SIS obtains WASC accreditation

The Saipan International School added another feather to its cap after the Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently granted the school teaching accreditation.

SIS headmaster Dr. Dale Jenkins confirmed the accreditation last week, saying that SIS was granted a maximum six-year accreditation for Pre-Kinder 3 through 12th grade.

“The process of accreditation is an important one for schools and we are very pleased with our process and the result given to us by the accrediting commission,” Jenkins said.

The school received the notice from WASC on Aug. 17 after an intensive full year self-study and a visit by a team of educational experts from WASC.

“This action was taken after a careful study of the Visiting Committee Report which noted many laudable aspects of the school. Please accept our congratulations on the quality of instruction being offered at Saipan International School,” reads a portion of the letter from WASC.

Among the positive findings of the accreditation team at SIS are:

* The school has expanded its curriculum to include high school classes through grade 12, and has developed a strong academic program to prepare the students for college.

* Class sizes are small with a maximum of 18 students in elementary school and 20 students in middle school and high school. The teacher to student ratio is 1 teacher for every 12 students.

* The school has implemented the Advanced Placement Program in the high school to assist the students prepare for and receive college credit while still in high school.

* Students are given additional assistance in learning English with programs that focus on language acquisition skills.

* The school has strengthened the Arts program by enabling students to study music and art in lower elementary grades.

* The elementary and middle schools have implemented a strong program of reading and writing to strengthen those critical areas of learning for the students.

* The student test results on the Stanford Achievement Test are very high. Over 70 percent of SIS students score in the top 25 percent of all students in the United States.

The school’s headmaster said the visiting committee gave strong commendations on the quality of the faculty and staff of the school, their high level of commitment, and the exemplary nurturing and care they give one another. The accrediting team commended the trust, confidence, and respect the teachers and staff show each other, which they also instill in their students, and also praised the school for maintaining small class sizes that allow each child to receive individual and personal assistance.

Jenkins said WASC found the personal attention, open communication and parental involvement as major factors in the success of the students.

“The lives of the students outside the classroom were also found to be enriched by the wide variety of activities the school offers that support student growth,” Jenkins said. The list includes opportunities in academics, leadership, the arts, athletics, and community service. They commended the students’ high level of participation in those activities.

Jenkins said the committee was also excited about the school’s campus expansion and plans to build new classrooms, computer rooms, and library space for the students’ use. “They felt this will be of great assistance to the school as it develops in the future.”