Lisbon, Portugal Report of what it's like to live there - 12/04/11
Personal Experiences from Lisbon, Portugal
School Name:
Carlucci American International School of Lisbon
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
teacher
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
k-12
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2007-2008
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Hired by School
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?
good
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
This is good.
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:
D - School Head seemed to have no standards for teachers or students, was often insulting to teachers (in person and by intraschool email.) Secondary overseas hires rarely stayed past the 1st contract and often left after 1 year. They have had 5 new English teachers in the past 4 years. I should have been aware of the problem when they called to hire me out of retirement. Pay is low and they are not entirely honest about it; it can be very frustrating trying to understand a variety of payroll deductions and how their offshore pension plan works. The year I was there, changes in tax deductions and retirement plans took place without the school taking any responsibility for the loss to teachers mid-year. This is a school that charges top-dollar while pay and benefits are low.
2. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
The climate in secondary is lackadaisical and, due to rapid turnover of overseas hires, somewhat disorganized.
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:
Other than presenting themselves as school with high standards, yes. However, they charge top dollar and do not deliver the quality of high-school education advertised.
4. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Very good.
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
Poor in secondary.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
fair.
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
very poor in secondary. Teachers of IB level are often not trained for it, do not understand the curriculum required and not experienced enough to teach it. Standards are written down but not applied. No student ever fails out of the school (even if they do nothing and are angry and trying to fail.) Grades are often manipulated to pass a student and assessment in general is ineffective and inflated. A very large number of secondary students do little or no homework - this is very much part of the school culture.
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
Poor in secondary, Homework is not part of the school culture.
9. Administration-parent communication:
Good
10. Teacher-student communication:
Good
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?
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
There is little support for special instruction or assistance in secondary.
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
No
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
No. Very little available.
15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
No. Several attempts to run a drama program in the past 4 years have received little support and as standards of study are so low and students are not encouraged to do any after school work it is almost impossible to hold rehearsals, mount a production or present an effective after school program. Art and music displays are more effect but the work is done primarily in classes.
16. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Some.
18. What activities do you feel are missing?
19. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
20. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
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?
Poor
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Fair
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
Fair
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
Good.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
good
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?
Available
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
No Homework is not part of the school culture in secondary. Homework is usually assigned by teachers but rarely completed and often not checked or assessed.
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Good in primary, poor in secondary.
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.
Very little available.
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?
Some.
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?
Primary eduction is very good. The school climate is safe and very supportive of younger children.
2. Greatest challenge?
Needs educational leadership in secondary and a head who takes standards seriously and respects teachers.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
No. Not unless there were a change of leadership. Also, I am retired now.
