The Secondary School runs assemblies to celebrate student work and effort. Each month, students are recognised for their participation in athletics, competitions and ECAs. Student performances are often showcased, and student learning shared with the larger group. Most assemblies are held for Grades 6 - 10 MYP students. Some are organised by staff and others are organised by the Student Council or other student groups.
In June, the School holds Grade 6-12 Honours Assemblies to acknowledge students who have demonstrated excellence in application, attitude and / or academics.
PLEASE NOTE: At the beginning of the 2021 - 22 school year, the leadership team, teachers and students will be part of a process to revise the awards structure in the Secondary school. This is a student-directed initiative. This handbook will be revised once this process is completed. Below you can find the awards used in previous years.
Semester Awards
Students receive Honour Roll recognition if they achieve the following:
Grades of 5, 6 or 7 in every course
An A or B in TOK for Grade 11 and 12
A satisfactory or above in ungraded courses (e.g., EAL)
Satisfactory completion of CAS / Service Learning requirements
Satisfactory for works in progress and A or B on Extended Essay; a 5, 6 or 7 on Personal Project upon completion of those projects
No Attitude and Application grade below a B
For DP only: As above resulting in a minimum of 30 points overall
Students receive High Honour Roll recognition if they achieve the following:
Grades of 6 or 7 in every course
An A or B in TOK for Grade 11 and 12
A satisfactory or above in ungraded courses (e.g., EAL)
Satisfactory completion of CAS/C&S requirements
Satisfactory for works in progress and A or B on Extended Essay; a , 6 or 7 on Personal Project upon completion of those projects
No Attitude and Application grade below a B
For DP only: As above except a 5, 6 or 7 in every course resulting in a minimum of 36 points overall
NOTE: In the first quarter of a student’s move from Standard to Extended Maths or up a phase in MYP Language Acquisition, the School accepts a 4 in that subject for Honours and a 5 in that subject for High Honours. However, the attitude grade still counts towards the honours certificate.
At the end of each semester, students who achieve only A and B marks in this category receive a certificate that recognises sustained commitment and a positive attitude regardless of the student’s natural flair or ability. These grades are based on the following criteria:
-Completing tasks punctually: The student completes homework, assessments and group projects on time. Students who are absent submit the work by e-mail or contact the teacher ahead of time to discuss any difficulties they have meeting the deadline.
-Working independently and taking personal responsibility: The student is organised, comes prepared for class, completes homework, manages time effectively and shows initiative when appropriate. The student is reflective about his or her actions and tries to learn from mistakes.
-Demonstrating commitment and a positive attitude: The student makes positive contributions in class, works diligently at all times, shows motivation, and enthusiasm towards their studies. The student also shows perseverance in the face of difficulty.
-Demonstrating respect for self: The student has good attendance and punctuality to school and to each class. S/he takes responsibility for their actions, behaves in a responsible and mature manner, and demonstrates integrity in their work.
-Working respectfully and productively in whole and small groups: The student is courteous, works collaboratively, and shows respect for the learning environment and everyone’s right to learn.
NOTE: Students with 20 or more unexcused absences cannot earn above a C overall in Application and Attitude and are therefore ineligible for Honours or High Honours awards.
Year-End Awards
In addition to the awards listed above, the second semester awards include:
Each department acknowledges students in Grades 6 - 8, 9 - 10 and 11 - 12. These are not necessarily for the highest performing students. They are designed to recognise students who consistently demonstrate one or more of the learner profile traits.
This award is named after PSI’s first graduate and is presented to a Grade 6 – 10 astudent who has demonstrated outstanding effort and achievement in the IB Middle Years Programme.
Lady Claire Asquith Award
This award is named after one of our founding parents and is presented to a Grade 6 - 10 a student who has demonstrated outstanding effort and achievement in the IB Middle Years Programme.
Rowland Jepson Award
This award is named after PSI’s first DP coordinator and is presented to a student in Grade 11 or 12 for outstanding effort and achievement in the IB Diploma Programme.
Luis and Alexandra Baqueriza Award
This award is named after one of our founding families and is given to a student of any grade level (6 - 12) or gender for outstanding commitment to community service.
