General primary information

The ICS follows the UK three-term year, which runs from September to August. Copies of our school calendars can be found on our website. The length of the school day is dependent on the age of the child The school day starts for all ages at 7.45am and ends at different times:

12pm Nursery
1pm Reception & Years 1 & 2
2pm Years 3-6

ABSENCES

If your child is to reach his or her full potential it is important that they attend regularly and are punctual. When a child is too ill to attend school or has a doctor’s appointment please let us know as soon as possible.  You can call into the office, telephone (06 4790 666) or send a message with another adult.

Please help us to reduce our absences by making non essential appointments out of school hours and taking vacations in the school holiday period.

UNIFORM

The ICS believes that the wearing of a school uniform and a smart appearance fosters a sense of unity, belonging and maintains our high standards.

Our primary uniform consists of:

Navy blue sweatshirt or cardigan with embroidered school logo
Gold polo shirt with logo
Navy blue skirt or pinafore dress, trousers or shorts
Sensible black or brown outdoor shoes (these need to be flat, please avoid high heels and platforms).

In the interests of safety and security, jewellery is not allowed to be worn other than a watch and small stud earrings for pierced ears.

P.E. Kit

All of our children will do P.E. each week plus a weekly swimming lesson.  Your child will need the following:

Kit

Team t-shirt (green for Jerash; red for Petra; yellow for Wadi Rum; blue for Aqaba)
Navy shorts
Grey tracksuit
Trainers

Swimming

Towel and a costume
Swimming hat for long hair

In the interest of safety children must wear the appropriate kit for all P.E./games lessons and sports clubs.  Watches and stud earrings must not be worn for any physical education; we recommend that children do not wear jewellery on P.E. days.

In the winter months (December to March) the weather in Jordan can be wet and cold.  Unless the weather is very wet our children will continue to have outdoor break times where they can run about and let off steam!  Please ensure your child brings a coat to school each day.

During the summer the sun can be very fierce; as it is a very dry heat children don’t always notice if they are getting over heated.  Please ensure your child brings a hat to school in the summer and has a refillable water bottle.  Drinking regularly will help your child enjoy the summer much more.

LOST PROPERTY

If your child misplaces an item of school uniform etc, please do not assume that it has been lost permanently.  There are often large numbers of unclaimed items lying on our lost property tables. The primary lost property is kept at the bottom of the stairs up to year 5 & 6 near to the main primary entrance. Please ask your child to check carefully or speak to your child’s class teacher.

To help us return lost property please ensure that all personal property is clearly named.

Mobile phones

Children are not allowed to bring mobile phones to school; they are a distraction in class and a temptation to those who may not have one.  If a student has to bring one for an unavoidable reason it must be left with Hazel or Gaynor at the office.

How do I know that my child is behaving well in school?

We believe in the education of the whole child within a safe, caring and positive environment. We aim to create a community where good behaviour is encouraged through mutual respect, praise and reward. All members of the school community are appreciated and valued as individuals and are always given the opportunity to succeed. We believe that for effective teaching and learning to take place, it is essential that good behaviour is present.

At the ICS we create a caring, learning environment by:

* Showing respect for staff and pupils.

* Promoting self-discipline and self-esteem.

* Being fair and consistent in our approach and response to both positive and negative behaviour, whilst acknowledging that all children are different and sometimes require different methods of discipline.

* Celebrating success through the use of praise, house points and certificates presented in weekly assemblies as a way of publicly recognising all those who have worked well, shown due consideration for others and generally deserved praise.

* Encouraging positive relationships with parents, keeping them informed about the academic and social progress of their child.

We are always very proud of the high standards of behaviour shown by our children both in and outside of school.

Details of our behaviour policy can be seen in our on line primary prospectus.

Class Assemblies

Assemblies are held weekly for primary classes and form part of our pastoral curriculum.  We believe that these assemblies are important as they offer us the opportunity to deal with celebrating success and achievements in addition to promoting positive behaviour and responsible citizenship.  All of our children are given the opportunity to lead or take part in an assembly; you will be invited to join your class when it is their turn.  This is an important part of our children’s development and is designed to support the growth of their self confidence and abilities at public speaking.

Snack time

Each day the children have an indoor snack time during which time children sit at tables to eat food brought in from home. Children are encouraged to bring in healthy food which helps them to sustain their energy levels such as: sandwiches, rice or pasta salads, raw vegetables and dips; fruit etc.  We have a cafeteria on site which serves a range of food options including hot and cold sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods and drinks.  The cafeteria is open from 8.am – 2.30am for children from year 4 upwards; we plan to phase in the younger year groups over a period of time. Using the cafeteria is optional however and if you prefer your child to bring their own healthy snack from home this is perfectly acceptable.