Kathmandu, Nepal Report of what it's like to live there - 05/28/16
Personal Experiences from Kathmandu, Nepal
School Name:
Lincoln School
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
9, 10, 12
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2014-2016
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Work
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Wonderful reputation. AP and gifted program. Small International school that is academically on par with much larger regional schools. The Lincoln community welcomed our family with open arms. Our children have been given many opportunities they would not have had in other larger schools. The teachers, administration, and staff were very helpful with the transfer process, answered all our questions, and were amazing through our transition.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
A
All went smooth as butter!
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
A Fantastic! New students are assigned a buddy to help find classes, meet other students, and learn the ins and outs of the school. Teachers provide a great deal of communication via email, phone calls, and newsletters. The counselor contacted us to check in and see how our students were adjusting.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
The high school climate is outstanding. The graduating class of 2016 received (16 students strong) received 28 merit scholarships totaling over 1.5 million USD. Each graduate received at least one, some several scholarships to attend colleges including full scholarships to ivy league schools. AP opportunities abound!
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
B Perception exists some students do receive preferential treatment.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
A
This is a two-way street. We encourage our students to attempt to resolve problems on their own first; however, the teachers and administration welcomes communication from both parents and students.
4. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
Lunches have to be purchased. Laptops are required. Scientific computers are required.
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
A
We have gifted children who have been challenged and are happy at the school. When classes of interest were not available at school, the counselor worked with our students to find online opportunities. Extension learning was also offered to keep the kids challenged.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
A
You name it, they offer it. The normal range of sport, and then some including yoga, zumba, mtn biking, foreign language clubs. If they don't offer it, and there is interest, it seems like it is offered the next semester.
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
A
The school is moving to standards-based learning which allows students to focus on how the student best learns. Although this is much more work for the teachers, the students are thriving! Students are not forced to learn via a specific method, but given the chance to demonstrate to the teachers how they learn best. For example, rather then demanding a written essay, students may choose to submit a video, create a song, or another way to demonstrate to the teacher the student has achieved the learning goal.
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
A
Spot on. The teachers realize students and families do sometimes have other obligations and work with students when this happens.
9. Administration-parent communication:
A
Newsletters, texts, FB announcements, monthly school board meetings are all methods the administration utilizes to communicate.
10. Teacher-student communication:
A
The students are kept well informed of scheduled events.
11. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
No
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
No
13. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
Yes. Our students have been challenged.
14. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
Yes, several.
15. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
None.
16. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Yes. All SAISA activities; band, choir, art, sports require additional payment if the student would like to travel; however, if the student does not travel there is no fee. A few field trips do cost additional money, but this is minimal.
17. What activities do you feel are missing?
None
18. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes. Volleyball, Swim team, basketball, track, soccer, band, choir, drama, art.
19. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Yes.
20. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
None.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
A
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
A
The school uses kindles, and e-books as well as has a robust library.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
A
Love it! BYOD; but the IT section provides top rate support. Loaner laptops are available in the event the student's laptop has issues.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
A
LS opened a new heated pool this year allowing for a year-round aquatic program for all grades. Students interested in swimming were able to do so the entire year! The school competes in a number of sports locally and regionally to include basketball, volleyball, badmitten, tennis, track, soccer, and swimming. LS has won several championships and competes well against the much larger school despite the small size. The coaches, teachers, and athletic director encourage all students to participate. Additionally, team work and sportsmanship rank high on the agenda. Student athletes support one another and encourage each other to do their best. It's heartwarming to see in action.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
A
Officially, I don't know. I'd venture to say 1:10.
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
A
Numerous classes are offered. Students are also able to take online AP courses.
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
A
Additional instruments in excess of 40K have been purchased this year. The Art room is moving to a purpose built area. Choir, band, and art compete regionally in SAISA. The high school performed the Laramie Project this year and it has to be the best performance I've seen. One of the seniors wrote her own musical, composed all musical numbers, recruited high school volunteers to perform and directed the musical herself. The kids love to perform, and the teachers are amazingly motivated to help the kids be their best on stage. The school offers a program called zero hour band in which students who are unable to take a band class during school can come to school an hour early and take band. One of our children decided to take advantage of this program requiring her to leave for school at 6:00AM daily. She choose to do this because she wanted to work with the music teacher and had no other option to do so due to her class schedule and athletic schedule.
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Yes
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
Yes, same teachers in the same classrooms.
11. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Yes
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
Yes.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
No. This is not tolerated.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
Family atmosphere in which everyone is most concerned with children learning and being happy learning.
2. Greatest challenge?
The drive to and from the school. The commute is upward of two hours at time of heavy traffic. Many families live on the north side of ring road which is quite the commute.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Yes, in a minute! We love Lincoln. Our children have thrived while living in Kathmandu. They were at Lincoln during the 7.8 earthquake on Saturday, April 25. The students, teachers, and staff were well prepared for the earthquake. We were very impressed with the way the school dealt with the aftermath that ensued and continue to be impressed with the how the school handles crisis. This year has beed difficult for some in the elementary school due to the early departure of one teacher; however, the school board and administration have communicated well with the community.
