Cotonou, Benin Report of what it's like to live there - 04/19/16
Personal Experiences from Cotonou, Benin
School Name:
School Name: Quality Schools International (QSI)
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
K and 2nd Grade
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2013-16
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
American school, English instruction, outstanding reputation, close community, excellent administration and teachers
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Very transparent and easy.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
A: open, accommodating, and welcoming
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
Warm, encouraging, student centric, fun
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:
A
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Easy access to teachers and administrators. Always available by phone or email or simply walk in.
4. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
With small classes and a student to teacher ratio of a handful of students per teacher, curriculum can be tailored to meet specific student needs.
5. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
No.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
Outstanding daily activities and opportunities that change every few weeks. Activities include: swimming, karate, sports, Lego creations, jewelry creations, chess, music and science.
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
High standards are a testament to school leadership. Donn Maier's leadership is excellent and the faculty is second to none.
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
Good quality with the appropriate challenges; tailored to grade level/child ability.
9. Administration-parent communication:
Always available.
10. Teacher-student communication:
Teachers are always available.
11. 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?
No
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
No
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes, very impressive for a relatively small school.
16. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
None. The school does an incredible job given its size and only in its fourth year of operation.
17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
No
18. What activities do you feel are missing?
None. Even American sports like baseball are introduced in physical education classes.
19. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes.
20. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes.
21. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
None.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
As requested or needed.
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
More than adequate and continuously growing. My children brought home a new book each day to read in the evenings.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Incredible growth over the last three years and very good for the challenges of living in West Africa.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Diverse with opportunities to be introduced to numerous sports and activities.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Exceptionally low....a handful of students per teacher; 5:1 for the lower grades.
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Excellent and numerous opportunities for a relatively small school.
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Teachers will tailor curriculum to meet student needs and apprpriately challenge them.
11. 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, many after-school activities and a sports trip to Togo this year to compete with other West African international schools in soccer, basketball and swimming.
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, Cotonou is a small community.
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.
Never.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
The administration and faculty are incredible.
2. Greatest challenge?
Living in West Africa is challenging in itself, but QSI overcomes challenges with outstanding leadership.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Yes, my children had a wonderful experience over the last three years and will miss the school, friends, and teachers. The teachers are excellent and we will miss the close community.
