Ghars Graduate Profile
Ghars graduates will be:
- Great contributors toward a safe and happy environment.
- Honest, confident and responsible global citizens.
- Academically prepared for future pursuits.
- Raising Islamic values while forbearing diversity.
- Self-motivated learners and critical thinkers.
Ghars Bilingual School offers a balanced American curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) while preserving and strengthening Islamic values. The school implements the Savvas Education program across all grade levels and subject areas to ensure high-quality, standards-based instruction. Our goal is to provide every student with the opportunity to develop essential academic competencies that prepare them for future learning and responsible adulthood within the context of a well-rounded, 21st-century education.
Ghars Curriculum
Kindergarten Stage
Ghars Kindergarten Department includes KG1 and KG2 and provides a bilingual learning environment within an Islamic setting. Our mission is to nurture students who possess active and creative minds, demonstrate understanding and compassion toward others, and have the confidence to act upon their values and beliefs. We emphasize the holistic development of every child morally, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically. Our program focuses on the needs of the whole child and includes the following:
Open Space Classroom:
STEAM Room:
Imaginative play area:
English, Math and Science
English:
Math and Science:
Culinary Arts:
Arabic Language
Ghars’s KG Arabic curriculum follows a Lebanese integrated curriculum Loghaty Kanzy (My language is my treasure), which offers Math and science in Arabic language.
Arabic Enrichment:
Reading Stories:
Holy Qur'an & Islamic Studies
Islamic curriculum of our kindergarten department includes both Qur’an recitation and Islamic teachings. KG Islamic Studies curriculum is divided to 5 Units: Al –Aqida, Al Hadith, Al Fiqh, Al Azkar, and the Biography of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Each grade level has a specific number of Surahs to memorize.
Elementary Stage
English
Savvas/My View:
The units and educational skills included in this curriculum include:
Listening and Speaking:
Mathematics
We follow Envision Math -Savvas. Students learn to see relationships, ask questions and try different approaches until they found what best suits them. It is a problem-based learning that challenges students and integrates their knowledge of literacy. Students cover one lesson per day (5 per week) usually one-topic runs for about 3 weeks which includes periods for activities, re-teaching & review, quiz, and topic tests. Students complete a quarter project that connects all concepts learnt within the quarter and is usually integrated with other subjects.
Science
The Ghars Science program is built on the principles of the Scientific Method. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are used to drive the program ensuring students gain a high standard of Scientific thinking & inquiry skills and conceptual understanding. We strive to ensure that the study of Science is personal, relevant, and engaging.
The Science department is fully equipped with state of the art resources and science equipment ensuring students embark on a multi-sensory learning journey through their Science classes. The Science curriculum is designed to provide a hands-on, interactive, stimulating, engaging experience ultimately developing our young scientists’ minds into scientific thinkers & explorers. At Ghars, an inquiry based approach is utilized for Science this makes learning personal, relevant, and engaging and provides multiple levels of scaffolding to provide practice for all learners.
Students will experience the Savvas Elevate Science phenomenon based classes. Students will undertake one topic per week, which includes discussion, activity/lab work, lesson check and inquiry. Quizzes & topic tests are administered to assess student progress and gauge their level of mastery of key concepts, thus ensuring they are ready for middle school. One topic per lesson per week is completed, which includes discussion, hands on activity, experiments, lab work and lesson checks.
Ghars Students participate in the annual internal Ghars STEAM fair, where they are given an opportunity to express their scientific interest & conduct a unique piece of cutting-edge scientific research whilst applying the scientific method. Students are encouraged to experience hands-on learning through-out the academic year where they will create, design, develop & partake in their own science project trimesterly developing and fine-tuning their scientific & technical skills.
Middle School Stage
English
Literature is taught through My Perspective by Savvas. This is a student- centered learning environment where students learn to analyze text, cite evidence and respond critically. The core curriculum is condensed into 4 units per year (1 unit per quarter). Each unit includes: Unit introduction, whole class learning, small group learning & independent reading skills taken within the unit includes: Genre, close read, comprehension skills, analyze craft & structure, vocabulary words, word study & vocabulary skill. Students throughout the week also have grammar lessons which include assessments and worksheets.
Mathematics
We follow Course1/Course2 and Course3- Savvas. Alignment to the Common Core Standards with standards for mathematical practice development embedded throughout the program daily for middle school (Grades 6-8). Integrated intervention and powerful test preparation help all students master the standards and prepare for high-stakes assessments. One topic usually runs for 3 weeks including formative assessments in between the lessons per topic. Summative assessment is taken per quarter from chosen topics/lessons.
Science
Elementary and Middle School Stages
Holy Qur'an
Arabic Language
STEM (G1 - G8)
Islamic Studies
Social Studies
High School Stage
English
The English language curriculum is based on the development of reading and writing skills. It is based on the interest in creative thinking through the use of diverse effective strategies. These strategies are framed within an analytical and critical approach to build individual and collective experiences for a foundation that provides a promising future for their educational and practical lives.
Mathematics
In our high school,the Mathematics program depends on the use of the skills of analysis and logical thinking required for this stage. This is done by covering a wide range of basic subjects such as: AlgebraII & Geometry,Algebra II,Pre-Calculus/Calculus to prepare students for the required university majors.