Our Korean community helps us celebrate International Night
WHOLE SCHOOL GLOSSARY
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| AGM | The Annual General Meeting, which is open to all members of the School community who wish to hear a summary of the School’s progress against its strategic goals, as well as to hear announcements for the next year, including the election of new Board members |
| CEESA | Central and Eastern European Schools Association - a coalition of schools in this region that provide athletic and academic activities for Secondary students as well as professional development and support for teachers |
| CIS | Council for International Schools - an european, membership-based organisation providing professional development and networking opportunities |
| Differentiation | Planning for different learning needs and styles |
| EAL | English as an Additional Language |
| ECA | Extra-curricular activities - A programme for students that provides them with opportunities to explore the arts, sports, IT, games, academic enrichment and leadership beyond the classroom |
| ELT | Educational Leadership Team (director, principals, deputy principals, IB coordinators) |
| GDPR | The European General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) provide strict guidelines that help ensure that student, staff and parent information - in print or digitally - is kept secure and private. |
| HOD | Head of Department |
| IB | International Baccalaureate, one of the School’s authorising organisations and the base of the School’s curricular programmes |
| IT | Information Technology |
| LP | Learner Profile - a key component of the IB that focuses on student attitudes towards self and others. A list of the terms and their definitions is included in all major handbooks |
| LST | Learning Support Team, usually the appropriate building principal and counsellor, along with the learning resource teacher. This team meets weekly to discuss students at risk in order to create strategies to support their social, emotional and academic growth |
| MAP | Measure of Academic Progress, an on-line test for students in reading and mathematics given twice a year to students in Grades 3-8. |
| Mother tongue | The language(s) learned first; the language(s) identified with as a ‘native’ speaker; the language known best; the language used most |
| MT | Management Team - Educational Leadership Team (see above) plus Business Manager and IT director |
| MyIB | My IB is the International Baccalaureate's new central location for IB resources and applications. You can access the services you use with one username and password. |
| MyPSI | MyPSI is where parents go to look at their student’s grades (secondary), report cards and standardized testing results |
| NEASC | New England Association of Schools and Colleges, one of the School’s accrediting organisations |
| OCC | The On-Line Curriculum Centre is an IB resource for teachers and administrators |
| OPI | The On-line Placement Inventory is the assessment tool in maths and English used for Secondary student admissions |
| PA | Professional Assistants, who support the two Principals and the Director |
| PE / PHE | Physical Education or Physical and Health Education - a part of the EC - Grade 10 curriculum focusing on sports, physical activity and a healthy lifestyle |
| PRC | The International Baccalaureate's Programme Resource Centre- an online password protected part of MyIB where teacher resources are accessible. |
| PSI | Pechersk School International |
| PTC | Parent teacher conferences, held in both Primary and Secondary |
| SLC / SLS | Student-led conferences or student-led showcases, held in both Primary and Secondary. Students present to parents their online and paper portfolios showcasing what and how they have learnt |
| TA | Teaching Assistants, who provide support in the classroom for Primary teachers and some Secondary departments |
| TS | Teaching Support staff, who provide clerical support for teaching and administrative staff |
PRIMARY SCHOOL / PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| AL | Additional Language (Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish) |
| B.D.P.E. | Beginning, Developing, Proficient, Extending - descriptors for reporting to parents and students |
| CI | Central Idea - the overarching conceptual understanding in the Unit of Inquiry |
| EC | Early Childhood (ages 3 - 5 years old) |
| HTTW | How the world works. One of six transdisciplinary themes |
| HWEO | How we express ourselves. One of six transdisciplinary themes |
| HWOO | How we organise ourselves. One of six transdisciplinary themes |
| KG | Kindergarten, the programme for five-year-olds (before Grade 1) |
| POI | Programme of Inquiry, consisting of the 6 units of inquiry implemented in each child’s classroom during one school year |
| PSPE/ PHE | Personal, Social and Physical Education - one of the six subject areas in the PYP, Physical Health Education- interchangeable term as PE department is whole school |
| PYP | The Primary Years Programme |
| SS | Social studies. One of the six subject areas in the PYP |
| SST | Single Subject Teachers. These are Additional Language teachers (Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish, EAL), Music, Visual Arts and Physical Education teachers |
| STP | Sharing the planet. One of six transdisciplinary themes. |
| TT | Transdisciplinary theme. The Programme of Inquiry has 6 transdisciplinary themes under which the School develops its Programme of Inquiry. Each grade has units under each theme, except for 3-5 year olds (EC), who have four units each year. |
| UOI | Unit of Inquiry. This is the 4-6 week long unit of study in each child’s classroom |
| WWA | Who we are. One of six transdisciplinary themes |
| WWAPT | Where we are in place and time. One of six transdisciplinary themes |
| YAAG | Year at a glance document that outlines all of the planned learning in each child’s classroom this year |
For more information about the IB PYP in general, visit the IB PYP website . For more info about the PYP at PSI, visit the PSI website page
SECONDARY SCHOOL / MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Achievement Level | The mark given to indicate that the student’s work matches the corresponding descriptor. |
| Alignment | Agreement in principle and practice among the written curriculum, the taught curriculum and the assessed curriculum |
| ATL | Approaches to Learning are concerned with the development of thinking skills, strategies and attitudes and the ability to reflect on one’s own learning |
| Articulation | The logical progression of learning objectives from year to year (vertical) and during an academic year (horizontal) |
| Assessment criteria | The standards on which student work is evaluated in all subject areas and in the Personal Project |
| Assessment rubric | A grid that contains levels and descriptors |
| Assessment strategy | The method or approach that teachers use when gathering information about student learning, for example, observation, open-ended tasks, selected responses |
