NIVA American International School Profile

Building Skills for Excellence

niva.ac.th

WELCOME TO NIVA

Founded in 1991, NIVA American International School offers a vigorous education in a student-centered nurturing environment that uses California’s Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as the main platform from Nursery to Grade 12.

It started as NIVA Overseas School (NOS), one of only seven

confirmed with the accreditations from Thailand’s Ministry of

international schools operating in Thailand at the time.

Education and United States’ Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2010. NIVA was renamed as NIVA

In 1995, we expanded our academic offering by opening NIVA

American International School in 2018 to reaffirm the belief in

International Kindergarten (NIK) in Soi 16 on Ladprao 101 Road,

the American education system.

Bangkok. Seven years later NOS and NIK were combined under the name NIVA International School and moved to our

Nestled in a quiet, peaceful neighborhood of Bangkapi in

current campus.

Bangkok and away from the busy main roads, our seven-rai campus is well equipped with a wide range of facilities that

After adopting the American curriculum for the first time in

provides a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for our

2004, NIVA’s high standard of international education was

young learners to learn, play, and grow.

CURRICULUM NIVA American International School follows the American Curriculum which is granted by the California Department of Education to use the California Curriculum Frameworks and Standards (K-12) in alignment with common core standards and benchmarks.

We believe in the value of holistic education, and we honor that belief by offering a wide range of curricular and extracurricular activities that harmoniously and optimally develop the intellectual,

emotional,

social,

physical,

and

spiritual faculties of each student.

Our main goal is to enable our students to be knowledgeable, capable, healthy, ethical, confident, responsible, and compassionate as well as be successful in what they design for themselves, making positive contributions to society, and living healthily and happily.

AUTHENTIC LEARNING Authentic Learning helps our students learn through real-life practices, collaboration, systematic and logical thinking, deliberation, and problem solving. This learning is connected with what students are taught in school to real-world issues, problems, and applications; learning experiences should mirror the complexities and ambiguities of real life.

Through Authentic Learning, we have divided the concentration into levels to better address the way students learn: Nursery & Kindergarten: Theme-based learning An approach to joyfully stimulate and enable young persons to naturally observe, understand, and learn a wide range of skills through diverse, naturally existing themes.

Elementary School: Discovery-based learning An approach that allows students to be in control of their learning through hands-on exploration and inquiry without an emphasis on memorizing and repeating concepts, but to learn through unique experiences.

Middle School: Skills-based learning Where students learn specific skills. They would be able to practice the skill, replicate the same process, and achieve their maximum potential time and time again.

High School: Mastery-based learning An instructional approach where students need to demonstrate a deep level of understanding of a topic or subject area. This is also mixed with leadership skills and university preparation.

NURSERY & KINDERGARTEN We provide a nurturing environment that advocates learning and promotes children’s holistic developmental needs through a balanced curriculum.

THEME-BASED LEARNING: Lessons are fun and relatable for students as they learn real-world lessons while they discover new things through a planned theme for each learning unit, Students are able to master concepts as the lessons are integrated and all areas of the curriculum are connected.

They are able to express themselves through creative activities like painting, drawing, interactive games, or dressing up. They become immersed in the lessons as the classes follow the theme and are conducted in varied ways - circle time, centers or learning stations, reading corner, show and tell, story time, music and movement and more.

Students have hands-on activities and they enjoy playing in an organized environment. Learning that is facilitated through the senses - visual, auditory, and kinesthetic - allows different types of learners to develop individual skills and interests.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The elementary school encourages our young learners to engage increasingly in both curricular and co-curricular activities. The curriculum provides work in the educational basics – reading, writing, mathematics, natural and social sciences, health, arts and crafts, physical education, swimming, Thai, Chinese, and Information Technology.

DISCOVERY-BASED LEARNING Students are in control of their learning through hands-on exploration and inquiry without an emphasis on memorizing and repeating concepts, but to learn through unique experiences.

Our elementary students have various hands-on lessons that help them discover new things. Simple things, such as connecting a light bulb, gardening, or observing animals inspire students to discover something new and helps discover the things they will eventually be interested in when they grow up.

MIDDLE SCHOOL During Middle School, our students prepare themselves for the learning requirements of High School while undergoing a period of great physical and emotional development. They are led to take more responsibility for their studies.

SKILLS-BASED LEARNING We teach students a specific skill. and how to achieve the correct answer in practice. This prepares the students to find the skills they are good at and build on those skills. This prepares them for high school and will aid in helping them find their passion and interest for a career choice after high school.

HIGH SCHOOL The High School curriculum prepares students for college education, specializing in science, medical, engineering, business, and technology fields. Students are daily exposed to critical thinking to solve problems and be able to communicate ideas verbally, in writing, and through the use of technology. All aspects of teaching and learning involve playgrounds for leadership and entrepreneurship.

MASTERY-BASED LEARNING High School students are also primed for the SAT and AP examinations, project-based learning, and public speaking. On the social side, over 80% of the events held on campus are planned and executed or assisted by high school students and the leadership class.

Upon graduating from NIVA American, students are mature, confident, responsible, leadership capable, fluent in English and Thai, and ready to enter and excel in universities both in Thailand (international programs) and abroad.

