Port Of Spain, Trinidad And Tobago Report of what it's like to live there - 06/07/16
Personal Experiences from Port Of Spain, Trinidad And Tobago
School Name:
ISPS
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Yes, parent of children in school.
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Current, middle school.
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, Maple Leaf and a small British 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?
Communication with anyone in admissions is poor, with emails receiving no attention. The new director has tried to address the issue, but problems at the school are noteworthy and are endemic.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
Poor. They used to have a good program for new children but that seems to have ceased. Nothing that we saw for new parents.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
It depends on the teacher. Some are great, many are not. The principals have poor communication with parents, and even with teachers.
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?
Laptops are required and are an out-of-pocket expense. Uniforms as well.
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?
High school is rated less than adequate. Middle and lower school counsellors are poor, and I don't know their credentials. But it is nothing like you'd expect in the United States.
2. Is there before and/or after-school daycare available? What are the costs?
Daycare is not available at this school. Acceptable day care on the economy is hard to find and expensive. The country suffers from poor work ethics, and this affects everything.
3. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
The library is small but adequate. Students can sign out books.
4. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
The have laptop carts and smart boards. But all children are required to have their own laptops, at least for middle school and high school.
5. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
A small open-floor gym, one small playground, no pool, no tennis courts. Also one open field that they use from time to time.
6. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
1:16
7. 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, MYP, and AP courses. Again the high school is not rated as adequate.
8. 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?
It really does depend on the teacher(s) your child has, more so than at any school we've ever experienced. Thus, your personal experience can be great or absolutely horrible.
9. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Same issue. It depends on the teacher.
10. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
Music, drama, art.
11. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
English is the official language, but the local version can be difficult to understand at times.
12. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
AP at the high-school level.
13. What services are available for students with learning disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None that I know of.
14. What services are available for students with physical disabilities at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
None that I know of.
15. What services are provided for speakers of English as a second language at this school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
They do have some dedicated teachers for this.
16. 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?
Very few opportunities.
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, but it's up to the children to make friends.
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.
Yes, they have policies in place, but I have not seen that they have been successful at enforcing their policies.
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?
D. I would not choose this school again. Some teachers are definitely great, but they do not seem to last here. The director this year has attempted to address the issues which have gone unchecked for years, but she seems to be running into obstacles beyond her control. Consult your company before bringing your children here.
2. Please tell us anything else you think prospective parents and students should know about this school. Thanks for your contribution!
There are serious issues at this school. I highly recommend that you reach out to your company or office representative to discuss ISPS and other options available.
