Prospectus - Kodaikanal International School

Kodaikanal International School
Over 100 years in global education
KIS… a global educational experience
Kodaikanal International School (KIS) combines an ambitious, challenging academic program and a rich
range of extracurricular activities within a Christian values framework that draws on a variety of cultures
and prepares students for global citizenship. In keeping with KIS philosophy of caring, guided holistic selfdevelopment, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and independent decisions.
Self-expression and creative thinking is valued. KIS encourages spiritual growth - regardless of what one’s
faith background might be - through an inter-disciplinary, values-based education.
KIS is a school with a ‘holistic’ philosophy of education evident in its curriculum, with emphasis on
awareness or extension / enrichment programs. The importance of educating the whole person is an
integral part of all KIS programs and our students achieve in a wide variety of arenas from academic to
music, art to cultural, social service and environmental commitment
Milestones
1901 - Established as an American boarding school for the children of missionaries in India.
1968 - Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools (Philadelphia).
1976 - The first school in India to adopt the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
1981 - KIS High School Diploma recognised by the Association of Indian Universities.
1994 - First school in India to own an outdoor campus for camping and environmental education.
2001 - KIS celebrated 100 years of service in international education.
2006 - Authorised by the IBO to offer Middle Years Program.
2012 - Authorised by the IBO to offer Primary Years Program.
Unity in Diversity
The student and staff community consists of about 500 students and 300 academic and non-academic
staff from over 30 countries. Understanding different cultures thus becomes an intrinsic part of the global
education KIS offers. KIS draws on the richness of all its constituent cultures and has been educating global
citizens for over 100 years.
The overall student to teacher ratio is approximately 8 to 1.
Music
Music has been a unique feature of KIS academic life for over 100 years. This
is evident amongst KIS alumni in the number of distinguished composers,
professional musicians, as well as those with a lifelong appreciation of music.
KIS presents instrumental students for Royal Schools of Music (RSM, London)
examinations in Music, Practical and Theory. Lessons are also offered in
traditional Indian instruments: veena, tabla, Carnatic vocal and Indian
dance.
Visual Arts Performing Arts (VAPA)
Drama, film, fine arts, and photography are all powerful
communication mediums as well as art forms. The VAPA department
seeks to meld the Arts programs into an arcing and comprehensive
curriculum which looks at the arts in historic, cultural and social light.
The various Arts subjects provide students with a forum to study the
various artistic lenses through which knowledge, skills and attitudes from
different cultural traditions are developed, assimilated and transmitted.
Outdoors program
Hiking
The best of Kodaikanal, the views, waterfalls, wildlife and
jungles are all beyond the confines of the school campus
and town. Students are encouraged to sign up for hikes to
get a taste of the vistas and countryside and experience the
wilderness environment of the Palani Hills region of South
India.
Camping
KIS has a 92 acre wilderness campus at a rural location called
Poondi. Poondi is a well-established outdoor and camping program.
The camp site is surrounded by national reserve forest and remains in
pristine environmental condition.
Sports
Physical Education Curriculum at KIS provides a program of instruction for the
development of the whole individual through physical activities. This is done by emphasizing the
relationship between the physical, intellectual and emotional well-being of the students.
Health & Fitness
The Lochend Fitness Centre is outfitted with a fine commercial quality multi-station gym, treadmills,
elliptical, upright bikes and rowing machines. The fitness centre has an open area surrounded by mirrors
and a bar to accommodate dance and aerobics classes.
Our commitment to service
Medical Care
KIS Dispensary provides 24-hour health care 7 days a week to all members of the KIS community. KIS has a
full-time doctor and registered nurses on staff that is available to patients at all times.
Food Services
KIS Food Services department is led by highly experienced catering professionals; preparing all meals in
a well equipped kitchen. The dining hall caters to students, staff and families. The menu is planned to
maintain variety and norms of nutritional value on a 15-day cycle. The menu includes multi-cuisine dishes;
a mixture of Indian, Continental, Oriental and a unique KIS style.
Travel
KIS Travel Office coordinates all student, staff and community travel. The Travel office is responsible
for arranging all student and staff travel. Four times a year over 500 students and family members are
transported from over 30 countries to and from KIS. Airport, railway and bus station transfers are available
to students and their families on request.
