Chapter 21: Curriculum Support and Extension

In line with our school's Guiding Statements, we strive to create a physically and psychologically safe learning environment for our students. For this reason, we exercise our phone pilot policy called "Away for the Day.” Under this pilot policy, phones are to be kept in lockers for the entirety of a student's school day, unless there is a medical exemption. The aim of the policy is to help encourage positive student interaction, and to help ensure a school environment which allows for effective learning.

The International School of The Hague (ISH) strives to foster a safe, disciplined, educational environment, both offline and online, to provide an atmosphere where students can develop the skills to become motivated, independent and productive digital citizens. ISH teachers and students know the benefits of technology in the educational environment and strive to ensure that technology is used appropriately and effectively.

All members of ISH will be good digital citizens by being safe, responsible, and respectful with their use of technology. Staff and students will model digital citizenship and encourage others to do the same. Teachers will provide instruction for their students about the appropriate use of technology and online safety. ISH teachers, staff and students will protect their information, treat others kindly, and credit their sources.

Teachers at ISH are expected to use digital tools to support and enhance effective pedagogical approaches. Teachers ensure that technology helps students learn more efficiently and effectively and employ technology to help students learn more deeply, and to be more productive. Teachers at ISH believe that the application of digital tools improves student access to learning content, teachers and to peers, and provides automatic feedback or access to effective feedback from others. Technology is used at ISH to support collaboration and interaction and to enable learners 70 to demonstrate their learning effectively and more creatively.

Technology skills and 21st Century attributes are developed through a curriculum that is integrated across all subject areas. Using the ISTE framework as a guide, each subject domain presents students with authentic opportunities to develop a wide range of skills and knowledge which will enable our students to make the most of their technology rich future.

In order to make the most of the technological and digital opportunities across the school students are required to have access to computing devices for all lessons. In Year 7 to 9 the students are required to bring an iPad capable of running the most recent version of the operating system, whilst students in year 10 and above are required to bring a laptop device which is compatible with our digital systems (please see The Essentials page on the parent portal). Students will have access to a number of productivity tools and learning tools whilst enrolled in the school. This approach has proved invaluable during the recent period of school lockdown and the wide availability of devices facilitated continuity across many subjects when students were learning remotely.

These features are supported by an Education Technology team and an IT Support team.

Devices Required by Year Group: IT DEVICE (not invoiced by ISH)

Parents/guardians are required to provide their children from Years 7 to Years 9 with an iPad. The minimum specifications for Years 7, 8 and 9 are: iPad (2019 or later, any model), 32 Gb, Wi-Fi only. It is also mandatory for parents/guardians to provide children in Years 10 to Years 13 with a laptop. The ISH ICT infrastructure and support is Apple orientated and as a result our preference is for your child to use an Apple device (Minimum specification: Less than 3 years old and an updated system of MacOS 11.0 (Big Sur) or greater). However, should you wish to equip your child with a Windows device then this is acceptable (Minimum specification: Less than 3 years old with a minimum of Windows 10 and with wireless support for 5GHz networks ‘n-protocol’).

The physical and electronic collections of the Secondary library aim to foster curiosity, creativity and connectedness in our students. Our extensive and regularly updated resources encourage students to read to develop their global awareness and empathy and to engage with quality print and electronic research resources.

The main collections of the library are fiction, non-fiction, and world languages. Students can access resources in print, ebook, magazine, and DVD formats. The library also subscribes to a number of online quality research databases to support student learning across the curriculum in subjects such as science, history, literature, current affairs, general research, art, sport, and business. Students and staff can find details and access these resources via the library portal.

The library is available for students to work individually or to relax and read, or to work collaboratively in the group study room. There are also puzzles, chess and other games available for students. The library is open every day from 08:15 to 17:25.

Students can visit the Secondary library portal (http://uk.accessit.online/thn04) to search for books, ebooks and electronic resources; to find recommended reading lists; to access online research resources; and find guides to help with using library services. Each year group has its own dashboard on the portal. The borrowing guidelines for physical resources:

MYP Students : 10 books for 3 weeks, renew 1 time.
DP/CP Students: 50 books for 3 weeks, renew 1 time.
Students who need more resources or need to borrow resources for longer periods should ask the library staff and they will be happy to assist.

The library organises a Reading Week each year, in October, to support and encourage student engagement with reading in all its forms.

Students may sign up for Service as Action or CAS volunteering opportunities in the library. Sign up notifications will be posted in ISH vibes and the student portal in September and January.

