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Assessment Policy

At Asker International School, it is important that teachers embody and model the Learner Profile to the students, colleagues, parents and the wider community. AIS therefore encourages teachers to be effective communicators, critical thinkers and principled lifelong learners who take on a shared responsibility when reviewing school policies and essential agreements. In alignment with our school vision ‘Developing Global Citizens for the World of Tomorrow’ we ask teachers to be inquirers and risk takers when it comes to being curious about improving and implementing the policies. It is important that staff members remain open minded and caring while ensuring to see others' perspectives in a respectful and professional manner. By being knowledgeable of all the policies and essential agreements it helps teachers to have a balanced understanding of how AIS operates. By being reflective as an educator this helps our school community strive towards our vision.

 

Assessment Policy 

(Date reviewed May 2023)

i) Philosophy

Assessment is the act of evaluating, appraising, and/or estimating the features, qualities, performances, and needs of individuals, programs, and institutions. The main goal of assessment is to support and enhance student learning.  Every student has individual abilities, skills and knowledge. Assessment should support learning and will be planned in advance to reflect the content being instructed. Assessment shall take a variety of forms and present students with continuous opportunities to demonstrate ability.  Assessment shall also be used to influence the design of the curriculum and be used to influence the progression of units.  Students shall receive timely feedback on assessments completed and parents will be informed as and when appropriate.  Assessment shall be reflected on by both the teacher and student.

 

ii) Purpose of Assessment

  • Formative assessment can also be defined as diagnostic testing and is ongoing. The purpose of formative assessment is to guide and influence the teaching that takes place in the classroom to ensure that learning is also taking place. Formative assessment can include quizzes, worksheets, oral feedback, presentations and many other forms that are used to enrich the learning experience. Formative assessment provides the teacher with the necessary information to help them provide scaffolded support for students in the classroom.

  • Summative assessment summarises a students performance and ability at a specific time. Summative assessment can also be diagnostic and used to influence the formative assessment that takes place in the classroom. Summative assessment takes place for example at the end of units, or at the end of a specific discipline being instructed.  All subjects in the MYP assess against 4 criterion as per the IB guidelines. Each strand within the criteria is assessed a minimum of twice a year. Information pertaining to this coverage is located in the Strand Tracker Document  available on the shared drive.

iii) Parent Progress Meetings

Parents are entitled to a minimum of two parent  - teacher conferences in an academic year.  

PYP

  • Homeroom teacher conference (Autumn)

  • Norwegian Teacher conference (Winter/Spring)

MYP

Two meetings, one in the autumn and the other in the spring with subject teachers. This could amount to approximately 18 conferences in an academic year. 

School procedure also dictates that a parent can request a conference with the teacher at any other time of their choosing.

 

iv) Student Progress Meetings

Students are entitled to a minimum of two teacher - student conferences in an academic year. 

 

PYP

Homeroom teacher in preparation for student led conference (March)

§ 3-7.Samtale om utvikling

Elevar har minst ein gong kvart halvår rett til ein samtale om deira utvikling i faga. Samtalen kan gjennomførast i samband med samtalen med foreldra etter § 4-2 og 4-3.

Elevar har òg rett til jamleg dialog med kontaktlærar om sosial utvikling og anna utvikling. Samtalen skal sjåast i samband med friskolelova § 1-1 og læreplanen skolen har fått godkjend etter friskolelova § 2-3.

§ 3-12.Halvårsvurdering i fag

Halvårsvurdering i fag er ein del av undervegsvurderinga. Den skal vise kompetansen eleven har i faget, og gi rettleiing om korleis han eller ho kan auke kompetansen sin. Elevar skal få halvårsvurdering utan karakter gjennom heile opplæringsløpet.

Frå 8. årstrinn skal elevar i tillegg ha halvårsvurdering med karakter. Halvårsvurdering med karakter skal vere skriftleg og gi uttrykk for den kompetansen eleven har nådd ut frå det som er forventa på tidspunktet for vurderinga. Vurderinga skal givast midt i opplæringsperioden, og ved slutten av opplæringsåret for fag som ikkje blir avslutta. I fag med fleire standpunktkarakterar gir læreplanane informasjon om talet på karakterar i halvårsvurderinga.

Faglærar gjennomfører halvårsvurderinga for elevar.

§ 4-2.Kontakt med heimen i grunnskolen

Skolen skal halde kontakt med foreldra gjennom opplæringsåret.

Skolen skal i starten av kvart opplæringsår halde eit foreldremøte der foreldra informerast om skolen, innhaldet i opplæringa, medverkinga til foreldra, rutinar og anna som er relevant for foreldra.

