WELCOME

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)?

The International Baccalaureate, also known as the IB, is a comprehensive international curriculum that promotes intellectual, personal, emotional, and social development. It seeks to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who are driven to succeed.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) encourages students all over the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners who recognize that other people, while unique in their differences, can be suitable. The International Baccalaureate strives to give students agency: a voice, a choice, and ownership over their learning.

THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME (PYP)

ISR is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) school, having been approved in April 2005. The PYP is for students aged 3 to 12. Even toddlers are introduced to PYP values and prepared for the Program at ISR.

ISR aims to meet the diverse needs of its international student body. Our students and teachers come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and they bring a wide range of beliefs and expectations to school. Our goal is to provide a program that not only meets the needs of this diverse group, but also adds value to the richness of that diversity.

The student is at the heart of the PYP. The IB Learner Profile attributes describe the characteristics of the ideal IB student:

  • Caring
  • Knowledgeable
  • Principled
  • Courageous
  • Thinker
  • Communicator
  • Open-Minded
  • Balanced
  • Reflective
  • Inquirers

WHAT WILL MY CHILD LEARN?

With over 15 years of experience implementing the program, ISR has developed its Programme of Inquiry (long-term learning plan) and Scope & Sequence documents (learning outcomes) for all subject areas: languages (English, French, Latvian), mathematics, visual arts, science, music, physical education, and social studies.

The student body at ISR is made up of 47 different nationalities. The majority of our students are not native English speakers. The school has a well-established system in place to assist students in learning English, the language of instruction, as soon as possible.

Inquiry-based learning is the Primary Years Programme's (PYP) leading pedagogical approach; it recognizes students as actively participating in and taking responsibility for their learning. Students acquire a wealth of knowledge and learn how to learn through inquiry. Through field trips, guest speakers, and supporting one another and the community around us, ISR places a strong emphasis on connecting learning with real-life experience. Inquiry-based teaching and learning encourage students to put what they've learned into practice.

The PYP curriculum is based on concepts. Unlike other curricula, the PYP focuses on broad, abstract, timeless, and universal ideas. These ideas aid in the weaving of essential understandings across, between, and beyond subject areas, as well as in the transfer of knowledge to new contexts.

Approaches to Learning (ATLs) are a set of lifelong skills that everyone requires both inside and outside of the classroom: research skills, communication skills, social skills, thinking skills, and self-management skills. These abilities serve as the foundation for every student's lifelong learning toolkit.

THE BENEFITS OF A PYP EDUCATION

PYP students outperform their non-IB peers, according to ongoing research. The PYP, combined with ISR's personalized student approach, prepares students for academic success.

The PYP fosters intercultural awareness - The program seeks to develop open-minded global citizens who respect cultures, value diversity, and strive to lead by example.

PYP students are independent thinkers - The PYP teaching style is student-centered; students drive their learning by collaborating to investigate real-life issues.

The PYP is internationally transferable - With over 1900 schools offering the PYP in over 150 countries, students can quickly transfer from one PYP school to another.

THE ISR DIFFERENCE

Whether their stay is short or long, all members of the ISR family call Latvia "home." ISR is an International School with a Latvian Heart. Families in our community experience and celebrate Latvia as a unique country with a rich heritage. When families move on to the next stage of their lives, they take a little piece of Latvia with them.

ISR takes pride in having deep roots in the community through charity work and sharing academic knowledge and resources with local schools.

The Primary Division at ISR is led by Ms. Amanda Romey, the School Principal/Deputy Director. Ms. Ginta Karklina, the PYP Coordinator, is there to help her. They have 47 years of combined experience. A Homeroom Advisor, a Support teacher, and a variety of Specialist teachers guide students' learning.

ISR is one of Latvia's oldest international schools. ISR began as a playgroup and has since grown into a school. The PYP was chosen as a program to implement because it develops the whole person. We promote individual success in academic development and social-emotional well-being by closely monitoring each child's growth and learning. Teachers strive to differentiate and personalize learning as much as possible in order to help students reach their full potential.

It is said that "it takes a village to raise a child," and at ISR, every adult is considered a teacher. Students can learn from everyone, from the custodial staff to the Director.