Zero-plastic
Plastic pollution is a worldwide environmental concern. In order to reduce our environmental impact, APIS does not allow single-use plastic products. This includes disposable water bottles, plastic bags, and plastic cups. We ask all students and staff to purchase reusable items such as water-bottles, cloth shopping bags to substitute for these in order to show our students how we can best act for the future of our planet.
Green school project
There is only one planet Earth and it is our responsibly to care for it the best we can. At APIS we are working to adopt practices that help minimize the environmental impact of our school. These practices include filling our environment with plants, recycling paper and plastics, and cleaning up after ourselves. Through these shared practices, we teach our students and wider community about the importance of caring for the environment.
The Importance of Reading
“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn. One of our main missions at APIS is to foster a love of reading. Reading not only opens up children to new thoughts and ideas, it is also a vehicle to language learning. At APIS, we have an ever-growing library and celebrate the power of reading through annual events such as National Reading Day, Book Fairs, and World Vision’s Read for Good.
Project-based learning/inquiry-based learning
Part of our learning philosophy is that student learn best through collaboration and questioning. Our teaching strategies employ project-based and inquiry-based learning to get students more involved and invested in the topics they are learning about.
Play-based learning
Play is a key component of learning. Through play, children learn collaboration, respect, turn-taking, language skills and more. Play allows children to interact and develop at their own unique paces.
STEAM
STEAM is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking (Education Closet, 2019). At APIS, students take various classes in these disciplines, including coding class, music, art, and science. Through our STEAM programs, we aim to get students interested in these fields in the hopes of expanding their options for future career paths.
Home-school connection
Parents play a key role in education. Therefore, it is important for schools and parents to be on the same page regarding learning. We begin each year meeting with our parents to share our expectations and learning philosophy. We also meet parents throughout the year at Parent-Teacher Conferences. Another way parents can get even more involved is through joining our Parent Association (PA).
Personal learning goals
At APIS, we follow the Eight Personal Learning Goals of the IPC. These are: adaptability, communication, cooperation, enquiry, morality, resilience, respect, and thoughtfulness. By emphasizing these goals, we show students and parents that individual growth should be taken just as seriously as academic growth.
Language learning
Students at APIS learn in three different languages. While our main medium of instruction is English, our full curriculum also includes the Khmer General Education where students learn all content prescribed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Primary students also take an additional language, Chinese, on a daily basis. Knowledge of these three languages gives our students immense power in communicating both locally and globally.
Professional development
APIS hosts professional development sessions four times per year in order to develop the skills and knowledge of our staff. Employees from all campuses come together to collaborate, share ideas, and learn about new topics, such as first aid or child development.
International mindedness
APIS follows the International goals of the IPC in order to help children begin the move towards an increasingly sophisticated national, international, global and intercultural perspective and develop a sense of ‘international mindedness’. This means encouraging our students to expand their viewpoints and look at situations from another person’s, or another country’s, point of view.
Life skills
APIS feels it is important to equip all of our students with the skills necessary to live safe, healthy lives. To this end, we emphasize skills important to developing good, healthy habits. For example, we host Dentist Days to explain proper tooth brushing techniques; teach our students about germs and handwashing; and celebrate Road Safety by exploring ways our students and families can be safe on their commutes.
Physical well-being
As children, it is important to have a balanced lifestyle. This includes exercising regularly and eating a nutritious diet. All students at APIS take PE once a week and swimming once a week to ensure they are getting regular exercise and developing a love of sports. We also encourage all students and parents to pack healthy meals and snacks to school.