Bandung International School

Bandung International School is located in the lovely town of Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. It is an IB World School. The school has 180 contact days per year and runs a 36-week school year. BIS works to develop students are international aware and “internationally educated.”

BIS is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian school. It has a School Board which sets policy and a school administration which implements policy. I found it interesting to see that this was listed on the information page of the website because I have worked at several schools both as an administrator and a teacher where the School Board mistakenly took their mission to be to set and implement policy. Always a mistake and a sign of trouble for teachers if a Board has too much power and thinks too highly of itself. BIS is accredited by CIS and NEASC.

BIS has students from over 25 countries. Because of the international nature of the student body, BIS implements an international curriculum and emphasizes Indonesian culture and language so that students gain an appreciation of their time in Indonesia.

The school educates students from Early Childhood through Grade 12. It has two divisions: Primary which includes students from Early Childhood through Grade 5, and Secondary which includes the Middle and High School students.

Fees are not cheap. The total tuition and technology fees run from US$3,700 for Early Childhood up to US$ 12,700 for high school students. Additional fees include ESL (should a child need additional instruction in English) and a Facilities and Maintenance Fee which runs an additional $1,400 per year for students in EC3 through Grade 12.

The School Mission

Through relevant, challenging and engaging programmes, we inspire students to become skillful and courageous, empowering them to participate responsibly, successfully and with integrity in the global community.

Early Childhood

The Early Childhood program has three levels: EC1, EC2, and EC3. Students start at EC1 at three years old and progress onwards. Students learn through inquiry as is the practice in all PYP schools. Students spend their day in specially designed classrooms for students of this age. Specialist teachers are employed in Music, Indonesian Culture and Language and Swimming. EC3 students also have specialist teachers for Library Skills, Art and PE.

The EC program has a special EC playground so that the children have a safe place to play and explore. Students in EC1 and EC2 have half-day programs, while the EC3 students have a full-day schedule. BIS encourages parent involvement with their children’s education.

The Primary Years

The Primary Years division covers grades 1-5. BIS uses the PYP of IBO as their curriculum. The curriculum centers around six themes (more on this next month when I write about IBO). The themes function on an interdisciplinary approach (and if you are not familiar with PYP, it takes some time to get used to the structure and the jargon that goes with it) and students learn using the inquiry method to build on their curiosity about the world. There are specialist teachers for Art, Music, PE, Indonesian Language and Culture, French (Grade 5 only), Library Skills, and Computers. Each Friday afternoon there is an Elementary Assembly. Students can pick from a variety of after school activities.

Middle School

The Middle School covers the traditional years of Grades 6-8. The core curriculum includes the Humanities, Science and Math. Exploratory subjects include Foreign Language, Indonesian Language and Culture, Computers, Fine and Performing Arts and PE. BIS works to make the transition from Elementary School to High School as smooth as possible. Like all Middle School programs, students are given increasing responsibility for their learning, as they get closer to high school. The Middle School offers a range of extra curricular activities.

High School

The High School program emphasizes critical thinking and applying knowledge to new situations. High school students are given the opportunity to develop a sense of global awareness. The curriculum is college prep and the school web site uses much of the usual IBO jargon of challenging students to be responsible citizens of the world who are able to “…think creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively and learn enthusiastically.” The core curriculum centers on math, English, social studies, science and foreign languages. Additionally there are a variety of electives in Computer Technology, PE, Home Language Studies, Applied Arts and Fine Arts. Graduates of BIS are awarded a diploma which is recognized by Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The High School also offers Advanced Placement courses that are needed by students who wish to study in the United States and get a head start on their university education. Activities for high school students include the Student Council, sports teams, and drama productions.

In addition to the academic program, BIS has extracurricular activites that create opportunities for students to develop skills and abilities in areas outside of academics.

Employment

Openings are posted on the school website as well as being listed in TIE Online and with Search. The school website notes that teaching standards are high and teachers are supported with professional development. It also notes on the employment page that the school uses a “demanding” PYP and IBDP curriculum.

