Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

Answers are provided below to questions we often hear. If you cannot find the answer to your question below, please contact admissions@isc.cw

How do I apply for my child to enroll at ISC?

• All application information is found under the link Admissions on this website. You will find information on our Admissions Philosophy, Admissions Policy, and the steps of the Admissions Process (for regular and online application).

How long do parents have to wait before knowing their child has been accepted at ISC?

• Once the Director of Admissions and Student Services has received all the necessary documentation asked for in our Admissions Process page, parents can normally have the decision of acceptance within a week. In urgent situations, it can be even faster.

Are there waiting lists for students to enter ISC?

• As an international school, ISC has a regular changeover of students. This means that, at the time you apply, some classes may be full. When this happens, we open a waiting list for the class concerned. Since there is a movement of students there is always a chance of spaces becoming available.

What is the maximum number of students in a class?

• Maximum class size is 18 students for all grades. Consideration is given by administration to expatriate families up to a maximum of 20 students.

Does ISC accept students with special needs?

• Students with mild physical, medical, or academic needs can be accepted as long as it is determined that the school can positively serve their special needs. Applications for special needs students must be accompanied by complete evaluation reports from specialists in order to be considered. Upon revision of the application documents and reports, students may be advised to enroll in ISC’s Learning Resource Program for additional academic support. ISC also provides counseling support for students with mild emotional/social needs. Please see Support Programs for further information.

What support does ISC provide for students who are not fluent English speakers?

• Many of our students do not speak English when they enroll and our teachers and other students welcome them and make them feel at home. Students who are not native English speakers will be enrolled into our English as Another Language Program (EAL) to receive intensive instruction in English by our qualified EAL teachers. The following students must enroll in the EAL Program:

1. Student whose native language Is not English
2. Students studying in English for the first time
3. Students who have not attended a school with English language of instruction in 5 consecutive years

What are ISC’s school hours and when do students have breaks?

• K4 through 5^th: 7:50 – 2:00        Recess: 9:30-9:45 and Lunch: 12:00-12:30
• 6 through 12:   7:50 – 2:00        (some classes in HS finish at a later time; student schedules vary)
  • Lunch: grades  6 & 7   – 11:00-11:45
  • Lunch: grade 8 – 10:15-11:00
  • Lunch: grades 9 & 10 – 11:45-12:30
  • Lunch: grades 11 & 12 –  see individual student schedules

What do students need to bring for lunch?

• Since elementary students have two breaks, it is advisable to pack snacks and a drink for the recess (at 9:30) and lunch and a drink for their lunch break (at 12:00). ISC also has snack stores on both the Elementary/Middle School campus and the High School campus where students can buy snacks, a hot lunch, and drinks. A lunch menu is posted weekly on the school website and in the Newsletter. It is the parents’ decision as to whether they send packed lunches or allow students to buy their food on campus (payment is cash only).

What subjects does ISC offer at the different levels?

• The core subjects are English, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science. Other subjects include Physical Education, Art, Music, Drama, Information Technology, and Library. Students in K4 and K5 additionally get violin classes. Dutch and Spanish are offered from grade 2. In the High School we offer electives such as Curacao History, Choir, Art, Fitness, and Model United Nations (MUN). The International Baccalaureate Program offers a variety of subjects for students taking the IB Diploma in grades 11 and 12.
• To view our curriculum, visit our website and click on Curriculum, then follow the instructions.

How can I find out more about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma?

• The International School of Curacao offers the IB Diploma Program in Grades 11 & 12, encouraging our students to reach the highest academic standards. More information about the IB Diploma Program and course requirements is available on our website under IB Program. The policy for admissions of students to the program is outlined in the IB Policy in this same section. For more information visit www.ibo.org or email our IB Coordinator, Mrs. S. Murali at muralis@isc.cw

What after-school activities does ISC offer?

• Our Learning Plus after-school program offers two blocks of activities per school year – one in the fall and one in the spring semester. After-school activities offered vary from semester to semester, and often include soccer, crafts, gymnastics, and cooking.

What are the costs of the school?

• This varies for different grade levels. To see our school fees click on School Fees in the Admissions link. Contact the Director of Admissions and Student Services if you need further explanation.

Do students wear a uniform?

• Yes, ISC has a uniform dress code for grades K4 and up. You can view this on our website (click on ISC Uniforms). Uniform Polo shirts and T-shirts are sold in the Library. Parents can buy ants, shorts and skirts elsewhere according to the stipulated colors.

Does ISC provide transportation to and from school by bus?

• ISC has a school bus service in the mornings and afternoons. Currently the bus service is limited to the eastern part of the island (Jan Sofat, Jan Thiel, Zuurzak).

What is ISC’s discipline policy?

• ISC has a major responsibility in assisting students to develop personal values, which are within the context of the school community and society in general. Away from ISC, students still are representatives of their school and family and, therefore, their behavior should reflect the highest standards.
• All students on our campus are expected to follow a set of principles called WE ARE ISC that have been adopted in providing a healthy community. The WE ARE ISC principles ask for the commitment and effort of the entire community to teach, reinforce, and maintain our 8 pillars. These are: We are Open Minded; We are Reflective; We are Communicators; We are Caring; We are Inquirers; We are Principled; We are Knowledgeable; We are Thinkers; We are Balanced; We are Risk Takers.
• ISC’s discipline philosophy and policies can be viewed in our Parent Student Handbook.

Where do ISC’s teachers and students come from?

• ISC teachers and student come from over 35 different nationalities. Our School Profile provides you with some statistics regarding our teacher and student population.

What are ISC graduation requirements (credit system)?

• From grades 9 to 12 students need to acquire a minimum of 24 credits in the stipulated subjects (see Graduation Requirements). When a student transfers from another school into High School, the transcript or report cards from the previous schools will be used to calculate their transfer credits. A student receives credits only for subjects with a passing grade.

 What kind of further education can ISC graduates attend in the Netherlands?

• Graduates of ISC who wish to continue their education in the Netherlands can attend university if they obtain the IB Diploma. If they obtain our ISC High School Diploma and/or IB Certificates, they can attend Hoger Beroeps Onderwijs (HBO) which offers Bachelor’s degrees.

Which colleges do ISC graduates attend?

• ISC graduates attend colleges worldwide. To view the colleges our students were accepted at in the last few years, please see page 2 of our School Profile.

Where can I find an ISC School Calendar?

• Our school calendar is available on our website’s home page.

What are the procedures for withdrawing a student from ISC?

• Parents who are withdrawing a student should fill out the Notice of Withdrawal Form which is available either through the Main Office or ISC’s website (Admissions link).  Please hand in the filled form to the Main Office or the Admissions Office as soon as you know of the withdrawal (or at least 2 weeks beforehand). It is also essential to make an appointment with the Accounts Manager to cancel any outstanding payments. If parents are requesting student grades, Transfer Certificates or Transcripts, please allow at least 2 weeks for these to be prepared.
• Should your child’s next school request Teacher Recommendation Forms to be filled by ISC teachers, the correct procedure is to take these forms to our Main Office. Please do not give directly to the teachers. The forms will be distributed to the relevant teachers through the Admissions Office. Most schools ask for the forms to be sent by fax or email directly by our school for confidentiality purposes. Our Director of Admissions and Student Services will ensure that the filled forms are faxed or emailed to the new school.