School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht

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School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
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School Guide
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2020-2021
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
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Content
Introduction to the ISUtrecht       3    Home Language                       23   General Academic Information               47
Mission Statement                   4    Host country language and culture   23   Primary Reporting                          48
                                                                                  Secondary Reporting                        48
International Baccalaureate          5   Administration                      24   Academic Honesty                           49
IB Mission Statement                6    School Locations                    25
IB Learner Profile                  6    Change of Contact Details           25   General Information                        50
                                         Payment Details                     25   School Premises                            50
Dutch International Schools         8    School Holidays                     26   Student Expectations and Code of
Governance                          9    School Times and Timetables         27   Conduct                                     51
                                                                                  Admissions                                 52
Curriculum                          10   Staff Information                   28   Childcare                                  53
Primary Years Programme             11   School Leadership                   29   Activities                                 53
PYP Assessment                      11   Support Staff                       30   Attendance                                 54
Middle Years Programme              12   Primary Classroom Teachers and           Health Screen Checks                        55
MYP Assessment                      14   Teaching Assistants                 31   Excursions and Insurance                   56
Personal Project                    15   Primary Specialist Teachers         33   Official Complaints Procedure              56
Diploma Programme                   16   Secondary Teachers (MYP & DP)       35
Core Component                      17   Mentors (MYP & DP                   39   The ISUtrecht Community                    58
Assessment in the DP                19   Special Roles                       41   Student Council                            59
                                                                                  Parent Support Group                       59
Language Learning                   21   Student Support                     44   Division Council                           59
Multilingualism and international        Social welness                      45
mindedness                          22

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                               International School Utrecht
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
Introduction
1	x
to the
xxx

ISUtrecht
ISUtrecht is an International Baccalaureate
World School, teaching the IB Primary Years
Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme
(MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP).
The school has an enrollment of 1000 students
aged 4-18 representing over 45 nationalities.
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
Introduction to the ISUtrecht                                                                                                   4

      ‘A community learning                                     We communicate across cultures, using music to form
       for world citizenship’                                   strong bonds. That is why we offer an exciting music
                                                                programme accessible to all students and connected
The International School Utrecht is an IB World School,         to the rich music tradition of the city of Utrecht.
offering a complete and connected International Baccalaureate
programme for students from 4-18 from diverse international     We give special attention to the physical and social
backgrounds. We continuously strive for academic excellence     environment we learn and work in. We value and care
in the delivery of this programme. Our mission statement        for the natural world and model responsible behaviour.
consists of four equally important pillars.                     Our learning environment is one in which every person
                                                                can express themselves safely and freely.

   We are a close-knit and welcoming community of               We use technology in an innovative and sensible way
   students, staff and parents. We all approach life from a     to enhance our teaching and learning. We equally
   different culture and background and with the languages      appreciate the value of sensory and tactile experiences.
   we know. We find each other in our common goal:              We approach the virtual and real world as one, behaving
   to create a stimulating learning environment in which        consistently as we are moving from one to the other.
   everyone feels at home. We strive to be culturally
   competent; we are grounded in our own cultures,              We are a community of life-long learners.
   yet curious about others.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                 International School Utrecht
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
International
1	x
Baccalaureate
xxx

The IB offers an eduation for students from
age 3 to 19, comprising of 4 programmes that
focus on teaching students to think critically and
independently, and how to inquire with care
and logic.

The IB prepares students to succeed in a world
where facts and fiction merge in the news, and
where asking the right questions is a crucial skill
that will allow them to flourish long after they’ve
left our programmes.

We are supported by IB teachers and
coordinators who develop and promote the
IB’s curriculums in almost 5,000 schools globally
every day, in over 150 countries around the
world. (www.ibo.org).
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
International Baccalaureate                                                                                                          6

IB Mission Statement                                             IB Learner Profile
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring,       Central to the IB programmes is the learner profile, which
knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create         includes ten positive characteristics that will support students
a better and more peaceful world through intercultural           in being successful both during and beyond their school
understanding and respect. To this end, the organisation works   careers.
with schools, governments and international organisations to
develop challenging programmes of international education and    The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally
rigorous assessment.                                             minded people who, recognising their common humanity and
                                                                 shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and
These programmes encourage students across the world             more peaceful world.
to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who
understand that other people, with their differences, can also   IB learners strive to be:
be right.
                                                                    Inquirers
For more information about the IB programmes, please view           We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and
the IB Parent Page.                                                 research. We know how to learn independently and with
                                                                    others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of
                                                                    learning throughout live.

                                                                    Knowledgeable
                                                                    We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring
                                                                    knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with
                                                                    issues and ideas that have local and global significance.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                      International School Utrecht
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
International Baccalaureate                                                                                                         7

   Thinkers                                                        Caring
   We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and     We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have
   take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise        a commitment to service, and act to make a positive
   initiative in making reasons, ethical decisions.                difference to the lives of others and in the world around us.

   Communicators                                                   Risk-takers
   We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more         We approach uncertainty with forethought and
   than one language and in many ways. We collaborate              determination; we work independently and cooperatively
   effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other   to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are
   individuals and groups.                                         resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and
                                                                   change.
   Principled
   We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of       Balanced
   fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and      We understand the importance of balancing different
   rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our     aspects of our lives – intellectual, physical and emotional
   actions and their consequences.                                 – to achieve well-being for others and ourselves. We
                                                                   recognize our interdependence with other people and with
   Open-minded                                                     the world in which we live.
   We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal
   histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We   Reflective
   seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and are willing    We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas
   to grow from the experience.                                    and experience. We work to understand our strengths and
                                                                   weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal
                                                                   development.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                     International School Utrecht
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
Dutch
1	x
International
xxx

Schools
The Dutch International Schools (DIS) are a group of
schools providing internationally oriented education
in the Netherlands, thus serving the needs of the
international community. The group consists of
primary and secondary schools and, as a network,
cooperates in many areas, in particular quality
management and professional development of staff.
DIS schools are a Dutch government initiative that
was established to offer state financed educational
provision to help meet the needs of the expatriate
community. The subsidy allows the schools to
offer high quality international education at
competitive fees.
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
1	x
Governance
xxx
ISUtrecht is governed by two cooperating local school boards:

SPO Utrecht (Stichting Openbaar Primair Onderwijs Utrecht) and NUOVO
(Stichting Openbaar Voortgezet Onderwijs Utrecht). SPO Utrecht is
the board for 38 non-denominational primary schools in Utrecht and
NUOVO is the board for 14 non-denominational secondary schools in and
around Utrecht. The SPO Utrecht and NUOVO work together closely in
carrying out their board responsibilities for the two divisions of ISUtrecht.
ISUtrecht is partly state funded and is accountable to the Dutch Ministry
of Education regarding the quality and provision of its educational
programmes.

