EIS PYP Newsletter
December 2020
As an international school, we are committed to processes that help us to improve and develop in accordance with both national and international standards.
Exupery International School is a fully authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) school currently offering the Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for preschool and primary students and also International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) in senior school, while the middle school focuses on preparing for the UK IGCSEs which take place in the 10th grade.
For students in EIS Senior school, there is a choice between two of the most famous and demanded programmes: the British Advanced Levels programme or the IB DP. The school is authorised by the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) to carry out the Advanced Levels programme, as well as the authorisation by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to implement the IB DP programme.
The School is also a member of the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Boarding School's Association (BSA), which sets high standards for the organisation of the learning process and accommodation of Exupery boarding school students.
In addition to international authorisations, EIS has obtained accreditation from the Latvian Ministry of Education. This means that our students are assured an education that is, first and foremost, formally recognized by both national and international institutions.
In 2021 State Education Quality Service of Latvia awarded the international status to Exupery International School. The new status gives students of the school the opportunity to study following international educational programs in English and receive international diplomas, which are recognized in Latvia and in other countries around the world.
'EIS Primary school is a place where children can enjoy their childhood through play-based learning activities as well as engage in high-quality curriculum. Inquiry and concept based approaches allow our students to achieve high results and enjoy the teaching and learning process. EIS students grow in this internationally-minded environment, knowing they are valued.'
Kristina Potapova, EIS Primary principal & PYP Coordinator
Primary school program (P2 - P6)
Students develop and pursue their passions in order to be successful and contribute to a positive global future. At EIS, we challenge and inspire our learners to explore, discover, and thrive. EIS has been authorized to use the IB Primary Years Programme, since 2019. The school combines IB PYP and the Cambridge Primary curriculum to ensure a strong academic curriculum is supported by inquiry and concept-based approaches. Our goal is for students to come to school each day with an excitement and desire to learn. At EIS, students develop the knowledge, skills and understandings necessary to prepare them for a life-long journey of learning.
Exupery International School students are encouraged to think independently, ask questions, express their opinions, while at the same time showing respect for the opinions of others. EIS also emphasizes the importance of the creative, social and physical domains. It is our goal to develop each child’s social and emotional skills in order for them to navigate successfully within a community of learners.
To learn more, watch the video:
EIS believes that the PYP curriculum framework fits the mission, philosophy and goals of our Primary School. The curriculum is based on research and understanding about how children learn best and how their brains work. It allows us to have considerable flexibility in the choice of content and topics that our students will study. It connects our school to a wider international school network and an internationally respected educational organization, thus requiring us to work towards continuous school improvement.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. They imply a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.
Each of the IB’s programmes is committed to the development of students according to the IB learner profile. The profile aims to develop learners who are:
Children are actively engaged in learning about issues and themes of universal significance. These are designed to allow students to become reflective and internationally minded; qualities that allow them to participate more fully in the world they will enter as adults. The PYP classroom is student-centred, they are encouraged and supported to be independent learners and critical thinkers, and learn to take appropriate socially responsible action.
Each year, classes work through a cycle of six units of inquiry. The units may have a science, social studies, language, PSPE or arts focus. In addition, many subject areas of the curriculum can be linked to a unit of inquiry and single subject teachers often work with homeroom teachers to create a transdisciplinary approach to learning. This means that different subject areas are used to further the students’ understanding of the unit’s central idea. Every unit has a central idea which is a statement that encapsulates the desired learning, within the broad themes of Who We Are, How We Organise Ourselves, How We Express Ourselves, Sharing the Planet, Where We are Place and Time, and How the World Works.
The IB offers a curriculum framework that transcends any one country’s national curriculum. Each IB school then develops their own curriculum based on the IB framework. At EIS we use IB PYP together with the Cambridge Primary Curriculum.
EIS has its own written curriculum in all academic subjects with specific learning targets and outcomes that students are expected to achieve. Student progress is tracked at several points throughout the year in each grade level using a variety of tools: Language Continuums, a Developmental Reading Assessment, end of unit mathematics assessment, ongoing assessment in units of inquiry with checklists, rubrics and regular anecdotal records.
In the Preschool and Primary at EIS, we view learning as a partnership between student, parent and our school. You can help your child by:
The exhibition is an extended, in-depth project celebrating the culmination of a child’s learning experience in the PYP before they move on to the next stage in their education. The exhibition is done in Grade P6. Young learners conduct an in-depth inquiry into real life issues or challenges, and present their research, investigation and resulting action to the whole school community. Recent research into the impact of the PYP exhibition found it to be a valuable and pivotal experience in the life of the schools, families and students who were involved.
