Espoo International School
Espoo International School is a joint comprehensive school operating in Opinmäki campus. EIS constitutes a uniform, international English-language comprehensive school with approximately 650 pupils in grades 1–9.
Our school
Espoo International School offers international education in the English language for international and Finnish families living in Espoo. Furthermore, we provide pupils with the knowledge, skills and linguistic abilities to go on to further education in English, either through the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP), to Finnish upper secondary schools, or elsewhere.
At EIS, we follow the renowned Finnish National Curriculum in all grades. Furthermore, Espoo International is an International Baccalaureate (IB) authorized school. EIS offers the Middle Years Program (MYP) within a three year period to grade 7-9 students in addition to National Core Curriculum.
Information about student life and student wellbeing can be found here.
Admissions for Espoo International School: please see more information on Espoo City website. Please note: all school admission queries should be directed to the school Principal.
Preparatory education in Espoo Preparatory education is needed if a student does not pass the EIS English proficiency entrance exam, cannot speak Finnish or their language skills are limited to simple words and phases.
Autumn term begins on 10th of August 2023 and ends on 22nd of December 2023.
- Autumn holiday: 16th October 2023 – 20nd October 2023
- Christmas holiday: 23rd December 2023 – 7th January 2023
Spring term begins on 8th January 2024 and ends on 1st June 2024.
- Winter holiday: 19th February 2024 – 23th February 2024
On August 15-16, Back to School evenings were organised for parents. The class teachers went over important information about our school and home-school cooperation. Below you can find the presentations that were used by all teachers.
Back to Primary School Slides presentation(external link, opens in a new window)
Back to Middle School Slides presentation(external link, opens in a new window)
Downloadable files
Basic Education (grades 1-9)
EIS offers basic education for pupils in grades 1-9. The education follows the Finnish National Core curriculum, The municipal curriculum of Espoo and Espoo International School curriculum 2016. The main language of instruction is English and is meant for children whose mother tongue is English, who speak the language fluently due to an international background or who otherwise have obtained an adequate command of English.
Middle Years Education (grades 7-9)
EIS is also an International Baccalaureate (IB) authorized school. We offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) within a three-year period to grade 7-9 pupils. Furthermore, EIS provides pupils with the knowledge, skills and linguistic abilities required for further education in English. For more information, see MYP at EIS .
Information about student life at EIS can be found at EIS for Student and Parents
Language studies
At EIS all students must study Finnish and English language (English is A1-language, that starts from the 1st grade). From the 6th grade pupils start studying B1-language, Swedish. In addition to mandatory Finnish, English and Swedish studies, we offer elective/voluntary studies in Spanish or French (A2-language, starts in the 4th grade) and in German, Spanish and Russian language (B2-language: starts in the 8th grade).
Espoo International School Curriculum(external link, opens in a new window)
Pupil welfare supports the learning and wellbeing of children in the daily life of the school. It promotes collaboration between home and school.
Individual pupil welfare services refer to the school social officer, psychologist and school health care services available in all schools in Espoo. Communal pupil welfare is preventive, multi-professional and supports the whole community.
More information of Student Welfare on Espoo City website.
Anti-bullying support plan at Espoo International School
Downloadable files
Afternoon activities
Espoo organizes afternoon activities for pupils in grades 1-2 and for pupils requiring special support after the school day. Afternoon group activities in schools are organized by schools, organizations and private service providers. More information on Espoo City website.
Cooperation between home and school supports the education and upbringing of the pupils and builds mutual trust. The collaboration is appreciative, diverse and active educational partnership. It adds also safety and well-being and prevents bullying. The school takes initiative in building collaboration and develops its prerequisites. It is a shared responsibility to collaborate.
Wilma
Wilma is an electronic service used in Espoo to assist in the interaction between home and school. In Wilma, guardians can monitor the study attainments of pupils and students, view and clarify absences, send messages to teachers, read messages sent by teachers and follow notices sent by the school. Pupils and students use Wilma to select courses, monitor their attainments, read notices and communicate with teachers. Teachers enter evaluations and absences into Wilma and communicate with students and guardians.
Parents associations
Activities of parent associations and classroom committees promotes collaboration between guardians and gives opportunities to learn to know one another. As result of the collaboration, theme days, events, shows and work parties have been arranged in many schools. Guardians are encouraged to participate in and develop the school's operating culture.
In addition, a city-level parent association operates in Espoo: KoKoEspoo ry (extrernal link)(external link, opens in a new window)is a collaboartion forum for homes and schools. The association operates as a medium of influence and information for parent associations and parents.