Members of the Dutch International Schools are all affiliated to a national
school. Through the school boards ISUtrecht is affiliated with the Dalton
School Rijnsweerd, a Dutch primary school governed by the SPO Utrecht,
and UniC, a Dutch secondary school governed by NUOVO.
School Guide 2020-2021 - International School Utrecht
1	x
Curriculum
xxx International Baccalaureate provides the
The
framework of the curriculum at International
School Utrecht. The school offers the IB
Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years
Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme
(DP).
Curriculum                                                                                                                          11

Primary Years Programme                                             Inquiry based learning
                                                                    We encourage students to investigate their own questions,
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme             which come up while exploring traditional academic subjects.
(PYP), designed for students aged 4-11 develops internationally     Through this exploration they construct new knowledge
minded students. At ISUtrecht we encourage students to              through discussion and research and transfer these ideas
become life-long learners and equip them with the academic          to a conceptual level of understanding by approaching the
and life skills to enable them to actively choose to be world       subject areas in multi- or interdisciplinary lessons under
citizens.                                                           transdisciplinary themes. This way we emphasise the
                                                                    interrelatedness of knowledge and skills.Teachers from IB
Learner Profile                                                     schools in various parts of the world explain the PYP in this
The PYP places the student at the center of everything we do.       great film.
Building on their own background knowledge and experiences
we endeavour to develop internationally-minded students, by,
among other approaches, modeling and raising awareness of           PYP Assessment
the learner profile attributes: inquirer, knowledgeable, thinker,
communicator, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-taker and       Assessment is integral to all teaching and learning. Assessment
balanced These attributes are a set of ideals, which aim to         at ISUtrecht identifies what students know, understand, can
promote intercultural understanding.                                do and value at different stages in the teaching and learning
                                                                    process. Assessing the process, and not only the result of
                                                                    inquiry, is important.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                       International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                           12

Assessment is constant and consistent. It informs our teaching      •	Autumn, parent teacher meeting, teachers give parents a
and therefore drives the learning experiences on a day-to-day        progress update
basis. We use both formal and informal assessments, and both        •	Winter, mid-year report, reporting against criteria and
take place regularly. At ISUtrecht educators and students are        providing written comments
involved in and use assessment to promote learning. Teachers        •	Spring, parent teacher meeting, teachers give parents a
are responsible for the more formal assessments, but students        progress update
are also expected to take an active role in this important aspect   • Summer, final report, reporting against criteria, providing a
of their education.                                                  written comment

Assessment Strategies                                               Please also view the Assessment Policy, Academic Honesty
At ISUtrecht we use various strategies to assess our students’      policy and Promotion Criteria.
progress. Some of these strategies are:
• Observations
• Performances Oral presentation, experiment, skill, model,
 debate, role-play, drama                                           Middle Years Programme
• Process-focused tasks Conversations, conference, interviews,
 learning logs                                                      The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme
• Selected response tasks Tests and quizzes                         (MYP), designed for students aged 11 – 16 provides students
• Open-ended tasks Brief written answers, illustrations, charts,    with a framework of learning that encourages students
 diagrams, solutions                                                to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers. The
                                                                    Programme encourages students to make meaningful
Student Progress                                                    connections between their learning and the world outside
Students’ progress will be reported four times per year, as         the classroom.
follows:

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                        International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                             13

The MYP challenges the students academically and develops             Approaches To Learning
their ability to ‘think outside of the box’, preparing them for the   The focus of Approaches to Learning is on helping students to
Diploma Programme and ultimately university placement. IB             develop the self-knowledge and skills they need to enjoy a lifetime
students and teachers from schools all over the world explain         of learning. At ISUtrecht we teach our students practical and self-
the MYP in this great film.                                           knowledge skills, which will help them with the challenges posed
                                                                      by the IB MYP as well as the Diploma Programme and higher
Programme Concepts                                                    education.
The MYP fosters the development of skills for communication,
intercultural understanding and global engagement. That’s             Service As Action
why the MYP is underpinned by the following concepts: Global          Every school around the world that teaches the MYP expects
Contexts, Approaches To Learning and Service As Action.               its students to become involved with their communities – an
                                                                      involvement that benefits both parties. Action is learning by
Global Contexts                                                       doing and experiencing. Service is part of action and it is where
Using global contexts, MYP students develop an understanding          IB learners strive to be caring members of the local and global
of their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet.       community, by demonstrating personal commitment to services
Everything they learn is linked to one or more of the following       that make a difference to the lives of others and the environment.
global contexts:                                                      Academic and behavioral expectations for students can be found
•	identities and relationships                                       in the secondary student guide.
• personal and cultural expression
• orientations in space and time
• scientific and technical innovation
• fairness and development
• globalization and sustainability

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                          International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                                14

At the International School Utrecht MYP students study the              • development of attitudes
following subject areas:                                                • decision to take action

At the International School Utrecht MYP students study the              Both students and teachers should be actively engaged
following subject areas: Language and Literature, Language              in assessing the students’ progress, in both formative and
Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts     summative formats, as to develop wider critical thinking and self-
and Design. For more detailed information, please view                  evaluation skills.
the ISUtrecht MYP subject areas document, which includes the IB
Subject briefs.                                                         The aims of assessment are to promote student centred learning,
                                                                        to provide information about individual student learning, tracking
                                                                        student progress, and to contribute to the evaluation of the
MYP Assessment                                                          effectiveness of the programme.

ISUtrecht believes the true purpose of assessment is to guide the       Subject-specific criteria for evaluating students
planning and instruction to support and enhance student learning,       All teachers are responsible for providing and teaching the criteria
rather than to simply generate a grade.                                 to their students. The criteria are made visible throughout all
                                                                        tasks. Teachers review the criteria with students, so they can
Assessment is integral to all teaching and learning. It is central to   achieve the score they want and understand why they received a
the goal of thoughtfully and effectively guiding students through       certain score. In addition to this, examples on what the students
the five essential elements of learning:                                need to do to improve are provided.
• acquisition of knowledge
• understanding of concepts                                             All subjects should assess against each objective at least twice
• mastering of skills                                                   in a school year to provide appropriate feedback on the reports.
                                                                        There are two terms per school year.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                             International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                                   15

Formative and summative Assessments                                     • July: Final report, reporting against all criteria, providing a final
Both formative and summative assessments have a place in                 grade for the year and written comments
the MYP. Formative assessments provide information to the                Please note that MYP students will participate in student-led
teachers and students to modify teaching and learning activities.        conferences in June.
Summative assessments summarise the development of the
learner. All assessments should be marked against the criteria.         Midterm and Final Assessments
                                                                        Midterm and final assessments will be given in the MYP.
eAssessment                                                             The rationale for giving the assessments is to make the
In line with the other Dutch International Schools, the ISUtrecht       students accountable for the content and skills taught during
offers IB MYP external eAssessments in a number of subjects.            the school year, teaching them study skills for large amounts
Students will receive an internationally recognised IB MYP              of content, which will prepare them for the MYP and DP
certificate in May 2021.                                                summative assessments.

