At IST, the Student Services Departments include English Language Acquisition (ELA), Individual Needs (I.N.), Counseling and Child Protection. The Student Services Department enables students for whom English is an additional language and students with individual learning or emotional and social needs to participate fully in the various academic and related social programs of the school.


ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (ELA)
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION (ELA)

The emphasis of IST’s ELA support programme is to promote academic English proficiency that will enable learners to access the mainstream curriculum as quickly as possible. ESL teachers work in active collaboration with homeroom and other specialist teachers to support students.

Grades 1-5 students with limited English language proficiency receive a combination of ‘pull-out’ and ‘push-in’ learning support depending on their level of proficiency, as determined by WIDA assessment programme. Pull Out Support: Students with lower levels of proficiency are pulled out of mainstream classes for up to 2 lessons per day for foundational language support during the mainstream language and literacy time.

Push In Support: Students with lower levels of proficiency are also supported by ELA teachers in the mainstream classroom context. Those students who have developed a reasonable degree of language proficiency but who still require support to fully access the curriculum continue to receive push in (or ‘in-class’) support. These students may occasionally be pulled out for specific content support.

ELA in secondary is aligned with the MYP and DP English Language Acquisition courses. Each student’s English language proficiency is determined using the WIDA assessment programme. ELA students in Grades 6-9 are placed into one of three different classes in accordance with their phase of proficiency. ELA students in grade 10 will be placed in two groups. When students have a strong enough English level to exit the ELA program, they are placed in English Language and Literature. ELA students also attend the Humanities for English as an Additional Language (HEAL) course, which runs parallel with the mainstream Humanities course but are taught by the ELA teachers.

IST currently offers first language classes in English, French, German, and Chinese throughout the school, and in Korean in Secondary. Students are also able to take independent Language A courses paid for by the school as part of their IB Diplomas. All students are afforded the opportunity to study Mandarin Chinese, with courses being offered at between three and four different proficiency levels. Active efforts are also made to promote the importance of first language maintenance and development, including the publication and circulation of first language maintenance tips and the sharing of facilities to support classes that are independent of the school’s own programmes.


INDIVIDUAL NEEDS PROGRAM
INDIVIDUAL NEEDS PROGRAM

We believe all students have the right to participate fully in our academic and social programs. Our I.N. program support students who need special support to participate in the school’s programs. Support is based on the students’ needs, and may consist of support within the classroom, through small group instruction or modifications made by the teacher. Students may be withdrawn from their classroom for small group instruction but the majority of their time is spent with their peers in the regular classroom.

IST believes:

  • that the Student Services Department should liaise with and support classroom teachers in curriculum design, lesson planning and implementation of diverse teaching strategies
  • all parents are partners in their children’s education by taking an active interest and by supporting their children’s learning
  • all students are able to take academic risks in their learning
  • all students can be self-directed learners
  • that the mother tongue and culture of all students is valued
  • that the acquisition of the English language is essential for communication and academic success at IST
  • all teachers are language teachers and are responsible for making the curriculum accessible to all students
  • children acquire language best when they are provided with a language-rich environment both at home and at school
  • all students can become confident and skillful users of the English language
  • language acquisition occurs at different rates so that some students may require additional language support after they have exited the formal ESL program
  • all students who graduate from IST will have achieved a level of English fluency that enables them to succeed in English medium higher education
  • all students with Individual Needs can meet maximum success within their capability

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

The IST School Counseling program helps to promote the overall wellness of K-12 students by offering a comprehensive, preventative, and accessible program in the areas of academic, personal/social, career, and global perspective domains.

IST Counseling services include but are not limited to:

 

ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT

  • Study Skills Development Learning Styles
  • Organization skills Tutoring Referrals
  • Grade Improvement Presentation Skills
  • Goal Setting Decision Making

 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

  • Career Exploration Resources
  • Classroom Guidance University Planning and Beyond
  • University Planning Workshops for Parents
  • Individual University Planning
  • PSAT/SAT Testing
  • University Representative visits
  • Interview Skills

PERSONAL/SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

  • Individual Counseling
  • Parent Conferences
  • Group Counseling
  • Decision Making
  • Grief Management
  • Peer Conflict Resolution
  • CAS
  • Group Topic Support Lessons
  • New Student Orientation
  • Transition Presentations
  • Parent Workshops
  • Goal Setting
  • Classroom Guidance Lessons
  • Action Groups

CLEAR AND IMMINENT DANGER

In the case of imminent danger that has been disclosed and determined by the counselor, the issue must be urgently addressed. Students who disclose a risk of suicide or harm to others will be immediately reported to Administration and the parent will be immediately contacted. A professional evaluation and clearance by a physician, licensed psychologist, or psychiatrist, as well as a re-entry meeting with the School Principal and School Counselor is required before a student is granted permission to continue classes.

LIMIT OF SERVICES AND COMMUNITY REFERRALS

Professional School Counselors holding Master’s level credentials in School Counseling are formally trained to assist students with concerns in academic, social and career areas. Although school counselors have been trained in various counseling techniques, school counselors are not capable to provide psychological or medical diagnoses. A formal diagnosis may be obtained by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist or medical physician.

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