Colegio San Andrés1- How to begin the Admissions process to St. Andrew’s Scots School?
To begin the process, the family must complete the Admission form available in the following link: http://www1.sanandres.esc.edu.ar/Admisiones/Proceso-de-admision/formulario/
2- When should I begin with the Admissions process for entry in 2023?
The Admissions process starts one year before entry. The process for 2023 begins in April 2022 and closes on August 15th, that same year.
The first entry point is the 2-year-old class, for those children turning two before June 30th of the year in which they enter.
The school year begins in February and ends in December. Only students coming from abroad can apply for entry in August. The closing date for Admission in August is June 1st of the same year.
3- How and who to contact to begin the Admissions Process?
Families can contact us every day from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at: +5411 4846-6508 int: 1115/1324 or by email to: admissions@sanandres.esc.edu.ar
Ana Repila, Director of Admissions and Poly Stagnaro, Admissions Assistant, will accompany the families throughout the entire process.
4- When is the closing date for to students coming from abroad starting in August?
June 1st is the registration closing date. By that date, the family must have completed the admissions requirements, including the corresponding face-to-face interviews and evaluations.
Students are not allowed to enter once the second semester of the academic year has started.
For students from schools that follow the boreal hemisphere calendar, admission will be determined as follows:
● Initial level: by date of birth, subject to the result of the Admissions Process.
● Primary: by date of birth, subject to the result of the Admissions Process.
● Secondary: per year approved, subject to the result of the Admissions Process.
The last instance to apply to St.Andrew's Scots School is in February of Year 11 since it is required to complete the last two years at the school in order to prepare for the I.B exams.
5- Can there be virtual interviews? (For example, via Zoom)
Informative meetings can be held online via Zoom. However, this does not replace the Admissions Interview, which must be carried out in Buenos Aires.
SCHOOL OVERVIEW
1- Where is the school situated?
The Kindergarten and the Primary School are located in the New Campus, Atilio Betti 3199, San Fernando (click here)
The Secondary School is located in Olivos. Intermediate School (Y7 to Y9) in: Nogoyá 550 and Senior School (Y10 to Y12): in Roque Saenz Peña 601 (click here)
2- Does the school offer a transportation service?
Each family carries out the hiring of the transportation service with companies recommended by the school.
3- Is St. Andrew´s a religious school?
St. Andrew’s Scots School offers a bilingual, secular and co-ed education. It encourages its community to grow in openness and tolerance, valuing all faiths as well as those who do not hold a particular belief. However, it is founded on Presbyterian values and especially promotes integrity, responsibility and respect.
4- Does the school have Educational Psychology support?
St. Andrew´s offers the aid of the Learning Support Teams to all students, composed by Educational Psychology and Psychology professionals, in all sectors.
5- Does the school have an Emergency service?
The school has an in-house doctor in the Olivos pool sector. There is an in-house nurse at the Campus and an emergency service located at the entrance. School staff annually performs CPR training.
6-How many foreign families are there in the school?
The percentage of foreign families varies over the years but is approximately 10% of the total population. There is a large number of families where one of the parents is a foreigner. Others have lived abroad for many years and choose St. Andrew´s upon their return to Buenos Aires.
7- Where do families who choose St. Andrew´s live?
The school community is made up of a large number of families from both the City of Buenos Aires (CABA), the Northern zone of Gran Buenos Aires and neighbourhoods surrounding the Campus.
8- In what way do parents take part in school life?
Informative parent meetings are held on a regular basis. Throughout the year, there are whole-family activities such as the Family Day, Interhouses, Values night, Choir and Drama for parents, etc.
All parents who join our community are welcome to become part of APESA, the Parent Association at St. Andrew´s.
9- Does the school grant discounts and / or scholarships?
The school offers discounts for siblings (10% for the second child, 40% for the third child and 75% from the fourth child). Entering alumni as well as members of the Faith Community can apply to a scholarship offered by the Fundación San Andrés.
10- How is the school´s security managed?
School personnel is in charge of security, hired especially for this task.
11- How are new families integrated to the community?
The Parent Association (APESA) coordinates the Welcome SASS program where a school family welcomes a new family, in order to facilitate the adaptation of new students.
12- Where can the uniform be purchased?
Parents can purchase uniform both at the Olivos and the Campus School Shops that are open every day during school hours.
KINDERGARTEN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Kindergarten timetable?
The Kindergarten opens daily from 8 to 9am for families who need to bring their children at an earlier time. Activity for all begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m.
Children from Kinder 3 and 4 can take part in optional workshops from Monday to Thursday from 1 to 4 pm.
The Kinder 5 day runs from 9am to 4pm.
2. How many students are there in each class?
The maximum number of students in K2 is 18 children, with two teachers in each class. As from K3, the number can increase to 22, with a maximum in K4 and K5 of 24 students each.
3. How many teachers are there in the classroom?
In Kindergarten, each class has a regular teacher and a permanent assistant. It is also important to highlight the presence of the educational psychology team of professionals that performs personalized monitoring of each student.