The school website does not list benefits or salary. But, my guess from the last time that I was familiar with their salary structure is that it is modest by international standards, that is, don’t expect anything like you would get at one of the big schools like Jakarta International or the International School of Bangkok.

Canggu Community School is a non-profit private school serving both the international and local communities in the South Bali area and uses the British National Curriculum and employs certified foreign teachers. CCS was established in 2001. There are over 300 students enrolled at the school in grades Pre-school to Year 8. CCS has a secure, purpose-built facility on a hectare of land. This school is located out in the boondocks of Canggu and if you are living in the Kuta/Legian/Seminyak area, it will take 15-30 minutes to get to school depending on the traffic.

CCS was built with Australian standards in mind; classrooms are 850 square feet and are quite bright. Each classroom has air-conditioning that the teacher uses at his/her discretion as the buildings are insulated against heat and humidity. The school has an IT lab with one computer per student. All computers have internet access, and CCS sees IT as an important part of a students education. Additionally, CCS has a science lab, a music room, a library, and a Multi-function Hall that they use for PE.

Parents who wish to enroll their child in school, need to make an appointment and should bring their child with them. Expats who wish to enroll their child before they arrive in Bali can contact the school and fill out an e-application. Canggu has a waiting list at all grade levels, and priority is given to siblings of current students. CCS is

Children are enrolled in a grade based on their age as of August 1. The school website has a very informative placement schedule which shows equivalent grades in other national systems compared to the CCS grading system. And just a note for that small group of parents who have “gifted” children who just have to be placed in a higher grade than their age dictates, the school website specifically says that higher placements will not be done. The school has set a maximum limit of 22 students in Year 4 and below, and 24 students in Year 5 and above. This is a fairly large classroom size for international schools. Generally schools limit classroom size to 18 if at all possible.

CCS is not one of the cheapest schools in Bali. It is interesting that on their very nicely presented website, their fee information is two years old which makes me wonder if it has been increased since then. However, based on the 2006-2007 academic year, the cost for a Pre-school student is $3,300 per year; $5,000 per year for students in Grades 1-6; and $6,000 for students in Year 7. They also have a late fee of 5%, but also have discounts for families with more than one child: 5% for a second child, 10% for a third child, and 15% for a fourth child.

In addition to the tuition, there is an annual building fee of $250 for Pre-school students, and $500 for Grades 1-7. New students pay a one-time registration fee of $300 for Pre-school, and $600 for other students.

The school website has an excellent Pupil-Parent Handbook in pdf format. If you are interested in this school either for your child or as a possible place of employment, I suggest that you download it.

Employment for Teachers

Prospective teachers are required to have a teaching credential, excellent language and writing skills, a commitment to professional development, and an understanding of the use of ICT use across the curriculum. It is advantageous for the prospective teacher to have updated first-aid qualifications, and training in ESL.

While the curriculum is based on the British National Curriculum it has been adapted for international use. Students in Years 2-6 take the SATs. Other assessment is school-based. CCS has an after school activities programs and teachers are required to sponsor one activity per week.

The school has a number of specialist teachers on staff. They are currently in an expansion mode so they are expanding their staff. You can find out about available positions on the school website.

Teacher contracts are generally given for a two-year period. Salaries are based on a teacher’s qualifications and experience and thus are not listed on the school website. Benefits include: assistance with airfare and relocation, a housing allowance, medical insurance, and a long-term bonus that is paid after four years of service at the school. Applications should be emailed to the school. An application should include: Full name, date of birth, residential address, contact details, professional experience, educational background, professional development, and the name of three referees. Interviews are done in Bali or London. If it is not possible to have a face-to-face interview, a telephone interview or video conference is possible.

No school reviews today, although I hope to have one later this week. It’s incredibly busy now with reports at school coming up and moving and trying to rent out or sell our house here in Sumbawa. Today’s post has to do with a few general comments about this site and sites similar to this that I’ve come across on the internet.

