IB MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME

[CANDIDATE SCHOOL]

Collegiate International School is a Candidate School* for the Middle Year Programme (MYP). The school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Collegiate International School believes is important for our students. The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a five-year programme that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. The result is young people who are creative, critical and reflective thinkers.

*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org

For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org

The MYP builds on the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed by the IB Primary Years Programme (IBPYP). Students who complete the MYP are well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP).

The MYP model shows an overview of the various aspects of the programme:

In the programme model for the MYP, the first ring around the student at the center describes the features of the programme that help students develop disciplinary (and interdisciplinary) understanding.

Approaches to learning (ATLs) — demonstrating a commitment to approaches to learning as a key component of the MYP for developing skills for learning.
Approaches to teaching (ATTs) — emphasizing MYP pedagogy, including collaborative learning through inquiry.
Concepts — highlighting a concept-driven curriculum.
Global contexts — showing how learning best takes place in context.

The second ring describes some important outcomes of the programme.

Inquiry-based learning may result in student-initiated action, which may involve service within the community. The MYP culminates in the personal project (for students in MYP year 5) or the community project (for students in MYP years 3 or 4).

The third ring describes the MYP’s broad and balanced curriculum.

The MYP organizes teaching and learning through eight subject groups:

*Courses offered may change depending on demand – please contact us for the latest updates.

The eight subject group objectives correspond to assessment criteria. Each criterion has nine possible levels of achievement (0–8), divided into four bands that generally represent limited (1–2); adequate (3–4); substantial (5–6); and excellent (7–8) performance.

Each band has its own unique descriptor that teachers use to make “best-fit” judgments about students’ progress and achievement.

Students involved in the MYP are eligible to receive a detailed portfolio showing all their achievements at school, including their attainment levels in each subject.

In Grade 10, students are required to submit a Personal Project.

The MYP organizes teaching and learning through eight subject groups:

*Courses offered may change depending on demand – please contact us for the latest updates.

Each band has its own unique descriptor that teachers use to make “best-fit” judgments about students’ progress and achievement.

Students involved in the MYP are eligible to receive a detailed portfolio showing all their achievements at school, including their attainment levels in each subject.

In Grade 10, students are required to submit a Personal Project.

What facilities does CIS offer?

Collegiate International School has a well-appointed campus that features extensive facilities and state-of-the-art technology to provide the best possible learning environment for our students. Classrooms are equipped to integrate the use of laptops, iPads, interactive boards, eBooks and online resources into the learning process, with also:- Well-resourced and fully networked library Science Labs IT Labs STEM Laboratory Lecture Hall Separate Music and Dance Rooms Art Rooms Wireless Internet access throughout the campus Fully grassed outdoor playing field Shaded Swimming Pool Climate-controlled sports hall for games Well-equipped School Cafeteria Fully Equipped Medical Clinic Bus Transport
By what agencies is CIS accredited?

Collegiate International School is accredited by: NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges), CIS (Council of International Schools), and Authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) to deliver the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) and Career-related Program (IBCP)
What additional languages are offered at CIS?

In elementary and middle/high School students study Arabic. This is compulsory for all students in the UAE per the Ministry of Education. Arabic is offered right through till Grade 9 and is branched into Arabic A (native speakers) and Arabic B (non- native) levels. From grade 10 and onwards, Arabic is only compulsory for students with passports from Arabic-speaking nations. CIS also offers either French or Spanish to students Grade 2 and above. In grade 2, students take one semester of Spanish and one of French. Then in grade 3, they choose one language to study (French or Spanish) for the whole academic year and onwards. Beginning in grade 11, students can study their own native language or another language apart from Spanish or French through a self-taught programme.
Does CIS offer Islamic Studies?

Yes. It is compulsory that all Muslim students take Islamic per the Ministry of Education. Islamic A is offered to students of Arabic speaking nations and Arabic B in English for non- Arabic speaking nationals.
Who are the teachers at CIS?

Collegiate International is proud of its team of qualified teachers. Each has rich international educational experience and are all certified to teach the American Common Core Standards Curriculum. All teachers have a Bachelor's Degree in education or their qualified areas with year of experience either in the United States or internationally. All teachers are licensed through KHDA.
What educational support services are available at CIS?