| Assessment task | The activities that students do and that teachers evaluate |
| Assessment tool | The term assessment refers to the wide variety of methods or tools that educators use to evaluate, measure, and document the academic readiness, learning progress, skill acquisition, or educational needs of students. It may also refer to the device teachers use to measure and record assessment information and data collected, for example, anecdotal records |
| Criterion- related assessment | An assessment process based on determining achievement levels against previously agreed criteria. MYP assessment is criterion-related |
| Curriculum framework | An organised plan for teaching and learning.In the MYP, the curriculum framework includes conceptual understanding, global contexts, approaches to teaching and approaches to learning, and significant content across a broad and balanced range of disciplines. |
| Descriptors | Achievement level descriptors describe the differences in student accomplishment for each assessment criterion and correspond to the achievement level that should be awarded |
| E- Assessment | On-line testing and assessment that will lead to MYP Certification. This process should begin at the end of the 2015-16 school year for Grade 10 students only. |
| Formative assessment | Ongoing assessment aimed at providing information to guide teaching and improve student performance. This work is not graded but is reviewed and used to prepare students for the summative assessments. |
| Global engagement | Inquiring, acting and reflecting on global challenges in local, national and international dimensions |
| Grade boundary | The lowest and highest criterion levels totals corresponding to a particular holistic grade. |
| Horizontal planning/ horizontal articulation | Planning horizontally involves a team of teachers of the same grade level working together to plan for learning. |
| IB MYP certificate | IB-issued certificate that signifies the successful completion of requirements for the programme; accompanied by IB MYP course results |
| IB MYP course results | Official IB document that provides a record of successful examination and/or ePortfolio grades for MYP e-Assessment candidates who do not attain the IB MYP certificate. |
| Interdisciplinary | Combining or involving two or more branches of learning or fields of academic study. In the MYP, interdisciplinary study can be developed both within and between/among subject groups. |
| Internal assessment | The assessment of a student’s work that is carried out by a student’s teacher(s) |
| Internal standardisation | The process by which all teachers in a department develop and ensure a common understanding and application of criteria and descriptors |
| MYP | The IB Middle Years Programme designed for students between the ages of 11 and 16 years |
| Objective | The skills, knowledge and understandings that are addressed in each course/project and based on the assessment criteria. |
| Personal Project (PP) | The Personal Project is the culmination of the students’ experience in the MYP and shows their experience of ATL and global contexts. It is completed in the final year of the programme. |
| Personal Project Supervisor | The member of staff within a school who is responsible for working directly with the student on the completion of the personal project. |
| SAS | Student Academic Support - the combination of class time and pullout time that we use to support students with identified needs |
| Service & Action | Through responsible action, tightly connected with sustained inquiry and critical reflection, young people and adults can develop the kinds of attributes described by the learner profile that are essential for success in future academic pursuits and for adult life. |
| SWW | The School-wide write is a PSI assessment tool to evaluate student writing in Grades 6 - 10. It is given twice a year; students and teachers then set goals for writing improvement. |
| Unit | A series of lessons, focused through a statement of inquiry and inquiry questions, designed to help students achieve some of the objectives of an MYP subject group. |
| Vertical planning / vertical articulation | The goal of vertical planning is to sequence learning (in terms of subject‑group objectives and ATL) to ensure continuity and progression from year 1 to year 5. |
For more information on the MYP in general, please visit the IB MYP website . For more information about the MYP at PSI, please visit the PSI MYP website page .
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PSI SECONDARY SCHOOL / IB AND PSI DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| CAS | Creativity, Activity, and Service - a required part of the DP |
| Certificates | Students not taking or earning the full IB Diploma can earn separate certificates for every successfully completed DP course |
| Core | The Core of the IBDP includes the Extended Essay, the Theory of Knowledge Course, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service). |
| DP | IB Diploma Programme for students ages 16-19 (Grades 11 and 12) |
| EE | The Extended Essay, a required part of the DP - a 4000 word, in-depth study in one subject or an interdisciplinary topic. |
| Group | Subject courses are placed in groups depending on the field: (1) Studies in Language and Literature, (2) Language Acquisition, (3) Individuals and Societies,(4) Science,(5) Mathematics, and the (6) Arts. |
| HL | Higher Level course (240 hours of instruction time). Students must take a minimum of three courses at HL to qualify for the full IB Diploma. |
| IB Diploma | Students who successfully meet all requirements of the Diploma Programme earn a diploma from the IB. |
| Internal Assessment (IA) | A piece of subject work that is internally assessed and externally moderated |
| PSI Courses | Students not taking courses at DP level can earn credit toward graduation from PSI by taking courses designed, taught and assessed by PSI. |
| PSI Diploma | All students who successfully meet the graduation requirements of PSI earn a PSI Diploma. Students may also earn IB certificates or the full IB Diploma in addition to this award. The PSI Diploma meets international accreditation standards. |
| SL | Standard level course (150 hours of instruction time. Students on the full IB Diploma normally take three SLs. |
| SSST | School Supported Self-Taught Language A courses offered/supported by PSI in Group 1 of the Diploma Programme. |
| TOK | Theory of Knowledge - a required course for the full IB Diploma that is also embedded into all subject areas |
| Transcripts | A record of all semester grades earned from Grades 9-12. This document is usually requested by North American universities as part of the admissions process. |
For more information about the IB Diploma Programme in general, please visit the IB Diploma Programme website . For more information about the DP at PSI, please visit the PSI DP website page .