A C A D E M I C S

Philosophy

Brasilia International School is a private non-profit school established to primarily serve the international community in Brasilia. This community consists largely of the diplomatic core, but also includes businessmen, missionaries, and other expatriates.

The goal of BIS is to provide a high quality North American style education based on a Christian worldview. It is understood, however, that students from all countries, cultures, and religions will be treated with respect and fairness, including the Federal Republic of Brazil, its leaders, and the people. The programs at BIS are directed toward individual enrichment in the following areas: Intellectual Development, Social Development, Physical Development, Emotional Development, and Spiritual Development. Each student is encouraged to pursue academic excellence. The school recognizes that student abilities and learning styles differ from one individual to the next. These differences must be taken into consideration in the educational process. By providing a low student-teacher ratio, BIS is able to help each student achieve his/her fullest potential.

BIS believes that each student is created as a unique individual and is of infinite worth. Each student deserves to be treated fairly. Students are encouraged to make wise choices as they interact with their peers and their teachers within the school community. The vision is that as students learn to behave responsibly at school, they will be gaining necessary life skills to help them become successful, contributing leaders who will make a positive impact in their culturally diverse, complex, interdependent world.

Language Arts

The Language Arts program at BIS has three core strands: oral language, reading, and writing. Each of these strands is divided into specific skills that are presented at each grade level. The language arts are vitally important because they help students to be successful in all of the content areas and they enable students to become life-long learners. As students grasp the essential strands of language arts, they will process the literacy and language skills to function in today’s ever-changing society. In addition they will be effective communicators who can express themselves clearly and share God’s message of truth with the world around them.

Mathematics

Mathematics is an essential part of a child’s intellectual and spiritual development. Through mathematics, students at BIS learn about the Nature of God. God is the master designer who created the earth in an orderly way with exact and precise structure. Mathematics is an orderly, systematic study of the basic number theory. Each year builds upon the solid foundation of the previous years. Through mathematics students are challenged to refine and train their minds. They develop concrete mental skills through memorization and practice. They develop abstract mental skills through critical thinking and problem solving. In addition, students learn the practical importance of mathematics in our everyday world. As students succeed in mathematics, they are preparing themselves to function as responsible citizens in a complex society.

Science

Science instruction focuses on inquiry, investigation, and discovery. Science instruction needs to be grounded in core knowledge about life science, physical science, and earth and sky science. This essential knowledge is taught in light of God as creator of the world. Students use the scientific method to explore their curiosities of the world around them by asking questions, planning and conducting experiments, using appropriate tools and techniques to gather data, thinking critically and logically about their findings, and communicating their conclusions to others. In so doing, students learn to be responsible citizens who can manage the earth entrusted to them by addressing both present and future concerns.

Social Studies

Social studies prepares the students to be responsible citizens who can manage the earth that God has entrusted to them. By studying the various themes in social studies, students will gain wisdom to evaluate the actions of the past, understand current events, and make future decisions in culturally diverse, interdependent world.

Bible

The purpose of the Bible program at BIS is to expose international students to the Bible. The bible instruction will be congruent with the BIS Doctrinal Statement. All bible instruction will be done with sensitivity to the people of other cultural or religious backgrounds and will be presented in a non-coercive manner due to the diverse student population of BIS.

English as a Second Language

Students having difficulty with the English language may receive special instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL). The level of ESL placement may be determined by a placement test or teacher evaluation. Those students receiving ESL will be graded based on their abilities with the English language. Students are expected to have the necessary language tools to function satisfactorily within the classroom as soon as possible. Students who are slower in acquiring adequate English fluency will continue to receive ESL help until they have the necessary skills to function adequately within the subject matter.