Foreldra har minst to gonger i året rett til ein planlagd og strukturert samtale med kontaktlæraren om korleis eleven arbeider dagleg, og eleven sin kompetanse i faga. I tillegg skal kontaktlæraren samtale med foreldra om den sosiale utviklinga og anna utvikling hos eleven. Samtalen skal klargjere korleis eleven, skolen og foreldra skal samarbeide for å leggje til rette for læringa og utviklinga til eleven. Eleven kan vere med i samtalen med foreldra. Når eleven har fylt 12 år, har han eller ho rett til å vere med i samtalen. Samtalen kan sjåast i samanheng med samtalen med eleven etter forskrifta § 3-7.

Foreldra skal få munnleg eller skriftleg:

a.

varsling om eleven sitt fråvær

 

b.

varsling dersom det er fare for at det ikkje er grunnlag for vurdering i fag, orden og oppførsel eller fare for at eleven kan få karakteren nokså godt eller lite godt i orden eller oppførsel, jf. § 3-7

 

c.

informasjon om eleven og foreldra sine rettar og pliktar etter friskolelova og forskrifta

 

d.

anna viktig informasjon om eleven, med mindre denne er underlagt teieplikt etter anna lovgiving.

 

 

MYP

Homeroom teacher/co-tutor 

  • Grade 6 & 10 November

  • Grade 7, 8 & 9 January and February

 

Subject teachers summative assessment feedback 

Minimum one conference per child per academic year.

 

Grade 6-10

Service and Action progress conferences occur as part of the student leadership programme. 

 

Grade 10

Personal Project progress conferences. Three mandatory conferences take place per annum. Two conferences are embedded into personal project days and one conference is to provide feedback on the final submission.

 

SEN

MYP SEN students also receive two teacher - student conferences as part of IEP review

 

v) Reporting 

Reporting will take place at the end of each term bi-annually, at the end of the first term in December and at the end of the school year. Reporting will take place digitally, through an online reporting system known as ManageBac. For the PYP two reports are completed by the homeroom teacher and one report is completed by specialist teachers. For the MYP a data report is provided in December and a written report at the end of the school year.  All reports will be stored using Managebac, the school’s management system.



Alternative requirements

In some cases reasonable adjustment may occur to cater for students with additional learning needs/additional language needs. Examples include but not limited to: access to additional time; extensions; flexibility in method of response, coloured overlays, and a magnifying glass. 

 

Possible Scenario: A student with dyslexia

  • Additional time

  • Extensions

  • Use of voice to typing software

  • A scribe

 

If a student is undertaking an external assessment the following documents must be referred to:

  • IB Access and  Inclusion Policy



vi) MYP subject assessment criteria 

The following assessment criteria have been established by the IB for the MYP. At Asker, all summative assessment in the MYP is based on these assessment criteria. For each assessment criterion, a number of strands are defined. These describe a range of achievement levels. 

 

 

A

B

C

D

Language and Literature

Analysing

Organizing

Producing text

Using language

Language Acquisition

Comprehending spoken and visual text

Comprehending written and visual text

Communicating

Using language

Individuals and Societies

Knowing and understanding

Investigating

Communicating

Thinking critically

Sciences

Knowing and understanding

Inquiring and designing

Processing and evaluating

Reflecting 

Mathematics

Knowing and understanding

Investigating patterns

Communicating

Applying mathematics in real-world contexts

Arts

Knowing and understanding

Developing skills

Thinking creatively

Responding

Physical and health education

Knowing and understanding

Planning for performance

Applying and performing

Reflecting and improving performance

Design

Inquiring and analysing

Developing ideas

Creating the solution

Evaluating

MYP projects

Investigating

Planning

Taking action

Reflecting

Interdisciplinary

Disciplinary grounding

Synthesizing and applying

Communicating 

Reflecting

 

Moderation/Standardisation

A moderation process must occur for all MYP summative assessments.Due to the importance of summative grades on a students final graduation grade, additional internal & external independent moderation may occur from time to time. 

 

Additional Documentation:

 

  • Access and Arrangement Policy

  • Essential Agreement: Feedback

  • PYP Scope and Sequences

  • PYP Essential Agreement: Student Portfolios

  • MYP Subject Guides

  • General regulations middle Years programme

  • Candidates with assessment access requirements

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First Aid Policy

At Asker International School, it is important that teachers embody and model the Learner Profile to the students, colleagues, parents and the wider community. AIS therefore encourages teachers to be effective communicators, critical thinkers and principled lifelong  learners who take on a shared responsibility when reviewing school policies and essential agreements. In alignment with our school vision ‘Developing Global Citizens for the World of Tomorrow’ we ask teachers to be inquirers and risk takers when it comes to being curious about improving and implementing the policies. It is important that staff members remain open minded and caring while ensuring to see others' perspectives in a respectful and professional manner. By being knowledgeable of all the policies and essential agreements it helps teachers to have a balanced understanding of how AIS operates. By being reflective as an educator this helps our school community strive towards our vision.

 

First Aid Policy 

(Date Reviewed: September 2022)

 

Introduction

 

Asker International School wishes to create a safe learning environment for students enrolled at our school. All staff need to be in a position to administer first aid to staff, students and guests of the school .

As such, all staff must be appropriately trained in recent techniques. The school is also responsible to ensure the school is appropriately equipped to manage occurrences that take place at the school 

and have standardised and revised procedures in place.

 

Procedures

 

On-site

  • All staff have attended an up-to-date first aid course appropriate for a school environment*

  • All staff have attended training on the use of an epipen (January 2021)

  • Staff receive training on the defibrillator during the first aid course at the start of each academic year.

  • The school is equipped with sufficient kits to provide basic on-site first-aid when necessary.  

  • First aid stations are located at waiting room/reception, outside small auditorium,  photocopier room and reading room 1

  • The AED can be located in the waiting room next to reception. 

  • Stock check of first aid equipment is taken on a per-week basis

  • Staff, guest-speakers and other relevant parties are familiarised with the location of medical kits as with medical procedures.

  • All medical incidents and accidents are documented in the incident report on the teachers’ lounge by the first responder, a site where information is shared amongst AIS staff. 

  • Parental contact information must be readily available to all staff.

  • Students are to be sent to reception who are deemed to be too ill or injured by the teacher to be in lessons. In the case of a head injury, all children are to be escorted by an adult.  

  • All medical situations should be coordinated from the reception area by either the first responder or Miss Chantale/administration, unless the injury is so severe that moving the person/s will cause further harm or if a child is in danger of fainting.

  • Parents will be notified of any significant injury at school.

  • All head injuries to be recorded and reported immediately to the school and to parents.

  • If external medical consultation is required – the first responder should: contact the medical services; the school nurse for consultation; and the parents

  • Staff are required to use appropriate protective equipment when required.

  • Students must be accompanied to the hospital by an adult in the absence of a guardian.If the guardian cannot come to school to collect the child then they must arrange to meet at the hospital. 

  • Any head or significant back injury must be reported to parents irrespective of severity.

  • If needs must, and in the absence of the administration, the school will ensure safe transport (at the school’s expense) to a medical facility. 

 

Off-site

  • Prior to engaging in an off-site activity, responsible staff are required to submit a risk-assessment form for evaluation and approval by the principal.

  • The staff-in-charge must ensure they take a first-aid kit with them and check that the first aid kit is appropriately stocked.

  • The staff-in-charge must ensure they have an overview of any student with a specific medical requirement.

  • The staff-in-charge must ensure that parents have received appropriate notification prior to the event.

  • The staff-in-charge must ensure that students are appropriately equipped and dressed for the journey.

  • On warmer days, sunscreen must be administered in advance of departure by a guardian. 

  • Teachers will be reimbursed of any emergency action required – for example using a taxi.

 

 

Allergies/Chronic illnesses

All staff must be frequently updated as to the status of any students who may require additional support, for example the use of inhalers, allergies to specific food types. This information is located in the medical student tab on the AIS_student_incidents_form.

 

Parents are responsible to notify the school when their children have a specific medical requirement.  

 

 

*As of the start of each academic year. This does not factor in changes in staff which can take place during the course of a year. Their qualifications would be updated at the beginning of the following academic year.

 

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P.E. at AIS

Daniela Ricaurte PE AIS 1021 54

At AIS we believe Physical Education should be designed with inclusivity at its core; to help students develop an active body and mind and to become lifelong learners who are prepared for the world of tomorrow.

Our PE Curriculum 

- Develops movement skills

- Demonstrates the IB learner profiles 

- Accessible to all, PE should be inclusive

- Not based on winning but improving

Extra curricular activities

-Sports leader programme

-Cross country

-Peacelympics

-Under 8’s day & MYP sports day

-Tinestefeten

-PE health week

-Blime

-Hop for heart

-Morning sports clubs

AIS Sports Leader

What is the AIS Sports Leader program?

The Sports Leader program is a way for students to develop leadership skills that they will be able to utilise throughout their life, while also giving students alternative opportunities in sport, rather than focusing solely on performing. They pass through each stage from Grade 5 to Grade 8 learning the fundamental skills of being a leader, before having the option to take part in the AIS Sports Coach award in Grade 9.

