March 20, 2026 - Secondary School Principal Blog

Dear Secondary School Families,

🌎 Grade 10 World Studies Exhibition

Wednesday was dedicated to our Grade 10 World Studies Exhibition. 

At ISY, to prepare students for the future, we know that it is not enough for students to be able to recall facts or remember and even apply formulae - technology can do all that. 

The Grade 10 World Studies Exhibition asks students to think deeply about an issue of global interest and something that they are particularly interested in. They develop a question to explore the issue through social, political, environmental, and biological lenses, making thoughtful connections across different disciplines and subject areas.

Students were able to move beyond simply gathering information to presenting their understanding from multiple perspectives and telling the story of what their research has uncovered. They told this story to teachers, parents, and students from across the school. This highlighted the academic rigor and critical thinking involved in their work. Their depth of knowledge and ability to connect what they have learned to seemingly unrelated issues or questions is a testament to the authenticity and meaningfulness of the learning process.

Their next step, in their English class, is to tell the story or their research in an extended essay. This essay writing process is developed to mirror what the students can expect when it comes time for them to write their extended essays as part of the IB Diploma Programme. 

This interdisciplinary and inquiry-based approach to learning does not just produce great student outcomes in Grade 10, it prepares our students for the future - next year and well beyond ISY.

🙌 Inclusion at ISY

Our Elementary School Principal, Mr. Heney, wrote the following from Bangkok from where he is currently attending the EARCOS Teachers Conference with a dedicated group of ISY teachers. The focus of the conference has been inclusion and belonging; topics that are at the very core of our mission and vision:

There is a beautiful quote that has been resonating with me throughout the week:

“Diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance.”

At ISY, we aren't just looking to fill classrooms with a diverse group of learners; we are working every day to make sure every single child is "asked to dance." When students feel a true sense of belonging, when they know their voice matters and their identity is celebrated, the results are transformative. Research consistently shows that when that emotional safety net is in place, academic performance naturally increases.

Belonging isn’t just about grades. It’s about community. By fostering an environment where we support and encourage one another, we are modeling the exact traits we want to see in our students as they become citizens of the world.

To be a "Global Citizen" isn't just about traveling the globe; it’s about having the empathy to ensure the person standing next to you feels included. It’s about understanding that our community is only as strong as our weakest link.

Our mission at ISY isn't just a statement on a wall; it’s lived out in the way we partner with you, our parents, to create this "village." Whether we are learning in the classroom, playing on the fields, performing on the stage, moving a chess piece, or meeting at conferences to better our practice, we are all working toward the same goal: a school where every child feels they truly belong.

Thank you for being such a vital part of this "dance."

Kind Regards,

Mr. Mike Simpson                                                                                                         

Secondary School Principal 

🛡 Security at ISY

In light of current global events, ISY is continuing to review and strengthen our approach to campus safety to ensure we are well prepared as a school community. This includes working closely with our security partners, reviewing our procedures, and ensuring that our plans are clear and consistent. We also prioritize age-appropriate drills so that students and staff feel confident and supported in knowing what to do in different situations. Today, we conducted a well-organized and successful lockdown drill as part of this ongoing work.

✍ Sign up: Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences | Grades 6 to 12

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences provide an opportunity for families to meet with teachers and discuss their child’s Quarter 3 progress. There will be no classes that day, and students are strongly encouraged to attend the conferences with their parents.

What Parents Need to Do:

1. Sign up for conference times through PowerSchool using these instructions.

2. Complete your sign-up by 10:00 AM on Wednesday, March 25.

3. You will receive an email confirmation of your conference schedule from the Secondary School Office later that afternoon.

Your child’s Quarter 3 Progress Report will be available on PowerSchool from 2:30 PM on Friday, April 3.

❓ If you need assistance with signing up, please contact the Secondary School Office.

Our Seniors have finished their mock exams and are now in preparation mode for their final examinations in April.

They also continue to be offered places at some very prestigious institutions. We are excited to celebrate these achievements with our community, so look out for more information from our communications team in the coming weeks. 

Roll on Graduation!

🗞 University Admissions: Insider Tips 6:00 PM  | 💻 ONLINE: Zoom Link

This week’s University Admissions: Insider Tips workshop will be on Tuesday, March 24. It will focus on the university application process in Singapore, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong. These workshops are online (see Zoom link above) from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. See below for a schedule of upcoming workshops.

On Thursday, Mr. A-G, our High School Counselor, will host a presentation for Grade 10 students and parents as they begin preparing for university. The session will introduce key steps in the process, including career exploration, course selection, standardized testing, university research, and the application process. It will also outline how the school supports students as they begin planning for their future.

🏅Sports at ISY:  Personalized pathways to excellence

This week, ISY hosted a series of friendly football matches, with visiting teams joining us on campus. Matches like these give players extended time in real game conditions, where they can be rotated through different positions, try things they have been working on, and build a better understanding of how the team functions as a whole. These are the expectations we continue to build as students develop within their teams.

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✨ What’s On: