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Rawabi English Academy PROSPECTUS Learn Achieve Lead
Rawabi English Academy
PROSPECTUS
Learn Achieve Lead
Discover Our Promise
Welcome to Rawabi English Academy. We invite you to discover more about our school and the education we offer. Located at the entrance of Rawabi, we provide a diverse programme for KG to Year 6. We are an international community defined by our passion for education.
Please explore our school and contact us if you have any questions.
Our Vision
To learn, to achieve and to lead; discovering the promise in ourselves and the world.
Our vision and values are based on the fundamental belief that all pupils can achieve, succeed and thrive – and it is the mission of everybody at the Academy to ensure that this happens for each and every pupil. In realising this mission, we recognise that, while a student’s academic performance is always central, the building of responsibility, respect for others and self-esteem, so vital for success in adulthood, comes equally from participation in the many other areas of school life.
Added to this, we seek to develop in our students an appreciation of how to embrace change through maturity of outlook, breadth of thought and consideration of action, when faced with the demands of an ever-changing world
Our Core Values
• Excellence. • Cooperation. • Confidence. • Creativity. • Respect.
Our Purpose
To educate the youth of Palestine and beyond to take their productive place as leaders in the global community.
Welcome to the REA Community
Rawabi English Academy is one of the most modern independent schools in Palestine and it is an honour to be able to establish a school of such high quality for children of the region. We will combine a mix of tradition and change to create our unique and dynamic learning environment where learners are able to flourish. At REA we prepare our students to take their place in this ever-changing world. The leaders of tomorrow need a sturdy foundation, cultivated in an environment that is both caring and challenging.
Through the nurturing of skills, values and attitudes, we are giving learners the tools to cope with the challenges and demands of a fast moving society. We are helping to unlock their ability to think for themselves by allowing them to derive their own understanding through inquiry and experience. Each learner is able to develop their resilience, capacity to work collaboratively, to empathise with others and the ability to take action as an effective global citizen.
At REA we are driven by providing a holistic education and ensuring every learner is well rounded and balanced. Our Student Vision leads us to this by focusing on the development of our learners as Adaptable Lifelong Learners. Active Citizens, Effective Contributors, Resilient Individuals, Independent Enquirers and Creative Thinkers and is central to our goal of educating our students to take their places as leaders in the global community. The Student Vision is embedded in everything we do both inside and outside the classroom. The very strong emphasis we place on the provision of our extensive co-curricular programme is central to supporting our vision. Each member of this community, including students, staff and parents are all encouraged to be effective participants in community service, global awareness and education outside the classroom.
We are one of the most forward thinking schools in the region and I encourage you to join REA to see for yourself the vibrant educational experience provided by the school. The passion and belief in the capacity of young people to be their best is palpable here as is the sense of community and care for each other. As our website develops you will be able to keep pace with our fast moving school.
I warmly welcome you to Rawabi English Academy.
Mr George Bowery M.Ed NPQH Principal
Application Process
Rawabi English Academy accepts children without discrimination of sex, religion, race or nationality. Admission to the School will be determined with respect to:
• the potential of the applicant to benefit from the educational services available. • the capacity of the Academy to meet the educational needs of the applicant. Applications for admission for the current school year will be considered in order of priority and date of application, as places become available. Students are assigned to instructional groups on the basis of age.
Entrance Age
Year Group Age
Lower KG 4ys
Upper KG 5ys
Year 1 5 -6yrs
Year 2 6 -7yrs
Year 3 7- 8yrs
Year 4 8-9yrs
Year 5 9-10yrs
Year 6 10-11yrs
Student records from other schools
The School requires student records in English or translated into English from the applicant’s previous school before any student is accepted. These records include completion of payment of School Fees, reports, transcripts, results of standardised tests and any reports by a counsellor or psychologist (a checklist is provided). The School reserves the right to contact the applicant’s previous school prior to acceptance.
Interviews
Whenever possible, the applicant will be interviewed by the Principal prior to acceptance.
Entrance Aptitude Exam
A standardised entrance exam in English and Math is given to applicants in order to assess their learning needs.
Pupils are confident in leadership roles
As Adaptable Lifelong Learners • Enjoy learning and use their talents to reach their potential • Reflect personal performance to identify their languages learning needs • Proficient in the use of English and competent in additional languages.