What are the benefits of this program?

-Develops students’ leadership, organisation and communication skills

-Improves their confidence

-Employment opportunities when they leave school

-Giving back to the school and wider community

-Becoming a role model for other students

-The chance to change someone’s life for the better 

PYP P.E. Lessons

Our PE lessons in the Primary Years Program focuses on students developing the essential skills to become an active participant in the whole school community. Our PE lessons are integrated into the class units to allow the students to link multiple subjects and concepts together. Many of our lessons will focus on the learner profile, aiming to develop caring and knowledgeable students, who are able communicators that not afraid to take risks. 

MYP P.E. Lessons

Alongside the more traditional sports that many schools and curriculums focus on, we at AIS like to do things a little differently. Our students will take part in a wide variety of sports that challenge their minds and bodies in a multitude of ways. At AIS students take part in some of these lesser known/practiced activities:

-Quidditch

-Parkour

-Softball

-Modified games (games for people with special needs)

-Flag football

-Crossfit

-Touch rugby

What do our students think?

In PE we do a variety of sports, like floor hockey, basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and even Quidditch!

-Klara

At AIS in PE the teachers encourage us to do things out of our comfort zones.  

-Niharika

PE teachers show us the other side of sports or activities that you may have not liked and show that it can be interesting and engaging.

-Arina

PE at AIS is skill-learning and develops your thinking skills and how to respect others around you.

-Erik

PE is a very fun refresher subject when you get tired from sitting on a seat the whole day. Teachers give loads of opportunities for children to express themselves, and there is always something fun to do.

-Taha

PE helps me gain a better understanding of games that I didn't know or didn't fully understand. The teachers are very thorough when explaining and listen to us when we have feedback.

 

-Noah

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Language Policy

AIS Language Policy

Date reviewed May 2021

 

 

i) Philosophy


All teachers are defined as language instructors, and as such we are committed to provide a learning community that promotes and supports the development of Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) in an environment diverse with language and culture. We will continuously attempt to create an environment that fosters confident, creative and responsible language learners through inquiry based instruction. We recognise that each student is at some stage of development in one or more languages. Language is a part of a cultural identity and embraces the student's individual heritage. Our responsibility is to endeavour to safeguard these aspects of our diverse community.


ii) Purpose of language policy


  • To achieve a common understanding of our aims and objectives for language teaching.

  • To meet the standards of the International Baccalaureate programmes.

  • To identify the diverse language needs of the students at AIS and to put in place practices and procedures to address them.

  • To establish agreements on how to implement practices that reflect the school’s values and vision.

  • To provide the foundation of a whole-school language scope and sequence.



iii) Languages of Instruction


English in the IB programmes


Our objective is for students to develop skills in the main subject areas - Mathematics, Social Studies, the Arts, Sciences and Physical Education - through English.


Starting in Grade One, the classroom is an English immersion environment and differentiation is facilitated based on student’s assessed language needs. Our Language Scope and Sequence implements strands from various national curricula, the IB Scope and Sequence documents and the Norwegian national curriculum. This learning environment is scaffolded to support students who have English as an additional language. Should individual students’ command of the English language still be insufficient, additional student support will be considered while parents and other school service organisations may be involved. British English is acknowledged as the most valid form of the language but American English will be acknowledged and taught should the class contain students with this particular language background (AIS Essential Agreement Spelling).


English as an additional language (EAL)


EAL students constitute the largest proportion of our language environment at AIS. AIS provides English language immersion for EAL students, with teachers being aware of the needs of both EAL and mother-tongue English speaking students. EAL students are assisted through a range of different approaches, which may include individual guidance, differentiated teaching and learning outcomes within the mainstream class and separate language development lessons, depending on the level of support required. 



Norwegian in the IB programmes


We understand the importance of the development of our host language, Norwegian. At AIS we facilitate regular weekly instruction in Norwegian Bokmål at every grade level. We continuously look for opportunities to enrich the language learning environment through the purchase of resources, inviting guest speakers to the school and visiting local heritage centres off-site. We endeavour to create a strong Norwegian language culture through language immersion in the classroom. Additional support for Norwegian is provided for those students in need . We benchmark ourselves against national curriculum standards for Norwegian as specified by the Norwegian Directorate of Education.