First, I am not a recruiter. Please, please note that and do not post resumes here. I have absolutely nothing to do with employing teachers anymore, and most of my friends who are in those positions are retiring now or have already retired. This site is meant to serve as an informational site for those teachers who want to work internationally and are looking for information on international schools and international teaching.

Second, I came across a site the other day through my StumbleUpon app (I love that thing; I have come across some great sites because of it) that offers reviews of international schools written by teachers who work at, or have worked at, the school being reviewed. This is a pay site.

Now, I have nothing against pay sites, and I have nothing against writing for money. (In fact, I hope to have two eBooks out over the next four months – one on the practicalities of moving to Bali, and one on international teaching.) But, I have some reservations about charging for other people’s opinions on schools. But, besides the pay issue, I do have some real problems with anonymous reviews of schools – whether positive or negative. If they’re positive, they could be written by the administrators of the school and be somewhat skewed, and if they’re negative, they could be written by a disgruntled former teacher.

Anyone who has worked in education for a period of time knows that some teachers can be real whiners, and I’ve worked with several (and I’ve gone through a few whiney periods myself). So, is it fair to a school and the school administrator to have an anonymous negative review posted by a teacher who is unhappy because of some issue that may be purely personal and not indicative of the general school environment?

I did read through all the free reviews (the site gives you limited access before you pay and get full access), including two of one of my former schools. I happened to agree with both of them, but I can think of several teachers at the same school who might have written negative reviews because of issues that affected only them. I understand, also, that some administrators take criticisms very personally and can be vindictive. So, how does a teacher go about voicing their complaints about a school or administrator openly without fear of retribution? I know on some teacher websites criticisms are voiced clearly but with vague references to the school in question. Those in the know can figure out which school is being reviewed, but for the new teacher…?

I’d like to hear from other teachers on this issue. Please feel free to contribute and, if you really need to, you can do it anonymously.

The American Community School of Abu Dhabi

More from the Middle East this week. I’ve never had a chance to get to Abu Dhabi, but there’s just something about what I’ve heard of it that is enticing. Well, here is a school with an impressive sounding set of values and programs that is located in…Abu Dhabi.

ACS was established in 1972 and is a non-profit school accredited by the Middle States Association. There are over 800 students from 46 nationalities studying at ACS. 45% of the students are American. There are 81 teachers on the staff and two-thirds of those have a Master’s degree. The student-teacher ratio is 9:1. The Elementary School moved into a new building in 2001. Administratively, ACS has a superintendent and three principals.

The Mission

The Mission of the American Community School of Abu Dhabi is to empower and inspire each student to define and shape his or her future, pursue his or her dreams and contribute to society. This mission will be pursued in partnership with parents through an integrated, college preparatory, American curriculum.

Core Values

We Believe That:

* Diversity with respect is a strength

* All people have equal intrinsic value

* People are responsible for their choices, actions and the consequences that result

* Transforming dreams into reality requires courage, initiative, and commitment

* People flourish in loving, caring relationships

* Learning empowers

Elementary School

ACS has over 400 students from 30 countries in grades KG through 5. The school uses an American based curriculum. Students have language arts, math, science and social studies with their classroom teacher and an assistant. Specialist teachers provide instruction in art, Arabic, music, technology and PE. After school activities supplement the academic program. The Elementary School emphasizes a close relationship with parents, and they are invited to participate actively in a variety of classroom and school roles. The Viper Values (my guess is that the school mascot is the viper) are also emphasized: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Fair, and Be Honest.

The Middle School

The Middle School has over 200 students from around the world. Students take a core set of courses along with electives. The core courses are Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, PE, Technology, and Health. Electives include Technology, Drama, Art, Band, Choir, and PE. Middle School students must also take a foreign language. These include French, Spanish, Arabic as a Native Language, or Arabic as a Foreign Language. Students from Arab countries must take Arabic in one form or another. Students take a standardized test annually.

Progress reports are issued four times a year at mid-term and report cards are issued each term as well. We used the progress report format at Lahore American School, and I thought that it was an effective way to keep parents informed and to make sure that there were no surprises at report card time.

