QSI International School of Bratislava(QSIB) is the only American school in Slovakia offering a variety of programs for local and international students. Students have the opportunity to specialize in their studies based on their future academic plans and dreams. Students are taught by certified, native English-speaking teachers, whose passion for teaching is contagious and helps pave the way for all students future academic success.
QSIB is managed by Quality Schools International (QSI), an organisation consisting of 35 international schools around the world. QSI International School of Bratislava benefits from the unique opportunities afforded by this organised network of schools with three decades of proven performance.
QSI School of Bratislava (QSIB) opened in September 1994 as a private, nonprofit school, which offers an educational programme for students of all nationalities aged 2 1/2 (early childhood programme) through grade. Students graduate fully prepared to attend colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and other countries across the globe. The school year is divided into three terms extending from late August to mid-December, from early January to late March, and from early April to mid-June. Students receive Status Reports (report cards) five times during the school year.
Organisation: QSIB is governed by the Board of Directors and Bylaws of Quality Schools International, in Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. An advisory board, composed of six to ten members who reside in Bratislava, assists the school in its operation. The school operates with the approval of the Slovak Ministry of Education.
Academics: The academic programme is based on Mastery Learning, which involves both individualised and group instruction, and ensures mastery of specific skills and knowledge. This educational philosophy is founded upon the beliefs that all students can succeed, success breeds success, and it is the responsibility of the school to provide the environment for success.
Courses consist of Mathematics, Cultural Studies (History, Geography, Economics, Political Science), Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Studies), Technology, Vocal & Instrumental Music, Art, Drama, Dance, and Physical Education. For secondary students we offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Technology use is integrated across the curriculum. Foreign and native language acquisition is offered in French, German, Spanish, Korean, and Slovak. In addition, the school seeks to provide students with an appreciation of the rich culture and history of Slovakia.
Curriculum: (QSIB) offers a mastery educational programme with a curriculum similar to that of U.S. public and private schools as well as competitive international schools. Instruction is in English. The school believes that all students can be successful. In addition to a rigorous academic programme, the curriculum includes physical education, art, music, technology, and drama. German, Slovak, Spanish, Korean and French are taught as foreign languages. Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma are available for secondary school students. In addition, the school seeks to provide students with an appreciation of the rich culture and history of Slovakia. Extracurricular activities are offered for students of all ages, including an interscholastic sports programme for students ages 11-18. The school participates in the cultural, sports, and professional development activities of the Central and Eastern European Schools Association and the Danube Valley Athletic Conference. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), and the College Board for the Advanced Placement (AP) programme. QSIB is recognised by the Slovak Ministry of Education and is an official SAT and College Board Test Center.
Faculty: For the 2021-2022 school year, there are 75 full-time and two part-time faculty members, including 22 U.S. citizens, 40 host-country nationals, and 15 European and non-EU nationals.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, enrollment was at 288 students (preschool: 16; kindergarten-grade 5: 99; grades 6-8: 62; and grades 9-12: 111). Of the total, 37 were U.S. citizens, 128 were host-country nationals, and 123 were non-EU nationals.
Facilities: The school campuses are pleasantly situated in the quaint village of Šamorín (less than 20km from the outskirts of Bratislava) with expansive, natural green spaces. The brand new, state-of-the-art preschool, kindergarten, elementary & middle school facility (opened in January 2018) is a large two-storey complex, with 35 classrooms, a library (over 10,000 titles), a computer laboratory, a gymnasium, an atrium, several outdoor playgrounds, a full-court outdoor basketball court, an artificial grass mini pitch for soccer, a parent workspace, and several offices. The new (August 2019) Secondary School Campus at the X-bionic Sphere Resort provides the upper school students and teachers with 28 additional classrooms, offices, laboratories, and libraries. There is also direct access to indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a fitness facility, dance/exercise rooms, track & field, three full soccer pitches, multipurpose playgrounds and a movie cinema. (QSIB) provides full security for its students, teachers, staff, and visitors with guards, an advanced key card system, and an elaborate security camera network. Free shuttle buses to/from the campus are available from various locations in and around Bratislava.
Materials: Materials and equipment are up-to-date and of the highest quality. Class sizes are small. Most of the faculty members are North Americans, with some teachers from the United Kingdom, France, Serbia, the Philippines, Greece, Brazil, Spain, Ecuador, and Slovakia. Twenty-six full-time faculty members are native English speakers, and all teachers are fluent in English. Teachers are certified by their respective nations and are experienced in international education.
Philosophy: We believe that more learning will occur if the student has a desire to learn, has positive feelings concerning the school environment, and succeeds in their work. A comfortable atmosphere of caring and acceptance established by the school is considered important so that each student is encouraged to strive for excellence and to be creative. This is enhanced by an aesthetically pleasing environment. The possibility of success increases for each student when they learn at the appropriate level of difficulty and sense positive expectations from their teachers. These include:
- To encourage each student to positively recognise his/her own nationality.
- To provide an atmosphere of cultural acceptance and understanding with the view of building healthy international relationships.
- To integrate studies of the local region and the country into the academic curriculum.
- To develop an awareness of environmental concerns such as overpopulation, pollution, waste of natural resources, destruction of wildlife and natural areas, and personal health.
- To promote a concern for the protection of the environment.
- To provide activities and projects for students which involve them in improving the environment.
Daniel Blaho
QSI Bratislava Director
This article has been brought to you by QSI School of Bratislava (QSIB).
