September 12, 2025 - Secondary School Principal Blog
Mr Mike Simpson
Dear Secondary School Families,
At our school, we all feel collectively responsible for the achievement and wellbeing of your children. We believe that every child belongs, and that the responsibility for their learning and wellbeing is shared by all of us. They are all our students.
This approach to student support reflects what researcher John Hattie identifies as collective efficacy - the shared belief among educators that, by working together, we can make the greatest difference in student learning and outcomes. Through consistent dialogue and collaboration, inclusion at ISY has become part of our everyday way of being as a community.
Each week, our teachers meet in grade level teams to reflect, share ideas, and support one another in meeting the needs of every student. These conversations are an integral part of the support structures we have in place to address both the learning and social-emotional needs of all students.
This same spirit of collaboration was shared with families on Wednesday evening, as they had the opportunity to see how these support structures work in practice and to learn more about ISY’s inclusive approach to supporting all students. Whether students are beginning their journey as Chinthe Cubs or completing it as graduates, our commitment remains the same: every child is cared for, supported, and celebrated. The charts below provide an overview of how these supports come to life at ISY.
Together, we will continue to ensure that every child at ISY feels supported, valued, and part of a compassionate community.
Kind Regards,
Mr Mike Simpson
Secondary School Principal
Student Support at ISY: From Chinthe Cubs to Grade 12
Welcoming Our Next Secondary School Principal, Mr. Ronnie Caldwell
This past week, we were delighted to welcome our incoming Secondary School Principal, Mr. Ronnie Caldwell, and his wife, Lira, to campus. During their visit, they connected with students, parents, and staff. Thank you to everyone who took the time to meet them and extend a warm ISY welcome.
With a strong background in inclusive practices and a proven commitment to meeting the diverse needs of learners, they bring both expertise and heart to our community. It was clear that their values and experience align closely with our mission and vision as a community of compassionate global citizens. They will be a wonderful fit for ISY, and we look forward to the contributions they will make in the years ahead.
✨ What’s On:
MISCA University Fair 2025
We are excited to share that ISY will once again host the MISCA University Fair. The fair will feature a virtual session in the morning, open to Grade 11 and 12 students from all 13 MISCA international schools, followed by in-person workshops in the afternoon with visiting university representatives. This promises to be a valuable opportunity for our students to explore their post-secondary options while strengthening connections across the MISCA community.
Grade 12 Parent University Night
After our students explore opportunities at the MISCA University Fair on Monday, we invite Grade 12 parents to join us for Grade 12 Parent University Night on Wednesday. This session will provide families with important insights into the university application process, timelines, and the ways our counseling and learning support team will support students every step of the way. It’s also a chance to ask questions and learn how we can work together to ensure our students make informed and confident decisions about their future. We look forward to seeing you there!
HS STUCO Presents: Homecoming Night
Come enjoy an evening of music and fun with 🎸 Rockband, 🌹 Hnin Si selling roses, 📸 photobooth, and so much more! We cannot wait to see you there.
NWEA MAP Testing: September 8 to September 19
MAP stands for Measure of Academic Progress. MAP assessments are online adaptive assessments that provide useful data in developing a fair and accurate assessment of student academic achievement and growth. MAP Growth uses a scale to measure what students know, regardless of their grade level. It also measures growth over time, allowing us to track our students throughout the school year and across multiple years.
The academic achievement and growth data obtained from MAP assessments forms one part of a student’s data profile. MAP assessment data is combined with data gathered by classroom teachers to ensure that we have a fair and accurate understanding of each student’s academic and learning needs. This understanding of student academic and learning needs then guides teacher planning and instructional practices in meeting the needs of individual students.
There are two MAP assessment sessions in an academic year:
- September:
- Grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9: Reading, Mathematics, Language
- February/ March:
- Grades 2 and 3: Reading, Mathematics, and Language
- Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9: Reading, Mathematics, Language, and Science
As we confirmed last year, we would like to remind you that Chinthe Expeditions will run again this year. More details will follow, but we wanted to again share with you the planned dates and locations for each grade level’s expedition.
We want to make sure that we have up-to-date passport information for every student. Students must have a passport that has more than 6 months validity past the date of travel.
If your child has a new passport that is different to the passport we have on record, please use this Passport Information Form for ISY Chinthe Expeditions to provide the passport details and upload a photo of it.