Student Residences
KIS has comfortable student residences and their names reflect the rich history of Kodaikanal and KIS
century old mission foundation - Bartlett (East & West), Boyer (lower & upper) Bruton, Central House,
Claverack, East House, Edmonstone, Kennedy, Lochend, Penryn, Phelps, Sherwood, Solvik, Swedish House
(lower & upper), Westover, Wissy
Students have unique opportunities to belong to a community of young people where ideas, cultures and
faiths from all over the world meet.
Life on the campus
Career Counselling
KIS graduates continue their education in colleges and
universities around the world. KIS provides a comprehensive
careers & college placement service to all students in grades
10, 11 and 12. Students are encouraged to consider a wide
range of courses, colleges / universities and countries around
the world.
Mentorship Program
Under the auspices of the KIS Alumni Office and the Careers and
Guidance Office, the KIS Mentorship Program assists senior and junior
students. The Mentorship Program forms a liaison between the KIS alumni
community and seniors to help students with their transition into college.
Personal Counselling
A Student Counsellor is available full time to assist students adjust to the academic, emotional
and social demands of KIS.
Learning Resources
The Learning Resource Department is dedicated to enhance the quality of education for individuals with
learning difficulty by providing appropriate strategies to make them independent learners. Support is also
provided to help students with organization, time management and the development of appropriate study
skills.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
The ESL program works with students who has studied in a language other than English, before joining KIS.
At times, there are students who have studied in English but continue to need the extra help and support.
National Honor Society (NHS)
KIS has a long standing membership with this prestigious American organization which chooses those
students in High school classes who have excelled in each of four areas; Scholarship, Leadership, Service,
Character.
PEER Encouragers
KIS Peer Encouragers encourage a supportive environment by providing a network of students willing to
reach out in friendship to individuals and groups of our diverse student body.
KIS Exchange Program
The KIS Exchange program facilitates cross cultural learning experiences. The program consciously
encourages students to develop academically, socially and spiritually. Through this program, KIS gives
students the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture for up to one semester –
studying, living and learning in a new and different environment from what they have experienced before.
KIS participates in exchange programs in 4 countries; Germany, Australia, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Developing leaders for the future
Accredited in 1960 by the Middle States Association of Schools & Colleges, Philadelphia, KIS High School
was the first international and first IB school in India with IBO approval of the International Baccalaureate
Diploma Program for grades 11 and 12 in 1974.
KIS prepares students for admission to colleges and universities throughout the world through two
academically challenging programs: KIS Diploma and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma.
KIS Diploma is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, Philadelphia and
recognized by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, as equivalent to the Indian “+2” secondary
certification. Requirements for receiving the KIS Diploma are defined in terms of credits, which apply to
subjects in grades 9 to 12. All graduating year 12 students receive the KIS Diploma.
KIS also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma program for grades 11 and 12. As the first school in
India and the second in Asia to offer the IB Diploma, KIS now has an outstanding 30+ year track record of
world ranking academic results.
Primary Years Program
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed for students aged 3 to 12. It
focuses on the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing
social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development.
Middle Years Program
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program caters for students aged 11-16 (grades 6 – 10)
who are in an important age of transition. The program is devised to help students develop
the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to participate actively and responsibly in an
increasingly interrelated world.
International Baccalaureate Diploma & Certificate
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a two year preuniversity course, to facilitate the mobility of students and to promote
international understanding. It leads to awarding either the IB Diploma
or IB Certificates in separate subjects. The full Diploma Program (DP) is
comprehensive and designed to provide students with a balanced holistic
education in preparation for tertiary study in colleges and universities
around the world. At KIS the IB Diploma Program is optional and fully
integrated into the US accredited KIS High School Diploma curriculum
delivered to grades 11-12.
