Prospective Students
K – Grade 2: 16 students
Grades 3 – 4: 20 students
Grades 5 – 12: 24 students
GIS does have trained specialists who work with ESL students, but ESL students spend the majority of their time in the mainstream classroom, expected to perform alongside their native English-speaking peers. For this reason, all ESL applicants must pass an English proficiency test before applying and GIS limits the number of ESL students to a proportion not greater than 15% per grade level.
GIS does not provide dormitories for students. Parents not living in the Chiang Mai area are responsible to find suitable housing and guardians for their students. Dorms exist that are operated by mission agencies or other alliances of families.
An applicant for Kindergarten must be 5 years old by September 1.
1.Developmental Readiness Scale (DRS)
The DRS is used for all students applying for Kindergarten and Grade 1 at Grace International School (GIS). The DRS is used to help understand if a student is ready for the school setting at GIS. It evaluates 8 different areas:
- Visual Motor: How the eyes and hands work together
- Numbers: Counting and using numbers with objects
- Concepts: Knowledge of facts and how things relate
- Body Image: Awareness of oneself and positions in space
- Language: Understanding and using words
- Personal: Ability to think and act independently
- Fine Motor: How the muscles in the hands and fingers work together
- Gross Motor: How the large muscles in the body work together
Although the DRS is not an English proficiency test, it is a very good tool for assessing the English skills of young children who are non-native speakers of English. Through questions and activities, a student demonstrates their listening and speaking ability in English.
2.World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA)
Grace International School uses the WIDA ACCESS Placement Test and MODEL for students who speak English as an additional language and are applying for kindergarten – grade 12.
The WIDA ACCESS Placement Test and MODEL tests are used worldwide to test students’ English language proficiency. At Grace International School we use this to test our students applying for second grade and up. The tests assess students’ English language proficiency in four categories: speaking, listening, writing, and reading. Each of these four tests incorporate age-appropriate social and instructional language, the language of language arts, the language of mathematics, the language of science, and the language of social studies. The WIDA tests place students at a level of English language proficiency (see below).
At Grace International School we have English language development support (not an ESL Program) for a limited number of students at levels 4 and 5. For a student applying for grades 11 and 12 they must score at a high level 5. Standard students are not eligible for language development support.
3. Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
Students who do not have a current standardized test (within the last 2 years) may be asked to take the MAP Test. You will be informed when the student’s school records are evaluated. This test can be administered at the same time as the WIDA in March and April at a cost of 1,000 baht. Register with the Registrar. The MAP test evaluates Language Usage, Mathematics, and Reading.
There is no deadline, but we allocate seats on a first come, first served basis.
Yes. Secondary students may enroll at the beginning of each semester; elementary students may enroll at any time during the school year.
New Students
The Registrar, Khun Aun, can answer most of your questions about the application process. If she doesn’t know the answer to your question, she can find out who does!
The Principals welcome you to stop in. It is always nice to “put a name with a face.” The elementary school principal is Carole Steedman and secondary school principal is Megan Randolph. They stay busy, but if you make an appointment, they’ll be available to meet you and your child/children.
The Guidance Counselor, Brad Johnson, can help secondary students sign up for classes and receive a student schedule. Students are required to have transcripts or report cards from previous years’ courses on file at GIS in order to assure proper placement and to receive credits toward graduation.
In order to register for courses next year, go to Course Requests . There you will find information regarding courses offered, prerequisites for courses, graduation requirements, and more to assist you in requesting courses. If you have any questions please email to counselor@gisthailand.org.
Students interested in AP (Advanced Placement) courses must meet requirements set by GIS and follow the application process. AP course requirements can be found on the website. Selecting an AP course in the registration process does not guarantee admittance into the class. For more information contact the Academic Counselor at counselor@gisthailand.org.
All students must indicate the graduation plan which they intend to follow for graduation. Graduation options and requirements are available on the Graduation Requirements page. In the course registration process, parents will need to indicate which option they are choosing.
