Primary School
Nurturing Curiosity Through Inquiry-based Learning
Our Primary School focuses on the unique learning characteristics and dispositions of every student. This allows us to personalise their learning experiences in a safe and caring environment. Our inclusive learning community helps our youngest students to understand and think objectively about different people, cultures, and perspectives.
A Look Inside Our Primary School
Learning How to Learn
"The personalised inquiry-based approach at NIS helps nurture the dispositions and skills for lifelong learning. Through their own agency, we encourage students to be curious as they develop inquiry skills to make personal connections with learning content and make meaning through collaborating with others."
Pre-K to Grade 5
The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) provides a framework for structured inquiry to take place as the main vehicle for student learning in relevant, real-world contexts. Through experience and discovery, our students have countless opportunities to grow.
Our faculty work with parents as a team. Children who are educated in NIS's international and inclusive learning environment gain the knowledge, skills, and understanding to contribute positively to our future.
Jacqui Patrick
Primary School Principal
Ms. Patrick has extensive teaching and leadership experience in China and a deep understanding of the IB Primary Years Programme.
Early Years
Grade 1-5
Our Curriculum
Learning experiences are conceptually based and embedded in Units of Inquiry that help our students learn essential content and skills.
Our curriculum framework is transdisciplinary and seeks to approach learning in consideration of the whole child through constructive inquiry. We closely attend to our school’s mission and strategy by developing students’ talents in the areas of their academic, social and emotional well-being.
21st Century Education in Action
At NIS, we are developing critical thinkers and leaders by involving students in the decisions about teaching and learning.
Through our Reggio-inspired approach to learning in our award-winning Early Years Centre all the way to the Grade 5 PYP Exhibition, we believe in fostering agency to help students develop meaning and personal connections to the purpose of their learning. This takes place within our school’s local, national, and global context.
We support risk-taking and international mindedness by equipping our learners with the skills to thrive outside their comfort zone and connect with nature, people, culture, and places.
Design Learning
Design learning at NIS supports the development of student skillsets and competencies to be the empathetic problem solvers our 21st century world needs.
Starting in Primary School, our students have access to the resources and opportunities that allow them to effectively begin their inquiry-based design journey.
Our curriculum seeks to develop a passion for design in our younger students by placing an emphasis on maker culture, which encourages children to go through a cycle of thinking, making, and then improving on what they make.
Social and Emotional Learning
We are an inclusive school dedicated to not only providing all our students with the best opportunities to learn academically, but also socially and emotionally.
Our caring teachers and inclusive environment empower our youngest learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve academic, personal, social, and career successes. It is our belief that all students can reach their full potential as respectful and responsible global citizens. NIS offers world-class Counselling, Learning Support, Language Support, and Wellness programmes for our students.
Co-Curricular and Language Programmes
Language
Our Primary School provides several options for students to develop native and second languages, both during and outside of school hours. We are proud to offer authentic immersion in Chinese culture with the study of Mandarin language and Discover China. In our later grades, we offer the study of other major languages through our Language Programmes.
Co-Curricular Programmes
We provide a wide range of co-curricular programmes to promote an active lifestyle and dynamic experience for our youngest students. Athletics, visual and performing arts, academic and service are part of the learning experiences all our students enjoy.
