your school - please detail any as a first as well as second language?

Spanish and French are offered during the academic day for Grades 2-11. Home language programs provided by outside providers take place after the academic day with additional tuition as per provider’s fee.

Do you offer EAL or TEFL support for those students where English is not their first language?

Students are screened for EAL support upon admission to the school should they qualify, the WIDA assessment is administered to determine student levels. Support is given either by a push in model where the EAL teacher works collaboratively with the content teacher to support grade level skills or a pull out where specific language acquisition skills are addressed. Careful monitoring of student progress, allows us to exit them into the classroom.

Do you offer a dedicated prayer room/s for students? For which faiths?

Yes.

How do you support gifted, able and talented students?

At Collegiate American School, we identify students that exhibit exceptional talent and or potential in any area – be it in the arts (performing or visual), leadership, athletics, academics, creativity, technology, etc. need to be sufficiently challenged in that area in order to nurture and grow that talent or gift using a variety of methods including: counselor, teacher and parent nominations, standardized achievement assessments, cognitive potential assessments, gifted and talented specific assessments and subject area or activity characteristics surveys.

Students who are identified for inclusion in the Gifted and Talented Enrichment program (GATEway), are provided opportunities to creatively and rigorously develop their talents. These may include, but are not limited to: cluster grouping, accelerated and/or differentiated curriculum, independent study opportunities, special seminars, regular classroom enrichment, computer-assisted learning, the services of talent development specialists or other educational personnel, mentorships, field trips, and special study/activity options. Appropriate enrichment plans (EP) are developed in consultation with peers, parents/caregivers, teachers, and community members as needed.

Do you have a learning support team in your school?

Our learning support ream is currently comprised of one Coordinator, three learning support teachers and three teaching assistants. The learning support teachers and teaching assistants work with students from PKG to Grade 11 who are struggling with phonics, reading, writing, math, spelling, etc., have poor organizational skills, low motivation, difficulty staying on task, fail to complete classwork or homework, and/or require academic enrichment. They may deliver services in three models:

Observations

Teachers can request an observation if they would like us to come into the classroom and observe how a student works, behaves, writes, etc. The learning support teacher would then meet with them at a later date to share what was observed and discuss suggestions for what might work for them.

One-on-one support

This can be either pull-out or push-in depending on the student, subject, classroom environment, etc.

Group sessions

Sometimes students will be paired together because they are at a similar level of phonetic recognition, reading, writing or math skills.

Not all schools are staffed or resourced to offer learning support to those children with either moderate or significant learning needs. To what level can you offer support for those with learning differences?

Collegiate American School offers a learning support program that is fully integrated for students with varying needs. Students identified as requiring some level of learning support are categorized according to their level of need:

Focus: Students who are less than or up to one grade levels below their same aged peers. The teacher completes a teacher intervention plan to be monitored every 4 to 6 weeks.

Learning Support: Students who are more than one grade level behind, not diagnosed as having a disability, and/or for whom, the teacher intervention plan had not been successful. A learning support plan (LSP) may be developed with the teacher, learning support teacher and parent.

Special Education Needs and Disabilities: Students who have received a learning disability diagnosis or other diagnosis that impacts their daily participation and progress in school activities. Some of these students have external support providers who may attend school with them. Depending on student need, an individual education plan (IEP) may be developed.

Does your school have particular expertise in dealing with a specific learning need such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, aspergers syndrome and so forth?

Formally diagnosed students with exceptional needs and disabilities make up approximately 10% of our student population. These students have various and/or multiple diagnoses, developmental delay, specific learning needs –dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, speech, language, Autism Spectrum disorder, and/or other medically diagnosed disabilities that range in severity from mild to severe. There are several senior leadership members and teachers whom have previous experience working with SEND, a highly qualified Student Support Coordinator with a master’s degree in special education and over 20 years’ experience in the SEND field, three learning support teachers with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the fields of special education, sociology, and psychology, and three certified school counselors.

Does your school have an educational psychologist or access to one to assess and support those youngsters with more challenging learning and emotional needs?

No. The Student Support Team supports parents with counseling in regards to outside services available in Dubai based on particular need.

Do you have a parents’ group supporting the school?

The Collegiate American School Parent Association (CASPA) supports the school in activities and events.

Are there opportunities for parents to support the learning, activities and events within the school or on trips other than through the parent group?

Parents participate in the school in multiple ways: focus groups, library volunteers, classroom reading volunteers (Arabic & Islamic), chaperones, career day participants.

Is there an opportunity for parental representation on your school Board of Governors?

Parents can be participants in the Advisory Council should additional seats open up. Additionally parents can be invited for special sessions.

Do you offer specific activities, events or information sessions for those parents new to the school and/or area?

New parents can meet with administration and a formal student orientation takes place twice annually.