Boca Prep International School

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Summary

Contact Info

Boca Prep International School
10333 Diego Drive South
Boca Raton , FL  33428
www.bocaprep.net www.iesedu.com

Tel: (561) 852-1410
Fax: (561) 852-9638

Director: Graham Hurrell: Head of School
admissions.bocaprep@sekmail.com

Admissions Director:
Mrs. Anita Nabhan anita.nabhan@iesedu.com

General Approach to Learning

Play-based
Play-based with some structure
Check Mark Predominantly teacher-led instruction
Montessori
Waldorf
Co-op
Check Mark Reggio-Emilia

Application Information

Applications accepted After a face-to-face meeting at the school, on site visit for one whole day
Wait list No
Deadline for applications Rolling

Key Statistics

Total enrollment 27
Student/teacher ratio 9:1
Age cutoff for enrollment 3 years
Extended day Yes
School year Year round program

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

St. Andrews

Parent Ratings

Parents at this school would recommend this school to other parents. Five Stars
Quality of teaching Four And Half Stars
Development of social skills and work habits Four And Half Stars
Home-school connection Four Stars
Parent community Two Stars
Discipline Five Stars
Facilities Four Stars
Health Five Stars
Safety Four Stars
Handling of separation Five Stars

Survey Information

Number of parents surveyed:  2

Director survey: Yes

Savvy Source survey: Yes

General Info

Basic Stats

Total enrollment 27
Student/teacher ratio 9:1
Established 1999

% of teachers with:

- Bachelors 33%
- Teaching credentials 100%
- CPR 66%
- First aid 100%

Transportation and Drop-off Policies

Transportation

- Parents bring their children to and from school

- Private bus service available


Dropoff Procedure

- Teachers/director meet children at their cars and walk the children into the classroom

- 7:45 AM is the earliest time a parent can drop off a child

Late Pickup Policy: No fee for late pick up, unless children take after school, organized activities like "Aloha" Maths, Sports, "MindLab" or "tutor-time".

Features of the Preschool

Provide a third year No
Provide a kindergarten and elementary school program Yes
Affiliated with a religious institution No
Some experience serving children with special needs No

Accreditation, Membership & Awards

Accreditation by the National Association of Young Children No

Other Accreditations

FKC IBO

Other Memberships

International Schools Association

Facilities

CONDITION OF FACILITIES RATING (4.0) Four Stars
Building, bathrooms, hallway Four Stars
Classroom equipment and furniture Four Stars
Outside play equipment Four Stars

Facilities Include:

Classrooms (with bathroom attached) Check
Classrooms (with kitchenette attached)
Music room Check
Art room Check
Library Check
SWIM POOL, GYMNASIUM, Computer Room Check
Playground Check

Director's Comments

Question to director: Do you have any additional thoughts on what parents should consider when looking at your school? Is there any advice that you would like to provide to prospective parents?
Boca Prep International School comprises 43 Nationalities and a host of language groups. We teach Spanish as from Pre K 3, and then Italian, Russian, French and Japanese through the school. We teach the IB Programme from Pre K 3 until 12th grade. Many of our students are leading Tennis and Soccer players, gaining scholarships at the most prestigious sporting universities at home and abroad.

Parents' Comments
Parent #1
Highly international, great teachers, excursions, Spanish from Pre K 3 and already starting the IB Primary Years Programme!

Swimming, Gym and beautiful campus

Parent #2
i have had 2 children attend pre-school here and i absolutely love it! the small classrooms are a real draw and the teachers/students provide a real sense of community for my children who have no relatives in the state. i see them attending boca prep until college...

School Philosophy & Day in the Life

School Philosophy and Mission

We are members of the 8 school "International Education Systems" Institution which forms part of the SEK group of schools.