4. What is the structure of the bilingual education in Kindergarten?
Each age level has its own educational community made up of six divisions and a common space called a Cluster. Students use these spaces together to explore and experience creativity and socialization. Children work on different projects where curiosity, imagination and experimentation are stimulated.
Activities are mainly in English; learning is done through games and songs that allow the development of the language in an organic and playful way.
5. What is a Cluster?
It is an exclusive common space for each level where students have material corresponding to their age and interests. Designed by the Rosan Bosch studio to stimulate imagination and creativity, children play in stations rotating the activities, divided into small groups.
6. What is the modality of the K3 and K4 workshops?
Workshops for K3 and K4 are optional and take place in the afternoon, Mondays through Thursdays from 1pm to 4pm. A family can choose a minimum of two workshops and a maximum of four.
Workshops offered are:
· Robotics and Technology
· Makerspace, Construction and Exploration
· Sports and Games
· Cook and Play
· Performing Arts
· Creative expression
· Yoga and Mindfulness
· Outdoor Learning
7. What other activities take place in the Kindergarten?
Students have Music and Physical Education lessons within school hours. There is an annual Concert and a Sports event where all families are invited.
8. Is there use of technology in Kindergarten?
There is use of interactive whiteboards, pads, Robotics workshops and initiation to coding in Kindergarten.
9. How does lunch take place in the Kindergarten?
For those children who attend all day, lunch is served by the school in the classroom. Nutritionists supervise the monthly menu and parents can access it through the school´s website in advance.
10. Where does outdoor play take place?
Kinder 2 and Kinder 3 classes have a direct access to a private garden where children can play in the sandbox, the merry-go-round, the slide and other games with their age group exclusively.
In the main playgorund, in addition to the mentioned games, there are also swings and a small synthetic grass court for the use of Kinder 4 and Kinder 5.
PRIMARY FREUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Primary School timetable?
The Primary School is open between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. for those who need to arrive early in the morning. The regular activity for all goes from 8.30 a.m. to 4.20 p.m. in the afternoon. All activities take place within that timetable.
2. How many students are there in each class?
The Primary School divides each age group into six divisions of 24 students per class, all sharing a common space called a Cluster, exclusive for each sector. The ratio between the number of boys and girls per class is balanced.
3. How many teachers are there per classroom?
Each group has a Spanish and an English teacher, each with assistants who distribute their time to assist students and teachers in everyday activities.
4. What is the structure of the bilingual education?
The day is divided in activities both in English and Spanish, equivalently.
5. What is the Primary School´s methodology?
St. Andrew’s Scots School has its own study program that respects the national curriculum. Learning is holistic, seeking to stimulate students' curiosity through different research projects where various subjects are interrelated. Projects are the basis of the process of learning, the school intends for students to learn to know themselves and their interests, to become lifelong learners. The school encourages students to be protagonists of their learning processes, working with autonomy and responsibility. Students work in small groups rotating in different activities 70% of the day and 30% individually.
6. What is a Cluster?
Clusters are common spaces where students explore and work in station mode. Spaces reflect the different stages of learning. There are introspection spaces, experimentation spaces, collaborative work spaces, spaces to expose the work done and spaces for one-way communication. Designed by the Rosan Bosch studio, its furniture seeks to stimulate creativity and imagination.
7. Do students receive Educational Psychology support?
Educational Psychology professionals accompany the process of each student, attending to their specific needs.
8. Do students perform community work?
Through SEIL (Social, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership) students work on Emotional Education and relationship with their peers. Students also carry out different activities to participate as active members of the community.
9. Is there a Library at school?
The Primary building has a large Library located in the heart of the school.
It has specially designed spaces to stimulate reading, narration and research. It has also a multimedia space and tables for collaborative work. Students attend the library periodically to carry out different activities.
10. What activities do students have within the curriculum?
Drama, Music, Art and Sports are included as main subjects within school hours.
11. Is there use of Technology in Primary?
Technology is considered an important tool in the everyday learning process. During the first years, students work with devices provided by the school and with their own in the last years of Primary. There is also a Technological Laboratory where students learn Robotics, Decoding, Digital Design, among others.
12. Which are the Sports that students practice in Primary?
● Swimming
● Hockey
● Rugby
● Athletics
13. Where do students practice swimming? As from what age?
Swimming begins as from Year 1. Classes are held at the Buenavista Club close to the school. The Secondary school has its own pool at the Olivos site.
14. Which activities related to Music are there in the Primary School?
All students take part in the School Play that merges Drama and Music activities. Children can also become a member of the Scholl Choir and the Primary School Band. As from Year 4, those who take part in the School of Instruments can choose which instrument to learn.
15. How does lunch take place?
Families have the option of choosing between lunch service or for each child to bring his or her own lunchbox. All students have their lunch together in the hall, despite the system they decide for.
16. What trips do students take in Primary?
Students in Primary carry out sports camps and tours mainly within the country. There is a sports tour that takes place in Uruguay.
