COMMUNITY UPDATE Issue 12 - 18 March 2026
DIRECTOR’S UPDATE Dear ISB Community, Welcome to this earlier edition of the Community Update, shared exceptionally on a Wednesday due to the Learning Conferences taking place tomorrow and Friday across all sections of the school. These parent-teacher meetings are an important moment in the semester, providing an opportunity to reflect on each student’s progress and to engage in meaningful conversations about learning. We wish all families a productive and insightful experience, and we thank our teachers for the care and time they dedicate to preparing for these discussions. Looking ahead, we are approaching one of the most anticipated weekends of the year at ISB. This Saturday, our campus will host the 48th annual ISB International Festival, bringing together families and friends to celebrate the rich diversity of our community. With more than 25 booths representing cultures from around the world, the festival offers a vibrant opportunity to share traditions, perspectives, and, of course, a wonderful variety of food. We encourage everyone to come curious, hungry, and ready to enjoy this special day together! We will also begin next week with a celebration of creativity as part of our Senior Art Show. You are warmly invited to attend the opening of ISB’s Visual Arts Annual Exhibition, starting in the Château and featuring student artwork from Preschool through Grade 11. The exhibition culminates in the High School, with the work of our graduating International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and BTEC Diploma students, whose final pieces represent the results of two years of creative exploration. I hope to see many of you for the opening of the Vernissage on Monday, 23 March at 17:00. For those unable to join the opening, the exhibition will display until 22 May. Finally, last week we were pleased to share an important step in the continued evolution of ISB. Beginning in August 2026, the Early Childhood Centre and Elementary School will come together as the ISB Lower School. This development reflects a constructive and forward-looking approach to strengthening the early years of learning, creating a more connected and coherent experience for students from Preschool through Grade 6. By aligning these programmes within a single structure, we aim to enhance collaboration among educators and provide even greater continuity for families. At the same time, the core elements that define an ISB education remain unchanged, including our strong relationships, our personalised approach to learning, and our commitment to developmentally appropriate practice. This transition will build on and further strengthen the excellent foundations already in place at ISB, and I would like to thank our Lower School faculty for their dedication and enthusiasm for this exciting change for the future of our school. Best regards,
James MacDonald ISB Director