Dear BIS Families,

As we come to the end of our second week together, I want to take a moment to say how wonderful it has been to see our students settling so well into the new school year. Classrooms are beginning to feel familiar, routines are becoming established, friendships are developing, and there is a wonderful sense of energy and purpose across the school.

Our teachers and staff have worked incredibly hard to create calm, positive and welcoming learning environments, and I am very proud of the way our students are responding. These first few weeks are so important in establishing the habits, expectations and relationships that will support a successful year of learning and growth.

A Successful CIS Visit
This week, we welcomed representatives from the Council of International Schools (CIS) as we took the next formal step in our journey toward international accreditation.

The visit was a very positive and productive experience. The CIS representatives spent time learning about our school, visiting classrooms, speaking with students, parents and staff, and looking closely at the systems and practices that support our community.

We were particularly pleased that they were able to hear such positive feedback from our students and parents about the importance we place on student wellbeing and pastoral care. This is an area that is incredibly important to us at BIS, and it was wonderful to have our community’s experiences reflected in the conversations with the visiting experts.

As with any accreditation process, the visit also provided us with valuable recommendations and areas for continued development. We will carefully consider and put these recommendations into action as we continue strengthening BIS for our students and staff. Accreditation is not simply about receiving a designation; it is about continuously examining what we do, identifying where we can improve and ensuring that our practices meet internationally recognised standards.

I would like to thank our students, parents and staff who contributed to the visit and represented BIS so positively.

BIS Events
BIS Arts & Design Academy – Electives Fair
Our BIS Arts and Design Academy is getting underway, and students had the opportunity to explore the exciting elective choices available to them. The Electives Fair allowed students to learn more about the programmes and make informed choices based on their interests and passions.

Upcoming BIS Events
There is already plenty happening in our BIS community!

September 4 – First PTA Meeting
We are looking forward to welcoming our PTA members to our first meeting of the year. The PTA plays such an important role in building our sense of community, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead this year.

September 9 – BIS Coffee Chat: Creating Routines
I will be hosting our first BIS Coffee Chat of the year on September 9, focusing on Creating Routines.

The beginning of a school year can be both exciting and challenging for children and families. Establishing healthy routines around sleep, homework, screen time, organisation and family time can make a tremendous difference to children’s wellbeing and success at school.

I look forward to having an informal conversation with parents about practical strategies that can help our children develop routines that support both learning and wellbeing.

Secondary Student Pathway Meetings
Our Secondary students are continuing their one-to-one meetings with our Head of Secondary, Mr. Rico Valda. These conversations are an important part of helping us understand each student’s interests, strengths, aspirations and academic goals.

Mr. Valda will use these discussions, together with other relevant information, to help determine the most appropriate academic pathways for our students as they move forward. We want every student to feel that their pathway is purposeful, personalised and connected to their future goals.

Looking Ahead
Our full BIS Events Calendar will be distributed to families next week. This will give everyone a clearer picture of the exciting range of academic, community, sporting, cultural and enrichment events taking place throughout the year.

There is so much to look forward to, and we are just getting started!

Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support. A strong school community is built when families and educators work together, communicate openly and share a common commitment to our children.

I am incredibly proud of how our second week has unfolded. Our students are settling in, our teachers are establishing strong classroom cultures, and our community is coming together beautifully.

We have had a wonderful start to the year, and I am excited about everything we will accomplish together.

Wishing you all a relaxing and enjoyable weekend.

Warm regards,

Michelle James