Kodaikanal International School

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The Kodaikanal International School (KIS) is located in Kodaikanal, in the Palani Hills of the State of Tamil Nadu, India. KIS was founded July 1, 1901, in what was the Highclerc Hotel, and is now an international school offering tuition from pre-school through Grade 12.

KIS was founded to educate the children of Christian Missionaries to Southern India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). In 1972, under the leadership of Principle Frank Jayasinghe, KIS became a truly International school which recognized its Christian background, but was open to all faiths and cultures. KIS is a co-educational, multicultural boarding school (residential school) for students aged 4-19.

In 1975 it became the first school in India to offer the International Baccalaureate. It also awards its own high school diploma, is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, USA and recognized by the Association of Indian Universities. Additionally, KIS offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).

The current principal is Dr. Geofrey Fisher.

1 Students
2 Campus
3 Selection
4 Profile
5 Famous Alumni
6 External links
7 References

[edit] Students

As of 2005 there were 500 students, of whom approximately half are foreign nationals. KIS is a diverse multicultural community with teaching staff and students from at least 30 different countries around the world. Students include children of expatriates as well as Indian Nationals, boarding at the many dormitories on and off campus. KIS students participate in the International Honor Choir and Band held in Europe on a yearly basis. KIS has an award winning^{[Quotation needed from source]} program in Social Experience with on-going aid projects in several Southern Indian villages. All KIS Middle and High School students participate in field trips for a week every year to enable them to have first hand experiences of life in India following a range of different themes.

[edit] Campus

KIS is considered to have one of the most beautiful campuses in India overlooking a large man-made lake. KIS has three campuses, Highclerc for the High and Middle Schools, Ganga Campus for the Elementary School and the Wilderness Campus, located about two hours away in Poondi, which serves as an outdoor education program and will soon be used to provide a one-term, environmental learning experience to all 9th graders. There are also several compounds which house the dormitories and staff accommodation. There are currently 14 student dormitories situated around the school campus and on hills surrounding Kodaikanal.

[edit] Selection

To gain admittance, students sit an assessment exam. Based upon the results, students are appropriately placed according to their needs. The usual language of tuition is English, however ESL support is provided, and in some cases students are taught in their mother-tongue.

KIS' curriculum is considered to be liberal arts, where the students have a progressive outlook and are taught to reflect, question, and think.

Due to its high standards and the type of curriculum, tuition at KIS is sought by many students from around the world. Most graduates of KIS proceed to University level studies around the world.

[edit] Profile

KIS was founded 105 years ago. Students are prepared for college in many ways: deadlines are strictly enforced so college deadlines will be no challenge, dorm life prepares students for life in college away from home and the freedom that students are given gives them a preview of the freedom that will be offered to them later on in life. The participatory way in which students are allowed to express this freedom through the Student Council (STUDCO) for highschool students, (MIDCO) for middle school students. KIS fees are comparable with other schools of this quality in India ranging from US$6000-7500 per term. There are two terms each year - from July to November and from January to May.