Message from the Principal

Smiles, laughter, engaged students, involved families, and a welcoming community are some of the highlights that one experiences while walking around ISO.

“WE PLAY TO HAVE FUN”

&

“PEOPLE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY GAME”

are two core Elementary Beliefs.

Along with this way of thinking, two rules for the playground are as follow:

Rule #1: If anyone gets hurt, whoever is the closest to that person should stop and help him or her until he or she is ready to play again.

Rule #2: If two people have an argument or disagreement during a game, they must leave the game until they can agree on a solution that is safe, fair, and will work for both people. The students solve their problem using S.O.S. (Story, Options, Solution).

Education is one of the most important gifts that you can give to your child! A successful parent-teacher partnership shows a child that an entire team of adults is on his/her side, and we will all learn to excel together!

Angel Prince
ISO Elementary Principal

Curriculum

The ISO Elementary School focuses on the total development of each child and provides many opportunities for personal and academic growth in a nurturing, structured environment. The program of studies holds each individual to high expectations.

Literacy learning begins in infancy and children have many experiences with oral and written language before they come to school. Pre-Kindergarten (pre-K or preschool) builds on what the child already knows about oral language, reading and writing. Activities allow for experimentation with talking, listening, writing, and reading. All of this is done through a climate of trust and partnership between teacher and parents.

Mainstream, multi-aged classroom learning in the core subjects (Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and French) is thematically integrated with required specialist classes in Library Media, Art, Music, and Information Technology. The Physical Education program is co-educational. All students participating in our Library Media, Art, Music, Physical Education, Information Technology, and Foreign Language programs are taught by teachers who are specialists in these areas of instruction. There is also a year long after-school activity program where students can partake in a wide-range of experiences.

The philosophy of ISO’s Pre-Kindergarten and Elementary School Program is to provide the best possible course of study to the individual student through programs that are flexible yet challenging In all grades there is an emphasis on an integrated approach to learning via thematic study, simulations, cross-grade activities, and field trips. The program of study is aimed at teaching the whole child – the child as a learner and the child as a social being; therefore, a variety of teaching techniques is used to develop the social and academic growth of our students, from mastery of basic skills to beyond. The Language Arts curriculum is tailored to each student through individualized reading programs, as well as a writer’s workshop methodology. Math is taught with a balance between an investigative, problem-solving approach and a more traditional textbook approach. A hands-on approach is used in Science, challenging each student to investigate natural phenomena, all the while having the opportunity to work with a range of materials in real life and relevant contexts. The signature of American education is the inclusion of a fully resourced library/media center and its accompanying curricular integration. Developing information literacy and research skills and promoting recognized and award-winning children’s and young adult literature drives the library/media center curriculum.

Transition Program: “Move to the Middle”

In recognition of the fact that the transition from the self-contained Elementary classroom to the departmentalized secondary school classroom can cause students anxiety, ISO has developed a transitional program for “rising” sixth-graders. This program, called “Move to the Middle”, is held in May of the student’s fifth grade year. Fifth grade students are assigned a Middle School “buddy,” whom they accompany to Middle School classes. Discussion sessions are scheduled to give fifth graders and their parents an opportunity to ask the Middle School faculty and administration questions pertaining to their expectations, workloads, schedules, activities, and any other concerns.