As Creative Thinkers • Critically challenge their own assumptions and those of others. • Use their imagination to apply their thinking to real life situations • Have the confidence to apply knowledge and thinking skills creatively to approach complex problems
As Active Citizens • Are motivated to take
appropriate actions over local and global issues • Empathise and support
others through accepting and understanding diversity of their own and other people’s cultures and societies
As Independent Enquirers • Work independently and collaboratively to answer questions and to solve problems • Locate, assess and manage information effectively • Analyse and evaluate information to support conclusions
As Effective Contributors • Are articulate and open to others’ points of view • Have the confidence to express themselves and discuss ideas
As Resilient Individuals • Develop a sound personal code of ethics and take responsibility and accept the consequences for their actions.
• Enjoy a healthy, active and balanced lifestyle
Frequently Asked Questions Q Are the teachers qualified and do they have university
degrees? A Yes. All of our teaching faculty have university
degrees and several hold Masters Degrees. All subjects from Y1-6 are taught by subject specialists.
Q How many students are there per class at REA? A There will be no more than 25 pupils per class. Q What is the school’s approach to discipline? A The school is more interested in helping to modify
poor behaviour through corrective action and education rather than in punishing by suspension or expulsion. However, in cases where warnings go unheeded or where there is a serious breach of school rules, students may be suspended or expelled. Serious offences include theft, bullying, and physical fights or hitting.
Q What type of student will succeed at REA? A Our students are committed to academic excellence
and community involvement. Passionate leaders, skilled athletes, and innovative entrepreneurs are just some of the diverse types of students who thrive in the challenging REA environment.
Q Is School Transport provided? A School Buses run from Ramallah and Al Bira. Q What universities can REA graduates attend? A All of our graduates will have the skills and experiences
necessary to attend highly ranked universities in Palestine, the Middle East, the US and UK, and all over the world.
Admissions process FAQs Q Are entrance tests required for everyone? A Entrance tests are required for all students applying for
admittance. The exam is designed to identify the learning needs of the pupil.
Q Can I talk to current parents or students? A Several of our past and current parents have volunteered
to call, email or meet with potential families about their experience with REA.
Q How long does it take to find out if a student has been accepted?
A The test is marked immediately and depending upon school reports a place can be offered there and then.
Q When are applications due? A In general, all applications should be submitted before the
end of February of the year of entry. For example, if a student was hoping to begin at REA in September of 2018, their application should be received before March 1, 2018. It is highly recommended to apply earlier.
The Curriculum
An Internationally enhanced English style education leading to IGCSEs in Y10 and A Levels in Y12.
The school bases its curriculum on the National Curriculum of England and Wales with modifications designed to meet the needs of international students. The English system provides a high quality and broad education which enables pupils to move to any other English-speaking country fully equipped to succeed. Your child’s education will be enhanced by the time spent in the multi-cultural environment of REA.
We offer International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) in KG and were the first officially recognised school in Palestine offering Cambridge International Education in the Primary.
More details about CIE can be found at http://www.cie.org.uk/cambridge-for/parents-and-students/
Key Stage 1 Year 1 5 - 6 years of age Year 2 6 - 7 years of age
Early Years / Foundation Nursery 3 - 4 years of age Reception 4 - 5 years of age
Key Stage 2 Year 3 7 - 8 years of age
Year 4 8 - 9 years of age
Year 5 9 - 10 years of age
Year 6 10 - 11 years of age
EARLY YEARS PRIMARY
Early
Years
Our Early Years Centre offers our youngest children an exceptional first educational experience, which will introduce them to the joys of learning. It combines a curriculum that is stimulating, creative and integrated, with specific guidance on personal, social and emotional development.
The International Early Year Curriculum (IEYC) is specifically designed to utilize international best practices, holistic enquiry, and play-based approaches to educate children aged 2-5 years. It is currently being utilized by over 140 accredited schools in 47 countries around the world.
The IEYC is built around four learning strands: independence and interdependence; communicating, enquiring, and healthy living and physical wellbeing. We want children to enjoy their learning; develop enquiring minds, develop the personal qualities they need to be good citizens of the world, and develop a sense of their own nationality and culture, at the same time developing a profound respect for the nationalities and cultures of others. Most of all, we want children to develop all the skills they will need in order to confidently face the world of tomorrow.
Our aim is to provide a holistic experience that encourages your child to achieve their full potential in all areas, ensuring they are prepared for their future education. The foundation learning skills are taught through various activities that meet each child’s needs and abilities allowing learning to be a fun, natural journey.