Mother-tongue


The language profiles of students in IB schools may be complex and diverse; however, the influence of mother-tongue development is significant for all learners. It is acknowledged that development of mother-tongue language is crucial for cognitive development, and in maintaining cultural identity. Success in mother-tongue development is a strong predictor of long-term academic achievement, including acquisition of other languages.“ (PYP Language Scope and Sequence)


The school explicitly values each student’s mother-tongue language capabilities, and encourages students to continue developing their native languages at home. Parents will be asked about mother-tongue proficiency during enrollment. As part of valuing mother-tongue languages, AIS strives to create a library which represents the varied language backgrounds of our diverse community.


iv) Language beliefs


AIS believes:


  • language plays a vital role in the construction of meaning

  • language learning takes place where risk-taking is encouraged, and error-making is considered inevitable and necessary

  • all adults are language teachers and, should model appropriate language usage

  • talk in the classroom is fundamental to learning. Discussions, rehearsed talk and social talk all play a  role in language acquisition

  • the influence of mother-tongue development is significant for all learners

  • language skills are acquired most effectively from using language in a variety of relevant contexts

  • language is best learned through meaningful transdisciplinary study


Practices that reflect our beliefs

Practices that reflect our beliefs about language include:


  • Facilitated the move of the Russian school to our site (October 2017)

  • Facilities used for cultural days for Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi and Farsi

  • Latin offered as an extra-curricular club 

  • working towards creating a library that is representative of the cultures and languages in the school, which motivates students to read in a variety of genres and multiple languages.

  • giving students access to the internet and other media

  • providing students with access to structured reading and phonics schemes to enable progression in language abilities

  • making each classroom an environment rich in meaningful language, which engages students in transdisciplinary learning

  • regularly assessing and documenting students’ language abilities to inform teaching

  • explicit teaching of grammar, vocabulary and language features in meaningful contexts

  • structuring and differentiating language learning through a variety of approaches based on students’ needs

  • Home language library section

  • having high expectations of student’s progression in language

  • encouraging students to find, analyse, evaluate create and communicate information in a variety of media

  • encouraging and celebrating mother-tongue language proficiency within the school community

  • Four compulsory languages taught in the MYP: English, Norwegian, Chinese and Spanish

  • Two compulsory languages taught in the PYP: English Y Norwegian


The role of language in admissions at Asker International School


Asker International School is an all-inclusive school. Our enrollment criteria are stipulated below, and are not based on language ability. Student's ability level in language will be assessed at the beginning of each school year, or at entry level (when the student joins the school). As AIS is an English language learning environment, it is recommended that students trial at least one day in school before enrollment due to the potential challenges posed by a change in language learning environment.


Enrollment is based on:


  • The children of staff

  • Siblings of current enrolled students

  • Students who have attended school abroad


v) Language assessment


As per the IB Language Scope and Sequence, language is broken into the following categories: 


  • Oral language (listening and speaking)

  • Visual language (viewing and presenting)

  • Written language (reading)

  • Written language (writing)


Language will be assessed formatively and summatively, based on the strands above and in accordance with the school’s Assessment Policy, the School’s PYP Language Scope and Sequences, and the MYP Language Acquisition, and Language and Literature assessment criterion.


All teachers will consider language development in their planning and assessment, and will support the acquisition of Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) and BICS Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills in their teaching. All PYP unit rubrics will have an English language assessment component and an extended writing outcome. A similar assessment will be carried out in Norwegian by Norwegian teachers. This information will be used to inform differentiated teaching, and language needs will be taken into consideration when deciding on learning interventions or extra support. Progress in language development will be communicated to parents as part of the bi-annual reports.


vi) Roles and responsibilities:


  • The Principal, DP, PYP Coordinator and teachers are involved in the process of reviewing and developing the Language Policy. The Language Policy is a living, working document, referred to in the planning process, and for which the staff take ownership and responsibility, 

  • The Language Policy will be reviewed at the beginning and end of each academic year.

  • The principal is responsible for communicating the Language Policy to all members of the school community.

  • Teachers are to continuously look for new resources for their class environment and the school environment to facilitate language development. Purchases are authorised by school administration.

  • The Principal, DP & the PYP Coordinator are responsible for ensuring the Language Policy is implemented.

  • Regular collaborative evaluation of teaching practice, as well as class visits and observations will ensure that teachers are using good practices that support our Language Policy.

  • Teachers are responsible for the implementation of the Language Policy.


References


  • IB PYP language Scope and Sequence, International Baccalaureate Organisation, February 2009.

  • IB MYP Language Acquisition Subject Guide

  • IB MYP Language and Literature Subject Guide

  • AIS Assessment Policy

  • AIS Essential Agreement: Spelling

Subpages (1): Concept-based learning

 

 

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ASKER International School

Gamle Borgenvei 3, 1383 Asker. Tel: +47 908 90 609 E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.