My name is Ben Thomas and I have the privilege of serving as the Director of KICS.
Our family has been serving at KICS since 2014. It is an incredible place to serve and we are fortunate to be raising our kids in this environment.
A few things you should know about KICS from my view:
Vision, Mission & Values: Everything we do is rooted and based in our Vision, Mission and Values. These are not just statements for us. They serve as our guide in every aspect of the school. If you attend a parent meeting, I may put you on the spot and ask you to recite our Vision, Mission and Values 🙂 I believe in them so very much.
People:The people associated with KICS are wonderful. With students and families from over 30 countries, and staff from over 10 countries, the global family of KICS is an incredible culture. Around 50% of our student body is from Rwanda and we love the global family that KICS has grown into. If you are a prospective teacher, you will be delighted with the students (though there will be times that drive you crazy). If you are a prospective parent or student, you will not find educators and administrators that care more for you as a person than our KICS staff. They are incredible.
Current Season: We are in a great spot. We’ve continued to grow and mature as a school. We are bursting at the seams with the growth we’ve experienced, and we are looking forward to moving to and developing a new campus in the coming years. A few years ago we purchased 21 acres of land or 8.8 hectares nearby. We are in the process of finalizing our Funding and Building Plan for Phase 1. The quality of our programs has grown and continues to grow, and we are thankful.
The KICS Way: As we’ve sought to lead KICS towards our vision and mission, we’ve outlined how we go about this through the KICS Way. This includes:
We are a spiritual greenhouse. While teaching from a biblical worldview, we welcome students of all faiths and backgrounds to join us at KICS. Our desire is to meet each student with where they are with God and introduce them to Jesus’ loving ways.
We are partners in education. We partner first with parents who are the experts on their children, and we serve as experts in the classroom. Success for any student needs to have a strong partnership between home and school.
We are a US accredited school. From our founding, we followed the US model of education which specializes in critical thinking and problem solving. We became the first US accredited school in Rwanda. Through this accreditation, which is recognized globally, we’ve helped students enter colleges and universities in the US, Canada, various countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
We are a school for the whole family. We seek to support all learners through our school. Sometimes we may not be able to serve students with severe learning needs, but we are able to serve students with mild learning needs. Additionally, we run from Pre-K through Grade 12, where siblings can all go to school together.
Memberships/Accreditations: We’ve been jointly accredited through ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and MSA (Middle States Association) since 2012. Additionally, in July 2022, we were welcomed as the first school outside the US as a full member of council within CESA (The Council for Educational Standards and Accountability). We are also members of AISA (Africa International Schools Association).
There is so much more to share, and I’m happy to talk with you about any questions you might have. We have found that KICS lives up to the C in its names as it’s been a wonderful community to be a part of.
Campus TourThis campus tour is specifically for families who wish to explore the school facilities. It is a walking tour, and we visit different campus areas. Children are welcome.
