Kampala, Uganda Report of what it's like to live there - 08/12/15
Personal Experiences from Kampala, Uganda
School Name:
Kampala Community International Preschool (KCIP)
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 & 3 years old
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2014/2015 and onto 2016 this coming year
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Trailing spouse to a U.S. government employee
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
It was new school when we enrolled our girls. The director is an American teacher who has years of experience teaching in Uganda and the States. She uses a combination of the British and the American curriculums. The cost was about 1/3 of the price of the other preschools, but the student/teacher ratio was much better (8:2 and 12:2 respectively). The school is very organized and the communication with parents is phenomenal.
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+
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
2-year old toddler class - 8 students learn at an appropriate level from 2 teachers. They focus on all the senses for maximum learning using mainly art projects. They focus a lot on colors and identifying animals at this age, but they don't push the kids. It is an enjoyable experience for the children.
3-year old early learners class - 12 students learn their ABCs (mainly reading and phonics with limited writing) from 2 teachers. They learn a new letter each week. They also have reading time and art activities as well.
They also offer after school acivities that are taught by professionals of the trade (ballet, art, music, and cooking).
2. 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+
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
A+
4. 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?
Optional lunch
One-time registration fee
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
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):
9. Administration-parent communication:
A+
10. Teacher-student communication:
A+
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?
No
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
No
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes, could use swimming. They would like to add gymnastics on Friday afternoons.
16. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
Swimming
17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
No
18. What activities do you feel are missing?
Swimming
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?
Yes
21. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
None
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+
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
B - No swimming pool
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
A+
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?
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.
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?
Yes
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?
Student/teacher ratio, organization, and communication
2. Greatest challenge?
None
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Absolutely
