Secondary program
Age of students
This program is designed for students aged 11.5 to 14 | School Years 7-9
Secondary School (Years 7 to 9)
In our International Secondary School Program, students will study a wide range of academic subjects taught by enthusiastic specialist teachers. Moving into the program , pupils are encouraged to develop their understanding of a range of studies in greater detail while also deepening their independence, resilience, and personal commitment. A diverse offering of subjects allows pupils to develop a broad set of skills and knowledge and equips them with a passion for learning before they take a more active role in their choice of examination subjects. In order to prepare and enhance students’ soft skills, frequent PSCHEE (Personal, Social, Citizenship, Health, and Economic Education) classes are provided to all students in these year groups; the aim being to strengthen community bonds within the school and to provide students with the skills necessary to collaborate and to succeed in the future.
Grades
- Grade 7 - age of the students: 11.5 - 12 years
- Grade 8 - age of the students: 12.5 - 13 years
- Grade 9 - age of the students: 13.5 - 14 years
We provide a supportive environment wherein students are encouraged to succeed, to set and attain challenging goals, and to respect one another and the world around them. We build confidence and intellectual curiosity and provide opportunities to develop creative abilities and personal talents. Opportunities for new and exciting experiences abound at the school. Playing a full and active role in both the school and the wider community is highly valued.
Evaluation Policy
In the International Secondary School Program, the students are being graded continuously. At the beginning of every month the parents receive a Progress Report that shows the student's performance during the past month.
There are two exam weeks throughout the school year:
- Mid-term exam week in December
- Final exam week in May
SUBJECTS
The overarching aim for English in the national curriculum is to promote high standards of language and literacy by equipping pupils with a strong command of the spoken and written word, and to develop their love of literature through widespread reading for enjoyment. The curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Read easily, fluently and with good understanding
- Develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information
- Acquire a wide vocabulary, an understanding of grammar and knowledge of linguistic conventions for reading, writing
and spoken language - Appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
- Write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and
audiences - Use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
- Are competent in the arts of speaking and listening, making formal presentations, demonstrating to others and
participating in debate
Macedonian is an obligatory subject in our school for Macedonian speaking students. It covers the history of the Macedonian language, phonetics, phonology, prose, poetry. The curriculum is constituted in full accordance to the Macedonian framework.
In this class, the students have the opportunity to focus on Macedonian books and to develop love and passion towards reading books adequate for their age.
The second foreign language that our Lower Secondary students are learning is German.
The curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice
with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and
the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately - Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and
generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language - Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems
with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and
persevering in seeking solutions
Number
- Integers, powers and roots
- Place value, ordering and rounding
- Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion
- Calculation
Algebra
- Expressions, equations and formulae
- Sequences, functions and graphs
Geometry
- Shapes and geometric reasoning
- Position and movement
Measure
- Length, mass and capacity
- Times and rates of change
- Area, perimeter and volume
Handling data
- Planning and collecting data
- Processing and presenting data
- Interpreting and discussing results
- Probability
- Using techniques and skills in solving mathematical problems
- Using understanding and strategies in solving problems.
This curriculum framework covers four content areas: scientific enquiry, biology, chemistry and physics.
The curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils:
- Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics
- Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them
- Are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.
The four strands and substrands are:
Strand: Scientific enquiry
- Ideas and evidence
- Plan investigative work
- Obtain and present evidence
- Consider evidence and approach
Strand: Biology
- Plants
- Humans as organisms
- Cells and organisms
- Living things in their environment
Strand: Chemistry
- States of matter
- Material properties
Strand: Physics
- Forces and motion
- Energy
- The Earth and beyond
In the social studies class, Lower Secondary students learn:
- Geography
- History
By attending this class, in the Geography part the students start by learning the basis about Geography, planet Earth, the continents, countries, oceans, seas, lakes and mountains.
In the history part of this subject, the students learn the complete history of the countries beginning from Early ages, though Middle ages and to Modern times.
The music classes in our school are focusing in two sections:
- Theory of Music
- Practical part
Our music teachers are ready to develop the love towards music in every student. The music classes are time of the day when the students get to enjoy good and quality music, by also learning the history behind it as well as learning about the musicians.
During the week, two to three hours are dedicated to sports.
Our Lower Secondary students get to practice sports in a modern sports center and they get to choose from variety of activities such as:
- Basketball
- Volleyball
- Swimming
- Ice-skating
- Football
- Bowling
- Ping pong
We are delighted to introduce Project Activities for learners aged 11 to 14 years as part of our lower secondary programme.
What will students learn?
The programme develops the skills of research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration and communication. It strengthens the links across English as a first or second language, mathematics, science and ICT Starters.
Research says that the earlier students start to develop and practice their skills, the greater the impact on their learning. Making PA available to younger students will develop and embed cross-curricular skills at an earlier age, supporting them in their studies as they progress to Cambridge Upper Secondary and beyond.
How is the programme taught?
Project Activities class is made up of a series of Challenges. There are six Challenges a year. Teachers can integrate the Challenges into their existing teaching or lessons, and do as many as they like.
Disease and health | Migration | Belief systems |
Confict and peace | Demographic change | Sustainability |
Poverty and inequality | Employment | Biodiversity and ecosystem loss |
Law and criminality | Education for all | Sport and recreation |
Tradition, culture and identity | Fuel and energy | Family |
Water, food and agriculture | Globalization | Changing communities |
Trade and aid | Transport and infrastructure | Humans and other species |
Human rights | Language and communication | Digital world |