Isikkent School

Isikkent School is a coeducational preK-8th grade private school founded in 1998 through the financial support and assistance of the Cimentas Health and Education Foundation. The school enrolls day students in the preschool, elementary and middle school divisions and boarding students when the high school begins. The school has embraced a dual language concept - Turkish and English. A third language, French, is started is fourth grade. Although the school serves mostly Turkish children, it enrolls a substantial number of international students of other nationalities. The school opened in 1998 with the preschool and grades one and two. Each year a grade is added for the next ten years until the school is complete. For the 2004-2005 academic year, grades preschool through 8th grade will accept applicants to Isikkent School.

The Isikkent School is distinguished by its modern research based approach to instruction and assessment. Instruction in the expanded Turkish curriculum is based up multiple intelligences theory, brain based theory and active learning. Student progress is measured and shared with parents through a subjective reporting system and portfolio sharing. Other methods of authentic assessment, such as debates, projects, research reports, essays, graphic organizers, simulations, and performances are used increasingly as students advance through the grades.

Isikkent school is further distinguished by its practice of maximizing contact between student and teacher. This is accomplished in the early grades with two full time teachers in each classroom and in all grades by a maximum class size of approximately 20.

The Isikkent School possesses state-of-the-art technology, consisting of a fiber optic network, ADSL internet connection, internet-connected computers in all classrooms, computer lab and library. The school library is fully automated with Follett software and is rapidly expanding its resources and collection.

The purpose-built campus has all of its structure shells complete. The pre-school and the elementary building - grades 1-8, the gymnasium, indoor swimming complex, cafeteria and outdoor garden areas are complete, with high school art studios, science laboratories and theater due shortly.

In the preschool and the kindergarten at Isikkent School a combination of High/Scope. Multiple Intelligences, project-based learning and Reggio-Emilia inspired approach is employed. Through child-initiated projects the teachers foster developmentally appropriate cognitive, social and emotional growth and language and motor skills, all supported by an intensive parent training program.