High School

The high school program is college prep. ACS Abu Dhabi is an IB World School. Students in the IB program are also required to complete the ACS graduation requirements. Additionally, ACS also offers two AP courses: Calculus and Chemistry. All students from Arabic speaking countries are required to take Arabic in years 9 through 12. Muslim students are also required to take Islamic Studies and need to take the Ministry of Education examination so that they can have the UAE equivalency for their graduation. Students need a minimum of 25 credits to graduate.

Facilities

ACS has an 8 acre campus. There are 60 classrooms that include a science lab and an infirmary. The school has a Mac lab (yes!) and students can access it before, during and after school. The computers are networked and connected to the Internet. The school is committed to using technology and has 380 computers for its 800 students which is an excellent ratio. Based on the website, technology is used by both faculty and students. The Library/Media Center is available to students during the same time periods as the computer lab. ACS has two athletic fields and a Fitness Center. The school also has a pool and has very strict guidelines about its use. There also is a Theater that is used for drama, music and student assemblies.

Activities

ACS has a wide range of activities where students travel to other schools for athletic and academic events and competitions. These include: basketball, softball, debate, fine arts, swimming, soccer, track and field and more. ACS also has the National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, and several publications that students can write for. ACS is a member of the Eastern Mediterranean Activities Conference. The EMAC sponsors athletic, arts and academic activities around the area. Some of the cities that ACS students recently traveled to for EMAC activities include: Cairo, Dubai, Amman, Athens, Damascus, and Kuwait City. The school pays for ¼ of the cost of the airfare for these trips.

Students at ACS also have the opportunity for field trips. Students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 take extended field trips as part of the curriculum.

The salary schedule for 2006-2007

The school website sets out the salary schedule clearly. This is always a great benefit when a teacher is looking around for interesting places to work while still keeping financial issues in mind. While at first glance the salary seems fairly low, when you take into consideration the Overseas Hire Incentive mentioned below under benefits, things look much better.

Teachers are placed on the salary schedule according to past experience (believe it or not, some schools pay all teachers the same regardless of how long they have been teaching). The maximum step that you can enter the school at is Step 7 if you have nine years or more experience as a certified teacher.

Step 0 starts at $20,239 and Step 7 for a BA starts at $31,512 and maxes at $36,114 for teachers with a MA plus 30 credits. A teacher with 2 years of experience and a BA would start at $26,426 which is fairly low, but don’t forget the OHI.

Benefits

The first two years you receive 17.5% of the base salary as an Overseas Hire Incentive. For the third and subsequent years you receive 18.13%.

· There are no taxes

· Tuition and Fee Waivers

· Staff Development according to annual budget provisions

· Paid physical exam at the start of employment

· Shipping of 500 lbs.

· Beginning and End of employment airfare.

· Medical and Dental insurance

· Can be paid in Dollars or Dirhams

· Death Benefit

· Semi-furnished housing including major appliances and bedroom furniture along with a one time furniture allowance of Dhs. 12,000 per household which is paid over a three-year period. You will need to stay three years to receive all of this.

· Paid utilities

· Car loan of up to 24,000 dirhams to be repaid over a 24 month period

· Annual leave to point of origin

· All school holidays

· Sick leave – 15 days at full pay. 30 days at half pay. Teachers receive an additional 15 working days per year in the full pay category which is added to the total number of unused days.

· Personal leave – 3 days with pay. May accumulate up to 7 days to be used for a personal business trip.

· Leave without pay – 45 days

· Maternity leave after one year.

· Paternity leave

· Compassionate leave of 10 paid working days for immediate family members with paid airfare to point of origin.

· Emergency Evacuation (non-medical) – airfare to safe haven (as designated by the school and a per diem. In case of emergency closing of the school, you may be paid up to six months of salary and all usual benefits (airfare, shipping, etc.)

· Emergency Evacuation (medical) – paid airfare to the nearest appropriate medical facility. If the Superintendent decides that the family needs to accompany the patient, airfare will be provided for them as well.

About Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is one of the seven emirates of the UAE, and it is the largest. The city Abu Dhabi is the capital. There are approximately three million people living in the UAE. There is a large expat community in Abu Dhabi, and the city is known for all of the development that has gone on there over the past two decades.

Western Academy of Bejing

This is one of the most complete school websites that I have ever reviewed. I keep asking myself what else could I want to know about this school and the city and country in which it is located? The answer? Not much, other than making sure that all the figures add up. They have some contradictory figures on the number of buildings the school has which puzzles me, but other than that, this website is incredible. The school emphasizes on its website the amount of energy that is around the school and all of the things happening there.

WAB is a non-profit English language international school. The school was founded in 1994. It is an IBO World School that educates students from Nursery to Grade 12 (ages 3-18). WAB has approximately 1,400 students from 56 countries and regions. There are approximately 100 students at each grade level. US citizens make up the largest block of the student body followed by South Koreans, Brits and Australians. There are 38 languages or dialects spoken as a first language – English is the largest, followed by Korean.

Mission and Goals

WAB’s mission: “to educate our children to reach their full potential in a warm and caring community that fosters excellence and responsibility.”

WAB subscribes to the IB program which seeks to develop students who are:

• Inquirers

• Thinkers

• Communicators

• Intellectual risk takers

• Knowledgeable

• Principled

• Caring

• Open-minded

• Well-balanced

• Reflective

These educational goals are common to all schools that use the IB program. Really, any good teacher will work to achieve these goals with their students, but with the IB people, this becomes something of a mantra. Well, more on IB in an upcoming review.

WAB is a high tech school. All students use wireless laptops as an essential tool in their daily learning. The Middle School works on a 1:1 laptop environment and most students own their own laptops; the rest borrow them from the school. High school students are required to have their own laptop.

The school is built on a park-like campus and is committed to developing its facilities, programs and reputation. WAB has six separate buildings ; Early Childhood, Elementary School, Middle School, HUB – Sports, Arts and Technology Center, Properties Department and the High School.

WAB Curriculum

Early Childhood

The EC program is based on PYP and Reggio Emilia approach.

Elementary School

The school uses the PYP for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5. WAB supports over 10 home languages with an after school program.

Middle School

WAB uses the MYP for students in Grades 6-8. The Middle School program is centered around these areas of development: intellectual development, moral development, physical development, social development, emotional/psychological development.

High School

The school uses MYP for students from Grades 9-10 and the IBDP for students in Grades 11-12. Students may work for an IB Diploma, a WAB High School Diploma, or a combination.

Counseling

The school provides academic and emotional counseling for students including career counseling.

China Engagement

The school actively integrates the study of the host country in its program. This has an academic component as well as a community service component. All students in Grades 6-12 participate in a week-long China Studies field trip to different regions of China.

Student Programs

WAB has an extensive lineup of programs that were developed to provide a balance between educational needs and intellectual, social, moral, and aesthetic needs. These include:

• After School Activities
• Interschool Sports
• Choir, Band and Drama
• Cultural and Academic Activities
• Student Council and Student Leadership Programs
• Recreation and Adventure Programs

WAB also works on developing a strong sense of community and a positive relationship with the community through a variety of outreach programs and special activities.

Facilities

The school has some impressive facilities that include:

· 3 Gymnasiums

· 1 Swimming Pool

· 1 Adrenalin Fitness Center

· 2 Astroturf sports fields

· 1 Athletics track

· Tennis courts (5)

· Indoor and Outdoor basketball courts

· Vertex Climbing Wall

· Theaters (3)

· Libraries (3)

· Computer Labs

· Science Labs

· Music, Dance and Drama studios

· Specialist classrooms

· Dining courts and cafes

Employment at WAB

WAB is looking for teachers who are upbeat, passionate about teaching and learning, interested in living in China and learning about it, working as a team at a school that values its teachers. WAB has 174 full and part time teachers from 18 nationalities. A number of middle management positions are available at WAB and include Grade Level and Department Leaders/Coordinators among others. These positions carry an annual stipend of $500-$3200 per year.

