ISB aims to provide an environment that challenges every student academically. It is our responsibility as educators to inspire each child so that he/she is able to reach his/her academic potential. "Academic" includes the visual and performing arts, athletics, and all other disciplines included in our school's curriculum. This goal impacts educational decisions at ISB on a daily basis. It requires innovative and timely interventions in every classroom and with every interaction within our institution. It requires careful professional consideration with regards to the developmental stages and learning styles of children. We are committed to assisting our students with different learning needs, be they related to language acquisition, learning disabilities, or intellectual, physical, emotional, or environmental concerns.
Our program helps students and their parents identify and understand students’ academic strengths and weaknesses. We offer intensive assistance when necessary to build learning and organizational skills. Realizing that some students have extraordinarily high potential, ISB encourages highly gifted and talented students. These students are identified in various ways both formally and informally. We tailor and adjust educational programs so that students are learning to the fullest of their abilities. ISB is proud to be able offer a wide range of course offerings that challenge students. Within each course, the written curriculum has learning outcomes and assessments that stretch students to higher levels of thinking. Instructional strategies are used that promote active participation.
Starting at the primary level and woven through each grade level thereafter, students learn habits that lead them towards deeper understanding. They become persistent, focused, and disciplined in their learning. They learn to be flexible and aware of their own thinking. They value accuracy and precision. Students learn that posing questions leads them to higher levels of understanding. They use their prior knowledge to help make connections between disciplines and the real world. They learn to be precise with their language and probe for clarification to fully understand concepts and one another. Students develop and experience a sense of wonderment and a feeling of efficacy as thinkers. We plan educational experiences with a high focus on motivation. We become intensely responsive to the feedback, questions, body language, and behavioral patterns of our learners. We recognize that once a lesson has been planned, the responsibility rests on the teacher to be flexible and sensitive to each student’s degree of receptivity. Students also take responsibility for their learning by assessing their own levels of effort, challenge, and personal initiative.
To reach each student's individual needs, we use differentiated instruction. Each classroom is able to cater to a range of ability levels. Whenever possible, student interests are taken into consideration. Because students learn best through interpersonal communication with adults and peers, we engage students with an interactive program. ISB students see their teachers modeling the values of working to one's potential. Standards are high for everyone. Students understand the precise and clear mission of every ISB educator: to help all students reach their academic potential.
The faculty explores and acquires new skills to assist them in recognizing the academic potential of each student. Students also learn to value their individual potential and acquire a belief in their ability to reach that potential. ISB is committed to helping each student discover and reach his/her academic, recognizable potential.
