DAS offers a dual language International Program aiming to ensure that DAS graduates can learn, work, and think effectively in both English and Arabic.
As a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) and Middle years Programs (IBMYP),the curriculum we offer is based on the requirements of the IB. From pre-kindergarten levels through 8th grade the program is the same for all students , providing science and math and other courses in English and Arabic in alternative years. When entering 9th grade, the students must choose between two programs: 1) continuing in the International Program to earn an American Diploma through a focus on more English; and 2) switching to the advanced Saudi Muqararat curriculum which offers more subjects in Arabic. Both programs are accepted for gaining admission to universities in Saudi Arabia and abroad, since the Muqararat Program is authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Education and the International Program is accredited by the North Central Association Commission for Accreditation and Improvement (NCA CASI).
In Grade 11 the international secondary program offers a variety of Advanced Palcement courses (AP) and electives to satisfy our students interests. In the 11th grade, the Muqararat students are required to choose between two streams: science or humanities. Whereas our boys’ school only offers the science stream, the girls’ school offers both the science and humanities streams in the years when it has enough students ready for both programs.
A. IB Primary Years Programme (PYP): Kindergarten through Grade 5
B. IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) : Grade 6 through Grade 10
C. International Secondary Programme: grade 11 and 12
D. Muqarrat Programme: Grade 10 to 12
I.THE STUDENT SUPPORT UNIT
The Student support Services model at DAS is based on the philosophy that all students can learn and have unique abilities, learning styles and interests. These differences are valued, as they add to the richness and diversity of our school. Learners respond best to instructionally appropriate strategies designed to develop their strengths and provide for their individual needs through differentiated instruction. Accommodations, both in the ways educators instruct and assess, are required in order for students with additional needs to learn and succeed. The goal for all students is to meet or surpass grade level standards in the DAS curriculum. In order to reach these goals, students must engage in positive learning experiences that emphasize academic, behavioral and personal commitments.
The Student Support Unit is a multi-tiered support system designed to address the needs of all students for academic concerns, at multiple levels.The SSU strives to allow accessibility of learning to all students. It works to develop and implement procedures to identify learners who may need extra support. We provide support in English, Arabic and Math and follow both a push in and pull out system based on students' needs. We also support students either in a one-on-one setting or in small groups. A specific referral process is used to identify students who may be in need of extra support at various levels. THE SSU collaborates with classroom and subject matter teachers along with parents to develop a support plan or individual intervention plan with evidence based interventions guiding the instruction. This plan is regularly monitored for progress and the plan is adjusted accordingly.
Counseling:
Counseling approach in DAS aims to provide students with an opportunity to talk through their difficulties in a supportive environment. It can be implemented through prevention and intervention programs as a comprehensive school counseling program such as Positive Behavior Support (PBS). By one to one basis, counselors can help students to find out their own ways of addressing their issues and expressing their feelings Guidance counseling program is a child-centered, developmental and proactive program. It is an integral-interrelated part of the educational program that is implemented from Pre-K till Grade 12.
Counselors efficiently collaborate with learners, teachers, administrators, and parents to create a comfortable environment that is based on care to help and support learners’ social-emotional development. There is a wide range of areas in which the counseling support can be provided such as academic, behavioral, psychological and social emotional development.
Counselors help students move towards their personal goals and follow up by bringing about improvements and support their wellbeing. Advocating individualized and group services to assure learners’ holistic progress, the counselors offer consultations, interventions, and follow up to learners who face changes and challenges in their lives; such as, divorce of parents, transition, death, and problems with peers, bullying, study habits, and others.
They approach learners through various activities related to their problems, concerns, developmental issues, or other sudden arisen conflicts. The counselors reflect through observations from activities’ outcomes to detect the learners who may need immediate support to overcome a certain crisis. The counselor interferes immediately by interviewing the learner individually and contacting their parents for further support. The counselor plays a vital role by raising awareness through guiding learners and helping them believe in their abilities in order to overcome their challenges; and their physical and social emotional changes. Emotional and behavioral concerns can be identified by counseling department at an early stage.
The counselling process aims at helping the students in solving their problems, furthering their self-knowledge, and self-satisfaction. These goals of school counseling are to support students’ learning and help them succeed and achieve their personal goals under the umbrella of the general goals of Education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the recently transformation of education which will be aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.