International School of KenyaEmpowering students to create solutions for tomorrow’s challenges

Learn More:www.isk.ac.keregistrar@isk.ac.ke

Table of Contents Welcome to ISK Student Life Academics Elementary School Middle School High School The ISK Experience International Baccalaureate Service Learning Creative Arts Intercultural Program Athletics Campus Safety Information Techology Apply Today

Welcome to ISKWalking the campus, you get a sense this is a special place – a place that students and staff treat with respect. The lovely Kenyan climate provides a beautiful year-round backdrop for study. With an exotic variety of trees and flowers, our campus gardens showcase all of the natural beauty and elegance of East Africa.

We’re located on the outskirts of Nairobi on a pristine 50-acre campus that was once a coffee farm. The campus buildings and grounds now include 32 buildings and extensive athletic facilities, all of which are meticulously maintained.

At ISK, you are part of a vibrant community within an exciting and fun campus environment. We take joy in shaping student character through classroom engagement, cultural exchanges and leadership opportunities. We are committed to molding future world leaders who will lead with conviction and integrity. This is our greatest and most important investment.

As an international school with a diverse range of cultures, no single national curriculum fits our needs. As a result, we have designed our own. We’ve adapted our standards to align with best practices from around the world including North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. For grades 11 and 12, we offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Certificate options.

Because many of our families are part of the international diplomatic community, students understand the transient nature of people’s lives. Over 10 percent of our families are also local Kenyans, so an increasing number of students study at ISK long term. Across all grades, our students are very open, friendly and welcoming of each other.

There’s no place like this for discovering and nourishing the many parts of your personality. No doubt an ISK education is rigorous, but there is time to investigate interests and to stretch yourself. Flair for acting? Audition for a play. Want to play the clarinet? Join the band. Care about the environment? Join our environmental club. Love the water? Try out for the swim team.

You’ll find that ISK is big enough to offer a full array of extracurricular activities, but small enough so you can participate in a meaningful way. With over 70 organizations, you will find places to be involved. For parents, we have a very active Parent Teacher Organization and plenty of opportunities to be a part of campus life.

Student LifeA vibrant campus life experience

Here’s the thing. We are committed to overall student development. That means we want our students to grow through social, recreational, academic and leadership opportunities of every sort.

“Boredom” isn’t found in our vocabulary. Our students are actively involved in many service learning and co-curricular activities including special interest groups, intercultural trips and much more. Each of these vital organizations is led by faculty and staff advisors.

Realize your leadership abilities. At ISK we embrace student leadership and encourage each student across all grades to take advantage of every opportunity to grow in leadership skills.

You’re out of here. When students graduate or move on from ISK, they will leave with more than a diploma or transcript. With them goes a lifetime of memories and friendships they’ll never forget and a total learning experience that will significantly shape them for the rest of their lives.

This is just a small vignette from a broader educational experience that I received during my short time at ISK. However these important memories, and the great friends that I made, remain an important part of me to this day. I now love watching my children develop their own personal and rewarding memories of ISK now that we are living here in Nairobi.

TestimonialI attended the International School of Kenya from 1978-1980. I was in 5th and 6th grades, and although it was only a brief time, these were without question my favorite years of primary school. My ongoing interests in international health were, of course, stimulated by my childhood years in Nigeria and Kenya, and by the rich mix of friends that I made at ISK. I am still in contact with several of my ISK friends.

I minored in Greek Classics at The Ohio State University, and it was my 6th grade teacher at ISK, Mrs Konandreas, that planted the seeds of this interest in classical literature. I remember sitting enamored as she passionately read Homer’s “The Iliad” to us, chapter by chapter, day by day, in 1979. Indeed I am reading it to my son now, and it makes me smile to see his similar fascination with what may be the greatest story ever told.

Joshua MottEpidemiologist

Center for Disease Control

The best students welcome the idea of being stretched academically. Striving to excel is the norm at ISK, but high standards don’t equate with formal intellectual stuffiness. Here, learning is exciting. The exchange of ideas is invigorating and challenging.

We are a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school with over 800 students representing nearly 80 nationalities. Our curriculum incorporates the best practices from around the world, including standards from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, as well as models from other international schools. Connections to Kenya - its history, culture and language - are woven into the entire program.

AcademicsIs this your kind of place?

We offer Student Support Services for students with mild learning differences or needs, as well as English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

At ISK, you will find faculty who love to teach. Teachers have chosen ISK because it affords them the opportunity to invest in inquisitive students. Our teachers come from a wide range of schools in the United States and around the world, and represent 14 different nationalities. Approximately 48 percent hold United States citizenship and the average tenure is 6 years. To encourage interaction with teachers, we intentionally keep our classes small, and most classes in our elementary school include a full time teaching assistant.