Science
An in-depth, robust, inquiry and practical driven Ghars High School Science program has been developed to ensure that our students are able to attend high caliber universities and fulfill their dream careers. The Science program entails the study of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and additional elective courses. Each lesson is inquiry based and driven through experiencing scientific concepts through experimental research, lab work, 3D modelling, research, data analysis, debate, discussion and projects. Students are equipped with life-long learning skills through-out the Science program setting them up for success in their future studies.
Extra Curricular Programs
Ghars Curriculam
1- Curriculum to enrich young souls by understanding the names and attributes of God the all mighty through:
The Ghars curriculum focuses on:
2-The Holy Qur’an
The Holy Qur’an Curriculum focuses on:
Maqra'a
A program developed to ensure the successful memorization of the Holy Quran, helping both learners who distinguished students & diligent students.The Maqr’aa Program serves students on two levels: distinguished students & diligent students. Distinguished students are selected based on their impeccable ability to recite Quran (as evaluated by their Quran Teacher) and the students should have memorized a portion of the Quran. Parents of new Maqra’aa students are requested to complete a student-level form which is available on the school’s website (Registration tab->forms). Enrolled students from the previous academic year are automatically re-registered as they progress through the levels. Diligent students include those who face some obstacles during the recitation of the schools’ curriculum (delayed pronunciation, short memory span (slow in memorization), and also include new students, non-Arabic-speaking student, etc. from observations that may be noted by the teacher of the class). Parents are notified of the student's acceptance. Student may be nominated after they begin Maqr’aa according to what the teacher sees and according to student's needs.
Enrichment Curriculum (Arabic)
Ghars follows an enriching Arabic curriculum in addition to the general curriculum, to introduce Arabic language, intellectual skills and activities which enable students to develop linguistic skills through a core curriculum from Lebanon.
AFL
Teaches students basic Arabic skills depending on the student’s Arabic abilities. Arabic teachers will recommend struggling students to the program.
Academic Support(RTI )(G1-8)
Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered approach to identifying and supporting students who may be struggling academically in Math or English. It involves three tiers of intervention, each providing different levels of support. The RTI team, including the head of the unit, will be in charge of implementing this program in our school. They'll ensure the interventions are effectively addressing students' needs and make necessary adjustments based on data-driven decisions.
ELL Program
Teaches different language skills, depending on students' English abilities, interests and needs.This program provides a home-school curriculum connection to facilitate optimal development of language skills.
After School Clubs
Ghars offers school clubs that are usually on Thursdays at the end of the school day. An example of this is the Department of Islamic Studies entertaining clubs for boys and girls.Islamic Club for Boys and girls – it is an outreach program for students to help them socially. It teaches them Islamic values while having fun with their friends in a different environment other than their classroom.A wide scope of after school fun filled activities and field trips are arranged such as desert camping, go karts, horseback riding and different activities ..etc.
Elective Classes
Physical Education
Ghars offers PE classes twice a week with a variety of physical attributes (General fitness, football, basketball, nutrition). Ghars follows the Virginia State Standards for Physical Education. The Virginia State Standards include five strands: skilled movement, movement principles and concepts, personal fitness, responsible behaviors and physically active lifestyle. The standards in each strand are sequenced to progress in complexity from grade level to grade level. Students are provided a variety of sporting activities, skills, experiences throughout the year developing students holistically.
ICT
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Basic operations and concepts
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Social and ethical issues
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Technology research tools
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Thinking skills, problem solving and decision making
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Technology communication tools
Arts
Ghars offers a comprehensive Art program which focuses on providing a student-centered, hands-on curricula to meet the creative and artistic needs of students. The arts nourish and stimulate the imagination, and provide students with an expanded range of tools, techniques, and skills to help them gain insights into the world around them and to represent their understandings in various ways. Students experience the use of oil, chalk, crayons, wax, glass paints, papier mache, clay, fabric, use of various textures, acrylics, pastels and more. Students’ art pieces are celebrated and show cased through the Ghars Art Exhibition.Arts education fosters bright, creative, and socially engaged students. The Art curriculum in KG is embedded in work stations and centers for young learners to experience a holistic thematic form of learning. Elementary Art is fostered around a hands-on experience-based curriculum.
Social Media Marketing (Gr.11-12)
Social Media Marketing course aims to equip students with a thorough understanding of various social media platforms and their potential for marketing, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication skills. Key areas of study include audience understanding, content creation, brand development, and data-driven strategies. The course prepares students for potential careers in digital marketing, entrepreneurship, public relations, or similar fields, while also emphasizing digital citizenship and responsible online behavior.
Library
The school library equips students with lifelong learning skills and develops their imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens. The Ghars school library is a place for learning and thinking. It plays a key role in supporting and developing literacy and the enjoyment of reading in both Arabic and English. The library complies with the American Library Association standard and utilizes Follet-Education library system which provides a highly efficient library management and ordering system. Follet offers a wide variety of international Educational books with varying literacy works for our students. Ghars offers a comprehensive book-borrowing system for students from grades 1 to 12, staff and VIP members.