The majority of teachers are Australian with Canadians, Brits and Americans next. 153 of their teachers are overseas hires. WAB is very specific in what they are looking for in their teachers. The list below should give the prospective teacher a very clear idea of what it takes to be a successful candidate at WAB. Do you have what it takes?

• A good match in applicant’s skills and expertise and WAB’s needs.
• A good match to WAB’s educational philosophy and pedagogy.
• A good fit with WAB’s culture.
• The right chemistry and a good transition

Here is the general profile for what WAB is looking for as listed on their website.

* Experienced and qualified teachers

* Fits WAB’s Philosophy and Values

* High level of professionalism and commitment to the school

* Child focused - warm, caring and supportive

* Team player – collaborative

* Ability to become part of a community and work with parents

* Flexible and adaptable

* Commitment to ongoing professional growth and development

* Skilled in IT

* Intercultural sensitivity

* General interest in China

* Stable in personal life

* Experience in school events and extra curricular activities programs

* Experience in coaching sporting teams and/or performing arts

* Experience in outdoor education & recreation programs

* Experience in school development

* Experience in and knowledge of inquiry based learning

* Able to balance high demands of work with personal recreational pursuits

* Preference to teachers trained in IBPYP, IBMYP and IB Diploma, First Steps programs

Pedagogical Profile

* IB – PYP, MYP or Diploma experience (or similar) - please see our IB pages for more information

* Inquiry-based and hands-on learning

* Using local context and environment to enhance learning

* Stimulating Classroom environment

Desirable Professional Experiences and Practices

* Multi-cultural approach or experiences

* Experience and/or training in working in an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) environment

* Experience in meeting needs of individual students and differentiating teaching techniques

* Experience in inquiry approach to teaching and learning

* Experience in activity based and hands on learning

* High level IT skills and experience in integrating IT across the curriculum

* Experience with contemporary practices in English and Mathematics

* Experience with authentic assessment practices

Salary and Benefits

Initial Salaries run from RMB 20,709 to RMB 25,459. The maximum step on the salary schedule for new teachers is Step H for teachers with at least nine years of experience. The current maximum salary is RMB 29,938 for teachers with 11 or more years of experience. So I would be at the maximum after three years of teaching there.

Benefits include:

• Relocation airfare
• Shipping charges and insurance
• Housing – serviced apartment with basic furnishings, utilities, local phone calls, broadband. Teachers may rent on their own up to a maximum amount determined by their contract. Single teachers receive $1,000 a month.
• Settling in allowance - $200 on arrival
• R&R Travel allowance
• Travel Allowance in case of death

• Chinese Income Taxes
• Pension/Retirement Plan – the school matches your 6%
• Visa, Residence Permit and Expert Card
• Health Insurance – comprehensive with medical evac provision
• Personal Accident and Disability Insurance
• Professional Development
• School Fees – Dependent’s Tuition Support

A teacher at Step H would receive RMB 4,151 for travel allowance. This is at 7.70 per dollar.

WAB prefers candidates to send email applications. A form is online . WAB attend the recruitment fairs. Interview appointments may be pre-scheduled ahead of the fairs.

Generally it is difficult to obtain an international school position if you are a single parent, but WAB hires single parent teachers, which is a definite plus. I wish more schools did this.

Teachers at WAB generally teach 30 periods of 40 minutes each week. They have 10 non-contact periods for planning and meetings and preparation. Teachers are expected to serve on at least 2 committees per year. They are also expected to provide two after school activities per year.

So here it is: the biggest review of a school that I’ve done. This school sounds really interesting. They expect a lot from their teachers, but the support offered also sounds excellent. The pay and benefits are good, but certainly not at the top of the scale. I would guess based on my experience overseas that a teacher could save a good amount of money working here. If you want to spend some time in China, this school sounds like a definite possibility. What I find very impressive with WAB is the way that they lay everything out on their website. I like a school that let’s you know what they expect and what they will give in return. You should check out their impressive website.