International School of Riga

The school provides a school counselor who delivers direct assistance to students through private conversations, group sessions, or classroom activities. The counselor addresses exam stress, anxiety, self image, peer relations, and difficult emotions and works with teachers to provide positive learning experiences. Learning Support helps non native English speakers and students with mild to moderate learning needs, coordinating with teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and tailoring plans based on data driven goals. The program extends to the wider community with parents invited to engage with the support team. The secondary Mission and Service program is student led and supports social responsibility, leadership, and reflection, while CAS supports personal development. The school ethos is a respectful, learning focused community.

Learning Support in Primary and Secondary states that every child can reach their full potential. The school creates supportive structures for all students including non native English speakers, students with mild to moderate learning needs and highly achieving individuals. A learning support specialist collaborates with teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and regularly updates teachers with best practices as relates to student support. Each child seen by the support team has a specific plan tailored to their needs guided by data driven goals and coordinated by grade level teachers, aides, support staff, administration, outside service providers where possible, and parents. Learning support extends to the entire ISR community.

In Primary, all students are fully immersed in an English speaking learning environment. English Language Arts is integrated in all units of IB PYP and taught with an inquiry based approach. Students who are new to English or performing below grade level receive small group EAL support and in class assistance from our support teachers on a daily basis. Non native English speakers can participate in an EAL after school activity to boost literacy and phonics. In Secondary, the EAL program is fully adapted to prepare students for the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level. New students with limited English skills receive support upon starting at ISR. Non native speaking students receive EAL support from three to six periods of modern language instruction each week in Middle School and in High School EAL classes take place during three language periods to enhance their learning in mainstream classes.

The school recognizes that the Covid 19 pandemic and other global risk factors have increased stress among students and prioritizes socio emotional well being through a supportive counseling program. The School Counselor delivers direct support to students, ranging from private conversations to group sessions or classroom activities, and topics often include exam stress, anxiety, self image, peer relations, and difficult emotions. The counselor also collaborates with teachers to provide positive learning experiences and may observe students in school settings to offer recommendations.

The Child Protection Policy is based upon International and Latvian law and on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. All ISR staff value partnership with parents in providing for the safety and care of children. ISR has endorsed a Child Protection Policy that defines the standards as to how all ISR students will be treated, that is with respect and dignity at all times.