The Integrated International School...
New Boutique International School Catering to Both Special Needs and Mainstream Students. IIS is currently accepting students of all ages and is proud to offer intimate class sizes, enviable teacher-student ratios (1:3 in the Special Needs Stream; 1:6 in the Mainstream Stream) and an accredited, vigorous academic curriculum.
Among the big jungle of schools in Singapore, a humble school with no less of an impact on Singapore’s educational scene is emerging from the forest canopy and making itself known. The Integrated International School (IIS), which officially came to fruition this year, is the three year old labour of love of Principal and Psychologist, Ms. Vanessa von Auer.
Research indicates that 10% to 15% of children worldwide have developmental disabilities and/or special needs. In Singapore, the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) estimates that approximately 216 children are diagnosed with autism annually, and local newspapers confirm that an increasing number of special needs students are being denied access to a mainstream education due to insufficient placements or the lack of adequate resources at mainstream schools. This is tragic anywhere, but especially in a country as developed and wealthy as Singapore, because these delays are occurring at a critical time in the cognitive and socio-emotional development of these young children.
IIS was established, without corporate backing or the support of the Government of Singapore, to increase access to education in Singapore. The philosophy of IIS is that every child is entitled to a high-quality, enriching education to enable him or her to become a fulfilled individual. In line with this guiding principle, IIS offers children of all backgrounds (Expatriates and Singaporeans, special needs students and mainstream students) a high-quality and well-rounded education.
The fundamental philosophy that every child is entitled to a high-quality education is what initially inspired Ms. von Auer to begin offering educational services three years ago. Back then, she operated from her psychology centre at Camden Medical Centre, from where she provided therapeutic services to children with developmental disabilities and/or unique learning needs. She gradually expanded the scope of her services in response to the unmet demand for education she encountered. During this time, as she was counselling children in the mainstream system, she was also being exposed to the many psychological pressures students face when they get lost in the crowd at larger schools. Ms. von Auer decided to address these educational deficiencies by opening a boutique, international school with two streams, one catering to special needs students and the other to mainstream students.
IIS is currently accepting students of all ages and is proud to offer intimate class sizes, enviable teacher-student ratios (1:3 in the Special Needs Stream; 1:6 in the Mainstream Stream) and an accredited, vigorous academic curriculum. Classes are also customized to foster individual and collective strengths no matter what the child’s skill and ability level. This individualised attention, coupled with a socio-emotional curriculum and child-centred approach to teaching, set IIS apart from the "big boys" in Singapore.
Please join IIS at its Open House on Saturday, October 29, 2011 (10am-3pm), or contact Ms. von Auer at info@iis.com.sg or (65) 6235-9602 for more information.
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