Over the past two decades, NIVA American graduates have earned top merits in Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and Thailand for their academic and social contributions. Many of our alumni are now successful entrepreneurs or in top leadership and administrative positions.

PRE-AP COURSES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL Pre-AP

courses

deliver

grade-level–

appropriate instruction through focused course frameworks, engaging instructional resources, and classroom assessments for understanding. They are designed to support all students across varying levels of abilities. They are not honors or advanced courses. Students learn more deeply by spending time on the topics and skills that matter most.

The Pre-AP Program’s objectives are to: ● •

Offer every student access to a high quality education that prepares them for success in high school and beyond.

•

Provide

educators

with

engaging,

targeted course materials that help them ensure their students successfully master grade-level materials.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) COURSES NIVA American is one of a handful of international schools in Thailand that offers the US Advanced Placement (AP) courses that prepare students for the AP examinations administered by the American College Board. High AP scores may earn a student advanced standings or university credits at many colleges and universities in the United States.

AP scores come solely from the AP examinations taken in May. Students may take up to eight AP courses, depending on their schedule: One in grade 10 and seven in Grades 11 and 12.

GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING The guidance program is designed to address the needs of students at all stages of their school life, from their first day at school to their graduation, and foster their holistic development in the intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual faculties.

The Guidance & Counseling Department supports our students in managing the many aspects of growing up by helping them explore their career interests and prepare for college admissions for their chosen fields of study as well as meet their academic, personal, social, and emotional challenges.

It also advises our students on how to obtain university scholarships both in Thailand and abroad. University and Career Counseling assists Grades 9-12 students with decision-making for their career choices.

In addition, in-house University Fairs, College Day, and Career Day are held annually to provide an opportunity for universities to promote their courses and our alumni to share their experience with our current students.

Community Service, Work Education and Internship plays an important role in molding NIVA students to become community and global minded citizens. The program gives our students the advantage to know what constitutes the real world of life and work besides building an excellent resume for their college and university admissions.

NON-ACADEMIC & EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES As life is not all about academic success, NIVA American’s activities and extracurricular activities (ECAs) have been thoughtfully designed to complement our academic programs and aid our students in: •

Becoming

well-rounded

individuals

with

multiple life skills that will assist them in future life and career developments •

Developing a well-rounded profile that will maximize their chance of winning a place at leading universities globally

•

Boosting their fitness level that will lead to long-term, enduring stamina and physical and mental wellbeing

CORE STRENGTHS Leadership NIVA American imbues our students with patience, compassion, empathy, and planning, organizing, leading, cooperation, collaboration, and delivering skills as well as the confidence to freely express their thoughts, listen to others, and take responsibility for themselves, their communities, and the world we share.

Entrepreneurship We build a strong foundation for entrepreneurship for our students through our Business Career Preparation courses that ready our students to transform their career skills into businesses whenever they are ready. They learn through a variety of hands-on real life activities, such as planning, financing, marketing, selling, and accounting.

Diversity In our intentionally diverse community, our students learn to understand, respect, and appreciate the value and strength of diversity and realize that they can all self-actualize and succeed on the global stage by recognizing humanity as one deserving of equality, equity, respect, recognition, treatment, and opportunity.

MAP Testing Results Students at NIVA have shown above-average results in the MAP standardized tests in both English and Math. With these results, students are able to cope with the common core curriculum and are equipped with the knowledge to be competitive and ready on a global scale.

Advanced Placement (AP) Students who take our AP courses have reported to have an advantage when they go into university. They develop important skills that is beneficial to them when doing tasks and working with teams.

WHY NIVA?

3

1 2

English-speaking, nurturing, dynamic, and progressive environment that promotes positive learning and behavior.

All our subject departments target international standards. Our graduates benefit from California’s Common Core curriculum and American PreAdvanced Placement (Pre-AP) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Our meticulously selected teachers are professionally qualified and trained to work with students in a friendly setting that encourages strong responsibility and accountability for learning, enabling our students to succeed on their own terms and according to their unique talents and passions.

4

Our community is happy, warm, friendly, diverse, and respectful with a collaborative yet competitive culture that supports and values high achievements and individuality. Our students grow up to become mature, confident, responsible, capable, talented, and ethical leaders and team players.

FACILITIES & LOCATION Nested in an easily accessible yet quiet and peaceful neighborhood of Ladprao in Bangkok away from the busy main roads, our seven-rai campus is well equipped with a wide range of sports facilities, science and computer labs, and music facilities and provides a safe, secure, and nurturing environment for our students to learn, play, and grow.

• • • • • • • • •

Children’s Playgrounds Swimming pool Basketball courts (that can be converted to volleyball and futsal courts) Indoor badminton court 2 Fully equipped science labs with research-level microscopes Computer and Technology labs equipped with 3D printers Library Canteen (a wide variety of international food) Multi-purpose 250-seat assembly hall

Book a Tour: niva.ac.th/tour/ Email: info@niva.ac.th Phone: 02-948-4605 Mobile: 081-753-8162 Facebook.com/nivaschools Instagram.com/nivaschoolbangkok Line Official: @nivais 18 Soi Phokaew 3 Yaek 9, Ladprao 101, Khlongchan, Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240, Thailand