March 27, 2026 - Secondary School Principal Blog
Mr Mike Simpson
Dear Secondary School Families,
| š¤ Parent Teacher Conferences |
It was great to see so many of you at Parent Teacher Conferences today. We value our partnership with our families in meeting the needs of our students.
In an inclusive school, where our goal is to meet the needs of every learner, this partnership becomes even more essential. Parents, of course, know your children best. We, as educators, bring expertise in curriculum, learning strategies, and social-emotional development. Together, we can ensure that each childās needs are understood, supported, and met - helping every child thrive both academically and personally.
Parent-teacher conferences are a reminder that education is a shared responsibility. By working together, we ensure that all students are seen, heard, and empowered to reach their full potential. The conversations that we had with you today help us reflect on progress, celebrate growth, and identify areas where we can provide more support.Ā
Thank you for your partnership, and please know that this extends beyond these conferences. You can reach out to us at any time about your child, and we would be very happy to hear from you. After all, they are the reason why we are here!
| š Earth Hour at ISY |
Earth Hour offers a simple and powerful reminder that small, collective actions can contribute to something larger.
On Monday, March 30, from 1:05 PM to 2:05 PM, we will take a moment during the school day to pause, reflect, and consider the choices we make in how we care for our environment. When small actions are taken together, they can lead to meaningful change.
| š ISY Musical: Ā Once Upon a Mattress |
Next weekend, April 3 and 4, your family is invited to school to watch the musical Once Upon a Mattress performed by our Secondary students. This musical, made famous on Broadway over the years, is based on the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." Our students have worked incredibly hard over the past few months to present an engaging show!
|
šØ ISY IB Diploma Art Exhibition |
Our Grade 12 students have developed a body of work that is the culmination of sustained inquiry, experimentation, and creative exploration. A private viewing will take place on April 2 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, with the exhibition open to students in the Chinthe Hub from April 3 to 8.
|
š”Grit: Acceptance v Avoidance |
When we talk about āgrit,ā many people imagine sheer determination or stubbornnessāpushing through difficulties at all costs and often by ourselves. While perseverance is part of grit, thereās a deeper, often overlooked aspect: it is a mindset of acceptance rather than avoidance.
Grit is not about denying challenges or pretending obstacles donāt exist. Itās about seeing difficulties as part of the journey and accepting them as opportunities to learn and grow. Students (and adults!) who embrace this mindset donāt shy away from failure - they see it as feedback. They donāt avoid hard tasks - they face them with curiosity and persistence.
This mindset is more important than ever in the age of AI, where tools can make shortcuts tempting and immediate success more accessible than ever. It can be easy to rely on technology to do the thinking, problem-solving, or creativity for us. But true grit (facing challenges, working through uncertainty, and learning from mistakes) is what builds the skills, resilience, and wisdom that no AI can replace.
Acceptance, in this sense, is empowering. It allows us to respond thoughtfully rather than react out of fear of failure or disappointment. It helps students manage frustration, bounce back from setbacks, and maintain motivation even when progress is slow. Over time, this mindset builds self-confidence, resilience, and a sense of agency that is the foundation for meaningful success in school, work, and life.
Cultivating grit isnāt about punishing ourselves into effort. Itās about teaching ourselves and our children to accept challenges as natural, embrace the struggle, and keep moving forward with intention. When we shift from avoidance to acceptance, grit becomes less about toughness and more about wisdom - the ability to persist with clarity, purpose, and self-compassion - even in a world full of shortcuts.
Ā
Kind Regards,
Mr. Mike SimpsonĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Secondary School Principal
| šØāš Graduation in sight for our seniorsĀ |
|
Ā |
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.Ā Roll on Graduation! |
Ā
|
š University Admissions: Insider Tips 6:00 PMĀ | š» ONLINE: Zoom Link |
This weekās University Admissions: Insider Tips workshop will be on Tuesday, March 31. It will focus on the university application process in Europe. These workshops are online (see Zoom link above) from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. See below for a schedule of upcoming workshops.
| š Sports at ISY: Ā Personalized pathways to excellence |
At ISY, sport is not only about performance; it is about how our athletes respond to challenge. They learn to adapt, stay focused, and keep going when things are not easy. This approach builds resilience, self-awareness, and confidence over time, something you can see reflected in our recent match highlights and updates on the Athletics Department page.
āØ Whatās On:
Ā