Reporting Progress of Students                                          Please also view the Assessment policy, Academic Honesty Policy
Students’ progress will be reported five times per year, as             and Promotion Criteria.
follows:
• November: Progress report, reporting a predicted final grade
 and written comments, followed by parent, mentor, student
 meetings                                                               Personal Project
• January: Mid-term report, reporting against all criteria, providing
 a final grade for the term and written comments                        The personal project is a culminating Middle Years Programme
• February: Parent subject teacher student meetings                     (MYP) project to develop the student’s personal interest and
• April: progress report, reporting a predicted final grade and         to show and apply the skills, which are developed through the
 written comments                                                       MYP’s Approaches to Learning. This project is based on the

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                                International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                              16

student’s interests and talents, resulting in a product or outcome.    Diploma Programme
The project is a year-long project, which begins in April of grade 9
and ends in grade 10.                                                  The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) is
                                                                       designed for students aged 16-18. It is a unique curriculum,
The personal project has a principled action, which means the          not based on the pattern of a single country, but a deliberate
students make choices that extend beyond their MYP learning.           compromise between the specialisation required in some national
                                                                       systems and the breadth of learning preferred in others.
Principled action includes:
• Developing an area of personal interest beyond the normal            In achieving this, students who successfully complete the
 subjects                                                              IB Diploma Programme demonstrate a strong commitment to
• Sharing new information and understanding with teachers,             learning, both in terms of their mastering of a range of subjects
 friends & family                                                      and in their development of skills and disciplines necessary for
• Changing the students’ behaviours in response to their               success in our competitive, global world. Students and educators
 learning and realising they can make a difference through the         from IB schools around the globe, explain the DP in this great film.
 decisions they make and the things they do
• The process of reflection in which students reflect regularly        The IB Diploma enjoys a high level of respect and recognition
 and record what they learned and how this has impacted                among the world’s higher education institutions. For students,
 their attitudes, behaviours, questions, actions and decisions         success in the IB often results in advanced standing, course credit,
                                                                       scholarships, and other admissions related benefits at many
For more information, please view the Personal Project Guide.          universities.

                                                                       Diploma candidates are required to select six subjects from a
                                                                       broad spectrum of learning incorporating the humanities and

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                           International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                                  17

sciences. Three of these subjects are taken at Higher Level, the        opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge,
others at Standard Level. By arranging subject learning in this         and on how we know what we claim to know. – IB Diploma
way, students are able to explore some subjects in depth and            Programme Theory of Knowledge guide.
some subjects more broadly over a two-year period. You can find
the subjects offered at the ISUtrecht here.                             ToK is an interdisciplinary course taught by a specialist teacher,
                                                                        designed to develop an appreciation of other academic studies
Please ensure you familiarise yourself with the General                 and cultural perspectives. ToK encourages critical thinking with a
Regulations for IB Diploma students.                                    focus on knowledge questions such as:
                                                                        • What counts as knowledge?
                                                                        • How does knowledge grow?
Core Component                                                          • What are its limits?
                                                                        • Who owns knowledge?
In addition to subjects chosen, IB Diploma students also                • What is the value of knowledge?
undertake a core component, consisting of three courses. All of
these courses must be successfully completed to be awarded              Assessment of the course consists of an essay and a presentation.
the Diploma. Each component is designed to help develop skills          The emphasis of this presentation is on demonstrating an
students will require for study at university. Each component has       understanding of knowledge at work in the world.
a very specific set of criteria to be met, the detail of which can be
found below.                                                            Extended Essay
                                                                        The extended essay is an in-depth study of a focused topic
Theory of Knowledge (ToK)                                               chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects
Theory of knowledge (ToK) plays a special role in the International     and one of the student’s six chosen subjects for the IB Diploma.
Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP), by providing an             It is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills,

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                             International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                             18

intellectual discovery and creativity. It provides students with an   with the Theory of Knowledge for up to 3 additional points
opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own    towards the IB Diploma.
choice, under the guidance of a supervisor. – IB DP subject guide
for the Extended Essay                                                Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)

The Extended Essay is an extended piece of writing of no more          ...if you believe in something, you must not just think or talk or
than 4000 words. This research-based piece is one of the               write, but must act.
elements of the IB Diploma that makes it so valuable to college        – Peterson 2003
and university admissions because it prepares students for the
kind of independent research, thinking, writing and presentation      CAS represents the core values of the Diploma Programme
skills that are expected at higher education institutions.            enabling students to demonstrate key traits of the IB learner
The Extended Essay builds on skills developed within the MYP          profile in a more practical way. The CAS programme consists of
Personal Project but is a much more formal academic piece of          three strands:
research.                                                             • Creativity exploring and extending ideas, which leads to an
                                                                       original or interpretive product or performance
At ISUtrecht the Extended Essay involves researched ideas             • Activity physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle
and proposals honed into specific and answerable questions,           • Service collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the
developed by the student with guidance from a chosen                   community in response to an authentic need
supervisor. Sessions are given in research, resource utilisation,
and in academic writing. A draft is written over the summer           As a holistic approach, CAS aims to provide opportunities for
vacation at the end of DP1 (grade 11) and the final essay             self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment but most
submitted for external assessment early in DP2 (grade 12). The        of all enjoyment. Students will develop skills through a variety
essay is awarded a grade from A – E and is combined on a grid         of individual and group experiences whilst at the same time

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                           International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                                                             19

allowing them to explore areas of interest or develop passions,     Assessment is integral to all teaching and learning. It is central to
personalities and perspectives.                                     the goal of thoughtfully and effectively guiding students through
                                                                    the five essential elements of learning:
CAS experiences are unique to the student since everyone begins     • acquisition of knowledge
the journey from a different starting point and all learners are    • understanding of concepts
different. For many learners, CAS can be life-changing and we       • mastering of skills
hope this will be the case for our students too. By providing a     • development of attitudes
supportive framework of stages on which to develop a portfolio      • decision to take action
of evidence, students are able to track learning outcomes and
therefore progression over the time of the course. Students will    Both students and teachers should be actively engaged
undertake a month-long project, take part in formal interviews      in assessing the students’ progress, in both formative and
with their advisor and complete reflections throughout the          summative formats, as to develop wider critical thinking and self-
process. Students need to demonstrate that they have met each       evaluation skills.
of the 7 learning outcomes to successfully complete the course.
                                                                    The aims of assessment are to promote student centred learning,
For more information, please view the core requirements by the      to provide information about individual student learning, tracking
International Baccalaureate Organisation.                           student progress, and to contribute to the evaluation of the
                                                                    effectiveness of the programme.

