Panama City, Panama Report of what it's like to live there - 04/06/11

Personal Experiences from Panama City, Panama

Panama City, Panama 04/06/11

School Name:

Balboa Academy

Background Information:

1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?

parent

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2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?

PK + Kinder

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3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?

2009 - present

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4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?

Husband's job

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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 but costly!

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2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?

C - felt a little lost when son was in PK

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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:

A-

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2. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:

Learning-centered, inclusion, differences embraced

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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

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4. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?

A

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5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:

My son is on the austism spectrum, PDD-NOS. Services are not included in tuition, I pay. But a speech therapist and occupational therapist come to the school. I also pay for a classroom aid.

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6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:

N/A

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7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:

A

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8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):

B

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9. Administration-parent communication:

A

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10. Teacher-student communication:

A

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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?

N/A

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12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:

Yes. Speech therapy 3x week, Occupational therapy 2x week - at school

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13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:

Yes but costly.

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14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:

N/A

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15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?

N/A but I think so

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16. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:

N/A

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17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?

Yes, but usually $2-3

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18. What activities do you feel are missing?

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19. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:

Yes, school carnival

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20. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?

N/A

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21. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:

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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

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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

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3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?

A

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4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?

Excellent

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5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?

1:20 usually

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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?

N/A

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7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?

A little much for kinder but teacher is flexible. Focus is on learning.

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8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?

N/A

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9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?

Yes

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10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.

No.

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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?

Somewhat

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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

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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.

N/A

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Overall Impressions:

1. What is the greatest strength of this school?

Inclusion and embracing differences to achieve learning

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2. Greatest challenge?

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3. Would you choose this school again? Why?

Yes

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