There are 8 periods per day. School starts at 7: 50 a.m. and goes through 3:15 p.m. GIS is organized by the credit system in high school whereby high school students earn a certain number of credits for each course. Graduation is based on students earning at least 24 credits during their high school career. No credits are assigned for middle school courses, except Algebra 1 if taken in eighth grade. See the PSMO Handbook (link?) for credit requirements.
Arranging transportation to and from school is the responsibility of the parent. Many families contract with song-taew and tuk-tuk drivers to provide transportation. Students transported by these means are expected to comply with any rules the drivers establish. Students may not stand on the step/tailgate of a moving vehicle under any circumstances.
GIS provides transportation to and from field trips and athletic events for the participants. Volunteer drivers must hold a current, valid Thai driver’s license, have lived in Thailand for at least six months, and be at least 25 years of age.
Elementary students don’t need to bring supplies, but they do need a book bag or backpack. The school provides pencils, paper, and other supplies in grades K-6. Secondary teachers will communicate on the first day what supplies are required. It is good to bring the usual lined paper, pen, pencil, book bag or back pack.
Each secondary student is assigned a locker. Students are responsible for the locker key and the general care and cleanliness of their lockers.
To obtain a locker:
Come to see your homeroom teacher on the first day of school or ask in the main office if you come later than the first day of school.
- You will be assigned a locker and given a key. The locker number matches the number on the key.
- The key is to be returned at the end of the year or upon withdrawal from the school. If keys are not returned at the end of the year or on the withdrawal date, student will be fined 500 baht.
- If a student loses a key during the school year and needs a replacement the cost is 500 baht.
- If a student forgets their key, they may “borrow” (have the locker opened for them) at a cost of 10 baht per time.
GIS is happy to offer a quality hot lunch program. A variety of Thai and western-style foods are offered, as well as a daily salad bar.
The school lunch plan can be purchased by the semester but not by the day. Students miss several meals per semester due to school sponsored trips, sending organization activities, medical needs, or other valid reasons and this has been factored into the price. If a child misses more than 25 school days of the semester, the finance office may be able to discount the price.
Menus for each quarter and additional information can be found under Lunch Services. New students are invited to try the lunch program the first week without obligation. If the students would like to sign up, parents are responsible for bringing payment to the finance office.
Parents may join their children for lunch by notifying the office two (2) days in advance and pay an adult guest fee.
All GIS & ESD students will need accounts with passwords to use the Secondary and Elementary Library computers. ID’s/ library cards are not needed to check out books.
The GIS Secondary and Elementary Libraries are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. each day except Wednesday when we close at 3:15 p.m. for staff meetings. ESD members outside of Chiang Mai are encouraged to check on open times when classes are not scheduled in the elementary library. The elementary library is open especially for ESD members and homeschool parents on Friday, 9-11 a.m. This time changes from year to year depending on the elementary class visit schedule.
Loan Periods & Limits
GIS Students & Parents |
|||
| Group | Loan limit | Load period | Renewals |
| Parents | 20 books+2 magazines | two weeks | 2 |
| 6th-12th grade | 5 books+2 magazines | two weeks | 2 |
| 5th grade | 3 books+2 magazines | one week | 2 |
| 1st-4th grade | 2 books+2 magazines | one week | 2 |
| Kindergarten | 1 book+1 magazine | one week | 2 |
ESD Students & Parents |
|||
| Group | Loan limit | Load period | Renewals |
| Parents | 20 books | one semester | 0 |
| Students | 5 books | 30 days | 0 |
Fines and Fees
Overdue materials: 5 baht per day per item
Lost materials: Replacement cost of item
Remote access to the Library Catalog is available to all users to check account status; to place holds and renew materials. Please request a user name and password for remote access.
GIS will issue student ID cards in the beginning of the school year. Students may show this card at many places in Thailand to obtain discounts. Students are not obligated to return this card at the end of the school year; however, cards will be expired at the end of the school term. Students who withdraw from GIS must return the student ID card to the Registrar’s office. The cost of replacing a lost student ID card is 100 baht.
Kindergarten (half day program): 7:50 a.m. – noon.
Kindergarten (full day program) – Grade 12: 7:50 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.