Assessment in the DP                                                Subject-specific criteria for evaluating students
                                                                    All teachers are responsible for providing and teaching the criteria
ISUtrecht believes the true purpose of assessment is to guide the   to their students. The criteria are made visible throughout all
planning and instruction to support and enhance student learning,   tasks. Teachers review the criteria with students, so they can
rather than to simply generate a grade.                             achieve the score they want and understand why they received a

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                          International School Utrecht
Curriculum                                                                                      20

certain score. In addition to this, examples on what the students
need to do to improve are provided. All subjects should assess
against each objective at least twice in a school year to provide
appropriate feedback on the reports. There are two terms per
school year.

Reporting Progress of Students
Students’ progress will be reported five times per year, as
follows:
• November: Progress report, reporting a predicted final grade
 and written comments, followed by parent, mentor, student
 meetings
• January: Mid-term report, reporting against all criteria, providing
 a final grade for the term and written comments
• February: Parent subject teacher student meetings
• April: progress report, reporting a predicted final grade and
 written comments
• July: Final report, reporting against all criteria, providing a final
 grade for the year and written comments

Please also view the assessment policy, academic honesty policy
and promotion criteria.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                    International School Utrecht
Language
Learning
Curriculum                                                                                                                             22

At ISUtrecht all teachers are considered language teachers – with    Multilingualism and
a special responsibility to recognise and support each and every
aspect of language learning. This involves learning a language,
                                                                     international mindedness
learning about a language, and learning through languages. It also   We pride ourselves on being a unique body of learners: our
encompasses using language as a tool to think, discuss and reflect   students come from diverse language backgrounds bringing with
on information, ideas                                                them rich cultural resources. Although English is our language of
                                                                     instruction, we endeavour to work in and through languages with
Language at ISUtrecht is arranged into three main strands:           which students are comfortable, in order for them to access the
• Oral communications listening and speaking – for language          curriculum.
 development, for learning and for relating to others
• Written communication reading and writing – for enjoyment,
 instruction, and information                                        English Language Acquisition
• Visual communication viewing and presenting – for
 conveying ideas, values and beliefs through the interaction of      English is the academic language at ISUtrecht. All classes
 image and language                                                  other than language acquisition classes, are taught in English.
                                                                     English Language Acquisition (ELA) students will take part in an
All these aspects of language are integrated into the various        immersion programme. This means ELA students are challenged
areas of the curriculum. While the language strands can be taught    academically in the same curriculum as their peers.
separately, they are also interrelated and interactive.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                          International School Utrecht
Language Learning                                                                                                                     23

Home Language                                                        mindedness. Although reading and writing of Dutch is taught
                                                                     throughout the year, the emphasis is on conversational skills.
ISUtrecht is a multi-lingual community and we embrace our            DULA is designed to enable students to develop communicative
cultural and linguistic diversity. We celebrate the variety of       competence in their host country language. Our intention is that
languages spoken and encourage families to maintain and enrich       students will develop fluency alongside a life-long interest and
their home language(s).                                              ability to learn new languages. During the school year students
                                                                     learn about Dutch habits and customs and they also join in with
                                                                     some of the Dutch celebrations.
Host country language and
culture                                                              For more information about primary language learning, please
We believe that acquisition of more than one language enriches       view the ISUtrecht website.
intellectual and personal growth and nurtures international
mindedness. ISUtrecht provides the opportunity for all primary       For more information about secondary language learning, please
students to learn an additional language – Dutch. The Dutch          view the ISUtrecht website.
Language Acquisition (DULA) programme aims for students to be
able to communicate in Dutch with confidence and functionality       For more in-depth information, please view the ISUtrecht
and participate in Dutch culture.                                    Language Policy.

Our students learn Dutch in a supportive and engaging
environment. They are encouraged to listen and speak as much as
possible. They develop confidence as they learn through games,
songs and activities designed to capitalise on their natural open-

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                         International School Utrecht
Administration
Administration                                                                                                        25

School Locations                                                                Payment Details
Main building and school office:   Contact the School                           IBAN: NL55 RABO 0184 5964 67
Van Bijnkershoeklaan 8             +31 (0)30 8700400                            BIC: RABONL2U
3527 XL Utrecht                    info@ISUtrecht.nl                            For more information please read
                                   www.isutrecht.nl                             the ISUtrecht Standard Terms and
                                                                                Conditions 2020-2021
                                   Change of Contact Details
                                   You will be asked at least twice a year to
                                   update your contact details via a special
                                   link. It is very important that should any
                                   changes take place in the meantime you
                                   send an email to info@isutrecht.nl. We
                                   will update your records accordingly.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                          International School Utrecht
Administration                                                                                                                                 26

School Holidays
                                                                                  The following days are professional development days for staff.
     First Day of Term Tuesday 1 September                                        On these dates there will be no school for primary students:
     Autumn Break 19-23 October
     Winter Break 17 December – 1 January                                             Thursday 8 October
     Spring Break 22-26 February                                                      Friday 13 November
     Easter Weekend 2-5 April                                                         Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 December
     May Break 26 April – 7 May                                                       Monday 1 March
     Ascension/Hemelvaart 13 - 14 May                                                 Tuesday 25 May
     Whitsun/Pinksteren 24 May                                                        Wednesday 23 June
     Summer Holiday 16 July – 31 August (primary), or 19                             Wednesday 30 June
                           July – 31 August (secondary)
                                                                                  The following days are professional development days for staff.
                                                                                  On these dates there will be no school for secondary students:

                                                                                      Thursday 8 October
                                                                                      Friday 13 November
                                                                                      Monday 14 - Wednesday 16 December
                                                                                      Monday 1 March
Please note that the school cannot permit students to take holidays outside           Tuesday 25 May
the official school holidays. Attendance records are a legal requirement, which
                                                                                      Thursday 8 July
may be assessed by statutory bodies.
                                                                                      Monday 12 July

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                                   International School Utrecht
Administration                                                                      27

School Times and Timetables
Primary School Day

    Monday         8:30 – 15:00
    Tuesday        8:30 – 15:00
    Wednesday      8:30 – 12:15
    Thursday       8:30 – 14:30
    Friday         8:30 – 14:30

Secondary Timetables
Please find links to the the class timetables (grades 6-12)

School Guide 2019-2020                                        International School Utrecht
Staff
Information
Staff Information                                                                                                                            29

School Leadership
Leader of Primary Years                          Leader of Middle Years                           Leader of Diploma Years
Responsible for the day-to-day delivery          Responsible for the day-to-day delivery          Responsible for the day-to-day delivery of
of the Primary Years Programme (PYP),            of the Middle Years Programme (MYP),             the Diploma Programme (DP), developing
developing understanding of PYP ethos and developing understanding of MYP ethos                   the understanding of the DP ethos and
the IB Learner Profile. Liaising with the IB.    and the IB Learner Profile. Liaising with the    the IB learner profile. Liaising with the IB.
                                                 IB. Guiding and monitoring course selection      Guiding and monitoring course selection
                                                 and progress towards the successful              and progress towards the successful
                                                 completion of the MYP.                           completion of the DP.

