The Finnish International School staff is diverse and international. If their native language is not English, they all have native-like proficiency.

So far we only have primary grades at Finnish International School and we have not faced any issues regarding the language. We practice the Content and Language Integrated Learning method of teaching English, which is the most efficient proven approach to teach to the primary age pupils. Even the pupils with lower English proficiency do master the language skills just within a couple of months. Overall, we do have individualized learning process at FIS, which includes extra support in any academic area that might be challenging for the pupil.

All students will study at their own level during the language classes. We also have extra teachers to help and give extra lessons if needed. In extracurricular activities, we provide language clubs as well.

English is the language of instruction at FIS. Georgian is taught as a native as well as a foreign language. Finnish can be studied starting from fourth grade as an optional language. German is offered from sixth grade. We also have an opportunity to offer other foreign languages of parents' choice as part of our after club classes: Chinese, Spanish, and French.

15 students per class

10

Yes. Finnish International School has two teachers per group - the main teacher and an assistant teacher.

Technology is an integral part of the studying process at FIS. Many learning objectives of various subjects are achieved through technology. Accordingly, ACT is not taught separately, but rather in an integrated manner. At school, we also teach robotics and coding with robots.

At Finnish International School we have a technology-enhanced studying process. During the latest Covid-19 outbreak, following the government's regulations, we moved our classes online - namely to the TEAMS platform. We also used other digital resources, which made the transition process easier and more efficient for the students. At the end of the term, the FIS staff managed to successfully achieve all the learning objectives from the Curriculum.

Our school is religion-neutral. No religion is practised or taught at Finnish International School. We do offer one subject called World Religions, but this is more of a historical perspective into existing religions.

We don't practice or teach religion at FIS.

Our primary school pupils do not complete any external exams. It's all school-based.

The Finnish International School's educational approach is to give students as much information during the classes as possible. With an individualistic approach to each pupil, teachers do assign homework to their students, but on a minimal level.

Usually, at FIS, the afterschool activities include the time to support the pupils' homework preparation. The primary grades' pupils are oftentimes done with their homework during the classes and after school activities, but usually, the suggested amount of time for a home is minimal - no more than one hour.

FIS, for now, is a primary school. We do not have any graduates at this point, and will not have for a while - until around 2027 - that is when our current students reach 12th grade and graduate after that.

Yes, we have highly professional Special Education teacher/psychologist, who will be supervising the direction of children with special learning needs by providing individualized study plans for the pupils in need and adapting the environment according to their needs.

Individualized approach and studying plan created by certified Special Education teachers/psychologists.

By individualistic approach: creating a supportive and healthy environment to each and every pupil individually based on their talent and needs.

Yes, we do have an educational psychologist.

Yes, interviews.

The FIS administration has an interview with parents to learn more about their kids' needs and expectations towards the school. Our psychologist and also an English language specialist have interviews with the pupils to assess their readiness level.

Not for now, but we will have waiting lists as the need emerges.

We don't have strict deadlines. Usually until the beginning of the academic year, but also as mentioned below we do allow students to enrol during the whole year, even after the start of the academic year if the interested candidate matches our requirements.

Yes, we do enrol students during the year, following the required procedures that may vary from candidate to candidate

09:30 am

17:00 pm.

Before school, we provide pupils with safe transportation to/from school. And we have after school activities which include supervision as well as informal educational activities.

Yes.

Yes

Yes, we take dietary requirements into consideration. During the acceptance interview, we ask the parents about the dietary needs and restrictions and we make sure to live up to their requirements.

No.

After-school activities include arts, reading clubs, robotics lessons as well as educational outdoor activities. Other extracurricular activities such as football, swimming will be added to the list when FIS moves to its new larger campus.

Different ball games: Tennis, football, basketball, volleyball. Also gymnastics, dancing, track and field, orienteering, rope skipping. Inventing new fun sports games with pupils is also part of our school curriculum.

We are always interested in taking part in different sport competitions if our students are fond of it. Finnish curriculum about physical education is diverse and pupils get skilled in multiple sports - individual and team sports.

Enough space for outdoor sports activities: football field, basketball, etc. The new campus at Saguramo, where the Finnish International Scool will relocate in 2021 will also have a swimming pool.

It is a universally accepted fact that the Finnish Education Model is ranked N1 in the world. From 2012, Finland is the leader in the primary and secondary education systems of the world rankings. Finnish students show the best results in the world according to knowledge and school skills.

One of the most important hallmarks of the Finnish school is the development of individualism, practicality and preparation for real life. Although the learning principles in Finland are unique and original, Finnish children have repeatedly shown the best results worldwide. Here children are given not only actual and necessary general knowledge, but they are being trained for real life. Accordingly, such a method has beneficial and most constructive effects.

Finland is a well-established leader in launching the successful innovative start-up projects performed by youngsters and the majority of those projects have turned into billion-dollar investment companies.

- Finnish learning method relies on the three main principles – trust, freedom and equality.
- Our days are filled with the joy of learning. We focus on each individual child and every child is important and in the middle of his/her own learning process.
Therefore we will use modern student-centric pedagogical practises facilitating the learning process.
- One of the most important hallmarks of the Finnish School is the development of individualism, analytical, innovative mindset, and learn for life. Finnish learning method promotes revealing the interests and inclinations of students from the early stage of the school.
- We do not overemphasize the student workload. Human brains require breaks and pause in learning, especially during first grades in primary school. Quality comes always before quantity for us. It is important for us that our school days are relatively short and there are recesses after every lesson.
- Integrated Subjects developing real-life skills – teachers plan joint lessons with other teachers.
- The latest technology use and learning the skills of the future.
- Learning happens all the time everywhere. So, therefore, we will learn many things also during the recesses, out in nature, during the field trips etc.
- It is a common myth, that there are no homework and no tests in a Finnish school. Sure, we have some tests, but we do not overemphasize the role of testing and assessing. We are learning for life, not for tests and we do emphasize the 21st-century skills for the future.
- We have highly trained, very skilled, top-professionals teachers and other staff. We will formidably invest for continuous teacher on-site training and staff development. We feel that our school is a kind of a family and therefore it is important for us that the staff dedicated and devoted collaboratively work for the pupils.
- Continuous discussion and sharing ideas is what is always needed in educational sciences. We would gladly share ideas and participate in cooperation with teachers development widely for the future impact for whole Georgia.