christinaz
5/6/2009 05:48 EST
my DH has seen a job in Riga and I wanted some information on British or International schools for my 13 year old DD.Any info would be welcome.we currently live in the middle East, so anyone living relocated there from a hot climate............how is the weather???
Thanks
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Renagle
8/31/2009 11:36 EST
There are two that I am aware of:
The International School of Riga (where we have our children)
http://www.isriga.lv/
and one out in Jurmala
http://www.isl.edu.lv/
Right now, ISR on the island of Kipsala has school up until Grade 5. I am not sure what the ISL offers.
Most of the embassy people put their children in ISR due to its location in the city. We are very happy with this school for our 3 and 5 yr old boys.
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Ralfs
11/14/2009 13:31 EST
I looked at both schools and found that ISL is a PK-12 school. They have standardized test data that shows the students score above most International schools and ISR does not test. The rumor around Latvia is that ISR doesn't have any money to hire international teachers so they have to hire local Latvians that barely speak English. I sent my kids to ISL and most embassey kids have made the switch to ISL. ISL is located near the new US Embassy so travel doesn't make any difference.
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Renagle
12/16/2009 15:22 EST
Ralfs is flat out wrong. I have 2 children (American/Danes) at ISR and we absolutely love it. My 3 year old wasn't speaking well when he started because of the multiple languages in our house and he is excelling beyond our expectations with Ms Zoja--whom we adore. My elder son is in the KG-B class with Miss Linda and is challenged academically and also doing very well all done under IB curriculum. ISR did have problems in the past with poor management, but starting this year, under Mr Chalkly's leadership, it has become a wonderful school and the poor/uninspired teachers have left. This is our 3rd international school experience (Panama/Mumbai) and hands down, it is the best run. Parents are encouraged to be involved and the PTO has increased from 2 members last year to many more this year. Today we had a fantastic Christmas Bazaar/Program and it couldn't have gone better. I highly recommend this school. There are lots of embassy kids (as one can tell by all the red diplomatic plates on cars) HOWEVER, the one draw is for the older kids because as of now, the school does not go past 5th or 6th grade. Great for the young kids, definite concern for the older---although Mr Chalkly has started planning how to expand to the older grades. Whatever you've heard prior to '09-'10 can be disregarded as it is a completely new school. http://isriga.insix.com/09/
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gunnergirl
2/5/2010 12:25 EST
Just to comment further of Ralfs post. Unfortunatley he appears to be rather misinformed regarding the practice at ISRiga. I can highlight this on a number of points. The Director recently attended the CIS recruitment fair in London and I understand that he has hired some international staff to complement the existing faculty. They will begin in August.
Secondly ISRiga uses standardised testing as an integral part of the assessment programme.
Finally, the school is totally committed to developing the middle school, and as such the Grade 6 class will start in August, with Grade 7 and 8 following in the next two years.
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ttxlc10
4/14/2010 06:59 EST
Hi,
Just a few updates on ISR.
1) The school as suggested previously has confirmed the expansion into Middle School starting with Grade 6 in August 2010.
2) The school has become the first school in Latvia to be authorised to be a Cambridge International Centre. The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme will thus be the curriculum used in the Middle School from August 2010.
3) The school undergoes an accreditation visit with the Council of International School in May 2010.
4) ISR will continue to offer the IBPYP in the Primary School and has been an authorised school for over 6 years.
5) The school attended the Council of International School's Recruitment Centre in january and has hired two internationally experienced teachers to join the already enthusiastic and dedicated faculty in August 2010.
6) ISR has just opened a new IT lab (April 2010).
7) The library has been relocated and August 2010 will see a fantastic new facilty.
8) ISR has introduced a new literacy programme this year and continues to monitor all programmes to enusure they meet the needs of the student body.
9) ISR is already housed in a new purpose built facilty and is not waiting to hopefully move into one. Also Kipsala is a wonderful location.
10) The whole community is together and as parents we are always welcome. The Board and PTO have done great work in supporting the new administration.
11) As suggested earlier you should always keep an open mind and visit both schools. As they say 'the truth is in the tasting'. We think you will like what you see and will appreciate the welcome you will recieve at ISR.
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IML
6/9/2010 06:05 EST
There is another option - The French School of Riga (Ecole Francaise de Riga). They follow the French curriculum.
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Susan1968
9/23/2010 03:34 EST
I think Ralphs hit a nerve. I send my kids to ISL and love it. They have high standards and with the IB when we move they will be able to go into another school easily. I am not sure about this Cambridge stuff as I have never been a fan of the British school system and this sounds like it comes right out of the UK. For my money, and my embassy's I will continue at ISL.
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