Overview:
The Phelps School welcomes foreign students, recognizes their special needs and works to meet those needs in several ways. First, we carefully monitor our enrollment of foreign students so that we may maintain our cultural diversity without sacrificing the traditionally American nature of our overall program. In this way, our foreign students may strengthen their English Skills and experience American culture through their personal interaction with others. Second, we provide academic support as well as specialized ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, as needed by the individual student. Third, we provide a wide range of activities after school and on weekends to allow each boy the chance to relax and form friendships outside of the classroom setting.
Admissions:
An application, a school transcript in English, two recommendations and the application fee should be sent to the Admissions Office. To download the necessary paperwork, please visit our Admissions Forms page. The Phelps School cannot issue an I-20 until the student has been accepted into our program, and the Enrollment Agreement and a tuition deposit of at least $10,000 have been returned to the school.
Arrival:
Students are responsible for their own transportation to the school upon arrival. Some returning foreign students are usually available on campus to assist with the "settling in" process and to answer questions. Any student needing necessities, such as bed linens, will be taken to a local shopping mall and assisted in purchasing these items.
Housing:
All students are assigned to one of nine dormitories. Faculty members live in the building to assist, supervise and advise students whenever necessary. International students are assigned a room with a student who does not speak their language to encourage them to use their English on a daily basis.
Vacations:
The Phelps School campus is closed during Thanksgiving Break (November), Winter Break (December - January) and Spring Break (March). International students must make other arrangements for these periods of time. Reservations for travel must be made well in advance. Transportation to both the airport and the train station is provided at the start of each vacation period.
At Work:
The Phelps School has successfully integrated foreign students in the American educational system for many years. In the past ten years, all of our international graduates who have applied to American colleges and universities have been accepted into those programs. Our English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are taught by professionals, who are trained and experienced in teaching English to foreign students. Therefore, we are able to accept foreign students at any level of English proficiency. No TOEFL score is require for admission, although TOEFL and SLEP scores are helpful for scheduling.
The core of our philosophy is to expose the student to as much English as possible, while providing a safety net of support. Our ESL students are mainstreamed into classes with the American students for full academic credit. Instead of the regular English class, however, they are scheduled into an ESL class where they can work at their own level and speed to build their English language skills. They also have a specialized ESL Reading class. Every day there is a tutorial period during which any student may go to his teachers for extra help or explanations. Several departments also make supplementary texts in simplified English available to the foreign students.
Students in grades 7 - 9 who have completed their basic ESL work are generally mainstreamed into the regular English curriculum. Older students are moved into a transitional ESL Literature class, which prepares them for upper level English classes by introducing English literary forms and terminology, by teaching formal research and writing techniques, and by strengthening their composition skills in English.
The school handles the arrangements for juniors and seniors to take the TOEFL test and the SAT II ELTP. In addition, all foreign students are given the SLEP (Secondary Level English Proficiency) test at least once a year.
At Play:
At The Phelps School we offer our students the chance to be successful in many different areas, Our afternoon activity period gives our foreign students a chance to interact with both students and faculty in a less formal manner. Many enduring friendships are formed on the playing fields or through mutual interests.
Our interscholastic sports teams include soccer, cross-country running, basketball, golf, tennis, baseball and lacrosse. Students may also choose to participate in bowling, horseback riding, drama, chess, art, photography, woodshop, yearbook, etc.
Weekends offer numerous and varied activities. There are on-campus movies, inter-dorm sports competitions, and trips to the local shopping mall. Dances with girls' schools are regularly scheduled throughout the year. The boys may also sign up for trips to professional sports events, such as football, baseball, basketball and ice hockey games or WWF wrestling bouts. They may go to concerts, theater productions, museums, off-campus movies, local restaurants or into Philadelphia for shopping or sightseeing. Other activities, such as hiking, rafting and The Renaissance Faire, are scheduled in season.
For more information, please call, write or fax:
Admissions Office
The Phelps School
583 Sugartown Road
Malvern, PA 19355
USA
Phone: 1-610-644-1754
Fax: 1-610-644-6679
Email: admis@thephelpsschool.org