EIS PYP Newsletter
December 2020
EIS PYP Newsletter
September 2020
EIS PYP Newsletter
June 2020
EIS PYP Exhibition 2020
May 2020
Middle years program (M1 - M4)
In the upper grades, EIS is following the international curriculum meeting the requirements of locally accredited programs and international standards. Our curriculum and pastoral care are structured around learning that stimulates and inspires learners to find their passions and wrap around support enabling them to become the best version of themselves. Students develop a range of cognitive strategies to enhance their comprehension and use of language, and our additional activity program is an intrinsic and interwoven part of life in the High School, where learners are entrusted with values of independence, scholarship, and leadership.
EIS provides highly engaging, rich, and varied educational experiences that allow students opportunities to develop their skills and abilities to their maximum potential. These challenges help to prepare them for the many demands of the 21st century. Our dedicated teachers challenge and inspire students to stretch their thinking. Carefully crafted learning experiences help students make connections across subject areas that help to develop deeper metacognition. Small class sizes provide a more learner-centred approach, thus ensuring that the individual strengths of our learners are recognized and supported.
To honor our host country, students have the opportunity to learn more about the language and culture of Latvia through the subject “Latvian Studies”. The course was developed by EIS in accordance with state regulations and includes the study of Latvian culture, language, history, and geography.
| M1 | M2 | M3 | M4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English (EIS Language of Instruction) | ||||
| Russian/English/Latvian | ||||
| Latvian/Russian/French as a Foreign Language | ||||
| Mathematics | ||||
| Art | Craft and Design | ||||
| IT Strategies | Film | ||||
| Science | Biology | ||||
| Physics | Chemistry | ||||
| Geography | ||||
| Global Perspectives | ||||
| Physical Education | PSHE |
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
Beginning from M4, EIS students commence a two-year International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) programme accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education. This programme includes the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Information and Computer Technology (ICT) and Global perspectives. It is a content-rich programme designed to prepare students for further study wherever they are situated in the world. The programme introduces students to a number of connected disciplines, preparing them for High School.
IGCSE exams & Middle school diploma
After taking five IGCSE exams in M4, our students are awarded The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). In addition to international authorisations, EIS is accreditated by the Latvian Ministry of Education. This means that our students are assured an education that is, first and foremost, formally recognized by both national and international institutions. IGCSE is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14–16-year-olds, taken in more than 160 countries. The IGCSE is recognised around the world by employers and universities as evidence of academic ability.
In November 2021, more than 2000 students participated in the fifty-first English Language State Olympiad in Latvia. The Olympiad was held for the first time using the "Examus" monitoring tool. It was used to monitor the participant's honest behavior during the Olympics, thus, audio, video, and desktop analysis was performed, as well as visuals of the identity document.
The Olympiad lasted 180 minutes and students solved challenging tasks on grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. We are proud to announce Year 10 students from Exupery International School who took honorable places in the second round of the Olympiad for Years 10-12.
Karina - 2nd place;
Estere – 3rd place;
Karlina Merija - 3rd place.
We are very proud today to officially announce that two of our students participated in the National Round of the French Olympiad and achieved high overall results. Following their participation at the local and regional level, Aylar S.(Gr. 9) and Kristina M.(Gr. 6) took part in the National Olympiad on 8 February 2020, which was hosted by the University of Latvia’s Faculty of Humanitarian Sciences. Our young francophones took part in the category "French - second foreign language". In total there were about 250 participants from grades 5 to 12, and 90 of them passed to the National level. Aylar came in 3rd place in her age group, and Kristina received the incentive prize (4th place) among the students from her age group.
On December 4th 2019 the French Olympiad took place in Riga French Lycée already for the 50th time. This anniversary became a festive debut for us. It was the first time when a team of participants from grades 6, 8, and 9 tried their forces at this prestigious competition. Jelena Jesajana, our French teacher has been inspiring and training a team for two months and convinced the students to believe in themselves. We performed in the category French as a second foreign language. And we are happy and extremely proud to announce that the debut was successful: a 9th-grade student won the 3rd place, and an 8th-grade student received the incentive prize.
At the end of February, the Semarah Hotel Lielupe held an international children's and junior chess tournament, Rudaga-Kaissa 2019, in the lovely city of Jurmala. In the group for beginners (which had 26 participants), a 6th grade student, Andrei Ugolev, represented Exupery International School. Over the course of 7 games Andrei managed to score 6 points and take first place. Andrei's coach at EIS, Nikolai Kovshun, is a candidate master chess master and FIDE Instructor. Andrei also advanced to the fourth class in chess. Congratulations!
Our students recently won first place in the 2018 Hip-Hop Daugavpils Open Contest! The Exupery team, led by the fantastic choreographer and teacher Linda Paulauska, has received first place among beginners from 15 teams!
Exupery’s Grade 5 team has received the prestigious award of 2nd Place in this year’s Science Day competition! The team members competed against fellow students from all across Latvia. Their tasks included constructing an ecosystem’s food chain, working with buoyancy, producing chemical reactions, and solving a computer-based logic puzzle.
