OUR EDUCATION
BRITISH BILINGUAL
CURRICULUM
LEARNING
A BILINGUAL
BRITISH SCHOOL
We offer a bilingual academic approach. The overarching aim for English and Spanish, taught as dual languages in the curriculum, is to promote high standards of language and literacy, equipping students with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and instilling love of literature through opportunities for reading for enjoyment.
We follow the Cambridge Education model. For Spanish-speaking students, this path allows them to learn, practice and gain fluency in English step by step.
We follow the English national curriculum, which provides a set of standards, ensuring our students are meeting expectations in a wide range of subjects. We also follow the MEDUCA program. We are a MEDUCA certified school and we comply with all local requirements. We are a community school with a global outlook.
CURRICULUM
A BRITISH EDUCATION
NATIONAL CURRICULUM FOR ENGLAND (NEC)
The NCE provides children with a learning framework that promotes the development of their knowledge, understanding, and skills. It gives teachers great flexibility; they can plan higher level work for children whose attainment is significantly above the expected standard and, at the same time, prepare lessons for children who need extra support and guidance. Our teachers use a wide range of assessments to set children their targets which are ambitious by design, to encourage students to push themselves and achieve the best results they can.
The Primary Curriculum covers a diverse range of subjects: English, Math, Science, American Studies, Art, Computing, Dance, Music, Physical Education, Games, and World Languages (French and Spanish). Children are encouraged to make meaningful, thematic connections between subjects.
International Primary Curriculum
Since 1984, Schools across the globe have used the International Primary curriculum to engage children in a world of personal, academic, and international learning.
The International Primary Curriculum guides teachers and students alike through three Learning Goals: Subject, Personal, and International.
All three help children build:
- Knowledge—facts and information from a variety of sources.
- Skills—practical abilities which children learn, develop, then master.
- Understanding—deep and growing awareness of key concepts.
In every lesson in the curriculum, children work toward Subject Goals related to knowledge, skills, and understanding, all of which give them a clear aim when they’re learning.
Personal Goals help children to develop essential skills for modern life. This empowers them to become adaptable, empathetic, ethical, resilient, respectful, thinkers, collaborators, and communicators. These are embedded in the ethos of daily life at The Casco School.
By working towards International Goals, children develop a sophisticated worldview by focusing on the journey from “self” to “other”.
Your child’s performance is analysed based on what they know, understand, and can do. This information is then used by teachers to instruct them at a level that resonates with them most. Assessment is a daily part of school life, and helps children develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.
- Enhance and improve teaching and learning
- Set targets for individuals, groups, and cohorts
- Share learning goals with students
- Involve students in self-assessment
- Help students recognize the standards they can aim for
- Raise standards of learning
- Identify possibilities for academic intervention
- Inform parents of their child’s progress.
Primary students receive three academic reports each year; in Fall, Spring, and Summer. Teachers use these reports to communicate students’ academic and social development to parents, and they set personalized targets for each subject upon which students should focus prior to the next reporting period.
Our teachers also hold parent consultations during the school year by appointment.
PRE-SCHOOL CURRICULUM
THE EARLY YEARS
2 - 5 YEARS OLD
There is a strong emphasis on learning through play and children are encouraged to explore ideas and concepts through fun, hands-on experiences; for example, making a boat and taking it to the beach to test if it floats or sinks.
Our bilingual model immerses children in both Spanish and English from the beginning of their learning journey at The Casco School, and enables them to become confident communicators, a skill they will take with them throughout life.
The British Early Years Framework
At the Casco School we are proud to provide holistic, play-based learning experiences for our pre-school children. Our Preschool curriculum is based on the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which provides guidance to support learning and development, focusing not only on academics, but also on understanding the world and creative expression.
Our broad topics such as ‘Dinosaurs’ and ‘Space’ are introduced through story times and songs, in both Spanish and English, and are tailored to the children’s interests, strengths and individual learning styles.
Recognises that every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. The commitments are focused around development; inclusion; safety; and health and well-being.
Describes how children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and carers. The commitments are focused on respect; partnership with parents; supporting learning, and the role of the teachers.
Explains that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning. The commitments are focused around observation, assessment and planning; support for every child and the learning environment.
Recognise that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and that all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.
