At AIS-R, we believe that all students can flourish when provided with guided practice, support and encouragement. All teachers differentiate instruction to ensure that all students have opportunities to demonstrate what they have learned. The Elementary School offers a Counseling Program, an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program, and a Learning Support program. AIS-R does not have a Special Needs Program and therefore cannot service students who have exceptional needs and/or requirements, including gifted and talented children.

Counseling Program

Counselors are an integral part of the educational team at AIS-R.  Counselors at AIS-R are trained to provide short-term individual and group counseling to address mental, physical, social, and emotional concerns that may be impacting students’ learning and/or well-being. Counselors partner with teachers and parents regarding strategies to ensure student success. AIS-R counselors provide information to parents in a variety of ways: individual meetings, direct personal communication, and through Eagle Central.  Parents are encouraged to conference with their child’s counselor by phone, email, Zoom or in person regarding any aspect of their child’s well-being at AIS-R.

During the school year, counselors conduct guidance lessons on topics that include empathy, safety, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, problem solving, self-management, and responsible decision making.

Individual Counseling

Students may be referred by parents, teachers, administrators or they may self-refer to the counselor for counseling on an individual basis. If the problem or issue requiring counseling is easily resolved in a short time, then the counselor will schedule time to work with the student. If the problem is more serious or complex and is likely to require long-term counseling, the counselor will provide the family with names and contact information for private counselors/professionals available virtually or in Riyadh.

If you would like to know more about the service offered by our counselors or to ask for support for your child, please contact the Elementary School office and we will ensure one of our counselors reaches out to you. 

English as an Additional Language Program

The Elementary School English as an Additional Language (EAL) program is provided for qualified students from KG2 to Grade 5. Qualification for this program is based on WIDA MODEL assessment results. The WIDA MODEL assessment is administered to students based on recommendation from the Admissions Office, teachers, counselor, or student support teachers.

EAL support focuses on the acquisition and development of English language in all four domains (listening, speaking, reading and writing), while also providing the necessary support English Language Learners need to access the grade level curriculum. 

Learning Support

AIS-R offers additional learning support for students with mild to moderate needs. Additional support is provided by specialist teachers who work with students in small groups. Where possible, teachers provide this additional support in classrooms. At times, students may be withdrawn in small groups for specialized instruction that is focused on meeting the specific needs of the students. The school may ask families to have an educational evaluation carried out by specialists beyond the school. The educational evaluation will give teachers additional information that allows us to better meet the needs of the child and is usually conducted in a child-friendly setting. In these cases, AIS-R can collaborate with families to determine the best plan to move forward with such evaluations. 

Child Study Team (CST) Meetings

Counselors, teachers, parents, and leadership team members work collaboratively to find the most effective methods to help each child reach his/her potential. This partnership is the cornerstone of our program. At times, a Child Study Team (CST) is required to discuss individual students and to develop effective strategies and/or monitor their effectiveness in order to ensure the student’s success in the classroom. All CST meetings include the ES counselor.

Child Safeguarding Policy and Mental Health Protocol

AIS-R is committed to providing a safe environment so that all our students can develop and learn. 

All reports of maltreatment will be taken seriously and investigated. Maltreatment is defined as physical, sexual, and verbal abuse or neglect. When maltreatment is reported by a child, the Child Safeguarding Team will begin an investigation.  Local authorities and/or parent employers/sponsors will be notified if maltreatment is verified. 

Please be a responsible citizen and notify the school principal if you are aware of a child being mistreated. Early counseling, guidance, and intervention can stop child maltreatment. AIS-R has a child safeguarding policy that is strictly enforced. 

To ensure that all of our students understand how to keep themselves safe, they will engage in the following lessons each school year: 

• Personal Safety: Students will learn about safety and ways to help them decide when something is safe and when something is not safe such as never playing with fire or never touching a dog without asking the person in charge.

• Touching Safety: Students will learn about safe, unsafe and unwanted touches and rules about touching private body parts. They’ll also learn about ways to say no to unsafe or unwanted touches and to tell an adult if someone breaks rules about touching private body parts.  

• Assertiveness: Students will learn and practice how to ask an adult for help, tell an adult about an unsafe situation and be assertive to get out of an unsafe situation.   

When a child demonstrates a mental health concern (i.e. depression, psychosis, dissociation, suicide ideation, self-harm) or there is reasonable cause to believe that a child is of danger to themselves or others, the concerned adult/student will seek advice from the a teacher, counselor, or school administration. Any report or other action must be kept confidential. 

In all cases, follow-up is conducted in a manner that ensures that information is documented factually and that strict confidentiality is maintained. The following procedure will be enacted by the counselor and/or administration:

1. Ensure the student of concern is safe. (This may require one-to-one adult supervision).

2. Interview adults and/or students as necessary and document relevant information.

3. Consult with school personnel to review the child’s history in school.

4. Report status of case to superintendent.

Depending on the level of concern as determined in collaboration with the counselor, principal, and superintendent, a required Educational Psychological Evaluation may be requested at any time to ensure the safety and well being of all Eagles. The requested Educational Psychological Evaluation may determine re-entry to AIS-R.