Overview of Academics
High School
Middle School
Elementary School
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Overview of Academics
As a student at Riverstone International School, your education goes way beyond the classroom and traditional academics. In addition to its rigorous, international curriculum that promotes character, environmental stewardship and creative thinking, Riverstone students are actively involved in every facet of school life and enjoy a wide range of co-curricular programs. Outdoor adventure, athletics, theatre productions, art exhibitions, and musical performances are offered throughout the year. Additionally, students coordinate numerous community service projects, explore the political arena, and undertake a range of internships in the Boise area.
But the heart of a Riverstone education is the International Baccalaureate World School Program (IB) and its innovative and effective method of teaching and learning that produces innovation, independence and community-minded students and graduates. Learn more about IB World School.
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Riverstone is committed to international education. Over 40% of our High School student body comes from other countries. Over the last few years, Riverstone has enrolled students from the following countries: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Austria, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Russia, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sudan, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
ACCREDITATION
A nonprofit institution, Riverstone is governed by a Board of Trustees. Riverstone is an IB World School and is authorized to provide the International Baccalaureate program for Elementary School (PYP), Middle School (MYP) and High School (DP)*. The school is an accredited member of the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools (PNAIS), the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the State of Idaho, the National Association of Accredited Schools (NAAS), and of the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB).
The school is an authorized IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy--a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Riverstone believes is important for our students.
* Only schools authorized by the IB organization can offer any of its three academic programs: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme (DP).
SERVICE LEARNING AND THE ONE STONE FOUNDATION
Riverstone International School has a strong commitment to service in the community, and Service Learning is part of the school's Mission. Service Learning begins at the kindergarten level and applies to every grade level in the school. The program is run by the grade level teachers in the Elementary School and by the grade level teams in the Middle and High Schools. Service learning is a required part of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program and at grades 11 and 12, it is part of the CAS (Creativity, Action, and Service) requirement. Some activities like Rake-Up Boise involve the entire school, while the majority of activities are run through individual grade levels. Activities will vary, but the intent in each case is the same: to teach students the value of giving back to the community through service while learning valuable information and skills. The school's Service Learning program receives support from our One Stone Foundation Inc., which is a student-run, not-for-profit organization that combines service and charitable giving with academic and experiential learning to fulfill community needs in a way that transforms both the recipient and the provider of the service. Other major student organizations with significant leadership opportunities include Amnesty International, Academic Decathlon, National Science Bowl, American Math Counts, Boise Radio Project, History Club, Yearbook, Drama, Debate, and National History Day.
CHARACTER EDUCATION
Character Education at Riverstone is the deliberate and integrated effort by faculty, parents, and students to understand, care about, and to act upon universal core ethical values. We believe that certain values such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship enhance one's ability to practice ethical behavior, to respect the diversity of others, and to build community. Through the Character Education program, Riverstone hopes to improve the ability of students to make moral and ethical decisions in their lives. The school utilizes the following models to accomplish this:
- Six Pillars: The Six Pillars of Character are core ethical values to help guide our choices. The standards of conduct that arise out of those values constitute the ground rules of ethics, and therefore, of ethical decision making. www.charactercounts.org
- Love and Logic: Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. The concepts behind Love and Logic place a heavy emphasis on respect and dignity for children, allowing parents and teachers to use simple approaches to resolve conflicts. For more information, please visit www.loveandlogic.com.
- The Assembly Program: The assembly program at Riverstone incorporates Character Education as part of its offerings.
- Curricular Ties: Individual teachers address Character Education through the curriculum through various disciplines in the different grade levels and divisions at Riverstone.
SUMMER PROGRAMMING
Riverstone is excited to offer expanded summer programs ranging from elementary school offerings to college preparatory opportunities beginning in 2009. Adventure programming, for students and parents alike, will be featured prominently, as will intensive English Language Acquisition classes for exchange students. Check back for more information on specific course offerings, dates, and registration, and keep your calendars open!
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