The Learning Support (LS) Department at ISH offers support to students across Years 7-13 who have been identified with learning challenges or are experiencing learning difficulties. We take a holistic approach towards developing student support plans and individualised learning goals. Based on individual student needs, we identify and reduce barriers to learning by providing accommodations and recommendations for the classroom, as well as bringing attention to student strengths.

Learning support is offered in a multitude of ways, such as whole class workshops, small group sessions, and one-to-one intensive support. Our services are student-centred and designed to increase student engagement, personal development, advocacy and resiliency. We actively guide students towards reaching their academic potential, and promote an inclusive learning environment through the use of differentiated teaching strategies.

We actively participate within the Student Support Team and collaborate with external professionals to assess, identify and respond to the learning needs of students. We promote student equity regardless of ability and we actively celebrate the diversity of learning needs within our international community, seeing individual differences as opportunities for enriched learning.

The Learning support team can be reached at learningsupport@ishthehague.nl.

Different levels and types of English as an Additional Language support are available at the ISH.
There are two main EAL programmes available:

21.2.1  The Academic Language Programme (ALP)
English speakers in Years 7-9 with beginner to pre-intermediate level of skills in the language (English Language Acquisition, phases 1-3) receive 3 additional EAL support lessons per week. These lessons focus on academic language; the aim is to develop language skills needed for the other subjects, especially Humanities and Science. Additional support may be tailor-made to meet students' needs that cannot be covered within the 3 ALP lessons, in particular, for beginner-level students who are just starting at the ISH. In addition, EAL students in the lower years also benefit from an in-class intervention model where EAL specialists co-teach alongside maths teachers.

21.2.1  The Individual Learning Programme (ILP)
Additional (academic) language support is also provided for students in Years 10 – 13, where ALP is not offered, and is open to students across the English Language & Literature – English Language Acquisition divide. Year 10 & 11 students in phases 2-3 of the English Language Acquisition course have to take two EAL periods a week; other students needing additional language support (e.g. English Language & Literature students, students transitioning from the Language Acquisition course to the Language & Literature course, English B CP and DP students) may be recommended by subject teachers or mentors.

At ISH Secondary, we value our students’ home languages (also called mother tongue or native language). For languages outside our MYP curriculum in Years 7 - 11, our school encourages different ways for students to develop their home languages and cultural identities. In Years 12 and 13, there are SSST and Externally Taught Language options that can be taken as part of the IBDP. Below, you can find a summary of what our school facilitates.

The Importance of Home Language Development
It is important to invest in your child’s home language. The home language “links the child with the culture of the society the child comes from and shapes … identity” (Guvercin). Researchers from all over the world have found that bilingual children understand more and have better thinking skills than children who only speak one language. International research has also shown “that students with strong reading skills in the home language also have strong reading skills in their second language” (Genesee). Of course, children will have more options for future study and work if they can write their home language, too. The parent portal leads to selected research summaries and articles about the importance of home language development.

Parents Helping Their Children to Develop the Home Language
Parents/guardians are encouraged to speak their language at home and help their children to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in the home language. Studying with a parent/guardian at home can be effective if a home language tutor group or other professional support are not possible or desired. The parent portal leads to ideas for learning activities for Secondary students and special recommendations for students in Years 10 and 11 who work with a parent to prepare for SSST or Externally Taught Language A in the IBDP.

Home Language Tutor Groups for Students in Years 7 - 11
On Wednesday afternoons, starting at 14.20, private tutors offer group lessons to students of Years 7 - 11 at ISH Secondary. The lessons are for native speakers, usually last 90 minutes and start in mid-September each year. The parent portal leads to more details, including which home language tutor groups are currently running, how to contact the tutor of your language to find out about their fees and register your child, and how to set up a new home language tutor group.

Other Professional Support for Home Language Development
We try to facilitate other options for home language development, which parents/guardians can arrange and pay for. Our school collects contact details of private language tutors who offer individual online lessons, online courses and schools in this area of the Netherlands, which children in Years 7 - 11 can use to to develop reading, writing and using the home language in formal contexts. The parent portal leads to more information.

Encouraging Home Language use at ISH Secondary

Our school welcomes Personal Project, SA and CAS initiatives related to our students’ home languages and cultures. The parent portal leads to some examples. Regular SA and CAS opportunities include being a home language helper at ISH Primary, contributing to the school’s activities connected to the UN International Mother Language Day or an international festival, and participating in the SSST Language A study hall treats project. Home language related SA and CAS opportunities are advertised in our school newsletters and through the relevant coordinators.

