American Elementary through High School
Collegiate American School (CAS) offers an American curriculum program that is enriched by technology integration and emphasis on additional programs in Arabic language, the arts, sports, math, science and English. It starts at pre-KG and goes up to grade 5 (age ten plus).
CAS is set up by Innoventure Educational Investments LLC (IVEI) which was promoted in 2005 to build educational institutions that will provide the highest quality of international education.
Location
The school is located in Umm Suqeim Dubai.
Is this a non-profit school?
No
Who runs the school?
The school is owned and managed by Innoventures Education, a private company which was set up in 2004 with the vision of bringing world-class education to Dubai. Its portfolio of schools includes Dubai International Academy, Raffles International Schools and nurseries. Collegiate American School is its newest addition.
Key management includes Poonam Bhojani, CEO, Donavon Reinsmoen, superintendent and Julian Williams, quality assurance director.
The board of directors includes Abdulla Majed Al Ghurair, chairman, H.E Dr Anwar Gargash, director, Toby Hoare, director, Hamdi Osman, director and Avishesha Bhojan, managing director.
What is the school’s philosophy?
The school says its mission is to ‘empower students with a holistic, rigorous and international education for success in an ever changing world’. The school’s core values place an emphasis on achievement, collaboration, integrity, respect and responsibility.
The school’s philosophy is
•To be recognized by the success of our students in achieving their personal goals.
•To make student development the center of all school decisions.
•To aspire to the highest internationally recognized performance standards.
•To celebrate our diversity of cultures, backgrounds and perspectives.
•To build and celebrate a culture based on internationalism.
•To create a learning environment that will positively contribute to international and local communities.
Curriculum
The Collegiate American School follows a standards-based curriculum utilizing the Common Core Standards (www.corestandards.org) developed in the USA. These standards are based on research, best practice and aligned with international benchmarks. They were developed to provide a clear framework to prepare children for college and the workforce with benchmarks that are appropriate to succeed in our global economy.
The curricular program is presented with a focus on technology integration in age appropriate ways. The use of iPads, laptops and other contemporary tools to access materials is supported. The school uses digital and online resources, with less emphasis on traditional textbooks. Teaching the skills of the 21st century is supported by an environment rich with information and technology. Strong academic programs emphasizing math, science, language arts connect with online services to enhance personalized understanding. Specialist teachers provide learning opportunities in French, Spanish, Music, Art, PE, Technology and Arabic for all grades. English Language Learning (ELL) is also offered.
The Arabic and Islamic programs follow the Ministry of Education requirements, with special emphasis on developing the conversational skills of Arabic for Arabic A and B as well as reading and writing. Social studies (humanities) will integrate local and regional studies along with grade level topics.
Teaching in ways that will produce the knowledge workers needed for the 21st century, the Collegiate American School believes that student access and applications of technology are critical in gaining the knowledge needed in the 21st century.
Students will be engaged in their learning through the use of iPads, interactive white boards, laptops, and other current technology. Through the use of online programs, students are able to focus on concepts they may not have mastered and go at a pace they need to master the material. These programs present challenges to each student in individualized and collaborative experiences. The teacher guides students through the learning activities to provide opportunities to improve understanding. The involvement of technology assists in the development of the skills of accessing, searching, analyzing, storing, managing, creating and communicating information.
What facilities does the school offer?
School covers a total area of over 30,000 square meters, with ample capacity for up to 1,500 students. The vast premise houses not just world-class learning facilities but also sporting and recreational facilities. These include:
Classrooms equipped with latest instructional audio-visual facilities (LCD projector/visualizer/sound system)
Computer laboratories
Library
Art rooms
Dance studio
Music rooms
Swimming pools
Sports hall
Basketball courts
Badminton courts
Prayer rooms
Students can enjoy open and spacious classrooms and at the same time, use educational tools such as projectors and computer clusters provided to enhance their learning.
Admissions requirements
Complete the application form online (http://www.casdubai.com/admissions/)
The school follows a 12-year system. Read the year group equivalency information here http://www.casdubai.com/agerequirement/
Fees
Tuition fee, pre-KG and KG1 annual fee Dhs36,000
Tuition fee, KG2 annual fee Dhs42,000
Tuition fee, Grades 1 to 5 Dhs65,000
Expenses for the following items will be additional
Stationery
Educational and field trips that may be organized from time to time may incur additional costs which will be intimated on a case by case basis. Fees for such trips will be payable in addition to all other fees.
Voluntary excursions or sports tournaments in which costs are incurred
School uniforms, team kits and other necessary sporting attire or auxiliary items
External examinations
Meals
Transportation
Other activities for which costs accrue to the school
Insurance: It is suggested that parents maintain health, accident and liability insurance for their children
Textbooks
Some of the above items are available from independent suppliers and subject to their respective terms and conditions for refund.
Entrance Test Fee: Dhs500 (One-off payment, prior to taking the test, prior to admission to CAS, adjustable against Semester 1 fee.)
KHDA rating
Not applicable (as of 2011)