 Name                                     Role                        Email
 Rynette de Villiers                      Head of School              r.devilliers@isutrecht.nl
 Kate Corder                              Deputy Head of School       kate.corder@isutrecht.nl
 Edith van der Linden                     Deputy Head of School       edith.vanderllinden@isutrecht.nl
 Eryn Wiseman                             Leader of Primary Years     eryn.wiseman@isutrecht.nl
 Liam Moody                               Leader of Middle Years      liam.moody@isutrecht.nl
 Olivia Ayes                              Leader of Diploma Years     olivia.ayes@isutrecht.nl
 Kostis Papadopoulos                      Leader of IT systems        kostis.papadopoulos@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                                 International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                 30

Support Staff
 Name                    Job Title                      Email
 Anna Jackson            Admissions                     admissions@isutrecht.nl
 Erin Vencken            Admissions                     admissions@isutrecht.nl
 Christian But           Caretaker                      caretakers@isutrecht.nl
 Louis de Bruijn         Caretaker                      caretakers@isutrecht.nl
 Jorrit Riphagen         Caretaker                      caretakers@isutrecht.nl
 Ingrid Schmoutziguer    Communications                 ingrid.schmoutziguer@isutrecht.nl
 Sylvia Van Nisius       Finance/Projects-HR            finance@isutrecht.nl
 Samantha Bosma          Finance                        finance@isutrecht.nl
 Lois Levett             Front desk, Travel, Orders     info@isutrecht.nl
 Liesl Little            Front desk, ASA’s, Year book   info@isutrecht.nl
 Mirjam Schmidt          Front desk, Events             info@isutrecht.nl
 Marianne Lauritzen      IT support                     marianne.lauritzen@isutrecht.nl
 Eleanor Good            Media Resources                eleanor.good@isutrecht.nl
 Noa Hilevitz            Media Resources                noa.hilevitz@isutrecht.nl
 Ana Yao                 Media Resources                ana.yao@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                      International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                      31

Primary Classroom Teachers and Teaching Assistants

 Name                    Class                                Email
 Raakhee Ramaiya         KG Blue                              raakhee.ramaija@isutrecht.nl
 Nicolene Gelderman      KG Blue                              nicolene.gelderman@isutrecht.nl
 Oliver Allport          KG Green                             oliver.allport@isutrecht.nl
 Dana Hill               KG Orange                            dana.hill@isutrecht.nl
 Elvira Oskam            KG Orange                            elvira.oskam@isutrecht.nl
 Charlotte Smith         KG Purple                            charlotte.smith@isutrecht.nl
 Lourine Ikink-Karanja   KG Red                               lourine.ikink@isutrecht.nl
 Anne Brandwagt          KG Red                               anne.brandwagt@isutrecht.nl
 Brandi Brittain         Early Years coordinator, KG Yellow   brandi.britttain@isutrecht.nl
 Nicolene Gelderman      KG Yellow                            nicolene.gelderman@isutrecht.nl
 Annika Doornenbal       KG White                             annika.doornenbal@isutrecht.nl
 Ronika Raju             1 Blue                               ronika.raju@isutrecht.nl
 Remy Sainte-Rose        1 Orange                             remy.sainterose@isutrecht.nl
 Maria Ballester         1 Red                                maria.ballester@isutrecht.nl
 Kelsey Middleton        1 White                              kelsey.middleton@isutrecht.nl
 Lindsey Dudgeon         2 Blue                               lindsey.dudgeon@isutrecht.nl
 Charlene Anom           2 Blue                               charlene.anom@isutrecht.nl
 Oana Dobarcianu         2 Orange                             oana.dobarcianu@isutrecht.nl
 Carren Ward             2 Orange                             carren.ward@isutrecht.nl
 Gemma Manson            2 Red                                gemma.manson@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                          International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                    32

 Kiah Fardell            2 White                           kiah.fardell@isutrecht.nl
 Brian Lynam             3 Blue                            brian.lynam@isutrecht.nl
 Tayla Webb              3 Orange                          tayla.webb@isutrecht.nl
 Megan Tregoning         3 Red                             megan.tregoning@isutrecht.nl
 Debbie Hazlett          Grades 2-3 coordinator, 3 White   debbie.hazlett@isutrecht.nl
 Sherna Fester           3 White                           sherna.fester@isutrecht.nl
 Wychman Dijkstra        4 Blue                            wychman.dijkstra@isutrecht.nl
 Jane Durbin             4 Blue                            jane.durbin@isutrecht.nl
 Dakota Wilkinson        Grades 4-5 coordinator, 4 Red     dakota.wilkinson@isutrecht.nl
 Ayesha Nabi Tariq       4 White                           ayesha.nabitariq@isutrecht.nl
 Eryn Wiseman            4 White                           eryn.wiseman@isutrecht.nl
 Charlene Anom           5 Blue                            charlene.anom@isutrecht.nl
 Kris Coorde             5 Blue                            kris.coorde@isutrecht.nl
 Mark Gottschalk         5 Red                             mark.gottschalk@isutrecht.nl
 Sridevi Brahmadahtan    5 White                           sridevi.brahmadathan@isutrecht.nl
 Kris Coorde             5 White                           kris.coorde@isutrecht.nl
 Noa Hilevitz            Media Resources                   noa.hilevitz@isutrecht.nl
 Daniela Musso           Teaching Assistant                daniela.musso@isutrecht.nl
 Dana Hill               Teaching Assistant                dana.hill@isutrecht.nl
 Anita Musa              Teaching Assistant                anita.musa@isutrecht.nl
 Evangelia Tsiledaki     Teaching Assistant                evangelia.tsiledaki@isutrecht.nl
 Nicolene Gelderman      Teaching Assistant                nicolene.gelderman@isutrecht.nl
 Ana Aguirre             Teaching Assistant                ana.aguirre@isutrecht.nl
 Anne Flynn              Teaching Assistant                anne.flynn@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                         International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                33

