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April


Eindelijk dan weer een teken van leven met betrekking tot

 

= Internationaal Onderwijs in Twente =

 

De reden van deze “radiostilte” en het daardoor ook niet nakomen van de afsprakenin mijn vorige bericht van december 2008 heeft enkel en alleen te maken met persoonlijke omstandigheden en niet met de voortgang voor wat betreft het Internationale Onderwijs in Twente.

 

Gedurende een deel van januari, de  maand februari en een deel van maart ben ik uit de running geweest ten gevolge van ziekenhuisopname (met 1 week IC) en heeft mijn lichamelijke conditie een behoorlijke tik gekregen (Listeria-bacterie en een schimmelinfectie op de longen). Gelukkig heeft een deskundige begeleiding en nazorg me weer op de been geholpen en begin ik  voorzichtig “mijn werk”weer op te pakken.

 

Ten aanzien van de voortgang van de diverse scholingen het volgende:

 

 

-           IST – VO
            De gesprekken met betrekkingtot de start in 2009 worden
            weer opgepakt en op korte termijn zal de locatie vastgesteld
            worden.

-           TTO Onderwijs basisscholen
            De opstart hiervan verloopt moeizaam omdat de animo van de
            basisscholen beperkt is o.a. ten gevolge van;
            * drukte van leerkrachten
            * onvoldoende kennis voor de begeleiding
            * etc.
            Toch zullen we blijven proberen om enkele “pilot-scholen” te
             laten starten

Review met betrekking tot de eerste maanden (½ jaar) IST – BO/VO:
De aangekondigde “review” is nog niet van de grond gekomen, hoewel de Koninklijke Grolsche Bierbrouwerij gastvrij de deuren had open gezet. De reden is gelegen in de drukke agenda’s van onze partners/sponsoren en overheden,waarbij het vrijwel onmogelijk is om een “essentieel” aantal begunstigers van SIO Twente bij elkaar te krijgen. Besloten is nu de review te houden na het eerste schooljaar van IST – BO, waarbij we ook eventueel de ouders van enkele leerlingen zullen betrekken.

 

 

Om toch aan te geven wat we als bestuur het afgelopen jaar hebben gedaan, zullen we op korte termijn via de “mail”een overzicht verstrekken van de:

 

-           Terugblik eerste half jaar IST – BO
-           kosten/baten

 

-           verwachting/voortgang IST – VO

-           idem TTO in de regio

 

Ik hoop hiermee een bijdrage te hebben geleverd om het gat in de informatieverstrekking enigszins op te vullen. Bij vragen, suggesties, op- en aanmerkingen s.v.p. bellen (06-51991620) of mailen ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

 
March 2009- International School Twente

 

My name is Bea Stanford, Willy Ophuis is my business mentor.
Probably you have noticed that for some time this website hasn't been updated. Let me explain why.

Willy has some health problems, we hope everything is going to be fine and he will be able to write a new blog soon. But right now he needs a lot of rest , so if you would like to express your wishes for Willy, please leave your comments in his GUESTBOOK.  Willy will appreciate it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Did you know that Willy is a chairman of the SIO Twente, the foundation supporting the development of the international school in Twente? The IST (International School Twente Primary)  is almost one year old and is running smoothly. Parents are very satisfied and children are happy; here is one of the reviews.
.............................................................................................................................................................

This review was first published on www.twenteinside.com  in autumn2008.

www.twenteinside.com  is a social network for expats and global minded people. Willy Ophuis is a member of it.

  

International School Twente

By Kasia Ratajczyk, mother of Michal, a 6 year old pupil of The IST. See Kasia’s profile on Inside Twente

 

kasiaportret.jpg.jpg

 International School Twente was established in August 2008 and it came to me as an answer to my biggest worry!

 


Together with my family I came to Enschede in the summer 2007. As many expat parents I was worried about my son's education. I knew that we were going to stay here for a few years only. I believed that education in English was the post proper one for my child as being the most universal and portable. Unfortunately, at that time, there was no international education provided in the Enschede area.

During the first year of our stay here Michal, 6 now, attended a regular Dutch school with an extended English programme. The teacher spoke both Dutch and English to the group. It was not long before I could see/hear the results. My son started expressing himself in two languages at the same time. He didn't notice any difference between Dutch and English. He just mixed them on his whim. The other kids were eying him in authentic bewilderment. It definately was not what I expected.

Luckily I learned about International SchoolTwente being started!

The International School Twente is located near the center of Enschede. It occupies a completely renovated first floor of the Princeschool building at Staringstraat. So far there are two spacious classrooms, a computerised library and a big gym.
The school has very nice surroundigs - huge lawnin front of the main entrance and a very busy playground, with its main attraction - huge sandbox full of young boys with spades, behind.

As the school is very new itself there only about 20 students and... more than 10 nationalities in both classrooms! Three teachers deal with kids' many languages, different customs and cultures.They provide education in English for children aged 4-12. It's a wonderful experience to watch children from all over the world eagerly participate insome team work!

It's only been 4 month since my son started attending IST and I am really pleased to see how quickly he learns! He started as a beginner, but now I can hear him play with his friends in English. He can also count in English, he writes his first clumsy words and he LOVES his teacher!.
What is most important for me, as his mum, is to see him happy. During the weekend he's really looking forward to Monday morning. At school he's involved in lots of activities and I can see that he learns through projects and play.

There is one more thing about the International School Twente that makes me happy - the fee - 2500 EUR per YEAR!
Now, this is something! The school receives financial support from the Dutch government and that is why the fee is so low.

As a proud mother of a 6-year-old-student I can fully recommend International School Twente as a perfect solution for expat families coming to Twente. I say families because through school's programme of International Friends you have a possibilty to meet other parents. Monthly coffee mornings give you a chance to share experience as parents and expats.You can make new friends and learn a lot about different cultures. Thanks to Dutch families involved in the programme you gain wonderful guides in the Dutch reality.

This afternoon I picked up my son from school.
How was your day at school, darling?
Suuuuuper!