Stamford American International School

Stamford offers optional after school mother tongue programs for all children. Led by the parents and the larger international community, Stamford offers 12 different mother tongue programs weekly. The 12 languages are: Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish. Children in the program have access to native teachers, classroom facilities, IT support, library and event spaces.[9]

The Stamford World Language Program offers 3 of the world's most spoken languages - Mandarin, Spanish, and English. The program offers Bilingual Mandarin and English from 3 to 10 years, Daily Mandarin or Spanish for 18 months to 11 years and the English as an Additional Language Program for 5 to 16 years.[11]

• Bilingual Mandarin and English This program gives learners equal exposure to English and Mandarin in the subjects and concepts taught within their grade. Classes are taught by bilingual teachers who can fully engage with students as they master both languages.
• Daily Mandarin or Spanish Every child in the Early Learning Village and Elementary School receives daily Mandarin or Spanish lessons as part of the curriculum. In Secondary School, these classes become more intensive 80-minute sessions every other day. Progress is measured through 9 levels for Spanish and 7 levels for Mandarin. Students are given the scope to learn at their own pace and are assessed on Standards-Based Measurement of Proficiency (STAMP).
• English as an Additional Language (EAL) Available to students who want to gain more confidence in their English language ability, Stamford American offers 2 programs for different levels of proficiency:
  • Mainstream EAL for mid- to high-level English language learners, available from Kindergarten 2 to Grade 10.
  • Sheltered EAL for students who need more specialized support, available from Kindergarten 2 to Grade 8.[12]

Every year, students get to showcase their creativity on campus through exhibitions of their artwork. Aspiring young artists get the chance to exhibit at the annual International Schools Art Exhibition and the annual SEASAC Arts Festival.

• Kindergarten 1 to Grade 5 Visual arts lessons in the Primary Years Program (PYP) are designed to foster creativity and self-discovery. Students are exposed to visual concepts through a hands-on approach to art and are prompted to respond to various aesthetics.
• Grade 6 to Grade 10 The Middle Years Program (MYP) visual arts course prepares students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP). Students are introduced to the elements and principles of art, and are taught techniques in ceramics, textiles, printmaking, illustration, painting and other art specializations.
• Grade 11 to Grade 12 The visual arts course at the DP level challenges learners to examine their own creative and cultural expectations and boundaries. The thought-provoking program hones students’ art techniques while developing their critical perspectives in approaching and appreciating art.[13]

Stamford American is one of the few schools in Singapore with onsite SAT and ACT test centers. Stamford American also has a dedicated Academic and College Counseling Team that designs personalized support programs for each student, and monitors progress and achievements. The team also invites and hosts experts who can advise on the various aspects of preparing for higher education.[14]

• EducationUSA on Campus Students who are keen on a university education in the U.S. have the added benefit of the U.S. Department of State's EducationUSA Advising Center on campus. The center has up-to-date information on all 4,500 accredited universities and colleges in the U.S. Stamford American is the only school in Singapore with an EducationUSA Advising center.[15]

The Academic Field Studies Program starts from Grade 3 at Stamford American, and explores the academic curriculum within environments beyond the classroom. Developed in consultation with experiential education market-leaders JUMP! Foundation, students take on leadership roles as they prepare for the experiences in the field, build connections with their peers and teachers as they encounter challenges in real-world environments, linked to their academics.[16]

Class of 2020 graduates completed the IB course with a 94% pass rate. The Class of 2020 has also been accepted into 33 out of the Top 100 Universities worldwide, such as Boston University, Duke University, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Amsterdam and University of Queensland. Stamford American students have been accepted into competitive universities around the world including the US, UK, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, Singapore, Switzerland, Spain, India, Japan and the Philippines.

To date, 95% of Stamford's students have received the top two universities of their choice.

Stamford American provides numerous opportunities for students to pursue their dramatic interests. 10 full-scale productions are put up every year at the state-of-the-art Reagan Theater, the only school theater in Singapore that features an LED backdrop screen. Weekly drama classes begin in Kindergarten and continue to Grade 10. Stamford American also offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Theater and a BTEC in Performing Arts (Acting) that prepares interested students for a career in the dramatic arts.[18]

Students at the Early Learning Village (ELV) are introduced to music and movement at the tender age of 18 months. Stamford American is the first and only school to offer the Suzuki Violin Program for students from 3 years old. The Suzuki method promotes creative development through positive motivation and learning with others. From the age of 5, children can move on to cello lessons.

Music is a part of the curriculum for students up to Grade 8, while students in Grade 9 and Grade 10 can choose music for their Middle Years Program (MYP) arts allocation. In Grade 11 and Grade 12, students who are keen on continuing their music education can opt for it as their arts subject within the Diploma Program (DP). More than 400 students are enrolled in the Instrumental Music Program, which supports instruction in 12 instruments by highly trained and passionate music teachers.[19]

Stamford American's Athletic Program commits to sport for all while developing student athletes to reach their full potential. The school aims to offer appropriate pathways for sporting development from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in a wide range of individual and team sports. Team sports offered include badminton, basketball, cross country, golf,  gymnastics, rugby, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, touch rugby, track & field and volleyball. Stamford American is a member school of the South East Asia Student Activities Conference (SEASAC), an elite Sports and Co-Curricular Activities league with member schools in the region. SEASAC activities include arts, badminton, basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, Model United Nations (MUN), soccer, swimming, rugby, touch rugby, softball, tennis and volleyball.[20]

All students at Stamford American are exposed to community service at levels of involvement appropriate to their age. The school encourages students to get involved in charitable activities by reflecting on those around them, then planning and driving meaningful initiatives to help those who are in need.

The Stamford American community in partnership with World Assistance for Cambodia built the Cambodia Hope School in the Boribo Province of Cambodia. The school was set up to give disadvantaged children in Kampong Chhnang a chance at education and a brighter future. In 2016, students and teachers from Stamford American visited the school armed with lesson plans and school supplies. Students at Hope School received stationery and sports equipment, while English as a Second Language (ESL) resources were distributed to local teachers to guide them in integrating English into lessons.

In 2017, together with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Stamford American students helped to make some dreams come true through the Christmas Giving Tree. They fulfilled the wishes of families and children from these charities: Singapore Cancer Society, SOSD, Make a Wish Foundation, Waterways, Willing Hearts, Ronald McDonald House and Autism Resource Center (ARC).[21]

• 3 swimming pools
• 2 air-conditioned indoor sports arenas
• 2 libraries
• Rooftop tennis courts
• Dance studios
• Rock–climbing walls
• Multipurpose sports field
• Indoor golf studio
• 500-seat theater
• Innovation Center and Maker Space with 3D printers, robots and other advanced electronics

• 6 ultraviolet-protected outdoor areas
• Infant Care Pod with sensory play areas
• 20-meter pool with adjustable lanes and resting benches for safe water activities
• The Hive—an air-conditioned multipurpose gymnasium for sports and performances