Primary Specialist Teachers

 Name                     Subject                        Email
 Ana Yao                  Computational Thinking         ana.yao@isutrecht.nl
 Kris Coorde              Computational Thinking         kris.coorde@isutrecht.nl
 Wychman Dijkstra         Computational Thinking         wychman.dijkstra@isutrecht.nl
 Sherna Fester            Drama                          sherna.fester@isutrecht.nl
 Jennifer Diepman         Music                          jennifer.diepman@isutrecht.nl
 Juan Osorio              Music                          juan.osorio@isutrecht.nl
 Melinda Miguel           Music                          melinda.miguel@isutrecht.nl
 Paul Kemp                Music                          paul.kemp@isutrecht.nl
 Sacha Sukasam            Visual Arts                    sacha.sukasam@isutrecht.nl
 Heidron Zijlstra         Dutch Language Acquisition     heidron.zijlstra@isutrecht.nl
 Irene Rooks              Dutch Language Acquisition     irene.rooks@isutrecht.nl
 Karin Valk               Dutch Language Acquisition     karin.valk@isutrecht.nl
 Melanie Post Uiterweer   Dutch Language Acquisition     melanie.post@isutrecht.nl
 Nicole Boerma            Dutch Language Acquisition     nicole.boerma@isutrecht.nl
 Amy MacGregor            English Language Acquisition   amy.mcgregor@isutrecht.nl
 Anne Brandwagt           English Language Acquisition   anne.brandwagt@isutrecht.nl
 Helen Absalom            English Language Acquisition   helen.absalom@isutrecht.nl
 Lucas den Engelsman      English Language Acquisition   lucas.denengelsman@isutrecht.nl
 Jeroen Lamme             Physical Health Education      jeroen.lamme@isutrecht.nl
 Nick Bolhuis             Physical Health Education      nick.bolhuis@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                     International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                              34

 Wouter van Slobbe       Physical Health Education     wouter.vanslobbe@isutrecht.nl
 Yasmin Bakker           Physical Health Education     yasmin.bakker@isutrecht.nl
                         Student Support Coordinator
 Elzemiek Chell                                        elzemiek.chell@isutrecht.nl
                         School Psychologist
 Heidron Zijlstra        Student Support               heidron.zijlstra@isutrecht.nl
 Katie Simmons           Student Support               katie.simmons@isutrecht.nl
 Lucas den Engelsman     Student Support               lucas.denengelsman@isutrecht.nl
 Nicole Boerma           Student Support               nicole.boerma@isutrecht.nl
 Pangiota Fameli         Student Support               panagiota.fameli@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                   International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                      35

Secondary Teachers (MYP & DP)

 Languages
 Name                    Subject                             Email
 Yona Bleijenburg        Dutch                               yona.bleijenburg@isutrecht.nl
 Anne Logman             Dutch                               anne.logman@isutrecht.nl
 Max Geoffroy Chateau    Dutch                               max.geoffroychateau@isutrecht.nl
                         Subject Area Coordinator Language
 Marloes Manni                                               marloes.manni@isutrecht.nl
                         Acquisition; Dutch
                         Subject Area Coordinator Language
 Ilona Smolders                                              Ilona.smolders@isutrecht.nl
                         & Literature; Dutch
 Jelle Zoon              Dutch                               jelle.zoon@isutrecht.nl
 Olivia Ayes             English                             olivia.ayes@isutrecht.nl
 Judith O’Brien          English                             Judith.obrien@isutrecht.nl
 Tommas Houterman        English                             tommas.houterman@isutrecht.nl
 Thomas Middleton        English                             thomas.middleton@isutrecht.nl
 Sara d’Orazio           English                             sara.dorazio@isutrecht.nl
 Callum Philbin          English                             callum.philbin@isutrecht.nl
 Ruben Provencio Kuijk   English; Spanish                    ruben.provenciokuijk@isutrecht.nl
 Karin Oyarzo            Spanish                             karin.oyarzo@isutrecht.nl
 Andrea Romero           Spanish                             andrea.romero@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                           International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                36

 Mathematics
 Name                     Subject                    Email
 Juanita Arnaud           Mathematics                juanita.arnaud@isutrecht.nl
 Jessica Brussaard        Mathematics                jessica.brussaard@isutrecht.nl
                          Subject Area Coordinator
 Vangelis Karagiannakis                              vangelis.karagiannakis@isutrecht.nl
                          Mathematics; Mathematics
 Polina Moutsaki          Mathematics                polina.moutsaki@isutrecht.nl
 Lilia Myszkowska         Mathematics                lilia.myszkowska@isutrecht.nl
 Kostis Papadopoulos      Mathematics                kostis.papadopoulos@isutrecht.nl
 Steve Weatherell         Mathematics                steve.weatherell@isutrecht.nl

 Arts
 Name                     Subject                    Email
 Erick Aufderheyde        Drama                      erick.aufderheyde@isutrecht.nl
                          Subject Area Coordinator
 Judith O’Brien                                      judith.obrien@isutrecht.nl
                          Arts & Design; Drama
 Jennifer Diepman         Music                      jennifer.diepman@isutrecht.nl
 Paul Kemp                Music                      paul.kemp@isutrecht.nl
 Melinda Miguel           Music                      melinda.miguel@isutrecht.nl
 Juan Osorio              Music                      juan.osorio@isutrecht.nl
 Annabel Kjar             Visual Arts                annabel.kjar@isutrecht.nl
 Grasyntha Mellanie       Visual Arts                grasyntha.mellanie@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                     International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                        37

 Design
 Name                      Subject                                Email
 Annabel Kjar              Design                                 annabel.kjar@isutrecht.nl
 Poyee Li-Sumpton          Design                                 poyee.li@isutrecht.nl
 Katie Zaniboni            Design                                 katie.zaniboni@isutrecht.nl

 Sciences
 Name                      Subject                                Email
 Jeroen de Haas            Science; Physics                       jeroen.dehaas@isutrecht.nl
 Sarah Hempenstall         Biology                                sarah.hempenstall@isutrecht.nl
 Kelly Murray              Biology; Science                       kelly.murray@isutrecht.nl
 Amaya Menendez            Chemistry; Science                     amaya.menendez@isutrecht.nl
 Geertje van Hal           Chemistry                              geertje.vanhal@isutrecht.nl
                           Subject Area Coordinator Sciences;
 Polina Moutsaki                                                  polina.moutsaki@isutrecht.nl
                           Physics; Science

 Individuals & Societies
 Name                      Subject                                Email
                           Subject Area Coordinator Individuals
 Nell Crawford             & Societies; History; Individuals &    nell.crawford@isutrecht.nl
                           Societies
 Josie Galemmo             Individuals & Societies                josie.galemmo@isutrecht.nl
 Amaya Menendez            Geography                              amaya.menendez@isutrecht.nl
 Ali Mohammed              Business Management                    ali.mohammed@isutrecht.nl
 Jenna van der Vegte       Individuals & Societies                jenna.vandervegte@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                             International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                  38

