International School of Ahafo - School Profile

The School The International School of Ahafo has been successfully providing an education to the children of Newmont mines employees since 2006. The school’s mission is to foster the development of the whole child, one who is academically well prepared, socially responsible, culturally sensitive, and personally fulfilled.

The school currently provides a Pre-K- 9 program for 47 students whose families work for Newmont. After the transition however, it will open up to the wider community and aim to fill to its capacity of 100 students, introducing the IGCSE course as the school grows. Students come from a number of different countries (Ghana, America, Canada, Peru, England, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Africa, Ireland, Russia, Tanzania & Turkey). They are taught in 5 mixed aged class groups as follows: Reception – Year 1 (Beginning with 4 year olds.), Years 2 - 3, Years 4 - 5, Years 6 - 7, and Years 8 - 9. Class sizes are typically under 12 students.

Location Sunyani, the capital of the Brong Ahafo Region is only 30km from the school. The city and its environs have a significant expatriate population working with multinational corporations, companies which provide contract services to the mines as well as NGO’s. This expatriate community and middle class Ghanaians provide the market for the International School of Ahafo. There is a daily flight to Accra, the vibrant capital of Ghana. Kumasi, the second city and seat of the Ashanti people, is 50 km away.

Premises and Facilities The school is housed in a purpose built complex, with an open courtyard design. The classrooms on the West and East wings are connected by covered walkways. All rooms are air-conditioned. The spacious classrooms, a well stocked library, art room, music room, computer room and science room provide an enviable learning environment. The school also has access to very good sports facilities, including a swimming pool through its location within Newmont mines village,.

25.08.14 International School of Ahafo – School Profile 1 The current premises are adequate for growing the school to its full capacity of 100 students. As Grades 10 & 11 are introduced the plan is to expand its infrastructure. It is expected that the school will continue to have access to the very good sports facilities available to it now.

Curriculum Students in Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum moving on to The Cambridge Primary Curriculum for Years 1 - 6. For the first three years of secondary (Years 7 - 9), the Cambridge Secondary 1 Curriculum is followed. The programmes provide broad and balanced study across a wide range of subjects, using learner-centered and enquiry-based approaches to learning. Each child is taken along his/her own learning continuum and adequately challenged and stretched to reach their potential.

Later, when the school grows to cover Grades 10 & 11, The Cambridge Secondary 2 Curriculum will be introduced and this will lead students to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) qualification. CIE qualifications are recognized worldwide and meet the needs of a wider range of students and opens up global opportunities for continuation in other school systems.

Sports and extra-curricular activities offered are dependent upon the interest of individual staff and community support. Currently in the school fitness and physical education programme the following are offered: Football, swimming, cycling, golf, rugby, basketball, tennis, squash, yoga, volley ball, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, cricket, and the school is in the process of erecting a traversing frame. There are major events throughout the year, with skills being developed through the fitness and PE programmes, which include: Athletic sports, Triathlon, Swimming, and Football. Musical instruments, art/craft and drama are other areas that have been offered.

IT facilities Six classrooms have interactive white board facilities. Two other rooms have access to mobile data projectors, and there are two more spare projectors available.

Newly acquired are: 21 iPads, 6 laptops, 10 laptops available for staff use, 6 Kindles, at least 1 Desk top PC in each classroom, 1 PC for office administration, 1 PC for Library administration, and an iMac for Principal/administration. Windows/ Microsoft Office programs are running on the PCs; the Mac has Design suite 6 plus Office installed. The specialist IT room has six laptops, 10 PCs, and an interactive white board.

Teaching staff and duties In January 2015 there will be 6 teachers for the five classes, with teaching assistants in the Reception/Year 1 and Year 2 - 3 classes. The principal and three class teachers are overseas hired, two teachers and two teaching assistants are recruited locally.

Teachers are responsible for a Homeroom class. The English/Humanities and Maths/Science teachers teach across the two mixed age classes (Years 6 & 7, Years 8 & 9) within the Grade level range of Years 6 – 9.

The teaching school day is from 8am – 3pm with a one-hour lunch break. Currently the students return home at lunchtime but this will change when students from outside MKV village attend the school. All teachers are involved in organizing and running extra curricular

2 activities, sharing their interests and talents, and thus building supportive relationships with the students and parents. The Students Like many international schools, students are very keen to attend school, are eager to learn and work hard; this is shown in their high rate of attendance. Strong parental support also contributes to the positive and rewarding classroom environment.

School Year The school year is divided into three terms. The summer break is from end of June to the end of August. The Christmas and Easter breaks are two weeks with one week mid term breaks. Extra catch-up lessons, due to mining families who have had to take their holidays during term time, are available during some of the holidays.

Expat teachers live in the Mensah Kumta Village (MKV) which houses the expat and senior Ghanaian staff of Newmont mines. It is spread over 30 acres and has 92 homes, the School, and excellent recreation activities, all within a secure environment. Residents refer to it as Club Med in the tropics!

The impressive facilities include; • Clubhouse, equipped with pool table, table tennis table and dart boards • Swimming Pool • Tennis Court • Squash Court • Well-equipped Gym • Commissary/Grocery • Coffee / Projector Room • Library • Craft Room

All tap water is treated and drinkable in the houses, in addition there is bottled still water available for sale at the commissary and bar. The restaurant at the MKV Clubhouse is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner with an a la carte menu. Saturday nights are a BBQ or Theme evening and on Sundays there is a Sunday Lunch Buffet.

