Facts
faq
Below is a list of frequently asked questions that we receive. If your question is not listed and not covered on our website, please complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
When does the school year start and end?
School commences on 16 August 2012 and concludes on 11 June 2013. The school year consists of 185 days. The CDNIS calendar consists of the same number of instructional days as Canadian schools, but the calendar is stretched to accommodate the required local Chinese holidays.
What are your school hours?
This varies according to division. Students in Pre Reception and Reception attend either a morning or an afternoon class. The morning class begins at 8am and ends at 10:20am. The afternoon class begins at 11:50am and ends at 2:20pm. Students in Prep to Grade 12 attend classes from 8am until 2:25pm.
Do you wear uniforms?
Lower School students in grades Pre Reception to Grade 6 wear uniforms.
Pre Reception to Grade 4
Boys: The uniform consists of tan pants or tan shorts, and a short or long sleeve red and white striped shirt.
Girls: The uniform consists of a short-sleeved red and white striped dress or a tan pinafore with a long-sleeved red and white striped blouse.
PE uniforms are required and are the same for boys and girls; black shorts or black track pants and a House T-shirt.
Grades 5 & 6
Students in these two grades wear Upper School uniform. Details are given below.
Upper School students in Grades 7-12 all wear uniforms.
Boys: The uniform consists of tan pants, and short- or long-sleeved white collared shirts embroidered with school badge; or short- or long-sleeved polo tops.
Girls: The uniform consists of tan pants, tan skirt or tan culottes. The top should be either a short- or long-sleeved white collared shirt with the embroidered school badge; or short- or long-sleeved polo tops.
PE uniforms are required and are the same for both boys and girls; Black shorts and either a red school shirt.
*All uniforms can be purchased from the in-school uniform shop, Uniform Station (room 502), or at Uniform Station's store in Jordan.
The school uniform shop is open throughout the year at the following times:
Monday & Wednesday: 10:30am - 3:45pm
Friday: 7:30am - 1pm
(Opening hours are subject to change during the school year - please check with the school)
Are parents involved with the school?
If you are a parent, there are several ways you can get involved in your child's life at CDNIS.
In the Classroom
Ask your child's teacher how you can participate in the classroom. For younger grades parents can participate in book reading and class activities.
Class Representative
If you enjoy spending time with your child, you can enhance your child's school experience by choosing to be a Class Representative. This can involve a number of different activities such as socialising with other parents and/or students from your child's class, encouraging other parents to participate in school activities or functions, distributing information to fellow class parents, and from time to time lending a helping hand. Ask your child's teacher for a clearer indication of his/her requirements for a Class Representative.
CISPA
Our parents' association is a vital and energetic association, which, as a parent in our school, automatically makes you a member. CISPA holds monthly meetings, where topics are raised and answered by fellow parents and/or by our Head of School or Principals. CISPA organises many social, fun and/or educational events all by volunteering parents.
CISPA is made up of an Executive Committee of 15 volunteering parents, who along with hundreds of other parents, are devoted to building community spirit by actively supporting and initiating activities for students and their families.
CISPA is a perfect way to keep yourself informed and heard on of many important aspects of school life. Your opinion matters to CISPA and they are willing to answer any questions you may have.
What happens if my child arrives and needs help to catch up with the curriculum?
Children come to CDNIS from all parts of the world and therefore from all levels of programme and curriculum. Support staff are available for all subjects throughout the school to help new students get up to speed with curriculum developments. The student/teacher ratio at the school is approximately 10:1 and class sizes average 20-25 in the Lower School and less than 18 in the Upper School.
If we see that a child is in need of extra support outside of what can be provided in the classroom or learning centre, we will refer you to a tutor to help bridge the gap.
At the older grades, homework clubs or peer tutoring can be helpful. Alternatively, if we find that your child is in need of additional challenges, they may be referred for observation for consideration in our Extended Learning Programme.
What amount of homework should my child expect?
This varies by division and is a gradual build-up to the heavier academic loads of a college preparatory programme.
For example, a second grader may have only two minutes of homework per day while a seventh grader may have up to an hour per day, and by the time a student reaches Upper School he/she may have as much as 10 hours per week.
What is the average class size?
The average class varies in size between 20 - 25 students. In the Lower School, each class has a teacher and a classroom assistant. In the Upper School as learning gets more subject-specific and students take elective courses, the class size decrease significantly.
What is the Student/Teacher ratio?
10:1
Does the school have an Annual Report?
Yes, download the Annual Report
