offers an American curriculum following Virginia Standards of Learning. The core classes include Language Arts (reading, writing, speaking, listening and words study skills), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. We also offer students French as a second language starting from KG1. Our educational program is enriched further with classes of Information Technology, Art, Music, Drama and Physical Education. Arabic and Religion classes start KG1, and Arabic Social Studies starts in Grade 4.
The curriculum is enhanced by field trips into the local community. Trips at all grade levels focus on various aspects of our curriculum and take advantage of the diverse and rich cultural and historical opportunities present in Egypt
At GHIS we recognize that the language environment strongly influences the quality of every child’s linguistic development.
We provide an English language program that aims at developing students’ literacy skills and encourages students to increase their vocabularies while infusing reading and writing into their everyday lives. This is achieved through a balanced literacy program that incorporates whole class mini-lessons, guided reading groups, literature circles, conferring, shared and partner reading and independent reading through a literacy workshop based approach. In the Writers’ Workshops, all students are engaged in daily writing experiences, ranging from the very emergent writing forms in Pre-K and KG, to more developed ranges of written expression in grades one to six.
The elementary math curriculum is inquiry-based and focuses on rich problem solving. It is specially designed to match the European standards, national standards, and Virginia Standard Of Learning. Students engage in in-depth hands-on investigations in the areas of: number sense, computation and estimation, geometry, measurement, problem solving, patterns, functions, and algebra, statistics, data analysis and probability.
Students work collaboratively to construct mathematical understandings and extend their learning based on their individual abilities and needs. A strong emphasis is based on communicating understandings and sharing strategies with others.
At GHIS our science department has adopted the latest trend in science education. We have embraced the STEAM educational approach of learning that encourages integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. This is a curriculum that provides an access point for guiding students’ inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
Our social studies program is indeed one of the most enjoyable subjects that our students can learn from in school. Delighting and engaging students with a variety of ways to learn, the social studies curriculum is closely aligned to Virginia Standard Of Learning.
All social studies topics are explored and taught through an inquiry based approach; whereby students are involved in constructing knowledge by engaging in hands-on experiences and making connections between new learning experiences and prior knowledge. The curriculum enables students to be critically thoughtful and informed citizens while communicating their ideas and posing questions about the significant developments, issues and events. The constant reference to current events and 21st century themes and skills help students relate the topics covered to what is happening around them.
Technology at our school is integrated thoughtfully into teaching and learning as a way to improve student achievement and enhance learning.
We utilize various technological approaches in all core subjects that enables us to reach out and cater to all students’ needs. Teachers use professional content, resources, and systems to help them improve their own instruction and personalize learning both in a computer lab setting and through individual student laptops.
Choir concerts, drama and fine art, to name a few, highlight the unique specialist program we have in place. Music, Art, and P.E. are taught by a team of specialized teachers, in resource rich environments, which include art rooms, a gymnasium, and a music room. Furthermore, a Learning Support Program serves students who would benefit from additional instructional support, to better enable them to cope with the demands of the academic program. Though the school offers additional instructional support, it is important to realize that the school does not offer a special education program.
All elementary students starting with KG, receive world language instruction in French. A strong program is used to develop students’ listening, speaking and writing skills. Songs and plays are used to encourage students to practice the language and develop near- native accents. Technology is also integrated in the curriculum through online songs, interactive websites and worksheets that are uploaded on the classroom Moodle weekly.
In Green Heights International School, we base our evaluation on the students’ whole year performance. Students receive a trimester report card that clearly shows the ratio of the mark assigned for each criterion and an average of all subjects is calculated to get the final GPA. Assessment criteria cover: subject matter mastery, attendance; behavior, participation, quizzes, project and homework delivery. In assessing the quality of a student’s academic efforts, the faculty of GHIS objectively considers various aspects of the student’s work: the quality and quantity of the work; the interpretation and application evident in the student’s trimester projects in all core subjects; the originality, initiative, and reasoning manifested; and the student’s active participation in the class.
| Percentage | Letter Grade | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| 100 – 98 | A+ | |
| 97 – 93 | A | Superior |
| 92 – 90 | A- | |
| 89 – 87 | B+ | |
| 86 – 83 | B | Above Average |
| 82 – 80 | B- | |
| 79 – 77 | C+ | |
| 76 – 73 | C | Average |
| 72 – 70 | C- | |
| 69 – 67 | D+ | |
| 66 – 63 | D | Below Average |
| 62 – 60 | D- | |
| Ungraded | F | Failing (No Credit) |
This online learning management system gives parents and students online access to the detailed grades of all subjects, giving them the opportunity to follow up on their child’s academic achievements and behavior status at school. Teachers post weekly assignments and project tasks. Behavior, participation, quiz and exam marks are displayed as information for parents and students to view weekly. It is particularly effective for establishing daily grade communication between students, parents, and teachers. Parents and students should regularly check their son/daughter’s learning progress on Classera .
Parent/Teacher assembly (PTA) are held at the end of every trimester. Prior to these scheduled conferences, academically low achieving students receive a follow up report, notifying parents about the areas of concern. During these conferences, teachers report student achievement in each subject area highlighting areas of strength as well as areas in need of improvement.
At the end of every term, the academic advisor will review the academic performance of all elementary students. Students who are not meeting minimum standards of performance and who receive several F letter grades on their report card, will be placed on Academic Probation/ Conditional Status.
Green Heights International School was founded as an extension to Green Heights Language School which gained an outstanding reputation since its establishment in 1998 at the start of the new millennium.
