Gwangju Foreign School
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| Kwangju Foreign School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| 633-1 Yangsan-dong, Buk-gu Gwangju  Republic of Korea |
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| Coordinates | 35°10′29″N 126°53′01″E / 35.1746°N 126.8837°ECoordinates: 35°10′29″N 126°53′01″E / 35.1746°N 126.8837°E |
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Motto | Character and Knowledge |
| Established | 1996 |
| President | Robert Holley |
| Principal | Gerald Schoen |
| Staff | 6 |
| Faculty | 18 |
| Number of students | 100 |
| Website | www.kwangjuforeignschool.org |
The Gwangju Foreign School is an International school in the city of Gwangju, Korea. Gwangju is sometimes written as Kwangju, depending on what part of the world you are from.
The school is located approximately at Latitude 35.17462 N and Longitude 126.88361E or 370 kilometers (230 mi) southwest of Seoul, and it was opened in response to city officials needing an International school to attract foreign business.
Contents |
[edit] School Philosophy
Students attend international schools because the classes are taught in English, and to gain acceptance into universities in the U.S. The course curriculum is therefore identical to that of U.S high schools, and counseling services in the schools provide the students with direction as to the appropriate activities to be involved in and the preparation necessary for the special entrance exams for non native English speakers. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
[edit] Teaching Staff and administration
The teaching staff at Korean International private schools are on what are called E-7 visas as opposed to the E-2 visas[1] that are issued to English teachers at Institutes( Hagwons) or Public schools. The issuance of E-7 visas now requires that applicants have 2 years of relevant experience. There is 1 kindergarten teacher, 5 elementary school teachers, 3 middle school teachers, 6 high school teachers, 1 art teacher, and 1 music teacher. Spanish is the foreign language currently offered.
[edit] School Location and Facilities
The school is owned by Mr Robert Holley.It is located in Yangsandong, Buk-gu an industrial suburb of Gwangju. The school is located on a wooded hillside on the outskirts of the city.
The playing facilities include a small indoor basketball court and an enclosed outdoor playing area which also functions as a temporary soccer field. The basketball teams practice off-campus on a regulation size basketball court at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology. The soccer team practices off-campus at the Children's Traffic Park fields, a 10 minute bus ride from the school.
[edit] Students
Many of the students are Korean nationals who have lived in English speaking countries and who have also attained a certain proficiency in the English language. Korean law requires that students wanting to attend international schools must have proof of residence (a passport) in an English speaking country for at least three years. There are a few non-Korean expatriate children attending the school, many of whom have parents working at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology(GIST).
Uniforms are required. There are Summer and Winter uniforms in the style of traditional Korean schools.
[edit] ESL Program
The school has an ESL program for students with limited English skills. Some of the core subjects are taught as ESL subjects until such a time that the student can make the transition to the regular classes.
[edit] School Sports
The school is a member of the South Korean Athletic Conference (SKAC). The KFS Cougars competes in basketball and soccer with International schools in Busan, Daejeon, Sacheon, and Pohang. There is also an annual cross country race for the students, which sometimes becomes an inter-school event.
[edit] School Science Fair
The school has a science fair, that all students must participate in every year. They make science projects, and are judged on the better points of the project. The winners attend a regional competition for other foreign schools.
[edit] Extra Curricular Activities
Teachers are very active in involving the students in cultural extracurricular activities. Each year, the school hosts a drama production and a speech festival. Organized extracurricular clubs include newspaper, dance, orchestra, choir, and rock band. They are regular fixtures in the school's concerts, and talent shows. A Community Outreach club volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and organizes other acts of service.