SSST and Externally Taught Languages (for IBDP students)
As part of the IBDP, we offer the following options that are not on the students’ regular timetables:

• Group 1 subject at Standard Level: SSST (school-supported self-taught) Language A: Literature.
• Group 1 subject at Higher Level: Externally Taught Language A: Literature.
• Group 2 subject (requests are only considered in three special circumstances, there are restrictions for Standard and Higher Level): Externally Taught Language B.

The parent portal leads to a short overview of all three options, detailed information and a list of private tutors who can act as SSST Language A tutors. Please note that parents have to pay for tutors and external teachers.

For any further questions on Home Languages please contact communications@ishthehague.nl and your message will be redirected to the relevant member of staff.

Trips and Co-curricular activities at ISH are designed to:

1. Enhance and enrich curricular and co-curricular opportunities for our students.
2. Provide a wider range of educational, cultural and sporting experiences than could be provided in the classroom.
3. Promote and encourage the independence of our students as enquiry-based learners, enabling them to develop their personality, talents and abilities in new learning environments.

Compulsory Trips, such as curriculum based where every student in the Year Group participates are included in the annual school fees. Additional trips, such as sports trips, curriculum based trips where not every student in the year group participates and International Award expeditions, are billed in addition to the annual school fees.

The MYP Activities Week and DP/CP Group 4 Project & Core Days will take place during the penultimate week of this academic year which is from Monday 2 until Friday 7 July 2025. The timetable will be collapsed with all timetabled lessons cancelled for all Year Groups. The Schedule will include MYP Overnight Trips, Day Trips & School Based Programmes will be communicated to the community early in Spring 2025.

We hope that all Trips will introduce our students to new environments and situations that will enrich their lives and build their levels of confidence, will forge stronger friendships between them and create a greater sense of belonging to our community, give them positive experiences to build on and fun memories to last their entire lives.

As set out in the ISH School Trips Policy, during a school trip, the school is covered by Public Liability, Personal Accident and Health insurance, but not for cancellation, damage, loss or theft of personal property. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to also provide Public Liability, Personal Accident and Health insurance for their child, and to additionally provide Travel insurance that covers cancellation, damage, loss or theft of personal property. The school is therefore not liable for cancellation, damage, loss or theft of personal property.

Trips and Co-curricular activities at ISH are designed to:

1. Enhance and enrich curricular and co-curricular opportunities for our students.
2. Provide a wider range of educational, cultural and sporting experiences than could be provided in the classroom.
3. Promote and encourage the independence of our students as enquiry-based learners, enabling them to develop their personality, talents and abilities in new learning environments.

Compulsory Trips, such as curriculum based where every student in the Year Group participates are included in the annual school fees. Additional trips, such as sports trips, curriculum based trips where not every student in the year group participates and International Award expeditions, are billed in addition to the annual school fees.

The MYP Activities Week and DP/CP Group 4 Project & Core Days will take place during the penultimate week of this academic year which is from Monday 2 until Friday 7 July 2025. The timetable will be collapsed with all timetabled lessons cancelled for all Year Groups. The Schedule will include MYP Overnight Trips, Day Trips & School Based Programmes will be communicated to the community early in Spring 2025.

We hope that all Trips will introduce our students to new environments and situations that will enrich their lives and build their levels of confidence, will forge stronger friendships between them and create a greater sense of belonging to our community, give them positive experiences to build on and fun memories to last their entire lives.

As set out in the ISH School Trips Policy, during a school trip, the school is covered by Public Liability, Personal Accident and Health insurance, but not for cancellation, damage, loss or theft of personal property. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to also provide Public Liability, Personal Accident and Health insurance for their child, and to additionally provide Travel insurance that covers cancellation, damage, loss or theft of personal property. The school is therefore not liable for cancellation, damage, loss or theft of personal property.

Graduation from the MYP, DP and CP is celebrated through graduation ceremonies, where certificates/ diplomas are awarded to the graduating class. In addition, awards are issued on this occasion for distinguished achievement in school life for example in the arts, sports and CAS/SA; the distinguished ECIS prize is also awarded to one of the graduating Year 13 students.

Through our behaviour policy we promote the recognition and promotion of positive behaviours through personalised and meaningful feedback to students, emails and postcards home.