School Board
The schools in Espoo have either school-specific boards or boards shared by several schools. The duties of the school board focus on supporting the school and maintaining good cooperation and a safe study environment. The school board, for example, approves the school curriculum and school year plan. The school board includes pupils’ parents and representatives of school staff. In middle schools and unified comprehensive schools, representatives of pupils also participate in board work. The school board is elected for four years at a time. The board’s duties and authority are described in further detail in the City of Espoo’s administrative regulations.
Downloadable files
- Download file: Minutes of the Espoo International School Board Meeting 10.10.2023.pdf.Minutes of the Espoo International School Board Meeting 10.10.2023.pdf
- Download file: Minutes of the Espoo International School Board Meeting 28.11.2023.pdf.Minutes of the Espoo International School Board Meeting 28.11.2023.pdf
Downloadable files
- Download file: Johtokuntatyön opas 2021-2023.pdf.Johtokuntatyön opas 2021-2023.pdfFile is only available in FinnishFile is only available in Finnish
Espoo International School Staff
All teachers email-addresses are of the form: firstname.lastname@opetus.espoo.fi
Please note:
All school admission queries should be directed to the school Principal.
All inquiries about substitute teaching positions should be directed to the Vice Principals.
Principal
Anne-Marie Rapo, tel. +358 50 3432460, anne-marie.rapo(at)espoo.fi
Vice Principals
Billy Germo, tel. +358 40 6393294
Jay Thompson, tel. +358 43 8252091
School Secretary
Satu Kuokkanen, tel. +358 9 81639124, satu.kuokkanen(at)espoo.fi
Student Guidance Counsellors
Jay Thompson, tel. +358 43 8252091
Camilla Kurki, tel. +358 40 6343330
Special Education Teachers
Eric Allenbach, tel. +358 43 8268047
Olga Saghar, tel. +358 40 6344102
School Welfare Officer
Milja Moilanen, tel. +358 40 1527477, milja.moilanen(at)luvn.fi
School Nurse
Laura Honkasalo, tel. +358 40 6104576, laura.honkasalo(at)luvn.fi
School Psychologist
Zaida Montin, tel. +358 40 1930211, zaida.montin(at)luvn.fi
TEACHERS
Class Teachers
1E Arlene Domingo
1I Iivi Gröhn
2E Dilani Fernando-Ghulam
2I Benjamin Pang
3E Sarah Fair
3I Alisa Kuoppala
4E Attila Cser
4I Lori Gustafson
5E Hans Wessels
5I Andy Kruse
5S Georgeta Butusina
6A Janet Cutinha
6D Oona Piipponen
6J Tomislav Plazonic
7E Olli Kiiskinen
7I Amber Rikkonen
7N Sirpa Ahonen
7S Iina Uusitalo
8E Mohammed Mozumder
8I Tjerk Werkman
8N Sikri Kreus
8S Anthony McDonald
9E Erika Jokinen
9I Ville Uusivuori
9N Darius Pylvainen
9S Jay Thompson
Subject Teachers
Ahonen Sirpa Finnish language and literature, S2
Allen David Geography, biology
Allenbach Eric Special Education
Burton Stephen English language and literature
Cowan Greg Chemistry
Domingo Arlene resource teacher
Elliott Todd Chemistry
Fere Elina Finnish language and literature, S2
Gardner Wendy Arts, Crafts
Germo Billy Vice Principal, English, MYP coordinator
Gioia Sandler Bruno Crafts, Woodwork
Harju Helmi resource teacher
Jansen Ria resource teacher
Jokinen Erika 9E, Music
Kanerva Jaana French, Swedish
Keinänen Mary Mathematics
Kiiskinen Olli 7E, Physics, Mathematics
Koskinen Juha P.E., Health Education
Kotkas Sonja Finnish language and literature, S2
Kreus Sikri 8N, Finnish language and literature, S2
Kurki Camilla Student Guidance Counselor
Mamane Michelle Finnish language and literature, S2
Martin Javier Spanish
McDonald Anthony 8S, Liikunta, terveystieto
Mozumder Mohammad Biology, Geography
Onikki Laura Finnish language and literature, S2
Parisot Olivier French
Pylvainen Darius 9N, History, Civics
Rapo Anne-Marie Principal
Rikkonen Amber Mathematics, English
Saarilahti Marja Home economics
Saghar Olga Special Education
Suominen Essi Special Education
Tamas Matthew English language and literature
Thompson Jay Vice Principal, SGC, Mentor Coordinator
Uusitalo Iina Finnish language and literature, S2
Uusivuori Ville Mathematics, Physics
Werkman Tjerk History, Civics
Ylä-Tuuhonen Elisa Swedish
Assistants/Staff
Gimbutiene Justina Community Counselor
Niini Olli Assistant
Schönach Jenni Assistant
Gopalakrishna Padma Assistant