Manipal School :: Starex International School

The classes from Preparatory to Standard 8 follow a carefully structured curriculum that is constructed and edited by our Research team of teachers and practitioners in education and is constantly renewed and revitalised.

Our academic programme is unique in its consistency, thoroughness and creativity. A lot of research has thus gone into building the academic programme for our School. Children's academic, emotional and physical development are the underlying principles of our programme.

While at school during the developmental stages, concepts are first introduced to the child through stories and images and using the ICT in the classroom situation. The academic programme at each level is linked to themes of study. Though there are text books at every level, reliance is not on text books alone. Subjects of study are integrated with visuals using ICT, art, music and movement. Each child at the Junior school is encouraged to create a journal of his or her own, summarizing the learning acquired by the child in the classroom. Through the lessons, the child is helped to interpret, understand and relate to the themes under study.

Our teachers are trained to understand the children entrusted under their care and absolute commitment to pupils is our goal. Children are given adequate practice in concepts through various activity sheets, practice sheets and skill builder sheets which reinforce the concepts learnt at school. Assignments are graded periodically and frequent tasks at school and home help us grade the level of achievement and progress made in learning by the child.

The School is equipped with ICT classrooms that enable the child to visualize the concepts studied. Children understand concepts better using the visuals in the classroom. Themes selected at each level of study are integrated with the ICT experience and teachers use visual learning as an effective tool to build on the understanding of the child. This way the interest of the child is also sustained in the classroom. Using 3D animations and other video clippings, the teacher ensures that the cognitive methodology of teaching is used, which adds to the thinking skills of the child.

Entering Kindergarten is an exciting experience for children. It's their first big step into formal education. We at Manipal Starex International School* understand that the first years of School are of crucial importance. The Kindergarten sets the tone for the entire schooling years of the child. Beginning with the Playgroup, the child traverses the Nursery, Prep I and Prep II stages in a challenging but unique way of learning.

The building facility has been designed to offer learning and play opportunities for our children that support and enhance their creativity, discovery, and exploration. The kindergarten centre enfolds a separate play area, which is equipped with state of the art play installations such as slides, swings, climbing frames, see-saws etc. Indoors, each classroom has toy shelves and racks. Swimming pool and Music centres for the Kindergarten have been separately planned out. Above all is the sense of security and consistency that is provided to the child in these formative years.

The objective of the Junior School programme is to help every child appreciate and understand as much as s/he can of the human achievement in the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and the arts. Focus is on preparation of every child to face the world of rapid change and unforeseeable demands. The teaching and learning methodology being interdisciplinary, the motto behind the programme is to ensure maximum growth of each learner.

The curriculum has been exclusively framed for the School. The curriculum enables every child to acquire the basic skills of learning and mastery over them. High academic levels are maintained right from the lower classes to enable the students to face the challenges of the outside world confidently and competitively.

The striking feature of the curriculum/School is the absence of tests/exams up to Grade IV thus making learning fun. At the same time continuous evaluation and feedback in the learning system has been worked on.

The Middle school comprises grades VI to VIII and is a preparatory stage for the secondary level learning. Learning from this level onwards is not only inter-disciplinary in its approach but also focuses on exploration and journal based learning.

Importance is stressed on independent learning and developing these skills in the learner, apart from emphasis on project based learning.

Children are also involved in hands-on learning and are involved in community development projects, as linked with the other subjects of study like Science and Social Studies.

During these years, the student's intellectual, aesthetic, physical and cultural growth is strengthened. Students are also offered a foundation course after Grade X to suit students from an international background.

The smooth transition from childhood to adolescence is facilitated by comprehensive, value added education. Students are mentored to follow the particular scheme of study and assessment as described by the concerned Board (CBSE/IGCSE).

At the completion of the Secondary School, students are provided a Comprehensive Evaluation Card issued by the school along with their CBSE or IGCSE final mark list. This card is an assessment of their conduct, outlook and overall performance in sports and extra-curricular activities.

Students in the Senior Secondary School become more focused towards their career choices. The academic focus at this level is to equip students for research based higher education. The school offers the AS and A level examinations conducted by CIE and the Grade 12 examination conducted by CBSE.

In these final years of schooling students are given the opportunity to exhibit their leadership qualities and emerge as responsible world citizens.

The choice of a career is one of the most important decisions in one's life. Workshops on career counseling and guidance are organized to enable our students confront the many challenges that the future holds. The school also uses the services of professional career counselors. These workshops help our students realize that there are no ideal careers but only ideal choices.

Manipal Starex International School* offers a specialized ESL programme to students whose first language is not English. Students from across the globe whose first language is not English are offered a distinct support programme to develop their spoken and written English. Basic skills of the language are offered to the learner and support in language acquisition and practice is given till the learner is confident in the use of the language. Once the confidence levels of the child reach the desired level of the class, children are mainstreamed with the regular class/level at School.