Hillcrest International School

Hillcrest International School (HIS)
Jl. HIS
Sentani, Irian Jaya 99352
(P.O. Box 249, Sentani 99352)
Phone (62-967) 591-460
Fax (62-967) 591-673

HIS is open to all expatriate children whose parents have valid visas to work in Indonesia. The current enrollment is 150. Kindergarten through 12th grades are taught. The cost of annual tuition is $5,000. The cost of the capital bond is $3,000. The language of instruction is English.

School Program

HIS is a private Christian school located in the scenic foothills of 7,000 foot Mount Cyclops, overlooking Lake Sentani. The elementary school was established by the Christian and Missionary Alliance in 1958, as Sentani International School to provide English-language education for missionary children in Irian Jaya. The secondary program began in 1987 as an inter-mission school. In 1994, the two were combined in a K-12 program. Roughly 10% of the students board, while the remainder are day students. The student body is comprised of the children of missionaries and expatriate business people who live and work in Irian Jaya.

HIS also sponsors a village tutorial program and two satellite schools. The tutorial program enables children to spend time in interior villages with their parents during the school year. The satellite schools are multi-level classrooms in two other locations in Irian Jaya and serve approximately 8-12 children in grades 1-6.

HIS is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It is a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools, the Association of Christian Schools International, and is active in Missionary/Christian Overseas Schools.

Faculty

The faculty of HIS is recruited through sponsoring mission organizations. A low student/teacher ratio enables HIS to provide individualized instruction and to tailor programs to meet the needs of students. HIS is served by highly trained and dedicated staff members, 40% of whom have earned graduate degrees.

Facilities

HIS currently occupies two campuses. The elementary/middle school campus consists of eight classrooms, a library with a media/computer and resource center, a gymnasium- auditorium, music room, lunch room and administration building on a four-acre site. The high school campus has six classrooms, a computer lab, science lab and office building clustered around a beautiful tropical courtyard. A library, gymnasium, shop and hostel are also located on the 5-acre property.

Curriculum

HIS offers a strong core curriculum based on US standards. The curriculum is Christian in world view and global in perspective. Efforts are made to accomodate the needs of students from home countries other than the US. In addition to the core curriculum, Computer Education, Indonesian language study, Music, Art and Physical Education are offered at all levels. Special Education and ESL tutorials are offered as staff is available.

The high school curriculum is college preparatory and is designed to take advantage of the cultural, biological and geographical distinctives of Irian Jaya, i.e., tropical rain forest, marine life and the culture of indigenous peoples. Each year there is an Outdoor Education Program, as well as numerous other field trips and activities, which give students exposure to the educational opportunities unique to Irian Jaya. There is also a strong emphasis on computer technology to equip students for life in the 21st century.