PRE-SCHOOL CURRICULUM
During the day
Our Preschool teachers are specialists in Early Years education and understand the importance of play as a form of learning. We recognise that each child is different and has their own pace of learning as well as curiosity and interests. Our experienced and highly trained staff plan exciting child initiated and adult-lead learning opportunities, tailored to each child’s individual interests. These activities encourage children to explore, create and think critically, whilst meeting key developmental goals within the 7 areas of learning. We recognise that the early years are a critical period in a child’s life, where emotional, cognitive and physical growth and development can flourish. The Casco School strives to build strong relationships between parents and teachers in order to fully support each child’s needs, ensuring they feel loved, secure and confident, and go on to become lifelong learners.
PRE-SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Areas of learning
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Environment Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding of the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
TIME OF CHANGES...
BIG STEPS FOR CHILDREN
We pride ourselves in our co-teaching model for Primary students. Each class has an English lead teacher and a Spanish lead teacher, who work in pairs in classes of up to 20 students to be able to differentiate and personalize learning.
Literacy is taught separately in English and Spanish to ensure that children learn the phonics, spelling, grammar and punctuation of the respective languages, as well as to dive into exemplary books and stories from authors from around the world. These core texts are inspired by our topics, which encompass science, technology, geography and history, as well as providing many opportunities for artistic expression and social interaction. All learning is carefully planned to respond to children’s differing interests, skills and needs. As our students complete their primary education, we support their transition to secondary through a variety of activities organized in collaboration with our Secondary School team to prepare them academically, socially and emotionally.
The Primary School Framework
Our students learn how to learn, they become scholars. Beside mastering academic milestones our children learn about themselves. They learn the value of friendship, they develop their own passions and secure their place in a larger community developing respect and tolerance for others.
One of the main goals of the curriculum is students becoming truly fluent in English and Spanish. Immersion happens both in the classroom and in the wider community we have created. The school takes advantage of its location in a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the range of talented artists and experts that reside here.
Our dedicated teachers work hard to refine their own art of teaching. They implement hands-on, experiential activities to enable students to acquire essential skills, engage in creative thinking, broaden knowledge, and deepen understanding.
Guests artists, speakers and professionals enhance our program by delivering classes and workshops to support students in developing their own talents and passions. This gives our students a unique opportunity to become artists in their chosen field.
PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Topic based learning
Topics are engaging, exciting and of real interest to the children. By integrating subjects through a related topic, children make links in their learning. For example, by studying Wonderful Waterways we connect the science of the water cycle with the creation of both human and physical geography features and the impact that this has had on history over time.
Children are able to look at multiple perspectives and make meaningful connections while also thinking critically. Units of work include individual and collaborative projects. Internationalism is embedded into each topic developing student global mindset. Through our studies we travel the globe learning about the rich cultural diversity of the world and develop respect and tolerance for others.
The core curriculum from ages 5 – 12 (Year 1 – Year 6) includes all the areas of learning on the right side:
PRIMARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Areas of learning
- English and Spanish
- Mathematics
- Science
- Design Technology
- ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
- History
- Geography
- Art and Design
- Music
- Physical Education
- PACE (Personal and Citizenship Education)
- Panamanian Studies
SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
LOWER SECONDARY
AGES 11 - 16
Lower Secondary Framework
The Casco Secondary School currently provides classes for students in Years 7, 8, 9 10 & 11. Over the coming years, the school plans to grow by one course each year, taking our current students all the way through to the end of their Secondary School journey in Year 13 to the IB Diploma. In Secondary, 80% of the classes are taught in English and 20% in Spanish. Small class size and constant teacher interaction means English is the main language heard in hallways and commons areas. Spanish is also promoted.
For years 10 and 11, The Casco School follows the guidelines of the two year curriculum designed by the Cambridge University team that created the IGCSE. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSEs) is the secondary school requirement for students completing Year 11. The IGCSE curriculum aims to support academic, social and personal growth through robust lessons in and out of the classroom.
Students have the opportunity to tailor their individual learning program by selecting from a range of elective classes. Students at this stage study subjects and themes drawn from the National Curriculum of England. They learn core subjects: English, Spanish, French, Mathematics, Science, Humanities (History and Geography) , Information Technology, Social Sciences of Panamá, Art, Music, Physical Education and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE).
SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Topic based learning
SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Areas of learning
- All of Primary School
- Media Studies
- Digital Literacy
- French
- Debate
Elective Courses*
- One option from the World Languages group
- One option from the Social Science group
- One of the three Pathways
*These courses are designed as two-year programs of study, and provide the foundations for success within our Junior and Senior years.
