September 26, 2025 - Secondary School Principal Blog
Mr Mike Simpson
Dear Secondary School Families,
Next week, our faculty will participate in professional development focused on how we can safely, ethically, responsibly, and effectively harness the power of artificial intelligence in our roles as educators for the benefit of our students.
As we explore the opportunities and challenges of AI in education, I am personally guided by the belief that while AI can be a powerful tool, it cannot replace the expertise, judgment, and human connection that teachers provide to their students or parents provide to their children.
I have been particularly inspired by Ethan Mollick’s book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, which has shaped much of my thinking in this area.
As Mollick notes, “The issue is that in order to learn to think critically, problem-solve, understand abstract concepts, reason through novel problems, and evaluate the AI’s output, we need subject matter expertise.”
Our role, therefore, is not diminished by AI but made more essential. We must help students develop the knowledge and skills that allow them to use AI thoughtfully and effectively.
Mollick also reminds us, “An AI future requires that we lean into building our own expertise as human experts. Since expertise requires facts, students will still need to learn reading, writing, history, and all the other basic skills required in the twenty-first century. We have already seen how this broad-based knowledge can help people get the most out of AI. And besides, we need to continue to have educated citizens rather than delegate all our thinking to machines.”
It is a big responsibility to prepare students for an uncertain future, that ISY has been doing for over 70 years. This professional development is another step toward ensuring that, as a faculty, we continue to equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and discernment they need to thrive in an AI-driven future.
Mollick, Ethan. Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. Portfolio / Penguin Random House, 2024.
Kind Regards,
Mr Mike Simpson
Secondary School Principal
Sports at ISY: Personalized pathways to excellence
At ISY, sports are an integral part of our personalized learning journey, giving every student the chance to explore their talents, build confidence, and pursue their passions.
This Wednesday (October 1st, 4:35 PM to 6:30 PM), ISY will be hosting High School Football with MISY, bringing our communities together in the spirit of teamwork, sportsmanship, and school pride. Please join us to cheer on the teams.
✨ What’s On:
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⏰ No school for students: Monday September 29 A reminder that there will be no school for students on Monday, September 29. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday, September 30, at 8:00 AM. |
We extend a warm invitation to parents to join us on Wednesday, October 1, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm for a session led by our counselors, Mr. Amundson-Geisel and Ms. Patty. Together, we will delve into our Child Protection Policy to understand how ISY is a leader in child safeguarding. This information evening will explain how we keep our students safe and secure. To secure your spot for the session above, kindly register using this Child Safeguarding Parent Night Registration Form by 4:00 pm, Monday, September 29.
Grade 11 Parent University Night & Chinthe Expedition Overview
Following on from our recent MISCA University Fair, we invite Grade 11 parents to join us for Grade 11 Parent University Night on Thursday. 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 is 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. Mr. Simpson will also provide an overview of Grade 11’s upcoming Chinthe Expedition to Malacca, Malaysia. We look forward to seeing you there!
Chinthe Expedition Parent Evenings
Parents with children in Grades 6 to 11 will have received an email with some initial information about their child’s Chinthe Expedition. To provide parents with more detailed information about travel and activity schedules and accommodation arrangements, we invite parents to the following Chinthe Expedition Parent Nights:
The Grade 12 Chinthe Expedition Parent Night will be scheduled for a later date as that expedition happens at the end of the school year.
