SKILLS AMERICAN SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL'S WELCOME

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, the faculty, staff, parents, and students it is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to SKILLS American School.

We have worked hard to develop a strong program that provides our students with the foundation for future learning. We believe that the child will learn at his/her own developmental level therefore, teachers will create age-appropriate learning activities to support students. 

I encourage you to become involved in your child’s education and we are eagerly awaiting a productive partnership with you to ensure that our children can achieve their highest potential and social/emotional skills. 

I look forward to meeting all of you and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas you would like to share. 

Best Wishes for a successful and fun school year! 

Hanan Kadry 

School Principal

About us

We are committed to excellence in education ensuring that all students achieve their highest potential personally, socially and academically.

Vision

SKILLS is dedicated to promote excellence in education through a collaborative, supportive and student-centered educational environment that empowers each learner to excel and achieve his/her highest potential.

Mission

Our mission is to work in partnership with the entire community to ensure that each learner acquires the knowledge, SKILLS and core values necessary to achieve social, academic and personal success in a technologically advanced world.

Cognia Accreditation

SKILLS international School – American Division is fully accredited by Cognia Global Accreditation Commission formerly AdvancED. 

 

Accreditation

Cognia organization collaborates with leading international schools operating around the world and represent a global tradition of high standards and commitment to ongoing improvement in education. 

Key stages

One of the goals of SKILLS School Improvement Plan is to provide students with appropriate technological equipment, resources, and instruction to promote, enhance and encourage learning in all subject areas. The technology objectives will be blended into all curriculum areas to increase student achievement. SKILLS educators will be responsible for integrating technology into daily lesson plans.

Pre-Kg

A positive first year is important to establish a life-long love of learning. The Pre-K program focuses on social, self-help, language, fine and gross motor skills. Children are introduced to academic skills such as Pre-reading instruction and Pre-math skills.

Kindergarten

SKILLS American School offers three levels of instruction in the Early Childhood department. Pre-K, K1, and K2.

Elementary (Grades 1-5)

The Elementary School plays a major role as where the basic foundation is established. SKILLS Lower School offers a challenging program within a nurturing, caring and child-centered environment. Y

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

Middle School is comprised of Grades 6 to 8 The Middle School curriculum includes Language Arts, Reading, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Arabic, French, Computer, Physical Education, Art and Music. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of the English Language

High School (Grades 9-12)

High school students have to successfully complete the graduation requirements of 24 credits, four of which must be in English to be awarded an American High School Diploma.

Child Protection Policy

An effective whole-school child protection policy is one which provides clear direction to staff and others about
expected behavior when dealing with child protection issues. An effective policy also makes explicit the school’s
commitment to the development of good practice and sound procedures. This ensures that child protection
concerns, referrals and monitoring may be handled sensitively, professionally and in ways which support the
needs of the child.

Parents’ and Students’ Handbook

SKILLS is dedicated to promote excellence in education through a collaborative,
supportive and student-centered educational environment that empowers each
learner to excel and achieve his/her highest potential.

 

 

Core Values

  • Respect: We treat everyone with courtesy and respect. 

  • High Expectations: We maintain high expectations for each student 

    that leads to academic excellence and high achievement. 

  • Equity: We provide all students with a rigorous and balanced 

    curriculum aligned with quality instruction. 

  • Responsibility: We motivate students to become independent and to 

    take responsibility for their own learning. 

  • Collaboration: Partnerships are essential for our success

  • Pride: We instill a sense of pride in our learners, school, and community.

Beliefs

SKILLS believes that all students can learn and it is our responsibility to:

  • Encourage a love for reading
  • Provide a secure, respectful, caring and supportive learning environment
  • Provide a well-rounded education, and a challenging and rigorous curriculum that meets individual student needs
  • Provide effective research-based learning and encourage students to be active learners
  • Develop excellent information technology skills
  • Engage students, parents, families and the community to enhance learning and increase academic achievement
  • Encourage language learning to enable students to interact with the international community
  • Provide relevant professional development opportunities to support and enhance student learning

General Information

SKILLS American School caters for children from Pre-school through Grade 12. Elementary School is from G1 – G5; Middle School from G6 – G8; and High School from G9- G12.

The curriculum of the American International School is modeled on a typical American school program and meets US core standards. It has been adapted to meet the needs of our student body, made up of Egyptian nationals and students from other countries.

Students graduating with an American High School Diploma open the door to universities in many parts of the world as well as universities in Egypt.

SKILLS American school system develops creativity and self thinking through renovated educational approaches. The American school system is tailored according to the needs and requirements of each student. It also focuses on extracurricular activities, history, and American literature. The curriculum works on delivering the schools philosophy of raising cultural awareness, renovated education, and discipline.

The American school system is applied according to specific guidelines authorized and approved through the ministry of education. The system focuses on delivering core subjects, which are vital in the preliminary stages of a child’s education. The curriculum will focus on delivering English grammar and punctuation, humanities (history and geography). Math and science according to their respective years. Education for pre-scholars will focus on jolly phonics, which stresses on proper pronunciation and speech fluency.