UPER SECONDARY
AGES 16 - 18
Uper Secondary Framework
Our IB Diploma Programme is planned for students aged 16 to 18. It will require students to study courses in six main subject areas, complete the IBDP Core Requirements and gain necessary life skills.The Diploma Programme’s six subject groups are:
- Studies in Language and Literature (usually English or Spanish)
- Language Acquisition (usually English or Spanish, but could be other languages)
- Individuals and Societies (examples are History, Business Management, Psychology and Environmental Systems and Societies)
- Sciences (examples are Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
- Mathematics (four levels of math courses are offered)
- The Arts (examples are visual arts, music and film)
Studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, students work towards earning an internationally-recognized qualification that is respected throughout the world’s top colleges and universities. The programme provides a variety of curriculum choices designed to fully prepare students for college studies and help them develop to their full potential.
Students go beyond the collection of facts and learn how to flourish in our interconnected and globalized world. They ask challenging questions, discover what it means to learn, develop a strong sense of identity and culture, as well as the ability to communicate with and understand people from different cultures and backgrounds.
SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Topic based learning
IB examinations
The IBDP culminates in written examinations in Year 13 that are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in school, which are initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external examiners, or sent directly to external examiners. IB subjects are assessed using a points system from 1 to 7. The IB Diploma is awarded to students who achieve at least 24 points (subject to minimum levels of performance across the whole programme) and satisfactorily complete the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) requirements. The highest total an IBDP student can achieve is 45 points.
College Counseling
In Years 11, 12 and 13, our students become especially engaged in the college planning process, attending local college fairs and meeting representatives from colleges and universities who visit The Casco Secondary School throughout the school year. The parents and students will meet regularly with our college counselor, receiving guidance and support with college selections, applications, essays, and transcripts.
Our students will obtain two or three diplomas:
After completing their 13th year at the Casco Secondary School, students will obtain a MEDUCA (Panamanian Secondary School) diploma, a US Secondary School Diploma, and most of our students will obtain the IB Diploma.
SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Core IB Requirements
The Extended Essay (EE) is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they’re studying.
is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language, and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical, and historical).
requires students to actively learn from the experience of doing real service tasks that create a positive impact in a community beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.
Areas of learning
- All of Primary School
- All of Lower Secondary
- All Elective Courses
ACADEMIC FOLLOW UP
WHAT IS NEXT?
Regardless of previous academic achievement, students are expected to make appropriate progress and continually improve. Our teachers are highly trained in estimating and setting academic targets that challenge student learning. Teachers use students’ results to set challenging, yet achievable academic targets. Secondary School students usually achieve short-term targets by each academic report and long-term targets by the end of the school year or the end of Secondary School. We continually track and monitor the academic achievements of every student in every subject to ensure they are reaching their goals. Students also reflect on their academic achievement during every lesson and after homework assignments and assessments. If a teacher identifies a student whose progress is slowing, the school administers an individual learning plan to help ensure the student is back on track by the next report.
Academic reports describe students’ academic and social development and list targets in all subjects for the student to concentrate on before the next report. Teachers communicate with families about student achievement and progress via three reports during the school year in December, March, and June. Staff use results from the October and March reports to evaluate which course route each student should pursue. Any transitions between course routes must be discussed among the student, parents, teachers, and School Leadership Team. There are parent consultations with teachers scheduled during the school year. Parents may also meet with teachers outside of the consultation dates.
There are three trimesters during the school year. At the end of each trimester, students receive a grade for each subject, which reflects their attainment over the term. The subject grades are published on the students’ official college transcript. Halfway through each semester, students receive a “progress grade”. This grade is not published on the college transcript and serves to demonstrate the students’ current attainment. Students receive an assessment map from each subject at the start of the school year. The map outlines how final and progress grades are determined.
Assessment Purpose of Assessment Assessment is the gathering and analysis of information about student performance. It identifies what students know, understand, can do, and feel at different stages in the learning process; this information guides teachers in instruction. Assessment is an ongoing and daily part of school life, and the formative comments students receive develop their understanding of the skills and knowledge required to be successful in each course.
The aims and purpose of assessment are to:
• Provide information to enhance and improve learning and teaching
• Provide information for target-setting for individuals, groups, and cohorts
• Share learning goals with students
• Involve students in self-assessment
• Help students know and recognize the standards they are aiming for
• Raise standards of learning
• Identify possibilities for academic intervention • Inform parents of their child’s progress