"To define the work undertaken in their classrooms, all educational organizations should have a clear set of values and objectives. In our case, these are given in the Mission Statement, refined over more than one hundred years by parent, teacher and student contributions.
The student and his or her world provide the context for all activity and learning within the organization which, in turn, respects each student as an individual, looks to discover and encourage his or her personal abilities, and work to ensure their full development
The SEK International Organization educates in and for freedom. It accepts the challenges that this creates and exerts each student to take responsibility for his or her actions.
The SEK International Organization does not discriminate on grounds of nationality, gender, race, creed or religion.
The SEK International Organization promotes a sense of community in its students. It values work as an essential factor in the growth and self-esteem of each person, and as a socializing process rather than one leading to rivalry and ambition.
The SEK International Organization, embracing the principles of humanism, is open to all learning experiences which lead to the achievement of its goals.
"
Excerpted from the preschool's website



Typical Day-In-The-Life At This School

Typical Pre K 3 day
8:00 Language Instruction
8:45 Maths
9:30 Break (Fruit and snack provided by school)
9:45 Drama and Yoga
10:30 Spanish
11:15 Hot Lunch (provided by school)Play time
12:00 Primary Years Programme Unit of Inquiry
12:45 Swim / Physical Education
1:30 Programme of Inquiry Science
2:15 Programme of Inquiry Social Studies
3:00 Outside activities - Gym, playground, garden, academic support and academic connections (enrichment).

Curriculum & Teaching Approach

General Approach to Learning

Play-based
Play-based with some structure
Predominantly teacher-led instruction
Montessori
Waldorf
Co-op
Check Mark Reggio-Emilia

Director's Comments

We follow the IBO's Primary Years Programme with our own highly "international minded" approach. We believe that every child should learn and practice the attributes of the IB Learner Profile (see www.ibo.net), and this is achieved through traditional teacher-led lessons, programmes of inquiry, structured play, shows and internationalist activities, field work, outside excursions and classwork together with families.

Social Skills & Work Habits

OVERALL RATING (4.5) Four And Half Stars
This school has increased my child's:
Ability to listen and follow directions Four And Half Stars
Ability to sit still for longer periods of time
Four Stars
Ability to be a part of a group of children Four Stars
Self-sufficiency and independence Four And Half Stars
Awareness of others’ feelings Five Stars
Cooperation with other children Five Stars

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

Free Play Free Play Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure Free Play with Some Structure
Language YES
Oral language - Free play with some structure Predominantly teacher-led instruction - n/a
Nursery rhymes, poems, songs - Free play with some structure Predominantly teacher-led instruction - n/a
Storybook reading - Free play with some structure Predominantly teacher-led instruction - n/a
Emerging literacy skills - Free play with some structure Predominantly teacher-led instruction - n/a
Cognitive Development n/a
Math and number sense - Free play with some structure Predominantly teacher-led instruction - YES
Time & space - Free play with some structure Predominantly teacher-led instruction - YES
Sci. reasoning/physical world - - Predominantly teacher-led instruction - YES
Music - - Predominantly teacher-led instruction - YES
Visual arts - - Predominantly teacher-led instruction - YES
Physical activity - Free play with some structure Predominantly teacher-led instruction - YES
Other subjects taught Yoga Drama Spanish n/a
Director's Comments

World Class! To form "first class citizens."

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Teacher led, but also work stations and free expression at constructive play time

Quality of Teaching

Teachers Are:

OVERALL RATING: (4.7) Four And Half Stars
Full of energy and seemingly happy in job Five Stars
Patient and affectionate with children Five Stars
Praises children for accomplishments and good behavior Five Stars
Provides feedback on what my child does during the day Four Stars
Shares insights on my child that are helpful and accurate Four Stars
Identifies my child’s strengths and weaknesses Four And Half Stars
If necessary, provides additional support to my child during pickup and drop-off Five Stars
Notices children who are not on task and/or engaging with other children appropriately and quickly reengages them Five Stars
Manages the energy level of the children so that all children feel safe and able to learn Five Stars
Provides additional support to a child when s/he is clearly failing in her/his efforts Four Stars
Strikes the proper balance between active and quiet play for children Five Stars

Director's Comments on Individualized Teaching

Individualized Teaching


Description of how teachers work with children who are
"behind," "excelling" or "different" from the majority of students

English as a second language classes take place at the school for foreign students (free) and individual tutoring can be requested at an additional cost.

Small group size in every class but individual support is always available from social skills to academic support. A speech therapist is available at additional cost.

Home School Connection

Home-School Connection

OVERALL RATING (4.3) Four Stars
Conducts an open house at start of school year Five Stars
Conducts a parent-teacher meeting at start of school year Five Stars
Conducts regular parent teacher conferences Four And Half Stars
Provides summary of child’s learning at end of year Five Stars
Provides guidance on developmental goals for the following year Four And Half Stars
Provides guidance on best Kindergarten and elementary schools Two Stars
Director's Comments

Daily comments by class teacher in the child's school agenda Interim and termly grades (Will be Edline in August 2009) Regular Parent Teacher Meetings Friday Folder Informal at drop off and pick up.

