Al Resalah International School of Science

Founded in 2003, Al Resalah International School of Science (RISS) is a private all-through school from Kindergarten to Grade 12. RISS delivers the American curriculum to over 1,600 students.

Managed by the Athena Education brand, RISS operates in the Al Azra, Sharjah. The school has been internationally accredited by AdvancED and by the UAE Ministry of Education as a school of quality. RISS is also a certified SAT center, IELTS test venue and IC3 center.

To learn more about the facilities, admission process and fee structure of Al Resalah International School of Science, read this guide by Bayut.

Al Resalah International School of Science is in Al Azra community of Sharjah. Multiple residential communities surround the school, such as:

• Al Ghafia
• Al Nuaimiya 2
• Al Ramtha
• Al Jazzat

Al Ghafia is between Al Azra and Al Sabkha districts of Sharjah. It is a popular area for renting villas and has well-connected transport system. Al Nuaimiya 2 has mid-rise buildings and is close to the Ajman-Sharjah border. Al Ramtha is away from the city centre and allows quick access to Ajman. It is mainly a villa only community.

Al Azra’s proximity to the Sharjah-Ajman border makes it a desirable destination for parents looking to move closer to the school. The Al Azra community is a predominantly school-centric area that houses a number of luxurious, fully-facilitated villas. Some options include:

• Villas for rent near Al Resalah International School of Science
• Villas for sale near Al Resalah International School of Science

RISS’ purpose-built campus in Al Azra, Sharjah, has various state-of-the-art facilities that compliment the standard of academic learning at the school. The campus houses five modern architectural buildings equipped with excellent facilities and technology.

An entire building at Al Resalah International School is dedicated to the administration offices to ensure smooth and efficient communication between the parents and the school. Other facilities the school has to offer are:

The science and computer labs at the school offer the best equipment for students. The library at the school is effectively stocked with both English and Arabic literature, as well as dictionaries, encyclopedias, reference books and more. RISS has also inculcated e-learning in every aspect of academia. Classrooms are equipped with smart-boards, tablets and more– all of which are connected to the school’s internal network to increase efficiency.

Al Resalah International School of Science is between Leaders Private School and Star Private School Sharjah at the intersection of Al Nedhal Street and 134a Street. The school is ideally situated in the school-centric community of Al Azra, Sharjah. Various prominent educational institutions surround RISS such as Victoria English School and New Indian Model School Sharjah.

Al Resalah International School is a private educational institution owned and managed by the Athena Education group. In addition to the school being accredited by AdvancED and the MoE, RISS is a SAT exam centre, IELTS test centre and an IC3 venue.

Al Resalah School maintains its high quality of education by hiring experienced teachers. The school’s purpose-built campus ensures that every student’s learning experience is supported and facilitated by the school through necessary resources.

Every teacher and staff employed by the school undergoes a careful screening process before being hired to teach at RISS. This is done to ensure that students receive the best form of education from qualified experts of the field and procure the necessary skills to succeed in life beyond school.

RISS has adopted a hands-on approach to instil its values in students. These include respect and responsibility, appreciation for Arabic and Islamic ethics, acquiring leadership qualities and more. E-learning is also an integral part of the education offered at RISS. Students learn to apply what they have learned in various practical forums orchestrated by the school. It has numerous initiatives to help students in pursing the career of their choice.

Another feather in the cap of Al Resalah International School of Science is its affordable fee structure. It is considered as one of the affordable American schools in the emirate offering quality education while charging a modest tuition fee.

RISS is a K-12 school. Classes are split for boys and girls after a certain grade, with both genders receiving the necessary provisions and resources. The stages of education at RISS are:

RISS follows the globally accepted American Curriculum. The Common Core State Standards curriculum is known to prepare students for college and a career beyond school life. In order to maintain this standard, the school curriculum ensures that its theories are:

• Research and evidence-based
• Clear, understandable, and consistent
• Aligned with college and career expectations
• Based on rigorous content and application of knowledge through higher-order thinking skills
• Built upon the strengths and lessons of current state standards
• Informed by other top performing countries in order to prepare all students for success in our global economy and society

At every grade level, RISS strictly follows the guidelines laid down by the UAE Ministry of Education.

Curriculum for Elementary School

From Grades 1 to 5, Al Resalah School offers the Common Core standards as well as the MoE curriculum as mentioned before. The curriculum aims at building confident, successful students who will actively participate in their communities. Subjects taught at this level are:

Students’ progress, independence and knowledge building are key areas of focus at the elementary level.

Curriculum for Middle School

At the middle school (grades 6 to 8), the curriculum shifts its focus to developing a strong foundation for students– that they can depend on throughout the rest of their schooling period. Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills are crucial at this stage. The staff actively work to integrate these skills into the curriculum as well as students’ day-to-day activities. Developing leadership, communication and negotiation skills are also encouraged at this level.

Subjects taught at middle school are:

Curriculum for High School

Grades 9 to 12 are critical stages of every students’ life. At the high school level, the curriculum is set on the foundation set of the middle and elementary school. It firmly follows the Common Core Standards as well as the College Readiness Standards.

To successfully graduate from RISS, every student must complete at least 21 academic credits in English, Sciences, Mathematics, Social Studies, P.E and ICT. Students must also take the MoE mandated subjects Arabic and Islamic Studies.

English, ICT and P.E awards the students 1 credit per year, whereas Algebra 1, Geometry, Calculus, General Science, Physics/ Economics, Chemistry, Accounting, Biology/Business and Social Studies amounts to 1 credit each. Students can choose either the science elective or the commerce elective. A credit is considered completed if the student scores at least 60% in the aforementioned subjects. Students are also expected to sit for standardised tests such as SAT, SAT subject, IELTS-Academic or TOEFL and CEPA. For more information, check out the high school curriculum of Al Risalah International School of Science.

