Paramaribo, Suriname Report of what it's like to live there - 06/12/17
Personal Experiences from Paramaribo, Suriname
School Name:
International Academy of Suriname (IAS)
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?
high school - one year 2016/2017
3. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Government
4. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Yes - Suriname International School, Christian Liberty Academy, AlphaMax Academy. We chose Suriname International School for one kid and IAS for the other. We ultimately put one child in boarding school before coming to Suriname.
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?
Yes.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
The school is well meaning and had some growing pains of their own at the beginning of this school year, but the integration of our student into the school was awful. They are unequipped to deal with any student who is outside the box.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
All communication is via email. The communication is iffy though. We just finished the 2016/2017 school year and their webpage still has the 2015/2016 calendar. That gives you an idea of how well they pay attention to details.
2. 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 real uniform, but there is a dress code. Polo shirts sans logos. Pants that are not too tight, shorts/skirts that are not too short/tight.
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?
None. No.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
No, but there are some after-school activities.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
Yes, but small. Not sure how up to date the collection is though. Students can borrow books.
4. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
There is a computer lab, but it is very small. The wi-fi is inconsistent.
5. What are the technology requirements for students? Do they need their own laptops/ipads? How is technology integrated into the classroom and homework?
None.
6. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
There is a gym at the school, but no pool. There is a field at the school, but no tennis courts. PE is mandatory up through 9th grade.
7. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
10th grade was the largest class with 16 students. The senior class graduated seven students.
8. 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?
IB = no. This year AP classes were not an option but next year they are planning on offering 3 AP classes.
9. Are students generally challenged appropriately by the curriculum? Please describe any particular strengths or weaknesses in this area. Do you have any thoughts how the curriculum is applied and implemented at this school?
I can't speak for other students. My student was not challenged at all. IAS was our student's 7th school. She came in to 10th grade three credits shy of junior year based on IAS's graduation requirements. Being a small school, they were not equipped to deal with her. She had already taken most of the Sophomore courses and the director suggested she just repeat the courses so that she'd be with the rest of the class for junior year. This is a religious school. We didn't have a problem with that until our student came home telling us what was taught in school - "the Earth is only 5000 years old", "Evolution is a lie", "If you have a tattoo, you're going to Hell", things like that.
10. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Little, if any, homework. I can't speak for the other grades.
11. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
None at the high school level.
12. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes.
13. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None. If your student is above a mediocre student, they will wither at IAS.
14. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None. That is not just IAS. There are no services for learning disabled students in Suriname.
15. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None. Physically disabled students would only be able to access half the school. The high school classes are all on the second floor. No elevator.
16. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None. They put students in lower grades so they can learn English.
17. 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?
There are few after-school activities for high schoolers. Elementary aged students have a couple more options. There are high school targeted activities like Galentines, Lock-in, tournaments - soccer, dodge ball, and volleyball but these are annual events.
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 experience with this issue.
Overall Impressions:
1. What letter grade (ranging from A, excellent, to F, fail) would you assign to this school based on your overall experience? Would you choose it again?
F for us. Our student will be attending boarding school back in the US in the Fall. One family here with a student in the 3rd grade loves the school though.
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
If your student is average and religious, this could be a good school. If your student has any special learning issues - either gifted or learning disabled, this is not the school for you.