A solid foundation for the early years.
Linking subjects means that children can make lots of connections with their learning. We now know that the more connections that the brain can make, the better a child can learn.
The development of skills through play is a very big part of the IEYC and learning activities have been designed so that children can develop these skills. This development of skills even applies to the personal learning goals which emphasise adaptability, resilience, thoughtfulness, cooperation and respect and which, as a result of progressive skill development, help children to become able and inspired learners.
A safe, stimulating child-centred environment
We create a partnership between your home
and our school, beginning the development of
learning habits necessary to access education.
The curriculum underpins all future learning
by supporting, fostering, promoting and
developing children’s experience. We believe
it is essential that during the early formative
years, children begin to make sense of their
world, through a broad and balanced learning
environment. The Early Years Centre is
purpose-built for these activities.
It provides a safe, stimulating child-centred environment designed for your children to thrive socially, intellectually and physically. Class sizes are small, with a maximum of 25 children in each class. Each class has two teachers one fluent in English and one fluent in Arabic. Specialist teachers join us for Music, PE and Art, and we encourage our families to come and support us in promoting learning. We believe it is essential for your children to feel happy, confident, secure and cared for as they learn. We promote creative and imaginative opportunities for children to develop the core skills of early reading, writing and numeracy. The EYC curriculum is an integrated model using the best practice encompassed in the strand-based approach of the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC).
There are four key strands of learning:
Independence and interdependence
Communicating
Enquiring
Healthy living and well-being
Primary School
We recognise that your child has a unique set
of attributes and abilities. Our goal is to
nurture and develop each child to achieve
their potential and fulfil the Student Vision.
We aim to encourage them to be inquisitive,
informed and independent students; who will
be inspired to contribute to their community,
become effective communicators and develop
resilience as individuals.
Children are encouraged to be academically inquisitive, to take responsibility and to use their initiative.
We aim to ensure solid foundations are laid for your child’s future success.
Why choose Cambridge?
Cambridge International Examinations is the world’s largest provider of international education programmes and qualifications for learners aged 5 to 19. It is part of Cambridge Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge, trusted for excellence in education. Its qualifications are recognised by the world’s universities and employers. Cambridge IGCSE® (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is internationally recognised by schools, universities and employers as equivalent in demand to UK GCSEs.
Key Stage 1 Year 1 5 - 6 years of age Year 2 6 - 7 years of age
The majority of learning
takes place in the
nurturing environment of
the classroom facilitated
by the classroom teacher
and assistant teachers. All
rooms are supported by
interactive projectors.
Specialist teachers
support the teaching of all
subjects. There is a blend
of English and Arabic
language lessons helping
each child to develop the
cultural understanding of
their country whilst also
allowing them to
converse in English.
Educational foundations built on the cornerstones of key learning skills, developed through practical experiences and opportunities.
Key Stage 1 welcomes children from the EYC into the Primary School and encourages each child to continue their development and maintain the fun, active approach to learning. CIE International Primary Curriculum provides a structured approach to teaching and learning. Classroom based learning along with a broad co-curricular programme and education outside the classroom ensure we provide a holistic education for your child. Pupils are encouraged to learn both independently and in collaboration with each other
Pupils in Y1-2 study the following subjects using the language indicated
• English in English • Mathematics in English • Science in English • Computer Studies in English • Social Studies in Arabic • Religion – Islam in Arabic
- Christianity in Arabic • Music in Arabic • PE in Arabic • Art both
REA utilises both the
classroom and education
opportunities outside the
classroom to provide a
programme that develops
life-long achievers.
Key Stage 2 builds upon the strong foundations laid in the Early Years and Key Stage 1, preparing children for the secondary phase of their education. The delivery of learning is stimulating, varied, engaging and fun. The Cambridge programme continues in Key Stage 2 with a focus on honing the key learning skills in the foundation areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Science, that will be required at Key Stage 3. Literacy is taught with a strong emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The development of practical, mental and applied mathematics is achieved through our daily numeracy lessons.
Key Stage 2 Year 3 7 - 8 years of age
Year 4 8 - 9 years of age
Year 5 9 - 10 years of age
Year 6 10 - 11 years of age
Subjects taught are
English in English Mathematics in English Science in English Computers in English Religion – Islam in Arabic Christianity in Arabic Social Studies in Arabic Ethics in Arabic Art both Music in Arabic PE in Arabic
Primary school students take part
in a house system which allows
them to perform team-building
exercises outside of their
individual years in a multi-age
and multi-level environment,
giving older students the chance
to build mentoring skills.
models from a variety of professions.