At the end of the Primary school, all 6th grade students make a camping trip to the school´s site in Lake Mascardi, in the Southern region of Argentina.
17. How often are divisions reshuffled?
With the aim of promoting socialization and interaction among all children of the same age, classes are regrouped at the beginning of 1st grade, 4th and 7th grade.
18. Which workshops can student choose within school hours?
· Art Attack
· Scottish dancing
· Chess
· Robotics
· Choir
· Band
SECONDARY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the Secondary School timetable?
The Secondary School runs from 8.00 to 16.10. Two afternoons a week, students have sports activity that can take place in Olivos or in the new Campus, depending on their choice.
2. Where is the Secondary School located?
Secondary is divided into two buildings. The Intermediate School building where Y7, Y8 and Y9 function, is located at 550 Nogoyá Street, Olivos. The Senior School building, where Y10, Y11 and Y12 function, is located at Roque Saenz Peña 601, Olivos.
3. How many students are there per class?
In Secondary, there are six divisions per year, each class with 22 to 24 students per class.
4. How many teachers per class?
Each class has its own Tutor who is in charge of guiding and attending each student in a personalized manner. Then, each course has its own specialized teacher.
In Y7 and Y8, students keep the same tutor to accompany them during their first years of Secondary school.
5. Do students remain in the same group throughout the 6 years of Secondary School?
Students remain in the same group during Y7 and Y8. As from Y9, students are grouped according to the subjects of their choice.
6. How does the bilingual structure work?
Classes are taught in English 55% of the total hours, and this percentage increases progressively as students grow. The Intermediate School (Y7, Y8 and Y9) integrates the Sea of Learning program. All Secondary school students follow the IB program in order to obtain the diploma by the time they reach Y12.
The School may consider the admission of a student who is learning Spanish, but will eventually need to meet the language requirements to pass all courses.
7. What is the school's goal regarding learning?
The school seeks to promote enthusiasm for learning. Project-based learning helps students know themselves and their interests. The school believes that when students actively and collaboratively solve real problems, they will develop useful life skills. Effective learning requires diverse approaches and varied teaching experiences.
The goal is for students to:
Have access to great learning experiences of all kinds.
Be prepared for University.
Be prepared for life in the 21st century with competent skills and values.
Have enthusiasm and joy for learning, as well as an entrepreneurial spirit.
8. What is the Sea of Learning?
The Sea of Learning is a program designed by the school for Y7, Y8 and Y9 students where, through cross-curricular learning, students work through projects, problems and phenomena explicitly connected to the real world.
It is based on six fundamental pillars:
· Creativity
· Communication
· Citizenship
· Critical thinking
· Character
· Collaboration
9. What international exams do students take in Secondary?
At Y10, students take the Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate) in English and the UDESA Diploma in Mathematics and Spanish. In Y12, all students apply for the IB diploma.
10. What IB subjects does the school offer? (HL: Higher level, SL Standard level)
· English HL / SL
· Spanish HL / SL
· Literature
· Mathematics HL / SL
· Business & Management HL
· Economics HL / SL
· History HL / SL
· I.T.G.S HL / SL
· Environmental systems and societies SL
· Biology HL / SL
· Chemistry HL / SL
· Physics HL / SL
· Sports Exercise and Health Science SL
· Art HL / SL
· Film HL / SL
· Theater HL / SL
· French HL / SL
· Mandarin SL
· Portuguese S
11. What is Flextime?
Everyday from 10 to 10.40am Flextime takes place. It is a time where all students choose between meditation, tutoring, reading, community or individual workspaces and creative workspaces.
12. What Music activities are offered within the curriculum?
The school offers Art, Drama and Music where students can be part of the School Choir, the School Band and the School Play.
13. What Sports are promoted at school?
Students choose a main sport to practice within school hours between:
● Swimming
● Hockey
● Rugby
● Athletics
● Volley
● Basketball
14. Where do students practice swimming?
Secondary School students carry out swimming in the heated pool situated at the Intermediate School building.
15. Where do students practice other sports?
Students practice Volleyball and Basketball at the Intermediate School gym.
Rugby and Hockey practice takes place at the Campus courts.
16. How do students have lunch? Do they have lunch all together?
Students can hire the lunch service or they can bringing their own lunchbox. They have lunch all together at the school´s dining room.
17. How does school handle issues such as bullying, drugs and alcohol?
The school believes prevention is the best way to tackle adolescent issues, opening communication between students, parents and teachers.
Through S.E.I.L (Social, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership) teachers, psychologists, tutors and educational psychologists coordinate activities and spaces for reflection, debate and support. In this area, students also carry out community work, collaborating with different entities.
Informative talks are also held for parents, with themes related to each age´s area of concern.
18. What trips do students make in Secondary?
Students have a wide range of international trips related to sports, exchanges and study tours. Destinations depend on the subjects students choose.
19. Does school teach a third language?
Students from Year 7 must choose between Mandarin, French or Portuguese as a third language.