Year 10 (M5)
At Exupery International School, we take a learner-centred approach. This means we work with students as individuals to help them find a pathway best suited to their needs. In M5 (Year 10) subjects are offered as a way to introduce learners to the IB Diploma Programme syllabus. This preparation allows students and their families to make informed subject choices, in consultation with faculty members that will support their transition to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
At the end of M5 students take extended IGCSE exams in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, English Language and Literature. IGCSE is one of the most sought-after and recognised qualifications in the world. It is recognised by colleges and universities worldwide. An extended curriculum offers more challenging content for students aiming for grades from A* to E and preparing to start IB program next year.
The IB Diploma Programme at EIS (Year 11-12)
To ensure both breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, students choose courses from the following subject groups: studies in language and literature; language acquisition; individuals and societies; sciences; mathematics; and the arts. 3 subjects may be taken at standard level (SL) and 3 subjects at higher level (HL).
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language A literature SL/HL | ||||||
| Latvian (School-Supported Self-Taught Language A) SL/HL |
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| Russian Language A - SL/HL | ||||||
| Other (School-Supported Self-Taught Language A) SL/HL |
||||||
| Language Ab-initio | ||||||
| Language B | ||||||
| Russian B SL/HL | ||||||
| Russian Ab-initio SL | ||||||
| French B SL/HL | ||||||
| French Ab-initio SL | ||||||
| Global Politics SL/HL | ||||||
| Physics SL/HL | ||||||
| Biology SL/HL | ||||||
| Chemistry SL/HL | ||||||
| Math (Applications and Interpretation) SL | ||||||
| Math AA (Analysis and Approaches) HL | ||||||
| Film Studies SL/HL (or one extra subject from another group) |
Please note that 2 Group 1 subjects can be taken instead of a Group 2 subject, and that Group 6 can be replaced by another subject from another group.
Some courses are available through an online learning platform Pamoja. The school supports one Pamoja online course.
In addition to the 6 subjects that the students study in the IB, they also fulfil three Core requirements: TOK, CAS, and the EE.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is the capstone of the IB program. As one of the core requirements of the IB Diploma, TOK is an interdisciplinary class designed to help students question and understand how they know what they know. Students ask questions like “What makes a method scientific?” or “Is historical knowledge scientific?” or “How is reason different than faith?” The course is designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language, and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical, and historical).
Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)
One of the core requirements of the Diploma is CAS. Creativity, activity, service requires students to actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Over their two years in the programme, diploma candidates must set goals and record their progress towards a set of “Learning Outcomes.” All DP candidates also complete a CAS project, for which they plan, complete, and reflect on an event that incorporates two or more of the CAS strands of creativity, action, and service.
The Extended Essay (EE)
The Extended Essay is a core requirement of the IB Diploma. Working with an advisor, Diploma Candidates, complete an independent research project in an area of personal interest, which culminates in a 4,000 word (11-14 page) essay. Students plan the paper in their junior year, write a draft over the summer, and revise it in the fall of their senior year. The extended essay is an opportunity for student to engage in independent research through an in-depth investigation of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying. It is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery, and creativity.
To receive the full award of the IB Diploma (IBDP) at EIS, students need to successfully complete six subjects, three at higher level and three at standard level, plus core components in the Theory of Knowledge (TOK), an extended essay (EE) and Creativity, Action, Service (CAS). IB subjects are graded on a 1-7 scale with 7 being the highest score. To qualify for the award of the IB Diploma a student must receive a combined score of 24 points across 6 subjects with at least 12 points from higher level subjects and a minimum of 9 points from standard level subjects. In addition to the 6 subjects, IB Diploma students are required to complete three Core elements – Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and CAS.
The maximum points that can be awarded to an IB Diploma student is the full score of 45 with 42 points generated across the 6 subjects and 3 bonus points derived from Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.
The IB Diploma program is internationally recognized. It is recognized by universities from more than 90 countries. This includes the top ivy leagues in the world such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.
Our school offers an opportunity to receive a bilingual IB diploma. It is awarded to students who complete and receive a grade 3 or higher in two languages selected from the DP course studies in language and literature.
An IB Diploma candidate who fails to satisfy the requirements for the award of an IB Diploma will receive DP Course Results indicating the grades obtained in individual subjects, together with results in theory of knowledge and the extended essay, and confirmation of the completion of all CAS requirements, as appropriate.
EIS Diploma is awarded to all EIS Secondary School students who maintain semester grades of 4 or above in all of their subjects at the conclusion of their 12th grade year.
Our Boarding House
In 2021 we opened a new and purpose-built facility offering over 5000 m² of additional space, including specialist laboratories, multifunctional classrooms, study labs, and common areas for teamwork. Our boarding house spaces were designed to meet all the needs of life away from home. Our boarding facilities are comprised of ensuite rooms for 2 or 3 students, with a total capacity of 90 students aged between 14 to 18. The boarding house has a range of boarding options available including full-time, weekly, or daily boarding.
Feel free to get in touch with us over the contact number + 371 266 22 777 or e-mail admissions@exupery.lv.