The Admissions Process involves three steps: Application Process Placement Process Welcome and Transition Process

Step 1. Application Process  

The Application Process involves acquiring information about previous schooling and suitability for Admission. 

The following must be received before admission is considered: 

• Completed Application for Admission form
• Copy of photo-page of passport
• School records for 2 complete school years showing evidence of formal schooling
• Registration Fee Enrollment Agreement form
• 2 sealed letters of reference from present school
• Special Needs students only: (attach Individual Education Plans and recent assessments).

Notes: 

• If there are insufficient school records, an Admissions Interview is required.
• Students must demonstrate English language fluency at an intermediate level or above to be admitted to grade 9 and up. This may be determined by an ESL Admissions test.
• After the above information is received and validated, a student may then be granted Admissions to ISH for the ongoing or next school year.

Step 2. Placement Process  

The Placement Process determines which grade a student will enter.  

Students at ISH arrive from 40+ different nations and various educational systems, and therefore the placement procedure is complex. The aim is to ensure that students are placed in the grade most suitable for their learning, social emotional development and chronological age. 

The Placement interview is best done well before the first day of school. Students from outside of Finland are able to have the Placement Interview conducted during a school visit. If a student is unable to visit Finland before the start of the school year, the Placement Interview will be conducted on arrival. Students who are admitted are not permitted to attend classes until the Placement Process is completed. 

Required for Placement:

• Placement assessment results
• Samples of student work and/or portfolio (can be brought to the Placement Interview)

Recommended for Placement:

• Standardized test results
• Other supporting documentation that you think would be helpful

Step 3. Welcome and Transition Process  

Once assigned a grade, we wish to ensure that the newly placed student is able to adjust to the new school environment as quickly as possible. This will involve: 

• Informing the teacher(s) about the new enrolment.
• Appointing a buddy who helps the student through the start of school.
• Informing the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Transition Committee who will provide you with a Welcome Packet.

Notes: 

• Grade Placement in the early years (grade K, K2 and Grade 1) is based on the Date of Birth
• Students arriving mid year will be required to complete the admissions process.
• Students moving from a Southern Hemisphere school will continue in the same grade, eg. if a student finishes grade 4 in Australia in December, that student will complete the school year in grade 4 at ISH (Jan-June).