Learning

The aim of the Aquatics program is to provide opportunities for every student to develop proficiency and confidence in aquatic activities that lead to safety, lifelong fitness, and fun. Students engage in active learning experiences developed under a research and standards-based, developmentally-appropriate model that emphasizes growth and constructive feedback. ISKL endeavors to keep the teacher-student ratio low to allow for differentiation as needed in an environment that is trusting, collaborative, and safe.

Standards:

AUSTSWIM

The aim of the creative technologies program is to nurture creative thinking that fosters knowledge, understanding, and skills and empower students to facilitate change. Students engage in authentic learning experiences using the ISKL Design Cycle as the guiding lens.

Standards:

Design Thinking framework from Stanford d.School

The aim of Language Arts education at ISKL is to develop lifelong readers and writers who have an appreciation for the written and spoken word. Students read and write across a range of genres that are relevant to the current social landscape, understanding that language is created and used in a variety of forms and for a variety of purposes. Ultimately the goal is to create confident, empowered learners who are able to use literature and language to engage with the world around them.

Standards:

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts, IBDP

The aim of the ISKL Libraries is to work with students, faculty, and staff to develop critical thinking, information literate consumers and creators of information, and to develop a culture of literacy among all stakeholders in the greater school community.  ISKL Libraries strive to provide access while removing barriers, so as to be inclusive in our practices. We encourage representation of our community to nurture mutual respect and international mindedness.

Standards:

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts, Empire State Information Fluency Continuum, Exemplary school libraries (OLA), Ideal libraries (IBO)

The aim of math education at ISKL is for students to become creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, and appreciative of the relevance and importance of mathematics. The math learning environment encourages risk-taking, empowers students to reason critically and think creatively, and develops students’ understanding of mathematics. Through their mathematics experiences at ISKL, students develop a set of skills, knowledge, and understandings that enable them to reason critically through complex problems. 

Standards:

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics, IBDP

The Performing Arts program at ISKL strives to provide opportunities for students to celebrate the human creative experience. The program aspires to foster a culture that supports the arts within the school community and beyond. It aims to provide a foundation for lifelong involvement, support, and passion for the arts.The goal is that all students thrive and realize their full artistic potential by being involved in high-quality, diverse, and authentic performing arts experiences.

Standards:

Ontario Curriculum The Arts (K-8) Ontario Curriculum, The Arts (9-10), IBDP

The aim of the Physical Education program at ISKL is to provide opportunities for all students to develop the attitudes, skills, knowledge, understanding, and values that lead to lifelong physical activity, social growth, and an ongoing healthy lifestyle. All students engage in active learning experiences outlined by a standards-based curriculum that is relevant, engaging, physical, enjoyable, and developmentally appropriate.

Standards:

National Physical Education Standards SHAPE America

The aim of the Science program is for students to apply scientific knowledge and practices to personal and societal issues as active and responsible global citizens. We strive to provide a solid foundation in all areas of science, and to develop a sense of wonder that leads students to observe, question, understand, and communicate about the natural and human-made world. Students actively construct and challenge their understanding by combining scientific knowledge with reasoning and critical thinking skills.

Standards:

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), IBDP

Educating for global sustainability, nurturing self, nature and others are essential in the construction of a sustainable future. Through service learning, students participate in authentic and experiential opportunities by engaging in stewardship for the Earth and its people.  Students develop empathy, care, and responsibility to create a better world and make an ethical impact.

Standards:

ISKL adapted Service & Sustainability Primer & ISKL Service & Sustainability Toolkit

The aim of Social Studies education at ISKL is to develop well-informed critical thinkers and empowered global citizens through the inquiry process. We believe that student-derived, compelling questions leverage students’ natural curiosity about how the world and human society work today, as well as in the past. We strive to integrate the multiple disciplines of social studies through the use of authentic tools and lenses, which help students recognize the diverse ways in which each of these disciplines discovers and organizes knowledge. We strive to empower students who can clearly articulate their own conclusions and consider multiple perspectives. We believe that through collaboration students can communicate, deliberate, critique, and take intentional action inspired by their learning.

Standards:

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework, IBDP

The aim of ISKL’s Visual Arts program is to make the arts accessible, inclusive, and meaningful to each student. Students leave with not only artistic skills and a life-long appreciation of visual arts, but are able to consider the value and role of art in our world. Our goal is to promote the visual arts by fostering critical and creative thinking, risk-taking, artistic expression, effective communication, cultural awareness, and community engagement.

Standards:

Ontario Curriculum The Arts (K-8) Ontario Curriculum, The Arts (9-10), IBDP

The aim of the World Language program at ISKL is to enable students to communicate confidently and effectively. We encourage students to build on their cultural identities and diverse backgrounds as they make connections between the target language and their own. Language learning at ISKL, both at a native proficiency and a second language acquisition, produces empathetic global citizens who are able to communicate effectively in other languages and possess intercultural appreciation.

Standards:

World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (ACTFL), IBDP

Students learn to:

• Recognize their emotions, thoughts, identity, and values.
• Assess their strengths and limitations with self-confidence, optimism, and a growth mindset.

Students who know themselves:

• Understand how they are feeling in different situations and environments.
• Know their strengths and limitations.
• Are self-confident in different environments and able to chart their preferred pathway.
• Can identify strategies to help them manage transitions.

Students learn to:

• Manage and regulate their emotions and thoughts, and use them to make wise choices.
• How to motivate themselves and take initiative.

Students who make good choices:

• Understand their full range of emotions and know how to regulate them in different situations.
• Recognize situations in which adults can help.
• Can identify trusted adults.
• Develop strategies to support their personal and academic goals.
• Make informed, healthy, and responsible choices.

Students learn to:

• Empathize with the emotions, thoughts, values, ethics, identities, and perspectives of others.
• Recognize inequity and bias and develop compassion.
• Show respect and appreciation for all these things at a local and global level.

Students who seek to know and understand others:

• Build positive relationships across cultures.
• Respect and appreciate diversity and differences.
• Understand the responsibility of power and privilege, and how bias impacts their lives and the lives of others.

Students learn to:

• Establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with their peers, family, and community, as well as with diverse individuals and groups.
• Cooperate with others and navigate conflict constructively while maintaining a sense of self

Students who build strong relationships:

• Act in ways that promote safety and respect.
• Use their communication and social skills to interact meaningfully and effectively.
• Are able to resolve interpersonal conflict constructively.
• Understand their rights and responsibilities as digital citizens.

Students learn to: 

• Make compassionate decisions and then act in ways that result in ethical impact for self, others, and the environment.

Students who act to have a positive impact: 

• Consider local context and ethics before taking action.
• Stand up for themselves and others when faced with exclusion, prejudice, and injustice.
• Act to serve local and global communities.
• Make responsible decisions that contribute to creating a better world.