Finland

Our school, Kivimies International School, was established in 2019. We became an international school in 2023, when the English language weighted education classes joined our school. Before that there were classes studying in Finnish basic education only. Our school grows annually with about 50 new students. In the future it is possible that there are 250 to 450 students in our school. Kivimies International School is located in Otaniemi, Espoo about 10 km from Helsinki city center. There are Kivimies International School, Suna School and Kivimies daycare center in our school campus area. The Kivimies International School facilities include 15 classrooms, 2 home economics classes, 2 crafts classes, a sauna, canteen and a small gym. Otaniemi sport facilities are in constant use by our classes.This school year we have grades 1-5 in 8 classes for our 140 students. The students study in Finnish with 5 classes (75 students) and in English with 3 classes (65 students). Our students are between 6 and 13 years old. The students who study in Finnish mostly come from Otaniemi or Tapiola area close to the school. The students who study in weighted education English classes come from all over Espoo. Our students have 20 different nationalities. 20% of our students receive intensified support or special support to help them with their studies. Our school has a great, supportive staff of 9 teachers, a school assistant, a janitor, a school secretary, kitchen staff, a school social worker, a school psychologist and a school nurse. Occasionally we also have unpaid trainees from colleges and institutes in the area. Our main focuses are in teachers collaboration, building the culture to our new international school, sustainability and recycling and the well-being of our students. Basic knowledge and skills are studied at our school. We have a positive climate to support the development of the child's self-esteem. Good manners, respect for every human dignity and responsibility for the environment are central. The positive climate is also influenced by a very active parents' association.We are implementing a sustainability pilot program by creating sustainability training tools, operating methods and learning environments. The project creates an integrated, concrete entity that combines the subjects according to the curriculum. The ideas and operating methods resulting from the project can be used to promote sustainability and environmental education. The project also has a positive effect on students' environmental feelings and interest .