Yerevan, Armenia Report of what it's like to live there - 08/10/13
Personal Experiences from Yerevan, Armenia
School Name:
QSI International School of Yerevan
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent.
2. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2011-2013.
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
I'd grade them a C. We felt supported by the classroom teachers but not always by the school administration. There is just one director with no one to support her. QSI should think about hiring more administrators for the school. The PTA picked up on areas the school was lacking. They organized a "back to school" BBQ to get kids oriented with the school as there was no orientation.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
For the two years my daughter attended this school she had great teachers and a great class. Each classroom had an American teacher with a native English speaking teacher's aide. The class climate was great and I always felt welcome in the classroom by the teachers.
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
I can only speak for my daughter's grade levels but I would give them a B. However I know parents of secondary students who would give QSI a much lower grade than that.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Both classroom teachers as well as many of the specialty teachers all communicated via e-mail. I always felt welcome to drop into the class and talk to them if needed. I felt like I knew what was happening in my daughter's class as well as the school at-large.
4. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
There were Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) offered after-school four days a week. They were at first required but now are optional. They ranged from arts and craft to track to yoga. Some are fee-based if they require a special instructor to be brought in like chess or tae-kwon-do.
5. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
In my daughter's grades there wasn't a great deal of homework assigned. I usually found it just the right amount. If something wasn't finished during school it was sent home or if extra practice was needed with something that was sent home too.
6. Administration-parent communication:
As I mentioned earlier the school could do with more administrators than just one director who was in charge of everything from admissions to discipline to staffing. That being said she was very good about sending out weekly newsletters to all the parents to keep them apprised of school events and happenings. The secretary in the front office is great and can help you with anything.
7. Teacher-student communication:
I found my daughter very engaged with her teachers and she still writes them e-mails and letters.
8. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
Yes, computers but hopefully that will be fixed with the new teacher.
9. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
I wouldn't say it is a wide variety but there is definitely non-core classes. They have a choice of several foreign languages which they start from Kindergarten. There is no drama but they had a great music teacher, unfortunately she left. The art teacher is also very good.
10. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
There were one or two field trips during the school year and they were of very minimal cost.
11. What activities do you feel are missing?
It would be nice if there were more extra-curricular sports options. As well as drama or choir.
12. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
My daughter and participated every day when they were required. And picked one or two a week to take when they were optional. I found the school day very long in general did want her coming home so late every day. I believe they have restructured the school day so it is not as long and have kept the ECAs optional for the coming school year.
Academics & Resources:
1. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
The library and librarian were great. My daughter often brought home interesting and quality books.
2. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
They had a great computer teacher her first year but he left for a follow-on assignment. The person hired to replace him was terrible but luckily he has left too. I am not sure of the quality of the new IT teacher as he started right before the end of the year. But they do have a fully equipped computer lab for the students.
3. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
They have had turnover with their PE instructors lately. My daughter had an terrible one her first year and I would have given the program an F but the second year they hired two new PE teachers and the one for the younger grades was great. She really knows how to engage the children and make physical education fun for them. The school is a little short with quality sports equipment. There are not a lot of opportunities for any extra curricular sports outside of track and basketball due to the lack of students and facilities. There is no gymnasium. I think I would probably give them a C now. There is definitely a lot of room for improvement.
4. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
In my daughter's class it was about 8:1 with one classroom teacher and one teacher's assistant. That ratio varied from class to class depending on the size and her's was one of the largest classes.
5. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes, for my daughter's grade level.
6. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
I'd give them a C here. Art, music, foreign language PE and Computers were all part of the curriculum, happening once or twice a week, no real electives for the younger grades. There was no music for secondary students and I'm not sure of their other electives.
7. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Yes there is a small range of extracurricular activities offered. The school population is still small so the choices are a little limited.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes, because there is such a small community of expats there is a lot of socializing outside of the class.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
I'm sure it happens but we didn't experience any.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
The community of parents who gave back to the school and volunteered in areas where the school was lacking. It is a decent school for the elementary grades, especially the really young grades. The preschool is also good.
2. Greatest challenge?
They need to working on building improving the school experience for the middle school and high school. The fees are very high for what you get.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
If I had a young child again I would but not with an older child.
