Overseas Family School

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Name	Overseas Family School
Abbreviation	OFS
Location	Orchard
Country	Singapore
Founded	1991
Enrollment	2800
Type	Coeducational day college-preparatory school
Grades	Prekindergarten (Pre-K) Kindergarten (K1–K2) Elementary School (1–5) Middle School (6–8) High School (9–12)
Master Policy	To maintain a happy, safe and effective school for overseas family living in Singapore
Colours	Red, yellow and blue
Website	http://www.ofs.edu.sg

Overseas Family School (OFS), a privately owned Pre K-12 International school, provides a modern education in the English language for overseas families living in Singapore. It started in 1991 with 200 students, today Overseas Family School has over 3000 students from 60 different nationalities.

OFS is the first, and one of at least two schools in Singapore, that is fully authorised by International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) to offer a full International Baccalaureate education from age three to senior high school (Pre K-12).

OFS offers a Study Preparation Program (SPP) for students for whom English is a second or other language (ESOL). It helps students to quickly learn to read, write, listen to and speak English while also doing their usual school subjects. About 300 students are currently in SPP classes.

OFS faculty is a professional team of highly qualified and experienced international teachers. Students study languages chosen from French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish or English.

The teaching policies of the School emphasize individual needs of students. Educational growth occurs in a supportive atmosphere where student work cooperatively to achieve heir school goals. Students make friendships and develop global attitudes in a school with no dominant nationality, no minorities and without any one national identity.

OFS is accredited K-12 by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, California, USA (WASC), authorised by IGCSE Cambridge as an Examination Centre and registered by the Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore

1 Academic Program
2 Academic Facilities
3 Athletics
4 Extracurricular Activities
5 External links

[edit] Academic Program

Kindergarten: Students aged 3-5 learn in a rich and stimulating setting. Curriculum is the enquiry based Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate.

Elementary School: From age six in Grades 1-5. Curriculum is the enquiry based Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate, with language learning for all students.POI(programme of inquiry) is where the students look ata history, science, economics, geography and so on.

Middle School: Students in Grades 6-8. Curriculum is the integrated Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate, with language learning for all students.

High School

OFS High School Graduation Diploma - OFSD

For the OFSD, students earn subject credits allocated by internal assessment for all work in four years of High School, backed by US Accreditation.

Students may also sit external examinations:
- Junior High (Grades 9-10) IBMYP and IGCSE
  
  International Baccalaureate Middle Years Diploma and International General Certificate Secondary Education.
- Senior High (Grades 11-12) IB Diploma
  
  International Baccalaureate Diploma or Certificates.
  
  A rigorous, two year, integrated program of study.
  
  International Baccalaureate Diploma, a widely accepted qualification for entry to universities worldwide, with advanced placement for good subject scores.

Study Preparation Program: To prepare students with other languages for study in English

[edit] Academic Facilities

OFS panoramic view

The Overseas Family School campus is situated on 11 acres, with eleven buildings clustered around its sports facilities. Old trees and greenery create a pleasant and inviting learning environment.

The School has 117 classrooms, eight science labs, nine computer labs, five art studios, six music rooms, a drama theater, and an auditorium. The five School libraries have a collection of more than 35,000 volumes controlled by OFS in-house application. The libraries have a collection of Proquest Periodical Database facilities. All classrooms are equipped with an Apple eMac with e-mail and Internet facilities. All rooms are air-conditioned, carpeted, linked by a campuswide computer network, and equipped with appropriate audiovisual equipment and learning resources.

Smoking is not permitted on the School campus by law.

[edit] Athletics

The Overseas Family School provides an extensive sports program and participates in interschool competition in badminton, cricket, netball, rugby, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. Many of these events take place at the School, or students travel by bus to other venues. The School has two shaded basketball courts, an indoor multipurpose gymnasium, a playing field with soccer pitches, and tennis courts. A junior pool is provided for kindergarten and elementary students, and secondary school students utilize a newly constructed swimming pool.

[edit] Extracurricular Activities

A large number of extracurricular activities are offered during the school day as well as after school and on weekends. These activities continually vary according to student request and faculty offerings. All students must choose one activity and may change their selection each quarter. Each member of the faculty is involved in at least one sport, cultural, special interest, or academic activity. Popular extracurricular activities include chess club, soccer skills, table tennis, aerobics, tae kwon do, karate, jewelry making, basketball, drama, choral music, calligraphy and crafts, Scouts, Guides, Brownies, community service, and many others.