About the IST Elementary School
The Elementary School has approximately 425 students representing over 50 nationalities. The grades covered are Early Childhood 1 (3 year olds) through Grade 5, all on one campus in the Upanga residential area of Dar es Salaam. There are at least two sections of each class with an ideal size of 20-22, and a maximum class size of 24.
All classes have a qualified professional teacher and most classes also have a full-time teaching assistant. Our professional teaching staff and the curriculum they deliver are very international in nature. IST is fully accredited by the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Program, as well as by the Council of Independent Schools, and Middle States Association for Accreditation in the United States.
Program
The areas of language arts, mathematics, science and social studies are taught by the main classroom teacher. Specialist teachers deliver programs in art, music, physical education, information technology and foreign languages. Children from EC1- Gr. 2 all take Kiswahili, children in grades 3-5 may choose between French, Spanish and Kiswahili. The exception to this is children in the ESL program who receive extra English in place of an additional foreign language. The school day runs from 7:30 a.m. until 12:30 for Early Childhood levels 1-3 (3 years through 5 years), and from 7:10 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. for grades 1-5.
IST offers support services in the areas of English as a Second Language and support for children with mild special needs who can be accommodated in the mainstream classroom. The Elementary School also has a full-time counselor to assist students and their families with the transitions of moving into a new community. The counselor is a strong support for students’ social and emotional growth.
The Elementary School has a strong and varied After School Activities program which offers children a choice of sports, games, art, drama and music, and community service activities. Activities are held Monday through Friday in double sessions from 1:30-2:15 p.m. and 2:15-3:00 p.m.
The IST Elementary School provides a warm and caring environment in which children can mature and explore the world around them. We believe they learn best when respect and responsibility toward others and the environment are stressed and modeled for them.
