What makes a school international?
The answer is simple - children from different cultures and different countries. The primary group of children moving between countries consists of the offspring of employees in governmental organizations. Another significant group of children is the children of corporate employees. Their international life can last for the whole duration of their education or for just part of it. It is the local children, however, that form the back bone of an international school, since the multinational student body changes frequently.
Why do local parents put their children in an international school?
Parents have different reasons for putting their children in an international school in their own country. Sometimes they want to prepare them for an expected move to a foreign country. An international school can also serve as a way station between a family’s periods abroad, or it can be purely an educational move – parents want their children to learn English and adopt a multicultural educational background.
What is the benefit of being a student of an international school?
Even if a school has no particular ideological background, pupils will be influenced by the school's way of learning: critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication combined with the culture of the host country, the school's multinational population and the students' experiences of other cultures. Students who come from international schools are citizens of the world more than citizens of a specific country.
Grading and the school year
The school year at AISV is divided into four quarters, with a report card being issued to students at the end of each quarter. Parent-teacher conferences are usually held twice a year and these give parents an opportunity to engage in private discussion with their children's teachers.
Testing
Since AISV does not have grades 11 and 12, the school does not offer a high school diploma upon completion of grade 10. Students from grades 3-8 take the standardized Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and students in Grades 9-10 take the Iowa Tests of Educational Development. Students in grade 10 may choose to sit for some British International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams at the British Council of Vilnius. This is strictly on a volunteer basis and not part of the regular testing program at AISV.
Grade levels and school day
Toddler Program - a half day program for two, three or five days a week for children of ages 20 moths to 3 years (8:45 am – 12:15 pm)
Pre-school - a half or full day program for three and four year old children (8:30 am – 12:30 pm) or (8:30 am – 3:30 pm)
Grades 1-5 Elementary school (8:30 am – 3:30 pm; on Wednesdays dismissal at 2:30 pm)
Grades 6-8 Middle School (8:30 am – 3:30 pm; on Wednesdays dismissal at 2:30 pm)
Grades 9-10 High School (8:30 am – 3:30 pm; on Wednesdays dismissal at 2:30 pm)
Fees and other expenses
Annual tuition fees vary according to the grade level (for this year’s tuition fees please check the section Admissions and Fees). Our school is a non-profit organization. Bulk of tuition payment is used to cover teacher salaries and benefits as well as textbooks and teaching supplies. A portion is also used to improve library and computer materials and facilities.
AISV also charges one time application fee (500 Euros) which is payable upon entering school.
Lunch services, transportation to/ from home, and some field trips outside Lithuania are not covered by the tuition fees.
The cost for a hot lunch at AISV is 11 lt per day. You may order a hot lunch on a monthly basis.
Foreign Languages
AISV provides German or French language classes for students in Grades 4-10. Lithuanian language and culture is taught starting with Grade 1.
English Language Learner Program
If a child has little or no fluency in English, attending the English Language Learner (ELL) program will help them attain the skills required to communicate and learn in English. ELL students study in small groups; this is a pull-out program. This is at the discretion of the classroom and ESL teachers.
Teaching Staff
The teaching staff consists of local teachers and international teachers who are usually recruited at international recruitment fairs. All AISV teachers are highly qualified and experienced teachers. Over 80% of the teaching staff have a Master’s Degree in their subject field.
Why not choose a local school instead?
Being in a local school is almost certain to be problematic for your children - the language, curriculum and the school itself will be familiar to everybody except them.
In a changing world, the international school offers a safe and stable environment. The educational program has been designed to serve children who are 'on the move'. International schools are located throughout the world, insuring educational continuity for your family.
'My school' everywhere
Different cultures very seldom cause problems for international schools, since children are very flexible and usually don't harbor prejudices. Most 'international' parents have similar expectations of their children's education: "No matter what culture they represent or what language they speak, families are families, and parents want a quality education for their children.”
Helping your child to adapt
The influence of the family is important on their child's educational development. Parents will do their children a great service if they take a positive attitude towards the host country. Children live in the here and now. Parents need to be supportive and look at the positive side of their move. Many times parents do not appreciate the value of their new environment until after they have left. So look to the positive aspects – you could be pleasantly surprised!
If your child has problems at school or at home, turn to their teacher for help. If additional help is needed, schools are able to contact people who have experience of dealing with problems within the international community.
Based on an article by Maija Piiparinen “Should Your Kids Go International?” from the Expatrium magazine, issue 02/2002