Like most American-curriculum schools in the UAE, the school year at RISS is split into three terms. These take place as follows:

• The first term begins in last week of August and concludes in the second week of December. The school remains close for winter break following this term.
• The second term begins in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. Students enjoy a short spring break at this time.
• The third term commences in the second week of April and concludes in the last week of June. The school then closes for summer break.

The school celebrates various events and remains close on some religious, national and international days. Check out the academic calendar of Al Resalah International School of Science for more information.

Students who wish to enrol at RISS are assessed based on their academic qualifications and merit. They will have to sit for entrance exams that cover the following topics:

• Language art skills in English
• Computation and problem-solving skills in Mathematics

Prospective preschool students also have to complete a qualifying interview.

The school will accept the students based on their performance in the entrance exams. From thereon students will be placed on a waiting list. In the case of vacancies, top-ranking students in the waiting list will get admission.

The age-grade guideline by RISS is given below:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: RISS

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

The following are the acceptance criteria for admissions at Al Resalah International School of Science:

• Students should score 60% in Mathematics and English.
• If they score between 50% and 59%, parents are requested to present the marks card for Term 1 and 2.
• To opt for the science stream, the student should score at least 80% in Mathematics.

Prior to registration, parents are advised to peruse the requirements for kindergarten registration or all-grades registration.

Alternatively, parents can also opt to register online to enroll their child at the school.

Fees at RISS is paid in three instalments over the course of the academic year. Al Resalah International School of Science fees structure for the academic year 2020-2021 is as follows:

Please note the the aforementioned fee includes charges for medical, uniform and 5% Value Added Tax (VAT).

The first instalment covers 45% of the fees and is due in August. The second instalment accounts for 30% of the fees and should be paid in November. The third and final instalment is due in January.

Parents can avail the various discounts in fees offered by Al Resalah International School of Science Sharjah.

The school also offers a few discounts. These include:

• 3 to 5% sibling discount on the second and third child, respectively.
• 4% discount on full payment of tuition fee before the cut-off date i.e. 31st July of the current year.
• 3% discount on full payment of tuition fee before 31st August of the current year.
• 3% welcome discount for new admission in KG 1/KG 2 or Pre-KG admission (Rollover in KG2 is not eligible.)
• Military/Police and Medical personnel will get 3% discount on tuition fee.

You can pay the fee through cash, cheque or bank transfer.

Al Bustan Bakery caters lunch for students at RISS. The food served at the canteen is healthy and fresh and is prepared under careful supervision. Students can choose from a variety of healthy meals, snacks and drinks options. They can also choose to bring packed lunches from home.

RISS runs a fleet of buses to provide safe and efficient transportation for students. These buses cover routes in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and more. For Grade 6 and above, boys and girls have separate transportation facilities. Annual and monthly transportation fees for each area are as follows:

• Sharjah
  • One-way: AED 2,000
  • Two-way: AED 4,000
• Ajman
  • One-way: AED 2,250
  • Two-way: AED 4,500
• Umm Al Quwain
  • One-way: AED 2,500
  • Two-way: AED 5,000

Al Resalah International School of Science, Al Azra has been known to organise various trips or activities during the holidays in the past. During the summer break, students participate in a football camp that takes place on the school premises. Higher secondary boys also visited London during a trip in 2016.

RISS organises a trip to Mecca every year during the winter break to perform Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage). This annual tradition held by the school is exclusive for 12th Grade boys.

To ensure that every student is fit and healthy during their time at RISS, the school has various sports provisions on the premises. Students engage in various sports and play activities such as football, basketball, volleyball and more.

RISS houses a spacious multipurpose indoor hall that doubles as a venue for basketball or volleyball matches. The school’s outdoor green field is used by students as a play area to participate in friendly competitions as well as practice sessions. This play area is used as a basketball court as well as a football field.  During RISS’ annual Sports Day, students participate in a plethora of activities held on the greenfield.

Extracurricular activities are an integral part of the learning experience at Resalah International School of Science. In addition to book learning, the school ensures that every student participates in at least one co-curricular activity or event so as to facilitate all-rounded development. Depending on their interest, passion or talent, students can choose from a wide variety of extracurricular activities offered at the school such as:

In addition to these extracurricular activities, RISS also conducts various events throughout the academic year to keep the campus exciting and fun-filled. Some initiatives taken by the school include:

These events are held throughout the school for boys and girls sections of different grade levels.

The school regularly plans field trips and excursions during the academic year. These trips add value and exposure to the education offered at the school and also presents an opportunity for students to have a memorable, fun time with their peers.

Students of grades 1 to 4 visited the Oli Oli Children’s Museum on one such field trip. High School students had a fun-filled day at Motiongate, Dubai. Students also visit parks, museums and aquariums around the country.

Although RISS does not provide any after-school care facilities, various extracurricular club activities held at the school take place after school hours.

Al Resalah International School of Science has two medical clinics – one for the boys’ section and one for the girls’ section. The school has two full-time nurses and one doctor to tend to the medical needs of students.

The clinics also offer regular health checkups and health and safety awareness classes for the students.

Al Resalah International School of Science employs the use of the Paradigm Parent Portal application to keep the parents updated on their child’s activities in school. This application is available on the Google Play Store.

Through this app, parents can view their child’s attendance report, progress at school, examination results as well as communicate with the teacher or supervisor if needed. The school also has an official website and profile on social media platforms where they share latest information.

• Telephone: +971-6-522-1222
• Email Address: info@riss.ae
• Al Resalah International School of Science Website
• Al Resalah International School of Science Facebook
• Al Resalah International School of Science Instagram

Note that the cover image belongs to Al Resalah International School of Science