The health and safety of our students is our top priority at QSI International School of Astana.
We are committed to creating and maintaining a secure, organized, and conducive environment for education. Our school has developed and enforced robust procedural policies to safeguard the well-being and safety of our students, faculty, and all who visit our school.
In This Section
Health and Well-Being
Social-Emotional Needs
We are committed to teaching children habits and skills that help them to build character, manage emotional and social situations, and keep themselves safe. We have a brand-new Empower Curriculum which teaches children of all ages specific, age-appropriate lessons for Success Orientations, Social Emotional Development, and Child Protection.
Our school offers the services of a trained guidance counselor on campus, dedicated to supporting the student body. This counselor is available to offer counseling services and assistance, and can also connect students with mental health professionals and external resources as needed.
Success Orientations
Building Character and a Culture of Success
Success is so much more than getting A’s and B’s. We understand how important it is for students to develop the many good habits and skills that lead to being successful. QSI wants all students to grow in leadership, confidence, creativity, and the capacity to collaborate with others. We teach and help students to be trustworthy, responsible, concerned for others, kind and polite, successful group members, able to appreciate the environment around them, and be independent. We call these the Success Orientations.
- Kindness and Politeness
- Group Interaction
- Aesthetic Appreciation
- Independent Endeavor
- Concern for Others
- Responsibility
- Trustworthiness
Kindness and Politeness
Group Interaction
Aesthetic Appreciation
Aesthetic Appreciation means students respect the spaces that they use in the school, such as their cubby/ locker, classroom, hallway, or cafeteria. It means that they take care of the environment inside and outside the school by picking up trash and cleaning up after themselves. It also means students respect how other people create their ideas, not just in art and music, but in every class.
Independent Endeavor
Independent Endeavor means teachers assign students work and students then do it by themselves. They pay attention to personal work and stay focused on the task at hand. Teachers can trust students to do the work independently and to the best of their ability. Students may pursue an interest beyond curricular expectations to further increase their understanding of the topic.
Concern for Others
Concern for Others means students accept other people no matter where they are from or what their beliefs are. It means that students include others in their activities and help friends or others who may be sad or hurt. Students show others their care and concern for others through acts of sharing and moments of empathy.
Responsibility
Trustworthiness
School Health Office
The school employs a full-time, qualified nurse who tends to any health concerns or emergencies.
The School Health Office works collaboratively with students, parents, and staff to remove health barriers to learning. Services include evaluating students’ illnesses, administering first aid and emergency care, administering some medications, and identifying health problems. The School Health Office maintains health records for all students.
The School Health Office provides health-related education and counseling to students and staff in individual and group settings and provides consultation to other school professionals, including food service personnel, physical education teachers, and counselors. A nurse staffs the school health clinic Monday through Friday, from 8:00-4:00. All BIS teachers and any employees who have direct contact with children receive first aid training. In addition to the school nurse, a head First Aid Officer is designated each year to take the lead in situations that require first aid when the school nurse is not available.
Campus Safety and Security
Campus Security
QSI International School of Astana is a closed campus and has 24-hour security on campus for the protection and well-being of all students. Our guards and security team are always available at the front entrance to the school. They greet students and parents daily and are the first people many of us see each morning. Our friendly security guards have been working for QSI for many years and know our entire community.
QSI and the US Embassy: The Regional Security Officer (RSO) from the US Embassy makes frequent visits to the school to ensure that our facility and our procedures are maintained at a high quality. The US Embassy has helped to ensure a safe campus by assisting with security cameras, security fences around the school, and frequent checks by embassy security. QSI is fortunate to have an excellent relationship with many of the embassies in Astana.
Visitors to Campus
Parents who wish to visit must sign in with the security office and wear either their personal school security badge that is made for them upon enrollment or receive a visitor’s badge. Visitors must have an appointment and sign in with the security guard and wear a visitor’s badge while on campus. For safety reasons, we must know who is on the campus at all times.
Personal security guards or nannies are not permitted to remain in the building during the course of the day. Anyone wishing to visit a particular class should make their request to the school’s office at least one day in advance. We do invite parents to be involved with their child’s education but we must protect the safe, nurturing learning environment of the classroom and refrain from causing unexpected disturbances. Upon approval of the homeroom teacher and administration, visiting parents or students may attend classes. Parent volunteers can be coordinated directly through the classroom teacher.