 Physical Health Education
 Name                        Subject                         Email
 Yasmin Bakker               Physical Health Education       yasmin.bakker@isutrecht.nl
 Nick Bolhuis                Physical Health Education       nick.bolhuis@isutrecht.nl
                             Subject Area Coordinator PHE;
 Jeroen Lamme                                                jeroen.lamme@isutrecht.nl
                             Physical Health Education
 Liam Moody                  Physical Health Education       liam.moody@isutrecht.nl
 Wouter van Slobbe           Physical Health Education       wouter.vanslobbe@isutrecht.nl

 Theory of Knowledge
 Name                        Subject                         Email
 Olivia Ayes                 Theory of Knowledge             olivia.ayes@isutrecht.nl
 Geertje van Hal             Theory of Knowledge             geertje.vanhal@isutrecht.nl
 Callum Philbin              Theory of Knowledge             callum.philbin@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                       International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                       39

Mentors (MYP & DP)

 MYP
 Name                    Class   Email
 Jeroen Lamme            6M      jeroen.lamme@isutrecht.nl
 Annabel Kjar            6Y      annabel.kjar@isutrecht.nl
 Josie Galemmo           6P      josie.galemmo@isutrecht.nl
 Juanita Arnaud          7M      Juanita.arnaud@isutrecht.nl
 Judith O’Brien          7Y      judith.obrien@isutrecht.nl
 Andrea Romero           7P      andrea.romero@isutrecht.nl
 Yona Bleijenburg        8M      yona.bleijenburg@isutrecht.nl
 Poyee Li-Sumpton        8Y      poyee.li@isutrecht.nl
 Wouter van Slobbe       8P      wouter.vanslobbe@isutrecht.nl
 Jenna van der Vegte     9M      jenna.vandervegte@isutrecht.nl
 Nick Bolhuis            9Y      nick.bolhuis@isutrecht.nl
 Sarah Hempenstall       9P      sarah.hempenstall@isutrecht.nl
 Marloes Manni           9P      marloes.manni@isutrecht.nl
 Nell Crawford           10 M    nell.crawford@isutrecht.nl
 Paul Kemp               10 Y    paul.kemp@isutrecht.nl
 Thomas Middleton        10 P    thomas.middleton@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                            International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                            40

 DP
 Name                     Class   Email
 Grasyntha Mellanie       DP1     grasyntha.mellanie@isutrecht.nl
 Kelly Murray             DP1     kelly.murray@isutrecht.nl
 Callum Philbin           DP1     callum.philbin@isutrecht.nl
 Ilona Smolders           DP1     ilona.smolders@isutrecht.nl
 Amaya Menendez           DP2     amaya.menendez@isutrecht.nl
 Ali Mohammed             DP2     ali.mohammed@isutrecht.nl
 Polina Moutsaki          DP2     polina.moutsaki@isutrecht.nl
 Vangelis Karagiannakis   DP2     vangelis.karagiannakis@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                  International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                    41

Special Roles

 BHV (Emergency Response)
 Name                       Role                                Email
 Louis de Bruijn            BHV Coordinator                     louis.debruijn@isutrecht.nl
 Jorrit Riphagen            BHV Coordinator                     jorrit.riphagen@isutrecht.nl

 Languages
 Name                       Role                                Email
 Sara d’Orazio              Language Coordinator                sara.dorazio@isutrecht.nl
 Lindsey Dudgeon            Home Language Coordinator           lindsey.dudgeon@isutrecht.nl
                            School Supported Self Taught Home
 Anne Logman                                                    anne.logman@isutrecht.n
                            Language Coordinator

 New Teachers Coaches
 Name                       Role                                Email
 Carren Ward                Primary New Teachers Coach          carren.ward@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                         International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                                     42

 Primary
 Name                    Role                                 Email
                         Orchestra & Instrumental
 Jennifer Diepman                                             jennifer.diepman@isutrecht.nl
                         Programme
                         Physical Classroom Environment
 Debbie Hazlett                                               debbie.hazlett@isutrecht.nl
                         Specialist

 Secondary
 Name                    Role                                 Email
 Karin Oyarzo            Extended Essay Coordinator           karin.oyarzo@isutrecht.nl
 Eleanor Good            Extended Essay                       eleanor.good@isutrecht.nl
 Nell Crawford           Pamoja Coordinator                   nell.crawford@isutrecht.nl
 Paul Kemp               After School Performing Arts         paul.kemp@isutrecht.nl
                         Careers Counselor, Student Council
 Jeroen de Haas                                               jeroen.dehaas@isutrecht.nl
                         Coordinator
 Geertje van Hal         Exam Coordinator                     geertje.vanhal@isutrecht.nl
 Tommas Houterman        Personal Project Coordinator         tommas.houterman@isutrecht.nl
 Andrea Romero           Personal Project                     andrea.romero@isutrecht.nl
 Grasyntha Mellanie      CAS coordinator                      grasyntha.mellanie@isutrecht.nl
 Nick Bolhuis            CAS                                  nick.bolhuis@isutrecht.nl
 Yona Bleijenburg        CAS                                  yona.bleijenburg@isutrecht.nl
 Lilia Myszkowska        Approaches to Learning Coordinator lilia.myszkowska@isutrecht.nl
 Jeroen Lamme            SAA Coordinator                      jeroen.lamme@isutrecht.nl
 Andrea Romero           SAA                                  andrea.romero@isutrecht.nl
 Ali Mohammed            MUN                                  ali.mohammed@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                          International School Utrecht
Staff Information                                                                                              43

 Student Support
 Name                    Role                           Email
                         Student Support Coordinator;
 Elzemiek Chell                                         elzemiek.chell@isutrecht.nl
                         School Psychologist
 Billie Milikan          Secondary Student Support      nabilah.milikan@isutrecht.nl
 Jenna van der Vegte     Secondary Student Support      jenna.vandervegte@isutrecht.nl

 Media Resources
 Name                    Role                           Email
 Eleanor Good            Secondary Library              eleanor.good@isutrecht.nl
 Ana Yao                 Secondary Library              ana.yao@isutrecht.nl

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                   International School Utrecht
Student
support
Student Support                                                                                                                 45

