Academics
Primary Division Curriculum
The ISF Academy cultivates in its Primary students a passion for learning and respect for others. Our guiding principles are:
- to inculcate in our students an appreciation for Chinese culture and Chinese values;
- to equip students with the ability to observe, reflect, and formulate questions;
- to motivate students to learn, create, and act upon personal initiatives;
- to provide opportunities to practice democratic leadership and teamwork;
- to build students' respect for other people, other cultures, and of nature; and
- to help students master first language fluency in Putonghua and English.
Features
- Deeply Rooted in Chinese Culture and Values - Chinese traditional values, updated to be relevant to today's world, are imparted to all students. Please refer to the section on Vision, Mission and Values for our Eight Virtues + One;
- Foundation Year to Grade 5 – Our Foundation Year serves as a preparatory year for our Grade 1. Foundation Year students are automatically promoted to our Grade 1 Program subject to their meeting the required academic standards;
- Bilingual Immersion Program – Please refer to the section on Putonghua and English Mastery under History and Approach;
- Comprehensive Guidance Program – along with the homeroom teachers, the Primary Head, the Head of Experiential Learning, the School Counselor, the Educational Psychologist, and the Student Guidance Officer provide comprehensive guidance and support to our students; and
- Student Development Program (SDP) – Please refer to the section on Student Development Program.
Curriculum
The curriculum at The ISF Academy is rooted in three fundamental ideas:
- achieving fluency in Putonghua and English;
- stimulating a passion for lifelong learning; and
- fostering a strong learning collaborative community where talents and interests are respected and nurtured.
The ISF Academy draws on the best educational practices from around the world to achieve our curriculum goals.
The Primary Division curriculum for Foundation Year to Grade 5 includes:
| SUBJECT | CURRICULUM SOURCE |
|---|---|
|
Beijing, Taiwan, and Hong Kong Curriculum |
|
|
United Kingdom National Curriculum; California, the United States; Ontario, Canada; New South Wales, Australia; and Hong Kong |
|
|
Putonghua: Hong Kong, Beijing, and Taiwan; English: Australia, and the United States |
|
|
Project-based learning in Science and Social Studies: Ontario, Canada (English); Hong Kong; Beijing; and Taiwan (Putonghua) |
|
|
Lower grades: Hong Kong (Putonghua); Upper grades: United Kingdom National Curriculum (English) |
|
|
Dance, Drama, Music: Beijing, Taiwan, and Hong Kong (Putonghua); Visual Art (English) |
|
|
Wushu: Beijing (Putonghua); PE: Hong Kong & UK National Curriculum |
|
|
Education Hong Kong Government Education Bureau Guidance Curriculum |
Experiential Program
Education is not confined to the teaching space within four walls. Excursions, Outdoor Education, Overseas Study Tours, and Service Learning provide opportunities for language development, cultural awareness and exchange, and communication and diversity.
Our Outdoor Education Program allows our students to develop their ability to respond effectively to problems and physical challenges, both individually and in teams. The camps focus on a range of characteristics and attributes drawn from sources such as the Eight Virtues + One and the IB Learner Profile. Our students have opportunities to show their creativity, learn more about our environment, and discover how we can help protect Hong Kong's environment and the world's natural gifts.
In addition to field trips that occur throughout the academic year, the major experiential learning experience for our Grade 4 and 5 students in the first semester is an overnight Outdoor Education stay, usually on Lantau Island. In the second semester, to complement their learning in Chinese and Chinese Guided Discovery, Grade 4 and 5 students participate in a study tour to Mainland China or Taiwan.
