The School Day

School runs from Monday to Friday during our term times. Lessons begin at 9:00 and we open the school gates at 8:40 so that everyone has time to settle in and get ready for an exciting day at River House. School finishes at 15:00 and children can be collected from the courtyard. 

There are three breaks throughout the day. 

  • A fruit break between 10:30 and 11:00;
  • lunch break between 12:30 and 13:30; 
  • and a short break between afternoon activities from 14:10 and 14:20.

Please make sure to inform the office or your child’s teacher in case you will be late or if the child will be absent.

Food

The lunch programme has been specially designed to provide fully balanced, nutritional, vegetarian meals (except for one fish day!) to children and teachers with a view to encouraging everyone to try new dishes, expand their taste buds and develop a love for good food. It is a three week rolling menu. We all eat lunch together in the dining hall and this is an important part of our community building at River House. 

There should be no need for children to bring any of their own food and drinks with them. However, if they should choose to do so, please ensure that they don’t bring sweets, crisps, biscuits, sugary drinks etc.

Playing

At River House we believe in enabling children to have a balanced day at school that involves academic work, creative expression and time to play. Children have ample time during the breaks to engage in unstructured play and socialize with friends of all ages. For this purpose break times overlap for all classes. 

The purpose built campus was designed to provide a variety of spaces for students and staff to interact and play. Open spaces for sports, quiet spaces for games or crafts, trees to climb, loose materials to build with and manipulate, a mud kitchen, shade to hang out in and other less defined spaces that children fill with their own ideas.

Pastoral

At River House we view school as an extension of home and we strive to make children feel comfortable and safe while in our care. To achieve and maintain this family atmosphere we put a lot of thought and effort into our pastoral care provision. We have formal PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) and Sex and Relationships curricula that are taught as designated lessons and also interwoven with other school routines. Regular assemblies, morning class circles and Individual Learning Plan meetings in the secondary school, all underpin our community building and pastoral support efforts. 

River House teachers and staff are approachable and students are given opportunities to discuss any concerns or difficulties they might have, both academic and personal, during formal class discussions and during informal chats. The great thing about a small school like ours is that children have a chance to get to know many responsible adults in the school community and can always access the person they feel most comfortable speaking to. 

And every Friday we eat cake together.

Exploring India

River House is lucky to be situated in beautiful South Goa and we make good use of our immediate surroundings, Goa and the rest of India to support our curriculum and provide students with an understanding of their host country and culture. 

On a regular basis children will explore the surrounding environment during the school day. This might involve going for a walk to Chapoli Dam, exploring the fields below the school, collecting samples of plants and rocks, doing a litter pick-up, washing puppies at the nearby animal shelter, shopping in Chaudi, going for a swim at the beach or doing some pond dipping in a stream next to the school. 

In addition to this we plan trips to cultural landmarks in Goa and further afield. There are many exciting exhibitions, museums, farms and events that take place every year and that we visit with our students. Starting from Year 3 (age 7-8) students go on an annual overnight trip. Younger children for one or two nights and usually in Goa, older children for three to four days across India.

Events

As a community we often come together to celebrate. Local and international holidays such as Dwali, Christmas, and Halloween are celebrated at River House.  We celebrate children’s creative achievements through plays, music events, art exhibitions and language evenings. Parents are invited to celebrate their children’s learning during Open Mornings and Teacher/Student/Parent Conferences. We celebrate the joy of life during beach days and during Open Days we celebrate and share our school with the wider community.

After School

The beaches of South Goa is where life takes place after school. Go to any beach and by 5pm a group of River House students will be gathered there. That said, there are many other offerings for children. However, most of these are not hosted by the school. Members of the community offer music, fishing, art, yoga, football, birdwatching, chess, parkour, tennis and karate amongst others. Information about these is posted on the school’s notice board and shared via the parent Facebook group. There are also many informal offerings as well and it is always a good idea to scan the South Goa Community page on Facebook, look at the flyers posted on the walls of the Patnem Chai Shop and to ask people who have been living in Goa for a longer time.

House No. 342, 25, Chapolim Shristha, Delem Village, Canacona, Goa 403702

contact: +919579322699 | info@riverhouseacademy.com

© Copyright 2017-20 River House Academy. All Rights Reserved

Covid-19

We are committed to reopening River House as soon as we are able to, with the necessary precautions in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff. River House Governors have decided a potential start date of November 2nd, 2020 and we are currently all working towards this.

General Terms & Conditions

RIVER HOUSE ACADEMY TERMS & CONDITIONS 2020-21

These terms & conditions form a legally binding agreement made between you and River House Academy

Deposit
You are required to pay a non-refundable one month fee as a deposit to hold your child’s place once your application has been accepted. This amount will be deducted from your final month’s payment. This payment can be made via Transferwise or into our River House Academy bank account.

Admission fee
For the first year, there will be an admission fee charged as a one time non-refundable payment of Rs.5000 per child, made at the time of enrolment.

Administration Fee
From year two onwards, there will be an annual administration fee of Rs. 2500 per child made at the time of enrolment.

Enrolment
The day your child starts school, you will be required to fill out an enrolment form and sign our terms & conditions form. Please also bring two passport photos and a copy of your child’s passport and current visa.

Fees
Fee payment date

Please pay your first month’s fees on or before the day your child starts school. You are required to pay your fees at the start of each month. You will be invoiced on the 25th of each month and payment is due by the last day of the month for the next month. In addition, you are required to pay the last month’s fee’s at enrolment. 

Fee payments
If your child starts mid-month your fees are due to be paid at enrolment, for the remaining period of that month. If your child starts mid-week, you will be charged for the full week. Children who leave mid-month will be charged for the entire month.

Late fees
Any late fees will be subject to late payment charges of Rs.100 per day.

Yearly payment
If you pay the fees for your child’s full stay in advance you will receive a 5% discount.

Sibling discount
A discount of 10 % will be given for your 2nd and 3rd child.

Personal holidays and absence
There are no fee discounts available for holidays or absences (including illness) from the school. Where possible please try to avoid taking holidays during the school term. Before booking your trip, it is essential that you check with the school to avoid missing important dates.

Notice of leaving
When you enrol your child at the academy you are required to give your attendance dates. Should your departure date be brought forward, you will be expected to pay according to your original dates given at enrolment.

Illness
Do not bring your child into school if they are ill, or are showing signs of being ill. If your child becomes ill at school, a Parent/Guardian will be contacted and asked to collect your child. Please text, email or telephone in the morning to let the Headteacher know if your child will be absent from school due to illness and what the illness is if it could potentially affect others. All medication must be brought in by a Parent/Guardian with clear instructions as to how and when it should be administered. Please do not allow your child to come to school with medication in their bag. Please check your child regularly for head lice. If we discover your child has head lice, they will be sent home from school and not allowed to return until the head lice have been treated.

Valuable items (including all electronic devices)
Valuable items, including all electronic devices, are not allowed to be brought into school. Children in the Secondary class may bring in a mobile phone but it should be kept in their bag at all times. We do not accept any responsibility for any items that are brought in.

School opening times
School lessons start at 9am. Please ensure your children arrive at school between 8.45 am-8.55am so that lessons can start promptly. If you are going to be late, please let us know. There will be no adult supervision before 8.45am. Please be aware that staff are busy at this time preparing for the day. Should you wish to speak to a member of staff please do so at 3pm or by prior appointment.

Collection from school
Children need to be collected from the school building. Please let us know If someone else will be collecting your child from school.

Unexpected school closure Occasionally the school may be forced to close due to unforeseen circumstances in the interest of health and safety. In such cases, you will be informed by text as early as possible.

Admissions