Houses gather on a regular basis
to compete against each other in
different activities. This year,
competitions were designed to
teach students about REA’s
values. For example, last
semester each house designed
their own inventions to learn the
value of creativity. At the end of
the year, houses compete in a
Sports Day to utilize their
newfound cooperative skills to an
athletic challenge.
Students are divided into four
houses, each named after a
famous Palestinian chosen for
the positive contributions they
made towards Palestinian life
and culture and in order to give
students male and female role
For each competition, houses are
awarded points, which at the end
of the year are calculated to
declare a winner. The winning
house and all of its members
then receive a special prize.
House System
Curriculum beyond the classroom
Community Service
Community Service is part of the moral fabric of REA. Understanding the importance of ‘giving back’ is central to the ethos of the school.
Even the youngest members of our school are expected, and provided opportunities, to engage in community service.
We also help serve other local state primary schools where pupils do not have the same opportunities as our pupils but who have just as a fulfilling life.
After only being open for 5 weeks the whole school took part in an activity which gave them a greater appreciation of others and what can be achieved as a team.
Out of Class Activities
These take place on Thursday afternoon 1pm – 3.15pm and help develop other talents and interests.
In Term 2 of this year there are ‘Clubs’ in:
Board Games Books Music Yoga Art Dance Italian Sports Chess Table Tennis Stinky Science Memory Design
An International Community
As one of the few schools in Palestine to utilize the British curriculum,
and the only school recognized by Cambridge International Education
and International Primary Curriculum, REA is a unique environment
for your child to be exposed to the outside world.
REA makes a special effort to recruit foreign educators and local
Palestinian teachers with an international mind set. Our Head of School,
George Bowery, began his career in the UK before running schools in
Kuwait, Malawi, and Nigeria. The current head of our English department
attended university and taught in Scotland before coming to Rawabi.
Many of our Palestinian staff have studied or worked overseas and many
of our students grew up abroad and are fluent in foreign languages.
At REA we understand that our
pupils will be forced to
compete in an increasingly
globalized world. As such, we
teach the skills that will be vital
for their success in this
environment, placing a special
emphasis on critical thinking
and English language skills.
Tolerance, respect, and
curiosity are all emphasized as
they will be necessary for our
students to thrive in tomorrow’s
multicultural world.
Smart Classrooms for Smart Students
Understanding that we are preparing students for the world of
tomorrow, REA is committed to utilizing the latest technology and
exposing our students to it.
Pupils are given the chance to
hone their computer literacy in
our state-of-the-art computer
room.
While technology is important to
a modern child’s life and
development, we require all of
our students to turn in their cell
phones and tablets when
arriving at school in order to
minimize distractions.
Knowing the importance of
keeping of students secure and
safe, REA utilizes fingerprint
and facial recognition
technology to check students in,
as well as security cameras to
monitor classrooms and school
access points.
Discipline and Rewards in the 21st Century
It can be hard to standardize discipline across a school, as well as notify parents of any behavior issues in a timely manner and allow pupils to know where they stand with each of their teachers at any given time.
That’s why REA has turned to ClassDojo, an online platform to unify discipline across classrooms.
Using the ‘carrot-and-stick’ approach, teachers can assign of take away ‘Dojo Points’ from a pupil based on his or her performance.
A student’s Dojo points are updated in real time to the platform so parents can see their child’s score at any time. ClassDojo also gives teachers the option to send a message to a parent with any concerns or in case of serious incidents.
At the end of every week, REA names the pupil with the most Dojo points from each year as a ‘star student.’ Star students get their picture on a board in the reception area. This motivates children to compete to see who can be the best behaved.
Coming Soon!
The 2017-18 school year marks the first time Y6 education has been offered at REA; and we’re not stopping there!
For the 2018-19 school year, REA is expanding from KG-Y6 education to offer Y7 classes.
REA hopes to continue this expansion process, with the eventual goal of opening a Middle and Upper School to become the premier provider of exceptional KG-Y12 education to the youth of Rawabi and the larger region.
Rawabi 666 Palestine
Tel. +972 (2) 947565 Fax +972 (2) 947566
Email [email protected]
