Student Support
XIS believes every student is to be valued, is to feel a part of the XIS community, is empowered to learn, and has the tools needed to be successful.
To uphold this belief, a robust support system works in tandem at XIS that includes counseling, college guidance, English as an Additional Language (EAL), reading support in the elementary school, and an advisory program in the middle and high schools.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Philosophy of Language Learning
At XIS, as an IB school, we support language development with consideration for the language profiles of students. Our students have a diversity of language backgrounds, abilities, and needs, and we
recognize multilingualism as a fact, a right and a resource for learning. Multilingualism, encouraged and supported through multilingual learning environments, affirms student identity and student agency.
Placement
Placement of students in the EAL programs at XIS are dependent on assessment of students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills prior to enrollment to ensure students have the minimum English skills to be successful in a given grade level.
English as an Additional Language – Elementary School
In order to appropriately support students whose home language is not English, to scaffold their learning appropriately and to meet the diversity of student language needs, each grade from grades 1-5 has a dedicated EAL teacher. Each EAL teacher works as a collaborative member of the grade level teaching team.
Our EAL teachers come to us with a solid understanding of language learning and teaching strategies. They collaborate with homeroom and specialist teachers to implement differentiated instruction that enhances the language acquisition of English Language Learners.
English as an Additional Language – Secondary School
In grades 6-9, students’ English language acquisition is supported through a dedicated course designed to help identified English language learners develop the knowledge and multi-literacy skills to improve their ability to communicate appropriately, accurately and effectively in a range of social, cultural and academic contexts. This course is divided into language phases and objectives that represent essential processes of language and learning and are organized into four criteria: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Counseling
Elementary School Counseling
XIS believes that the social and emotional growth of students is just as important as the academic growth. In order to support, guide, and enhance students’ social emotional skills, our counselor is dedicated to every grade level (Pre-K to grade 5) in the elementary school by providing education, identification, and intervention strategies for social emotional purposes to students, teachers, and families.
The elementary school counselor helps students achieve academic success, develop an understanding of career opportunities, and develop social/emotional skills in response to issues they face.
“XIS believes that the social and emotional growth of students is just as important as academic growth.”
-Terrey Hoosain, Elementary and Secondary Counselor
Middle and High School Counseling
The XIS Secondary School counseling program is designed to address the needs of students in grades 6-12 by helping them acquire competencies in college and career planning and exploration, knowledge of self and others, and educational development through individual planning, advisory, individual counseling, and support services.
The counselor provides direct student support to match each student’s individual needs, including working with students individually, in small groups, and within the classrooms. The counselor also works extensively with students and parents in the college planning and research process.
Explore our college guidance program.