Congratulations to International Village School Chennai (IVSC) in India, which opened its doors to pre–K through Grade 2 students in August 2018. By August 2019, the main purpose-built campus will be completed and ready to welcome students through Grade 7. The school plans to add a grade level each subsequent year.
The IVSC campus shares a boundary with a large government-designated forest reserve and bird sanctuary, which is home to over 60 species of birds. The calm and serene school setting is a wonderful backdrop for student learning. IVSC is still centrally located, however, making it easily accessible to the old city to the north, the residential areas to the south, and beaches to the east of the school. Restaurants, grocery stores, and shops are all conveniently located within the neighboring area.
Known as the cultural capital of India, Chennai is rich in offerings of art, dance, and music, and has recently been added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in recognition of its musical heritage. A large metropolitan city, Chennai still retains its culture and traditions, with many historic buildings, landmarks, and temples to explore. Mahabalipuram, filled with temples and monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located a short drive south of the school, and the quaint former French town of Pondicherry is a short distance away. Chennai also has an international airport offering easy connections to destinations worldwide.
Currently enrolled are 80 students, half from India and one quarter from North America and the U.K. The teaching staff of eight includes four staff members from India and four from North America. Inquiry-based learning complements the Reggio Emilia approach for young students as well as the U.S. Common Core curriculum. IVSC adds,
“It takes a village to raise a child. The belief that education is a shared responsibility is an important part of our philosophy. Learning occurs through engagement with other children, with adults, and with the larger community. Our village approach is built on fostering relationships of open communication, a desire to know one another, and work together to provide the best care and opportunities for our children. . . Our 5 Elements of Learning provide a holistic approach by balancing academic, physical, and social emotional aspects. We believe the 5 Elements of Learning empower our students to follow their path towards their passions, aspirations, purpose, and personal success.”
The purpose-built Early Childhood and Lower Elementary facility offers enjoyable teaching and learning opportunities in bright and spacious classrooms with direct access to play areas, engaging learning resources, and learning resources. A large central atelier is designed to meet various learning objectives involving an exploratory approach. The Move-and-Groove Room is the perfect place for children to have fun as they develop physical abilities. Children will also explore musical experiences both indoors and outdoors. The recreational facilities include a swimming pool, and various outdoor spaces are designed for play-based learning, allowing children to enjoy their childhood while developing an understanding of material, form, art, measurement, and other concepts. In her Superintendent’s Welcome, Michele Dirksen states,
“From the moment you enter our school you will experience a warm, open, inviting environment where there is a strong sense of citizenship, belonging, and collaboration.”
IVSC is interested in hiring singles and teaching couples. They will also consider couples with a non-teaching spouse as well as exceptional, newly-certified teachers, teachers certified in a non-English speaking country, and interns. All candidates must hold an academic degree in the subject they will be teaching. While there is no age limit to obtain a work visa in India, licensed teachers must submit a medical report certifying fitness to work in addition to police clearance from their home country.
The IVSC benefits package includes moving and settling-in allowances in addition to suitable housing for the employee, his/her spouse, and two accompanying dependent children. The school also supplies basic furnishings and a stipend for the employee’s electricity, gas and water utilities. Round-trip airfare for the employee, his or her spouse, and two accompanying children is covered once a year. IVSC and the employee will each contribute an amount equivalent to 12% of the gross salary paid to the employee into the Indian Provident and Pension Fund, a retirement plan. Full scholarships will be provided for up to two dependent children, and an allowance of $1,000 for professional development for each teacher per year may be accumulated to reach $2,000 per employee. Local health insurance is covered for a family of four. Additional medical insurance will be covered by IVSC when employees travel outside the country. The package allows for outstanding savings, and the school says a family of four could “absolutely” live on one salary!
To gain access to International Village School Chennai’s profile on the Search Associates database, including a list of all open positions, candidates can apply for membership by clicking here. Candidates already registered can easily access the school profile directly through their dashboards.
Please note: The information presented about this school was valid on the date published. This information may change, and the most up-to-date information can be found on the school profile.