At ISUtrecht we aim to create a stimulating learning              The ISUtrecht student support team is composed of:
environment in which everyone feels at home (ISUtrecht            • the student support coordinator;
Mission Statement). We believe that all children and young        • year level student support specialists;
people are entitled to an education that enables them to make     • the school psychologist and
progress so that they can achieve their best, become confident    • the careers counselor.
individuals making a successful transition into adulthood.
                                                                  For more information on student support in primary, please
In our diverse and dynamic school community, we welcome           view the primary student guidance & support page on the
differences between the students, and we make sure to meet        ISUtrecht website.
their individual educational needs.
                                                                  For more information on student support in secondary, please
Student support begins within the classroom with teachers         view the secondary student guidance & support page on the
(primary) and mentors (secondary). Our team of competent          ISUtrecht website.
teachers and mentors ensure quality teaching, plan
differentiated lessons and form the link between school and       For more in-depth information please view the ISUtrecht
home. Some students need more than differentiated support         Student Support Policy.
in the classroom. When teachers identify additional educational
needs, the teacher, together with the student support team can
offer supplementary services and interventions. The student
support team support students’ ability to learn and teachers’
ability to teach.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                    International School Utrecht
Student Support                                                                                                                  46

Social Wellness                                                   The ISUtrecht Social Wellness Policy clearly demonstrates that
                                                                  the school community does not accept bullying at ISUtrecht and
The ISUtrecht social wellness policy demonstrates our             will tackle any bullying issues by predefined steps and actions.
commitment for a safe, secure and happy school community.         Please also view the Reporting Code for Child Abuse and
Our students have a right to an educational environment that      Domestic Violence.
allows them to flourish. Bullying in any form, is not accepted.

Technology plays a large role in the education of ISUtrecht
students, therefore the school’s aim is to educate our
community as a preventative measure. Students at ISUtrecht
will follow a comprehensive digital wellness curriculum to
support and provide safety and reassurance to our community.
ISUtrecht students should have one code of conduct for both
the real and digital world.

The school has an open and transparent communication with
parents and caregivers. In this spirit the ISUtrecht educators,
when there is a student incident, will contact parents/
caregivers at an early stage. Parents/caregivers are also
encouraged to contact the school if incidents occur outside of
school, and the school aims to empower students by equipping
them with the skills to address such issues.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                     International School Utrecht
General
Academic
Information
General Academic Information                                                                                                       48

Primary Reporting                                                 Secondary Reporting
Students’ progress will be reported four times per year, as       Students’ progress will be reported five times per year, as
follows:                                                          follows:
• Autumn, parent teacher meeting, teachers give parents a         • November: Progress report, reporting a predicted final grade
 progress update                                                   and written comments, followed by parent, mentor, student
• Winter, mid-year report, reporting against criteria and          meetings
 providing written comments                                       • January: Mid-term report, reporting against all criteria,
• Spring, parent teacher meeting, teachers give parents a          providing a final grade for the term and written comments
 progress update                                                  • February: Parent subject teacher student meetings
• Summer, final report, reporting against criteria, providing a   • April: Progress report, reporting a predicted final grade and
 written comment                                                   written comments
                                                                  • July: Final report, reporting against all criteria, providing a final
                                                                   grade for the year and written comments.
                                                                   Please note that MYP students will participate in student-led
                                                                   conferences in June.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                        International School Utrecht
General Academic Information                                                                                                        49

Academic Honesty                                                   By choosing to adhere to these attributes, students are
                                                                   choosing not to take part in academic misconduct. Choosing
By displaying academic honesty students are reflecting the         not to take part in academic misconduct means students value
IB Learner Profile. The four main attributes that reflect          learning and are working in accordance with the learner profile
academic honesty are:                                              – they are conducting themselves as principled, caring, risk-
• Principled We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong      taking and thinking individuals in all areas of their
 sense of fairness and justice and with respect for the dignity    academic work.
 and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for
 our actions and their consequences.                               For more information, please view our Academic Honesty
• Caring We show empathy, compassion and respect.                  Policy.
• Risk-takers We approach uncertainty with forethought and
 determination; we work independently and cooperatively
 to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are
 resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
• Thinkers We use critical and creative thinking skills to
 analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We
 exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                        International School Utrecht
General
Information
General Information                                                                                                                51

School Premises                                                   Student Expectations and
ISUtrecht is located in the Transwijk area, west of the Utrecht
                                                                  Code of Conduct
city centre. The main building can be found at the Van
Bijnkershoeklaan 8.                                               ISUtrecht promotes high standards of behaviour in an
                                                                  atmosphere where all members of the community feel valued.
The school is in the process of securing a long term permanent    The school has high expectations of the students, staff and
location at the Cambridgelaan at Utrecht Science Park. In June    parents and actively promotes positive behaviour. To achieve
2019 a team of architects was selected to design the new          our aim, we have a code of conduct, applicable for all members
building. At the moment it looks like we will be able to start    of the community.
building in January 2021. The new building should be finished
in August 2022. For more information, please view the location    To encourage our students, each class will discuss behaviour
page on the school website.                                       and create a set of class rules at the start of the new school
                                                                  year. This can be revised during the course of the year;
                                                                  however, these general rules should be in accordance with the
                                                                  school’s overall principles:

                                                                  • We are an international school and all cultures are respected
                                                                   and valued equally
                                                                  • We listen to others and value each other’s opinions
                                                                  • We accept responsibility for our own choices and actions
                                                                  • We are polite and courteous at all times
                                                                  • No form of bullying is tolerated and if bullying occurs
                                                                   appropriate procedures will be followed

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                      International School Utrecht
General Information                                                                                                                 52

• In class, a student may be given a time to reflect upon his/her   English is the academic language of the school. To ensure all
 behaviour and they will communicate with the teacher after         students can benefit from the programme, the school makes
 reflection to discuss what they did and how they might be          provision for students whose first language is not English.
 able to change their behaviour                                     ISUtrecht welcomes students with no English in the Primary
• Personal toys (and for secondary, personal electronic devices     Years Programme and lower years of the Middle Years
 other that mobile phones) should not be brought to school          Programme. English is taught at Language Acquisition level
 by students, unless appropriate to the unit being studied and      within the timetable for those with ELA needs up to grade 9.
 prior permission has been granted by the teacher(s)
• ISUtrecht has a Social Wellness Policy                            For admissions into grade 9 and upwards, entrance testing
                                                                    plays a more important role in the admissions procedure, and
                                                                    testing may include mathematics, reading comprehension with
Admissions                                                          written responses, and an interview, either face-to-face or
                                                                    through skype. After testing, acceptance into the programme is
ISUtrecht offers primary and secondary education in                 under the school’s discretion.
an English-speaking environment. The school welcomes
applications from students from all over the world, who are         Admission to the school will be confirmed only after it has
able to demonstrate a need for international education. The         been established by the Head of School that the programme is
school is an International Baccalaureate World School, teaching     appropriate for the child’s needs and a place is available.
the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and
Diploma Programme.                                                  For more information please read our Admissions Policy.

ISUtrecht is a state subsidised Dutch International School
and therefore admission is subject to conditions set in Dutch
legislation.

School Guide 2019-2020                                                                                        International School Utrecht
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