Welcome to ISPP Elementary
Our aim is to provide an exciting, challenging learning centre for your child, a place where they will make friends from around the world and where we will work cooperatively with your family to develop happy, confident learners, who strive to achieve their personal best.
ISSP stands out as a school where students come first. There are few second chances in education and the dedicated teaching team at ISPP demonstrates awareness of this as they strive towards excellence, working to provide quality education for each individual.
The wonderful students who make up the ISPP community make us stand out too as a genuine international school. Our rich mix of nationalities share their heritage, traditions and culture with pride and confidence. They do so in the knowledge that ISPP values our differences and celebrates our unity as members of the ISPP community.
The importance of fostering the growth of global citizens is embedded in our mission statement, as is our commitment to developing international mindedness. The expertise and energy our staff displays as they implement the inquiry based IB programme for the primary years (PYP), makes ISPP an exceptional school with a focus on learning.
ISPP stands out as a school that strives to include its whole community in decisions, a school that as it grows strives to retain its early traditions of families working with educators to provide quality education in Phnom Penh.
Focus on inquiry based learning
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) drives learning at the Elementary. We started our journey towards becoming a fully authorised school in 2002 and achieved success in 2004. We have continued refining and implementing this constructivist approach to learning following the aim of the IB Primary Years Programme to develop an internationally minded person; who achieves a balance between the understanding of concepts, the acquisition of knowledge and skills, the development of positive attitudes and an opportunity for action.
Specialist teachers complement the curriculum in music, art, media/technology, swimming and physical education, Chinese, French and Khmer language. These specialist subjects are an extension of particular curriculum areas provided by teachers who have specific skills and who can enrich the regular programme provided by the homeroom teacher. Please refer to the PYP handbook for more detailed information about our challenging curriculum.
Mixed age classes
The Elementary school is organized into composite classes covering appropriate developmental stages. Presently these are PYR (Kindergarten)/Grade 1, Grade 2/3, and Grade 4/5. Students are grouped according to their age between September and August of the current academic year.
Our class grouping allows the homeroom teacher to stay with a student for more than one academic year and enables teachers to direct attention on the learning needs of individuals rather than on meeting the requirements of a strict grade level curriculum.
As students work through the two-year cycle with their teacher they have different roles and responsibilities. No child is continually identified as the oldest or youngest in the class and each one has an opportunity to build her/his self-esteem by mentoring and providing a role model for younger students.
Effective partnership with parents
We strongly believe it is essential to establish an effective working relationship with families. Children will achieve more at school if parents have confidence in the staff and curriculum of their child's school. If parents or guardians understand and support what the school is aiming to achieve this will encourage their child to benefit fully from the learning experience the school offers. We appreciate parents who share their perceptions of our school and come to us with their concerns or comments on our success.
Communication between home and school
In order to keep parents fully informed and engaged in their child's learning we have regular communication between home and school. From Early Years 1 to Grade 1 a home/school communication book is used to keep parents and teachers in touch, from Grade 2 the student's homework planner is used.
A written report on student progress is provided at the end of each semester. Parent Teacher Conferences, Student-Led Conferences and Three-Way Conferences are held throughout the year. The dates are published in the school calendar which is issued to families annually.
Teachers are willing to be consulted at any time but as they are busy during the school day parents are asked either to e-mail them for an appointment or to arrange an appointment through the Elementary Secretary.
Language
The language of our school is English and all communication between home and school is in English. We would like to communicate with parents in their own language but the number of different languages in our school population makes this a daunting task. Parents are welcome to bring interpreters with them to conferences with the teacher or to ask the school to provide an interpreter.
The Elementary school day
Our school day starts at 7:30am. Students who are late miss vital parts of the programme so it essential for them to arrive on time. The school day ends at 11:30am for children in the Early Years 1 morning class. All other students finish at 2:30pm.
