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:

Student enjoying treats in an activity
Student showing the book he reads in library
Students in their national costume

PROGRAMS

Librarian helping out students on library's computers

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

CORE CURRICULUM

SPECIALS

GRADES 3–5

CLASS DETAILS

CORE CURRICULUM

SPECIALS

KOREAN PROGRAM

PROGRAM DETAILS

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

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

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.