ELEMENTARY
AN EXCELLENT FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE SUCCESS
WELCOME TO ELEMENTARY
Welcome to the elementary school community! It is our mission to provide a nurturing and inspiring learning environment for each child in our care. In elementary school, students are able to experience a range of activities and learning experiences that provide them with opportunities to develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, academically, and physically. At each grade level, students are taught the core academic subjects through a Christ-integrated curriculum and receive instruction in art, music, P.E., library skills, and the Thai language. National Korean (Grades 3-5) and National Thai students receive additional instruction in their heart languages.
ENGAGING ACTIVITIES
Throughout the school year, elementary students have the opportunity to engage in a number of activities. These include the following:
- CHAPEL - A year-round chapel program for grades K–5 (Tuesday mornings from 8:15-9:05 twice a month). Parents are welcome to attend.
- CHAPEL TEAMS - Include drama, puppetry and worship teams
- STEM NIGHT - (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) for grades 3–5 (every other year)
- CLUBS - For grades 3–5. Examples include creative worship, origami, art, creative dance, running, puppetry and a critter club.
- READING MONTH - March is Reading Month - a whole month of activities devoted to reading (including our very popular Book Character Parade)
- LIFT WEEK - A week-long chapel program with a different emphasis/theme each year
- FIELD TRIPS - Usually by grade and related to specific areas of study
- SHOWCASES - Christmas and Spring music showcases
- 100 DAYS - 100 Day Celebration (Grades K–2)
PROGRAMS
ACADEMIC PROGRAM
The elementary team believes that each child can experience success and teachers and support staff are dedicated to seeking the best in each student. We have specific and measurable benchmarks at each grade level but our emphasis is on individual student growth. We want children to master concepts fully and reach grade level benchmarks but we are aware that children all develop at different rates and by different means.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP
At GIS, students begin learning how to be responsible, respectful, safe digital citizens at a young age. As part of their weekly library class, Elementary students discuss online safety and make connections between their online and offline lives. We use the curriculum from Commonsense Media as a starting point for these conversations.
RECESS
Play is a very important part of a child’s development. Each grade level has several recesses each day. Rainy recesses will be in The Atrium, our indoor covered area, and/or on the covered courts.
CURRICULUM
A Biblically Integrated, American-Style, College Preparatory Curriculum
At Grace International School, we offer an American-style, college preparatory curriculum that covers a broad base of topics while integrating biblical truths into the classroom. GIS students will be equipped with the tools and knowledge to not just excel in prestigious universities and their careers, but also to impact the world for Christ.
At the elementary level, all students study the core curriculum (language arts, math, science, social studies, Bible) and other special subjects (music, art, library, P.E., Thai, Korean, and Thai for nationals). Through our elementary curriculum, students are taught the foundational knowledge required to excel in secondary school and outside the classroom.
GRADES K–2
CLASS DETAILS
- Number of sections - 2
- Maximum Class Size - 16 (Kindergarten & Grade 1), 18 (Grade 2)
CORE CURRICULUM
- Bible
- Language: HMH Into Reading (Grades 1&2)
- Math (Big Ideas)
- Penmanship (letter formation)
- Reading Centers (guided reading)
- Reading - Phonics (sounds, letters, blending, etc.)
- Science (FOSS)
SPECIALS
- Art
- Library
- Music
- P.E.
- Thai
GRADES 3–5
CLASS DETAILS
- Number of sections - 2
- Maximum Class Size - 18 students (Grade 3), 20 students (Grades 4 & 5)
CORE CURRICULUM
- Bible: ACSI
- English Language Arts: HMH Into Reading
- Math: Big Ideas Math
- Science: FOSS (Full Option Science System)
- Social Studies: McGraw Hill
SPECIALS
- Art
- Library
- Music
- P.E.
- Thai for nationals and Korean
KOREAN PROGRAM
PROGRAM DETAILS
- The Korean class at GIS aims to assist elementary Korean students in using their speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills.
- The Korean class at GIS consists of three parts: reading, culture, and grammar/writing.
- Korean students will be exposed to a Korean context by reading, thinking about, and responding to books written by Korean authors. These books also contain traditional idioms, expressions, syntax, spelling, and vocabulary.
- Students will also study Korean culture, and experience different types of events, songs, games, arts and crafts, and cooking similar to kids in Korea.
- Students will also study Korean grammar by writing different lengths of paragraphs according to their levels followed by learning new vocabulary.
Academic Standards & Review Cycle
Every 7 years our resources are refreshed with all teachers being involved in the choosing of the resources. GIS has adopted the following standards:
GIS ACADEMIC STANDARDS
- Language Arts - AERO Standards
- Math - Common Core State Standards
- Performing Arts - AERO Standards
- Physical Education - SHAPE Standards
- Religious Studies - GIS In-House Standards
- Science - Next Generation Science Standards
- Social Studies - AERO Standards
- Technology and Design - ISTE Standards
- Thai - Ministry of Education Standards
- Visual Arts - GIS In-House Standards
- World Languages - GIS In-House Standards
ASSESSMENTS
GRADES K - 2
A variety of in-house assessments are used in the lower grades to assess students’ skills in reading, language arts, writing, and math DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). This is an individual test that assesses a child’s reading level based on a Level A–Z scale, and is used in grades K–2.
DRA END OF YEAR BENCHMARKS
- Kindergarten - Level C
- Grade 1 - Level I
- Grade 2 - Level M
STAR ASSESSMENT
STAR reader assessment is a computer adaptive test administered 2–4 times a year in grades 1 (2nd semester) and grade 2 to measure individual reading progress.
GRADES 3–5
Again, a variety of in-house and other assessments are used to measure student growth in all academic content areas.
MAP
MAP – (Measures of Academic Progress) This computer adaptive assessment is one of the assessment tools used to measure progress in grades 3–5. Students are tested in August/September and again in April/May. MAP measures what students know and gives teachers an accurate measure of student performance, whether a student meets or exceeds grade-level expectations. MAP results help teachers plan instruction.
STAR READER/AR (ACCELERATED READER)
The STAR reader assessment is administered between 2–4 times a year and measures individual student progress in reading. Accelerated Reader is a reading program that allows students to work towards quarterly goals (set by the teacher) and read books within their specific reading level in order to experience maximum growth.
REPORTS AND PARENT CONFERENCES
We know that it is important for you to be aware of what your child is doing in school. We communicate with you about how your child is doing through report cards, which are emailed to parents at the end of each quarter, and parent conferences, which take place during mid-September.
GRADING STANDARDS
In grades K-5 students are evaluated in academic areas using numbers and descriptors:
4 – Advanced: Exceeds grade-level standards
3 – Mastery: Meets grade-level standards
2 – Approaching: Approaches grade-level standards
1 – Emergent: Limited progress towards grade-level standards
N/A – Not Assessed
BEHAVIOR STANDARDS
The following behavior standards are assessed using the letter scale:
E – Exceeds Expectations
M – Meets Expectations
S – Support/Improvement Needed
The Student can:
- HEAD: Engage in his/her own learning, works independently, and is self-reflective.
- HEAD: Display effective organization skills.
- HEART: Respond positively to correction and accepts responsibility for actions.
- HEART: Contribute to a positive, encouraging learning community.
- HEART: Persevere and shows flexibility.
- HANDS: Interact cooperatively and respectfully with others.
