Academics at The Magellan International School

Grade Levels

The Magellan International School currently serves Pre-Primary through 3rd Grade (2010/11 school year). The School will be adding one grade level per year until a full Pre-Primary through High School program is completed. Current age guidelines for entrance into each grade level are as follows:

Pre-Primary 3: 3 years by Aug 2010
Pre-Primary 4: 4 years by Dec 2010 - mature 3 year old children on a case-by-case basis
Kindergarten: 5 years by Dec 2010
First Grade: 6 years by Dec 2010
Second Grade: 7 years by Dec 2010
Third Grade: 8 years by Dec 2010

Academic Model

The Magellan International School implements an international, transdisciplinary program of education designed to foster the development of the whole student encompassing social, physical emotional and cultural needs as well as academic welfare. The program is based on an Inquiry model where, under the expert guidance of their teachers, students explore a wide range of topics that are of significance to our existence on the planet and do so through an exploration of questions about how the world works. In addition, the school follows a rigorous Scope & Sequence based on local, national, and international educational guidelines for science, math, social studies, and the arts. The program prepares students to be active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.

The underlying philosophy of the program aims at enabling students to become inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, well-balanced, and reflective. The Mission and Vision of the school directly supports these objectives.

Acceditation

The Magellan International School is currently working towards obtaining multiple, internationally recognized accreditations. The school is seeking accreditation from SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) and from CIS (Council of International Schools). The school is also working towards obtaining authorization from one of the major international organizatiosn driving inquiry based, international education around the globe. It is expected that the school will achieve the first of these accreditations during the 2010/2011 school year.

The Magellan International School is a member of the Texas International Baccalaureate Schools organization.

Language Immersion

The MIS academic program is a cohesive academic program, taught and learned primarly in English and Spanish. Mandarin is required starting in 3rd grade. Your children will go to school and engage in academic activities (math, science, social studies, arts, etc.) in all three languages. The ratios of time spent in each language are as follows:

Pre-Primary through 2nd Grade: 80% Spanish and 20% English
3rd Grade and above: 45% English, 45% Spanish, and 10% Mandarin

The language immersion model at MIS is designed to ensure that all children become bi-literate in both English and Spanish and develop language proficiency in Mandarin. Children at MIS will attain literacy equivalent to children in Spanish speaking countries while also achieving the same in English. They will be able to read a novel and write an essay on it, for example, in either language. They will also be able to speak, read, and communicate effectively in Mandarin.

School Day & Calendar

All school programs are full day (8:30 am - 3 pm) and full week (M-F) due to the pedagogical requirements of the academic program and the nature of the language immersion instruction at the school. The Magellan International School is committed to being a dual working parent family friendly school and will provide early drop off starting at 7:30 am at no charge and late pickup ending at 6:00 pm for an additional fee.

The School Calendar aligns closely with that of AISD, RRISD, and other private schools in Austin with the major exception being a week long break in October which is used by teachers to plan curriculum.