Elementary SchoolWe strive to provide a warm, caring and engaging environment for ISK’s youngest students and encourage parents to be fully engaged in their child’s learning experience. Our elementary program includes pre- kindergarten through grade 5 (children ages 4-10 years).

Along with a full core curriculum of math, science, social studies and language arts, students also have classes in art, integrated technology, music, library, physical education, Swahili/Kenyan cultures and guidance.

Our Peer Helper program and PRIDE student government organization develops student leadership opportunities to lead and help each other. Students love exhibiting all they’ve learned in the arts through performances, assemblies and exhibitions throughout the year.

We have a consistent theme of actively encouraging the children to be contributors – rather than only consumers – in the world. Our local field trips and overnight intercultural trips expose each student to the Kenyan culture. Our overarching ISK Way guides our students to be respectful, responsible, resourceful and to take care of their environment.

Middle SchoolWe’ve designed our middle school program to specifically meet the needs of emerging adolescents. Middle School includes grades 6-8 (ages 11 to 13 years). As an important transition between elementary and high school, our middle school offers the structure needed to engage in appropriate extracurricular and academic pursuits. This is balanced with the need to learn about themselves and their place in the world. A strong partnership with parents is a valued and essential part of the growth process of our pre-adolescents.

Our core program for the year includes English, math, science, social studies, physical education and either French or Spanish. In addition, students study the fine and creative arts as well as computer technology. Many co-curricular activities are available, including Model United Nations and Student Council. Additionally, each grade level participates in an exciting field trip into the Kenyan countryside.

Foundational YearsEducating the whole child

High SchoolOur high school program includes grades 9-12 (ages 14-18 years) and works specifically with each grade to help each student transition through these important and formative years.

In grade 9, students acquire the academic and social skills essential to success in high school, following a common course of study in the social studies, English, reading and writing. At the same time, they develop modern language, science and math skills. In contrast, grade 10 students begin to pursue individual areas of interest by choosing from creative arts, information technology and other electives.

High SchoolGateway to the world’s universities

• Art Institute of Chicago• Boston University• Carleton College• Duke University• University of Edinburgh• Georgetown University• London School of Economics• Mt. Holyoke College• RPI Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute• Savannah College of Art and Design• University of St. Andrews • University of British Columbia• University of Cape Town• University College London• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor• University of Warwick• University of Toronto• Vassar College• University of Waterloo • Wellesley College

Recent College & University Acceptances

In grades 11 and 12, many students choose to undertake the full International Baccalaureate diploma of study or enroll in individual IB courses, which are our designated honors courses. While all students aspire to graduate with an ISK diploma, an additional IB diploma provides a meaningful challenge as well as advantages in the university application process.

We integrate technology into much of the class work and offer breadth and depth through the courses offered to our students.

Our co-curricular program is also essential to student development. It reinforces and extends their classroom learning through exploration, character building, community engagement and the pursuit of individual passions. Our goal is to develop students who are confident and competent in contributing to and learning from their community.

As a result, our students are prepared to enter highly competitive universities around the world.

International BaccalaureateThe International Baccalaureate (IB) program is about educating the whole person. It promotes critical thinking, intercultural understanding and respect for differing points of view, while also meeting the requirements of diverse university systems.

Completing an IB diploma also includes writing a 4,000-word research paper, taking a Theory of Knowledge course and demonstrating a documented commitment to creativity, action and service.

IB is a rigorous course of study and designed to provide both North American and international students with a high school diploma that is recognized throughout the world.

At ISK, 60 percent of our graduates complete the IB diploma. A number of students also opt for partial IB, successfully completing individual courses or “certificates.”

Regardless of the option chosen, an ISK education prepares students well for the challenges of university work and life.

The ISK Experience

Service LearningAt ISK service learning is integrated into the academic learning experience through a wide and varied community program. Each week our enthusiastic students participate in various school service programs with many more participating in projects on the weekends with their families. Some of the projects our students undertake are reforestation projects, painting murals, bead making with the women of Kibera, peer mentoring and reading programs, animal protection, building programs, library assistance and special needs and care.

During our Wednesday afternoon service learning program, students learn to work for a common goal and by doing so acquire a variety of skills, such as how to lead, how to be accountable, how to communicate ideas, how to listen to others, and how to work as a team to reach a goal. It also empowers our students with the realization that they can make a difference in our world today.

The ISK Experience

Creative ArtsWalk into our Arts Centre, and you’ll feel the heartbeat of our campus. Every classroom and studio is alive with creativity, color and discovery. It is home to all music, art, drama and dance at our school.

