Tel Aviv, Israel Report of what it's like to live there - 07/12/11
Personal Experiences from Tel Aviv, Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel
07/12/11
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?
2, 6, 7
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2009-2012
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
foreign service
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?
A
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
A for student support, not much for families
Administration & School Procedures:
1. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A to F with comments:
All grades experienced thus far (1,4,5,6) I would give an "A".
2. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
3. 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
4. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
A (if initiated by parent)
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
A (and the foreign service does provide compensation for student shadow if learning disabilities are severe)
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
A+
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
A
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
A
9. Administration-parent communication:
A (weekly newsletter)
10. Teacher-student communication:
Cstill needing some work due to recent implementation of school-wide Moodle online network
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?
Yes, as in all schools
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
Yes, reading etc
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
Yes
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
Seems to.
15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes, plenty and very high quality
16. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
Seemingly no emphasis on spelling
17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Not really, just some parties
18. What activities do you feel are missing?
None
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?
They have a Buddy Program
21. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
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?
Avery willing to work with kids and parents to resolve occasional issues that come up
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
A+
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
A
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
A+
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
about 10-1 (includes teacher aides)
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)?
A+
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.
Yes, advanced placement and class-specific extra credit
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?
Over 30, Fully comprehensive
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
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.
no
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
It's new. It looks like a junior college campus.The kids ride Tour Buses to school.The teachers are on the ball.
2. Greatest challenge?
Discipline--as in most school systems nowadays
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
yes
