Jerusalem, Israel Report of what it's like to live there - 03/17/15
Personal Experiences from Jerusalem, Israel
School Name:
Jerusalem American International School
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?
1st and 4th grades
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2010-2015
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
For its diversity and its amazing personal feel and knowledge for each child.
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?
B
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
A- when we joined the school 5 years ago, staff support was unsurmountable.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
Comfortable, personal, homey, respectful, tolerant.
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- there is no student/ family better than the other. Staff provides assistance with a smile for all.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
A
4. 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?
Yes, hot lunch program is optional, uniforms must be purchased, laptops are required for the middle and high school students, maybe scientific calculator for high school.
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
A- I know the school provides assistance to those in need.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
B- the school provides a good variety of activities.
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
A
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
A
9. Administration-parent communication:
A
10. Teacher-student communication:
A
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. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes, art, music, swimming and foreign language options ( French and Spanish).
14. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
More options for foreign language such as Arabic and Hebrew.
15. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
No
16. What activities do you feel are missing?
More sports activities
17. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes
18. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes
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?
A
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
B - the library is growing but with all technology I think all schools will slowly lose its use.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
A- all classrooms have a smart board with at least one or two computers in class for student use in addition to a computer lab for student learning.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
B- swimming is part of the curriculum until grade 5 which is great. I would have liked to see some sports teams but given it is a small school it is understandable. The middle and high school have PE twice a week which is nice.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
A- for elementary school. It's a great personal and comfortable environment.
C- for high school, the teachers are excellent but student numbers are low.
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?
A- AP is available
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)?
B- art and music are mandatory, drama is an after-school activity. Drama Is given within different classes through school events. Music instruments are not provided for after-school activity until the older classes.
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.
No
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
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
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
Its tolerance of diversity.
2. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Yes! My children are happy and they enjoy going to school. The teachers and staff are amazing.