Through our entire arts program, we strive to develop an appreciation for multicultural art, as well as an understanding of our Kenyan, African and international cultural heritage. At every level, our goal is to instill in each student a passion for the arts, independent thinking skills, and individual self-esteem. This is exhibited in many forms including painting, sculpture, textiles, printmaking, welding, dance, music and drama.

We place strong emphasis on the integration of the arts across all grades, and showcase our students’ work throughout the year with stellar art exhibitions, drama productions and various musical performances.

An active parent committee called Friends of the Arts (FOTA) provides support and fundraising for ISK’s arts program.

Intercultural ProgramLiving in Kenya is an incredible opportunity to learn about culture, geography, wildlife, ecosystems and environmental challenges. Our intercultural program seeks to expose our students to these important aspects of life in Kenya. Connections to Kenya - its history, culture and language - are woven into the entire program, with structured opportunities for students to engage with the community.

Students explore local relationships through personal interaction in their indigenous areas. Whether you’re in Grade 8 and staying with the Maasai in Loita Hills or traveling the Kenyan coast in Grade 12, each experience is unforgettable. Our teachers also integrate these experiences into their classroom curriculum, making this program relevant to each student’s broader education.

Campus SafetyThe safety of our students is very important to us. We employ a full time guard force that monitors the campus 24 hours a day. “Fire” and “duck and cover” drills are held quarterly to ensure all students and staff are prepared in case of emergency. As needed, we are also in direct communication with local law enforcement through the Diplomatic Police Unit, our sponsoring agencies, and other diplomatic mission security services. In all circumstances, the safety of our students is the highest priority.

The ISK ExperienceAthleticsAt ISK the physical education program is essential to a well-rounded education. Our goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle through movement, exercise and sport. That means the same commitment to excellence that pervades the classroom is also evident on the playing field.

Our program begins in pre-kindergarten and runs through Grade 10. Our athletic facilities are outstanding, including a solar-heated pool, three full-sized fields, three tennis courts, an indoor multi-court for basketball and volleyball, indoor gym, outdoor basketball courts, climbing room and weight room.

Elementary students participate in several sports such as basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis and field hockey. At the Middle and High School levels, we field well-coached, competitive teams in a variety of sports. Our varsity teams represent the school against local and international competition, and we have a high level of student participation.

Information TechnologyOn any given day, over 230 computers may be in use by students at ISK. In total, we have over 500 computers school-wide. This includes desktops, laptops and servers. We use Mac operating systems across campus and have a 30 Mb/sec Internet connection, and a broad range of software installations. At its foundation are the technology training resources that allow students and staff to live, learn and work successfully in an increasingly complex, information-rich society.

All students work regularly with computers as an integral part of their classroom curriculum. We have four computer labs on campus, each with over 20 computers equipped with all the latest software. These labs along with our library and classrooms are all networked to provide the latest technology and information services to our students.

Admissions OverviewWe are delighted that you are considering ISK for your child’s education and we look forward to working with you. We recognize that choosing the right school for your child is a decision that goes beyond a world-class reputation or local appeal - it’s about finding the right fit.

The goal of our admissions process is to answer any questions you may have, ease your child’s entry into ISK at the appropriate stage between Pre-Kindergarten and Grade 12, and then to welcome the whole family into the ISK community.

Our school year runs from early August until early June. The first term ends mid-December and the second term commences in early January.

Students are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible. We are at capacity in most age groups and have waitlists for some grades. Applicants who cannot be enrolled due to lack of space will be placed on a waiting list, sometimes as early as March, until a place becomes available.

Apply Today

Admissions Requirements1. Application for Admission 2. Application Fee of $125 USD3. Transcripts for past 3 years. 4. School Leaving Certificate (only if transferring from a

local Kenyan school)5. Confidential School Report 6. Health Form7. Any other pertinent educational documents8. Copy of Birth Certificate or Passport9. Two passport sized photos

The very best way to learn about us is to schedule a visit to ISK. We look forward to walking you around campus, answering your questions, and helping you to navigate the admissions process.

Please visit our website at www.isk.ac.ke for all necessary forms and for the most up to date information on admissions.

We are excited to welcome you on campus and to better acquaint you with ISK. Email us at registrar@isk.ac.ke to schedule a visit.

You’ll wish you were a kid again.

International School of Kenya PO Box 14103 00800

Nairobi, KenyaTel +254 20 209 1308/9

Cells +254 733 639 363 / 720 639 363registrar@isk.ac.ke | www.isk.ac.ke

Accredited fully by the Middle States Association of Schools in the United States and the Council of International Schools in Europe