CIS is an inclusive school and offers support to all learners. Support for All Learners English Language Learning Support (ELL) is available for those students with limited English proficiency to provide. ELL classes are available throughout Grades 1-12. Additionally, we also provide learning support for students with learning disabilities and a program of accelerated learning through the GATEWay program for students identified as academically gifted. Emotional, career and college counseling ensure the CIS students are prepared to learn and to move on from CIS successfully after graduation.
What are the daily school timings?

Monday – Thursday: PKG and KG 1 - 7:45am to 1:15pm KG 2 to GR 12 - 7:45am to 2:50pm Friday – all Children: 7.45am - 12noon
What extra-curricular activities are available at CIS?

CIS provides an extensive after-school activity program of sports, clubs and activities offered by teachers and external providers.
How much homework do students received on a daily basis?

Homework is designed to be an extension of the learning in the classroom. It is given to: To reinforce learning through further practice and application of material. To develop sound independent study habits. To enrich learning through independent study, individual research and experimentation. To enable students to complete assignments. To preview new units of study. A general guideline that students should have 10 minutes per grade level (i.e., Grade 3 = 30 minutes, Grade 7 = 60-70 minutes)
How do Southern Hemisphere students fit into a Northern Hemisphere academic year?

Grade level placements are determined by student age in accordance with UAE education authority regulations and previous school transfer certification. In addition, our own entry assessments will give the admissions team a good indication of which grade level would best suit every applicant. Inevitably, this may mean that some students transferring from the Southern Hemisphere may find themselves repeating half a year upon arrival at CIS. This can be discussed in more detail with our admissions team.
What kind of communication can I expect from the school?

CIS teachers are encouraged to stay in direct contact with our parents through phone calls and emails. CIS parents are welcome to meet with our teachers and administrators whenever needed; simply request an appointment in advance via email or phone call. Teachers in Grades 1 - 5 use the Seesaw app to interactively share class news, current units, photos of learning and upcoming events. In addition, the Elementary Principal and Secondary Principal send weekly newsletters to parents to share current community events and celebrations of learning. The Parent Plus Portal within the website is a password protected area for CIS parents only and will contain important information specific to your child(ren) in regards to grades, attendance and official communication from the teacher. CIS also has Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts that parents are encouraged to follow. Lastly, our school has adopted School Communicator. This provides instant communication to parents through their smartphones, tablets or computers and keeps them up-to-date on events, news, calendar, photo gallery and a range of useful links and documents. This is free and can be installed in as many devices as required. It is compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, as well as Mac OS 10.5 and 10.6. To install the School Communicator, please download the installer from http://www.six-delta.com/
How are parents involved at CIS?

CIS welcomes families to take part in our learning community. Many parents volunteer their time as reading buddies in the Parents Active with Students (PAWS) program, as guest readers for the Monday Mystery Reader event, as Homeroom Parents or CISPA leaders and as language learners and models on Arabic Family Day. These are just some of the ways parents get involved in our elementary school. Parents also volunteer to assist in planning whole school events, to arrange fundraising activities, to recycle pre-used school uniforms and to meet with other parents as members of the Parents Association of CIS (CISPA).
Do primary and secondary students meet during the school day?

No. Primary and secondary classrooms are separate with different break/lunch times. Students sometimes engage in special cross-division projects and, for special occasions such as whole school assemblies, all students unite to celebrate the occasion. Only our supervised optional bus service is shared.
How does break and lunch work at CIS?

All students have two recess times during the school day. Generally, break is 20 minutes early in the day and provides an opportunity for play, a bathroom break, a drink and a snack. Lunch is 40 minutes, later in the day and is divided into recreation time and eating time. Both snack and lunch allow time for students to build relationships with each other and are supervised. Students may bring a snack and lunch from home or elect to buy them from a range of healthy options available from the cafeteria which provides healthy freshly prepared hot meals, salads, sandwiches and snacks. You can view the everyday description of the menu offered in the cafeteria.
How can I prepare my child for the start of school at CIS?

Starting a new school can be a daunting experience for a child at any age. We welcome families to bring their children to orientation at the start of each year to get to know teachers and staff. The best preparation is to reduce the anxiety that is associated with this big move. Visiting the school beforehand, turning the apprehension into curiosity and sharing your excitement at the new opportunities that will come along is the best possible preparation for any child starting a new school. In addition, no-one likes to stand out on their first day, so making sure your child has the right school uniform, making sure you know which days to have PE uniforms ready and having school supplies in hand in advance will give children a sense of reassurance. Please read all materials in the welcome pack for information for a successful school year.