The IB is a rigorous program which involves studying a minimum of six
subjects, three or four at higher level (HL) and three or two at standard
level (SL). Examination papers are set by international experts and marked
externally. KIS Diploma / IB certificate students must select subjects keeping
only the KIS credit requirements of the core subjects and the additional
requirements of VAPA. KIS Diploma / IB Diploma subjects are chosen from
each of the following six groups below:
Group
IB Higher Level
IB Standard Level
Group 1
(one only)
Pre-requisite
English LIT HL
(grade10 Hon or
B- in Advanced English),
Korean HL
English Language and
Literature SL
Korean SL
Dzongkha SL
Group 2
Second Language
(Language B)
(one only)
Pre-requisite: should
have had 2-5 years
previous study of the
language unless an Ab
Initio course
Hindi B HL
German B HL
Korean B HL
French B HL
French B SL
Hindi B SL
German SL
Spanish Ab Initio SL
Mandarin Ab Initio SL
Korean B SL
Tamil B SL
English B SL
KIS course
Group
IB Higher Level
IB Standard Level
KIS course
Group 3
Social Studies (not
more than two SS
courses can be taken)
Pre-requisite:
Humanities 10
Economics HL
Business & Management
HL
History HL
Geography HL
Psychology HL
Economics SL
Business& Management
SL
History SL
Geography SL
Psychology SL
World Religions SL
Accountancy
Political Studies
(these one semester
courses will give credits
for electives)
Group 4
Science
(More than one science
course can be taken)
Pre-requisite
should have taken
Bio/Physics/Chemistry 10
Chemistry HL
Physics HL
Biology HL
Computer Science HL
Chemistry SL
Physics SL
Biology SL
Environ. System SL
Computer Science SL
Group 5
Math
(one only)
Pre-requisite
Math HL
(Math Adv or 6 in Math
10)
Math SL
(Math Adv or 5 in
Math 10)
Math Studies SL
(Math 10)
Group 6
VAPA
Music /Art /Film
Music HL
Visual Arts HL
Film HL
Music SL
Visual Arts SL
Film SL
Theory of Knowledge
TOK 1
VAPA
Students may take one subject from each of the six groups, or one subject each from Groups 1 - 5 and a
second subject from Groups 2 - 5.
KIS High School
Kodaikanal International School offers a broad based combination of American and international
curriculum to its students. Apart from the core subjects, students are expected to complete courses
in Religious Education, Health, Fine and Practical Arts, Computer Education and Community Service
requirements to be eligible for the US accredited KIS Diploma. Requirements for receiving KIS Diploma are
defined in terms of credits, which apply to subjects of grades 9 to 12 only. Each course is assigned
either 5 or 2.5 credits per semester depending upon class hours per cycle. Students are
awarded these credits upon successful completion of required course work. Subjects
allocated five or six periods in a six-day cycle receive 5 credits for a semester and
10 credits for a full year. (10 credits = 1 Carnegie Unit) For example 40 credits
required in English means students must take 8 semesters of English over a 4
year period earning 5 credits per semester.
All students are assigned a homeroom teacher. Homeroom teachers
monitor students’ academic program and progress, assisting them in
developing successful study patterns and effective relationships with
teachers and other students.
Education with a Global Perspective
Situated in the peaceful Palani Hills of South India, KIS
combines an ambitious academic program and a rich range of
extracurricular activities. Set in a region known for its rugged
beauty and cool climate, KIS is an independent, International,
K-12 residential school of Christian foundation.
Unique International Education
KIS seeks candidates who demonstrate a positive attitude and a willingness to work independently.
Admission is open to qualified students at all grade levels from Preschool to grade 12. The school is open
for residential students from grades 3 – 12. The school year consists of two semesters; semester 1 from
July to November, and semester 2 from January to May. Winter vacation runs from end November through
beginning January and summer vacation from mid-May through to mid-July.
For direct enquiries and requests for application, contact;
Admissions Coordinator
Kodaikanal International School,
Seven Roads Junction, PO Box 25,
Kodaikanal 624 101
Tamil Nadu, India
Phone: (91) 4542 247 500 (switchboard)
(91) 4542 247 218 (direct)
Fax: (91) 4542 241 109
Email: Admissions@kis.in
Web: www.kis.in
Caring, nurturing environment with 1:8
staff to student ratio, fabulous location
at 2200m in the Palani Hills, great
learning environment with emphasis on
spiritual awareness in today’s world
Visit to see how great it is!
Kodaikanal International School
Seven Roads Junction, PO Box 25,
Kodaikanal 624 101, Tamil Nadu, India
tel: (91) 4542 247 500
fax: (91) 4542 241 109
email: contact@kis.in
www.kis.in
A non-profit, multicultural, Christian organization registered # 181-6970 of 1996 under section 25 of the Companies Act 1956
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KIS... over 100 years in global education