Separation

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars
Beginning of the year separation is handled through:
- Pre-entry meetings with parents at school

Director's and Parents' Comments

Director's Comments

Working in conjunction with parents and the school Counselor. This may mean late arrival, parent in classroom, lunchtime pick up. The students are so happy in these small groups that it is usually the Mums who have the separation difficulty!

Drop-in Policy

- During school parents are welcomed as the school has an open door policy

Parent Community

COHESIVENESS RATING (2.0) Two Stars

Parents:

- Fundraise

- Are able to visit the school anytime we want

- Go on field trips

- Volunteer in the classroom

- Receive newsletters


Parents' Comments

Parent #1
Pairs old parents with new parents

Modes of Communication Between School and Home

- Notes

- Phone Calls

- Voice Mail

- Email

- Special Meetings

- Two or More Regular Conferences

- Drop-Off

- Pick-Up

- Regular newsletter/printed updates circulated to the whole school

Discipline, Health and Safety

Discipline

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars
Parents' Opinions
Parents at this school, on average, believe that conflicts between children: are handled extraordinarily well in a way that not only gives me confidence in the safety of my child but also reassures me that my child (and his/her peers) are learning the early skills needed to socialize effectively with one another

Overview


Director's Description of Approach Toward Discipline


We believe in education of the whole person for an internationalist world. Should there be infractions, we discuss them with parents, have "time - outs" and try to find the reason. We are selective by intake and try to avoid potential discipline problems for the benefit of the whole group.

If required, we reserve the right to suspend a pupil or place a child "on probation" and not renew the school reentry contract.

Parents' Notes on Discipline, Health and Safety

Parents' Comments

Parent #1
i perceive this school to be an extension of our home and find it the perfect fit for my family.

Parent #2
old historic building so sometimes difficult to say excellent - though we are more than happy

Health

OVERALL RATING (5.0) Five Stars
Temperature and overall air circulation is comfortable Five Stars
Healthy and nutritious snacks are provided Five Stars
Toys and furniture are cleaned regularly Five Stars

Food Allergies

- We keep special snacks for allergic children

- We ask parents to provide child-safe snacks for their allergic child

Medications

- We keep their medication on hand at all times

- School Nurse

Safety

OVERALL RATING (4.3) Four Stars
Screen and identify all visitors Four And Half Stars
• All staff screened and with teaching certificates - requirement of FKC and FCIS (Florida Council of Independent Schools). We have our own school buses and so our qualified staff also drive students to homes and to activities. These drivers are also screened.
Parents may not bring sick children to school where they may infect others Four Stars

Ages, Schedule & Tuition

Ages, Class Size, Days & Tuition

Ages Class Size Days Tuition
From 3 years to
5 years
$0/Week
From 3 years to
5 years 60 months
$0/Week

Extended Care

- This school does have extended care

Notes on Schedule and Extended Care

Notes

Available upon request.

School based activities

DramaWorks (Drama Club led by Mrs. Heather Schmulian, renowned Professional Drama leader)

Aloha Maths

I9 Sports and Camp activities

Calendar Year

School Year

Year round program

Application & Admissions

Application Process

Applications are accepted: After a face-to-face meeting at the school, on site visit for one whole day

There is no wait list for upcoming school year.

Parent visits tours are: Recommended

Child interview process: Required for all applicants and takes the form of teacher-child

Parent interview process: Admissions Director-parent

Deadline for applications: Rolling

Admissions Process

Acceptance criteria: Selective based on potential, integration with other students  
• No Special Needs, no children expelled from other schools

Notification occurs: Immediately

Financial aid is not available.

Director's Comments

Comments

If a child has been admitted to the school at full fee basis and then at a later date, have financial difficulties, we will consider financial aid based on SSS forms (available in the school).

Age/Child Requirements

Child must be 3 years to enroll.

Child must be potty trained to enroll.

Director's views on diversity:
We are multi ethnic and with 43 Nationalities

Kindergarten Placement & Tips

Kindergarten Placement

Kindergartens that preschoolers from this school are now attending

St. Andrews

The Savvy Source for Parents © 2006
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