We have dedicated staff members who are attentive and watchful towards our student’s behaviour at school. We set examples for our students and emphasize on a solid moral code among the students, staff and all participating bodies of the educational structure.

 

SKILLS international School – American Division is fully accredited by Cognia Global Accreditation Commission formerly AdvancED.

Cognia organization collaborates with leading international schools operating around the world and represent a global tradition of high standards and commitment to ongoing improvement in education. 

 

According to the Engagement Review Final Report, SKILLS is acknowledged as a school that demonstrates a strong commitment to providing a comprehensive international education while developing respectful and collaborative globally minded individuals who are able to achieve their highest potential”

The following are some of the commendations in the final report:

-“The school developed and supported a strong organizational vision and mission to grow students who are responsible, collaborative, and confident learners who have the tools to become leaders in a diverse and technology-rich international community. “

-“ The school’s culture is defined by a strong sense of community in alignment with both the school’s vision of a supportive and collaborative learning environment and core beliefs prioritizing respect and safety.

-“ Positive, supportive climate and culture for learning is evidenced in multiple ways. Classroom observations confirm positive and supportive interactions between students, as well as between students and staff.

-“ School leadership developed and implemented several initiatives to support a strong learning environment for students. “

-“ Clear commitment to the integration of technology into teaching and learning.

-“ Effective curriculum and online curricular tools.

-“ A detailed standards-based report card provides parents with specific information regarding academic progress.

-“ The school prioritized an organizational commitment to sound instructional support by fostering a rigorous and effective recruitment and retention process for teaching staff.

-“ In addition to staff, students, and families, the school community extends to its university partners from Misr University of Science and Technology (MUST).

These goals have been set for Suad Kafafi International Learning Schools/SKILLS by the Board of Trustees and are reviewed every five years.

  • Quality, effective leadership of schools.
  • Equity, quality and excellence in educational outcomes for each student.
  • A diverse population which is knowledgeable about its individual culture and accepting and tolerant of all other cultures.
  • Well qualified teachers and administrators who are student centered and cater to the needs of their students.
  • Strong partnership between schools and stakeholders to support the overall mission in the educational community.
  • Practical commitment to achieving positive relationships with a practical commitment to developing a resilient multi-cultural society.
  • A system of school which is proactive, and which positively interacts with Government, its agencies and with wider national and international networks.
  • Commitment to our ecological vocation to care for the earth for the good of all

SKILLS provides students with appropriate technological equipment, resources, and instruction to promote, enhance and encourage learning in all subject areas. The technology objectives will be blended into all curriculum areas to increase student achievement. SKILLS educators will be responsible for integrating technology into daily lesson plans

The school improvement team developed the following goals in three critical technology focus areas:

1- Student Learning

2- Teacher Preparation

3- Parental Communication

EngageNY Curriculum

SKILLS school is using EngageNY / Core Knowledge curriculum and resources for ELA and Mathematics. EngageNY.org is developed and maintained by the New York State Education Department (NYSED) .It is the official website for current materials and resources for the implementation of the New York State P-12 Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS). It provides curricular modules in P-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics that SKILLS School is adopting.

https://www.engageny.org

http://www.nextgenscience.org

https://www.education.com/common-core

https://www.getepic.com/

https:www.ck12.org

https://learn.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-kids/

DIBELS standardized assessments

In addition to locally written quizzes and exams by each teacher, the school administers DIBELS standardized assessments for all students.

DIBELS standardized assessments are designed to measure student achievement in the moment, and growth over time, regardless of grade level.

Standardized Tests gives quick feedback to teachers, administrators, students and parents. Teachers receive immediate results that show what students know and what they are ready to learn. The results can be used to help personalize lessons at the appropriate level for the students. Results of these exams will be discussed with individual teachers to help identify areas of weakness and work on methods of improvement.

Students, teachers, and staff- are strongly encouraged to use the library for academic and/or recreational reading, class projects, research, etc. The library is open during school hours for everyone to have equal access to material.

The following guidelines must be followed:

The library is an area to work quietly.
Everyone is expected to respect other’s rights to this quiet environment.

Circulation

Picture books and periodicals are checked out for one week. Fiction and non-fiction are checked out for two weeks. Non-print materials do not circulate out of the school and are for classroom use. However, students may request to view a video in the library for research purposes. Reference books are to be used in the library.

Checking out Library Items

Lower school students may have a maximum of two items checked out at a time. If a student has an item overdue, he/she may save one item in the library for one week and check it out when he/she has returned the overdue item. Students working on special projects may request permission from the librarian to check out more than three items.

SKILLS implemented the use of  Tablets into the learning process where students use them in their classroom and for logging in to the school educational platforms.Teachers use them to provide activities that promote exploration of the concepts and skills that are taught in the classroom. As well as communicating with their teachers through Google Classroom.

Students are trained on the use the tablets and some basic dos & don’ts when using technology.

Testimonials

opportunity

For many people, the most compelling aspect of working at SKILLS is the sense of mission and community that permeates every school, department, program, and organization on campus. It’s a vibrant crucible of intellectual activity, research, knowledge creation, learning, and teaching. Here, results matter and creativity flourishes. We’re united by a culture that strives for excellence, but also supports us in our work.