25.08.14 International School of Ahafo – School Profile 3 Accommodation The houses were built in 2005 and are of a high standard. Most bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, in addition to the lounge room there is a sun room (which makes for a very generous living space), a dining room and small kitchen. There is also a utility room and plenty of cupboard space throughout the house. The houses are all air-conditioned with no worries about expensive bills! Each place is furnished and equipped with comfortable basics.

Telephones are installed in each house and these can be used free of charge for incoming calls and outgoing calls to other houses in the MKV village. A/C power is 220/240v and most outlets use the three-pronged UK plug style.

4 GHANA

Ghana is a very safe African country – among the safest and most politically stable. It has a rich history dating back to the 15th century, through to Independence from the British in 1957. The Ghana coast is studded with 32 castles, built by the Portuguese as trading posts in which a range of European goods such as cloth, beads guns and ammunition were sold in exchange for gold. It was only later that the warehouses which were built to store normal trading items found a new use as dungeons in which to imprison Africans prior to their transportation to slavery. Visiting the slave castles today is a strange experience in which different emotions tumble over each other. Ghana’s coast is incredibly beautiful; warm winds gently blowing over the palm fringed beaches on which there are often an assortment of picturesque, dug out fishing boats.

People Ghanaians are considered to be some of the friendliest people in the world, with family and religion playing a very important role in the life of a Ghanaian. The population is estimated at 23 million.

Languages The official language is English. Local Ghanaian languages are widely spoken, including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, Twi, and Ga.

Religion Christian, Muslim and traditional beliefs. All forms of religion have a strong influence on Ghanaian life.

Economy Ghana, has a diverse and rich resource base economy which includes manufacturing and exportation of digital technology goods, automotive and ship construction. The exportation of diverse and rich resource hydrocarbons and industrial minerals gives Ghana one of the highest GDP per capita in Africa. Ghana is the fastest growing economy in Africa and one of the top-ten fastest growing economies in the world.

Climate The climate is tropical - hot and humid in most areas throughout the year. There are two rainy seasons in Ghana: from March to July and from September to October. Temperatures average between 25°C and 30°C.

25.08.14 International School of Ahafo – School Profile 5 Time Zone - GMT (no daylight savings)

Clothing Most of the year the temperatures are over 25°C so light cotton provides comfortable clothing. However, during January the temperature can drop to as low as 15°C in the early hours of the morning so do pack a sweater. Be prepared for rain.

The dress code for school is smart/casual and comfortable; shirts for men (ties optional), no T-shirts or shorts. Out of school dress is very informal, although Ghanaians expect expats to be respectful in their attire. Be prepared for a formal occasion with jacket and smart dress – there may be an opportunity!

Transport The school has two minibuses available for the teachers’ shared use for short local trips. Longer trips such as Kumasi and Sunyani are usually done in a group with a driver.

Flights International flights arrive in Accra, the capital. Newmont have a guest house in Accra where staff can stay overnight before catching the chartered flight to Sunyani airport. There is a daily flight to and from Sunyani to Accra.

Visa Most nationalities require a visa is to enter Ghana. Please check with the Ghanaian Consulate in your country for more information on visa requirements and procedures.

Banking There is an Ecobank ATM and a Barclays ATM on site, located next to the commissary, which require a VISA network ATM card.

House staff The teachers, in common with other expatriates, are able to employ local people to assist with household chores. Some employ a cleaner, but others employ a cook and/or a nanny. A full time cook/cleaner would expect to earn $100 a month.

Shopping The commissary in the MKV village has a reasonable stock of basic foodstuffs and toiletries which covers necessities. Other options available are a mere bike ride away to the local markets. For a wider choice of fresh fruit and vegetables staff go to Sunyani. Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi (about 2 hours away) has a good selection of most household items.

6 Commissary Medical facilities Teachers from ISA are able to use the fully staffed clinic run by ISOS. The clinic has daytime opening hours - 8:00am to 4:00pm but is staffed 24/7 to handle emergencies. Private hospitals in Sunyani and Kumasi are able to cope with more serious illness.

Recreational facilities Teachers coming to ISA are fortunate to be joining a warm and welcoming community, very open to socialization. There are opportunities to cycle through the village or the nearby villages and jungle, make use of the fully equipped fitness gym, play squash, tennis, swim, golf, meet and eat either in homes of other community members or at the Clubhouse.

Swimming pool

The local villages are easily reached by bicycle, car or even on foot. The city of Sunyani is about an hour’s drive away where a larger selection of goods can be acquired and a general day’s outing can be had. There is a restaurant that serves international food within cycling distance down the road from MKV. DSTV gives access to over 400 TV channels many of which are host to international sporting events.

During the school holidays there is much to explore in Ghana. From the bustle of downtown Accra to the atmospheric adobe villages of the north, from the ancient kingdom of Asante to the mediaeval mosques of Larabanga and Bole, it is country whose immense cultural diversity both thrills and fascinates visitors. A popular feature of Ghana is the great festivals held around the country where the locals dress up in their finest traditional attire dancing and singing to the sound of drums.

25.08.14 International School of Ahafo – School Profile 7 Finally - Why come to ISA? Parental and community support, well resourced and excellent facilities, friendly national staff and locals, the climate, accommodation, village amenities and an attractive remuneration package all add to the attraction of working at ISA.

Whether you are an experienced overseas teacher or just considering your first posting overseas, coming to ISA will give you an great overseas and cultural experience in a safe, comfortable and rewarding environment.