With two teachers in each classroom and no more than 20 children per class, we are able to focus closely on each individual child.
Our classrooms are:
The Panda classroom is a place where many of our children will take their first steps in the lifelong adventure of education. The main focus of the Panda class is developing vocabulary in Dutch and English, learning how to work in small groups, advancing practical life skills as well as promoting socialization through cooperative learning and play. We follow each individual child and let them begin with reading/writing when we see that they are interested and ready.
The Zebras begin their academic journey in both languages with Montessori materials that put into practice the concepts of Maths, Writing, Reading, Geography, History, World Cultures, Practical Life, Peace Education, and Science. Students further explore each subject through excursions outside the classroom to community resources such as libraries, the Nemo Science Center, and museums. These trips are connected to our IPC themes to help deepen their understanding of each topic and how it relates to the world around them.
The Giraffe Classroom is designed to meet the needs of our evolving students; a need to question, a need to explore justice, and a need to go out into the world and understand their place within it. The pedagogical approach consists of individualized and small group lessons in both languages. Students participate in weekly homework assignments as well as project-based presentations that coordinate with their IPC themes. In this collaborative learning environment, children establish a deeper sense of community and increase their awareness of their place within it.
The academic program in the Eagle class is structured in five-week terms completed with an enrichment/review in week six. The core curriculum areas, in both Dutch and English, are Language Arts, Mathematics, Sciences, History, Geography and Technology. In addition to this comprehensive curriculum, arts education, personal development, and life skills education are emphasized. The sixth week is a time for self-evaluation, critique, reflection and review. The combination of all these key components prepares our students for their next endeavors, be it a Dutch secondary school or International secondary school. Like most Dutch primary schools, our Eagle class takes part in a schooltuin (school garden) where they learn how to grow their own plants and vegetables. This is one of the many ways our children are immersed in Dutch culture and society.
